Getting healthy in middle age is ok too
Filed under: Prevention, Aging Heart Health
What's your excuse for not making those much-needed healthy changes to your life? No time? No energy? Think you're too old and it won't make a difference? If you're nodding your head to that last one, stop slacking off. New research shows that people who start their healthy habits in middle age really benefit from making the changes, lowering their chance of heart disease by a whopping 40%.But if you're in your 20s, this doesn't mean you have the go-ahead to become a full-time couch potato. The mistakes you make today can pay off later in life, but at least those in their 40s and 50s know they still have a chance to improve their health.
Women: Common vitamins won't help your hearts
Filed under: Diet
Now that many of us are under pressure to make our lifestyles healthier, many will opt for what they believe quick-fixes to their unhealthy habits, rather than making the effort to completely overhaul their lives. I think the increased use to vitamins is evidence of this -- rather than trade in french fries for 5-10 servings of fruits and veggies a day, people seem to instead opt to get their nutrients in pill form. Vitamins can be beneficial in people who already have a healthy lifestyle but it's not a substitute for healthy habits. Take these findings for instance -- new studies show that taking common vitamins does little to promote heart health in women, whereas eating fruits and veggies high in vitamin C, E and Beta Carotene on a daily basis can help your ticker.
There are no quick fixes. Take control of your health today -- it's worth it!
Take your tea the healthy way
I've said it enough times on this blog, just as so many other people have spoken highly about the health benefits of 
drinking tea. The stuff is good for you, bottom line. But, it turns out that adding milk to your tea can make it less healthy than if you were to drink it as is.
German scientists found that people who drank their tea without adding milk showed signs of improved blood-vessel function, a well-known cardiovascular benefit of drinking tea. However, people who added milk to their tea did not show any signs of improvement with regard to their blood-vessel function. The study's author suggests that the proteins in milk may bind to the heart-healthy compounds in tea known as catechins. From there, the binding may lessen the teas beneficial effects.
If tea without milk isn't your...um...cup of tea, then maybe you can try a flavored or spiced tea in place of the added flavor you're used to getting from the milk. A personal suggestion is the Celestial Seasonings' blueberry flavored Green Tea.
6 Simple Steps To LifeLong Weight Loss
"Can't find what you are looking for? Try Google Search" Low Calorie Feature Article 6 Simple Steps To LifeLong Weight LossAuthor: Dianne Villano If You are sick of losing the same weight over and over, and feeling like a failure because your last "diet" didn't work, try these tips to not only lose weight, but lose it for good. I have watched hundreds of clients over the years and almost without exception, those that lose their weight once and for all have these six basic habits as a part of their lives. 1. Keep a food diary For at least five days and up to a week, keep a pen and paper handy and write down everything you eat, how much, where and when you ate it and who you ate with. try to write it down as you eat it. Most people find that when they try to remember everything at the end of the day, they leave something out. I have also had clients tell me that they didn't eat something because they knew they were going to have to write it down. Be completely honest with yourself. You don?t need to show anyone the results, but most will be very surprised by them. Particular environments and people can often trigger certain eating behaviors that are redily apparent when you use a food log. free fitness journal/food log. 2. Don?t eat too little Very low calorie diets will, in the short term, help you lose weight but they?re extremely difficult to maintain. You?ll gradually become tired and irritable, lack the energy to exercise, and people won?t want to eat with you because the long list of ?taboo? foods renders restaurant menus, and even family meals at home, unsuitable for your overly strict diet. For a more detailed description of the effects of low calorie diets click here. 3. Neither feast nor fast - They weren't kidding when they said "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Studies show that those who skip the first meal, end up eating more total calories throughout the day and tend to make less healthy choices. Try to eat at least 3 meals a day. Optimally you should spread your calories throughout 6 small meals per day. This will keep your metabolism bustling and yuor blood sugar level even to help avoid binging. 4. Freshness Counts - The packaging and processing generally found in "convenience" foods generally reduce the nutrient values of foods and substantially raise the caloric content. The American Dietetic Association recommends at least 3 - 5 servings from the fruit and vegetable group per day. no time to prepare "home made meals? Try preparing in bulk on the week ends to make healthy choices readily available. Cut up a large bowl of fresh fruit, (1c = 1 serving) or pre make a large bowl of salad or cut up veggies. I usually prepare a weeks worth of chicken or pork so i can quickly re heat it and add it to any recipe. 5. Hydrate your way to quicker weight loss Drink water ahead of coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Including the ?hidden? water we consume in food, we need 64 oz. per day. More is recommended to counteract the dehydration caused by caffeinated beverages and intense exercise or excessive heat. How much do we need to drink? In general you should be drinking enough water per day so that your urine is nearly clear. 6. Eat less, exercise more The great thing about food diaries is they show you much where you can cut the number of "extra" (calories). Many people eat out of habit when they are not even hungry. you may also need to make dietary changes if you begin or increase the intensity of a fitness program. I know, you are going to say, "I don't have time because ...(insert your favorite excuse here) Ask yourself this..."how much more energy will I have when I am not carrying around this extra _____ pounds? How many more things will I enjoy and feel god while doing when I am in a fit healthy body? Is it worth a few minutes a day to incorporate these simple habits into your day? About The Author Article by Dianne Villano. Dianne is a personal fitness instructor certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine with over 17 years experience. Dianne specializes in weight loss programs and programs for beginners. For more articles or free fitness tools visit www.custombodiestampabay.com... Free Fast Food Calorie CounterLow Calorie Fat Free RecipeLow Calorie Apple Crisp Recipe
The Solution to Healthy Weight Loss
"Can't find what you are looking for? Try Google Search" Calorie Feature Article The Solution to Healthy Weight LossAuthor: Marilyn Pokorney REQUIREMENTS FOR REPRINT: You have permission to publishthis article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter,ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if itremains unchanged and you include the copyright and authorinformation (Resource Box) at the end. You may not usethis article in any unsolicited commercial email (spam).You may retrieve this article by:Autoresponder: diettips1000@getresponse.comWebsite: http://www.apluswriting.net/articles/diettips.txtWords: 882 including resource boxCopyright: 2005 Marilyn PokorneyPlease leave the resource box intact with an active link,and send a courtesy copy of the publication in which thearticle appears to: marilynp@nctc.net------------------------------------------------------------The overweight and obesity epidemic is a worldwide problem.There are no official statistics for spending on dietproducts, but estimates vary from $40 to $100 billion in theUS alone, much of that on scams and fad diets that promisethe impossible.Research shows that 95% of people who have lost weight findthat they regain it back when they return to their normaleating habits.According to the Center for Disease Control's ChronicDisease Center, in 1991 in the United States, only fourstates had an obesity prevalence of 15 percent to 19percent. In 2003, 15 states had an obesity prevalence of15 to 19 percent, 31 states had an obesity prevalence of 20to 24 percent, and four states had a prevalence of 25percent or more.Major medical problems associated with obesity includegallbladder disease, high blood pressure, high bloodcholesterol, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.If that isn't incentive enough to lose that excess weightstatistics show that overweight people are usually givenlower paying jobs, get lower salaries, receive little inraises, and are, as a whole, looked down upon by 40 percentof fellow employees and employers.In 2002 The American Heart Association reported that morethan 10 percent of US children ages 2 to 5 are overweight.That is up from 7 percent in 1994. The situation isprobably even worse now, said Dr. Robert H. Eckel,president-elect of the heart association and professor ofmedicine at the University of Colorado.The obesity problem among children has increased withschool-age children as well. Four million children ages 6to 11 and 5.3 million in age group 12 to 19 have increasedby 75 percent from 1991.Food habits adopted in childhood can be hard to change. Asa result hypertension and high cholesterol leading to heartdisease, strokes, and diabetes are going to become thenations top health problem with people of all ages within 10to 30 years. These are ailments that usually afflict themiddle age to elderly population. More than a million newcases of diabetes are already being diagnosed each year,says the American Diabetic Association.Nearly 30 percent of American adults are overweight andanother 30 percent are obese, according to University ofMinnesota researchers. Obesity is usually described as aweight 20 percent greater than the persons desirable weight.A study by the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at theFred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle revealedthat 60% of overweight women, and 70% of obese women, arelikely to become pregnant while taking the pill. Theresearchers suggest that a higher metabolism is the reason,causing the medication to be effective for a shorter lengthof time. Or, that the drug interacts with the body'shormones in a way that the drug becomes trapped in the bodyfat instead of circulating in the bloodstream.Studies with obese pregnant women show they are 50% morelikely to die during pregnancy than those of normal weight.Complications such as miscarriage, gestational diabetes,hypertension, pre-eclampsia, pre-term labor, and stillbirthare also more common. Preliminary evidence shows thatbabies are also adversely affected, and are more likely tobe obese themselves in later life.Fast foods: Studies show that people who frequent fast foodoutlets twice a week or more gained 36 pounds over thecourse of 15 years compared to 26 pounds for those thatfrequented them once a week or less.A major factor for the obesity crisis is a sedentarylifestyle, not enough exercise, and the eating of highcalorie fast foods in place of nutritious natural foodproducts.Fast food is designed to promote consumption of the maximumnumber of calories in the minimum amount of time. Thisupsets the body's normal metabolism. One solution is to eatsmaller, more nutritious, meals more frequently throughoutthe day.Physical activity reduces the effects of being overweight,but healthy eating habits have to be followed to preventdisease associated with poor nutrition according to anexpert of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard Schoolof Public Health.The new diet guidelines set by the Health and Human Servicesand the U.S. Department of Agriculture is basically abalanced diet and good old fashioned exercise. They stressmore fruits, vegetables, whole grains and limit fats, sugar,alcohol, and salt.Many supermarkets are open 24 hours a day making a choice ofhealthy food available at all times.For more tips on how to lose weight safely see The Secret toWeight Loss at:http://www.apluswriting.net/diettips/diettips.htm*****************************************Author: Marilyn PokorneyFreelance writer of science, nature, animals and theenvironment.Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.Website: http://www.apluswriting.net***************************************** About the Author Author: Marilyn PokorneyFreelance writer of science, nature, animals and theenvironment.Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.Website: http://www.apluswriting.net... Canadian Calorie CounterFree Calorie Counting GuidePilates And Calorie Burning
Think you're getting a healthy amount of sodium? Think again.
Over-consumption of sodium is rampant in our society. Sometimes it's because people really don't care about how much sodium they're getting but sometimes, in the case of people who actually do try and limit their sodium intake, it's because we just don't know enough about sodium to know that it's in almost everything. Eating out? Chances are you're getting a significant portion of your daily intake of sodium in just one meal, even a healthy meal like a chicken caesar salad.
But what can you do? The first step is becoming aware that sodium is in so many things we don't think about. When you're grocery shopping, read the labels. When you're eating out, try to obtain nutritional information. And when you're cooking at home, look for other things to add flavour, like pepper, garlic and other fresh herbs. Check out this for more information.
How do you keep track of your sodium intake when eating out?
Downsizing Your Plate
We all know we should not overeat if we wish to manage our weight. However, that’s not always easy. I was brought up with my mother’s words such “you’re not leaving the table until your plate’s empty” and “eat up, you can’t waste food”. It’s not always easy to change old habits.
Here’s a tip that will help. Change your plate size to a smaller one. It will look like a full plate but you’ll be eating less. The same amount of food on a large plate would look like you’re being short changed. Sounds so simple but it really works.
With the summer sales now on you could buy a whole set for the family. That way you’re developing some good habits together.
Isobel Whytock 1Stop-Weightloss.com
AHA says heart patients may benefit from lifting weights
Filed under: Exercise
Have you suffered a cardiac event and would like to make your way back to exercise? The AHA recently announced a new recommendation that said that strength training may be acceptable exercise for those with heart conditions after all, as long as certain guidelines are followed. Previously, patients were eased back into aerobic exercise, but strength training wasn't always encouraged. Not only is strength training good for your health, but stronger muscles will also make day-to-day life easier.Obviously, heart patients shouldn't start any new fitness routine without first talking to their doctor. But once you get the ok, consider these tips when getting started.
Man Bites Dog
Filed under: Prevention, Research, Nutrition
If it bleeds, it leads. That's pretty much what we've come to expect with the Man Bites Dog media, isn't it? Well, it should come as no surprise that the following was listed on the Fox News homepage today:
One Soda a Day May Boost Risk of Heart Disease.
Alarm bells sound. People duck under their tables and school desks. Animals head for higher ground. The news has spoken, and if I'm reading the article correctly, people who drink even one soda per day increase their risk of developing metabolic syndrome - a collection of symptoms related to an increased risk of heart disease.
Okay, now to dig a little deeper. According to this article, research from the Boston University School of Medicine shows that people who drink a soda per day -- even a diet soda -- seem to develop habits that ultimately lead to metabolic syndrome. While I don't necessarily doubt the data, I still question whether it's fair to just wantonly throw out a headline like that. Is it true that people who drink soda are more likely to have an increased risk of heart disease? Sure, if they say so. But, what about people who live healthy lifestyles, yet they enjoy a nice, cold soda (and, even more to the point, those that enjoy a diet soda)? Are they going to develop metabolic syndrome and heart disease? Not unless they also have any combination of three of the following maladies: High blood pressure, an elevated fasting blood sugar level, elevated fasting triglycerides, high blood pressure, or reduced HDL cholesterol.
So, is it truly fair to simply say that drinking a soda per day increases your risk of heart disease? Technically, yes. The folks at B.U. seemed to have demonstrated that. In reality, however, making such a proclamation is an example of poor reporting, if not entirely mendacious. Tossing around headlines like that (and scaring the hell out of people) is a bit irresponsible, especially when it is being done by the mainstream media. Blogs, forums, and other non-traditional news sources...well, I'm not sure if it's right for us, either. But, like I said, the mainstream media has a responsibility to report the facts. This also applies for headlines. And, If this is the headline that the media big dogs are using to attract readers, suffice it to say that this man's not biting.
How to get healthy without really trying
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Exercise
Healthy living is such an ordeal, isn't it? Not really, of course, but it can certainly seem that way if you've spent the better part of the last several years being a couch potato. If you'd like to clean up your lifestyle but the idea of changing too much too soon has been scaring you off, take heart. Experts say that it really doesn't take the much to be healthy. For instance, just adding one serving of fruits and vegetables to every meal will equal three of the recommended 5 to 9 servings. And three 10-minute walks a day are enough to decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease. If you're consistent in adding in small changes to your routine, before you know it your lifestyle will look a lot healthier than it did just a few months ago.
If you're interested in trying out "stealth health," check out these suggestions from WebMD to get started.