Hospitality Recreation | Fitness Through Fasting Blog

Archive for 'Hospitality Recreation'

Weight Loss Surgery

Monday, October 17th, 2011 at 9:59 pm

When you are ready to leave the hospital, you may receive a visit from the hospital dietitian who will go over the required diet for Lap-Band patients. It’s important to fully understand the Lap-Band diet before you decide on this type of weight loss surgery. The first 3 to 4 days following Adjustable Gastric Lap-Band surgery patients must follow a clear liquid diet. Failure to follow the prescribed diet can cause complications such as band erosion or slippage that require additional surgery.

If you are a regular coffee, tea, or soda drinker you should be aware that no caffeine is permitted for the first three months after surgery. Carbonated beverages; both diet and regular may cause gas, bloating, and an increase in stomach size due to the carbonation and are not recommended at any time for Lap-Band patients.

The second phase of the Lap-Band diet consists of 5 to 6 weeks of a modified full liquid diet; the key component of this phase is consuming two ounces of a protein shake every hour for ten to twelve hours a day with two ounces of other liquids such as soup, baby food, or sugar-free gelatin three times a day.

During the second six weeks following Lap-Band surgery patients may eat food that is shredded in a food processor prior to eating. The basic foods on the Lap-Band diet include meats or other forms of protein, vegetables, and salads. The Lap-Band diet does not include most bread, potatoes and other starchy vegetables. The length of these phases may be altered according a patient’s personal weight and weight loss goals – my first phase is five weeks, followed by a two week second phase.

Protein is especially important following Lap-Band surgery. After Lap-Band surgery the stomach will never hold more than 4 to 6 ounces per meal, so making every bite count is essential for healthy and nutritionally rounded weight loss success.

Lap-Band patients are advised to consume fifty to sixty grams of protein daily to avoid protein deficiency. Protein deficiency causes hair loss, fatigue, edema, muscle weakness, and a delay in wound healing. A lack of adequate protein may also lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and other mental health conditions, as well as cause a number of physical health issues from gallstones to colds, headaches, low blood pressure, anemia, irregular hear rates, and, in extreme cases, death. A lab can measure the amount of protein in your blood by performing a serum albumin blood test.

Eating after Adjustable Gastric Lap-Band surgery means taking tiny bites, and eating very slowly. You should think of your new stomach as a “baby” stomach. You’ll be drinking protein shakes and relearning eating skills much the same way as a new baby eats formula (or breast milk), and slowly adds new foods from blended baby foods to chunkier baby foods.

Certain foods may never be well tolerated by Lap-Band patients. These foods include:

Any medicine you take may need to be adjusted following Lap-Band surgery since you will not be able to swallow pills that are aspirin-size or larger, or capsules or irregular-shaped pills. For me this has meant breaking a blood pressure pill in half, changing my tri-estrogen capsules to a cream form, and taking liquid antibiotics and painkillers for an unrelated infection.

View the original article here

Tags: irregular hear rates, Los Angeles, blood test, weight loss goals, tiny bites

Jack La Lanne: 1914-2011

Saturday, March 19th, 2011 at 2:08 am

Comments (3)

A Famous Quote From Jack Lalanne was : “Inactivity is the killer, and remember, it’s never too late!”

As I sat waiting in the doctor’s office last week, I picked up a People magazine. I think I felt a few tears well up in my eyes as I read that Jack LaLanne, one of my biggest fitness idols, had passed away.

I can remember as a child my mom doing exercises in her bedroom while watching his show on a little black & white TV. The magazine article went on to describe how the exercise guru taught America how to get fit long before Arnold pumped iron and Jane felt the burn. He started his first gym in the 1920’s and his exercise show in the 50’s made him a star.

Doctor Oz stated that LaLanne went on to become “the father of the biggest health movement in the world, and he walked the walk”. Jack’s famous quote was : “Inactivity is the killer, and remember, it’s never too late” At his prime, it is said that LaLanne did 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes.

Later on in his life, he became known for his emphasis on vitamins and healthy eating with the introduction of the Jack Lalanne Line of Juicers. I was most impressed with a quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger that I feel depicts what Jack LaLanne was all about: “It is one thing when you are great. It’s another thing when you use it to motivate others to become great.”

And Jack LaLanne certainly did that. He will be missed dearly. Rest in peace Jack… thank you for the awesome life you led and all that you taught us. On January 23, 2011, Jack LaLanne died of respiratory failure due to pneumonia at his home in Morro Bay, California. Check out this post we added some months ago of Jack LaLanne and his wife Elaine.

Tags: People magazine, peace jack, Jack Lalanne Line, Jack’s famous quote, Morro Bay California

Ten Ways To Prevent Breast Cancer

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 at 5:13 am

Comments (10)

There are solid steps you can take to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Here are my favorite ten!

1. Exercise regularly for the rest of your life with frequent workouts. Numerous studies have proven that regular exercise offers powerful defense against breast cancer.

Strive for half an hour or more of modest aerobic activity (fast walking) five if not more times a week. Consistency and duration, not intensity, are important!

2. Minimize your intake of or avoid alcohol altogether. Alcohol is one of the most well-established nutritional danger signs.

Recent studies have clearly shown that consuming more than a single alcoholic beverage each day can increase the likelihood of getting breast cancer by as much as 25%.

3. Eat a large amount of fruits and vegetables as often as you can - as many as five or more servings daily are encouraged. Experts in the field of breast cancer prevention indicate that crunchy veggies (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower) ; darkish abundant greens (collard, kale, spinach) ; celery and tomatoes should be a constant part of the daily diet.

Also included in the list are cherries, berries and citrus like oranges and lemons. Important Distinction: it is most beneficial to eat crunchy veggies raw or lightly cooked because the crucial and health-protecting phytochemicals can be destroyed by high temperatures.

4. Maintain a stable weight equivalent to a Body Mass Index of under 25. Weight gain in our forties, regardless of BMI, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. Additionally, a high BMI continues to be a HUGE risk indicator for breast cancer after menopause.

5. Do not overindulge in fats! The type of of fat in what you eat will impact your breast cancer hazard. Decrease utilization of omega-6 fats (sunflower, safflower, corn and cottonseed oils), fatty foods as well as trans fats. Maximize your intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish (salmon, tuna, sardines and trout).

Consume monounsaturated natural oils (canola, olive oil, nuts/seeds, avocados) as most of your fat source, as these foods possess likely anticancer qualities. Especially, canola oil is an abundant source of omega-3 fats; extra virgin olive oil is a potent supply of de-oxidizing polyphenols, including squalene; and nuts and seeds provide you with the cancer protective mineral, selenium.

6.Take it easy on the carbs. Minimize use of the higher glycemic index, “Terrible Whites” – white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar and merchandise that contains them. These food types trigger hormone changes that promote cellular development in breast tissue. Substitute these types of “wrong” carbohydrates with whole grains as well as beans/legumes. Beans/legumes are very good for their high fiber content.

7. Eat natural soy food frequently, including tofu, tempeh, edamame, soy milk and miso. Take in ONLY organic, non-GMO (genetically altered) soy. Research has demonstrated a direct connection between soy usage and decreased risk of breast cancer.

8. Minimize contact with artificial estrogen. Don’t take prescription estrogens except if medically advised. Lifetime contact with excess estrogen is cast as a primary culprit in breast cancer formation.

Additionally keep away from estrogen-like compounds found in eco pollutants, such as pesticide sprays and commercial chemical compounds. Purchase natural fresh foods if you’re able to afford it; otherwise, completely rinse all non-organic foods. Minimize contact with residual hormones present in non-organic dairy foods, meats and fowl.

9. Be sure to take your supplements every day. A multivitamin, 500-1,000 milligrams of ascorbic acid in split doses, 200-400 IUs of vitamin E as mixed tocopherols, and pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Additionally take 200 mcg of the nutrient selenium or eat at least a couple Brazil nuts as an alternative. If you have a long-term medical condition or take prescription medications, consult your physician first.

10. Sustain a positive mind view. Engage in positive reinforcement behaviors frequently. Develop vibrant, warm and beneficial interactions with friends and family. Sleep five to eight hours nightly.

Tags: long-term medical condition, frequent workouts, breast cancer hazard, Terrible Whites, solid steps

Busy Schedule? A Juice Fast Is a Good Alternative!

Friday, October 29th, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Comments (16)

The term “fasting” literally suggests “not eating,” for a predetermined period of time and drinking water only. To be sure, water fasting is by far the most difficult of the fasting disciplines. Today, however, the practice of fasting with freshly-extracted fruit and/or vegetable juice is being more widely embraced.

Juice fasting provides similar weight loss and detox benefits as water fasting, with the exception that one still is able to consume a range of fruit and vegetable juices with pulp. Since most of us have very demanding schedules, juice fasting often presents itself as a better option because the symptoms – particularly hunger and weakness – will not be as strong as they would be in a traditional water fast.

Juice can be preferable than water fasting for a variety of reasons, for instance juice is quickly broken down and assimilated by the body while supplying calories with a HUGE nutritional bang. During a juice fast, one will continue to receive energy from the juice, albeit in smaller quantities than when one is eating the usual three meals per day.

A juice fast can be carried out before or after a cleansing detox diet. In situations where the juice fast happens 1st, it typically lasts for one-to-two days prior to food being gradually reintegrated – usually over six to seven days.

My point is this: It is important to be very careful with what you eat both “before and after” a juice fast. Since the digestive system has been in partial hibernation due to the diminished intake while fasting, it is crucial to “re-awaken” the bear slowly and with much caution.I strongly encourage you to read the breaking a fast page when you have time and be prepared for this phase before you even start fasting.

If you eat too much before a fast, the detox and hunger pangs can be quite uncomfortable because the body is having to break down the feast you had prior. Similarly, if you eat too much, too soon after a fast, you will place an enormous burden on the digestive system and possibly make yourself terribly sick. I say this from experience too.

Don’t do it. Take it easy and slow. Slow is fast my friend. If you are new to juice fasting, I recommend that you start slashing all sugars, fats and caffeine from your diet at least seven days before you start. This will allow the body to begin a “pre-cleansing” process of sorts which will make the actual fast a bit easier. The more “empty” and “light” your stomach is before fasting, the better.

Some people think that they need to gorge before fasting “to store” food. But that is a recipe for misery. It is best to eat as clean and as little as possible for about a week, THEN start juice fasting. This also will give you time to become used to hunger pangs and detox sysmptoms. Consider this cleansing diet phase a “dress rehearsal” for your actual fast.

If you can, it is a lot more useful to for you to prepare the fruit and veggie juice yourself with fresh fruit and a juicer. Organic product is best. If this is beyond your current budget, make sure to thoroughly wash the produce before inserting it in the juicer. I recommend that you check out our juice fasting series of articles so that you can get more detail as to how to prepare and carry it out.Again, if you are new, please do not try to break any records.

You don’t have to fast for forty days to receive benefit from your efforts. It is best if you start slow, possibly with a one-day to three-day juice fast. Once you get used to that, then you can venture out for longer periods of time. Take it easy and be careful. This is not a race… it is best to go slow and build a foundation that lasts than to speed ahead and have to start from scratch over and over, dont’ you think?

Tags: detox diet, Hospitality Recreation, Food and drink, calorie intake, fresh fruit and vegetable

How to Zap Acne & Skin Blemishes With a 72-Hour Colon Cleansing Juice Fast

Friday, October 29th, 2010 at 4:21 pm

Comments (29)

If you want to have clear/glowing skin that is free of acne and/or blemishes, then put away the scrub pad for a while and try a juice fast instead. You will be amazed at the marked results you can get by giving your digestive system as little as three days to expel digestive system waste. Believe it or not, much of what we eat (especially the bad stuff) lingers in our bellies and can fester in the colon for years.

These toxins continually are absorbed into the blood and intoxicate our bodies over and over and over. And one of the organs that gets hit the hardest is the skin. It is not unusual for skin problems such as severe acne and/or blemishes to be caused by chronic toxicity of the digestive system. You can scrub, scrub and scrub… but unless you cleanse your gut, the results will be minimal. Hopefully this article will give you a fresh persective and arm you with what you need to solve this problem and get your skin glow back! Yes, I am a GUY…. but I still like to look good!

By detoxing your colon, you reduce the poisons that leak from the pores of your skin which are the primary culprits for acne. Probably, like most people, you eat three “square” meals per day. That means that you should be having at the very least TWO bowel movements daily – three would be even better. I actually spoke recently to a gastroenterologist and he confirmed to me that, when healthy, we should have one bowel movement for each meal eaten. BUT, that is usually not the case for most of us.

How many times daily do you go? If you move your bowels just once per day, then you are probably toxic and need cleansing. A lot of those toxins undoubtedly are making their way to your facial pores and causing that acne that you so much want to get rid off. So what to do?

You have to eliminate all of that filth in your colon ASAP! So the first day of the juice fast should focus on exactly that – cleansing the colon. Then, for the following two days, we will fine-tune the cleansing to make sure that EVERYTHING has been expelled and that you have properly and thoroughly detoxified.

Carrying out a 72-hour juice fast is, in my opinion, the easiest method to cleanse the colon, decontaminate the blood and revitalize your skin. However, it is important for you to note: Juice fasting for three days ia a very powerful startingpoint for your healing and transformation.

Still, fasting is NOT a “cure-all” for everyone and, for it to work, you must be willing to make PERMANENT eating-habit changes. Otherwise you are simply fooling yourself. You might be fine for a little while, but eventually what you eat will catch up with you and you will find yourself back where you started. So this DOES require your active participation.

In the book, Cooking for Healthy Healing: Diet Programs and Recipes for Alternative Healing Linda Rector-page,Ph.D., speaks with regards to fasting: “Fasting works by self-digestion. During a cleanse, the body in its limitless intelligence, will break down and burn off just the materials and cells that are sick or unnecessary, such as an abscess, tumor, extra fat stores, and congestive toxins.

Just a reasonably brief fast can speed up eradication of these toxins from the liver, lungs and skin, frequently leading to extraordinary changes as big quantities of built up debris is eliminated. Live foods and juices could virtually grab lifeless matter from your body and carry it away.”

The Day Prior To The Juice Fast

The day prior to the fast, consume a big salad and a couple of pears and/or apples. This injection of raw fruits and veggies gives the body a nice shot of fiber to kickstart the colon cleansing process – loosening all of that tough, toxic stool that clings to the walls of the intestines.

Drink at the very least eight large glasses of water and, if possible, take two-to-three of the Herbs & Prunes laxative that I’ve talked about before. Steer clear of white flour, sugar and anything fried. Today should be a day to eat light and premare yourself mentally and physically for the juice fast.

Day ONE Of The Juice Fast

Carry out this kind of detox on a weekend or whenever you can take it easy and not be swamped by a million things at once. I mean, if you simply CANNOT take time off, then I would say go ahead and do the fast. But it is best if you wait until you can relax and focus on what you are doing without being distracted by multiple ancillary issues. Also, you will need to stay close to a restroom while doing this as you will likely have multiple bowel movements, many of them at unexpected moments and times. You don’t want to be caught unawares! .

To complete this juice fast, you will need these supplies:

* A quart of prune juice, organic is best

* One gallon of apple juice – organic is possible.

* At least six apples, organic if possible

* Seltzer/Sparkling Water to help soothe hunger and detox symptoms

*Decaffeinated Green Tea to help soothe hunger and detox symptoms

Whenever you get up in the am, drink up:

* 8 ounces of prune juice

* 10-20 minutes afterwards drink an additional eight ounces
of prune juice

* 10 mins afterward drink still one more eight ounces of prune juice

* Twenty minutes to one-half-hour later, drink 8 ounces, this time of apple juice

* Twenty minutes to one-half-hour later, drink one more eight-ounce glass of the apple juice

If you have not raced to the toilet by now, I assure you that you will very soon. Take in an eight-ounce glass of apple juice every hour, on the hour for the rest of the day – until 5 or 6pm. If hunger hits you in the afternoon, make yourself a cup of the decaf green tea and sip it.

As far as what you are allowed to have during the day, you can eat three apples or pears in the morning and another three at night – no later than 9pm. This procedure will start to really empty your gut of all of that debris that has kept you toxic and bloated. Do not eat anything after 10 pm. If you get hungry, crack open a seltzer water and go back to bed.

Day TWO of The Colon Cleansing Juice Fast

An alternate way to get the cleansing ball rolling is to use an amazing product called Oxy-Powder. You can purchase the tablets and follow the thirty-day cleanse protocol. So you would take it during the three days that you are juice fasting, and continue to do so until the thirty days are completed. Take a capsule a day for thirty days basically.

On the 2nd day you are able to consume diverse types of juice and you can chomp doen as many as five apples or pears. You may drink any type of juice whether it is fruit or veggie. However, I strongly encourage you to drink a combination of both fruit and vegetable juice. Fruit juice has natural sugar, but it is sugar nonetheless.

You will want to keep sugar content low, and you can do this by mixing the fruit and veggie juice… and then perhaps adding a bit of water as well. When I say “fruit juice,” I am NOT talking about Kook-Aid or any other artificial types that one commonly finds in the supermarket. I am talking about natural organic juices.

Your local supermarket probably has a health-food section. Look there or on the lower shelves of the juices section. This time of premium juice will cost you an extra dollar or two. But that is a small price to pay for your health, is it not?

Day THREE Of The Colon Cleansing Juice Fast

The 3rd day is much like the 2nd one. You are able to consume whatever type of juice you want along with the five pears or apples.

Fourth Day, after the fast is done

Once you have completed the 72-hour juice fast, it is imperative that you slowly and gradually build up your system to take in solid food. If you end the fast with a cheeseburger, then you have wasted your time! Be patient and gentle… patient and gentle. You have done a LOT of cleansing over the past three days and your body is in better shape than it possibly has been in years. Don’t ruin it by eating inappropriately…

Below are a few of the food items that you can start refeeding witht:

* Salad: lettuce and tomatoes with just a tiny dab of EVOO <- extra virgin olive oil

* Baked potato; with just a tiny dab of salt and EVOO. Steer clear of butter or sour cream

* Light soup: Do NOT go out and get the really thick and greasy “chowders” out there or other types of “super-fattening” soups. Opt for light soup like chicken broth, vegetable etc… You can have soup with a little meat in it, but keep the solids to a minimum for at least three to five days immediately after the juice fast.

* Oatmeal, multigrain cereal; I am not talking about the commercial variety which comes packed with sugar. I am talking about natural PLAIN oatmeal. Oat/bran cereal (the low sugar type) is also terrific to help the digestive system right after a fast.

* Fruit salad: these come pre-packaged but can be expensive. I suggest you purchase your choice of apples, pears, strawberries, grapes and bananas. Cut them and mix them together in tuppereware bowls you can simply pull out of the fridge and eat or take with you.

* Fruit smoothie; Pull out the blender and mix some fruit with either low-fat milk or water (and lots of ice). My favorite is lemon/orange/strawberry smoothie. Drink it natural. Don’t pour sugar into it or you are only fooling yourself.

* Yogurt; Avoid those filled with sugar… opt for natural instead. If you like yogurt, you can actually mix some into your fruit salad for an added treat!

Important Note: If you’re sick, feeling under the weather or your defense system is weak, then it is probably best if you wait to do this fast until you feel a bit better. Continue to cleanse your face regularly while doing the fast and, little by little, you will start to notice quite the difference.

I had persistent blackheads on my nose, cheeks and shoulders. After this type of cleansing… they all but went away. Some disappeared right away, others took a few weeks. But detoxing my gut did the trick. I pray and hope that it does the same for you dear friend.

Tags: glowing skin, bowel movement, Acne vulgaris, chronic toxicity, severe acne

Some Key Pointers To Help You When Juice Fasting & Detox Cleansing

Friday, October 29th, 2010 at 8:36 am

Comments (7)

A real fast doesn’t normally include any kind of sustenance or beverages aside from just water. However, after many years of fasting and coaching others, I cannot deny just how immensely powerful it is to fast with fruit and vegetable juices. At first I opposed juice fasting because I considered myself a “purist.”

But, a little older now (and wiser I hope!), I see that nature has immense healing and restorative powers that cannot be denied, and juice fasting - in my opinion - is one of the most direct ways in which to harness this miracle. The juices provide nutrition which hasten the body’s excretion of toxins, as well as tissue repair. Indeed, fasting with fruit and veggie juices is very powerful and can help you to notably improve your health, as well as lose weight quickly.

Beyond weight loss, however, I always like to emphasize the power of body cleansing. Fasting causes the body to switch to “survival” mode, meaning that it starts to tap on stored fat in order to provide energy needs.

Since the worst of the toxins from the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat are stored inside fat cells, this survival mode - known as ketosis – causes the toxins to be released into the blood stream. The result is what can be mild to severe detox symptoms. These last anywhere from nine to 21 days, depending on your body makeup and state of health. Juice fasting helps to facilitate this process because the abundant nutrients in raw fresh juices help the body to more effectively process and expel these poisons.

Fasting enables the digestive system get some rest and so the extra energy can be utilized to eliminate toxins. The body metabolises its tissue to supply the energy usually produced from solid foods.

However, and miraculously, the body will only consume the unhealthy, fragile cells, NOT the healthy ones. It is for this reason that fasting frequently for a week to 14 days (at least once annually), can help keep you healthy, clean and lean. This, of course, depends largely on what you eat when you aren’t fasting. You STILL must become willing to make PERMANENT eating-habit changes once the fast is over. Here are juice fasting pointers you should be aware of:

* Don’t use anything except raw organic produce to prevent any kind of chemical deposits which could remain. However, if organic is at present beyond your budget, or if you simply do not have access to it where you live, then it is imperative that you wash and scrub the fruits and vegetables throughly before juicing. I recommend that you purchase a hand scrubbing brush especially for this purpose.

* Utilize a non-centrifugal juicer so that you can protect the live nutrients in the juice. An entire argument could be presented both in favor and against this and that type of juicer. I honestly do not make a huge deal of it. In an optimum circumstance, purchase the non-centrifugal. If you cannot find one where you live, just get the very best that you can. It is better to start doing something right away than to continue to procrastinate, don’t you think?

Sidebar: What’s the big deal about juicers anyways? Well, non-centrifugal juicers generate less heat and therefore do not threaten the nutrients in the juice which can be destroyed by high temperatures. In addition, some schools of thought indicate that these life-giving nutrients actually are sucked into the bloodstream through the esophagus prior to reaching the digestive system. There is no proof to this argument, but it certainly is a very interesting supposition.

* Help your body out through the detox process and go out for regular walks or cycling… any type of low-impact exercise would be great. Spend plenty of time taking deep breaths and visualize clean air going in and black toxic stuff being eliminated as you exhale.

The more calories you burn each day, the faster the body can process and be rid of the toxins that cause all of the uncomfortable cravings and detox symptoms. But I said “low intensity.” Biking a few miles is fine… but NOT a twenty or thirty mile hike please! If you jog, do it slowly and stop the moment you start to feel light-headed. Low impact, low impact, low impact… oh, did I tell you: low impact!

* Consume the juice as quickly as possible after you prepare it. You can plausibly stretch a juice’s lifespan to as much as three – even four days if you agitate it frequently, keep it in an airtight jar and cover the jar or jug with aluminum foil to shield the juice from all light. Many times I have been juice fasting for long periods of time and simply do not have the time to be juicing every day. So I prepare up to one gallon of juice at a time and then protect it like a newborn baby!

* Raw fruit and veggie juices possess alkaline nutrients that help the body to more effectively counteract toxic/acid waste generated by the water we drink, air we breathe and food we eat – in addition to a variety of environmental toxins..

* Lots of poisons tend to be expelled via the pores and skin during detoxification. Spending at least ten minutes each day “brushing” your skin helps a lot to get those pores actively eliminating toxic residue. Just make sure that you do not use a brush that is too harsh and can break your skin.

The whole point is to “hel” your skin, NOT mangle it! Shower when you are finished. If you have access to a sauna, use it daily for ten to fifteen minutes to further stimulate the excretion of toxins through the skin.

* You can drink as many as 7 eight-ounce glasses of juice daily, but no more. Make sure to drink at least half a gallon of water also. When hunger and/or detox symptoms hit you, try drinking a seltzer/sparkling water or a cup of green tea for some added pep. I usually drink the seltzer water two or three times daily if I am struggling with hunger.

Green tea (preferably decaffeinated) usually helps a lot at those “hump” times of the day when you feel yourself dragging. You ought not, however, drink green tea at night as it may keep you up. If you drink anything in the evening, try chamomille tea instead. It is very soothing and will help you settle in for the night.

* You should always break the fast slowly. Spend various days re-introducing solid food to the digestive system. Anything raw is usually best and is most easily digested. A huge steak two days after fasting is not a good idea.

Neither is a cheeseburger or any of that other trash that got you sick and overweight in the first place. NOW is a perfect time for you to take stock of your eating habits and become willing to make some PERMANENT changes. Otherwise you will simply end up back where you started, eventually.

For those who have chronic conditions such as cancer and/or diabetes (among others) or are underweight or with child, I strongly encourage you to see your doctor and talk to him or her FIRST. Thanx for visiting Fitness Through Fasting. If I can be of service to you in any way, simply drop me a line!

Tags: environmental toxins, non-centrifugal juicers, Hospitality Recreation, survival mode, abundant nutrients

Study Finds Higher Suicide Risk in Teens Who See Themselves as Overweight

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 9:16 am

Comments (12)

As if the many physical health concerns associated with the obesity epidemic weren’t worrisome enough, new research shines a light on an alarming mental health connection: Teenagers who are overweight are at higher risk of attempting suicide. Even teens who merely believe themselves overweight — but actually are not — are more predisposed to suicidal behavior, the researchers found.

The study, which appears online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, looked at more than 14,000 high school students to determine the relationship between a high body mass index (BMI) and suicide attempts, as well as the relationship between perceived overweight and suicide attempts, and found higher risk in both cases.

Contrary to what the researchers had originally expected, the association was as strong for boys as for girls, said lead study author Monica Swahn, PhD.

“This is a major concern since more and more children and youth are becoming overweight and obese,” said Swahn, associate professor in the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University.

“The mental health issues and distress that some youth who are overweight may experience … appears to be a growing, but largely unaddressed, issue,” Swahn told Daily News Central. “We tend to overlook the need for mental healthcare and prevention and underestimate the scope and range of services needed.”

Reality vs. Perception

For the study, participants answered a survey question:”How do you describe your weight?” They could choose among five responses: very underweight, slightly underweight, about the right weight, slightly overweight or very overweight, Swahn said.

“In our analyses, we looked at those who said they were either slightly or very overweight to determine their potential increased risk for suicide attempts. Our study shows that those who felt that they were overweight were about 40 percent more likely to also report suicide attempt.”

Hatim Omar, MD, chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the University of Kentucky, said his own experience has led him to believe that perceived obesity does increase both depression and suicide risk. “Teens are vulnerable because of their development,” he said, “and any actual or perceived changes in their lives, including weight issues, can potentially increase the risk of depression or suicide.”

Understanding these associations can help in the development of appropriate strategies for suicide prevention, according to the researchers.

“We cannot only focus prevention strategies on those who are overweight and who are concerned about their weight, but we also need to include youth who feel that they are overweight even though they may not be,” Swahn said.

Societal Pressures

“Youth feel very pressured to fit in and to fit certain limited ideals of beauty,” she added.

“Unfortunately, as a society, we are very focused on beauty and in particular weight,” she noted. “Weight gain and weight loss are pervasive issues that many of us struggle with. So, of course, these issues are linked to our well-being and our mental health.

The sad aspect of our findings is that it is not only those who actually are overweight that are at increased risk for suicide attempt, but also that those who perceive themselves as overweight, even if they’re not actually overweight, are at increased risk for suicide attempts.

This finding appears to reflect the very strong influence of social constructs related to body image and body ideals. It is also important to point out that in our study, the link between perceived overweight and suicide attempts was important for both boys and girls.”

Omar noted that “this study adds another wake-up call to providers, parents, teachers and society about the need for screening for depression and suicide risk in all teens, with special attention to teens with perceived or actual obesity.”

Signs of Depression

Swahn pointed to several common symptoms of depression that parents and caretakers can look for: persistent sad or irritable mood;loss of interest in activities once enjoyed;psychomotor agitation or retardation;feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; recurrent thoughts of death or suicide;difficulty concentrating;difficulty sleeping or oversleeping;loss of energy;significant change in appetite or body weight.

“If five or more of these symptoms are present for more than two weeks, it is very likely that the person can be diagnosed as depressed,” Swahn said.

What should be the role of parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and others in providing appropriate feedback to teens regarding weight and body image? Is there a conflict between nurturing health and fitness on the one hand, and self-esteem on the other?

“It is very important that we find a balance between supporting healthy eating and exercise to achieve well-being and pushing too hard for quick fixes, weight loss and unrealistic body ideals,” Swahn said. “All of us, as parents, caring adults, teachers and healthcare professionals, can have active roles in promoting healthy youth development that support healthy eating and frequent exercise.

External Influences

“However, it is important to recognize the many external influences that manipulate our eating,” she continued. “I just read Dr. [David] Kessler’s new book, The End of Overeating, which is a fascinating account of how the food industry, together with the advertising industry, have made it nearly impossible for some people to control their food intake.

Food has been manipulated, packaged and sold in a way to increase the proportions of sugar, salt and fat, which lead most of us wanting more and on a downward spiral to weight gain. Given this heavy influence, particularly among our children who are growing up with all these messages, it is clear that we need to serve as advocates for our children as well.”

The study authors recommend and encourage future research to examine issues pertaining to perceived and actual weight and their role in suicidal behavior.

“There is growing empirical evidence that there is a strong link between these,” said Swahn, “and that concerns about weight can contribute to distress and suicidal behavior. Ideally, future research should disentangle these associations … and also examine the factors that may alleviate the risk among those who perceive themselves to be overweight.”

View the original article here

Tags: Weight loss, Division of Adolescent Medicine, obesity epidemic, Georgia State University, food intake

Mature Health & Fitness

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 at 6:01 pm

Comments (17)

senior health and fitness

You may not be interested in running a marathon or diving into the crazy world of extreme sports, but that certainly doesn’t mean that as an older adult, exercise is no longer important. In fact, to keep yourself limber and mobile so that you can maintain the lifestyle that works for you, exercise is even more important to the older generation.

As we age, it’s easy to let our physical health and fitness slide but this is right when you need it the most. A visit to one of the many available cardiac hospitals will show you the devastating effects that an inactive lifestyle can have on a mature body.

Besides the obvious stiffness and loss of flexibility that can make everyday activities difficult, extra weight, immobility and poor diet can put a massive amount of strain on the essential organs that have already put in a lifetime of work. The more fit and active a senior can be the less stress is put on organs such as your heart and lungs, as well as the overall health of your entire circulatory system.

One of the easiest and most enjoyable way to stay fit in your senior years is through non weight bearing exercises such as water treadmills, aquatic therapy or water aerobics. The natural buoyancy of water allows for a greater range of movement without the jarring and often damaging impact of the non-aquatic versions. Aquatic therapy also has the benefits of natural resistance, making it a method of exercise that doesn’t even feel like exercise.

A routine including something as gentle as swimming slow and regular laps or the steady rhythm of a water treadmill a few times a week can offer substantially increased circulation and mobility to seniors, which will also improve your overall health and quality of life.

Retiring from the workforce doesn’t mean that you can retire from fitness. Keeping yourself active and maintaining a healthy weight means that you will have the tools to celebrate those golden years to the fullest. You’ve earned your retirement so make sure that you can enjoy it.

Tags: steady rhythm, Human behavior, extreme sports, health and fitness, crazy world

Important Facts on Calorie Restriction Diet Plans, Liquid Diet Weight Loss

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm

Comments (17)

Calorie restriction plan, liquid diet weight loss has a lot of benefits especially to older people. According to studies, having a calorie restriction diet plan, can help extend life’s expectancy. Furthermore, a calorie restriction diet plan can also prevent cancer and heart disease, increase performance and energy and can help in weight loss.

You can have a calorie restriction diet plan, liquid diet by following these steps:

1. Consume plenty of water in order to flush out the toxins from your body. These toxins can be harmful to your health and can cause serious problems. Furthermore, water helps you feel fuller so you do not feel the urge of eating more.

2. Calorie restriction diet plan, liquid weight loss also includes brushing your teeth after every meal. This is an effective weight loss technique because brushing your teeth help you diminish your desire to eat.

3. Try drinking green tea for your calorie restriction diet plan, liquid weight loss. Green tea is full of nutrients and vitamins that the body needs. It is recommended to switch to green tea instead of drinking soda and coffee.

4. Calorie restriction diet plan, liquid weight loss also involves taking time when eating. According to research, your body takes around twenty minutes before it feels full. This is the reason why eating smaller meals are recommended.

5. It is also recommended to try colon cleansing for calorie restriction diet plan, liquid weight loss. This method can help rinse the harmful toxins inside the body caused by unhealthy foods that you consume. It is also known to help increase the levels of energy.

6. During calorie restriction diet plan, all you need to do is count your calorie intake and eat less. This diet plan generally includes vegetables, fruits and foods that contain low-calorie proteins. This helps control the consumption of calories, hydrates the body and guarantees nutrition. Low-calorie proteins include chicken, turkey, beans, baked or steamed fish, water-packed tuna, egg whites, milk and low fat yogurt.

It may take you a while before getting familiar with the calorific content of the foods you eat but it is helpful to do so. This way, you will be able to turn down foods that are high in calorie a lot easier. In order to know the amount of calories you need, it is helpful to seek a calorie calculator and provide your age, gender, weight, activity level and height.

A liquid diet is an easy way to eliminate those unwanted fats. Though the result is faster, it is important to take note that infrequent intake and improper ingredients will ruin your weight loss efforts. The first thing you need to do is to decide on a self-sustaining liquid solution, which must contain antioxidants and essential nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.

Susan tried everything under the sun to learn How To Lose Weight Fast Naturally and never had much luck losing weight until she discovered a simple system and was finally able to lose over 40 pounds you can learn more by visiting Fat Burning Furnace today.

Tags: Hospitality Recreation, unhealthy foods, Food energy, diet weight loss, Meal Replacements

The Calorie Restriction Diet Plan is Hot News

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 at 4:08 pm

Comments (22)

We’ve all heard of counting calories to lose weight. In fact I remember much of my teenage life painfully counting calories before deciding whether I could eat something or not. However, what I didn’t realize at that time was how much damage I was doing to my young developing body.

I may have lost a few pounds, but just like most diets, once I stopped counting the calories I piled back on all the weight I lost plus more – it almost felt like a punishment.

A calorie (energy) is a calorie regardless of the nutritional content, however, what I failed to understand was the nutritional factor. You see, our body needs vital nutrients in order for it to perform various functions – whether it be brain function, bone development, tissue repair, or even metabolic function.

So someone that eats 1500 calories worth of mars bars is definitely going to develop an ill and diseased body compared to someone that eats 1500 calories from eating fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods.

That’s exactly what happened to me (ok, I didn’t eat mars bars, but I did leave out vital nutrients!) and it also explains why I failed to lose weight long term.

Now the Calorie Restriction Diet Plan has revolutionized the way in which we count calories. It takes a very healthy approach to this and, as stated on the Oprah Winfrey Show, healthy calorie counting and restriction can increase your life expectancy by as much as 50%. It is backed by proven medical testing and the amazing results where first noticed in animals. It is not a fad diet – as are most, as it’s core revolves around using only the healthiest nutrients.

Many people try and go it alone when counting calories and this is why so many of us fail. The Calorie Restriction Diet Plan takes a step by step approach to losing the weight and covers every aspect of it, including how to determine the amount of calories your body needs versus how much energy your body uses in a day.

Unlike many diets, you are restricted to certain foods but the great thing about this diet is that you get to work out your own meals and yes, you are even allowed treats!

Overeating put a massive strain on our body and the benefits of restricting calories includes reducing the strain on our organs, reducing blood pressure, eliminating weight related diseases and a host of other benefits – not to mention a great looking, fitter body.

Get yourself in great shape now! Grab your copy of the Calorie Restriction Diet Plan to get lean and fit.

Tags: Oprah Winfrey, life expectancy, Diet food, Okinawa diet, brain function

Calorie Restriction and the Raw Food Diet

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 am

Comments (24)

Calorie Restriction Diet? OR, EAT To Be LEAN!

I have realized since starting to eat a raw food diet that there are two major camps in the raw food movement, the eat less camp and the eat enough camp.

The eat less camp believe that a calorie restriction diet will be better for your health in the long term, as the body does more cleansing and repair work when it is not busy with digestion, and they argue that the calorie model is highly inaccurate and not based on solid science.

The eat enough camp believe that you will struggle to be successful on a raw diet unless you ENSURE that you are eating enough calories, and say that even IF the calorie model is inaccurate, it is at least something to work with so that we can objectively measure our intake.

Dr Douglas Graham, author of The 80/10/10 Diet, does not recommend a calorie restriction diet. He recommends that you eat ENOUGH on a high carbohydrate low fat diet to fulfill your caloric needs and do vigorous exercise at the same time.

When you are new to raw, and making such a major life change, it is very difficult to be successful AND try to eat a calorie restriction diet at the same time.

The ones who try to do this are far more likely to eat cooked food, to binge on fatty food, to obsess about food, and to suffer through many cravings and become more and more disordered in their eating habits.

When I first started on this path I had come from the calorie restriction diet mindset (1200 calories per day) and so at first I did NOT eat enough in terms of calories.

I was trying to follow a raw version of a standard calorie restriction diet. When I just ate as much as I pleased I had the niggling feeling that I was overeating.

The result was that I did have several returns to cooked foods, sometimes even eating cooked foods that I had stopped eating and hadn’t eaten for quite some time BEFORE I went raw, like highly processed vegan food! Did I lose weight? Heck no! I gained some!

A One-Way Street!

When you begin to eat a very clean diet your body becomes MORE sensitive, it becomes LESS forgiving. You suffer more when you go off your path than if you had never begun on your path in the first place. In that way it is a one way street. Sure you can turn around if you want but you’re going to run into some serious oncoming traffic.

When you eat an overly restrictive calorie restriction diet you’re far more likely to binge on fatty foods and/or unhealthy cooked foods and can then actually gain weight because of the excess of calories that any cooked food binge will result in.

Also, if your calories consumed are not enough to sustain your daily activity then you’re also not going to be inspired to exercise, and exercise combined with a high nutrient diet is the best way to reduce your body fat percentage.

Many of the folks who believe they should practice a calorie restriction diet on an ongoing basis do not do much exercise, and it is no surprise: when you don’t eat much, you don’t have energy to move much.

Put binges and disordered eating behind you for good!

When you eat enough calories from fruits and vegetables you DON’T have crazy cravings and disordered eating.

Just EAT!

When you are eating enough calories from fruits and vegetables it is very easy to be successful.

Every cell in the human body runs on glucose, if you cut your carbs, you increase your cravings. When you’re adequately carbed it is easy to forget about food, you’re free to focus on everything else in your life. You feel great.

Concerned that eating too much fruit will cause weight gain?

Eating too much of anything will cause weight gain. You should never have ‘too much’ of anything. You should eat enough, enough that you are satisfied and free of cravings, but not so much that you can’t move after your meal.

Of COURSE it’s possible to gain weight on a raw food diet. If it wasn’t, then all those folks who wanted to build up muscle would have to steer clear of the raw diet. And this is just not the case. You can easily gain muscle weight on a raw diet. All you have to do is strength train very hard, and your appetite will increase along with your growing muscles, which will naturally attract you to more food to fuel the bigger muscles.

If you consistently consume too many calories, you can also easily gain some fat. However, the good news is that there is no such thing as a long term 100% low fat raw vegan who is obese. There is just no such thing, no matter how much fruit they eat. This is because even if you had to overeat on fruit every single day of your life, you would NOT be able to get in enough calories to become obese. Fruits are extremely satiating, as well as not being calorie dense enough for this to happen.

It is certainly possible to carry a few extra pounds of fat, and not every raw foodist you meet is going to be in fitness model shape. It totally depends on your individual goals. If a super lean fitness model body is something that you want, and you have excess fat that is not budging, then counting calories is key so that you can get acquainted with what amounts you should be eating.

However, it is best to create the caloric deficit required to begin losing fat at a sensible rate, by vigorous daily exercise, rather than by restricting your intake to unhealthy levels.

Remember, it did not take a week to get your body into the shape it’s in, it won’t take a week to get out of it.

So whether it is succeeding on a raw food diet, or succeeding with weight loss, the advice is the same: eat enough food. Leave the fasting and the starving to the folks who like obsessing about food.

Alison Andrews is a raw food writer and coach. She is also a singer/songwriter, actress and author. To read this article on a calorie restriction diet see: http://www.loving-it-raw.com/calorie-restriction-diet.html

To find out more about the raw food diet, see Alison’s website: http://www.loving-it-raw.com

Tags: solid science, dr douglas, Human Interest, singer /songwriter, raw diet

Calorie Restriction Weight Loss & Anti Aging – Does Calorie Restriction Help You Live Longer?

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Comments (19)

Calorie restriction is extremely beneficial for weight loss. You can adopt this process by restricting your diet to 1400-1600 calories per day. CR diet not only eliminates those extra pounds but also offer you various other health benefits. Most of the people try various methods for loosing weight and to reverse their aging process. They undergo extreme low calorie nutrition plans, surgeries and many non-surgical techniques for shedding weight. These artificial techniques are mostly temporary treatments. They can also harm your body without any doubt.

Live longer with Calorie Restriction Diet

* The process of calorie restriction is extremely simple to maintain. You should include lots of green colored vegetables and fruits in your diet chart. One should completely avoid the consumption of red meats and dairy products as they are high in calories.

* It is always advisable to drink lots of water and fruit juices for obtaining minerals and vitamins. CR diet is also beneficial for lowering your blood glucose level, cholesterol and body fat percentage. It enhances your overall health. According to many scientists and researchers, this nutrition plan also helps in anti-aging.

* You can combine calorie restriction diets and cardio workouts to live longer. It can create more metabolisms in your body, which would consequently lead to fat burning.

* Resveratrol is usually associated with anti aging. These substances are found mainly in red wine. In order to defy aging, we can easily include red wine in our calorie restriction nutrition.

* Calorie restriction through Acai berry diet would also help you in loosing weight naturally. This nutrition plan is extremely beneficial for engendering metabolism. Acai berry diet will keep you motivated throughout your weight loss process through its mood enhancing properties.

* Although calorie restriction helps you to live longer but it is always advisable to consult a doctor before taking up this diet plan.

Click Here For Free Trial —> Resevetrol Supplements [http://wrinklesfreeface.com/rezv]

Get additional information on Resveratrol Supplements or to request one of the FREE samples.

Visit —> Look 10 Year Younger! [http://wrinklesfreeface.com/rezv]

FREE offers are for a limited time only so get yours today.

Tags: Weight loss, fruit juices, Calorie restriction, cardio workouts, body fat percentage

Calorie Restriction Diet Leads to Longer Healthier Life

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 8:08 am

Comments (19)

Do you need more reasons to cut back on your calories and lose weight? Well here’s a big one. A 20 year study found that consuming fewer calories leads to a longer and a healthier life. In fact, because of the great details in this study, it is likely to provide the most detail insight into the link between calorie restriction and extended life.

In this study, carried out by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, researchers found that a nutritious, but reduced-calorie diet helps to slow aging and significantly delay the onset of age-related illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and declining brain function.

In the study, monkeys were used as the test subjects, in which one group was permitted to eat freely, while another group was given the same diet with 30 percent fewer calories. Over the 20 year course of the study, only half of the animals allowed to eat as they liked survived, while 80 percent of those on the restricted diet were still alive.

According to Richard Weindruch and lead study author Ricki Colman, the report, which details the relationship between diet and aging, shows that a restricted diet leads to a longer lifespan and to an improved quality of life in old age. Moreover, when calorie restriction is looked at in terms of deaths due to diseases of aging, there is a major effect in increasing survival due to the effects of a diet with calorie restrictions.

For instance, the study showed that cancerous tumors and heart disease in animals on a restricted diet was less than half than those seen in animals allowed to eat freely.

Even more remarkable was the fact that it was common to see diabetes or problems with glucose regulation in the monkeys that could eat freely, while the monkeys on the restricted diet showed no signs of these problems. That is, the diet with the restricted calories allowed for the prevention of diabetes.

The monkeys on the restricted diet also showed better brain function. In particular, functions such as working memory and problem solving seem to be better preserved in the monkeys on the restricted diet.

In short, the bottom line message to take from this study is that if you want to increase your chances of living a longer, disease free life, while retaining more mental sharpness, eat fewer calories.

Check out the latest news and information on diets, weigh loss products, and exercise at http://www.How-to-Burn-Fat.com

In addition to reporting on the latest information regarding diet and weight loss research, the site is updated daily with advice and guidance on ways to burn fat quickly. Plus, check out these tips to lose fat efficiently.

Tags: Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, weigh loss products, fewer calories, test subjects, Ricki Colman

Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Better – Is a Calorie Restricted Diet For You?

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 5:02 am

Comments (32)

When I was working at the hospital, in the ’90′s, we accepted dietetic interns and one of those interns was a student from Singapore, whose husband was in medical school at the same time. Their plan was to return to Singapore to open their own wellness center. I share this because it was from this couple that I was first introduced to the concept of calorie restriction (CR) for longevity. This concept appears to be taking on new interest, and with today’s obesity epidemic, I thought it would be a good topic to write about.

The purpose of this article will be to look at what exactly we would call a calorie restricted diet, why we would be interested in such a concept, what science has to say about CR, concerns to be aware of, and give suggestions to readers who are interested in considering the diet for their own health.

What is ‘calorie restricted’?

This is probably a silly question. Obviously, it’s restricting calories! But how much of a restriction? Most research considers a restriction to be a decrease of as little as 20% up to as much as 40%. To give you an example of what that would mean, if you currently ate 2,000 calories per day, cutting 20% would mean you would then eat 1600 calories, and if you were to cut it by 40%, you would eat 1200 calories. The big key to the success of such a diet, however, is to eat high quality, nutrient-dense foods. We will address this later.

What is important to keep in mind, however, is that although a natural consequence of following a CR diet is weight loss, this is NOT a weight loss diet. The purpose of a traditional CR diet is to slow aging and improve your chances for an extended, healthy life. Granted, when your weight is closer to a healthy, ideal weight, your health usually improves, also. But many people who regularly follow a CR diet lifestyle actually have weights that are between 10-25% lower than what may be considered an ‘ideal’ body weight.

Why go on a restricted diet?

The most widely promoted reason for going on a CR diet is to expand your lifespan. Not only do people follow a CR diet to live longer, but to also live healthier, since a CR diet is said to be responsible for reducing the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, just to name a few. We know a CR diet does all this for animals, but does it do the same for humans? Although some people are already imposing this strict regimen upon themselves, it is really too early tell whether CR will have the same effect in humans. However, as long as they are eating an adequate, healthy diet, and don’t allow their weight to drop too low, they may not be doing themselves any harm. For some people, however, such a diet may not be a benefit. Before starting any new diet, be sure to check with your healthcare provider.

An interesting outcropping to following a diet program to promote a longer life is the number of researchers attempting to find that same solution in a pill! Scientists are curious about the physiological changes that result from a CR diet and are trying to duplicate those changes through drugs. I’m sure we’ll all know when the ‘fountain of youth’ has been discovered in a bottle.

Give me research!

Although it has been shown time and time again that this type of diet has multiple health and longevity benefits for animals, as mentioned above, showing the same results in humans has been difficult. Here are the only three so far;

· The National Academy of Science (NAS) concluded that humans who followed a calorie restricted diet for 6 years saw a 40% decrease in risk factors for developing heart disease.

· In 2006, NAS found that humans following a calorie restricted diet were at less risk for oxidative and metabolic stress in the brain.

· In a 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers studied human subjects who followed up to a 25% calorie restricted diet. After 6 months, these subjects were found to burn fewer calories at rest.

Concerns of a CR diet

One concern that many researchers have is that if people choose to go on a CR diet, they eliminate the wrong foods and the few foods they do eat are nutrient-sparse, where it should be just the opposite. If you plan to experiment with this diet, now is the time to commit to eating healthy, whole foods. You may have to get to know your kitchen and how to use what’s in it!

Another concern when looking into a CR diet is the big promotion for supplement use. On many websites catering to CR followers, readers are led to believe that because their calories are restricted that they are lacking essential nutrients and the REAL key to a long, healthy life is supplements, especially their supplements, which of course are superior to any others. If you are going to follow a CR diet in order to improve your health and live longer, it just makes sense that the foods you do eat are of the highest biological quality, providing all the important nutrients and antioxidants possible.

Putting it into play

There are different ways to follow a CR diet; you can either consistently drop your calorie intake on a daily basis, or, as was done in some research studies, you can pick one or several days per week and drop the calorie level on just those days. It is felt that if you start with just picking a few days to restrict your calories, it may be easier to follow. Proponents of the diet do recommend a gradual restriction, taking one to two years to get fully into the restriction, rather than just dropping the calorie intake by 25-40%. The key benefit is to develop health effects of the restriction, not develop malnutrition! Again, this is not a diet to follow for weight loss, but to improve your health and longevity.

How many calories are you currently eating? If you don’t know, either work with a registered dietitian (RD) who can help you figure out your current intake, or find a website that will allow you to enter in all your foods for several days.

To get the most out of a CR diet, as mentioned earlier, it is important that you eat foods that are nutrient dense. This means a lot of nutrition packed into every morsel, which includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This also includes a lot of bulk, such as a lot of salads and high fiber produce and starches, such as brown rice and whole grain breads and cereals, focusing most on low glycemic index foods.

Here are some specific tips when considering a CR diet:

· Eat a lot of vegetables, of all kinds. These foods contain the highest content of a wide variety of nutrients for their calories.

· Carefully select the right amount of protein. For a CR diet, it is recommended to stick to the RDI range of 0.6-0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. This means that if you weigh 150 pounds, your protein needs would be 41 to 55 grams of protein per day. Most people eat MUCH more than that, so calculate how much you eat so you’re more aware of where you are and where you have to go.

· Pay attention to the kind of protein you eat. This is important no matter what diet you’re on; the more plant-based proteins you can eat, the healthier your outcomes. It is important to understand how you can follow a plant-based diet and still get adequate protein. Examples of plant-based proteins include soy products, nuts, and beans. Combining vegetables with healthy starches will ensure you get complete proteins.

· Choose healthy, plant-based fats. Foods containing monounsaturated fats include olive oil, nuts, and avocados. It is important to remember that fat is a high source of calories, however, so be sure to limit your fat intake.

· Avoid simple sugars and processed flours. You’ve heard this one, before, too! The less processed the foods, the more natural and more nutritious they are.

A calorie restricted diet isn’t for everyone, and there may be aspects of a CR diet that appeal to you and other aspects that repel you. The purpose of this article, however, was to inform you of what this growing trend is all about and give you something else to consider if you are concerned about your health and lifespan. We may not have found the fountain of youth, yet, and this may not be it, either, but at least following some of the guidelines proposed by CR followers can be healthy for everyone.

Marjorie Geiser helps people overcome their confusion and distress they may feel when trying to add healthy eating and fitness into their busy lives. She offers a free, monthly newsletter on various topics of health. She is a Registered Dietitian, Personal Trainer and Life Coach. To learn more about her services, go to her website at http://www.megfit.com or email her at margie@megfit.com

Tags: heart disease, Healthy diet, olive oil, Calorie restriction, obesity epidemic

Calorie Restriction Diet and Longevity

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 12:30 am

Comments (21)

Does a Calorie Restriction Diet Increase Longevity

On any diet, nutritional choices are very important. Foods such as vegetables are chosen over high sugar foods, high calorie low nutrient foods, and high calorie junk food are to be avoided.

Benefits of Resveratrol

The average American consumes between 2000 and 3000 calories a day.

On a diet to increase longevity a person eats only enough to barley stay alive. Resveratrol helps us to live longer without a calorie restricted diet.

Nearly two hundred years before any experiments, were conducted on calorie restriction.

Benjamin Franklin said, “To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.”Now in 2010 65% of Americans are overweight or obese his words ring powerfully true.

Proof that a Restricted Diet Works

Ancel Keys did a study on caloric restriction diet at the University of Minnesota in the 1950s.

He took sixty volunteers who ate an average daily diet of 1,500 calories for three years with a control group who consumed 2,300 calories per day.

The study demonstrated that the calorie-restricted group was healthier. (Keys, lived to be one hundred.)

The calorie restricted group had less visits to the doctor and blood test also showed then to be healthier than the control group.

Does a Calorie Restriction Diet Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Another experiment near Tuscon, Arizona in a Biosphere 2, concluded that one member of the crew Dr. Roy Walford, persuaded the other members to do their own calorie-restricted experiment.

The crew consumed a low-calorie diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and beans, with small amounts of meat, dairy, and eggs.

They lost weight decreased their body mass by 19 percent for the men and 13 percent for the women. Also they had a drop in their blood pressure.

The Genes Behind Calorie Restriction

One theory why calorie restriction works is that it reduced energy production in the cells and therefore led to less toxicity from free radicals.

Theoretically, fewer free radicals should result in less cellular damage and a longer life. Except that antioxidants alone have not been shown to prolong longevity the way resveratrol does.

So What Does the Evidence Show in People?

Were getting heavier and sicker with every generation, this is the first generation since the baby boomers that parents are out living there children.

http://www.resveratrol-and-anti-aging.com Allen Partch has been studying nutrition and anti aging for over 30 years and has had great health benefits from using supplements to build better health and wellness.

Tags: calories per day, biosphere 2, Life extension, sugar foods, member of the crew

6 Ways to Enjoy the Benefits of a Calorie Restriction Diet Plan Without Giving Up the Foods You Love

Monday, September 20th, 2010 at 8:27 pm

Comments (15)

The benefits of a calorie restriction diet plan are obvious in those who live the life style. 60 year old men have the energy of 20 year olds. 82 year old women are entering IronMan competitions! Data now indicates that calorie restriction can potentially extend our life expectancy by up to 50 percent.

The main benefits of a calorie restriction diet include:

o Life Extension (longevity)

o Cancer Prevention

o Disease Prevention such as Alzheimer’s and hear disease

o Increased Energy and Performance

o Radiation Protection

Research shows that a calorie restrictive diet will not only help you lose weight, but also sky rocket your energy levels and extend overall longevity.

Tips To Get The Benefits Without The Lifestyle:

1. Drink lots of water. Water will flush out your system of the toxins that cause harmful effects to your body. Have you ever noticed, water also diminishes the desire to eat?

2. How about brushing your teeth. Do you usually feel like eating a Big Mac after brushing your teeth of do you tend to hold off a bit?

3. Try a Green Drink. (Greens+ Multi+ or Anthony Robbins Inner Balance Pure Energy Greens With MSM.) There are many others but these are the only two I’ve tried. These green drinks are packed with almost all the vitamins and nutrients the body needs. You may want to add this to a fruit smoothie because they can taste quite awful. I actually like the taste of Greens+ Multi+ but that Tony Robbins one, ugh! Make sure to mix it well if you choose the latter.

4. Take your time when you eat! Research shows that it takes our about 20 minutes between the time our body is actually full, to the time our brain tells us we are full. This is why we hear so often that we should eat smaller meals more often. Same thing. When we eat in excess quantities, even if it’s healthy food, the system has excess nutrients and has to use up all your energy just to digest it. This tip alone could give very similar benefits to those of following a calorie restriction diet plan.

5. Try a Colon Cleansing supplement. This will “rinse” the toxins left in your body by the not so healthy foods you might consume. This is also great for increasing energy levels.

6. Finally, you may want to try the calorie restriction replacement, Resveratrol. This “Miracle” pill has been featured on 60 minutes, CNN, fox news and most recently, Oprah. Resveratrol is a nutrient found in red wine that has been shown to extend life by up to 30 years.

Here are some free trial offers of both Resveratrol [http://freetrialresveratrol.info] and a Colon Cleanser [http://freetrialcoloncleanse.info] I found. Hopefully, they’re still available.

Good Luck!

Tags: inner balance, Calorie restriction, Tony Robbins, water water, anthony robbins

A Calorie Restriction Diet That’s Actually Liberation

Monday, September 20th, 2010 at 4:43 pm

Comments (22)

If you haven’t heard of calorie restriction you’re probably bristling at the thought of it. It sounds so, well, restrictive.

But consider the alternative. Did you know how restrictive obesity can be? A November 7, 2007 Chicago Tribune article cited a study of 1.2 million women. The article opened with these words: “One of the largest medical studies ever undertaken has confirmed what many public health officials already feared: Being overweight can give you cancer.”

That makes calorie restriction sound more appealing doesn’t it?

Actually, I don’t much like the term “calorie restriction” even though that’s the formal name of this dietary approach. I much prefer my own term: “calorie liberation.” Because that’s what ultimately happens when you increase your awareness of calories – you become liberated from them.

As for the benefits, there are many:

* Increased longevity.

* Reduces free radicals so your cells are stronger.

* Prevents autoimmune disease and slows down the aging of the immune system.

* Improved thyroid function.

* Reduced risk for cancer.

* Lower blood pressure.

Prior to becoming diagnosed with celiac disease I lost 40 pounds and my immune system was wearing out. After my diagnosis and going on a gluten-free I was determined to keep the weight off. I calculated how many calories I needed per day to maintain my weight and I never exceed that amount.

Rarely do I get hungry. When you eat small amounts of food throughout the day it kick starts your metabolism somehow and your body doesn’t go into famine mode and hoard fat. The best part is that when you stick to a specific budget of calories you learn how many calories are in foods and that’s half the battle.

It’s just like money. You look at the price tag before purchasing something, right? This prevents you from overspending. Using the same principle with food helps keep the fat off.

Once you know how many calories are in the foods that you eat it becomes almost effortless. You quickly reach the point where you don’t have to measure everything and add up calories. It becomes intuitive. Your body adjusts to the reduced caloric intake. It’s almost impossible for me to exceed my daily calorie budget because my body would feel so stuffed. It’s like a little hatch closes once I reach my limit.

And when you’re eating less calories you’re cooking less, using fewer resources, throwing away less packaging. You’re living light, both literally and figuratively.

Want to try a calorie restriction diet that’s actually fun and easy to learn? Go to http://www.sixworddiet.com This little 60 page booklet has been flying off the shelves. Why? Because you get to eat whatever you want, 12 times per day. You’re eating so often you forget your calories are restricted. Now that’s liberation.

Tags: price tag, Okinawa diet, Food energy, half the battle, medical studies

Kidney Stones home treatments – Simple but Effective Cures.

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 10:46 am

Comments (24)

Whats worse is when you dont have the money for a dear treatment. Nonetheless , early detection of kidney stones will allow early treatment by applying easy, yet cheap kidney stone home-made treatments.

Besides, the majority of the cures listed below will only need your resolution and self- discipline to be handy. Homemade remedies For Treating Kidney Stones : Increase your consumption of bran and oats bran and oats naturally contain lots of fiber. High fiber foods like bran and oats then can help in reducing oxalate levels by binding with these excesses and carries them out of the body. It is suggested that your consumption shouldn’t surpass more than two grams a day.

The over-consumption of these products causes the pH level in your blood to become really acidic. You want to get masses of calcium and magnesium from healthy sources like organic, plant-based vitamins. You also have to beef up your diet with varied sea plants, which are naturally alkaline. It is suggested that your consumption shouldn’t surpass more than two grams a day. These are only some of the cures you can simply follow. Rather than spending so much cash on expensive treatments, it’s way better to avoid having kidney stone issues by watching these kidney stone home cures.

View the original article here

Tags: kidney stones, high fiber foods, ph level, Staple foods, Homemade remedies For Treating Kidney Stones

Hypertension Diet – Foods To Be Avoided if you’re on This Diet.

Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 6:02 pm

Comments (22)

Raised blood pressure is a standard thing among a lot of folks. So to control your pressure level you want an elevated blood pressure diet.

If you consume alcohol when you have particularly high blood pressures it is highly unhealthy and can even lead to a stroke. This in turn will raise the blood pressure lots more and therefore will emerge problems.

It may not affect some individuals while it’d just have extremely dangerous effects on the others. Your kidneys play a very important part of your daily bodily function. Without it, you cant clean your blood and thus you are at the mercy of diabetes, heart sicknesses, cancer, gout, and other major metabolic sicknesses. That is, the Chinese say a great kidney is the key to a goof standard of living and health.

Through history they developed paths to clean the kidneys, because they believed the kidneys were extraordinarily dirty thanks to the buildup wastes when cleaning up blood.

You can get these from your chinese doctor or herbal practitioner and are simply obtainable. You can buy them from your local Chinese food store or maybe good tea homes. This isn’t just tea healthy for your kidneys, this tea has an excellent taste to it.

Dandelion helps to reduce uric acid which increased uric acid is scientifically known to build stones and scarring in the kidneys. To do a kidney massage, you first have to find your kidneys. Your kidneys should be roughly 3 inches above your pelvis on your back.

To massage it, you have got to cup your hand like you are holding water and clap it around your back. It should make a clapping noise like air trapping and this is going to help vibrate your kidneys. Do this for five mins a day and you can finish up with healthy kidneys.

View the original article here

Tags: particularly high blood pressures, blood pressure, Health Medical Pharma, Nitrogen metabolism, herbal practitioner

Feed Your Muscles, and Your Hair

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 11:51 pm

Comments (35)

Feed your muscles and your mane at the same time
By: Brittany Risher

Hit the gym and eat right, and you’ll build muscle, burn fat—and have thick, great-looking hair.

“Exercise increases the blood supply to your muscles as well as your hair, which stimulates growth,” says Jim White, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “And the foods we eat for muscle also promote hair health.”

Just be sure you’re eating balanced diet. “Your body has a priority system,” says Amy Newburger, M.D., director of Dermatology Consultants of Westchester in Scarsdale, New York. “If it only has a limited number of nutrients, your body sends those nutrients to the cells essential for life. So your hair is one of the first type of cells to go.”

Keep your hair (and entire body) healthy by including these nutrients in your daily diet.

Protein

You know you need adequate protein to build muscle—and you also need it for healthy hair because hair is made primarily of protein. Low-quality protein can lead to weak, brittle hair or a loss of hair color—but chances are, if you’re trying to add or maintain muscle, you already eat enough.

Good sources: Chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, low-fat dairy (cottage cheese, milk, yogurt)

Iron

Low iron levels can lead to baldness, according to a Cleveland Clinic review. Researchers looked at 11 studies on the relationship between iron intake and hair loss, and concluded that treating iron deficiency may help regrow hair.

Good sources: Lean red meat, turkey, egg yolks, dried beans, dried fruit, whole grains

Zinc

Shedding more often? You may need to increase your intake of zinc. Studies show this mineral can affect levels of androgens, hormones associated with hair loss.

Good sources: Oysters, nuts (walnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds), beans, beef, lamb

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

“Omega-3s are known to support scalp help—a deficiency can result in dry scalp and dull hair,” White says. And no woman will want to run her fingers through that.

Good sources: Salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, flaxseeds, walnuts

Lignans

In a 6-month pilot study, Taiwanese scientists found that lignans—disease-fighting compounds found in flaxseed—may help slow hair loss. Nine of the 10 men in the study reported modest to much improvement in the number of hairs shed daily.

Good source: Flaxseed. Lignans are found in the flaxseed’s shell, so buy ground whole seeds in your supermarket’s health-food section. The men in the study consumed 1 1/2 tablespoons a day. Try adding flaxseed to oatmeal or smoothies.

Water

If you have dry hair—or just want to prevent straw-like strands—drink more. “Hair is one-quarter water,” White says. He recommends the typical eight glasses a day. Bring a water bottle to work so you don’t spend the entire day refilling your mug at the fountain.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, so a deficiency can make hair dry and weak. You likely take in enough C from your diet, as long as you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.

Good sources: Broccoli, leafy greens, green peppers, citrus fruit, strawberries

Biotin

A lack of adequate biotin can lead to brittle hair, but deficiencies are rare, White says. This vitamin will help you have thick hair as well as strong nails. (That may not sound important, but women like guys with nice hands.)

Good sources: Brown rice, legumes, lentils, eggs, Swiss chard, nuts

View the original article here

Tags: dull hair, dry scalp, omega 3s, scarsdale new york, iron intake

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 »

Fitness Through Fasting Blog

COMMUNITY TOOLBOX

FASTING DISCUSSIONS

MORE HEALTH TOPICS

RESOURCES

SPECIAL REPORTS

LINKS

NETWORK SITES

RSS

Archive for 'Hospitality Recreation'

Weight Loss Surgery

Busy Schedule? A Juice Fast Is a Good Alternative!

How to Zap Acne & Skin Blemishes With a 72-Hour Colon Cleansing Juice Fast

Some Key Pointers To Help You When Juice Fasting & Detox Cleansing

Mature Health & Fitness

Important Facts on Calorie Restriction Diet Plans, Liquid Diet Weight Loss

The Calorie Restriction Diet Plan is Hot News

Calorie Restriction and the Raw Food Diet

Calorie Restriction Weight Loss & Anti Aging – Does Calorie Restriction Help You Live Longer?

Calorie Restriction Diet Leads to Longer Healthier Life

Live Longer, Feel Better, and Look Better – Is a Calorie Restricted Diet For You?

Calorie Restriction Diet and Longevity

6 Ways to Enjoy the Benefits of a Calorie Restriction Diet Plan Without Giving Up the Foods You Love

A Calorie Restriction Diet That’s Actually Liberation

Kidney Stones home treatments – Simple but Effective Cures.

Feed Your Muscles, and Your Hair

BLOG CATEGORIES

Tags

RECENT POSTS

RECENT COMMENTS

Archives

This is the footer section for additional featured content

Special Offer 1

Special Offer 2