Archive for April, 2011
If you’re worried you might have too much fat in your diet, remember there are some good fats. Scientific testing has shown omega 3 fatty acids actually reduce inflammation in joints. Effective reduction in joint inflammation can result from eating foods like salmon, mackerel and trout. Flaxseed and olive oil can also be added to that list.
Diets that include foods with a high boron content, a compound in fresh fruits and vegetables, can decrease the rate of arthritis development. Stock up on fresh produce!
Where dietary supplements are concerned, the most popular glucosamine and chondroiton have proven to contribute greatly in damaged tissue reparation, improvements of joint mobility and function as well as slowing down joint degeneration.
It should be noted though that eating all these in a well balanced diet while maintaining consistent physical activity and exercise is by far the most effective way to maintain excellent joint health.
Here’s an interesting little tidbit: Did you know that the term muscle relaxant refers to two major therapeutic groups in medicine? First of all a muscle relaxant is considered a drug that affects skeletal muscle function and decreases muscle tone. The two groups of relaxers are neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics.
You’d only want a neuromusclar blocker if you were heading for surgery and/or intensive care where you’d need major anesthetics. Spasmolytics is the group that’s used for more centralized pain and spasms. But what if you pull a muscle while being physically active or working out? Do you really need to put yourself on drugs for it? My answer is no.
Unless you’ve done severe damage to your body, which is unlikely during an exercise program, you’re far better off finding natural muscle relaxers that will ease the aches and pains while the muscle pull heals and regains strength. Something that is herbal based and organic can be a very effective pain reliever that allows you to rest and recuperate naturally!
A word to the wise, it’s long ago been determined that supplements containing ephedra can be risky in terms of cardiovascular health. So the smart thing to do is to find an organic supplement that is ephedra free. The most common use for such supplements is, of course, for an energy boost during weight loss. And, yes, it did prove to be somewhat effective, but again with ephedra, risky.
The ancient Amazonian actually had an energy drink made from the seed of the guarana plant. It’s ephedra free yet boosts energy like crazy. But the really crazy thing about it is that while it contains almost twice the natural caffeine as the coffee bean, it somehow is more easily absorbed, without the “jitters”! I have never been able to tolerate coffee without the nervous, hyper reaction that often accompanies it. Yet, I use guarana on a daily basis. You may want to give guarana tea or guarana energy pills a try, it sure works for me!
Of course by now everyone knows that all kinds of benefits come from staying physically active. And for those of you who cringe at the thought, even a little walk helps keep the heart pumping and is great for all metabolic functions. Physical activity is actually part of the renewal cycle of life. When physically active, we’re sloughing off old skin, maintaining healthy blood pressure and strengthening muscles as well as organic functions.
With renewal comes a certain amount of waste, of course. And with the process of elimination, replenishment becomes a necessity. When physical exertion is involved, sure sure to drink plenty of water to maintain healthy body hydration and use a good sports energy drink for electrolyte replenishment. This will help support the high energy level needed to be physically active and will make certain we don’t suffer damage from dehydration. It’s truly as important to stay hydrated as it is to stay physically active!
It’s a little early to be celebrating Halloween! This little guy is going to have to hold this position for a long time! We better make sure he’s not just eating Halloween candy!
There is a great substitute. There’s a wonderful multivite complex that comes in entertaining sports shapes that the kids just love. They actually think of candy treats when they chew their multivites and get their full daily required vitamins. So you know they’re going to go all day because they keep coming back for some more! And you don’t need to be celebrating Halloween to take them!
As we head toward Mother’s Day, not only do I reflect on the love of my mother, but on my childhood with her as well. I was very lucky to have parents, especially mom, who were very attentive to the nutritional needs of the family. And, oh boy, what a great cook!
While I’m thinking about all this, I’m remembering how particular mom was about making sure I got healthy food in a balanced diet to make sure I got the complete required nutrients each and every day. I understand she even had liquid vitamins, dispensed from a dropper, that she’d add to my juice drinks when I was a toddler! How thorough was that?! Well, I’m happy to say I’ve found some supper liquid vitamins, like the one’s mom used, to make sure the little one’s in my life get their daily requirments for great health!
Almost all whole foods contain protein. Foods containing protein with adequate proportions of all nine essential amino acids necessary for our dietary needs for sustenance are considered complete proteins. The nine essential amino acids necessary for human life are leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, histidine and lysine. These essential amino acids are not synthecized naturally by the body and must be gained through the food we eat.
Proteins come from numerous food sources like meat, fowl and fish. They also come from soy and whey protein like one might find in protein shakes and powder mixes. All people need protein, yet many people experience digestive challenges such as bloating or gas after partaking in meals with high protein amounts. For this, most people have discovered aminogen which aids in the digestive breakdown of protein into the amino acids we need. With aminogen, your protein digestion will actually be painless nutrition!
Maintaining a high energy level and a strong metabolic rate can be very helpful in weight loss. First of all, an active metabolism will lead to staying physically active which is great for trimming down. At the same time, to maintain a high energy level, we have to take in fuel for energy by way of the food we eat. If we’re looking to lose weight, the trick becomes to make good choices about what we eat because we need high energy food without overloading on calories.
This is why millions of people choose to use energy enhancing supplements for their diets. However, to me the best choice here is to go natural. For instance, an herbal dietary supplement like Total Control is formulated to boost metabolism for maintaining a high energy level with ingredients that promote the breaking down of fat cells. There’s a great advantage to using dietary supplements like these because they are completely natural and organic without including ephedra or similar drugs and medicines. Check out Herbalife Total Control to maintain good energy and burn fat naturally!
Since protein is the most prevalent substance, next to water, found in our human bodies, it’s obvious that we must have protein in our diet simply to sustain life itself. And, since protein is particularly found in muscle tissue, it’s clear that protein is a good thing to focus on if you’re looking to build muscle and/or strength.
According to many trainers and workout specialists, the best supplemental protein for developing muscle strength and smooth muscle tissue can be found in whey protein. There are some excellent mixes for protein shakes available. But the best whey protein powder mix should definitely include protomyosin in its blend because that provides the highest support for protein digestibility which will increase energy and enhance performance. Add some good muscle protein to your program and build your stamina and strength today!
We’ve recently mentioned the term, “superfoods”, and it’s important to note that these particular food items have gained a lot of attention in the nutrition world lately. And for good reason. The food value of these items such as blueberries, avocados, pumpkins, artichokes and fava beans, to mention a few, are truly power packed with vitamins, antioxidants and natural botanical nutrients. No wonder they are getting such attention!
Obviously, I’m a great fan of superfoods. After all, if you’re a fan of health, you’re a fan of superfoods. But, let’s be a little more realistic shall we? These foods are not a new discovery! They are older, and have been well known far longer than most of us have lived! It’s just that they are great, healthy nourishment! And, while they are very good for us to eat, sometimes due to the season of the year or the amount of time we have to prepare them, these foods might not be all that readily available.
So, I started looking into how one gets the same kind of nutrition that’s contained in these superfoods, but can get it on a daily basis. That’s what led my team and I to our diet herbalife program. This cellular nutrition program is a superfood to me because it delivers optimal nutrition full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and botanical nutrients to each and every cell of the body everyday! So, couldn’t herbalife supplements be considered super supplements?!