Healthy living and weight loss are the two requisites to get a slim and toned body. Today’s women believe in staying healthy. Weight reduction is not the only concern for them. There are countless methods and products in the market. These products can have detrimental side-effects. Millions of people are joining the weight loss race every minute, and striving to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In the world of mc Donald burgers and Dunkin doughnuts, abstinence can be hard to achieve. But the gluttony can lead us to the doorstep of diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. With ever-changing lifestyle, women have to balance their professional and personal lives. Eating healthy and staying fit has become a matter of concern. So, eating should be restricted to balanced, nutritionally dense, healthy diet and moderate meals. By taking more nutrients in the diet and supplementing daily fats with more healthy snacks like fresh fruit juices, salads, green vegetables can easily lead to weight loss.Moreover, vitamin supplements, minerals and calcium, amino acid supplements, cod liver oil, soy protein powders, acai berry act as natural foods to achieve a healthy body. Since calcium deficiency is the main concern for the women between the age group of 30-40, more calcium and milk products should be incorporated in the diet. In order to lose weight naturally, care should be taken that there is no side effect or permanent damage to any of the vital organs of the body. Women who have desk jobs should exercise regularly to make their body flexible and active. Workout at a gym or a daily brisk walk in a public park, or yoga will benefit can lead to a healthy living.Thus, a balanced diet and an active lifestyle is the perfect recipe for weight loss and healthy living
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All of this time we have talked about what to eat and what not to eat. Though, that is only part of the solution to a good diet. There is something that we also need to talk about. What we haven’t talked about is eating habits. When you should and shouldn’t eat. That is as important as what you eat. Why is it important? It is important because you don’t want to binge eat. You don’t want to eat a whole bunch of food at one time. This isn’t good for you. Does this sound like you? You skip breakfast because you are running late for work. You have a bunch of work that has been piling up, so you skip lunch. Instead you have a cup of coffee and some snack crackers. You go home and you eat enough for three meals. You are so hungry you could eat a live pig. You eat so much that you don’t think you will be able to walk for a week. You go watch some television and you fall asleep while watching it. Is this the same as eating three good meals each day? Eating one meal that is the same amount of food as three? No it isn’t. It isn’t because of the way that the body digests the food. All day long you have starved your body of what it needs, it can’t handle everything at once. All you are doing is over loading your body. The real risk of bingeing is this. You will end up eating things that you shouldn’t be eating. You will end up eating a ton of fast food or other food that is high and fat and easy to obtain. Why is this? This is because you are so hungry, you have to eat something now. This tends to be whatever you can get your hands on. Generally, it will be something that isn’t good for you. This is why it is important that you eat all three of your meals. You can snack in between those meals too. You want to make sure though that your snacks are healthy ones. Did you know that most doctors say that snacking is good for you? It gives you some energy when you are feeling like you are running on empty. The key thing to remember is to eat healthy snacks. Eat things that make your feel good, not things that are loaded with fat. Things that are loaded with fat will only make you feel drained and make you want to snack more. If you are having problems eating three meals a day, you really need to work on your diet. This is because you don’t want to binge eat. Binge eating will only hurt you in the long run. Don’t believe me? Look at it like this. You know what will happen if you don’t eat all day long. You will get hungry and you will get the shakes. If you start to get the shakes you will go for whatever that you can to make it stop. Here is what I do to help me eat three meals a day. I start off by making my lunch before I go to bed. I do this because I won’t do it when I wake up in the morning. I try my best just to get my clothes on and get out the door in good time so I am not late for work. I also pack some snacks for me to eat at work. I might put some veggie sticks and some fruit in little plastic bags. I love to eat these as snacks while I am at work. When it comes to breakfast, I try to think in advance what I want to eat. I will have all of the things that I need on hand incase I decide that I want something different. Will I want an omlet? I always have some cut veggies in the ice box incase I do. That way all I have to do is throw them in the pan and cook away. It takes the same amount of time to cook that as it would to cook anything else. I do the same with dinner. I will try to prepare whatever I can the day before. This way if I am too tired, all I have to do is put the stuff together. I might also make dinner while I am making my lunch. What do you mean make my dinner before I go to bed? Well, don’t have a cow. What I will do is prepare all of the things that I need in advance. I do this when I am using the crock pot. I just put the stuff in the crock pot in the morning before I go to work. I set it and then I head off to work. When I get home, I have a hot meal waiting for me. I can time it so that almost right after I walk in the door I have something hot to eat. Try it, you will be amazed. Eating three meals a day isn’t that hard. If you put your mind into it, you can do it fairly easily. All you have to do is be prepared. If you feel that you can’t do it, buy one of those event planners. Make a schedule for everything that you want to do.
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Survey found most people thought they were fine, while their docs disagreed By Peter WestHealthDay Reporter  TUESDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Despite rising rates of obesity and diabetes, a new survey has found that a majority of Americans believe their health is just fine - it's everyone else who has the problem. More than 50 percent of respondents said that other people's health "was going in the wrong direction." In contrast, only 17 percent said their own health was going in the wrong direction. Commissioned by GE Healthcare, The Cleveland Clinic and Ochsner Health System, the survey looked at how Americans and their health-care professionals rate the country's health. The findings, which were released Tuesday, show a big disconnect between how Americans rate their own personal health and how they rate the health of their fellow Americans. Furthermore, Americans seem to think they are in much better shape than their doctors believe they are. "Either people are denying reality about themselves or they don't have the correct knowledge and believe they are doing the right things," said study author Dr. Michael Roizen, chairman of The Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute. "Personally, I think there is a lot of misinformation [about healthy habits]." On the other hand, Roizen added, many physicians may be overstating their concern about the health of the general population because they tend to see the sickest. According to the study, which surveyed more than 2,000 people across the United States late last year: - Nearly 30 percent of the respondents gave themselves an A for managing their personal health, while 92 percent of doctors gave them a C or lower.
- Nearly a third of the study respondents gave themselves an A for eating healthy. Once again, 92 percent of doctors gave them a C or lower.
- About a third gave themselves an A for getting regular exercise, while 91 percent of physicians gave them a C or lower.
One disconnect is that in a land where a majority of people are overweight or obese, people tend to compare themselves favorably with their more overweight neighbors, explained Eva To, a registered dietician in White Plains, N.Y. "Everything is relative," she said. "In America, everything is big. But if you put them in an Asian country, they will compare themselves to someone else." Another problem seems to be that many respondents didn't know their basic health numbers - blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose level and other measures. Just 24 percent knew their body-mass index; 29 percent knew their blood glucose level; 33 percent knew their daily caloric intake; and only 36 percent knew their current cholesterol levels. And yet a majority reported that keeping those numbers in a good range was key to good health. Ninety-five percent agreed that regular checkups with their physicians were important, even though 70 percent said they had taken actions to avoid their doctors, such as hoping their health problems would go away on their own or asking a friend for medical advice instead. "It is important that patients communicate with their personal physicians to help manage their own health," said Dr. Scott Hayworth, president and CEO of Mount Kisco Medical Group in New York. "With this comes an obligation to be aware of how well they are following guidelines for exercise, diet and weight management." It's a task that may be easier said than done, according to To. "Americans are just not into prevention," she said. "If they are not sick, they think they are healthy. But most of the killers are silent diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. We don't feel it, but they are killers all the same." People also tend to rationalize their bad behavior by believing that the good things they do cancel out the negative. An extra slice of pizza, for example, may be justified as OK after a workout. "People may say they eat salad for lunch, but what about the salad dressing?" said To. "They look at one element and not look at the whole picture."
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By Michael Messner In this day and age of heart disease, we all need to be careful. Did you know that 50% of men will die from heart disease? It is sad, but true. It is important that you watch what you eat. Not only if you are a body builder, but even if you aren’t one. All of us should be concerned about our diet and our health. Take some notes and make sure that you pay attention. I’m sure there will be a few items on this list that you never dreamed were bad for you.. Solid oils. You know what these are. Stuff like Crisco and other shortening. I think that some people use them in place of lard and actually think it is better for them. If you are making a pie crust or something, skip the shortening and use the lard. Actually, the lard is better for you. People tend to use this kind of fat because it has a long shelf life. This stuff will stay good for ever. Personally, I hate the stuff. I can’t see why anyone would like it. I think it tastes awful and it feels awful in my mouth.Deep fried foods: You should avoid these like the plague. It is said that when something is deep fried, its DNA changes. I don’t know how true this is. I do know that deep fried foods have been linked to cancer.Refined flour and store bought flour: This has been bleached and everything under the sun done to it. When this happens, all the good stuff from it is taken away. The reason why you are eating is, is been stolen from you. Stick with good whole wheat. That is what is best for you.White rice: I would piss off most of the world if I said that you should never ever eat this stuff. Though, I have to say that brown rice is better for you. Brown rice has all the stuff white does and more. You can mix brown with white if you still aren’t used to eating the brown rice. Sugar: This is a no brainer really. You should try to consume as little as you possibly have to. Also, fructose is a building block for cholesterol. Keep that in mind when you have your next can of soda.Canned soups: These are almost always loaded with salt. If you want to buy these, make sure you get ones that are low in salt. If you have a craving for soup, see if your local deli makes soup. It will be lower in salt. That will make your heart happy.Alfredo sauces: Don’t buy items with already made Alfredo sauce. Usally they are loaded with butter and salt. You don’t want any of that. Processed meats: These tend to be high in fat and high in salt. They are a heart attack in a can. Hydrogenated palm oils: Avoid anything that is made with these. These will give you a heart attack faster than eating a bucket of lard. Lunchables and other items like them. They are loaded with salt and fat. I can’t believe any parent would give this junk to their kids. What comes in, must come out. That is true with the food we eat. This might sound like a disgusting topic, but it is something that we should talk about. You can tell if your diet is high in fat by the stool you produce. If it sinks straight to the bottom, you are eating too much fat. You would think that fat would float, but it doesn’t when it is coming out.Your stool should float in the toilet bowl. If it does, it is a hint that you have a good diet. If it doesn’t, then you need to change what you are eating. To remember this, I try to make up a little rhyme like what was heard during the final moments of the OJ trial. If it doesn’t float, you need to get off of the boat. Meaning, if it doesn’t float, you need to change your diet.
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Weight Gain is a major issue of concern for women around the world. With busy lifestyle, professional and personal commitments, a neglected body easily takes the toll. Study shows that a woman is more at risk of gaining weight than a man of same age.The main reasons behind weight gain can be listed below along with the specified reasons: • Lifestyle of the urban woman: Lack of sleep could be a major reason for putting on weight. Work pressure or a workaholic profile requires spending hours in front of a computer screen and does not involve movement and is restricted to a desk job. Careless eating habits, high fructose corn syrup in many sweet treats, too much consumption of soda and meal skipping can slow down the metabolic rate and cause overeating. • General Physical Factors: During menopause, hormonal changes trigger greater appetite, poor sleep and depression. This can lead to loss of appetite in people or can cause an increase in others. Inorder to fill the sadness, women tend to encourage emotional eating. Food allergies even the mild ones, may cause weight gain. Obesity tends to run in families; hence it can be genetic in nature. • Disease and Illness: Incidence of hypothyroidism results in fatigue, weight gain, depression, high cholesterol and contributes to unbalanced body functions such as, sudden weight gain. Eating simple carbs can cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar leading to cravings for sugary food, dysfunctions in the adrenal glands which can eventually lead to imbalance in body hormones and noticeable weight gain. • Medications: Steroids such as prednisone, often given to suppress arthritis, skin rashes and asthma result in weight gain. Antidepressants like Prozac or Zoloft, have common side effects of weight gain. Medications often prescribed to diabetics can have similar effect on the body. Even birth control pills may increase weight slightly. Hence, above mentioned are the main reasons behind the weight gain mystery
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Every type of energy that you express to someone else is reflected in your own inner experience. So if you express hatred toward some other person or subject matter, there is an element of that energy that is also expressed internally in that moment. To hate someone else is to subject yourself to some reflection of that own hate, in other words.
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To minimize wrinkles and keep skin looking healthy as you age, limit your sun exposure to no more than 1/2 hour daily and don't smoke. The following vitamins and natural extracts may also help: - Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10). This antioxidant may help encourage the turnover of new skin cells, protecting them from sun damage and minimizing wrinkles.
- Vitamin A. As a topical retinol, vitamin A may help reduce wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. It may also lighten age spots and encourage the sloughing off of dry skin cells.
- White and green tea extracts. Both have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and evidence shows that topical white tea extracts may help protect against sun damage, while green tea may protect against skin cancer.
- Mushrooms. Several species of Asian mushrooms have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties, and may help reduce redness and minimize inflammation
Source Weils, MD
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(NaturalNews) Weight Watchers has now officially endorsed Chicken McNuggets as a "healthy meal" in New Zealand, where McDonald's restaurants will begin carrying the Weight Watchers logo on several menu items. This bizarre and inexplicable decision has now made Weight Watchers the laughing stock of the health world where nutrition and weight loss experts normally don't use "McDonald's fast food" and "weight loss" in the same sentence.As The Guardian reports, "As part of the deal, which the company says is the first of its kind in the world, McDonald's will use the Weight Watchers logo on its menu boards and Weight Watchers will promote McDonald's to dieters."Nutritionists, not surprisingly, were shocked at the announcement. The idea of eating at McDonald's to lose weight seems a bit ridiculous, and anyone who believes that eating Chicken McNuggets will cause you to lose weight is arguably one nugget short of a Happy Meal. Sometimes you just have to point out the stupidity of these things, even at the risk of offending someone who has convinced themselves that eating more Chicken McNuggets is their ticket to a slim, fit and sexy body. Watch your weight balloon!Weight Watchers, by the way, never actually claims that eating the foods they endorse will cause you to lose weight. If you examine it carefully, even their name isn't really about weight loss. It's about weight watching... as in, watch your weight grow larger by the day...A "weight watch" is sort of like a "tornado watch" or a "tsunami watch." You keep your eyes peeled and wait for something disastrous to happen -- such as ballooning to 300 pounds while engaging in unhealthy eating McHabits based on snarfing down meat parts from factory-farmed cows raised in bovine concentration camps that might more accurately be called "Cowschwitz."If Weight Watchers is going to endorse McNuggets, then why not just endorse the entire McDonald's menu and throw the logo behind Big Macs and ice cream shakes, too? It's not like Weight Watchers is trying to "protect its reputation" by not crossing a line, you know. Once you've endorsed McDonald's as "healthy" food, that line is no longer anywhere in sight.Of course, McDonald's products merely join a long list of questionable foods marketed under the "Weight Watchers" brand name -- a brand that in my opinion has discovered great commercial success in selling the false hope of weight loss to clueless consumers who are unwilling to read ingredients lists on food labels.Not coincidentally, Weight Watchers has now become the "McDonald's" of the weight loss industry -- and industry filled with so many scams and shams that the idea of eating Chicken McNuggets to lose weight doesn't even seem that strange to many people.We live in a world where corporate promotional lies are disgusting at best, and criminal at worst. We're told that psychiatric drugs will make you happy, that chemotherapy will make you healthy and that eating at McDonald's will make you lose weight. We're told that sugary junk drinks will give you "energy", that toxic vaccines are necessary for your immune system to work correctly and that buying silly pink-ribbon products will somehow cure cancer.At the same time, we're told that vitamins are dangerous, that sunlight causes cancer and that there's no such thing as a cure for type-2 diabetes. Everything that's good for you is discredited as bad while everything that's toxic is hyped up as "healthy."I suppose in light of the corporate-sponsored sick-care insanity that passes for medical advice these days, the idea that eating at McDonald's will make you lose weight doesn't seem as insane as it really should.But that doesn't make it any more true.In a world gone mad with dietary misinformation touting fictional foods, insanity can now be marketed to the intoxicated mainstream as if it somehow made sense.... and people swallow it.Sources for this story include:http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/...
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NaturalNews) Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood pushing against the walls of one's arteries. If the pressure rises significantly and remains there for an extended period of time, it can cause damage to the body. Lucky for us, one of the most common vegetables we use today - celery - with its stringy stems and crisp texture provides a natural way to lower blood pressure. It decreases a potentially dangerous situation without the risk of possible side effects that might accompany prescribed medication.A blood pressure reading is measured by two numbers. The top number referred to as systolic is the measure of pressure the blood exerts while the heart is beating. The lower number, diastolic, is the measure of pressure the blood exerts while the heart is relaxed. The suggested optimal blood pressure is 120/80.Just how could celery juice affect this measurement? This versatile veggie contains active compounds named phthalides. These compounds provide health benefits by naturally relaxing the muscles in and around the walls of the arteries which cause those vessels to dilate, creating more space inside the arteries that permits the blood to flow at a lower pressure. Phthalides also have been reported to lower blood pressure and promote a healthy circulatory system by reducing what are known as stress hormones. This biennial vegetable also contains high amounts of magnesium, potassium, and calcium. The beneficial effect of these minerals in celery serves to calm the nervous system, automatically counterbalancing stress levels.Although Hippocrates (a Greek physician considered the Father of Medicine, c. 460 BC - c. 377 BC) prescribed the juice of this leafy-topped stalk to patients suffering from nervous tension and although Chinese medicine has long recognized celery juice to reduce high blood pressure, only recently has it been studied in the Western world. The University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) is credited with one of the first studies of celery's effects on blood pressure. In one instance, the father of a scientist at UCMC experienced a drop in his blood pressure from 158/96 to 118/82 after just one week of eating about four stalks a day.To test this theory, a physician at the Whitaker Wellness Center and her father both drank celery juice for thirty days, mixing it with a little orange juice to camouflage the slightly bitter taste of juiced celery. Their results? The father's systolic level dropped from 148 to 128, and the physician's went from 120 to 105.Including this most nutritious juice as a part of a healthy diet and lifestyle just may help keep the risks of high blood pressure from ever becoming an issue
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Springtime Health Ideas Spring...the season or preparing... planting... sprouting. Whether its seeds in your garden or ideas for a new project on the job or on your home, Spring brings the energy and desire to create something new. Time, energy and money are spent to "make-ready" your home, yard, automobiles and wardrobe, but how much attention is given to your body for the transition into the next season? It's time to put away snow shovels (we certainly hope it is!), winter coats, gloves and boots and don lighter, brighter, more comfortable Spring attire then grab the garden tools...or golf clubs. Seasons change, we change. Physiological needs of the human body are profoundly affected by rhythms and cycles of seasonal changes. Perhaps you are coming out of Winter with a few extra pounds anticipating more outdoor activity in Spring. Nutrition needs will change from heavy, warming comfort foods of a colder season, to lighter, crisper, foods of Spring, which help the body cleanse and shed unwanted Winter leftovers. The body's need for water also changes as outdoor temperatures rise and you exert more energy. Metabolism increases with warmer weather however, extreme heat causes a slowing of the metabolism. Historically, foods that were naturally available in Spring (greens, sprouts, fruits) were created to offer exactly what the body needed in this season. Fruits, high in water, hydrate the body, flush out Winter excess, cool the body and provide sugars as an energy source. Greens and sprouts, high in vitamins and minerals, aid digestive function, which help the weight loss process. For you avid golfers, some of you may need to expand your definition of "greens!" As the body becomes more active, more energized and more toned, your endurance is increased, the risk of injury is reduced and mental acuity is sharpened ...not a bad combination for a winning round of golf! Some suggestions for a super Spring certainly include drinking more water, especially when you are outside, in the heat and exerting energy. Current research promotes the benefits moderate alcohol consumption may offer, but beware of the health risks. As a diuretic, alcohol directly affects dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Mild to moderate symptoms may include thirst, light-headedness, dizziness or weakness. Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach lining, deplete the body of B-complex vitamins, alter glucose levels and contribute to a fatty liver. Alcohol messes with your body's natural rhythms such as body temperature, normal cotisol levels, and cognitive ability. Women should be aware that hormonal changes and alcohol produce an unpredictable response both physically and psychologically. It is Spring and time for a new beginning ...a new way to prepare your body (and mind) to perform at peak levels. Choose an energizing breakfast or lunch before you tee off instead of that drive-thru, high-fat, gulped-in-the-parking-lot meal. Drink plenty of water during the day and save alcoholic beverages for the 19th hole victory
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Whenever we are considering how to spend our time and our money, we look at benefits. We ask-- is this worth it? Is it worth the time investment? Is it worth the financial investment? Well, let me tell you -- exercise is something worth investing in! Consider the following list of “benefits of modest exercise” from the US Surgeon General: -
Weight loss -
Lower Blood pressure -
Stronger bones and decreased risk of osteoporosis -
Lower total cholesterol levels -
Decreased levels of the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol -
Elevated levels of the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol -
Decreased levels of triglycerides (the other fat in our blood) -
Increased strength and coordination which leads to decreased falls and injury -
Enhanced immune system -
Overall increase in the sense of well-being -
Improved sensitivity to insulin I don’t know about you, but I would like to be sure that I am experiencing all these things! And when I consider these multiple life-enhancing benefits that God has designed for me to experience, I am convicted that I need to make time for exercise and find a method of exercise that will work for me. Spring is just around the corner and it is time to get out, breathe in the fresh air, and walk after a cold, hard winter. Jog if you enjoy it, or get on your bike and work that heart! Choose one key benefit that you know you need to address and keep that in the forefront of your mind as you put on your fitness shoes and get ready. Say to yourself, “I’m building stronger bones,” or “This exercise will help me with weight loss,” or “I’m improving my immune system so I don’t get sick so often.” Or—you choose! And be encouraged by the value of what you are doing for your personal health when you exercise. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) Guard your heart with exercise!
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Breaking a sweat at the gym gets rid of more than last night’s second serving of cheesecake. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of having your workout sabotaged by painful muscle cramps, you know firsthand what a pain in the tush dehydration can be, but are sugar-packed electrolyte beverages really necessary? According to a study from the American College of Sports Medicine, eating chicken noodle soup before exercise is actually more effective at improving fluid balance than commercial electrolyte beverages and plain water. During exercise those beads of sweat mean that our bodies are losing fluids as well as electrolytes that are essential to proper hydration. However as much as we love water, it may not be enough to keep us hydrated during longer, more intense workouts. Water can replenish lost fluids, but it does not contain any electrolytes. Sports drinks on the other hand, contain electrolytes, but can be loaded with sugar and can get pretty expensive. Fortunately something as simple as good old chicken noodle soup can actually be more effective at keeping us hydrated than those overpriced sports drinks. In the study participants consumed 350 mL, about a cup and a half, of either soup, water, or an electrolyte beverage 45 minutes before exercise. Then each person completed 90 minutes of aerobic exercise with constant monitoring and testing. The results showed that unlike the electrolyte beverage and plain water, soup actually increased the amount of water the participants drank and retained during the exercise session significantly improving hydration. How can soup outdo electrolyte beverages that were created for the sole purpose of improving hydration? One simple answer—sodium. High concentrations of electrolytes, especially sodium, cause us to retain water and reduce urine output. With the electrolyte beverage, participants only drank more after the 90 minute exercise session, but the soup increased how much water the participants drank all throughout the physical activity. In fact, 90 percent of the improvement in hydration was because the participants were drinking more water. Who knew hydration could be so mm, mm good? How do you stay hydrated during workouts?
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