Living Healthy: 2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Toxins Linked to Belly Fat and Obesity

Are plastics thwarting your best weight loss efforts? A new study from Harvard School of Public Health and published in the journal Environmental Health found that commonly-found toxins in plastics are linked to both general obesity and abdominal obesity. Known as Bisphenol A or BPA for short, these hormone disruptors have been primarily found in plastic, including plastic food and beverage packaging.

Harvard scientists studied the effects of BPA to see low-dose exposures of the toxin increased abdominal or general fat in humans. They were aware of previous studies showing that low-dose BPA increased obesity in rodents. The scientists assessed the urinary BPA concentrations, body mass index, and waist circumference in 2747 adult men and women ranging in age from 18 to 74.

Their findings aren’t surprising given the toxin is a known hormone and metabolism disruptor. The higher the urinary concentrations of BPA (indicating higher exposures), the more likely a person was obese and experiencing abdominal obesity. The adults with the highest amounts of BPA in their urine were 75 percent more likely to be obese than those with the lowest amounts of BPA.

They concluded that “higher BPA exposure is associated with general and central obesity in the general adult population in the United States.”

As a result of studies like the Harvard one, toxins like BPA, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and phthalates are increasingly being referred to as “obesogens.”

Keep reading to discover 6 ways to reduce your BPA exposure and 5 other things you can do to protect yourself…

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Source : care2[dot]com

Can’t Live Without My Heart Rate Monitor

We’re numbers people. Data junkies. We know that weight-loss comes down to calories in versus calories out. And that equation works best when you have reliable statistics. That’s why we love heart rate monitors! These nifty tools track your workout time, calories-burned, and some models even calculate distance and how long you spend in your target training zone. That’s precious intelligence, which is why we wear them proudly. These top three picks are on our wrists right now!

Sportline 1010 Duo Heart Rate Monitor
The memory system saves your workout stats, so you can monitor your progress daily!
Buy it here!

MIO Motion Strapless Heart Rate Watch
The accelerometer accurately calculates your steps, speed, and distance. Amazing!
Buy it here!

Polar FT7 Female Fitness Computer
This high-tech trinket gives you feedback about how hard you should be working to meet your calorie-burning goals, sort of like a trainer!
Buy it here

Tags: Aerobics Biking Cardiovascular Elliptical Machine Equipment Healthy Living Running Spinning Step Machine Treadmill Weight Loss

Source : fitstudio[dot]com

The Fit Fat

Many of us measure our fitness, and that of others, by appearances. Slim people must be healthier than those who carry extra weight, or so we think. The truth is that your size is not the sole indicator of how fit or healthy you truly are. In fact, an individual can carry as many as 20 extra pounds and still have better cardiovascular fitness than her slimmer counterpart. On the flip side, someone can be at an ideal body weight, and still be unfit. Confused? Let me explain.

The Fat Factor

Excess body fat is usually an indicator that a person eats more calories than she burns on a consistent basis. However, you cannot conclude that she doesn’t exercise regularly just because she’s overweight. She may, in fact, follow a rigorous fitness program and be able to run a mile in 9 minutes, box 12 rounds, and complete a triathlon. We’ve seen larger-than-average-sized people perform beyond our expectations and outdo slimmer competitors (remember the Olympics!). Of course, there’s a point at which the excess fat would prevent such athletic exploits. That’s called obesity.

The Real Deal

Don’t get the wrong idea: Just because an overweight person can still be fit doesn’t mean that weight loss is off the table. Carrying more fat than your body needs, especially when it’s around the organs in your mid-section, poses serious health concerns, plain and simple. Exercising regularly may help moderate your risk for chronic disease, but it’s best to lose the weight. Even dropping 10 pounds can have a notable impact on your heart health and reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes.

The Bottom Line

If you’re fit and pack a little pudge, imagine how athletic and agile and amazing you’d feel if you were leaner. Think about it, really. Don’t settle for good enough when you can be at your best.

Alfonso Moretti, Jr., aka “The Angry Trainer,” has been a certified personal trainer for 20 years. He is also a nutrition consultant. You can follow him on Twitter at @AngryTrainerFit.

Tags: Fitness Healthy Living Motivation Weight Loss

Source : fitstudio[dot]com

Eating Green to Prevent Cancer

Why do people who eat more plants get less cancer? The largest prospective study of diet and cancer in history, for example, found that vegetarians had lower levels of all cancers combined. This could be due to what they eat less of:

There are also components of plant foods they are getting more of that can help eliminate excess estrogen; extinguish free radicals; and boost our antioxidant, detoxification, and DNA repair enzymes. What we do eat may be as important as what we don’t eat.

The healthiest food is dark green leafy vegetables, which we should ideally eat every day. Greens can improve our eyesight, immune function, athletic performance, and even our physical appearance. The green pigment itself—chlorophyll—may even intercept carcinogens. See my NutritionFacts.org video pick above.

For more on protective compounds in plants, check out my video Phytochemicals: The Nutrition Facts Missing From the Label. Green pigments are just one sliver of the rainbow though. There are benefits to the yellow ones, orange ones, red ones, and blue ones. Sounds like a Dr. Seuss book!

In health,
Michael Greger, M.D.

PS: If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to my videos for free by clicking here and watch my full 2012 presentation Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death.

Image credit: Anderson Mancini / Flickr

Source : care2[dot]com

Pumpkin Bread: 2 Ways

Sad as I am to say goodbye to summer’s bounty (especially the tomatoes…), there is considerable consolation in the foods that fall has to offer. Like pumpkins! Although I grew up carving them, not eating them, I have since come to appreciate pumpkin’s hearty, sweet flavor which is good in both sweet and savory forms.

The recipe for this quick batter bread is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Recipes From The Root Cellar. I doubled it and made one loaf with almonds and one loaf with chunks of crystallized ginger – had I had them on hand, I might have added mini chocolate chips to one of the loaves, too. Mmmmm, chocolate….

The result is gooood. A sweet, rich, moist loaf with just the right amount of spice and flavor. Excellent plain and even better toasted and spread with butter (or Earth Balance) or some cream cheese.

This recipe calls for butter but if you don’t eat dairy, there are many others out there that use oil instead of butter. I used canned pumpkin but you can also use leftover squash purees (and the more the better if they’re already flavored or spiced) or make your own pumpkin puree if you’ve got the time. If you do that, just remember to seek out a pumpkin that is meant for eating like the sugar pie pumpkin below — the ones meant for carving would taste really gross!

Next: Get the recipe!

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Source : care2[dot]com

Eating Disorders and Labeling Negative Thoughts

I recently read this article in Elephant Journal entitled “Confessions of a Food Restrictor.” In the words of my beloved Oprah, it was an “Aha Moment” for me. The author , Anne Falkowski, explains her experience with a registered dietician who, after a conversation about her eating habits, informed her that he believed her to be a “restrictor”. He defined the term as, “someone who counts calories”or “someone who has so many rules around food and the rules give more power to food than food actually has.”

Wow. That’s exactly what I used to do. For years. The term “restrictor” really resonates with me because I have always been reluctant to refer to my past eating disorder as anorexia. My case was serious. My relationship with food was certainly unhealthy and it dominated my life. But I always felt as if I were a step or two away from all out anorexia (though I realize that what constitutes anorexia for me may be somewhat different for someone else).

Before I go any further, I want to clarify my feelings about the power of food. We give food as much power as we choose to. I don’t believe that power has to be negative. It can be very, very good. Sharing holiday meals with family, trying a new restaurant with a friend, preparing a meal for your partner, these are all very positive, powerful experiences. In fact, since recovering from my eating disorder, I’ve fallen in love with cooking and baking. A friend and I are even planning to start a cooking blog together.

However, for people with eating disorders, the power given to food is, of course, very negative. It is not a healing power, or a power that creates community and reinforces bonds. It is a power to overwhelm and control. It is a power that allows food to take on a life of its own – and to overshadow the person’s real life.

But when we understand where this power comes from – that it comes from negative thoughts that we can label (meditation can be particularly helpful in this regard), then we can defuse that power. This is why finding the term “restrictor”was so meaningful to me. If I’d had this term at the height of my eating disorder, I would have been able to mentally label my negative thoughts as “restriction.” That would have helped me to separate the thoughts from myself and my truth and to thereby begin to disregard them.

Humans like to quantify things. We like categories and names. This is sometimes helpful and sometimes detrimental – but it is undeniable that we like to make order out of chaos. Having a label for an eating disorder helps us understand that those negative thoughts don’t represent truth, nor are they an essential part of our being. They are simply the voice of the “restrictor,” something we can recognize and then move on from. The terms anorexia and bulimia are very familiar, but I believe there are a lot of people out there like me who have truly disordered relationships with food but may not consider themselves anorexic or bulimia. Perhaps those people would benefit from having a label that makes their experiences more tangible and helps them separate themselves from their negative thoughts.

Source : care2[dot]com

Roche Investigated For NOT Reporting SIDE Effects!!!

Europe’s top drug regulator announced that it is taking action against pharmaceutical giant Roche for allegedly failing to properly report the side effects of 19 drugs

If Roche is found guilty the company can be fined up to 5% of the price of their sales across the European Union

European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it is taking measures against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Roche which has not reported side effects of 19 of their medicines.
Eight of these drugs are used to treat cancers, including breast cancer. These include Avastin, Herceptin, Tarceva and Xeloda. Tamiflu is also listed.
British authorities draw the attention of European regulators to the problem in May when they see “serious deficiencies” in the reporting of side effects.
80,000 reports of adverse events submitted by users were not analyzed correctly. These include reports of 15,000 deaths, although it is unclear whether they are caused by drugs of Roche.
From EMA are calming down the consumers that they are not at increased risk. Authorities refused to describe what the side effects are, but only said that they are concerned of that they were not timely notified of them, which is a serious flaw in the system.
If Roche is found guilty the company can be fined up to 5% of the price of their sales across the European Union for the last year. The company’s shares lost 2 percent of its value on Tuesday when the scandal was announced.
The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, asked the European Medicines Agency to initiate criminal proceedings. A statement from the agency said that it will investigate the allegations against Roche.
EMA sends the manufacturer a detailed indictment list and is currently awaiting the response of the company. The investigation could take up to 18 months, after which the Commission must decide whether to impose sanctions.
Daniel Grotzky – Roche’s spokesman, said that the company is working with EMA to clarify the case and does not want to speculate on the subject. He said that patients’ safety is “of paramount importance”.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

FDA Is Considering Faster Clinic Trials

The regulatory agency is considering a quick way of finding treatment for obese and develop life-saving antibiotics and other socially significant drugs

The new policy will allow the makers of such drugs to conduct smaller and faster clinical trials

Spokesman of the U.S. Administration of FDA Margaret Hamburg said that the regulatory agency is considering a quick way of finding treatment for obese and develop life-saving antibiotics and other socially significant drugs.
The new policy will allow the makers of such drugs to conduct smaller and faster clinical trials and to introduce the words “special medical use”, allowing physicians to grant experimental drugs in case of critical need. According to Ms. Hamburg, FDA should consider the needs of people with deadly or debilitating diseases that may be willing to take experimental drugs.
According to Alan Kuke – Deputy Director of Medical Programs at Pew Health Group, a new way of development, which would allow the product to reach the market faster and would make use only of patients with high risk / benefit would be a significant improvement. That would be good for manufacturers, patients and public health, he said.
Currently expedited consideration of clinical documentation is only available in a limited number of cases. Furthermore, although anti-cancer drugs are considered a priority, clinical trials have a normal period and number of volunteers.
Among the few companies enjoying an accelerated review of their products is Ziopharm, which are planning to develop and commercialize new anticancer therapies. The portfolio of the company consists of five products under study. Molecule in the most advanced stage – palifosfamid should hit the market at the end of 2012.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Vitamin C Foods: Brighten Your Skin

Vitamin C is one of those all-purpose nutrients—it'll boost your immune system, and I bet you didn't know it can boost your skin health too. Find out what this all-important vitamin can do!

Source : care2[dot]com

Mediterranean Diet – “The Great Feast”

Mediterranean cuisine tempts with freshness, lightness and delicate flavor. It is said that the kitchen is the poor that has managed to enter the halls

“Great feast”
Researchers from the University of Saint – Etienne in France made a survey of a group of over six hundred patients after a heart attack. Divide them into two groups. One group is a traditional low-calorie human food after heart attack and the other was a Mediterranean diet based on olive oil, pasta, fresh vegetables and fruits, beans, small amounts of red meat, a large chicken and fish, as well as red wine to food. The result was impressive. Even after two years have reported large differences in the two groups – the “Mediterranean” group significantly increased life expectancy and decreased cancer (only 61%).

High Fiber Diet IS NOT Only for Weight Loss

Mediterranean diet is full of delicious and healthy dishes

Table outside
It is based on the vegetables, herbs and olive oil. When we add to this fish, seafood, cheese, pasta, rice, garlic, olives Oregano – get a general idea of the capabilities of this kitchen. The recipe for success of any party table is ordered by the court, friends and Mediterranean delicacies …
Obrigado aos Portugueses – thank to Portuguese
Portuguese think we owe them a taste of modern cuisine. Large researchers then powerful colonizers introduced many innovations in Europe such as coffee, sugar cane, beans, rice, pepper and cloves.
Tapas – something delicious in Spanish
Important dish in Spanish cuisine are served in bars and cafes tapas – small plates full of goodies that taste wine highlights. Only the imagination of the cook depends on what component of tapas. This can be aromatic olive, but micro dish with seafood. It is said that the tradition of tapas (from the word which means tapar disguise) is taken from the “bars” custom covers xeresu * cup with a slice of bread to prevent flies. Obviously it was a good idea of the bartenders, who relied on this that customers eat “lid” and instead go home to eat will continue to order.

Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Savoir – vivre
Eating a traditional Italian dinner can be very challenging. It is lack of tact to leave something on your plate. In order not to offend Italians welcome you or the owner of a local restaurant, then a few hours before dinner resist the temptation of delicious sandwich or ice cream ..
Mediterranean diet combines health, happiness and good shape I amazing taste and virtuous dishes. Who might dare not to taste it?

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Gourmet Guide: History of Pancakes

Is there anybody who doesn’t like pancakes? We doubt!

Sweet, salty, for dessert or dinner, pancake is one of the favorite foods of people from all ages and all over the world.

Hungry and Fat – or Why Diets Don’t Work!

Pancakes are really “old”

Pancakes are such temptation that can be hardly defined. According to “Oxford Company of Food” pancakes are a mixture of flour, eggs and milk, baked in a flat pan. John Mariani in his “Dictionary of American Food” reduces them to “flat cakes cooked on a skillet and browned on both sides”.
The definition is not so important. Because we all know that if we have a couple of eggs, a little milk, flour and butter we can make wonderful pancakes for the whole family. You don’t have to amazing cooker!
Actually pancake has stable history. It is successor of early flat bread, baked on hot stones in Neolithic. Romans cause a boom with their small pastry spreading through Europe and Africa. Pancakes outlive the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages flat hot plate enters one of the main tools for their preparation. In 1430, English culinary manuscript also mentions pancakes, and the oldest Dutch Cookbook of 1514 included a dozen recipes.

Sweet Temptations and Children – Let the War begin!
English and Dutch settlers not only brought the U.S. its various pancakes recipes, but also began to lay them into the American lifestyle and culinary culture. Jefferson even ordered them in the famous “Monticello.” Author James Cooper welcomed them friends in Paris. The first professional mix is presented in an exhibition in Missouri in 1889 and after appearing Pancake houses and chains.
In many European countries have celebrations – so called “pancake day”. In England the tradition continues with celebrations as Great Pancake Day, when school cooks prepare many pancakes for the crowd of students. The boy, who is out of melee pancake with the largest piece pancake, gets an award. In Olney, England, there is a religious holiday known as the pancake race.
In the years since the 1445th, local hosts, holding pans, sprint 375 meters, while in turn the pancake them three times. The first arrived at the church to serve the pancake bell Human and be kissed by him to win.

Different cultures have their pancake specifics. France as a gourmet benchmark offers pancakes mostly sweet and delicate as lace. Dutch they served in contracted facilities filled with salty stuffing or sprinkled with spices. In India’s pancake of rice flour and naturally seasoned with hot spices and trademark South African pancake with sugar and cinnamon flavor.
Americans also have their own version of the issue. Their pancakes are smaller in diameter but much thicker than known in Europe.
Wherever in the world but to eat pancakes with wonderful taste it convinces us in the maxim that the simplest things are perfect!

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Find Out NUMEROUS Benefits of Mediterranean Diet

From centuries people form Mediterranean countries use the benefits of their specific cousin extremely diverse in terms of flavors, aromas and colors

This regime protects them from many diseases of modern times – cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes type 2, insult, etc. According to researches, made in Italy between people in 65 and 85 years following the Mediterranean diet probability of death over the next nine years was 31% less than people who ate this way.

Fruits and Vegetables Make us Happy

Mediterranean diet provides the body with all nutritional substances it needs

Mediterranean cousin includes foods traditional for Greece, South Italy, South France, Spain, Portuguese, Turkey and Israel – different types of bread, wholegrain and legumes, fish, fruits and vegetables, olive oil, extremely limited quantity of red meat, ice cream and processed foods (for example chips and fast foods).
Basis of Mediterranean diet is combination between all these foods.
Mediterranean phenomenon
Researches show that Mediterranean people are one the healthiest people in the world. Mediterranean region consist of at least 20 regions and each of them has its own culture, habits and culinary traditions.
The common features of all of them, however, the popularity of olive oil, preference for red wine, consumption of large quantities of vegetables and fruits and the active lifestyle. In combination with the last factor – good weather – has raised the phenomenon Mediterranean health.
Milk and wine
The second important ingredient is milk and all dairy products – cheese and yogurt, which are very popular in the Mediterranean countries. And of course, wine! Almost for every meal in Italy, France and Greece have different wine.

Guarana – Stronger Than Coffee!
Daily, weekly or monthly?
Vegetables and fruits, cereals, bakery products, pasta and potatoes, nuts along with some wine, milk and dairy products should be consumed daily. To this add the mandatory daily physical activity. Poultry, eggs and seafood are used less frequently, once a week is sufficient, and red meat Mediterranean people eat once a month.
Mediterranean diet provides the body with all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of fat helps a healthy heart and longevity.
Total fats re a lot, but they are mostly unsaturated or come from olive oil, nuts and fish. These are the so-called “good” fats that do not harm the heart as saturated, contained in red meat.
It has been proved that such a diet is particularly suitable for people who are prone to heart disease and diabetes type 2. Food with a little more “good” fats is not only delicious, but extremely healthy. Mediterranean cuisine (including whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, olive oil as the principal source of fat) is useful for everyone as long as you do not overdo it with calories. You will live even better and longer if you perceive other traditional Mediterranean feature – high physical activity.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Diet of the Day: Meat Diet

According to some dieticians, people who eat more meat than foods from other food groups are more predisposed to weight gain

If you eat more than 250 g meat a day you can gain 2 kilos every 5 years. There are a lot and different opinions whether meat leads to more kilos.

Astrology and Weight Loss

Meat can be very good for weight loss

The truth is that we don’t weight gain from the meat itself but from abundant fatty trimmings and sauces we eat it with.
There is even special meat diet which is easy to keep – eat 200 g of meat three times a day without garnish or sauces. You can even eat pork. This diet doesn’t lead to feeling of hunger, fatigue and irritability. Meat is digested longer and this leads to a feeling of fullness. Diet with meat includes also meat with fats, but without added salt. Meat should be without any spices.
When eating more pure meat you should drink more water, at least 2 liter per day. Proteins in meat load kidneys and water help them to cope with this loading. So don’t forget to drink enough water.
Chicken breasts without skin and turkey breasts have 100 calories and no fats. There is no way to weight gain if you eat this type of meat if you eat it in moderation and without fatty additives and sauces.

More Tips for Healthy Eating
It is not good idea to stop eating meat at all because the body needs the animal proteins to function properly. If you have decided to become vegetarian you should eat enough legumes because they are rich in proteins.
If you eat too much meat it is enough to limit it to 250 g per day and you will see the result on the scale after 3 months.
Don’t at to the meat potatoes, pasta, cream, sauces with flour and limit consumption of meat in combination with alcohol.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

The Interesting History of Sweet Poison ASPARTAME

See what is the history of inventing the most commonly used artificial sweetener aspartame

The history is really interesting and like most of the deadly dangers in the world happens by accident. Actually the development of aspartame wasn’t planned. It happened in 1965 when G.D. Searle chemist James M. Schlatter was trying to develop medicine against peptic ulcer disease. The chemist spilled one of the substances on his finger while he was working and then licked his finger to clean it. So he discovered that the substance has sweet taste. That is how began the life of one of the most dangerous ingredients in our foods and drinks, report Mercola. Com.

Which Is More DANGEROUS – Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame was invented by accident

But the approval of using it did not go smoothly. FDA strongly recommended denial of its approval because of contradictory data about is effect on human’s health. The reasons were mildly reasonable – brain tumors in animal laboratory studies, too little data about the effect on human’s body and barely no data about long-term effect.
Yet how aspartame turned out be the most used artificial sweetener today is a good question. The answer is simple – a lot of money and political influence.
Aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar and its brand names are Nutra Sweet and Equal. Till 2008 more than 6 000 products had aspartame in its composition. These are dessert mixes, chewing gum, puddings, yogurt, gelatins, chewable vitamins, confections, sugar-free cough drops, powdered soft drinks, carbonated soft drinks, frozen desserts, etc.
More than 250 million people from over 100 countries in the world use products with aspartame every day.
The chemical composition of aspartame is 1-aspartyl 1 phenylalanine methyl ester and has three components: 10% – methanol; 40% – aspartic acid; 50% – phenylalanine;
Side effects of aspartame are listed in more than 900 studies, 10 000 reports about reactions of the body on aspartame.

Artificial Sweeteners – the Insidious Poison
Some of the most common side effects of aspartame are fatigue and weakness, migraine, hives, rash, joint pain, abdominal pain, convulsions and seizures, changes in heart rate, nausea and vomiting, changes in vision, headache, diarrhea, hallucination, dizziness.
Do you know what neotame is?
This is newly modified version of aspartame and is 72 sweeter and has greater heat stability. New or not health risks are similar to those of aspartame.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Ask the ZODIAC which Sport is Best for You (part 2)

Did you know that astrology is not only reveals the secrets of the future, but also helps to maintain the figure

Here is part 2.
Libra
Libras tend to gain weight. A light cardio and stretching are recommended. Libras tend to fluctuating levels of energy. In the morning you can try stretching to strengthen your lower back.

Health Risks of Sedentary Life

Yoga soothes nerves of the Pisces

However, surely avoid lifting heavy objects or movements that can cause stress in the lower back.
Scorpio
Scorpions enjoy participating in more aggressive sports. Intense, intense and competitive exercises are good for you. Boxing, martial arts, marathons … strengthen your muscles. You must be careful, however, vigorous exercise, can damage the tendon or cause-related stress injuries.
Sagittarius
You tend to gain weight around the waist, hips and thighs. Regular exercise is recommended. Cycling and running are good exercises for this sign. Make sure you visit the gym five days a week to tone your thighs and legs. Be careful not to overload because it can harm popliteal tendon and back muscles.
Capricorn
Capricorns tend to stiffening of the joints with age. They should focus on maintaining flexibility. Ideally you should indulge in endurance exercise – hiking, rock climbing, running, walking and cycling. Make sure you exercise regularly to avoid hardening of the joints.

Sports and Energy Drinks Damage Teeth
Aquarius
Aquarians should be attributed to the intense form of fitness activities. Dance and extreme sports are ideal for you. You can also click and aerobics – this is a great way to lose weight and go faster in shape. Since you have a temperament to unsubscribe from the list of sports jumping, skydiving and paragliding.
Pisces
Yoga and classical dance are an ideal way to relieve stress. Sitting postures soothe nerves and help soothe the spirit. Avoid doing too much strenuous exercise. But if you are someone who loves outdoor activities, choose swimming and running.

Ask the ZODIAC which Sport is Best for You (part 1)

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

33 Other Ways to Use Single-Use Kitchen Appliances

It happens to the best of us. Inspired by a love of fondue, lured by the convenience of rice cookers, we spend our hard-earned cash on an appliance. Never again will we eat pasta from a box!

And then… reality sets in. Despite our best intentions, we don’t make homemade waffles every weekend or prepare our packed lunches with our freshly-baked bread. The appliances gather dust in the back of the cabinet. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Several single-use appliances aren’t as impractical as they may seem. Click through to check out some other ways to use these oft-neglected appliances. Maybe that fondue pot will make its way onto the counter more than once a year!

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Source : care2[dot]com

30 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Diet

It’s not difficult to eat healthier. Just making simple changes to your diet can ramp up the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients you’re getting. And better nutrition quickly spells better health. To make it easier for you, I’ve compiled 30 simple ways to supercharge your diet. Subscribe to my free e-mag World’s Healthiest News for more great ways to supercharge your diet.

1. Use avocado instead of butter on your sandwiches, buns, or on veggies.

2. Use naturally-sweet stevia instead of sugar. Be wary of powdered stevia that contain other sweeteners though. Stevia tastes sweet but doesn’t contain any form of sugar like glucose, fructose, maltose, etc. so it doesn’t impact blood sugar levels.

3. Drink green tea lemonade (sweetened with stevia, of course) instead of bottled ice tea or soda. Check out my recipe here.

4. Choose brown rice pasta instead of white pasta. Better yet, use kelp noodles if you can find them.

5. The same is true of rice. Choose brown rice instead of white rice.

6. Use stock instead of bouillon to make soup. It’s really easy to do if you add vegetables and water to a slow cooker and allow them to cook for at least 4 to 6 hours to extract the nutrients. Strain the vegetables out and use the liquid as the base for soup. Bouillon is notorious for containing the harmful neurotoxin monosodium glutamate (MSG).

7. Add a can of beans to a pot of homemade soup. It immediately ramps up the protein and fiber and helps you feel full longer so you’re less likely to crave unhealthy snacks.

8. Make your own salad dressings. They take a minute to make and help you obtain important fats. Use the 3:1 ratio: three parts oil (like olive or walnut oil) to one part acid (like lemon or lime juice, or apple cider vinegar). Add herbs and a little unrefined sea salt and maybe a teaspoon of honey (if desired). Shake in a jar or blend with a hand blender.

9. Switch from peanut butter to raw, organic almond butter. Peanuts are vulnerable to molds called aflatoxins which are highly inflammatory. Almonds are less vulnerable.

10. Eat kale chips instead of potato chips. You can purchase them ready-made or you can make your own by tossing kale in a little olive oil and unrefined sea salt, then bake at 275 until light and crispy (usually 15 to 25 minutes).

Keep reading to discover the food to eat instead of ice cream…

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Source : care2[dot]com

12 Tips for Making Halloween Eco-Friendly

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but unfortunately, the standard celebrations are often out of line with my ethics. For example, almost everything associated with Halloween is disposable, single-serving, or synthetic. Eek! To me, needless waste is a whole lot scarier than ghosts or goblins.

If you’re like me and interested in making your All Hallows’ Eve more environmentally friendly, then read on. I’ll show you how to infuse your orange-and-black with a little splash of “green.”

1. Homemade costumes.

I’ve been doing this for years, scrapping together costumes from my own or secondhand clothes, but it seems especially important now that I’m a mother. I love to make my son’s costumes via creative repurposing. For example, on his first Halloween, he was only 7 months old, so that year I painted an old bike helmet to look like a turtle shell, and strapped it to his back. He had just mastered crawling and it was perfect! Last year I sewed him a little owl outfit out of old sweatshirts, and I made myself a “Freudian Slip.” I love these homemade costumes and I love that we’ll always be one-of-kind.

2. Costume swap.

If you do desire a specific or pre-packaged costume (maybe you’re short on time and making one just isn’t in the cards – understandable, we’re all busy people!), consider setting up a pre-Halloween costume swap with a group of friends. This is also a good event to coordinate the week after Halloween, and you’ll be all prepared for next year.

3. Conserve: save or donate.

In lieu of a costume swap, make sure you save your costume to be used again, either by you or another family member. Alternatively, you can donate it to a local theatre or charity. Whatever you do, don’t throw it away!

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By Sayward Rebhal, Networx

Source : care2[dot]com

Perfect Brussels Sprouts (Recipe)

Earlier this month, I let you all in on the best brussels sprouts recipe for people that, well, don’t really like them. Since then, I’ve been a little too obsessed with finding other recipes for the contentious veggie . I’ve had more misses than I care to remember.. until this recipe, from 101 Cookbooks, caught my eye. Enjoy!

Parmesan-Crusted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

24 Small Brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed & cut in half
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra to rub onto the sprouts
Sea Salt & Freshly-Ground Pepper
1/4 cup freshly-grated parmesan

Instructions:
1. Lightly coat brussels sprouts with olive oil.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add sprouts, flat side down, in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt. Cover and let cook until the sprouts are just tender, and the bottoms are just slightly browned, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove cover and turn up heat. With a metal spatula, toss the sprouts around twice while cooking until the sprouts’ flat side is caramelized. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle parmesan. Serve immediately.

Recipe Credit: 101 Cookbooks

What’s Your Serving Size IQ? (Quiz)

Want to Win the Nobel Prize? Eat Chocolate

Source : care2[dot]com

3 Delicious Ways to Eat Boiled Potatoes

Boiling a potato is one of the healthiest ways to enjoy it. Besides the carbs that give it all that bad press, the humble spud comes loaded with Vitamin C, potassium, iron, fiber, Vitamin B6, and trace minerals. As for the carbs, your body needs them for brain and muscle health. The best news: a cooked new potato contains a meager 26 calories.

Besides, boiled potatoes are so versatile! I always keep some in my fridge to be able to dish up a quick salad, snack, or curry, without an iota of guilt. Sharing 3 simple and good-for-you ideas with you:

Hot Minty Potatoes:
Mix finely chopped mint leaves, cilantro leaves, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon juice in a bowl, with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Boil potatoes, break them by hand, and toss them in the mixture. Enjoy hot! I like to mash them lightly with a fork and spread them on hot whole wheat toast—no butter required!

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Source : care2[dot]com

Walnuts, Brain And Something More…

Walnuts are a rich source of antioxidants, fibers, proteins, vitamins and minerals

Because of their valuable substances, walnuts are ranked first among the nuts as a healthy natural product

Walnuts are a rich source of antioxidants, fibers, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Because of these valuable substances, walnuts are ranked first among the nuts as a healthy natural product.
Thanks to its rich content of omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linoleic acid, walnuts are useful to improve cardiac function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.
30 grams of walnuts per day within a month helps reduce the harmful cholesterol levels by an average of 0.3 units.
For a healthy cardiovascular system influences the content of amino acid L-arginine, which is responsible for the conversion of nitric oxide, increasing blood flow in the body. Amino acids prevent arteries from narrowing and accumulation of fatty deposits on artery walls.
Walnuts are often called “brain food” and this is not accidental. Omega-3 fatty acids in nuts play an important role in the optimal functioning of brain cells, which provides a clear mind, good concentration and memory.
Eating nuts is recommended if you are subjected to a systemic mental workload.
In addition to vitamins, minerals and amino acids in walnuts are also found presence of melatonin. Melatonin helps for improving the quality of sleep. Eating nuts is recommended for those, who are suffering from insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep problems.
Experts believe that regular consumption of nuts helps to reduce the risk of cancer and prevents gallstones.
A handful of walnuts contains twice as many antioxidants than in any other nuts. They are used to obtain 8 per cent of the daily consumption of antioxidants.
To absorb all the beneficial properties and to extract the maximum benefit to our health, it is advisable to consume at least 7 raw nuts every day. Cooking takes off the qualities of the antioxidants in nuts.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Killer Energy Drinks?

In case you needed another reason to nix the energy drinks, the Food and Drug Administration says that five recent deaths may be linked to Monster Energy Drinks.

We know that mixing energy drinks and booze is bad news for your health, but even without the boozy help, those cans of energy drink are still pretty unhealthy. They’re loaded with unhealthy additives like:

Sugars. Even energy drinks that taste terrible are loaded with as much sugar as a soda, if not more. Often, the sweetener is high fructose corn syrup.
Artificial sweeteners. Diet or lower-calorie energy drinks tend to use sweeteners like aspartame.
Artificial flavors and colors. Most energy drinks on store shelves are not made from real juice, so they need chemical flavorings and colorings to make them look and taste more appealing.
Stimulants. This is where the immediate health concerns come in. Energy drinks contain caffeine along with a cocktail of other stimulants, like ginseng and taurine. In moderation and on their own, these ingredients aren’t necessarily unhealthy. It’s all about the amounts, and energy drinks contain high doses of stimulants.

On top of the FDA investigation, one family is suing Monster because their 14-year-old daughter died after drinking two cans of their product in a 24-hour period. Monster is doubling down, saying that its product is totally safe and that these charges are all false.

According to Food Safety News:

The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in Riverside, said that after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy on consecutive days Fournier went into cardiac arrest. She died days later on December 23, 2011 from what the lawsuit said was “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity” that complicated a heart disorder she already had.

On Monday, FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said the agency had received reports of five deaths and one heart attack that may be associated with the Monster Energy drink from 2009 through June this year.

Is drinking a Monster energy drink going to kill you? Probably not, but until the FDA investigation is through, it might be a good idea to get your energy boost elsewhere. On the next page, check out a list of five natural ways to amp up your energy without energy drinks.

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by Marcus Q.

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Source : care2[dot]com

Living Healthy

Friday, October 26, 2012

Toxins Linked to Belly Fat and Obesity

quick poll

Can’t Live Without My Heart Rate Monitor

The Fit Fat

The Fat Factor

The Real Deal

The Bottom Line

Eating Green to Prevent Cancer

Pumpkin Bread: 2 Ways

Eating Disorders and Labeling Negative Thoughts

Roche Investigated For NOT Reporting SIDE Effects!!!

Europe’s top drug regulator announced that it is taking action against pharmaceutical giant Roche for allegedly failing to properly report the side effects of 19 drugs

FDA Is Considering Faster Clinic Trials

The regulatory agency is considering a quick way of finding treatment for obese and develop life-saving antibiotics and other socially significant drugs

Vitamin C Foods: Brighten Your Skin

Mediterranean Diet – “The Great Feast”

Mediterranean cuisine tempts with freshness, lightness and delicate flavor. It is said that the kitchen is the poor that has managed to enter the halls

Gourmet Guide: History of Pancakes

Is there anybody who doesn’t like pancakes? We doubt!

Find Out NUMEROUS Benefits of Mediterranean Diet

From centuries people form Mediterranean countries use the benefits of their specific cousin extremely diverse in terms of flavors, aromas and colors

Diet of the Day: Meat Diet

According to some dieticians, people who eat more meat than foods from other food groups are more predisposed to weight gain

The Interesting History of Sweet Poison ASPARTAME

See what is the history of inventing the most commonly used artificial sweetener aspartame

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Ask the ZODIAC which Sport is Best for You (part 2)

Did you know that astrology is not only reveals the secrets of the future, but also helps to maintain the figure

33 Other Ways to Use Single-Use Kitchen Appliances

30 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Diet

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Perfect Brussels Sprouts (Recipe)

3 Delicious Ways to Eat Boiled Potatoes

Walnuts, Brain And Something More…

Killer Energy Drinks?

quick poll

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