Are You Over-Thinking Your Diet?

Are You Over-Thinking Your Diet?


Are You Over-Thinking Your Diet?


If you stop anyone on the street in this country today, there is a great chance that they will be on a diet. Low-fat, low-carb, no meat, no dairy, sugar free, gluten free: these types of diets are wide and varied. When looking at the world's population, the communities that have the highest rates of longevity show a large array in the types of foods they consume, but one commonality is seen across all of the world's oldest communities--they eat a high percentage of plant based foods, which are relatively low fat.
Many health experts are coming into the agreement that there is no one "cure all" diet for every person, but the more plants you eat, the better it is for your health. Aim to get more of your calories from plants per day than from animal sources. It is really that simple.
Okinawa, Japan, continues to be among one of the oldest living and healthiest populations on Earth. The people in Okinawa show an 80 percent lower instance of heart disease, 75 percent lower cases of prostate and breast cancer, and 67 percent lower risk of dementia than the population of the U.S. These people regularly consume a high amount of carbohydrates, including grains and legumes. They eat about 6 percent of their diet from fat, low animal products, and high amounts of sea vegetables.
Of course, you do not have to adopt a Japanese diet to increase your longevity. Simply focusing on increasing vegetable intake can drastically lower your risk of heart disease, and increasing consumption of raw vegetables may help you to get to 100. One study found that people who ate five servings of vegetables and fruits daily, lived about 3 years longer than those who did not, even eating just one fruit can extend your life by 1.5 years.
The answer to a healthier life really is that simple. Increase plant consumption, make sure that more of your daily calories are from plant sources. When preparing your dinner plate make sure that the majority is plant based. Try lowering meat consumption to once daily to decrease risk of heart disease. Doctors and cardiologists who emphasize an interest in healing and reversing chronic diseases with plant based diets, suggest that the first word of health advice should be simply, "eat more fruits and vegetables, raw when you can."
Always consult your chiropractor or primary care physician for all your health related advice
This nutrition article was written for The Joint Shea, a chiropractic office located at 7119 E Shea Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Click chiropractor Scottsdale for more The Joint locations near you.


Are You Getting Enough Fruits and Vegetables? Your Body Needs Them!

Are You Getting Enough Fruits and Vegetables? Your Body Needs Them
Are You Getting Enough Fruits and Vegetables? Your Body Needs Them!

No seriously, are you?
Think about it. You may initially think you are. Then you may realize you aren't. The USDA states you need between 2-3 cups of fruits AND vegetables per day, depending on your age and activity level. I personally think we need more than that. Where do you stand? Are you getting the recommended 2-3 cups of produce per day? If not, let's get you there. If you are getting that amount, can you fit in more?
At least half of your plate at every meal should be produce. I also try to get in more than what the USDA recommends because sadly in today's world, conventional produce may not be as healthful as it once was. Our food is genetically modified, sprayed with chemicals, and picked before ready so it can be shipped hundreds of miles away and then "gassed" to ripen just before you purchase it. There is no way possible that a tomato of this caliber can be as nutritious, or even flavorful, as a homegrown, organic tomato that was the norm so many years ago.
So how can you squeeze more in without feeling like you just had Thanksgiving dinner? It's easy!
Smoothies are a wonderful breakfast, even if you eat something else with it (they also make great snacks). Add fresh or frozen fruit to any other smoothie ingredients you would like. You can even add vegetables! Carrots and pumpkin taste wonderful, and spinach and kale, while they may color your smoothie a bright green color, are completely covered up by the fruit you pair it with (pineapple is a great one).
Juice! Juicing is an easy way to get in extra vegetables. Be careful with too much fruit juice, though; although it's natural sugar, it's still a concentrated source of sugar. The best juice would be mostly vegetables with a little fruit for flavor. Apples are wonderful. Make sure when juicing that you use organic produce for at least "The Dirty Dozen", since you will be concentrating your fruits and veggies -http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
Add fruit to cereals, salads and desserts. I love to have mixed berries on top of my frozen yogurt. Chopped fruit makes a great addition to many savory dishes as well, such as a mango salsa on salmon or dried fruit in a couscous dish.
Add chopped veggies to almost any dish! Soups, stews, pastas and many other main dishes can all benefit from added vegetables. Try having salad with your dinner; not only will you get in more veggies, the fiber will help to fill you up so you eat less of the other foods. Throw extra toppings on your burger or sandwiches - instead of a thin slice of tomato, some pickles and one iceberg lettuce leaf, try a thick slice of tomato, onion, cucumber, bell pepper and a few leaves of a dark leafy green like romaine or spinach. Dining out? Ask for extra vegetables to be added to any dish.
Snacks are a wonderful way to get in these extra foods - a piece of fresh, ripe juicy fruit is a wonderful break from your day. Cut up raw vegetables are fun to munch - try dipping in plain Greek yogurt seasoned with herbs or in hummus.
As you can see, it's very easy to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Your body and brain will thank you!
I am a nutritionist, healthy cuisine chef, wellness coach and massage therapist. Despite all this, I continue to have an insatiable thirst for knowledge on all things healthy. This leads me to have a lot of valuable "brain sludge" which I hope to share with you.
http://www.thebalancedcircle.blogspot.com/



The Detoxifying Properties of Wheatgrass

The Detoxifying Properties of Wheatgrass


The Detoxifying Properties of Wheatgrass


Fifty million years ago, our guardian angel, the grass, arrived to our planet - to make life possible, and to prepare the Earth for the human race.
~Edmond Bordeaux Szekely
Einstein laid the groundwork for nearly all natural health care models when he showed the world that everything, including the human body, at its most fundamental level, is vibrating energy that follows natural laws. Health is the result of cooperating with these natural laws of our being, and science supports the premise that there are no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better obtained by plant-based foods.
The Standard American Diet (or SAD) for most Americans consists of ultra-high level fat content foods with high levels of preservatives. Toxins from red and white meats, water, air and other environmental factors can leave your insides feeling worn and run-down. An average American will eat 4-6 meals/day and have a typical bowl-movement once a day. This leaves anywhere from 5-8 meals of food sitting in your system at any given time.
Natural plant based foods are the Holy Grail. Their chemical and biological composition creates a symphony of sustainability, proper functioning, and internal healing that is in direct contrast to the stresses and illnesses placed on the body by animal based and heavily processed foods.
Dr. Ann Wigmore founded the Hippocrates Institute, developed the Living Foods Lifestyle (raw, plant-based nutrition), and introduced wheatgrass to America over 40 years ago. She did extensive research and found that it was possible to heal the body of serious dis-ease by taking in the proper nutrients and eliminating toxins from the body. Her research showed that live foods and wheatgrass promoted a considerable rate of recovery for many suffering from advanced levels of dis-ease.
Wheatgrass juice has the amazing ability to detoxify the body almost immediately after consumption. When beginning a wheatgrass detox, start slowly, drinking only one ounce of juice per day. As the body begins to eliminate toxins, old drug deposits and poisons, it can be much like experiencing the flu. Headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, occasional vomiting, dizzy and spaced-out feelings, and nerve symptoms can develop depending on your level of toxicity. These symptoms usually begin to ease up after the first week. After the detox phase, the chlorophyll in the grass juice begins to build and refine the tissues.
Dr. Ann Wigmore's detox protocol is as follows:
~Begin with one ounce of juice per day.
~Drink the juice 1 hour before meals and at least 2 hours after.
~If detox symptoms are not happening, after about a week increase the amount gradually... over a period of weeks.
~The maximum recommended amount is 4 to 6 ounces per day. Most find 2 to 3 ounces to be energizing and detoxifying.
~She also recommends that during the initial two weeks, in order to alleviate detox symptoms, daily enemas and a colonic should be taken once per week. Anytime a live juice or live food regime is initiated, the body becomes strong enough to eliminate toxins at the cell level, and the blood stream and lymphatic system begin to carry them out. The organs of elimination include the bowel, kidneys, lungs, and skin. It is important that the bowels be kept clear with either enemas or colonics. Toxins that sit in the bowel tend to reabsorb into the bloodstream. This is what causes symptoms such as headaches and nausea. Ingesting fiber, such as ground flax seed, is also helpful.
~Drink plenty of water... at least one quart for every fifty pounds of body weight. When toxins are eliminated via the kidneys, skin and other detox problems are less likely to develop.
~Toxins in the body tend to find a way out, and it is best if we keep them moving out through the proper channels. Living food (raw plant-based nutrition) also assists in removing toxins naturally.
~People who are extremely ill and begin wheat grass should do it under the direction of a health practitioner.
~It is also recommended that while going through detox, one should cut down on the amount of animal protein eaten. Try to focus on fruits and vegetables (raw), and fruit and vegetable juices. This allows the body to use all its energy to eliminate rather than using this energy to digest food.
~After a short period of time, many people notice that the juice makes them nauseous. This is a typical reaction and might be the body's signal to slow down a bit or change from wheatgrass to barley grass juice.
~Dr. Wigmore found that after several weeks or months on the juice, the body begins to heal present and past illnesses that have been suppressed.
Dr. Bernard Jensen says that the body heals from top down and from the inside out, and backwards in the order of whatever was wrong last.

Will an Adult Weight Loss Camp Work For You?

Will an Adult Weight Loss Camp Work For You
Will an Adult Weight Loss Camp Work For You

Sometimes no matter what, those extra pounds won't fall off, and you're constantly having trouble sticking to a diet. You've tried out gym memberships, personal trainers, and even weight loss membership clubs. Still, you can't lose the weight. You're not willing to give up just yet though. Perhaps a weight loss camp can give you the boost you need. They seem to work really well on reality television, could one of them help you?
If everything that happened on television were true, then I would have planted my magic beans by now and be rubbing the golden goose instead of sharing my thoughts with you. Television shows such as NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" aren't genuine despite the so called reality of the shows. On these programs, you never see what really goes on off camera, and these shows are edited for entertainment and persuasion so that consumers will buy products associated with the television feature. Not one size fits all either. Just because one person loses a ton of weight on a specific diet and exercise plan that does not mean that the results will be the same for other people.
Many people sign up for weight loss retreats only to leave them before they are finished. Sometimes, they despise the menu choices and caloric restrictions and feel the exercise schedule is more dangerous than beneficial.
Others realize that many of the camps are more like spas than fitness centers. At these camps, many programs are optional and guests aren't encouraged to diet and exercise. The emphasis is more on becoming one with you. With fees that can range in the thousands of dollars per week, weight loss camps that don't help people lose weight are nothing more than scams. Imagine how you would feel if you spent that much money and didn't lose any weight at all. In some instances, people have attended weight loss retreats and actually gained weight.
There is no shortage of weight loss camps across the United States. Getting fit is big money, and companies are capitalizing on the rapidly growing number of obese people in the country. Before you sign up for a program, you should checkout the program's website. Ignore the guest testimonials on this website and look for independent reviews elsewhere. A call to the staffing director and a personal tour of the camp may answer any additional questions you may have. Before you begin the program, be sure and consult with your physician. Your goal is to get fit and live a healthy lifestyle, not to injure yourself.
Jayan writes about yoga, nutrition and weight loss. If you liked this article, please visit Gold Mutual Funds and USAGX.



Water Fasting Weight Loss - Good or Bad?

Water Fasting Weight Loss - Good or Bad?


Water Fasting Weight Loss - Good or Bad?

Water fasting is, exactly that! Just water-no solid food, juices, coffee, tea or milk. Are there any benefits to such drastic measures? And does it work?
Well a surgeon may request this just 24 hours before an operation or some other medical procedure, or it may be part of a religious ritual. Maybe some people are happy to just drink pure water for a short length of time thinking this will flush out all the build of toxins in the system and restore a natural balance. Water fasting weight loss can occur over a period of time. If you are considering fasting for long periods it is always wise to consult with your GP first and foremost giving your reasons as to why you want to engage in this other than other forms of dieting.
A one day fast, once a week, once a month appears to be the most common time limit but even then you must prepare yourself for this. A few days before engaging on a water fasting weight loss diet spend a couple of days drinking fruit juices and eating very little so that your body starts to get used to not having solid food. Water is one of the main important elements in your diet, without this it can lead to all sorts of problems with kidney function, circulatory and digestive systems. When you water fast it gives the body an opportunity to cleanse itself. How much water you drink is personal to yourself, but on average drink a large glass full of pure water, with nothing added, every few hours or so depending on your size and how active you are. Any clean water is adequate, filtered tap water and bottled water is fine provided it is just pure water-nothing added. If your urine is pale yellow then you know you have an adequate intake. If you are running to the toilet every few minutes then that is too much, and if your urine is a dark yellow-then you will need to drink more as you will dehydrate.
Water fasting for weight loss can work and will definitely show results but you have to be very strong willed and determined to water fast for many days. It has been claimed that to show any real results then you have to water fast for at least 21 days to a maximum of 40 which, in my book, is a very daunting and drastic measure! However if you have medical problems i.e. heart problems, hyperglycaemia, or see a GP regularly for other complaints then have a consultation and get monitored by a health professional first, and during, this diet. Dizziness and a feeling of weakness are common ailments during water fasting weight loss diet.
There is no doubt that water fasting can help you shed pounds but it also slows down your metabolism, as your body expects solid food, and once you start to slowly introduce food back into your system then your body will hold onto this food storing it as fat and the weight you have lost could be regained. So perhaps the water fasting weight loss diet should be part of a healthier lifestyle, to include a balanced diet with regular exercise, to obtain a good overall feeling of well-being with the added bonus of weight loss.
This article was written by Alex Boylin, who lives in the UK. If you found this article helpful, you might like to read Alex's other articles here at Ezine and his eBook "The Truth About Weight Loss" which can be found here [http://www.quickandeasyweightlossme.com]

Most Nutritional Recipe : Beetroot Benefits

Most Nutritional Recipe : Beetroot Benefits
Most Nutritional Recipe : Beetroot Benefits

recipe beetroot is a vegetable deep red with an acquired taste that has been receiving a lot of coverage in the news. It has been associated with better endurance, better blood flow and blood pressure.

But what is the truth about recipe beetroot?

recipe beetroot Facts

The site says lovebeetroot.co.uk plant became popular in Roman times and has been used to treat fever, constipation, wounds, skin problems - and has been used as an aphrodisiac.

Most beet for sale is round and red, but versions of yellow and white stripes are available.

The recipe beetroot flavor is described as sweet, earthy and tender to eat. It is grown in the ground and is related to turnips, rutabagas and beets.

Beet appears in recipes of the best chefs, including Jamie Oliver and Heston Blumenthal.

If you beet as one of your five a day, which contains potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B and C, folic acid, carbohydrates, proteins, antioxidants and soluble fiber.

recipe beetroot for managing blood pressure

Researchers have known for some time that the juice can help reduce blood pressure, but in 2010, British researchers found that nitrate is the special ingredient of beets, which lowers blood pressure and may help in the fight against heart disease.

In Queen Mary University of London study, healthy participants had to drink a glass of beet juice, while others had a dummy (placebo) drink. Others took nitrate tablets.

Blood pressure was reduced within 24 hours in people who took nitrate tablets and those who drank recipe beetroot.

The researchers admitted that Boots  beet juice is a love it or hate it kind of drink, but found people in the study leave? I do not care much when they drank daily.

People with high blood pressure can be of several shelves, so a more natural approach could be popular if confirmed the initial results.

The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation and published online in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.

recipe beetroot for the brain and dementia

Drinking recipe beetroot juice increases blood flow to the brain in the elderly, who may be able to fight the progression of dementia, a 2010 study suggested.

Cause Of Constipation - All Things You Need To Know

cause of constipation
cause of constipation

Cause of constipation in general, constipation is caused by the slow movement of digested food in the intestine. As a result of this slow movement, the question that is digested more of your fluid collected during passage through the digestive system causing hard stools when he is ready to be expelled from the body cause of constipation.

cause of constipationcan often be corrected with foods that are rich in fiber, drink plenty of water and eat, and stay away from food or other that causes constipation, such as cheese and white bread limiting.

cause of constipation However, other reasons based diet why constipation occurs, there are a multitude of non-food or paramedical causes constipation.

Some of them are:

Drugs

cause of constipation Some medications can cause constipation episode. These include narcotic analgesics containing codeine (Tylenol # 3) or oxymoron (Percocet like). Antidepressants such as Heavily and Taffrail can also cause constipation. The anticonvulsant, iron supplements, blockers and calcium channel antacids containing aluminum, as Amphorae Basle and can also cause constipation.

You do not have to stop taking these drugs altogether to avoid being constipated if you make sure to eat enough fiber and drink enough water while taking them, but it is good to note that these medications can cause constipation, which otherwise may not occur.

Personal Habit

In addition to medications, if you go to the bathroom when the urge to defecate or lights can also cause constipation if the desire is generally ignored. This habit can lead to a reduction in the desire to have a bowel movement when necessary, resulting in constipation. The best way to avoid this cause of the constipation is just go when your body tells you you have to go.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women often experience constipation. The reasons for this are not fully understood, but it is generally believed that constipation occurs due to hormonal changes. These hormonal changes relax the intestinal muscles which makes it more difficult to move the stool through the intestines. In addition, the growing uterus puts pressure on the intestines, making it more difficult for them to get through fecal matter. This relaxation and constriction makes food move more slowly through the digestive system, which ultimately results in hard stools or constipation due to increased moisture is removed from the seat through the digestive system cause of constipation.

cause of constipation There are other causes unrelated to food, but the above are some of the most common.

Steve Dix is withe owner of the food for constipation  a website that provides more information about diet herbal remedies for constipation, including a list of foods that cause constipation and you should limit or avoid cause of constipation.