Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts

02 July 2009

Get Vitality From Vitamins

The current food guide pyramid, called "M...Image via Wikipedia

By Dr Jason Fowler

The New Food Pyramid: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently released a new, more individualized, food pyramid called MyPyramid. The USDA is offering many tools and tips on www.mypyramid.com. The traditional food groups include grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat and beans. An important new category, Physical Activity, has been added to the overall pyramid. Sample menus, vegetarian diets, and tips for eating out are part of the informative and fun materials provided by the USDA. "MyPyramid for Kids" reminds kids to be physically active every day and to make healthy food choices. "MyPyramid for Kids" posters and coloring pages are available for downloading on the MyPyramid site. "Steps to a Healthier Weight", dietary guidelines, and detailed information for pregnancy and breastfeeding are included, as well as steps for outlining personalized MyPyramid Plans.

People often wonder about taking vitamins. Should I bother? Are vitamins worth the money? Which ones should I take? In order, the answers are yes, yes, and ask your chiropractor to recommend the brand best for you.

Why take vitamins at all? The purpose of supplementation is to cover all bases -- to make sure they are covered. How can you be sure your diet contains all the cofactors and trace minerals needed to make your metabolism work correctly? And what about all the antioxidants that fight free radical formation and the phytonutrients that seem to have so much benefit in cancer prevention?

Likewise, it would take a lot of effort to be certain that your diet contained sufficient iodine, magnesium, selenium, chromium, folate, and vitamins B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cyanocobalamin).Taking a supplement guarantees that these requirements have been met. It's simple, safe, and efficient in terms of both time and cost.

Which brand of supplementation is best? There's no right answer here, it's more of a practical decision. Youwill know if a specific brand is right if you feel healthier and more energetic after taking it regularly for four to six weeks. You chiropractor will assist you by providing expert information and recommendations. There are no peer-reviewed, hard statistical data suggesting that one brand is superior. "Results" here are qualitative, not quantitative. The important point is that vitamin/mineral supplementation is necessary to ensure optimal metabolic functioning and physical well-being.

What about using specific supplements for specific things, such as taking calcium supplements after a bone-density study has revealed loss of bone mass (osteoporosis)? Is this an effective therapy? Well, in the postmenopausal setting, if you are not exercising, the calcium you take will simply be excreted. Completely useless. On the other hand, if you are exercising or begin an exercise program, the additional calcium will be useful in providing raw material for stronger bones, built in response to the stress of exercise.

What about calcium supplementation for younger women? Again, exercise is the key to forestalling osteoporosis2. Of course, this includes taking sufficient daily calcium. The recommended daily requirement for calcium is 1000-1200 mg. So, a vitamin/mineral supplement supplies 500 mg. A cup of yogurt adds another 250 mg. A glass of skim milk or a piece of low-fat cheese adds another 250 mg. Non-dairy sources of calcium include calcium-fortified orange juice, spinach, turnips, and sardines (with the bones). Dietary sources plus your vitamin/mineral supplements provide close to the recommended dose.

Taking additional calcium tablets or pills can make up the difference.

Vitamin/mineral supplements are important for busy people. Supplementation ensures a consistent, optimal dose of necessary nutrients. Balanced nutrition, in combination with regular exercise, will help provide vibrant, glowing good health.

1Rosen CJ: Clinical practice. Postmenopausall osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 353(6):595-603, 2005 2Swanenburg J, et al: Effects of exercise and nutrition on postural balance and risk of falling in elderly people. Clin Rehabil 21(6):523-34, 2007 3Speckerr B, Vukovich M: Evidence for an interaction between exercise and nutrition for improved bone health during growth. Med Sport Sci 51:50-63, 2007

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21 May 2009

The pH Miracle Diet Basic Idea

Fresh vegetables are common in a healthy diet.Image via Wikipedia

by Jakk Williamsonn

The pH Miracle diet it the latest and greatest diet on the horizon. Health experts are aware that new diets fade in and out of style. The 1990s saw the rise and fall of low-fat diets. The early 2000's saw the rise and fall of low-carbohydrate diets such as The Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Protein Power and Sugarbusters. People will attempt a new diet after failing with their current one. A new diet on the rise is the pH Miracle Diet.

Turning completely away from the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets of the immediate past, the pH Miracle Diet offers a new appeal. Robert Young took nutrition to another level and created the pH Miracle Diet which is also known as the Young Diet or the Alkaline Diet. Holisitic doctors and nutritionists seem to agree that this new diet looks at what the body actually needs and is well-balanced.

The human body has a bit of an alkaline pH. We know our body works at this pH, so it makes sense that any foods we ingest should also be slightly alkaline. Right now, most Americans ingest acidic foods, such as animal proteins, sugars, caffiene and other processed and packaged food. The acidity of these foods tamper with our body's pH and cause problems in our body. The acidic foods change how our bodies handle alkaline minerals according to those who support the pH Miracle Diet. These minerals are sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium and can all correlate to chronic diseases.

This is the lynchpin of the pH Miracle Diet. The nutrition and health industry understands that the overall health of our body is affected by what a person ingests. While mainstream doctors as a whole promote well balanced diets including fruit, vegetables, meats and dairy; the pH miracle diet doesn't stop there. The diet shows how eating acidic foods will steal minerals that your body needs. Followers of the pH Miracle Diet are saying no to foods that can harm their bodies and their lives.

The pH Miracle Diet avoids many common and popular foods. For instance, wheat and wheat products are prohibited on the diet. This may be surprising, because the FDA encourages us to eat whole wheat products as part of a healthy diet. But the pH Miracle Diet shows us that acidic grains like wheat, oats, millet and rice are dangerous. Alkaline grains, however, such as buckwheat, quinoa and spelt are beneficial to our bodies.

All meats and diary products are also probitied on the pH Miracle Diet. Goat milk, however, is ok as it is slightly alkaline. Other protein sources can be found in beans, tofu, nuts and seeds. Most vegetables, except mushrooms, are also encouraged because they are alkaline. Fruits that are acceptable are coconut, grapefruit, lemon and lime.

Within the first few weeks of going on the pH Miracle Diet you will see positive effects on your health, according to people who have tried it. Reducing processed foods and adding vegetables to your diet is good for your health, whether you adhere to this diet or not. The pH Miracle Diet's detractors that this is the problem with the diet. If you are already eating a fresh and balanced diet and ingesting enough water, following the diet won't make a difference. But this theory does not account for the acid and alkaline in our bodies.

There are no concrete scientific testing results on the pH Miracle Diet and many mainstream medical doctors do not see any advantages to the diet. The theories behind the diet are rooted in holisitic and Chinese medicine that have existed for hundreds of years. These principles are being tested right now at the Johns Hopkins' University and by Dr. Neil Solomon of the United Nations. The results from these may cause critics of the pH Miracle Diet to eat their words.

About the Author:
After a long day of working out and losing weight, why not search for Mayan hammocks to relax and unwind in. Then, head off to Cable Beach Bahamas and show off your new body!


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13 May 2009

Information on Diet Fitness

Silhouettes representing healthy, overweight, ...Image via Wikipedia

by Amanda Gamdana

Despite the rise in obesity and weight problems generally, increasing numbers of people nowadays are very conscious about their own health and fitness. Health and fitness magazines may be to blame but perhaps it is also a desire to improve the way we look in a very image conscious society that we live in. As a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have proliferated all over to cater to the needs of the fitness and body conscious enthusiasts.

On television, exercise machines, weight loss products, and other paraphernalia to improve fitness have made a huge impression on the audiences whose homes they invade on a daily basis. What isn't given enough emphasis though is the responsibility we all have to eat healthy as part of this regime and not just to expect exercise and fitness to be a cure-all.

Diet and fitness are as essential as exercise itself as they provide the essential nutrition we need to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth as a result they should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different opinions, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by numerous professionals, among these are high-carb diets and high-fat diets but which one is more effective and which one should you choose?

What makes this confusing for the amateur is that one side says that you are better of eating foods high in fat when you exercise and the others state you need to eat foods that are a good source of carbohydrates. The more traditional high-carb diet camp says you need to have carbohydrates because the glycogen or glucose is stored in the muscles ready for use when performing anaerobic or what we term, short and rapid exercise.

Fat rich food is also known to be calorie rich which two and a half times the calorific content of carbohydrates and protein plus it is actually quicker to break down in the body ready for use. The problem is deciding on which diet to follow but there is at least one thing experts agree on and that is you cannot follow both at the same time without gaining weight.

But then diet fitness is not all about losing fat and you must also consider your diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle and medical profile.

The problem with most diets is that people can't wait to come off them but if one can be tailored made for you then there is a greater chance you will stay on it and eat in moderation and a variety of food groups. There are many diet fitness programs; the hardest part is finding one which suits your particular circumstances, but when you do it will be easier to stay with it and keep healthy.

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05 May 2009

How Is The Acai Berry A Miracle Fruit?

Acai BerriesImage via Wikipedia

by BETTY KIDD

The amazing little acai berry from the rainforests of Brazil has been touted as a cure and a miracle for a variety of conditions. It has been touted as one of the greatest nutritional discoveries ever and a miracle cure for a range of afflictions from cancer to obesity.

Well that fact of the matter is that the acai berry is quite miraculous. It is extremely nutritious, loaded with antioxidants, Omega fatty acids and a whole host of vitamins and minerals. But being miraculous does not make it a miracle food. The fact is that there are many exceptionally healthy superfoods on this planet including blueberries, oranges, spinach, walnuts, salmon, green tea and more. The acai berry is just one of the latest finds.

In order to have a health-promoting diet you must eat a variety of healthy foods. Our bodies require a combination of nutrition in the form of the macronutrients of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats and the micronutrients of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Antioxidants protect our bodies from free radicals and oxygen damage that has been implicated in everything from aging to disease. When we increase the quality of what we eat we add to our health and longevity. But the addition of just one superfood like the acai berry cannot do this. We must have a combination of healthy foods.

If you want to lose weight you will likely benefit if you add acai berry products into your diet. However, this is not a magic bullet. You will also need to lower your calorie consumption and start a regular exercise program. Acai berry products can give you outstanding nutritional support that can help you in your weight loss goals but if you do not do the other required things to lose weight you will fail. The acai berry is not a perfect solution.

Nature has provided us|humans| with superior nutrition in the form of many healthy foods. We were designed to indulge in these healthy foods and when we do our bodies benefit greatly. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains can be the basis for our diets but we do not necessarily need to be vegetarians as many meat eaters also have a healthy diet. There are some animal products and meats that are more nutritious than others and it may be wise to be aware of where your food is coming from but that would include the fruits, vegetables and whole grains that you eat also.

We were never meant to eat unnatural and manmade foods. Mother Nature leaves clues. If the food you are eating won't spoil within a certain amount of time then you probably shouldn't be eating it. If bacteria won't eat the food neither should humans. The acai berry is only grown in the Brazilian rainforest and it is so extremely perishable that it must be freeze-dried or frozen within 24 hours after it is picked from the tree or the health benefits quickly spoil.

The acai berry can be a great addition to your healthy diet. The superior nutrition can assist you to overcome the effects of free radicals and that can protect you from diseases. You may also lose weight once your body gets the superior nutrition that it craves.

But the acai berry is not a miracle cure for anything. Improve your diet all around by adding in all kinds of nutritious foods like blueberries, spinach, broccoli, salmon, walnuts, green tea, tomatoes and more. Healthy foods come from everywhere and are found all over the world. To get the highest advantage from acai berry products improve the quality of your diet all around. Your body will appreciate it.

About the Author:
I am a self-taught expert on the acai berry. I have developed a strong knowledge about nutrition and good health. My current focus is on the health benefits of the acai berry


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04 May 2009

Horse Nutrition Guidelines

Merrie en veulen, beiden voskleurig, in galopImage via Wikipedia

by Elias Maseko

The idea of feeding a horse may appear easy but may horse owners are uninformed about the fundamentals. It is a fact that there is no golden rule relevant involving the nutrition requires of a horse, as it for the most part depends on the age, body weight and the level of activity, which the horse goes through. Grass is the most essential part of a horse diet. Being one of the most essential components to keep its digestive system to work optimally, grass normally means natural pasture and cut hay.

big horses usually eat about 2 to 2.5 % of their body weight in food each day so a 1,000 pound horse will consume roughly twenty to twenty five pounds of food per day. Horses require good nutrition so this means high quality food, not low quality high fiber food (which can interfere with correct digestion).

If your horse doesn't do much work, they will do nicely on strictly forage, with no grain thrown in. On the other hand, horses which are active, or at the growing or breeding stage, need extra secondary feeds over and above the forage like grains or concentrate supplements. Thus, for optimizing growth and development of the animal, foraging should make up for at least half or more of the body weight, as part of his daily diet.

The food content and the quality of the grass are essential considerations when you are planning to give your horse a balanced diet. When you are aware of this, you can easily figure out the correct amounts of nutrients that would meet his specific requires. The best source and the least expensive one for summer feed is your grass fields and, in most cases good pasture by itself can provide all the nutrition requisites your horse needs. But how do you come to know how much pasture is right for your horse? Using a weight of 1000 to 1200 pounds, here is a rough guideline. This means that a mare and foal 1.75 to 2 acres - yearlings 1.5 to 2 acre and weanlings 0.5 to 1 acre.

Winter food of course would be cut hay, and again, high quality if you can provide it. The hay which you food should be cut uniformly and have green leaf-like appearance and there should not be any dust, moulds, weeds or stubble accompanying the hay. This food is normally rich in protein, minerals and vitamins.

Alfalfa hay is great for horses in a developing phase as it is protein enriched by there could be excessive calcium content in relation to phosphorus. Since abnormal calcium may not be good for growing horses, you could opt for a hay analysis, in case you are not too sure.

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You welcome to check out: Horses As Pets Keeping A Horse As A Pet for more accurate information.


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29 April 2009

Body Detox And The Millenials

This is a scanning electron microscope image f...Image via Wikipedia

by Isabelle Mihajlov

If there were a generation to give, en masse and complimentary, decades-long supplies of body detox, it would be those of us who were in between the Generation X-ers and these new Millennial children. The Millenials were born during the era of abstinence education and anti-drug commercials that involved sweetners deflating into flattened puddles in the middle of their living rooms. They grew up without having to fight over whether we were descended from apes and have no idea what we mean when we talk about cigars or blue dresses.

Part of the rationalization behind getting detox-- one of the central arguments you'll hear on health and fitness websites, on day-time talk shows, maybe even at the YMCA when you're taking your kid to a swim class or something-- is that these people want to be able to live longer. I don't know whether that's really a good thing. This is an over-populated country as it is, and in a certain sense it's rather selfish for any of us to want to live longer.

The newly-minted era of health awareness is a good and important trend in contemporary society, and some people have been living such starkly clean lives for so long that they've forgotten how to talk to people like you, who have been smoking and drinking in direct proportion to your body weight since you dropped out of college. It's for those of you that these clean livers hire self-destructive types like me to write for them.

That's absolutely counter-productive to your children's futures. You should know better.

So before you go any further with this-- before you start ordering your lifetime supply of body detox from this or any other site, please consider: your willingness to better yourself and your desire to live a happier, cleaner, and longer life may well be in the way of the development of a new one. So before you make the choice to improve your own life, ask yourself: is your life really worth prolonging?

About the Author:
Isabelle Mihajlov is blessed homemaker with five healthy kids. She enjoys sharing "remedies" with others how to strengthen your immune system to prevent getting ill. Get free health advice online
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22 April 2009

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for Young Children

{{Potd/2005-10-16 (en)}}Image via Wikipedia

by Angela Giles

Nutritional supplements play a vital role in the development and growth of children. They provide important ingredients for the normal development of mind and body and also provide a defense against diseases. One of the best products in this category is Usanimals from Usana Health Sciences.

Most of the skills required in adulthood are learnt during the first 12 years. This includes simple activities like walking and running and complex ones like playing a sport or a musical instrument. The child also learns to speak, read, write and communicate with gestures. All this is a result of an increased coordination of brain and body.

Young children display a tremendous amount of energy. They can play and jump around through the day without any sign of tiredness. Obviously, children in this age range of 1-12 years need a lot more energy as compared to an adult of 20-25 years. Along with energy, they also need a vital supply of nutrients.

Unfortunately, a high percentage of the world's child population is bereft of adequate sustenance. As a result many suffer from physical and mental disorders caused due to malnutrition. This is because they do not receive the required quantity of nutrients from their diets. Key substances like calcium, vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium are not present in the diets of almost half the children in this age group. Even in advanced countries, children get used to fast food like french fries and burgers with a lot of cheese, which is nutritionally inferior to fresh vegetables and fruits.

Marketed by Usana Health Sciences, Usanimals are supplements that take care of the kids' daily requirements of essential nutrients. They contain large doses of vitamin C and vitamin E, which are required most by children below 12 years. Usanimals are derived from the family of Usana Essentials and are specifically designed for kids in this age-group.

Usanimals come in the form of easy-to-eat chewable tablets with a wild berry flavor. The flavor is due to the presence of blended fruit powders of raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and wild blueberry. Children find this flavor quite tasty. They also love the funny animal shapes of the tablets. Parents prefer Usanimals because they do not contain sugar but only a natural sweetener.

Usana products have been consistently rated No.1 in studies that compared hundreds of nutritional products in Unites States and Canada. They are the most effective and safest nutritional supplements for young and growing children.

About the Author:
Angela Giles is the published Author of the Inside Scoop Review and believes that health is the key to maximizing your wealth. More Info on Usana
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