Thanks for that...yes, I agree the ratio of fats is important...that's why a host of compaines provide these oils in proper ratios of n-3, n-6, and n-9 fatty acids in some of their products, as opposed to just Omega-3 fatty acids. A dizzying array of choices exists on the shelves.
I actually would not be surprised if it was precisely this imbalance which has lead to many of our current nutrient-physiological woes and, coupled with a healthier activity lifestyle, changes to this balance could effect some dramatic improvements to our collective health. Human diet is highly adaptive and while surely it's improved in the last 150 years, there are things we learned over millions of years which have been supplanted by the conveniences brought industrialization and the late 20th century commoditization of nutrients, first macro, then micro and soon phyto.
Until we develop a truly comprehensive framework which can evaluate the actual physiological needs of human nutrition, we're stabbing in the dark, science-style, with nutritional needs and this model doesn't usually work very effectively for vital issues: you don't want to have to prove that poisons kill you before you stop eating them.
I actually would not be surprised if it was precisely this imbalance which has lead to many of our current nutrient-physiological woes and, coupled with a healthier activity lifestyle, changes to this balance could effect some dramatic improvements to our collective health. Human diet is highly adaptive and while surely it's improved in the last 150 years, there are things we learned over millions of years which have been supplanted by the conveniences brought industrialization and the late 20th century commoditization of nutrients, first macro, then micro and soon phyto.
Until we develop a truly comprehensive framework which can evaluate the actual physiological needs of human nutrition, we're stabbing in the dark, science-style, with nutritional needs and this model doesn't usually work very effectively for vital issues: you don't want to have to prove that poisons kill you before you stop eating them.
I'm sure imbalance is definitely a part of the dilemma, but I believe it's a problem much deeper and broader in scope. People are simpling eating foods that are sorely deficient in essential nutrients, both minerals and vitamins...hence the movement toward more nutrient dense organics.
In a nutshell, ppl are OVERFED, yet MALNOURISHED. To top it off the toxic cesspool of perservatives and artificial chemicals that are ubiquitous in our food supply, water supply, and general environment constitute a daily assault on the body on a scale mankind has never had to deal with before. The body hasn't evolved to deal with transfatty acids, designer perservatives, etc.
I agree with what you said...when most of the shiet ppl eat comes out of a box, a bag, or a can you can be virtually certain it's nutritionally dead. Sure they are extracting energy from the food, but that's about it.
The demands of modern life require us to eat even healthier foods to combat the various types of stressors we encounter, yet we are eating less healthy than ever before.
I am by no means perfect but at least I try to follow through and eat more nutrient dense foods.
Even Moderate Exercise Greatly Extends Men's Lives, Research Shows
(NaturalNews) A moderate increase in fitness level can decrease a man's risk of dying by between 50 and 70 percent, according to a study conducted by the Exercise Testing and Research Lab at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, and published in the journal Circulation.
"It is important to emphasize that it takes relatively moderate levels of physical activity - like brisk walking - to attain the associated health benefits," said researcher Peter Kokkinos. "Certainly, one does not need to be a marathon runner. This is the message that we need to convey to the public."
Researchers studied more than 15,000 male U.S. veterans, 6,749 black and 8,911 white. The men had been given standardized treadmill tests, in which they were encouraged to walk until they were tired, then monitored for an average of 7.5 years each.
Depending on their treadmill test performance, the men were classified as "low fit," "moderately fit," "highly fit" or "very highly fit." Compared with men in the "low fit" category, men in the "highly fit" category had a 50 percent lower risk of death during the study period, while men in the "very highly fit" category had a 70 percent lower risk of death.
During the study period, 44 percent of the "low fit" men died, compared with 30 percent of the "moderately fit" men, 15 percent of the "highly fit" and 8 percent of the "very highly fit."
According to Kokkinos, moving from "low fit" to "highly fit" would not be hard to achieve.
"All you need is between two and three hours of brisk walking a week. You can spread that out between four and six days a week," he said.
Achieving "very highly fit" would take only 30 minutes of brisk walking, five or six days a week, for several months.
The study is one of the largest to date that shows a link between exercise and longer life.
phlargo wrote: so I try to employ the words I feel best further my intentions and will usually not substitute a common word for a choice word where meaning or connotation would be lost.
But what good is it if nobody knows what the hell you're talking about? [/list:u]
I've never been a big fan of counting calories. In fact, in the past year, I have lost about 30 pounds without counting a single dietary digit. Sure, I know recording everything you put in your mouth can help peel off pounds, but I also know that obsessing over calories makes you more likely to eat lowfat, low-fiber foods that wouldn't satiate a starling.
Instead of crunching numbers, I munched on healthy food to become a weight loss success. If a food lover like me can do it, you can, too! Try these tips:
• Pick up produce.
Have at least one fruit and veggie at every meal. On busy days when I know my lunch won't have a smidge of green in it, I have two fruits at breakfast; I toss berries or peaches into my nonfat Greek yogurt and sprinkle it with granola. I love asparagus, green pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, sprouts, endive and more. Fruits and veggies are high in fiber, which staves off hunger. Shoot for nine servings daily. It sounds like a lot, but if you don't have to be a rabbit to reach that goal. Eat a salad at lunch or dinner, and you're there.
• Snack smart.
Add protein (such as a stick of lowfat string cheese or Parmesan) to your between-meal bites. Research suggests protein may enhance the effect of leptin, a hormone that reins in appetite. I love hummus and dip veggies into it instead of pita bread or crackers. Protein is also filling and can help curb cravings for chips, cookies and the like.
• Sip more water.
Dieters who swapped sugary drinks for water lose weight, but those who gulped the most H20 peeled off the most pounds, according to a study at the meeting of Obesity Society in Boston. Donft love agua? Try the flavored kind but check the label for sugar content (it should be below 8 grams per serving).
• Map out your meals.
A little attention to portions can help you eat less and still stay satisfied. Start by using a salad dish (8 inches in diameter) and divide it into quarters to help keep helpings healthy. Half the plate should get veggies, top another quarter with lean protein (3 to 6 ounces of fish, chicken or tofu) and the last quarter with whole grains (1/2 to 1 cup of brown rice, sweet potatoes or whole wheat pasta).
• Eat every meal.
When you wait longer than five hours between bites, your body may release extra cortisol, a hormone that can increase appetite. I call it "hangry." I get hungry and angry: My stomach starts to burn and my brain gets annoyed at every little thing. Then I eat whatever is in front of me, usually a cookie or other sweet, empty-calorie treat. I realize I'm putting out the "hangry" fires, but it is better not to get there in the first place!
Light-treated mushrooms 'help' vitamin D deficiency
Eating mushrooms that have been treated with ultraviolet B (UVB) light could help to treat vitamin D deficiency, UK research suggests.
Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of falls and fractures and is common in elderly patients attending fall clinics.
This study builds on earlier research in rats that found that mushrooms treated with UVB were a rich source of vitamin D.
A case study of a 30-year-old Indian male, deficient in vitamin D, who was living in south-east England found that eating UVB-treated mushrooms on a daily basis for three months increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by 129 per cent.
But the researchers, from Crosby House Surgery in Slough, Berkshire, conclude that further studies including randomised controlled trials are required in order to test this hypothesis.
Now don't get all excited. We don't have any magic wand solutions that will take the place of exercise and eating right. But we do have a few foods that could help you on your journey to rid yourself of excess flab. Hungry Girl's here with the scoop...
LEAN PROTEIN
To put it simply, protein takes a lot of effort for the body to break down and digest. A lot more than, say, fat. So while your body is working hard to process that protein, you're burning calories. HG tip -- eat fish! Chances are you're not getting enough of it. Not only is fish a fabulous source of lean protein, BUT many types are full of those Omega-3 fatty acids you're always hearing about. Beans are also a wonderful source of protein. And it's no secret how we feel about our friend the soybean. (Let's have a cheer for veggie patties and soy-meats!)
WHOLE GRAINS
Belly fat is not particularly cute on anyone (except maybe babies), so it's exciting news that whole grains can do a number on that stubborn flab around your midsection. One of the easiest ways to get whole grains into your diet? Oatmeal in the morning. Quaker's Simple Harvest Multigrain Hot Cereal is really good and just full of grains. Also, Kashi GoLean's Hot Cereal packs in 7 whole grains and a big 5 - 7g fiber! Mmmmm...
GRAPEFRUIT
Ever since you were a kid popping Flintstones Chewables, you've known that Vitamin C is good for you -- and that certainly hasn't changed. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant AND has been shown in studies to help burn fat. So, if you're looking for a snack, how's about a nice, juicy grapefruit? The theory is that grapefruit helps to lower insulin levels, which keeps you from being hungry all the time! We know it smacks of classic diet food, but those Ruby Reds are MIGHTY delicious! If it's too sour for you straight, sprinkle it with some no-calorie sweetener like Splenda or stevia.
GREEN TEA
Green tea is EVERYWHERE. It's been classified as a "superfood" as it's been linked to reduced rates of heart disease and cancer. And now it helps us lose weight too? Green tea has been shown to raise our metabolism, which is key in our battle with the bad stuff. Researchers also suspect that substances called polyphenols combined with caffeine are responsible for its fat-burning properties. If the hot murky stuff doesn't do it for you, try HG's Green Tea Crème Swappuccino! Only 75 calories and SO GOOD!
SPICY FOODS
You know how when you eat spicy foods, you sometimes start to sweat a little (ew)? That's because it's given a little kick to your heart rate. These little kicks will result in a temporary increase in your metabolism, which will help you burn fat a little easier for a bit. A quick hit with cayenne, red pepper flakes, or whatever hot sauce you fancy should do the trick and get your blood pumping. And these spices are practically calorie-free. Yes!
LIGHT DAIRY
Hey, dairy queens! Good news! It turns out that people who eat low-fat or fat-free dairy lose MORE weight than people who don't. Sure we mentioned protein before, but it bears bringing up again since the magical combo of calcium and protein seems to work wonders. We're WAY into yogurt, so we suggest picking up some Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt and mixing in your favorite fruits, sugar-free preserves... or whatever! Also, light string cheese is a GREAT little snack, with only around 50-60 calories and 2.5g fat a pop. Not bad for hard cheese, people.
WATER
Experts say it's important to drink lots of water if you're trying to burn fat Your body can't work effectively if it's dehydrated -- not only will you FEEL like you don't have any energy, but also your body really won't have what it needs to function and burn off fat. Keep that machine humming -- drink around 8 glasses of water a day!
CINNAMON
Sure this stuff tastes good -- that's why it's found in SO many things. But those chefs might not know that their sprinkling of cinnamon is helping the body process sugar more effectively and lower blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can lead to the body storing more fat, so maybe put together a little shaker of cinnamon and Splenda to sprinkle on your favorite foods! Then whip up some fat-burning cinnamon toast by using your new concoction on whole-wheat bread!
APPLES
An apple a day isn't going to keep the gym away, but it'll probably make your diet plan more effective. Word on the street is that the pectin contained in apples limits how much fat your cells can absorb. (SWEET!) Plus it's a naturally soluble fiber, which is always good. So next time you feel all snacky, grab whichever apple looks best to you (we love Fujis!).
I'm repeatedly frustrated that we need artificial sweetners like splenda mentioned any such article. Not only do they taste prettty wretched, to me at least, but a small amount of added sugar won't hurt anyone. What we really need to learn is that NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE SWEET!
bmwracer wrote:
The problem is with most people they go overboard, thus the need for sugar and salt substitutes. :sweat:
Exactly. There's a wonderful world of cooking and eating that doesn't involve ridiculously salty or sweet foods. I put the challenge on my friends - try cutting out all sweet and salty things for two weeks. All food will taste better if you do. Your taste buds are completely replaced every 14-17 days, so we can retrain our tongues pretty easily - the trick is retraining your mind :)
I'm repeatedly frustrated that we need artificial sweetners like splenda mentioned any such article. Not only do they taste prettty wretched, to me at least, but a small amount of added sugar won't hurt anyone. What we really need to learn is that NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE SWEET!
:grumble:
I stopped using all that crap years ago.
I agree just use real sugar...if that doesn't work for you, one can use Xylitol or Stevia...which are natural sweeteners that don't produce an insulin response and they aren't neurotoxins or excitotoxins like Splenda or Nutrasweet.
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