Fish oil supplements and regular exercise both reduce body fat and improve cardiovascular health. Could combining the two work better than either one alone?
In the new study, overweight volunteers with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides were randomly assigned to one of the following interventions:
• fish oil,
• fish oil and exercise,
• sunflower oil (placebo), or
• sunflower oil and exercise.
They took 6 grams of tuna fish oil per day (providing 1.9 grams of omega-3 fatty acids) or 6 grams of sunflower oil per day. The exercise groups walked three days per week for 45 minutes at 75% of their maximal heart rate.
People who supplemented with fish oil experienced lowered triglycerides, increased HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and improved blood vessel function. Exercise alone improved some measures of artery health. Both fish oil and exercise independently reduced body fat. Though regular, moderate-intensity exercise, either alone or combined with fish oil supplementation, had no effect on triglycerides or cholesterol, researchers still came away from the study concluding that fish oil plus exercise was a winning combination.
Several studies have found that taking omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil results in fewer deaths from coronary artery disease. Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may lessen several cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure and triglycerides. In addition, some, but not all, clinical studies show that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can reduce body fat.
SO, Get your Fish oils and flaxseed oils DAILY into your diet. You just cannot simply afford to be without them!!
CHEERS to your health!
CHECK OUT THIS VENDOR FOR A TERRIFIC FISH OIL SUPPLEMENT. CALL AND ASK THEM ABOUT YOUR FIRST BOTTLE FOR FREE, JUST PAY SHIPPING, WHICH IS LIKE $6 bucks!!
http://www.greatamericanproducts.com/pages/Home/Shopping/
Body_Care/Master_Omega3
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Probiotics Help Ulcers to Heal
Healthnotes Newswire (June 14, 2007)—
While probiotics are usually used to encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine, new research suggests that they can also benefit the stomach, helping people with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease respond better to treatment.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can colonize the stomach, leading to gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in some people. Most people with these conditions are infected with H. pylori.
A combination of two antibiotics and an acid blocker—known as triple therapy—is used to treat gastritis and peptic ulcer disease associated with H. pylori infection. This approach, however, leads to side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and has only a modest success rate (about 75%), so the search for other treatments continues.
A new study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, compared the effect of triple therapy by itself to triple therapy plus a probiotic and a compound from cow’s milk that has antibacterial, immune-sytem-boosting properties (bovine lactoferrin).
After H. pylori infection was confirmed for each of the 206 people in the study, they were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: one week of triple therapy or triple therapy plus 200 mg of bovine lactoferrin and a probiotic twice a day. The probiotic provided a wide array of beneficial bacteria, mostly from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families.
Eight weeks after the end of treatment, H. pylori tests were negative in 92% of those who added the lactoferrin and probiotic, but in only 76% of those treated with triple therapy alone. In addition to being more effective, the regimen that included lactoferrin and probiotic also caused fewer side effects: only 9.5% of the people who used the lactoferrin and probiotic, compared with 40.6% of those who received triple therapy alone, experienced side effects including nausea, diarrhea, a metallic taste in the mouth, headache, and abdominal pain.
The success rate with triple therapy seen in this study is similar to that seen in other recent reports. Its effectiveness has been declining, possibly due to increasing resistance to the antibiotics currently used to eradicate H. pylori. Improving the response rate and reducing side effects through adding nonantibiotic therapies could help prevent antibiotic resistance.
“The results obtained suggest that the synergistic effect of bovine lactoferrin and probiotics could improve the eradication rate and reduce the side effects of antibiotics both during and after treatment,” the researchers concluded. “These results need to be confirmed, but triple therapy plus bovine lactoferrin and probiotics could represent a valid alternative regimen to the standard H. pylori eradication protocol.”
I personally recommend:
"GARDEN OF LIFE" PRIMAL DEFENSE ULTRA Probiotic. I take it everyday.
While probiotics are usually used to encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine, new research suggests that they can also benefit the stomach, helping people with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease respond better to treatment.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can colonize the stomach, leading to gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in some people. Most people with these conditions are infected with H. pylori.
A combination of two antibiotics and an acid blocker—known as triple therapy—is used to treat gastritis and peptic ulcer disease associated with H. pylori infection. This approach, however, leads to side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and has only a modest success rate (about 75%), so the search for other treatments continues.
A new study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, compared the effect of triple therapy by itself to triple therapy plus a probiotic and a compound from cow’s milk that has antibacterial, immune-sytem-boosting properties (bovine lactoferrin).
After H. pylori infection was confirmed for each of the 206 people in the study, they were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: one week of triple therapy or triple therapy plus 200 mg of bovine lactoferrin and a probiotic twice a day. The probiotic provided a wide array of beneficial bacteria, mostly from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families.
Eight weeks after the end of treatment, H. pylori tests were negative in 92% of those who added the lactoferrin and probiotic, but in only 76% of those treated with triple therapy alone. In addition to being more effective, the regimen that included lactoferrin and probiotic also caused fewer side effects: only 9.5% of the people who used the lactoferrin and probiotic, compared with 40.6% of those who received triple therapy alone, experienced side effects including nausea, diarrhea, a metallic taste in the mouth, headache, and abdominal pain.
The success rate with triple therapy seen in this study is similar to that seen in other recent reports. Its effectiveness has been declining, possibly due to increasing resistance to the antibiotics currently used to eradicate H. pylori. Improving the response rate and reducing side effects through adding nonantibiotic therapies could help prevent antibiotic resistance.
“The results obtained suggest that the synergistic effect of bovine lactoferrin and probiotics could improve the eradication rate and reduce the side effects of antibiotics both during and after treatment,” the researchers concluded. “These results need to be confirmed, but triple therapy plus bovine lactoferrin and probiotics could represent a valid alternative regimen to the standard H. pylori eradication protocol.”
I personally recommend:
"GARDEN OF LIFE" PRIMAL DEFENSE ULTRA Probiotic. I take it everyday.
Turmeric - India's panacea?
Turmeric has been on my spice radar for quite some time. Mostly because I'm a BIG fan of the curry. Tikka eggplant and coconut curry are my fave!
BUT, You also could be doing a world of good for your heart and cardio system, so READ ON!
Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh. Turmeric has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory
in both the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Turmeric was traditionally called "Indian saffron" because of its deep yellow-orange color and has been used throughout history as a condiment, healing remedy and textile dye.
Ancient systems of medicine have used it as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic. A lot of nasty, I know!
Cardiovascular Protection
Curcumin (Turmeric) may be able to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Since oxidized cholesterol is what damages blood vessels and builds up in the plaques that can lead to heart attack or stroke, preventing the oxidation of new cholesterol may help to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. In addition, turmeric is a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed to keep homocysteine levels from getting too high. Homocysteine, an intermediate product of an important cellular process called methylation, is directly damaging to blood vessel walls. High levels of homocysteine are considered a significant risk factor for blood vessel damage, atherosclerotic plaque build-up, and heart disease; while a high intake of vitamin B6 is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
In research published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, when 10 healthy volunteers consumed 500 mg of curcumin per day for 7 days, not only did their blood levels of oxidized cholesterol drop by 33%, but their total cholesterol droped 11.63% , and their HDL "good" cholesterol increased by 29%! (Soni KB, Kuttan R).
www.vitaminshoppe.com is currently offering:
Jarrow Formulas
Curcumin-95
60 Capsules
Strength: 500 MG
For $11.60 - that should last you 2 months!
VERY Low price for some very beneficial health protection!!
Turmeric is definitely one of the World's Healthiest Foods!! Enjoy OFTEN!
BUT, You also could be doing a world of good for your heart and cardio system, so READ ON!
Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh. Turmeric has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory
in both the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Turmeric was traditionally called "Indian saffron" because of its deep yellow-orange color and has been used throughout history as a condiment, healing remedy and textile dye.
Ancient systems of medicine have used it as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic. A lot of nasty, I know!
Cardiovascular Protection
Curcumin (Turmeric) may be able to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Since oxidized cholesterol is what damages blood vessels and builds up in the plaques that can lead to heart attack or stroke, preventing the oxidation of new cholesterol may help to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. In addition, turmeric is a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed to keep homocysteine levels from getting too high. Homocysteine, an intermediate product of an important cellular process called methylation, is directly damaging to blood vessel walls. High levels of homocysteine are considered a significant risk factor for blood vessel damage, atherosclerotic plaque build-up, and heart disease; while a high intake of vitamin B6 is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
In research published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, when 10 healthy volunteers consumed 500 mg of curcumin per day for 7 days, not only did their blood levels of oxidized cholesterol drop by 33%, but their total cholesterol droped 11.63% , and their HDL "good" cholesterol increased by 29%! (Soni KB, Kuttan R).
www.vitaminshoppe.com is currently offering:
Jarrow Formulas
Curcumin-95
60 Capsules
Strength: 500 MG
For $11.60 - that should last you 2 months!
VERY Low price for some very beneficial health protection!!
Turmeric is definitely one of the World's Healthiest Foods!! Enjoy OFTEN!
Seitan, What is it?
I get asked this ALL the time by Veggie "newbies", Now that I've given up meat, what do I eat?
So, I dole out to you, some more enlightening information on my fave veggie meat. No, It's not another crap tasting "mock" meat like tofu hot dogs or fakin' bacon. haha.
Seitan is pronounced [SAY-tan] (No, vegeatarians don't worship the devil, well except for satanist vegetarians, but I'm sure there's satanist meat eaters as well. haha.. anyways, why do I digress so much in my posts.. On with it!!)
It's a protein-rich super food made from wheat GLUTEN and used in many VEGETARIAN dishes. Seitan's firm texture is definitively chewy and meatlike (which is why it's also called wheat meat ), its flavor is rather neutral. That mildness, however, allows seitan to be a kitchen chameleon that easily picks up the flavors of the foods with which it is cooked. Available in the refrigerator section of health-food stores and Asian markets, seitan typically comes in foil- or plastic-wrapped cakes that may be square or rectangular and that average about 1/2-inch thick. It also comes in 8-ounce plastic tubs. Check the expiration date on fresh seitan. Seitan is also sold as wheat gluten, a powdered form that can be mixed with water. The wheat gluten-water mixture, however, doesn't have the same chewy texture as commercially packaged seitan. For the best texture and flavor add seitan to cooked dishes at the last minute, heating just until it is warmed through.
If you are alergic to gluten, then you might not be into the seitan, try Tempeh or Tofu instead, I however consume all of the above, regularly.
Enjoy!
So, I dole out to you, some more enlightening information on my fave veggie meat. No, It's not another crap tasting "mock" meat like tofu hot dogs or fakin' bacon. haha.
Seitan is pronounced [SAY-tan] (No, vegeatarians don't worship the devil, well except for satanist vegetarians, but I'm sure there's satanist meat eaters as well. haha.. anyways, why do I digress so much in my posts.. On with it!!)
It's a protein-rich super food made from wheat GLUTEN and used in many VEGETARIAN dishes. Seitan's firm texture is definitively chewy and meatlike (which is why it's also called wheat meat ), its flavor is rather neutral. That mildness, however, allows seitan to be a kitchen chameleon that easily picks up the flavors of the foods with which it is cooked. Available in the refrigerator section of health-food stores and Asian markets, seitan typically comes in foil- or plastic-wrapped cakes that may be square or rectangular and that average about 1/2-inch thick. It also comes in 8-ounce plastic tubs. Check the expiration date on fresh seitan. Seitan is also sold as wheat gluten, a powdered form that can be mixed with water. The wheat gluten-water mixture, however, doesn't have the same chewy texture as commercially packaged seitan. For the best texture and flavor add seitan to cooked dishes at the last minute, heating just until it is warmed through.
If you are alergic to gluten, then you might not be into the seitan, try Tempeh or Tofu instead, I however consume all of the above, regularly.
Enjoy!
NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT!!
Hey Gang!
Here's my weekly "New Item Alert"! It's basically a product I have tried, liked and that I reccomend for it's nutritional content, health benefits or simply because it ROCKS!
SPOTLIGHT ON: MIMIC CREME!
MimicCreme is the non-dairy, non-soy substitute for cream that truly is both tasty and healthy. And we make it available to you in three versions. There is an unsweetened version and two sweetened versions. With the sweetened versions, one is made from natural cane sugar and one with a 100% natural sugar substitute.
All three versions of MimcCreme are 100% vegan and kosher.
Check them out at: http://www.mimiccreme.com
Here's my weekly "New Item Alert"! It's basically a product I have tried, liked and that I reccomend for it's nutritional content, health benefits or simply because it ROCKS!
SPOTLIGHT ON: MIMIC CREME!
MimicCreme is the non-dairy, non-soy substitute for cream that truly is both tasty and healthy. And we make it available to you in three versions. There is an unsweetened version and two sweetened versions. With the sweetened versions, one is made from natural cane sugar and one with a 100% natural sugar substitute.
All three versions of MimcCreme are 100% vegan and kosher.
Check them out at: http://www.mimiccreme.com
Friday, June 29, 2007
Burning fat with weight training
I came across this and thought it was useful to share with you! REMEMBER: USE CAUTION and DO ALL EXERCISES PROPERLY.
Foods That Giveth and Foods That Taketh Away.
Here's a quick list of ultimate "do" and "don't" foods for longevity.
Life Extenders that I LOVE!
Purified Water
Green Tea
Goji Berries
Kombucha
Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
Nuts (especially almonds, walnuts, and seed kernels)
Oatmeal
Sprouted Whole Grains
Soybeans
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Green-Leafy Vegetables such as Spinach, Kale, Mustard Greens, and Collard Greens
Vegetables (Broccoli, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Garlic, Mushrooms, Onions)
Fruits (Strawberries, Cherries, Oranges, Melon, Coconut, Apples, Berries, grapes)
(Remember Fruit is nature's candy!)
Organic Coffee
Red Wine (moderately)
Tofu
Seitan
Tempeh
(WILD ONLY) fatty, cold-water, fish on occasion such as Salmon.
Beans (Black, Garbanzo, Pinto, Kidney, Cannellini.)
Soy Milk
Hemp Seed Milk
Coconut Oil
Bananas
Nutritional Yeast
Lecithin
Fish Oil Supplements
Whole-Food Supplements
Life Shortners that I HATE!
Excessive Alcohol consumption
Highly processed foods (cakes, pies, snack foods, chips, JUNK!!)
Excessive meat consumption
Plastic containers in the microwave (and microwaves in general)
High-Fructose corn syrup
White Sugar
White Flour
preservatives
Genetically Modified foods
Dairy Products -(www.notmilk.com)
Trans fats
Unhealthy Saturated fats
Artificial Sweetners
Flame Grilling at high temperatures
Fast-Food
Processed simple carbs
Soda
Do your best to get as many of the foods and items on the "DO" list into your daily diet, and give the items on the other list the boot from your kitchen and from your life!!
Life Extenders that I LOVE!
Purified Water
Green Tea
Goji Berries
Kombucha
Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
Nuts (especially almonds, walnuts, and seed kernels)
Oatmeal
Sprouted Whole Grains
Soybeans
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Green-Leafy Vegetables such as Spinach, Kale, Mustard Greens, and Collard Greens
Vegetables (Broccoli, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Garlic, Mushrooms, Onions)
Fruits (Strawberries, Cherries, Oranges, Melon, Coconut, Apples, Berries, grapes)
(Remember Fruit is nature's candy!)
Organic Coffee
Red Wine (moderately)
Tofu
Seitan
Tempeh
(WILD ONLY) fatty, cold-water, fish on occasion such as Salmon.
Beans (Black, Garbanzo, Pinto, Kidney, Cannellini.)
Soy Milk
Hemp Seed Milk
Coconut Oil
Bananas
Nutritional Yeast
Lecithin
Fish Oil Supplements
Whole-Food Supplements
Life Shortners that I HATE!
Excessive Alcohol consumption
Highly processed foods (cakes, pies, snack foods, chips, JUNK!!)
Excessive meat consumption
Plastic containers in the microwave (and microwaves in general)
High-Fructose corn syrup
White Sugar
White Flour
preservatives
Genetically Modified foods
Dairy Products -(www.notmilk.com)
Trans fats
Unhealthy Saturated fats
Artificial Sweetners
Flame Grilling at high temperatures
Fast-Food
Processed simple carbs
Soda
Do your best to get as many of the foods and items on the "DO" list into your daily diet, and give the items on the other list the boot from your kitchen and from your life!!
Dealing With Depression
So, Everyone has had days where they were feeling a little "blue". We all have been "down in the dumps" or felt "blah" or "blase" about things other than the Titanic (If you know what Im talking about you get MAJOR MEGA points!) haha.
But when these feelings last longer than a couple weeks you may be suffering from depression. Depression affects 10 million Americans each year and it's estimated that 1 in 4 adults will have at least one depressive episode in their lifetime.
A lot of people use escapism, and delve into the world of substance abuse. But recent studies at the MAYO clinic have shown, that Exercise can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety, and even small amounts of exercise helps.
Some evidence suggests that exercise positively affects the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release tension in muscles, help you sleep better and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects. All of these changes in your mind and body can improve such symptoms as sadness, anxiety, irritability, stress, fatigue, anger, self-doubt and hopelessness.
If you exercise regularly but depression or anxiety still impairs your daily functioning, seek professional help. Exercise isn't meant to replace medical treatment of depression or anxiety.
I have known personally several people dealing with depression related issues, and I am always encouraging them to get out and move! It is so important to have that in your life everyday, whether you face depression or not.
JJM
But when these feelings last longer than a couple weeks you may be suffering from depression. Depression affects 10 million Americans each year and it's estimated that 1 in 4 adults will have at least one depressive episode in their lifetime.
A lot of people use escapism, and delve into the world of substance abuse. But recent studies at the MAYO clinic have shown, that Exercise can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety, and even small amounts of exercise helps.
Some evidence suggests that exercise positively affects the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release tension in muscles, help you sleep better and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects. All of these changes in your mind and body can improve such symptoms as sadness, anxiety, irritability, stress, fatigue, anger, self-doubt and hopelessness.
If you exercise regularly but depression or anxiety still impairs your daily functioning, seek professional help. Exercise isn't meant to replace medical treatment of depression or anxiety.
I have known personally several people dealing with depression related issues, and I am always encouraging them to get out and move! It is so important to have that in your life everyday, whether you face depression or not.
JJM
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
S.A.D.
No, I'm not talking about Students Against Drunk Driving. Although, that is an excellent organization.
Today, I'm talking about the Standard American Diet, a.k.a. (S.A.D.).
S.A.D., is a term used by health food advocates to describe the dietary habits of average Americans; advocates say the average American maintains a diet relatively high in saturated fat, trans fat, chemical additives, and refined sugar.
I find it very interesting that the acronym is so fitting to the terminology. Yes, The majority of Americans are sad. They are depressed. On so many prescription medications for depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADD, sexual assistance, blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol lowering, i could keep going but you get the picture.
Are these the symptoms of a culture in a medical crisis, or are these issues arising from how we are choosing to live our lives, and are merely the consequences of our own actions.
On the eve of the release of the new Michael Moore Documentary, Sicko, (which i have already seen in full), I find it very telling, the health care emergency this country is facing. It is pressing and immediate that something be done about it, true.
However, American people need to realise that you cannot just keep living the "American Dream" life of excess, decadence, and all-you-can-eat buffets, without suffering (no pun intended) grave consequences.
Personal responsibility is CRUCIAL in determining the outcome of your life. You cannot depend on doctors to "cure" you, for in actuality, all they are trained to do is to cut things out of you (surgery) and treat the symptoms you're having with prescription medications. (Meds!)
I believe in modern medicine for all the wonderful advances it has provided us, and in emergency situations, disease outbreak, etc.. modern medicine is vital and really nothing short of miraculous.
But if everyone took responsibility for their own lives and their own diets, we would not be in the mess we are in with "health care" in this country. We cannot think "I can do whatever I want, put whatever I want in my mouth, and if something happens, doc will take care of me, and give me drugs". That is irresponsible thinking and a mentality that has cost us dearly.
You have ONE body in this lifetime, no swapping it out, no trading it in. You have to take care of yourself and your vehicle you are using to navigate your life on the planet. You cannot take better care of your automobile than your own body, but yet, so many of us do. You would not run your car on lard and sugar, so why are you running your bodies on it?
The S.A.D. is not the path for us, and it is destroying us at the very foundation of our lives, OUR health.
For without your health, you truly don't have anything. You simply cannot enjoy your life if you're sick. You cannot Be all you can Be when you're constantly Ill, on medications, fighting allergies, colds, flu's, and everything else in the everyday lives of American citizens.
I look around, Obesity is epidemic today with 2 out 3 Americans at the obesity level! That is just insane. We've become a nation where 2/3 of us are fat, overweight, and out of control. And that doesn't just apply to Perez Hilton. Even he couldn't blog his celebrity trash talk for about 10 days when he had the flu a couple months ago.
We've become a nation of bottom feeders, garbage in your mouths, garbage on TV, garbage celebrity magazines, we are not headed on the proper path. And this is a wake up call for you. Truth is harsh, indeed.
What can you do? You can start by taking personal responsibility, starting with what you shove in your mouth everyday.
Put down the donuts for breakfast, the lard ridden fast food for lunch, and the pizzas, TV dinners and buffets for dinner.
Consider adapting to a plant-based diet. I'll post more on that in future blogs, as it is one way I see a chance and a ray of hope for us as a species.
Get off your ass and move your body. Everyday, work up a sweat, feel your cells come alive and dance in your body. I don't care HOW you do it, just DO it. Walking is a good start, aim for 30 Min's a day and go from there.
There's NO reason you cannot do that daily, so I don't want to hear excuses. Be appreciative that you CAN walk, because not everyone is so fortunate.
I believe that the future CAN be bright for us, as i have always been a half-glass full kinda guy. However, things don't change until you make them change. You are the architect of your life, so get out your pencil and start drawing the life you imagine, draw the body you would like to have, and the dream that's inside, just waiting to be achieved.
To Life!
J.J.M.
Today, I'm talking about the Standard American Diet, a.k.a. (S.A.D.).
S.A.D., is a term used by health food advocates to describe the dietary habits of average Americans; advocates say the average American maintains a diet relatively high in saturated fat, trans fat, chemical additives, and refined sugar.
I find it very interesting that the acronym is so fitting to the terminology. Yes, The majority of Americans are sad. They are depressed. On so many prescription medications for depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADD, sexual assistance, blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol lowering, i could keep going but you get the picture.
Are these the symptoms of a culture in a medical crisis, or are these issues arising from how we are choosing to live our lives, and are merely the consequences of our own actions.
On the eve of the release of the new Michael Moore Documentary, Sicko, (which i have already seen in full), I find it very telling, the health care emergency this country is facing. It is pressing and immediate that something be done about it, true.
However, American people need to realise that you cannot just keep living the "American Dream" life of excess, decadence, and all-you-can-eat buffets, without suffering (no pun intended) grave consequences.
Personal responsibility is CRUCIAL in determining the outcome of your life. You cannot depend on doctors to "cure" you, for in actuality, all they are trained to do is to cut things out of you (surgery) and treat the symptoms you're having with prescription medications. (Meds!)
I believe in modern medicine for all the wonderful advances it has provided us, and in emergency situations, disease outbreak, etc.. modern medicine is vital and really nothing short of miraculous.
But if everyone took responsibility for their own lives and their own diets, we would not be in the mess we are in with "health care" in this country. We cannot think "I can do whatever I want, put whatever I want in my mouth, and if something happens, doc will take care of me, and give me drugs". That is irresponsible thinking and a mentality that has cost us dearly.
You have ONE body in this lifetime, no swapping it out, no trading it in. You have to take care of yourself and your vehicle you are using to navigate your life on the planet. You cannot take better care of your automobile than your own body, but yet, so many of us do. You would not run your car on lard and sugar, so why are you running your bodies on it?
The S.A.D. is not the path for us, and it is destroying us at the very foundation of our lives, OUR health.
For without your health, you truly don't have anything. You simply cannot enjoy your life if you're sick. You cannot Be all you can Be when you're constantly Ill, on medications, fighting allergies, colds, flu's, and everything else in the everyday lives of American citizens.
I look around, Obesity is epidemic today with 2 out 3 Americans at the obesity level! That is just insane. We've become a nation where 2/3 of us are fat, overweight, and out of control. And that doesn't just apply to Perez Hilton. Even he couldn't blog his celebrity trash talk for about 10 days when he had the flu a couple months ago.
We've become a nation of bottom feeders, garbage in your mouths, garbage on TV, garbage celebrity magazines, we are not headed on the proper path. And this is a wake up call for you. Truth is harsh, indeed.
What can you do? You can start by taking personal responsibility, starting with what you shove in your mouth everyday.
Put down the donuts for breakfast, the lard ridden fast food for lunch, and the pizzas, TV dinners and buffets for dinner.
Consider adapting to a plant-based diet. I'll post more on that in future blogs, as it is one way I see a chance and a ray of hope for us as a species.
Get off your ass and move your body. Everyday, work up a sweat, feel your cells come alive and dance in your body. I don't care HOW you do it, just DO it. Walking is a good start, aim for 30 Min's a day and go from there.
There's NO reason you cannot do that daily, so I don't want to hear excuses. Be appreciative that you CAN walk, because not everyone is so fortunate.
I believe that the future CAN be bright for us, as i have always been a half-glass full kinda guy. However, things don't change until you make them change. You are the architect of your life, so get out your pencil and start drawing the life you imagine, draw the body you would like to have, and the dream that's inside, just waiting to be achieved.
To Life!
J.J.M.
Chunky Vegetarian Chili!
This is an AWESOME and hearty chili I like to make often and I'm sure you'll be devouring it on your dinner table on a regular basis as well. ;-)
12 servings
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. organic extra virgin olive oil
½ cup organic bell peppers - chopped
½ cup organic onions - chopped
3 cloves organic garlic - minced
29 oz. organic stewed tomatoes
1 package of Yves organic "Good Ground" meatless crumbles
15 oz. organic dark red kidney beans, canned - undrained
16 oz. organic pinto beans, canned - undrained
1 cup water
3 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. Kosher Salt
1 ½ tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper
½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (extra heat)
Instructions:
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook until tender. Add veggie grounds. Stir in stewed tomatoes, beans, water, chili powder, salt, cumin, and black pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. ENJOY!
The road to health is...Green?
Green Tea. It's EVERYWHERE today. It almost seems like it has just appeared out of nowhere, when in fact it has been used for thousands of years. Many know its potent health benefits, and many more are being turned onto this wonder plant on a daily basis.
So, what's in a cup?
Green tea contains a variety of potent anti-oxidants. That's another buzz word you have heard a lot about lately. Well, what do is help the body to fight free-radicals, which are basically rouge cells that run freely through your body causing damage where they travel.
Anti-oxidants keep these toxic cells from forming, thus keeping you healthier.
In green tea, you have the antioxidants called catechins, polyphenols, and flavonoids.
In fact, green tea has about 8 to 10 times the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables!!
When you Look at the world's big tea-drinkers, like Japan and China, they have much less heart disease and don't have certain cancers that we in the western world suffer.
I consume several cups a day, and I can say I feel and look more healthier than when I used to just drink coffee everyday.
And if you're worried about caffeine, Green tea has about a third of caffeine than coffee, and the health benefits FAR outweigh the caffeine aspect. You also can get a decaffeinated green tea as well.
So, Drink up and drink to your health!!
So, what's in a cup?
Green tea contains a variety of potent anti-oxidants. That's another buzz word you have heard a lot about lately. Well, what do is help the body to fight free-radicals, which are basically rouge cells that run freely through your body causing damage where they travel.
Anti-oxidants keep these toxic cells from forming, thus keeping you healthier.
In green tea, you have the antioxidants called catechins, polyphenols, and flavonoids.
In fact, green tea has about 8 to 10 times the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables!!
When you Look at the world's big tea-drinkers, like Japan and China, they have much less heart disease and don't have certain cancers that we in the western world suffer.
I consume several cups a day, and I can say I feel and look more healthier than when I used to just drink coffee everyday.
And if you're worried about caffeine, Green tea has about a third of caffeine than coffee, and the health benefits FAR outweigh the caffeine aspect. You also can get a decaffeinated green tea as well.
So, Drink up and drink to your health!!
So, you wanna VEG out?
A vegetarian diet has been advocated by everyone from philosophers such as Plato and Nietzsche, to political leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and Gandhi, to modern pop icons such as Paul McCartney and Bob Marley.
But, Science is also on the side of vegetarianism. A multitude of studies have proven the health benefits of a vegetarian diet to be remarkable.
It is a way that I live my life, and what I advocate to people wherever I go. EAT LESS MEAT.
I believe in doing things in a gradual way, so if you have been eating meat your entire life, I believe a weening stage is vital in adapting a more plant-based diet.
There are numerous benefits to
Plant-based diets including lower disease-promoting substances (e.g., cholesterol, saturated fat, oxidants, trans fatty acids, arachidonic acid, and total fat), BUT, also high in protective dietary factors (e.g., antioxidants, folate, soluble fiber, saponins, flavonoids, carotenoids, isoflavones, soluble fiber, and plant sterols.
Adapting is different for everyone. I took right to it, and the transition was not difficult for me. I have friend though who had a bit of a trickier time. The key is to get started. And it DOESN'T matter how old you are! Here is one personal account that I love, by Dr. Spock!
"When I was 88 years old, I gave up meat entirely
and switched to a plant-foods diet following a slight stroke.
During the following months, I not only lost 50 pounds
but gained strength in my legs and picked up stamina.
Now, at age 93, I’m on the same plant-based diet,
and I still don’t eat any meat or dairy products.
I either swim, walk, or paddle a canoe daily and I feel
the best I’ve felt since my heart problems began."
BENJAMIN SPOCK, M.D. (1903-1998)
pediatrician and author
It sometimes does take something personal, and when the rooster comes home to roost in your family, that's when a lot of action takes place.
I however am on the flip-side and say prevention is stronger than cure, so, as I said before GET STARTED! It is the best thing you can do for yourself AND your health!!
But, Science is also on the side of vegetarianism. A multitude of studies have proven the health benefits of a vegetarian diet to be remarkable.
It is a way that I live my life, and what I advocate to people wherever I go. EAT LESS MEAT.
I believe in doing things in a gradual way, so if you have been eating meat your entire life, I believe a weening stage is vital in adapting a more plant-based diet.
There are numerous benefits to
Plant-based diets including lower disease-promoting substances (e.g., cholesterol, saturated fat, oxidants, trans fatty acids, arachidonic acid, and total fat), BUT, also high in protective dietary factors (e.g., antioxidants, folate, soluble fiber, saponins, flavonoids, carotenoids, isoflavones, soluble fiber, and plant sterols.
Adapting is different for everyone. I took right to it, and the transition was not difficult for me. I have friend though who had a bit of a trickier time. The key is to get started. And it DOESN'T matter how old you are! Here is one personal account that I love, by Dr. Spock!
"When I was 88 years old, I gave up meat entirely
and switched to a plant-foods diet following a slight stroke.
During the following months, I not only lost 50 pounds
but gained strength in my legs and picked up stamina.
Now, at age 93, I’m on the same plant-based diet,
and I still don’t eat any meat or dairy products.
I either swim, walk, or paddle a canoe daily and I feel
the best I’ve felt since my heart problems began."
BENJAMIN SPOCK, M.D. (1903-1998)
pediatrician and author
It sometimes does take something personal, and when the rooster comes home to roost in your family, that's when a lot of action takes place.
I however am on the flip-side and say prevention is stronger than cure, so, as I said before GET STARTED! It is the best thing you can do for yourself AND your health!!
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