Archive for the 'Nutrition' Category

Fast Food Hidden Dangers

In a fast-moving, high-paced World, anything which offers us convenience and at a low cost has to be a winner. And that is how the fast food industry has taken such a stranglehold on our lives, because they meet those needs precisely.

So, given that our needs are for speed and convenience and that they are being met so readily by the fast food industry, it would appear to b a win/win situation wouldn’t it?

On the face of it yes, but unfortunately that’s only a part of it. Health experts have been saying for some time that there are massive problems associated with so called convenience foods, due to their reliance on unhealthy ingredients.

Most of us now know the documentary film “Super Size Me”, in which film maker Morgan Spurlock set out to investigate whether or not there was any substance behind these warnings. His journey took him around the US on a fact finding mission during which he also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald’s for an entire month with three simple rules:

1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter

2) No super sizing unless offered

3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once

Prior to the journey, he’d been thoroughly checked medically and found to be in good health but within the course of a month, his health disintegrated rapidly and he had chest pains and trouble breathing. He also suffered from depression, insomnia and the shakes. His liver functions deteriorated and his liver specialist begged him to quit 20 days into the experiment. But he persevered and finished 25 pounds heavier and much poorer.

So what is it about the food he was existing on that caused this dramatic effect? Fast food is also known as convenience food because it’s just that – convenient for us. But it’s also convenient for the manufacturer and their convenience comes from mass production with a reliance on cheap, processed ingredients. The nutritional value of the product is sacrificed for this convenience. To give back the flavour which is lost through the use of such ingredients and the processing, they use high proportions of fats, sugars and salts, as these foods trigger the right sensations for us. But these ingredients when used excessively are know to have the following consequences:

Saturated and especially trans fats, which are used widely in processed food, can raise cholesterol, clog arteries and raise the risk of coronary disease.

The excess of sugar in fast foods is a big concern. Not only for the well documented impact on dental welfare but it has also been linked to obesity, heart disease and even cancer.

Salts taken to excess play a huge part in raising blood pressure and increasing the risks of strokes.

Spurlock’s experiment meant he was subjected constantly to very high levels of these high risk foods, but for the potentially dangerous consequences to be so obvious in such a short time is a lesson that we should all be heeding. That’s not to say that’s no place in our lives for convenience foods; it’s just to say that our reliance on them should be minimal and they should be viewed as an occasional alternative to a normal healthy diet.

The argument is often used that to cook your own food from healthy ingredients is just not practical in a modern world but with so many simple healthy recipes available to us in books and on the internet and the fact that in most parts of the world, good locally grown ingredients are readily available, there is no excuse for not taking the warning provided by Spurlock’s film to heart.

We have choices and we must for the sake of our health and the health of those around us, choose wisely.

A Wealth Of Health Eating Foods High In Fiber

By choosing high fiber foods, you can become part of the legend of those who have the nutritional wisdom which ensures better health, counteracts disease, and produces greater vitality. Ask not what your high fiber diet can do for you, but what you can do for your high fiber diet. Camelot? Spamalot? Fiber–alot.

Fiberlady is the new Guinevere. She’s come to share the wealth about your health. One of the main reasons for the emerging trend of high fiber foods is the ongoing quest for weight loss. Even the Knights of the Round Table have discovered that their armor fits better than ever.

The average American consumes about 5-13 grams of fiber daily, but nutrition experts recommend a daily intake of 20-35 grams. Here’s what you can do in the quest for your high fiber diet. Start by replacing white bread with whole grain bread, white rice with brown rice. Add more beans and legumes, veggies, fruits, seeds and nuts. Any foods with more than 4 grams per serving are categorized as high in fiber.

People are moving away from the low-carb diet fad towards eating foods that are high in fiber. New products making high-fiber claims has nearly doubled in the past few years. For example, Sara Lee (bless her heart) has developed a white bread with all the fiber and many of the nutrients of whole wheat bread. And wonder of wonders, Wonder has made a bread with a special 100% whole wheat flour milled from white wheat. These products make the new USDA Food Pyramid much easier to scale.

A diet rich in high fiber foods is essential for your ultimate health. Dietary fiber is vital for prevention or treatment of diverticulitis, diabetes, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Studies have shown that certain conditions such as constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis and high blood pressure respond favorably to a high fiber diet. Those who need a gluten free diet can still benefit from a variety of high fiber foods. Certain types of fiber can even lower blood cholesterol levels.

One of Fiberlady’s greatest concerns is the alarming trend for today’s children to be overweight. The new Food Guide Pyramid recommends that children consume 1 to 3 servings of whole grains daily. It’s probable that most children don’t even eat 1 serving a day of whole grains. Dietary fiber has a powerful impact on children’s overall health. After eating fiber-rich foods, there is a feeling of fullness which helps to control overeating. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar which is vital to childrens’ energy and digestive health. High fiber foods are as important to their health as it is to yours.

Fiberlady knows how easy it is to raise your high fiber IQ. Educate yourself and those you love about high cholesterol, diabetes, types of cancer, high blood pressure, and other ailments that can be drastically improved or controlled by including high fiber recipes and high fiber menus on a regular daily basis.

Camelot was the beginning of the Quest for the Holy Grail. It could be considered a state of mind, but the quest for high fiber health is most assuredly the starting point to a state of good health!

Natural Detoxification With A Body Cleanse Diet

A body cleanse diet aids your body in ejecting harmful toxins such as caffeine, food additives, nicotine and alcohol. In case you have been consuming a poor diet, you might want to try a cleanse diet that is bound to change the way your body system works. The importance of a detox cannot be underestimated. It is the surest cure for such maladies as indigestion, bloating, fatigue, weight gain and headaches.

Even individuals with a defunct or low immunity could benefit from a detox diet. A body cleansing diet ranges from a mild levels to an extreme level based on the volume of toxins accumulated in the body. It is however advisable to begin from a basic diet and build on it slowly as you progress.

In the initial stages, a detox diet could be unpleasant. That however is a perfect indication that you require a detoxification since the body is opposing the status quo. You have to tread carefully on any body cleanse diet you come across though. It can be dangerous in case it is not structured in the right way. Consulting with your physician prior to beginning the detoxification is a smart idea. Once you have made up your mind to follow a detox diet, you must commit yourself to the whole body cleanse program from the first day. When it comes to a mild cleansing diet, consistency is the key to absolute success.

A body cleanse diet is not that hard to formulate. You only need to understand the elements involved. You have to start the process by drinking one or two glasses of warm water some hours before a breakfast. You can add some freshly squeezed lemon juice to the water. This aids in increasing the flow of bile into the stomach. Bile aids the liver in the breakdown of excessive fat. The glass of water and lemon is also important since it helps the body in the elimination of toxins. Having jump-started the metabolism process, whatever else you eat during the day will be broken down fast and efficiently.

During the afternoons, you can add some chlorophyll to a glass of water and have it as it is. This is because chlorophyll is a wonderful detoxifier. A derivative of the alfalfa, chlorophyll appears mostly in antioxidant products. It is known to support the body cell health as well as increasing the production of red blood cell. Besides that, chlorophyll boosts your energy levels.

While following a body cleanse diet, ensure that include eat a lot of fiber-rich foods in the daily diet. This will help to regulate your bowel movements and also in eliminating excess toxins. Bran, ground flaxseed and oat are great sources of natural fiber that you can add to cereals or blend with applesauce. You can consider tossing a little bran or oat into the blender for some more fiber if you enjoy smoothies. Don’t forget to use the foods that benefit the liver during a cleansing diet. These foods include celery, carrots, lemons and beet roots.