Here is a good (but lengthy) article on cheap factory farm food and what it does to you and the world around us. Give it a read when you have the time.
Cheap Food... Is Neither
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Friday, October 30, 2009
High Fructose Corn Syrup, When Heated, Can Become Downright Dangerous
Read this article. Much more information about High Fructose Corn Syrup; and it's dangers to you.
High Fructose Corn Syrup, When Heated, Can Become Downright Dangerous
Posted using ShareThis
High Fructose Corn Syrup, When Heated, Can Become Downright Dangerous
Posted using ShareThis
All Day Energy!
Those of you that know me know I am pretty much always on the go. I cannot sit still for long before I am off to do something, and I generally go strong all day from the time i wake up until I go to sleep. People are always asking me what I do to keep my energy levels up. I always give credit to My Morning Regiment, but I never really thought about what I do everyday throughout the day. I have always liked the quote "Negativity is just a waste of energy". I never realized how true that was until I read this article.
This is an article borrowed from SixWise.com, a great website full of health-related information.
Why Some People Never Get Tired, and How You Can Join Their Ranks
by www.SixWise.com
You know the type. They always seem awake, alert, ready to achieve, even as your energy level seems to have hit "Empty."
If energy seems hard to come by these days, you're not alone. Close to one-third of respondents to the 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll said they have missed work or other events, or made errors at work, because of being too sleepy.
So what is the secret that these "other" people, the ones with the seemingly endless energy, know that you don't? It's not that their lives are necessarily any easier, any less complicated or any less crammed with things to do. And their days are not any less laced with the trials and tribulations of a normal life.
Kids aren't the only ones who should have lots of energy.
More so, it is that they have discovered the following secrets and incorporated them into their own lives. But here's the real kicker: You can too.
You are What You Eat
It sounds cliché, but it's true. According to Cynthia Sass, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), there are six diet-related factors that can drastically affect your energy levels throughout the day.
1.
Drink more water. If you get dehydrated, it will make you feel sluggish.
2.
Eat plenty of protein. Make sure you are eating enough healthy protein throughout the day. Your body needs it to keep organs functioning and energy levels up.
3.
Watch your carb intake. Eating too many carbs can slow you down, but so can not eating enough of the healthy kind (like those from veggies). Carbs are what keeps your blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day, which in turn makes you feel awake, so be sure you're eating the right amount for you.
4.
Limit your caffeine fix. If you can't get going without a cup of coffee, you're probably drinking too much. It will actually end up making you feel more tired in the long run, so limit your intake to about one cup a day.
5.
Eat when you're hungry. If you keep pushing lunch back until you're about to faint, your blood sugar levels will plummet--and so will your energy.
6.
Eat a balanced diet. If you're not giving your body all the protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals and more that it needs, you won't feel up to par.
Too Tired to Exercise? There's no Such Thing!
Aside from illness, there's no excuse for not exercising. And if you feel you don't have enough energy to do it, you're probably the type that needs it most!
"Your body is probably begging for activity," says Glenn Gaesser, Ph.D, a professor of exercise physiology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Though it sounds ironic, putting out the energy to work out will give you more energy and make your daily tasks easier. Ask any regular exerciser to take a break from their routine, and they're sure to notice a drop in their energy. Here's how to exercise for the maximum boost:
1.
Vary your workouts. Do an aerobic activity like jogging or kickboxing one day, a strength training work out another, and yoga or Pilates the next. This will keep you from getting burned out and keep things fun. "Whatever gets you to move is the exercise that will energize you," says Gaesser.
2.
Stretch. Stretching is a key way to increase your daily energy. Using the proper form in stretching is essential to achieving the maximum energy benefits.
To learn 15 important stretches that stretch all the key muscles groups throughout your entire body in only 15-20 minutes a day, Sixwise.com highly recommends the "Stretching Toward a Healthier Life" DVD.
3.
Use intervals for cardio. While doing a cardio workout, alternate several minutes of high-intensity movement with several minutes of lower intensity. This will get your energy levels up without wearing you down.
4.
Watch your intensity. If you're working so hard that you can't talk, you probably need to tone it down a notch. Says Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise in San Diego, exercising too hard can leave you feeling tired, rather than energized.
Emotions Can Sap Your Energy
If you've got a lot of negative emotions cooped up in your mind, it will definitely drain you of your energy. These could be things like:
* Lingering resentments from an argument with your spouse or family
* Frustration about a work project
* Disappointment in yourself or others
* Feeling not good enough
* Anxiety about an upcoming event
* Worrying about finances, illness or other issues
Most of these things are issues that lead you to have a lot of negative stress, and no way to vent it. And let's face it, even the positive things in our lives -- buying a new house, having a baby, getting married, planning for retirement -- can lead to energy-zapping emotions. Here are some solutions to free your mind and recapture your energy:
* Try energy psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique. Similar to acupuncture but without the needles, tapping on specific energy meridians on your body can help you let go of all kinds of negative emotions.
* Take part in a pleasurable, constructive (working on a project you enjoy) or altruistic (volunteering) activity. It will keep your mind off the bad and help you focus on the good.
* Try journaling. This can work in many ways. You can use a journal to write down your thoughts, concerns, fears, etc. By physically writing them on paper, it can help you remove them from your mind. You can also use your journal to make lists of tasks at hand, projects you need to finish, even groceries you need to buy. If these things are cluttering up your head, they're using up your valuable energy needlessly.
Stretch Your Way to Boundless Energy
Stretch DVDProper stretching is one of the most widely recommended methods to help you look and feel younger, live longer, avoid and even overcome serious health issues, and increase your mental concentration, energy and emotional well-being.
With the "Stretching Toward a Healthier Life" DVD, you'll:
* Reduce tension in your muscles
* Improve the flow of oxygen and the intake of essential nutrients
* Help reduce and manage stress
* Improve your posture
* Get better blood circulation
* Have more energy to perform daily tasks
Learn more about "Stretching Toward a Healthier Life," including how to get FREE SHIPPING for a Limited Time Now!
Do Something You Love Everyday
Says Steve Brunkhorst, a professional life success coach, doing something enjoyable everyday is "a great way to replenish the energy consumed during daily living."
This could be something small, like watching the sunset or taking your dog for a long walk, or something more indulgent like heading to the spa for a Swedish massage. It could mean taking time to be alone or getting together with a group of friends.
Whatever you enjoy is up to you. Just make sure it gets done everyday. If you like, you can add some of your favorite things to your journal, then pick one or two to do each day.
Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk
The more energy you expend over the small stuff, the less you have for the fun (and necessary) stuff. Choosing your battles wisely is a key way to increase your energy. All it takes is some conscious thinking on your part, and the dedication to let those small daily annoyances glide off you like, well, spilled milk.
Pottery Hobby
Just doing something you love can increase your energy immensely.
If you're having trouble with this one, remember these great words from Bruce Lee, " ... the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."
Then There's the Obvious
If you know you have lifestyle habits (other than diet and exercise) that are making you feel drained, change them! If you:
* Stay up late watching the late show, then the late late show, then are late, late, late for work in the morning, turn off the TV and go to sleep.
* Try to cram two-week's worth of activities into one 24-hour day, ease up on your expectations.
* Take on so many obligations with family and friends that they're no longer enjoyable, learn to say no.
* Still feel tried after make all these changes, consider getting help.
"It's very easy for someone to say, 'I'm just feeling tired because I'm run-down and have too much going on,'" says Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD. "But the bottom line is that fatigue could be a sign of a medical condition that can be treated ... If you have made the changes that make sense, and you're still feeling the symptoms of fatigue, then you need professional help."
This is an article borrowed from SixWise.com, a great website full of health-related information.
Why Some People Never Get Tired, and How You Can Join Their Ranks
by www.SixWise.com
You know the type. They always seem awake, alert, ready to achieve, even as your energy level seems to have hit "Empty."
If energy seems hard to come by these days, you're not alone. Close to one-third of respondents to the 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll said they have missed work or other events, or made errors at work, because of being too sleepy.
So what is the secret that these "other" people, the ones with the seemingly endless energy, know that you don't? It's not that their lives are necessarily any easier, any less complicated or any less crammed with things to do. And their days are not any less laced with the trials and tribulations of a normal life.
Kids aren't the only ones who should have lots of energy.
More so, it is that they have discovered the following secrets and incorporated them into their own lives. But here's the real kicker: You can too.
You are What You Eat
It sounds cliché, but it's true. According to Cynthia Sass, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), there are six diet-related factors that can drastically affect your energy levels throughout the day.
1.
Drink more water. If you get dehydrated, it will make you feel sluggish.
2.
Eat plenty of protein. Make sure you are eating enough healthy protein throughout the day. Your body needs it to keep organs functioning and energy levels up.
3.
Watch your carb intake. Eating too many carbs can slow you down, but so can not eating enough of the healthy kind (like those from veggies). Carbs are what keeps your blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day, which in turn makes you feel awake, so be sure you're eating the right amount for you.
4.
Limit your caffeine fix. If you can't get going without a cup of coffee, you're probably drinking too much. It will actually end up making you feel more tired in the long run, so limit your intake to about one cup a day.
5.
Eat when you're hungry. If you keep pushing lunch back until you're about to faint, your blood sugar levels will plummet--and so will your energy.
6.
Eat a balanced diet. If you're not giving your body all the protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals and more that it needs, you won't feel up to par.
Too Tired to Exercise? There's no Such Thing!
Aside from illness, there's no excuse for not exercising. And if you feel you don't have enough energy to do it, you're probably the type that needs it most!
"Your body is probably begging for activity," says Glenn Gaesser, Ph.D, a professor of exercise physiology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Though it sounds ironic, putting out the energy to work out will give you more energy and make your daily tasks easier. Ask any regular exerciser to take a break from their routine, and they're sure to notice a drop in their energy. Here's how to exercise for the maximum boost:
1.
Vary your workouts. Do an aerobic activity like jogging or kickboxing one day, a strength training work out another, and yoga or Pilates the next. This will keep you from getting burned out and keep things fun. "Whatever gets you to move is the exercise that will energize you," says Gaesser.
2.
Stretch. Stretching is a key way to increase your daily energy. Using the proper form in stretching is essential to achieving the maximum energy benefits.
To learn 15 important stretches that stretch all the key muscles groups throughout your entire body in only 15-20 minutes a day, Sixwise.com highly recommends the "Stretching Toward a Healthier Life" DVD.
3.
Use intervals for cardio. While doing a cardio workout, alternate several minutes of high-intensity movement with several minutes of lower intensity. This will get your energy levels up without wearing you down.
4.
Watch your intensity. If you're working so hard that you can't talk, you probably need to tone it down a notch. Says Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise in San Diego, exercising too hard can leave you feeling tired, rather than energized.
Emotions Can Sap Your Energy
If you've got a lot of negative emotions cooped up in your mind, it will definitely drain you of your energy. These could be things like:
* Lingering resentments from an argument with your spouse or family
* Frustration about a work project
* Disappointment in yourself or others
* Feeling not good enough
* Anxiety about an upcoming event
* Worrying about finances, illness or other issues
Most of these things are issues that lead you to have a lot of negative stress, and no way to vent it. And let's face it, even the positive things in our lives -- buying a new house, having a baby, getting married, planning for retirement -- can lead to energy-zapping emotions. Here are some solutions to free your mind and recapture your energy:
* Try energy psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique. Similar to acupuncture but without the needles, tapping on specific energy meridians on your body can help you let go of all kinds of negative emotions.
* Take part in a pleasurable, constructive (working on a project you enjoy) or altruistic (volunteering) activity. It will keep your mind off the bad and help you focus on the good.
* Try journaling. This can work in many ways. You can use a journal to write down your thoughts, concerns, fears, etc. By physically writing them on paper, it can help you remove them from your mind. You can also use your journal to make lists of tasks at hand, projects you need to finish, even groceries you need to buy. If these things are cluttering up your head, they're using up your valuable energy needlessly.
Stretch Your Way to Boundless Energy
Stretch DVDProper stretching is one of the most widely recommended methods to help you look and feel younger, live longer, avoid and even overcome serious health issues, and increase your mental concentration, energy and emotional well-being.
With the "Stretching Toward a Healthier Life" DVD, you'll:
* Reduce tension in your muscles
* Improve the flow of oxygen and the intake of essential nutrients
* Help reduce and manage stress
* Improve your posture
* Get better blood circulation
* Have more energy to perform daily tasks
Learn more about "Stretching Toward a Healthier Life," including how to get FREE SHIPPING for a Limited Time Now!
Do Something You Love Everyday
Says Steve Brunkhorst, a professional life success coach, doing something enjoyable everyday is "a great way to replenish the energy consumed during daily living."
This could be something small, like watching the sunset or taking your dog for a long walk, or something more indulgent like heading to the spa for a Swedish massage. It could mean taking time to be alone or getting together with a group of friends.
Whatever you enjoy is up to you. Just make sure it gets done everyday. If you like, you can add some of your favorite things to your journal, then pick one or two to do each day.
Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk
The more energy you expend over the small stuff, the less you have for the fun (and necessary) stuff. Choosing your battles wisely is a key way to increase your energy. All it takes is some conscious thinking on your part, and the dedication to let those small daily annoyances glide off you like, well, spilled milk.
Pottery Hobby
Just doing something you love can increase your energy immensely.
If you're having trouble with this one, remember these great words from Bruce Lee, " ... the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."
Then There's the Obvious
If you know you have lifestyle habits (other than diet and exercise) that are making you feel drained, change them! If you:
* Stay up late watching the late show, then the late late show, then are late, late, late for work in the morning, turn off the TV and go to sleep.
* Try to cram two-week's worth of activities into one 24-hour day, ease up on your expectations.
* Take on so many obligations with family and friends that they're no longer enjoyable, learn to say no.
* Still feel tried after make all these changes, consider getting help.
"It's very easy for someone to say, 'I'm just feeling tired because I'm run-down and have too much going on,'" says Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD. "But the bottom line is that fatigue could be a sign of a medical condition that can be treated ... If you have made the changes that make sense, and you're still feeling the symptoms of fatigue, then you need professional help."
High Fructose Corn Syrup
This is an article on High Fructose Corn Syrup borrowed from SixWise.com a website with a lot of health-related information. This is one of the most dangerous additives in your food today. It is in nearly everything you eat and drink.
High Fructose Corn Syrup: Why the World's Most Popular Sweetener is Enemy #1 to Your Health and Waistline
by www.SixWise.com
Prior to 1996, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was virtually non-existent in Americans' diets. When it came to sweeteners, the number one version on the market was sucrose, or table sugar. But that all changed after the invention of high-fructose corn syrup.
Made from corn starch through a complicated process, HFCS emerged as a cheaper, significantly sweeter, easy to transport and easy to use (especially in beverages, since it's a liquid) alternative to sugar.
Even supposedly "healthy" bottled teas and sports drinks are usually sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup.
Today, sweeteners made from corn are the most widely used -- they account for 55 percent of the sweetener market and bring in $4.5 billion in sales each year. And consumption continues to grow. In 2001, the average American consumed almost 63 pounds of HFCS (up from zero in 1966).
In fact, between 1970 and 1990, Americans' intake of HFCS increased more than 1,000 percent - -which is far greater than changes in intake for any other food, according to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup is Everywhere
Soft drinks, fruit juices and other sweet beverages (including sports and energy drinks) are almost always sweetened with HFCS. In fact, HFCS is the only caloric sweetener used in soft drinks.
But, this versatile sweetener doesn't stop there. It's also in countless other products -- many that you wouldn't expect unless you read the label. These include baked goods, cookies, jams and jellies, ketchup, pasta sauce, salad dressing, bread, condiments and many others.
Why HFCS May be Worse for You Than Sugar
High-fructose corn syrup is not the same as the corn syrup you buy to make pies. Whereas regular corn syrup is all glucose, HFCS is composed of half glucose and half fructose.
Says George A. Bray, former director of Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, "Fructose is absorbed differently [than other sugars]. It doesn't register in the body metabolically the same way that glucose does."
When glucose is consumed, a set of reactions occur in the body allowing it to be used as energy, and production of leptin, a hormone that helps control appetite and fat storage, is increased. Meanwhile, ghrelin, a stomach hormone, is reduced, which is thought to help hunger go away.
Many experts agree high-fructose corn syrup, particularly in soft drinks, is at least partly responsible for America's obesity epidemic.
When fructose is consumed, however, it "appears to behave more like fat with respect to the hormones involved in body weight regulation," explains Peter Havel, associate professor of nutrition at the University of California, Davis. "Fructose doesn't stimulate insulin secretion. It doesn't increase leptin production or suppress production of ghrelin. That suggests that consuming a lot of fructose, like consuming too much fat, could contribute to weight gain."
Many experts have, in fact, suggested that HFCS, particularly those in soft drinks, are at least partly responsible for the obesity epidemic in America.
Drink a Lot of Sweet Drinks? Your Weight May be at Risk
According to an analysis of food consumption patterns from 1967 to 2000 by Bray and colleagues, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Bray said, "In examining this data, the importance of the rising intake of high-fructose corn syrup was obvious. It did not exist before 1970. From that point, there was a rapid rise in this country in its use during the late 1970s and 1980s coincidental with the epidemic of obesity." He goes on:
"Unlike glucose, fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion or enhance leptin production. Because insulin and leptin act as key afferent signals in the regulation of food intake and body weight, this suggests that dietary fructose may contribute to increased energy intake and weight gain. Furthermore, calorically sweetened beverages may enhance caloric overconsumption. Thus, the increase in consumption of HFCS has a temporal relation to the epidemic of obesity, and the overconsumption of HFCS in calorically sweetened beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity."
Another study, this one by researchers at the Children's Hospital Boston, found that every additional 8-ounce soft drink in a day increased school kids' risks of being obese by 60 percent.
More Than Just Weight Gain
Along with helping Americans pack on more pounds, HFCS has been linked to other health problems, including:
* Increased levels of triglycerides, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. A study by the University of Minnesota found that fructose "produced significantly higher [blood] levels" of triglycerides in men than did glucose.
* Accelerated bone loss. A study by the USDA, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that fructose may alter the body's balance of magnesium, leading to increased bone loss.
* A review of multiple studies by Havel and colleagues, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that, in animals, consuming large amounts of HFCS:
o Induced insulin resistance
o Impaired glucose tolerance
o Produced high levels of insulin
o Boosted a dangerous fat in the blood
o Caused high blood pressure
If You Want to Give Up HFCS ...
The first thing to do is to give up all soft drinks and other sweetened beverages that contain it. Then start checking labels meticulously. Even products that aren't thought of as "sweet' often contain it (like croutons and flavored almond slices for salads).
Fortunately, as more and more consumers opt to stay away from HFCS, there are product alternatives out there. Organic pasta sauce and ketchup, for instance, are much less likely to contain HFCS than regular varieties. Look for them at your favorite health food store or even in the "natural" section of your local grocery store.
High Fructose Corn Syrup: Why the World's Most Popular Sweetener is Enemy #1 to Your Health and Waistline
by www.SixWise.com
Prior to 1996, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was virtually non-existent in Americans' diets. When it came to sweeteners, the number one version on the market was sucrose, or table sugar. But that all changed after the invention of high-fructose corn syrup.
Made from corn starch through a complicated process, HFCS emerged as a cheaper, significantly sweeter, easy to transport and easy to use (especially in beverages, since it's a liquid) alternative to sugar.
Even supposedly "healthy" bottled teas and sports drinks are usually sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup.
Today, sweeteners made from corn are the most widely used -- they account for 55 percent of the sweetener market and bring in $4.5 billion in sales each year. And consumption continues to grow. In 2001, the average American consumed almost 63 pounds of HFCS (up from zero in 1966).
In fact, between 1970 and 1990, Americans' intake of HFCS increased more than 1,000 percent - -which is far greater than changes in intake for any other food, according to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup is Everywhere
Soft drinks, fruit juices and other sweet beverages (including sports and energy drinks) are almost always sweetened with HFCS. In fact, HFCS is the only caloric sweetener used in soft drinks.
But, this versatile sweetener doesn't stop there. It's also in countless other products -- many that you wouldn't expect unless you read the label. These include baked goods, cookies, jams and jellies, ketchup, pasta sauce, salad dressing, bread, condiments and many others.
Why HFCS May be Worse for You Than Sugar
High-fructose corn syrup is not the same as the corn syrup you buy to make pies. Whereas regular corn syrup is all glucose, HFCS is composed of half glucose and half fructose.
Says George A. Bray, former director of Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, "Fructose is absorbed differently [than other sugars]. It doesn't register in the body metabolically the same way that glucose does."
When glucose is consumed, a set of reactions occur in the body allowing it to be used as energy, and production of leptin, a hormone that helps control appetite and fat storage, is increased. Meanwhile, ghrelin, a stomach hormone, is reduced, which is thought to help hunger go away.
Many experts agree high-fructose corn syrup, particularly in soft drinks, is at least partly responsible for America's obesity epidemic.
When fructose is consumed, however, it "appears to behave more like fat with respect to the hormones involved in body weight regulation," explains Peter Havel, associate professor of nutrition at the University of California, Davis. "Fructose doesn't stimulate insulin secretion. It doesn't increase leptin production or suppress production of ghrelin. That suggests that consuming a lot of fructose, like consuming too much fat, could contribute to weight gain."
Many experts have, in fact, suggested that HFCS, particularly those in soft drinks, are at least partly responsible for the obesity epidemic in America.
Drink a Lot of Sweet Drinks? Your Weight May be at Risk
According to an analysis of food consumption patterns from 1967 to 2000 by Bray and colleagues, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Bray said, "In examining this data, the importance of the rising intake of high-fructose corn syrup was obvious. It did not exist before 1970. From that point, there was a rapid rise in this country in its use during the late 1970s and 1980s coincidental with the epidemic of obesity." He goes on:
"Unlike glucose, fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion or enhance leptin production. Because insulin and leptin act as key afferent signals in the regulation of food intake and body weight, this suggests that dietary fructose may contribute to increased energy intake and weight gain. Furthermore, calorically sweetened beverages may enhance caloric overconsumption. Thus, the increase in consumption of HFCS has a temporal relation to the epidemic of obesity, and the overconsumption of HFCS in calorically sweetened beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity."
Another study, this one by researchers at the Children's Hospital Boston, found that every additional 8-ounce soft drink in a day increased school kids' risks of being obese by 60 percent.
More Than Just Weight Gain
Along with helping Americans pack on more pounds, HFCS has been linked to other health problems, including:
* Increased levels of triglycerides, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. A study by the University of Minnesota found that fructose "produced significantly higher [blood] levels" of triglycerides in men than did glucose.
* Accelerated bone loss. A study by the USDA, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that fructose may alter the body's balance of magnesium, leading to increased bone loss.
* A review of multiple studies by Havel and colleagues, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that, in animals, consuming large amounts of HFCS:
o Induced insulin resistance
o Impaired glucose tolerance
o Produced high levels of insulin
o Boosted a dangerous fat in the blood
o Caused high blood pressure
If You Want to Give Up HFCS ...
The first thing to do is to give up all soft drinks and other sweetened beverages that contain it. Then start checking labels meticulously. Even products that aren't thought of as "sweet' often contain it (like croutons and flavored almond slices for salads).
Fortunately, as more and more consumers opt to stay away from HFCS, there are product alternatives out there. Organic pasta sauce and ketchup, for instance, are much less likely to contain HFCS than regular varieties. Look for them at your favorite health food store or even in the "natural" section of your local grocery store.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
A minor update
Well, as of today I have been on the Royal Greens for 1 week. I have noticed a significant difference in my energy levels since the second day. I have had a little more pep in each step and I really noticed it on my run the other day. I hit mile 3 and where I normally started feeling a little winded, I felt great and continued on for another mile. I gave 4 days worth to a friend at work and she told me that she is noticing an increase in energy & endurance as well, so it's not just my imagination, haha. Everyone at work is calling it my "Green Cocaine" or my "Hippie Coke", but it's funny how more and more they are listening to me.
Yesterday I also joined the local Nautilus Center. The owner, John, is a great guy and helped set me up with a decent routine to strengthen my core. He started me out easy because it has been quite a while since I have really done anything with weights, and it wasn't much then. What can I say, I was lazy, haha. But, it is a plan we are going to build on over time. I could really feel the burn after my workout yesterday afternoon. It was great! I think that this will help significantly with my training and with my overall health & well-being.
Yesterday I also joined the local Nautilus Center. The owner, John, is a great guy and helped set me up with a decent routine to strengthen my core. He started me out easy because it has been quite a while since I have really done anything with weights, and it wasn't much then. What can I say, I was lazy, haha. But, it is a plan we are going to build on over time. I could really feel the burn after my workout yesterday afternoon. It was great! I think that this will help significantly with my training and with my overall health & well-being.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Completed Week 1 of my Half-Marathon Training
Well, today is the end of week 1 for my half-marathon training. I topped the week off with a 4 miler. It was not so bad. The hardest part was taking days off of running. Prior to deciding to do this, I just ran everyday, but usually no more than 1 or 2 miles each day. Occasionally I would stretch it out, but I think that this method is so much better. My body has time to recover (like my dad has always told me it needs, haha maybe I should start listening to him more often) and feels so much better at the start and end of each run. I don’t run more than 2 days in a row; and that is only once a week. I have a day off after the other runs. Because it is my first race I am not going to push myself for a specific time in the race; just to finish will be a major accomplishment for me. But I guess I will try to shoot for less than 2 hours for my first round. Since I ran the Cooper River 10K (6.2 miles) in 1 hour 56 seconds, and the Half-Marathon is 13.1 miles, I feel like this is a reasonable goal as I do not want to push my body to be an Olympic runner. I am just doing this to stay healthy and keep in shape. Plus it is a lot of fun, but talking like that is what gets my co-workers telling me that there is something wrong with me, haha.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
My Running Gear
I like to ensure a comfortable run. What’s the point in having a miserable run?
First and foremost, you MUST have good shoes. If your shoes don’t support you like they should and feel good at the same time you will suffer on your entire run. I used to run in your basic New Balance 471. It was an inexpensive way to get started at $45 max. It was a decent shoe for your everyday transit, but disastrous for running. My shins always hurt, my knees would ache, and it even led up into my back on longer runs. After running the 2008 Cooper River Bridge Run (a 10K or 6.2 miler) in Charleston, SC, in my NB 471’s I knew that I HAD to buy good running shoes if I was going to stick with this. So, my cousin and I stopped at Fleet Feet in Columbia on our way home. I was properly fitted for shoes by a superb staff and came out with the Saucony ProGrid Hurricane 10. Yes, they cost 3 times what the New Balance shoes did, but I can run 10 miles in the Hurricanes and my feet, shins, knees, and back feel as good at the end as they did when I started. As it turns out, I have a slight problem with pronation and these shoes give proper support in the required areas. Well I wore out the ProGrid 10’s (as far as running is concerned) in about a year (actually it was less, but I tried to avoid spending the money again). DO NOT skimp on shoes. I bit the bullet and got another pair, now it’s the ProGrid Hurricane 11. It feels like I am running on air.
As far as shirts go, I used to run in a normal t-shirt, but have shifted over to the moisture wicking variety. I initially went with Under Armour because they were “THE” brand. But, I have drifted from them. Don’t get me wrong, they are a great product, and I love their loose fit heat gear, and compression cold gear, but am not really satisfied with the compression heat gear. I have 2 compression heat gear shirts; one short sleeve and one sleeveless. Both of these shirts have a tendency to ride up as I run, which gets to be quite annoying. I came across a great deal at Academy Sports a short while back on the Nike Profit compression heat gear shirts. They were normally $25, but were on sale for $12.99. I figured what the heck, it’s worth a shot. After wearing that first one I immediately went back and bought 4 more. They fit like a glove and don’t ride up at all. I wear them all the time under whatever shirt I happen to be wearing at the time. They really do help to keep you dry. Well worth the $13 each I paid for them, and even worth full price.
Shorts don’t really seem like something that major, and really they are not (at least to me). I run in basketball shorts, soccer shorts, and Under Armour running shorts. It really depends on what is clean and what I feel like grabbing, which is usually just what’s on top.
I have not purchased any Cold Gear Leggings yet (yes, that’s just a fancy name for tights haha). I am having a difficult time finding some for my 31-32’’ waist and 36’’ inseam. Most of what I find to fit my waist looks like Capri pants, and what gets close to fitting my length is big enough around for my whole family to get in with me. I have found one pair made by Skins, but they run about $80-$120, depending on when you catch them on sale. For now I will brave the cold in a pair of Nike practice basketball pants. If it gets too cold, I will throw on a pair of Long-Johns underneath them. That is, of course, at least until I can justify a good pair of Leggings.
Lastly, the one thing I never run without, my Road ID. I have the Wrist ID Sport Model. This is a very handy and reassuring piece of gear. It is a nylon wrist strap with a removable stainless steel plate on the face of it. The plate is laser engraved with any emergency info you may want to have listed. Mine has my name, DOB, my dad’s cell phone number, NKA (no known allergies), NKDA (no known drug allergies), A POS (for A positive blood type), Possible Hypoglycemia (for the times when I eat out and get too much processed sugar in me, I have had two episodes where I lost all color and nearly passed out), and lastly on the bottom two lines it says “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels”. If you think about it, that little slogan is so true. The constant feeling of being thin and in shape is so much more rewarding than the ever so brief feeling of joy that a piece of candy/pie/cake/etc. gives you. I believe that this Wrist ID could very possibly save my life if I become unconscious for some reason, or worse. It was probably the best $20 I have ever spent.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
My Morning Regiment
I start each day off with a short routine of old school "home remedies", for lack of a better term. They consist of Organic Unpasteurized and Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, Unsulphured Blackstrap Molasses, some Raw Honey, and now the Royal Greens listed in the previous post.
The Organic Unpasteurized and Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar has a multitude of health benefits. They include cures for allergies (including pet, food and environmental), sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, flu, chronic fatigue, candida, acid reflux, sore throats, contact dermatitis, arthritis, and gout. It is also great for high blood pressure. My mother had near stroke levels of blood pressure. We got her to take this on a regular basis, and in no time her blood pressure was under control and she was off the meds. No, it is not the most pleasant thing to take, but it is so good for you that you have to look past the flavor. You take (2) tablespoons with however much water you have to have to drink it, twice a day. Once in the morning a little while before breakfast and once in the evening. I take it with about a half-tablespoon of water. You want to shake it up before each use to get the "mother" (looks like dirt in the jug) mixed around. This is the heart of the nutrients. If you buy it filtered, you are basically buy expensive colored and flavored water.
Can be purchased here: Vitamin Shoppe
Secondly, the Unsulphured Blackstrap Molasses is high in Iron (essential to creating red blood cells), Magnesium & Calcium (Magnesium is important for balancing with calcium for bone production and energy. It is necessary for the smooth function of our nervous system. It is also helpful in maintaining heart health. Insufficient magnesium levels can result in muscle spasms, including the heart muscle, which of course relates to arrhythmia or even heart attacks), Potassium (A deficiency in potassium results in weak muscles and is considered a factor in causing arthritis. Potassium also helps maintain a calmly functioning nervous system), Manganese(Manganese ions function with a number of enzymes, and are essential to combating unusual free radicals. Like magnesium, manganese also supports cellular absorption of nutrients, and is also beneficial to the nervous system), Copper (helps eliminate the oxidation damage of superoxides), and Zinc (helps support a healthy Prostate). It also helps to get Diabetes under control.
Can be purchased here: The Better Health Store
Thirdly, the Honey. My father and I have had seasonal allergies all of our lives. His got so bad that he would pretty much just shut down at times. We started taking Honey because we knew it had some health benefits, but did not know how far reaching they were. I stopped taking it for a while and started getting minor headaches. Well, when mine were minor his were unbearable. We realized that he had not had a headache all year and that the only difference between us at the time was that he was taking Honey everyday and I was not. I started on the Honey and cleared up quickly. Now we both take a tablespoon or two everyday and have zero seasonal allergies.
Can be purchased anywhere. Many say to go local only, but I am using Honey from California right now and it is working fine.
The Royal Greens benefits are listed in the previous post.
Royal Greens can be purchased here: New Vitality
Hopefully you will give one, or all of these, a try. It's difficult to get into the habit of this routine, but trust me it is well worth it. I feel so alive each day, and I can really tell when I have not been taking it regularly. I start to get lethargic and my brain doesn't function as sharply. So, give it a shot! You won't be disappointed.
Royal Greens Ultra Blend
I just received my first container of the Royal Greens Ultra Blend. It is supposed to be a blend of fruits, vegetables, phytonutrients, probiotics, digestive enzymes, fiber and antioxidants vital to a healthy body. It is a powder that you mix with 4-8 ounces of water. I mix with 4 ounces because it is more concentrated that way and easier for my body to absorb (at least that's my thinking on it, haha). The flavor is not near what I thought it would be. It sort of reminds me of what Double-Mint gum used to taste like when I chewed it (back when I was probably 10 years old). Basically, this is being used as a supplement for all of the greens that I don't get around to eating. I eat tons of fruits, but very few vegetables. I know I should do better, and am working on it, but this will have to suffice for now.
I will try to keep you up to date on what changes I notice and how it affects my body.
A little info taken from the Royal Greens link posted in the title:
Royal Greens Ultra Nutritionally Supports:
* More energy and stamina
* Cardiovascular and circulatory health
* Healthy cholesterol levels
* Cellular health and rejuvenation
* Immune system function
* Proper digestion and elimination
Starting Out
Seeing as how this is my first post on here I will give you a bit of background on who I am, the changes I have made in my life, and what I am doing now to keep living a strong and healthy lifestyle.
I was always the chubby kid growing up, but never paid it much attention until around 7th or 8th grade. I played baseball from ages 5-12, but this only helped to keep me from adding pounds because of what I was eating. Unfortunately, I did not have the drive to change things until I was in college. At my peak I was 240 pounds at 15 years old. I am 6’5’’, so it was not completely evident to everyone else that I weighed this much. When I would ask people what they thought I weighed the response was always “around 180-190”. People could not believe that I weighed that much, but it was evenly spread from head to toe. I had a 19” neck at the time, wore XL shirts, and 36’’ waist pants that were on the verge of being extremely tight.
In my 3rd year of college I started having some problems health-wise. I could not keep anything in me and I saw multiple doctors, almost all of which wanted to do all sorts of expensive things to “fix” my problems. Well, I finally started listening to my dad; who all along had been telling me that it was what I was eating and that I was not getting enough exercise. We started researching the foods that I had been eating and what was in them. I never new that there was so much CRAP in the foods being served at restaurants. I was eating out most meals and everyday because of school and work, but I had no idea what it had been doing to my body. I can only assume that my body had finally decided to say “Nope, I am not taking in any more of this garbage!” We decided to make a change. Now, this was not a “diet” that we were going on. This is the mistake that people make when trying to loose weight or become healthier. It’s not a diet, but a lifestyle change that you are doing. We really started researching what was going into our foods and the reactions they have with the human body. This was many, many, many hours of research online and in books. We came up with a plethora of additives in food that would cause so many health problems (one’s that we had all experienced, or in my case was experiencing). The key things we initially cut out of our diets were: High Fructose Corn-Syrup, Partially-Hydrogenated and Hydrogenated Oils, MSG (which can be disguised as natural flavors or spices), and any added colors like yellow 5, blue 2, etc. Each of these additives wreaks havoc on your body’s internal workings.
If there was one thing that I would cut out of my diet to improve my health, it would be High Fructose Corn-Syrup. I am just going to touch on this right now, but will go into more depth later on in another post, and cover more topics. High Fructose Corn Syrup, or HFCS for short, is a cheap sweetener and is in NEARLY EVERYTHING you buy at the grocery store. It is in bread, ketchup, sodas (or aspartame, splenda, or some other artificial sweetener which is just as bad for you), fruit juices, candies, and a myriad of other products. It is seen as a poison by your body, but you can dilute and pass it. The only problem is that since it is in nearly everything you buy, your body gets overloaded with it and you cannot pass it in the time it takes. So, your body stores it in your fat cells to dilute it until passing. The problem with this is that your fat cells have a limited capacity. Once they are full, your body must store the HFCS somewhere, so it unnaturally creates more fat cells to store it in, hence, the great obesity epidemic in our country. Say what you want, but by cutting out this ingredient alone, I started losing weight and feeling better.
I now exercise on a regular basis, mostly running with occasional mountain biking, indoor climbing, or swimming. We have stopped eating out at restaurants (except for very rare occasions) and now east mostly organic and make/grow what we can. My 47 year old father has dropped 60 pounds and can out perform most people in there 20’s. From the 240 pounds at age 15, I am now 25 and 170 pounds. I have not seen a doctor since my 3rd year of college, nor have I even been close to being sick. My body is running like a well-oiled machine. I hope you have made it this far, as I know I can get long winded. I plan on doing regular updates and hope to help you understand the transformation I have gone through and how you can change your life for the better.
I was always the chubby kid growing up, but never paid it much attention until around 7th or 8th grade. I played baseball from ages 5-12, but this only helped to keep me from adding pounds because of what I was eating. Unfortunately, I did not have the drive to change things until I was in college. At my peak I was 240 pounds at 15 years old. I am 6’5’’, so it was not completely evident to everyone else that I weighed this much. When I would ask people what they thought I weighed the response was always “around 180-190”. People could not believe that I weighed that much, but it was evenly spread from head to toe. I had a 19” neck at the time, wore XL shirts, and 36’’ waist pants that were on the verge of being extremely tight.
In my 3rd year of college I started having some problems health-wise. I could not keep anything in me and I saw multiple doctors, almost all of which wanted to do all sorts of expensive things to “fix” my problems. Well, I finally started listening to my dad; who all along had been telling me that it was what I was eating and that I was not getting enough exercise. We started researching the foods that I had been eating and what was in them. I never new that there was so much CRAP in the foods being served at restaurants. I was eating out most meals and everyday because of school and work, but I had no idea what it had been doing to my body. I can only assume that my body had finally decided to say “Nope, I am not taking in any more of this garbage!” We decided to make a change. Now, this was not a “diet” that we were going on. This is the mistake that people make when trying to loose weight or become healthier. It’s not a diet, but a lifestyle change that you are doing. We really started researching what was going into our foods and the reactions they have with the human body. This was many, many, many hours of research online and in books. We came up with a plethora of additives in food that would cause so many health problems (one’s that we had all experienced, or in my case was experiencing). The key things we initially cut out of our diets were: High Fructose Corn-Syrup, Partially-Hydrogenated and Hydrogenated Oils, MSG (which can be disguised as natural flavors or spices), and any added colors like yellow 5, blue 2, etc. Each of these additives wreaks havoc on your body’s internal workings.
If there was one thing that I would cut out of my diet to improve my health, it would be High Fructose Corn-Syrup. I am just going to touch on this right now, but will go into more depth later on in another post, and cover more topics. High Fructose Corn Syrup, or HFCS for short, is a cheap sweetener and is in NEARLY EVERYTHING you buy at the grocery store. It is in bread, ketchup, sodas (or aspartame, splenda, or some other artificial sweetener which is just as bad for you), fruit juices, candies, and a myriad of other products. It is seen as a poison by your body, but you can dilute and pass it. The only problem is that since it is in nearly everything you buy, your body gets overloaded with it and you cannot pass it in the time it takes. So, your body stores it in your fat cells to dilute it until passing. The problem with this is that your fat cells have a limited capacity. Once they are full, your body must store the HFCS somewhere, so it unnaturally creates more fat cells to store it in, hence, the great obesity epidemic in our country. Say what you want, but by cutting out this ingredient alone, I started losing weight and feeling better.
I now exercise on a regular basis, mostly running with occasional mountain biking, indoor climbing, or swimming. We have stopped eating out at restaurants (except for very rare occasions) and now east mostly organic and make/grow what we can. My 47 year old father has dropped 60 pounds and can out perform most people in there 20’s. From the 240 pounds at age 15, I am now 25 and 170 pounds. I have not seen a doctor since my 3rd year of college, nor have I even been close to being sick. My body is running like a well-oiled machine. I hope you have made it this far, as I know I can get long winded. I plan on doing regular updates and hope to help you understand the transformation I have gone through and how you can change your life for the better.
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