Posted by admin on November 20th, 2009 — Posted in Beautiful You, Health Hub, School of Nutrition
The green tea diet has captured the hopes of dieters worldwide. Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Oprah Winfrey unwittingly let loose another fad diet waiting to happen. The internet has seen a high-velocity rise in green tea weight loss products, similar in intensity to the acai berry diet sensation. Fad diets should be considered with caution, especially when expensive products boasting quick results are being tendered. Fad diets can be hazardous to the dieter not only because of their high cost and outrageous promises, but also by being rough on the body. Rapid weight loss plans and crash diets are typically unstainable (the weight loss will eventually come back) and can put the body into one of many nutritional imbalances that can do the dieter far more harm than good.
Green tea is not a weight loss miracle as the green tea weight loss industry would have you think. Notwithstanding, this in no way lessens the fact that green tea can be a helpful addition to your weight loss diet program. Dr. Perricone’s advice to exchange coffee with green tea is a good piece of wellness wisdom. His assertion that a green tea diet by itself can effect dazzling weight loss is, unfortunately, a disservice to the millions of dieters who are searching for a magic bullet.
Bottom line: Yes, go get some green tea or green tea extract. Look for low cost bagged tea products or bottled green tea extract ($8 per bottle). Drink or drop your green tea every day. It has relatively low levels of caffeine, so it is safe to drink (diluted) throughout the day. If you are looking to lose weight, don’t fall for the idea that the green tea will do it for you. Real, lasting and safe weight loss only results from dietary changes and regular exercises.
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Posted by admin on September 17th, 2009 — Posted in Food Feed, School of Nutrition
Catering for parties can be hard work, finding a caterer and making sure you like what they are cooking, but there is different, simpler way to cater for your event. In my judgement it is the optimal way to feed hundreds of hungry individuals, it isn’t a new way of cooking in fact it is over five hundred years old. Having a hog roast. In England hog roasts have been a favourite way of catering big parties or events for a very long time. It’s a wonderful option because it is a lot less formal than many other catering techniques and is relatively cheap regarding what you are really getting. You will need a number of things to host a winning hog roast and normally you will be able to provide you with a complete service which will include, all the cooking equipment, a chef for the day, the creature that you want to roast and all the obligatory side dishes ect. I discovered the company that I employed on the internet and they were really great, they turned up at my house in more than enough time to cook the hog ready for when I desired to eat, they made sure I had everything I could perchance require and were really great at carving the meat and serving my guests. I hope that the next time you have a party or event that you will think of having a hog roast.
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Posted by admin on July 6th, 2009 — Posted in Health Hub, School of Nutrition, Science Tips
A while ago my buddy and I were watching a TV show about reversitol. They mentioned something about how French individuals are staying alive longer even though they have what you would consider unhealthy diets. Doctors have identified something called reversitol. Apparently with this type of find, there are now a ton of reversitol supplements out there. I read quite a few websites with all forms of reversitol surveys. I decided to go with the word on the street and order two different reversitol nutritional supplements, stay tuned for a follow up reversitol review.
The studies supporting red wine suggest antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. These antioxidants come in two main forms: flavonoids and nonflavonoids.
Flavonoids. These antioxidants are found in a variety of foods, including oranges, grape juice, apples, onions, tea and cocoa. Other types of alcohol, such as white wine and beer, contain small amounts, too, but red wine has higher levels.
Nonflavonoids. These antioxidants found in red wine have recently been of particular interest because they appear to help prevent arteries from becoming clogged with fatty blockages. However, these studies mostly involved mice ? not humans. Reversitol is the nonflavonoid that’s received the most attention from researchers.
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Posted by admin on May 16th, 2008 — Posted in School of Nutrition
Most people have a general idea what foods are good for them to promote health and fitness and to prevent diseases, and what foods are not good for them.
There is no question in anyone’s mind that fresh whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains and beans are the best foods for the lifelong health and the highest level of fitness and energy.
It is also common knowledge that many well-loved foods and certain substances in foods are not good for you, such as junk foods, junk drinks, coffee, fast foods, fried foods, salt, processed foods, white sugar and white flour products, oils and fats, and cholesterol.
With all the information available about the necessity for and dangers of meat of all kinds, along with cheese, milk, and dairy products, to human health and fitness, one can’t help but take a closer look at these foods with which we were all raised.
Yet, in spite of knowing what foods are good for them and what foods are not good for them, Americans continue to load up their plates and their daily diets with the “bad for you” foods and eat only limited portions of whole fruits, whole vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
Why do they continue to eat those very foods that they know can cause sickness and disease and the downward spiral of their bodies and their health?
There are layers of reasons why people eat what they eat, but one of them is because they have been told since they were in grade school that they can eat whatever they want as long as they eat in moderation.
Does that sound like familiar thinking?
This is the “moderation myth.” We have been told that if we eat foods in moderation then we can eat whatever we like.
However, if we just look around at all the people that are unfit, sick, and packing around too much weight, it is very evident that Americans do not know what moderation is, when it comes to many things, but especially when it comes to food.
We eat too much food and too much of the wrong foods.
The following statistics, stated in Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book, Eat to Live, should, once and for all, dispel the “moderation myth” in this country:
51% of all the food that Americans eat comes in the form of refined and processed foodsthe “bad for you” foods.
42% of our foods come in the form of meat and dairy productsthe “not so good for you” foods.
Only 7% of our foods are sourced from vegetables and fruits (the “good’ for you foods) and one-half of the vegetables come in the form of potatoes and a lot of those potatoes come in the form of French fries and potato chips.
These statistics show that most Americans are clueless what moderation means.
In fact, if we really want to be very honest about moderation, we may not have to look around or look at the statistics. We may be able to just look in the mirror to fully understand that moderation is a myth in this country. So beware of the “eat whatever you want as long as it is in moderation” trap.
Even if we truly did eat only a little salt, a little chocolate, a little sugar, a little oil, a little coffee, a little meat, a little cheese, a little white flour, a little junk, and a little fast food, all these so-called “littles” day after day, week after week, year after year, add up to huge consequences of premature, health-compromising conditions, debilitating and deadly diseases like cancer, heart disease, strokes, and diabetes, and ultimately to early death.
Are eating these foods and non-foods worth losing your health and your life? The choice is yours. You decide.
Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and lifestyle coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration.
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Posted by admin on May 9th, 2008 — Posted in School of Nutrition
If you have an Autoimmune Disease (Like Fibromyalgia, MS, or Chrohn’s, etc.), then I know a secret about you. You most likely have an enzyme shortage. You may be thinking to yourself that an enzyme can’t be as bad as being short on cash or short on time. The fact is that an enzyme shortage does make you short on time!
Every single chemical action that takes place in the body REQUIRES enzymes. According to experts, a person’s life span is directly related to your enzymes. In other words, your enzyme deficiency is shortening your time on Earth.
You need enzymes to be healthy. The pancreas produces enzymes. If you suffer from autoimmunity, then your poor pancreas is overworked and underpaid. The pancreas of a person with autoimmunity is not able to keep up with the job.
Besides the pancreas, where else are we supposed to get these enzymes? From fresh, raw food. When was the last time you ate fresh, raw food? If you are cooking or processing any of your food, you should take enzymes with that food. (Enzymes are available in supplement form.) Some enzymes include: Papain, Amylase, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase, Protease, and Bromelain.
On a personal note: Like nothing else I have ever tried, digestive enzymes quiet Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Heidi Whitaker is an author and popular speaker on the topic of nutritional support of autoimmune disease. An advocate for alternative health solutions, she co-founded http://www.healthydivas.com, a resource center for those autoimmune sufferers looking for real answers outside of what conventional medicine can provide.
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Posted by admin on April 26th, 2008 — Posted in School of Nutrition
Saw palmetto
A small North American palm like plant is called saw palmetto. The extract is obtained from the berries of the plant and it comprises of different fatty acids and sterols. Initial native uses of this extract have helped in improving the reproductive, urinary and genital problems.
Constituents of Saw palmetto
It basically comprises of fatty acids like- lauric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and myritic acid. Also phytosterols( plant sterols) and polysaccharides.
Uses of Saw Palmetto
It may be of great help in improvement in a condition of BPH or benign prostrate hyperplasia. It is very important as it inhibits the testosterone from acting on the prostrate and interferes with the urine flow. Saw Palmetto may aid in regulating urine flow and may help in reduction of the frequency and urgency of urine flow in men affected by BPH. It may be also used to treat bladder inflammation and chronic bronchitis; it also helps in prevention of balding in men by stopping the testosterone by converting and multiplying the cells. Saw Palmetto also inhibits androgen and estrogen activity and may help in the balanced growth of hormones both amongst men and women. It can also be beneficial in women for breast enlargement and to treat uterine irritability. However owing to hormonal activity saw palmetto is not recommended to pregnant and breast feeding women.
Interaction with Drugs
The interaction with other drugs is still a growing field for saw palmetto. The interactions Mentioned below are those from scientific journals however it is recommended that whenever it is taken it should be on the prescription of a doctor.
Interactions
It is highly inadvisable to take Saw palmetto with drugs that affect the level of male sex hormones. It is believed in theory that saw palmetto interferes with contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy. The combination herbal product PC-SPES has saw palmetto and warfarin an anticoagulant. There is a can be a serious risk of bleeding if PC-SPES is used with drugs that can cause bleeding like warfarin and clopidogrel.
Interactions of Saw Palmetto with herbs and dietary Supplements
According to theory saw palmetto may interfere with herbs having estrogen like properties like redclover and soy. The tannins that could be present in saw palmetto affect the absorption of iron in the body.
Side Effects of Saw Palmetto
The scientific journals and studies report that saw palmetto users can have gastrointestinal trouble, mild headache, erectile dysfunction, mild headache and insomnia. There can be chances of stomach upset, fatigue and restlessness. It is advisable to stop taking saw palmetto before surgeries as it causes bleeding at tiems in some people.
Usage
The usage mentioned below is according to scientific journals and traditional usage-
Adults- aged 18 or older
• A usage of 320 milligrams daily if taken as tablets and capsules
• Berries- Two grams of ground berries or whole taken by mouth
• Tincture- two to four ml for oral dosage
Children- Aged below 18
There is no satisfactory evidence to give saw palmetto to children.
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Posted by admin on March 26th, 2008 — Posted in School of Nutrition
Vintage cook books are catching the eyes - and dollars - of customers. For some, vintage cook books are a trip down memory lane, a chance to recreate childhood recipes. Other customers are interested in food history. Avid cook book collectors may buy a cook book for one recipe only.
Old cook books, the ones our mothers and grandmothers used, have things to tell us. “The Victory Cook Book,” published in 1943, is a good example. The title page tells you instantly what the book is about. “Wartime Edition,” the page declares, “With Victory Substitutes and Economical Recipes for Delicious Wartime Meals.”
The key words for Americans in the thoes of a war were “substitutes” and “economical.” This cook book told them how prepare store food and home grown food. Cooks were told how to render the fat from meat, which was put in cans and turned in to local butcher shops. Hard as it is to believe, this fat was made into explosives.
A large section of the book is devoted to menu planning. Doughnuts, cookies, and pancakes were to be eaten only after you had eaten “wholesome foods.” Meat was eaten in small amounts. Sweets were to be eaten in moderation and “The Victory Cook Book” recommends eating salad for dessert.
Meat was scarce during World War II the chapter on meatless meals must have been very helpful. Just reading a dinner menu can make you feel full. A sample dinner menu includes chilled fruit, stuffed tomatoes, parsley potatoes, creamed asparagus, pumpkin pie, and milk. If that didn’t fill you up nothing would.
School cafeteria menus continued the fruit and vegetable theme. A sample lunch menu menu includes brown bread sandwiches filled with cottage cheese, a thermos of cocoa, applesauce, and graham crackers. Today’s kids would probably strike if their school cafeteria served this food.
The point is, there’s no mention of a double cheeseburger, giant order of fries, or supersized soda pop. What is the “new” news in this old cook book? It’s eating fruit and vegetables, things that can help us to feel fit and live longer lives. This news could help to reverse the obesity trend.
According to government statistics 65% of Americans are overweight. Many Americans are eating double or triple servings of food and it shows. Go to a mall and you’ll see people who are waddling, not walking, people who are at risk for heart disease and diabetes. Some Americans are literally eating themelves to death.
Maybe it’s time to return to the foods recommended in “The Victory Cook Book.” We can plan meals around fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, small servings of meat, and few sweets. The best news of all is that fresh vegetables and fruit taste really good.
The next time you go to a used book store or are on the Internet, look for vintage cook books. Find books that feature fresh fruits, vegetables, and vegetarian meals. Look for brand name cook books and booklets, too. You may be surprised at their “new” and healthy news.
Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson
http://www.harriethodgson.com
Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Before she became a health writer she was a food writer for the former “Rochester Magazine” in her hometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, “Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief,” written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from http://www.amazon.com A five-star review of the book is also posted on Amazon. You’ll find another review on The Ameican Hospice Foundation website under the “School Corner” heading.
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Posted by admin on March 21st, 2008 — Posted in School of Nutrition
Salt does Not Cause High Blood Pressure. Some things you need to know first to fully understand blood pressure, as well as helping you to understand about many other things in your body: The difference between average and normal.
Average is a mathematical statistic. Don’t let that big M word scare you. All average means is that you add up all the totals you have and divide by the number of totals you added. This gives you an average of the group of numbers.
Normal is what is right for an individual, or what is common or appropriate for each particular person.
What the medical profession does is make the average normal. They measure a bunch of people’s blood pressure, divide the added totals by the number of people they measured, and come up with an average blood pressure. And then they say this is the normal blood pressure for everyone.
I will let you in on a little secret. If you had the blood pressure I have at this exact moment, you would probably pass out. If you had the same blood pressure standing as you did sitting, you would probably pass out. Your blood pressure changes all the time, all day long. Your normal blood pressure needs to be different than everyone else’s. You need the right blood pressure for you at the right time. If you had the average blood pressure all the time, you probably would be dead by now.
So what do you do with this? Take all the numbers the doctors give you with “a grain of salt.” Just because their charts show that you “should be” in this range does not mean you actually should. You are different than everyone else. Your normal might be outside of the range of average that they go by and still be perfectly healthy for you.
So your “high blood pressure” might very well be normal for you. And if it is actually too high for your normal, salt really has nothing to do with it.
Again the medical profession came up with a theory and never really tested it before they released it as “truth” on the world. Someone said that salt attracts water, and blood has water in it. So if you get rid of some of the salt in the blood, then there will be less water in the blood as well. And if there is less volume of blood, the pressure will have to be less. That was their theory and they began telling people to eat less salt thinking it would lower people’s blood pressure. No real tests, no real studies, and yet believed to be true by many.
Here is the real proof it is garbage. Try and find one person whose blood pressure decreased because they quit eating salt. You will be very hard pressed to find one person. Because eating less salt does not lower your blood pressure. Just like a Diuretic, medications that cause you to release more water than your body wants to from your blood through your kidneys, is often prescribed to attempt to help lower blood pressure. And again, I dare you to try and find people who this has helped.
You see, the body is so much smarter than we are. Many more internal factors go into what your blood pressure is than how much water you have in your blood. Your Blood pressure is a function of your blood vessels, the stuff in your blood, the muscles in and around your blood vessels, your heart, and so much more. If you force water out of the body, your body will compensate in other ways to keep your pressure at your unique normal. Your body knows best where your blood pressure should be. And until you change one or some of the internal factors (and medications do not count) your body will do everything in its power to keep things where they are at.
Want something that is free and easy that decreases the blood pressure significantly for many people who actually do it? Drink Water. It often is as simple as that and here is a perfect example of why. Imagine some really thick ketchup and trying to suck it through a straw. Versus if you put a bunch of water in the ketchup and mix it up and suck the ketchup through the straw. Does it take more or less pressure to suck the watered down ketchup through a straw? It takes less pressure. Similar with your blood. If your blood is thick and sludgy because you are dehydrated, your body will increase your pressure to force the blood through the little itty-bitty vessels and capillaries.
Actually, your blood pressure is more than this. And drinking water does so much more than make your blood thinner so it flows through the vessels easier. Whatever the reasons, drinking water often lowers people’s blood pressure.
Fat does not make you fat. I share this and more with you in my free e-course that this article is a part of. Go to http://www.HealthyEatingDiet.com to get the full e-course. Dr. Jamie wants to help give you Permanent Results with his “non-diet.” He is also giving you dozens of valuable free gifts to “ethically bribe” you into helping him make his new book, “The Ultimate Non-Diet” a #1 best seller. For details on the book go to: http://www.TheUltimateNonDiet.com/free
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