WASHINGTON — The omega-3 essential fatty acids commonly found in fatty fish and algae help animals avoid sensory overload, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. The finding connects low omega-3s to the information-processing problems found in people with schizophrenia; bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders; Huntington’s disease; and other afflictions of the nervous system.
The study, reported in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, provides more evidence that fish is brain food. The key finding was that two omega-3 fatty acids – docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) – appear to be most useful in the nervous system, maybe by maintaining nerve-cell membranes.
“It is an uphill battle now to reverse the message that ‘fats are bad,’ and to increase omega-3 fats in our diet,” said Norman Salem Jr., PhD, who led this study at the Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Read more…
Due to the constant advancement of science and technology, new and new facts related to health and fitness is coming into the limelight. One of the recent and important facts is that nuts can aid in fat loss to a great extent. There are several clinical studies that have proven this fact and there are several studies that are still working on this aspect.
Research Proves that Nuts can lead to Weight Loss
One of the premier institutions, Harvard University has conducted several research based clinical studies that show that different types of nuts including peanuts can be part of a healthy diet and greatly help men and women in fat loss. In December 1999, a study was published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which outlined the fact that diets consisting of high amount of monounsaturated fat in the form of peanuts or even peanut butter and olive oil has a far superior effect on fat loss vis-à-vis low-fat diets.
The classification of peanuts in the USDA Food Guide Pyramid is in the category of high protein diet. It has also been mentioned in the same category as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dry beans. The truth is that peanut is a plant-based protein and hence it doesn’t have any cholesterol unlike in animal-based proteins. In fact, peanuts contain a higher percentage of good un-saturated fats vis-à-vis saturated fats and hence they are shown at the bottom of Vegetarian and Mediterranean Food Guide Pyramids.Read more…
Fat In your diet does not affect weight gain over time says Dr. Nita Forouhi—
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who want to maintain a healthy weight over time shouldn’t obsess about their fat intake, new research shows.
The percentage of calories that a person got from fat, as opposed to protein or carbohydrates, had nothing to do with how much weight they gained in the coming years, the research team found.
The kinds of fat they ate didn’t matter either, Dr. Nita Forouhi of the Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK and her colleagues found.
The findings, Forouhi noted in an email to Reuters Health, show that “it is more important to aim for a healthy lifestyle including a balanced healthy diet and regular physical activity, than to focus on fat intake alone as a factor for weight gain.”
The role of dietary fat content in obesity and weight gain is still controversial, Forouhi and her team note. To investigate, they looked at data on nearly 90,000 men and women from six different countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study. Participants were followed for up to 10 years. Source
Ever since humans switched from nomads and their hunter-gatherings roles, to that of an agrarian-based society, western cultures have looked to the carbohydrate as a primary food staple. For example, an average person in America cannot envision a day without pastries, potatoes, corn, bread, cereal or rice. The media has made us well aware that the excessive intake of carbohydrates has a detrimental effect on our waistlines, but how much do we know about the effect they have on our health? What adds to the sad situation is these carbohydrates are consumed in a highly processed form. What do we get from eating processed starches? Well 65% of Americans are overweight and 30% of them are clinically obese.
These refined carbohydrates in our diets are causing numerous diseases like diabetes in epidemic proportions. The symptoms are very simple, if you experience fatigue, sleepiness, fogged thought process, bloating of the abdominal area, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure levels or low sugar level (hypoglycemia), this is a sign you are consuming excessive refined carbohydrates. Now, I do not want to rag on complex carbohydrates such as vegetables. You can never go wrong with eating raw and cooked vegetables, good lean protein and you will balance blood sugar and lose body fat every time, but the more refined food we eat, the worse off we are. Read more…
Organic has been advocated as the way to go as far as buying your groceries is concerned. But, the awareness has been slower to come. In fact, going organic was “fashionable” just a few years ago. Even today, “organic” is something most consumers find hard to define apart from the general knowledge that it is food grown without the aid of chemicals. This article examines the meaning of organic and attempts to create better awareness in the consumer’s mind as far as “organic” food is concerned. Due to all such discourses that seem to make “organic” a hype, an understanding of organic could dispel a lot of ghosts and show that it is not overrated. Moreover, this will help consumers decide better, probably tilting the balance towards organic produce by addressing a few basic questions.
A. What makes a consumer sure that a product having the label “organic” is actually so? The label “organic” is regulated by the US government with a very strict policy. The term “organic” is actually regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture. To use the label “organic “on a produce, it is mandatory that the grower gets the product certified by the certifier accredited by the USDA. Selling inorganic products with an “organic” label invites fines up to $11,000 per violation.
B. Meaning of “organic”: The term “organic” means that the produce was grown without the aid of pesticides (chemical or synthetic), sewage sludge, fertilizers, irradiation or any form of genetic engineering. An eye-opener, isn’t it? In case of animal products, it means that the animals were not injected with extra hormones, antibiotics and were fed only organic products that did not contain animal by-products. It also means that the animals had access to outdoors. In this the weak link is “access”which has not been defined properly and many animal produce manufacturers see a gap here.
C. Are there any more or less organic foods: Another point to contemplate here. Foods that have many ingredients fall into this catch-22. Those foods that display the USDA “organic” seal are assumed to have over 95% organic ingredients. Others that carry the logo of a certifying agent but not the USDA seal are bound to have an organic content of at least 70%. These would state “made with organic ingredients”.
D. Organic and environment: Growing organic food is good for the environment because it eliminates the use of fertilizers and pesticides that are toxic and polluting. It helps conserve air, water and soil and growing organic food also makes sure that more carbon-di-oxide is recycled without the release of any toxic gases.
E. Organic food for the human body: Consuming organic food is healthier from a lot of perspectives. It reduces the chances of cancer, damage to reproductive, nervous, digestive systems and genetic birth defects since chemicals and pesticides aid in the malignant growth. Moreover, having organic food makes sure that the human body is not antibiotic-resistant since animals and plants are not artificially injected with antibiotics. In fact, organic foods are the best for children to ensure long term good-health and inorganic food has a greater effect on them since their growing nervous and endocrine systems are more susceptible to damage.
F. Cost: Although the cost of organic foods seems to be prohibitive as of now, it will tend to reduce as the demand picks up. This can only come with awareness and hence the cost seems to be justified especially so since it safeguards health and is good for the environment. Since affordability is a major factor, it is always good to pick and choose organic products and integrate them into your diet as suited to your budget.
G. Organic food industry: this industry is one of the fastest growing today and you could make all the difference to the phenomenon. More participation from consumers will help the market to grow faster and will bring down costs as volumes go up. Buying and consuming organic food is the only way to promote it and spread awareness.
Although the development of organic food industry and its standards are at a nascent stage, it would be wrong to assume that USDA is the know-all and the final say. Use of antibiotics and pesticides may still be required on organic farms to control diseases and outbreak which could render the food being stripped of certification. All in all, taking a holistic view of the subject is highly important and buying and consuming organic food should be a habit.
When you look at the actual process, cultivating organic food helps conserve naturally fertile soil, provides for animal welfare, promotes biodiversity, conserves the safety of water supplies, and protects the health of agricultural workers, all the time striving to grow nutritious, safe and delicious food. Now, I hope, you understand that organic is not really overrated but in fact underrated and you would have more than one reason to support buying and consumption of organic food.
If you’re like most of my subscribers, you’re not just concerned with attaining that elusive, coveted “six pack of abs” - you’re also very interested in optimizing your health. Achieving the perfect balance between physical appearance and physical health takes an intelligent approach to nutrition as well as training. My program, Firm and Flatten Your abs, helps you with both. While Firm and Flatten Your abs is not a diet book per se, it will teach you exactly what to eat to help strip away body fat and reveal your abs at the same time as you improve your health. Although organic food is not necessary in order to get lean and develop six pack abs, organic food can play a major role in helping you achieve that dual goal of having a great body and also great health to go with it.
Learn more about the firm and flatten your abs program online at: http://www.flattenyourabs.net
David Grisaffi C.H.E.K Level II Practitioner
Nutrition and Lifestyle Level II
Golf Biomechanic
Warrior Diet Level II Controlled Fatigue Training
http://www.flattenyourabs.net
http://www.fit-zone.com
There has been a large trend in organic items developing over the past
decade. It used to only be organic foods, but the industry has grown to
include clothes and other household items. Most stores that people go
into these days have some type of organic items for sale.
But what is it that makes organic items so alluring? Are they really
better to use than the regular items? There are a few advantages that
people have found to using organic items rather than the non organic
items.
Organic Foods are Better Tasting
The first thing that people notice when they are eating organic foods is
that they are better tasting than the non organic foods. The reason for
this is that they are tasting the food instead of tasting all of the
pesticides and other things that farmers use to keep their plants
healthy. There are some people who notice that organic food tastes
strange the first time that they eat it. That’s because they are used to
eating food that has chemicals and other things added to it. Organic
food is grown without chemicals.
Organic Products are Healthier
Another advantage of using organic items is that they are healthier for
both you and the environment. When using organic items, there isn’t a
worry about putting unnatural things into the body such as chemicals. Read more…
Brought to you by David Grisaffi & http://www.FlattenYourAbs.Net
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December, 11 2008
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I would like to wish everyone a happy holidays and a good season.
I have been writing these newsletters for over 10 years and I love this
time of year. My extended family is coming out to join us this year
which always makes the season special. I hope all of you set some
goals and enjoy the new year. I have one more newsletter this year
anyone what a topic covered? e mail me
David
How can a little berry help you get the six pack abs you want? Is all of
the hype around the acai berry just that: hype and B.S.? Let me tell you
some of the scientific facts and health related issues that surround the
subject and you can be the judge for yourself. FYI - This stuff is being
pumped by the Oprah show like crazy.
With today’s diets declining in nutritional value and the fact we eat much
less fruits and vegetables. The acai berry is coming on strong. It is found
atop towering palm tree in the tropical rainforest in South America. It
boasts a wide range of nutrients and has become a celebrity as
mentioned above on oprah.
The tribal leaders and healers used this berry to increase health, vitality,
longevity, strength, energy and stamina. It was the all around king of
foods.
The acai berry has been a major part of the diets of the peoples in the
Amazon for centuries. It grows in abundance and can be used in
dozens of ways as a food source in this poor region. It has been
researched extensively as a health supplement, food dye, contrast agent
for MRI’s, and as a cancer fighting agent. Read more…
Does Juicing really work? At one time that was a question uttered
by yuppies and fringe groups considered “kooks” by the masses. Now
mainstream America is sitting down to unwind with a glass of wheat
grass, watermelon, and cranberry. For a few hundred dollars, and
some patience, anyone can have their own in house juice bar, and
the equipment is not collecting any dust on the shelves either.
Even the National Cancer Institute has weighed in on the question
“does juicing really work?”
Does juicing really work? The National Cancer Institute has been
pushing a campaign to get people to do one thing and one thing
only: consume more fruit and vegetables. These foods are best in
their natural, raw forms. Juicing is a simple, delicious way to
consume these foods without crunching on a carrot stick or a stalk
of celery. There is one reason behind this push by the National
Cancer Institute: a diet high in fruits and vegetables will help
to prevent a wide range of ailments, including some forms of
cancer. Most of these benefits are attributed to the high amounts
of vitamins, enzymes, and fiber in these healthy foods.
In addition to the phytochemicals and antioxidants that fruits and
vegetables provide, juicing helps break the raw foods down so that
the natural enzymes can be more readily used by your body. Enzymes
are your body’s workforce, acting as a catalyst in hundreds of
thousands of chemical reactions that take place in your body every
day. Enzymes are essential for digestion and absorption of
foods,20the conversion of food in the body, and the production of
energy on the cellular level. Read more…
“Is real sugar better for you than refined sugar?” There is quite
a debate raging on this subject. Opinions are flying on both sides
of the debate. To fully form an informed opinion, you need to know
how sugar is “refined.” Then you will understand the answer to the
question.
Refined sugar is nearly pure sucrose that is obtained from raw
sugar sources such as sugar cane and sugar beets. Sugar cane
provides the bulk of refined sugar because it is the more easily
grown of the two source crops. The next steps in the process will
help you to answer the question “is real sugar better for you than
refined sugar?” Read more…
By definition “heavy metals” are metals or metallic compounds that
negatively affect the health of humans. All living organisms
require varying amounts of some heavy metals. The human body needs
iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc for optimal
health and metabolism. Certain other heavy metals such as mercury,
plutonium, and lead are toxic to humans. Even those heavy metals
that are beneficial to you can cause harm if they are used or
consumed in excessive amounts. The main threats to human safety
and health come from the heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury, and
arsenic. Each heavy metal affects the human body in many different
ways. In the remainder of this article you will find information
that will tell you how some heavy metals affect your heart,
breathing, and overall circulation.
Cadmium compounds are mainly used in re-chargeable batteries:
however, cigarette smoke is a major source of exposure, and , to
some extent, food. Food is affected because of there is very
little recycling of cadmium batteries and it runs off from
landfills into surface water. Cadmium causes kidney damage, bone
defects, and an increase in fractures. The kidney damage and
defects in bones and bone marrow will cause circulation problems.
In general, people are exposed to mercury through the foods that
they eat. Fish is the main food source that contains the methyl
mercury. To a much smaller extent, dental amalgam can be linked to
mercury exposure.
The main side effects of mercury exposure are in
the nervous system. Pregnant women should be especially wary of
freshwater fish that have been caught because of the high mercury
in them. The mercury will cause birth defects. Mercury will cause
muscle weakness and loss of muscle control. The muscle weakness
affects the heart, lungs, and blood circulation. Lead exposure is
generally found in the air and food in equal parts. Lead emissions
into the air have caused wide spread pollution. Gasoline and
lead-based paint are the two major sources of exposure.
While paint manufactured since 1978 does not contain lead, older
homes may still have walls painted with contaminated products. An
unexpected source of lead is glazed food containers. The side
effects of lead exposure are mainly neurological in nature. They
are very similar to mercury exposure. Lead can cause kidney damage
and anemia. Arsenic, the last of the heavy metals, and arguably
the most common, is the most dangerous. The major sources are
food, drinking water, and work environments. Hard to get away from
isn’t it. Arsenic can penetrate rubber or latex gloves and is
easily absorbed by your skin.
Arsenic is especially dangerous because it binds with your
hemoglobin and prevents your red blood cells from absorbing oxygen.
It will cause your blood cells to rupture and then muscle cells will
begin to die from the lack of oxygen. Your heart muscle will weaken
leading to poor circulation.
Long term, or extreme, exposure will cause heart failure from
oxygen deprivation. Arsenic has been linked to dozens of different
types of cancer. The food sources that contain arsenic are too
numerous to list. Most water sources contain some arsenic because
of run-off of pesticides used in farming or pollution from industry
and fossil fuel use.
All of these heavy metals have one thing in common. They are a
nightmare for your circulation. By blocking red blood cells from
picking up oxygen, they essentially strangle your cells and kill
them off. Thankfully, we are aware of where our heavy metal threat
comes from. That enables you to minimize your risks for health
damage. Watching what you eat and knowing the source of the food
are essential. Stop smoking and avoid second hand smoke. Check
your local water supply. The EPA requires testing and the results
are available to the public. Another good point is that there are
several diets available that focus on the cleansing of your body of
heavy metals. Severe cases will require medical treatment, but for
most of you a change in lifestyle and diet will prevent heavy
metals from becoming your circulation nightmare.
Feel free to comment or add your thoughts …The blog is for all of
you to participate and get involved!
For the a comprehensive, no-fail plan to get your abs in the best
shape of their lives, check out my book, “Firm and Flatten Your
Abs.”
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