tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67917857415268545912024-03-20T00:57:55.115-07:00MedicineJames Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791785741526854591.post-22522348789759079922017-03-23T00:31:00.000-07:002017-03-23T00:31:11.884-07:00A Few Kismis a Day Keep Wrinkles Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Raisins, or kismis/kishmish as they are called in India, are dried
grapes. There are as many kinds of kismis as there are grape varieties-
green, purple, red, even champagne, to name some. The most common kismis
are made from the seedless, green grapes called 'Thompson Seedless'.<br />
Kismis are made from grapes by a three step process which involves pre-treatment, drying, and post-drying.<br />
Getting under the skin<br />
Kismis are little purses of nutrients.<br />
They
are 72% sugars like glucose and fructose and good energisers. They also
contain dietary fibre, are high in certain antioxidants, low in sodium,
and contain no cholesterol. They are also rich in potassium and
magnesium.<br />
Glowing skin means fit within<br />
The skin is the
biggest organ of the human body. We always say "glowing with good
health". The real secret to great skin is good health and proper
nourishment.<br />
Kismis contain fibre that swells in the presence of
water. This makes them a good digestive aid to keep bowel movements
regular and thus rid the body of waste.<br />
The potassium and
magnesium content in kismis helps to reduce acidity and thus maintain
the pH balance of the body in general, and the stomach, in particular.
This is essential for healthy bodily functions. It also neutralises
stomach acid which in turns reflects in a healthy and blemish-free skin.<br />
Raisins
are also loaded with iron, B-complex and copper: all good for the
production of blood and the prevention of anaemia. Pale, flaky skin is
often the result of low blood counts. A handful of kismis a day will
work more wonders than all the beauty aids and skin care products that
money can buy!<br />
Black kismis, in particular, aids the liver in flushing out toxins. A clean body means clear skin.<br />
The
amino acids (proteins) and vitamins in kismis help in renewing skin
cells. All those sun-damaged cells slough off and are replaced by their
younger cousins. At the same time, the phytochemicals in kismis protect
skin cells from the damage caused by the rays of the sun. Eating a
handful of kismis will help to keep your skin young this way.<br />
The
antioxidants in kismis speed up skin repair and 'plump' out skin cells -
like when you fluff a pillow. Kismis works magic by making fine lines,
wrinkles and skin blemishes disappear.<br />
Commercial= Cash<br />
Unfortunately
for the human race, quick bucks are the prime consideration in most
ventures even at the cost of good health. This is true of commercial
production of kismis too.<br />
Have you ever seen grapes in the market?
They have a liberal coat of white powdery pesticide which clings to
them even after several washes. All this is transferred to kismis.
Pesticide residues restrict the liver's ability to process toxins and
flush them out of the body.<br />
Commercially grown kismis are also
treated with sulfites to enhance their colour. This aggravates and
causes asthma, respiratory and other allergies.<br />
Grapes can be
organically grown by using biofertilizers like manure and vermicompost.
Pests can be kept away by using natural predators like ladybugs and
praying mantises, bio-pesticides like a mix of neem oil and soapy water,
and baited traps for common grape pests like aphids and flea beetles.
Chemical-free grapes mean chemical free kismis. This is what the
discerning consumer should buy.<br />
Buy organic to reap the full benefits of kismis.<br />
Uses<br />
In truth, kismis can be enjoyed straight out of the container- neat!<br />
Kismis are used in salads, in baked items like cakes and cookies, in confectionery and desserts.<br />
They are fried and used to garnish both savoury dishes like pulao and sweets like halwas and kheers.<br />
They can be used as healthy additions to breakfast cereals like muesli and homemade granola bars.<br />
How to buy and store<br />
It would be best to buy an organic brand of kismis which well-sealed packing to protect from moisture and moulds.<br />
Choose
kismis that are plump and fleshy; this dried out specimens are low
quality. There is neither taste nor benefit in eating them.<br />
Make sure that the stock is not old and is free from insect pests: humans are not the only connoisseurs of kismis!<br />
Not
only is kismis great for your skin, but it is also great for your
overall health. The American College of Cardiology has recommended that
eating raisins/kismis three times a day lowers blood pressure
significantly. The next time you want to eat a snack or something sweet,
don't pop that chocolate or those chips in your mouth. Just treat
yourself to a handful of kismis.James Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791785741526854591.post-34411748890864980292017-03-03T00:28:00.000-08:002017-06-16T08:28:43.980-07:00How to Move Through Life Transitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Life transitions have inner and outer manifestations. They often
begin internally, without us really noticing. The "transition energy"
becomes stronger and stronger until it surfaces into consciousness, and
then it wants to be brought into the world, into our lives with others.
Often, parts of life transitions are no fun at all, while other parts
are pretty exciting. You could say that something new is starting to
happen; that it's on its way. It's not even that we "choose" something
new; we just sense it coming in. Like a new curve in the river of life.<br />
<b>First Phase: Drop in Energy</b><br />
You've
been in a relationship for a while, or a job or profession. For a long
time, it felt right; there was energy in it. As always happens, we
learn, we grow, we change. Sometimes the relationship or job/profession
allows the change, grows along with us. Sometimes, it doesn't. So you
notice you're a bit bored, or it's easier to get irritated, or you're
feeling sad or a bit depressed. This can be a sign that you and the
person or thing you've been involved in are drifting apart; you're not
fitting together anymore. You begin to wonder if you want to continue,
but the thought is subtle, and you push it away.<br />
Or it could be
that your health isn't what it used to be. What you've always been able
to do isn't possible anymore. You want to hold onto to your identity as
it <i>has</i> been, but, realistically, you can't.<br />
<b>Second Phase: Fear</b><br />
The
thought/feeling becomes stronger: "I'm not happy in this, and I haven't
been happy for a while now. Or maybe this was never the right thing for
me. But, OMG, it would be awful to leave. What would I do? Would I be
alone? Would I be able to find another job/profession? I don't want to
change my life to meet where my health is now. What's going to happen to
me?" All the negatives rear up like rattle snakes threatening you. You
try to push the whole thing down again, but it doesn't work like it did
before.<br />
<b>Third Phase: Try to Improve Your Current Situation</b><br />
Usually,
the best thing to do is to see if things can change within the
relationship, job, profession, or whatever it is that you just can't
make your peace with anymore. If it's a relationship, bring up what's
been upsetting you, what you'd like to see change. Share your
imagination of the ideal relationship. See how your partner
reacts-verbally, non-verbally and in their behavior. If they agree, if
they have the same vision you do, if they begin to act differently and
this makes you feel close again, great!<br />
Same thing with a job or
profession. Say there's a certain negative person or culture that makes
you feel hopeless. The same conflicts come up over and over; a way of
doing things that's just not effective. Whatever it is. Think about what
how you'd like it to be. What part can <i>you</i> do to try to make
it how you want it? Something that would make you freer, more able to be
yourself. Try speaking up, making suggestions, or changing how you do
your job. See if it makes a difference in the whole environment, or not.
If there are treatments you can undergo to have a chance at bettering
your health, you could try them. How would you make the changes?<br />
<b>Fourth Phase: Actively Imagine the Transition</b><br />
OK.
You've tried your very best to be who you are in your current/old
situation. You've brought up your needs to you partner; you've worked
out how to feel close again. In your job, you've done your best to
change things so that you can feel fulfilled in what's, after all, a
huge part of your days. You've tried the treatments. But it becomes
clear your partner just doesn't share your vision and doesn't support
the changes. Or your boss continues to berate people, the conflicts at
work continue to cycle with no resolution in sight. You feel hopeless,
you hate going to work. Whatever the situation you've been trying to
change, the changes just don't stick. It keeps reverting back to
negative.<br />
Now is the time to begin to imagine what you want in
great detail. At first, you'll have no idea. There's a blank space in
front of you. There's a feeling of drifting, of nothingness, of <i>not knowing</i>.
Stay with that feeling, while also staying with knowing the change
needs to happen. Interestingly, ideas will start to come, little-or
big-inspirations will arise, you'll meet new people who share your
interests, and so on. Grab onto these. Write down the ideas and
inspirations; get to know the new people; follow leads, and so on. The
more you do this, the more clarity you'll achieve.<br />
<b>Fifth Phase: Do It. Make the Transition</b><br />
You've
got the end-goal in your mind. But of course you can't necessarily get
there all at once. Maybe you need to break the whole thing into
manageable chunks. A part of you might still be digging its heels in,
which will make you want to go off on tangents, or to drift in place,
while another part wants to move forward. Whenever you have energy to
take on a chunk, do it, even if it's a small thing. Keep the end-goal,
the vision, in your sight all the time-or as much as you can. When you
take a small or big step, give yourself lots of credit; appreciate your
courage. And then take on the next chunk, until you're in your new
place. Or, if it's health related, keep working on yourself inside,
until you've made a shift to accept what is and live as peacefully as
possible in it.James Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791785741526854591.post-86970245780265232242017-02-28T00:28:00.000-08:002017-06-16T08:30:47.895-07:00Healthy Habits - Know the Biological Reasons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You Know Habits are hard to break right? That's why the sooner in
life we build good, healthy habits, the easier it is to keep them and
stay as healthy as possible. And when good habits are in place, it's
easier to resist bad ones. In this article, you will study about the
biological reasons behind the habits that we all have.<br />
Eating
<br />
<b> </b>Hunger is analyzed by three different components<br />
<ul>
<li>
Biological</li>
<li>
Learned</li>
<li>
Cognitive</li>
</ul>
Biological
<br />
Stomach Contraction Theory - This was given by Cannon and Washburn. It states that we are hungry when our stomach contracts.Washburn
trained himself to swallow a balloon which was attached to a tube then
the balloon was inflated inside of his stomach. When the balloon was
inflated he did not feel hungry. Later this theory was opposed by fact
that people whose stomachs were removed still felt hungry.<br />
<b>Glucose Theory</b> - It states that we feel hungry when our blood glucose level is low.<br />
<b>Insulin Theory</b>
- It states that we feel hungry when our insulin level increases
suddenly in our bodies. This theory indicates that we have to increase
our insulin level in order to feel hungry.<br />
<b>Heat Production Theory</b>
- It states that we feel hungry when our body temperature drops and
when it rises hunger decreases.This theory indicates that we eat more
during winters.<br />
Learned
<br />
As human beings, we cannot ignore psychological part, the learned
and cognitive components of hunger. Hunger depends on the external time
also. For eg. At 12 PM we feel hungry because it is lunch time. This is
because of learned behavior. There are four basic tastes: sweet, sour,
bitter and salty. People keep feeling hungry until these four tastes are
satisfied.<br />
Cognition
<br />
Satiety is the absence of hunger. There are two mechanisms: at brain level and at gastrointestinal level.<br />
At
brain level: There are two places in the hypothalamus: gives
Ventromedial nuclei and Lateral hypothalamus. Ventromedial Nivea signal
when to stop eating. Lateral hypothalamus gives a signal to start
eating.<br />
At gastrointestinal level: Satiety signals come from stomach which controls short term eating.<br />
Sleeping
<br />
Two Process Model of Sleep Regulation<br />
The sleep-wake cycle is
regulated by two separate biological mechanisms. It was proposed by
Alexander Borbely. There are two processes:<br />
<ol>
<li>
Circadian rhythm</li>
<li>
Sleep-wake homeostasis</li>
</ol>
Circadian rhythm -
<br />
A daily cycle of biological activity. It is also known as Process.
The regulation of body's internal processes and alertness levels is
governed by the internal biological or circadian clock.Body's
built in circadian clock is centered in the hypothalamus in the brain.
It is the main mechanism that controls the timing of sleep and is
independent of the amount of preceding sleep or wakefulness. This
internal clock is coordinated with day-night (light-dark cycle) over 24
hour period and regulate body's sleep patterns.<br />
Sleep-wake homeostasis -
<br />
It is the accumulation of hypogenic ( sleep-inducing ) substances in
the brain which generates a homeostatic sleep drive. It is also known
as Process. External factors eg. Food, drugs, meal times, naps, stress,
exercise.<br />
Sleeping Disorders<br />
<ul>
<li>
<b>Somnipathy or Dyssomnia</b> - Less than adequate sleep to
the extent that this may interfere with the person's normal physical,
mental and emotional functioning.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<b>Hypersomnia or Narcolepsy</b> - Excessive sleep. People who
have Hypersomnia can fall asleep anytime. For instance, at work or
while, they are driving. Its causes are sleep deprivation (not having
enough sleep at night), being overweight, drug or alcohol abuse, head
injury such as multiple sclerosis, Prescription drugs such as
tranquilizers, depression.</li>
</ul>
<b>Diagnosis</b> - Doctor asks about your sleeping habits, how much you sleep at night, any emotional problem.<b>Treatment</b> - Stimulants, antidepressants are given.<br />
<ul>
<li>
<b>Insomnia</b> - Lack of sleep. Its cause is stress and
anxiety - school or job-related to pressure, family or marriage problem,
serious illness or death in the family. If short time insomnia is not
managed properly it can morph into the long-term problem, persisting
long after the original stress has passed.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<b>Fatal familial insomnia</b> - It is a rare genetic sleep
disorder. It appears in late adulthood. In this, malformed proteins
called prions attack the thalamus, an organ in the brain that plays a
major role in regulating sleep. The victim gradually completely loses
the ability to sleep - first the ability to nap and then the ability to
sleep at night. It is followed by hallucinations then rapid weight loss
and then dementia (memory loss).</li>
</ul>
Running
<br />
Twenty minutes of light running is enough to increase the dopamine
level. In high-intensity sports such as Freeletics, your brain starts to
release dopamine just after a few minutes. This release makes you more
alert, more focused and improves your concentration. The more you run,
the more dopamine is released.After running, the level of
dopamine decreases while the level of serotonin increases. Serotonin is a
hormonal antagonist to dopamine. It is involved in the regulation of
sleep-wake cycle and body temperature. It controls appetite and lowers
pain sensitivity. It is primarily known as a feel-good hormone because
its release leads to a feeling of inner satisfaction.James Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791785741526854591.post-63175523281126562392017-02-13T00:27:00.000-08:002017-06-16T08:30:29.007-07:00A Peep Into Healthy Eating<div id="article-content">
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Every human being is different. That is the reason even fitness
experts assess people before suggesting to them fitness regimen or diet
regimen that suits them. But at the same time, there are certain things
that are common to everyone. One such common thing is that there are
certain general diet rules that are applicable to everyone. Therefore,
when you have decided to eat the right foods to lead a healthy life, you
must first know these common rules.<br />
In fact, the first step
towards achieving your aim of putting in place the right diet regimen
for you is to know these common rules that are basic to healthy eating.
Let us now have a look.<br />
1. Your diet should mainly consist of fiber foods<br />
Researchers
have conducted several studies to prove the benefits of fiber foods
such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, items made of wholesome grains,
etc. These researches have revealed that fiber foods can amazingly keep a
number of diseases at bay. They include even chronic diseases like
cancer, diabetes, heart and cardiovascular ailments, obesity, and so on.<br />
Fiber
foods are low-calorie foods and hence, you need not fear if they will
increase your weight. WHO has released a report in which they have
provided convincing evidence to prove that those who consistently eat
fruits, vegetables and items made of wholesome grains face decreased
risks of obesity. On the other hand, high-calorie foods like processed
foods containing high amounts of fat and sugar will certainly lead to
overweight and obesity.<br />
Further, fiber foods contain various other
nutrients as well and hence, they reduce the risks of insulin
resistance and diabetes. The best benefit is that you will feel full if
you eat these foods but at the same time, you need not worry about
weight gains as they contain fewer calories.<br />
Researches have also
proved that if you eat 3 to 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits a
day, you will not face risks like stroke, heart diseases, etc. If you
eat more than 5 servings, the risks are even less. Simply put, the more
the intake of vegetables and fruits is, the less are the risks of stroke
and heart diseases.<br />
2. Say 'no' to processed foods and processed meats<br />
A
report released by IARC, otherwise called The International Agency for
Research on Cancer, that is a wing of WHO, reveals that processed meats
can be the main cause of colorectal cancer. The report also says that
red meat can "probably" cause cancers of colon and pancreas as well as
prostate cancer.<br />
Further, a study has proved that obesity can
cause various types of cancers and hence, you must make it a point to
avoid processed foods and processed meats that can make you obese.<br />
3. Reduce intake of sugar<br />
A
survey reveals that the sugar intake of an average American is 22
teaspoons a day. But the recommended quantity according to the American
Heart Association is 6 teaspoons and 9 teaspoons of sugar for women and
men respectively. This means if you have the habit of frequently
drinking sugared beverages or fruit juices or eating cakes, pastries,
cookies and daily desserts such as ice creams, you will be consuming
more sugar than what your body requires. Excessive intake of sugar will
lead to obesity and weight gain. Remember also that not all fruit drinks
are entirely fruit juices.<br />
4. Drink plenty of water<br />
Many of
us overlook the health benefits of water. Water is undoubtedly the
healthiest drink and it contains zero calories. If you drink one or two
glasses of water about 30 minutes before your meal, you will consume
less of food and so, water can help in bringing down your calorie intake
also.<br />
If you drink plenty of water, your system will remain
hydrated. So, you will be able to stay alert which means your brain will
function more efficiently. You will not feel fatigued also if you
remain hydrated. The habit of drinking sufficient water daily can help
you in preventing health issues such as constipation, kidney stones,
etc.<br />
5. Consume less salt<br />
Remember that salt is as dangerous
as sugar. While excessive consumption of sugar can lead to issues like
diabetes, obesity, weight gain, etc., excessive intake of salt can cause
high blood pressure, that is also called "hypertension." So, it is
necessary that you have to cut back on your sodium intake.<br />
Health
organizations like the American Heart Association and the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that our sodium intake should
be less than 2,500 milligrams a day. But a survey reveals that an
average American consumes 3,478 milligrams a day. There is no wonder
many Americans are suffering from issues like hyper-tension.<br />
Researches
conducted in the United States reveal the saltiest foods are processed
foods, packaged foods and those prepared in restaurants. So, you must
avoid eating processed and packaged foods. Similarly, you should go for
home-cooked foods instead of those prepared in restaurants.</div>
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9667650</div>
James Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791785741526854591.post-88162082569603846572017-01-24T00:26:00.000-08:002017-06-16T08:30:10.412-07:00How to Achieve a Healthy Diet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's an important factor that has a huge impact on your overall fitness level and general wellness: your diet.<br />
What is a "diet?"<br />
The word "diet" means "a collection of food items that a person regularly eats."<br />
Every
person has a current diet. If you know someone who eats cheesy potatoes
and cheeseburgers six days a week, that's still considered a diet
(admittedly, a very unhealthy one).<br />
If you want to slim down and
tone up, start by examining the composition of your present diet to
determine how many calories you are consuming per day. Analyzing your
current diet can also reveal if you are getting enough essential
nutrients, water and dietary fiber.<br />
What is a quality diet?<br />
A
quality diet provides a balanced mix of macronutrients and
micronutrients in the right amounts. Here is a quick recap of the
essential nutrients that our bodies need to function normally:<br />
<u><b>Macronutrients</b></u><br />
Protein
- Protein repairs and builds muscle tissues. People who regularly
perform cardio and weight training need sufficient protein to build lean
muscle mass.<br />
Both male and female bodybuilders consume large
quantities of protein-rich food to ensure that fat stores are kept to a
minimum and that muscle size and strength are maintained.<br />
<b>Carbohydrates </b>-
Carbohydrates are the main fuel of the body. Our bodies transform
carbohydrates into glucose, a usable form of sugar. The body can also
store glucose in the muscles.<br />
When glucose is stored in the muscles, it's transformed into a substance called glycogen.<br />
It
may be more difficult to lose weight if you completely remove
carbohydrates from your diet because the body needs carbs as its primary
energy source.<br />
<b>Fat </b>- Fat performs numerous important functions in the body, including vitamin absorption, transport and storage.<br />
It
also creates a padding around the muscles that acts as a shock
absorber. Fat also improves a person's thermoregulation and prevents too
much heat from escaping the body especially during cold weather.<br />
Excess
calories from food are stored in our fat tissues. When we lose weight,
we don't actually "burn off" fat cells. Our fat cells simply shrink as
the excess fat is burned off through exercise and other physical
activities.<br />
<b>Water </b>- Keeping your body hydrated is
easy! All you will ever need is pure water. My personal rule for
hydration is equally easy to remember. If you're thirsty, reach for
water 99% of the time.<br />
If you drink soda, start reducing your
daily consumption and replace it with water. You'll soon feel more
energized because your body is not under the constant influence of
diuretics found in soda.<br />
<b>Dietary</b> <b>Fiber </b>- Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular and digestive health.<br />
Fiber has the ability to block some of the lipids or "bad cholesterol" from being absorbed by the body.<br />
Insoluble
fiber on the other hand (fiber that cannot be digested by the body)
acts as a cleaning machine inside the colon and helps you clear your
colon effortlessly.<br />
<u><b>Micronutrients</b></u><br />
<b>Vitamins </b>-
Vitamins are used by the body to maintain normal growth and
development. Vitamins also enhance major and minor functions within the
body such as eyesight and skin growth.<br />
Minerals - Minerals are inorganic substances derived from the food we eat. The body cannot naturally create minerals.<br />
You
have to make sure that you are getting enough minerals from your diet.
Essential minerals include calcium, iron, potassium and zinc. Minerals
naturally occur in meats, vegetables and fruits.<br />
<i>How do you know if you are getting enough nutrients?</i><br />
Losing
weight does not mean you have to sacrifice your nutrition. Weight loss
actually comes naturally when you modify your diet and add more of the
best food on the planet like beans, legumes, green leafy vegetables,
cruciferous vegetables, etc.<br />
Superfoods like spinach and broccoli
provide only a modest amount of calories in every serving so it would be
challenging to "overeat" when your diet is comprised of at least 85%
healthy, whole food. Usually, it's the nutrient-deficient food items
like candy bars and hamburgers that are responsible for caloric overload
in a person's diet.James Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6791785741526854591.post-58924415547708802302017-01-10T00:25:00.000-08:002017-06-16T08:29:54.354-07:00The Real Dangers of Sugar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3uX9O2x3_u1u9fYwc-oyvUDCAIuxJCmF-FyYvSv8G9THXftOl2YFtL6-Esn8p6bq51J2XX3E-PiDxYFGAG4uEmc80_36TmuhwjVfIoEeg4NAJRNlUreR-HDmuZntWZoSthsTzFKpsO4/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3uX9O2x3_u1u9fYwc-oyvUDCAIuxJCmF-FyYvSv8G9THXftOl2YFtL6-Esn8p6bq51J2XX3E-PiDxYFGAG4uEmc80_36TmuhwjVfIoEeg4NAJRNlUreR-HDmuZntWZoSthsTzFKpsO4/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
As modern society continues to find ways to make food production
cheaper and faster, the quality of our food also continues to decline.<br />
There
is a very real reason why there are now advocacies against processed
food. It seems that food manufacturers have completely forgotten their
ethical obligation to consumer health by ignoring warnings from the
medical establishment about adding too much sugar and preservatives to
food.<br />
What's happening to processed food?<br />
These past few
years, consumer wellness organizations have monitored a steady climb in
the amount of additives that manufacturers add to common food items and
beverages like bread, soda and even yogurt.<br />
That's why it's best
to keep away from any food or beverage that lasts more than a week in
the cupboard. Imagine what they put in food that can last for 2 years in
storage!<br />
How much sugar are we really consuming?<br />
The amount
of sugar present in our food nowadays is especially worrying because
current medical studies have uncovered some very real dangers of
regularly consuming table sugar.<br />
Refined sugars and HFCS (high
fructose corn syrup) can be found in pancake mixes, chocolate, candies,
cured meats, potato snacks, cupcakes, marshmallows and almost any other
food or beverage that you can think of.<br />
A single serving of
regular soda contains an average of 10 teaspoons of table sugar. If you
think that isn't much, try consuming 10 teaspoons of sugar at home. Do
you feel nauseated already? That's what soda companies have been using
to flavor sodas for more than four decades now.<br />
Some forty years
ago, people thought that consuming table sugar only increased your
likelihood of developing bad teeth and diabetes.<br />
Newer studies
have now linked sugar to numerous health conditions, including metabolic
syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).<br />
As a
natural health advocate advocate, I want to emphasize the importance of
having the latest information on the food that we eat to help people
make better food choices every day.<br />
What are the real dangers of sugar?<br />
Sugar is one of the deadliest additives in food today. Here's why:<br />
<b>Heart Threat</b>
- Sugar has been shown to affect the involuntary muscle activity of the
heart. A molecule found in ordinary table sugar called G6P has a
negative impact on the heart tissue at the cellular level.<br />
Excess
consumption of sugar and a sedentary lifestyle can increase a person's
risk of developing heart failure. Heart failure often claims people's
lives in less than a decade after diagnosis.<br />
<b>Belly Fat</b>
- There has been an alarming rise in obesity rates in teenagers and
small children these past few decades. One of the major contributing
factors to this trend is an increase in the consumption of fructose.
Fructose is an inexpensive form of sugar used in soda, ice cream,
cookies and even bread products.<br />
Fructose appears to boost the
growth of visceral fat or the fat found in our midsections. When a child
develops mature visceral fat early in life, he/she has a higher risk of
being obese in adulthood.<br />
<b>Deadly Appetite</b> - Our
bodies are naturally equipped with mechanisms that tell us when to stop
eating. Studies show that sugar has found a way to suspend those natural
mechanisms. Consuming foods and beverages rich in sugar contributes to
the development of a condition called leptin resistance.<br />
When a
person has leptin resistance, they don't feel full and satisfied with
moderate amounts of food, so they continue consuming excessive amounts
of food every time they eat.<br />
Our bodies also have a tough time
detecting the presence of sugar in beverages. It's difficult for the
body to send a signal that you already consumed a lot of calories from
soda or juices because this substance just doesn't register the same way
as other types of food.<br />
<b>Toxic to the Liver</b> -
Excessive consumption of table sugar and other variants like high
fructose corn syrup can disturb normal liver function, which can then
lead to liver disease. Medical researchers have discovered that fructose
and other sugars make use of the same metabolic channels that ethanol
uses, which makes it just as dangerous as alcohol.James Parezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555061172354026922noreply@blogger.com0