Health and Nutrition

(Fitness) Health Thoughts, Living on the Health Minimum Wage?


Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts consider to be the most important nutrients and health habits a person should have to help them stay healthy long term. We would categorize them into the following areas.

Dietary Fiber - Fiber is extremely important to your health in a number of different ways.

According to the National Institutes of Health one of the common causes of constipation is not enough fiber in the diet.

Fiber promotes cardiovascular health plus in studies has been indicated to help lower harmful cholesterol levels when combined with a healthy diet. But what most people don't know about fiber is all the various varieties there are of dietary fiber.

The point is with all the healthy benefits of dietary fiber most people don't get enough everyday - it is recommend that people get 25-30 grams of fiber per day. So if they're not getting it through their diet it pays to take a supplement. No wonder so many people are constipated.

Let's talk next about enzymes - did you know that enzymes control virtually all the chemical processes and reactions in your body - everything from digestion to breaking down old cells to generating new cells.

There is no doubt that enzymes are probably the most under-rated nutritional substance. Essentially because nobody talks about them. Most manufactures are not putting them in their foods or supplements. Most manufactures proudly state that their cereal is Vitamin Enriched. However, when was the last time you read a label that said our product is Enzyme Enriched!

However, with the importance of enzymes the question begs to be asked, Where do I get adequate enzymes from? It certainly isn't from our foods. Processed and cooked foods destroy all enzymes. Sure our body has the ability to manufacture certain enzymes, but just like anything else it could sure use a supplement boost. The best foods for getting enzymes are fresh raw fruits and vegetables, but the problem is less than 20 percent of all people eat even the minimum recommended amount.

Perhaps an enzyme supplement would be advisable.

And why would someone only want the minimum amount of health? That is like living off the minimum wage - not a pleasant thought.

Antioxidants - Gee, how important are antioxidants. With all the environmental pollutants, smoke, chemicals etc that our bodies are exposed to on a daily basis we just can't underestimate the importance of antioxidants. Antioxidants as you know deactivate dangerous free radicals. Free radicals are essentially what causes iron to rust and an apple to turn brown after cut. The next time you cut an apple in two put lemon juice on half the apple and none on the other half - notice how the one half without the lemon turns brown much faster. This is because the lemon juice is an antioxidant protecting the apple half.

Now think about what oxygen free radicals are doing to your body without an adequate supply of antioxidants.

So antioxidants are extremely important, however, what you may not know is that a variety (or network) of antioxidants almost always is more effective than just the same amount of individual antioxidants. So a variety of 15 different antioxidants would typically work better than the same amount of one single antioxidant.

Micronutrients or plant nutrients - these are present in virtually all plants here are some examples:

Cauliflower contains the micro- photonutrient sulforaphane. In research done at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, sulforaphane lowered the occurrence of breast tumors in lab animals by almost 40%.

In peppers you have micro- photonutrient capsaicin-it has been found to work as an anticoagulant, thus possibly helping prevent heart attacks or strokes caused by blood clot.

Lemons contain limonene, a compound shown to have anticancer properties in laboratory animals. Limonene also appears to raise the levels of beneficial enzymes in the liver.

And of course this is the tip of the iceberg as micro-phytonutrients are present in most plants, researchers are still uncovering all their many health benefits.

A couple more good health tips.

Clean Water - One of the most valuable things you can do for your health is to assure you drink at least 8 glasses of good clean pure water each day. This doesn't include soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, etc. This helps flush wastes from the body, keeps the cells hydrated and some experts believe it can even help keep healthy blood cholesterol levels down.

Finally Exercise - One can't underestimate the role regular exercise plays in long term health. It is important when starting an exercise to do something you enjoy and don't over commit and over do it. I.E. never bite off more than you can chew. You want to develop a good habit of exercise and the only way to do that is to start very slowly.

For example your goal for the first week may be to do 1 sit-up per day or walk to the end of your driveway and back. This may seem too easy, but our main concern is that we develop a good habit of doing some exercise everyday. And if you can do it for 21 straight days a good habit will develop.

One last thing to consider - too often most people think about what are the minimums in each area required for health. Why would someone only want the minimum amount of health?

That is like living off the minimum wage - not a pleasant thought.

Nick A. James offers informative tips and information on nutrition, health and working from home. Get the Exclusive Free Report! -6 Steps to Simplify Your Life, Improve Your Health & Give You Dynamic Energy! His many years of Internet Marketing expertise puts him in unique position to help others starting a home business.

For free advice, health blog, and cutting edge info contact him at: http://www.health-goji-juice.com


MORE RESOURCES:

AP IMPACT: Liver disease plagues obese adolescents (AP)
AP - In a new and disturbing twist on the obesity epidemic, some overweight teenagers have severe liver damage caused by too much body fat, and a handful have needed liver transplants.
Obesity Worsens Asthma (HealthDay)
HealthDay - FRIDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that obese people who have asthma are nearly five times more likely to be hospitalized for the problem and to have lower quality of life and worse control of the disease than those with asthma who are normal weight.
No harm seen in telling parent child is overweight (Reuters)
Reuters - Most parents find it acceptable to be told about their child's weight status, and the feedback has "minimal" adverse effects for most families, researchers from the UK report.
Obesity makes asthma worse (Reuters)
Reuters - For people with asthma, those who are obese are nearly five times more likely than their non-obese peers to be hospitalized for asthma, new research indicates.
Gastric bypass anatomy leads to diabetes control (Reuters)
Reuters - The rapid and substantial control of diabetes seen after gastric bypass surgery is due, at least in part, to the intestinal rearrangement involved in the procedure, the results of an animal study suggest.
Obesity not a red flag for spotting diabetes (Reuters)

A woman stands outside a sandwich shop. Scientists have found two genetic triggers for producing healthful Reuters - Obese people with diabetes are just as likely to go undiagnosed as their slimmer peers with the disease, Harvard Medical School researchers report.



New gene clues emerge for leukaemia, obesity, bowel disease (AFP)

This undated illustration shows the DNA double helix. Teams of doctors on Sunday said they had uncovered genetic flaws that separately boost the risk of a common form of leukaemia and bowel disease in children and may also influence obesity and fertility.(AFP/HO/File)AFP - Teams of doctors on Sunday said they had uncovered genetic flaws that separately boost the risk of a common form of leukaemia and bowel disease in children and may also influence obesity and fertility.



Fat Cells in Obese People Are 'Sick' (HealthDay)

Embryonic stem cells are pictured through a microscope viewfinder in a laboratory. Scientists have found two genetic triggers for producing healthful HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Fat cells in obese people are "sick" compared to those in lean people, a new study shows.



Study points to brain chemical involved in obesity (Reuters)

A woman walks along the boardwalk while leaving the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York September 4, 2007. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)Reuters - Researchers studying people with a rare genetic disorder have identified a brain chemical that may play a role in appetite and obesity, a finding they say could lead to new drugs to help some obese people.



Attorney: Obese Texas woman didn't strike nephew (AP)
AP - A nearly half-ton Texas woman charged in the death of her toddler nephew couldn't have beaten the boy to death because of her limited movement from weight problems, her attorney said Tuesday.
Obese Ohio death row inmate asks state for mercy (AP)
AP - A death row inmate who says he's too fat to be executed received poor legal help during his trial and later when he appealed the death sentence, his lawyers said Monday during a clemency hearing.
Gastric bypass surgery reverses metabolic syndrome (Reuters)

This file photo from June 8, 2005 shows Patrick Deuel in his Valentine, Neb., home, June 8, 2005. Four years after his gastric bypass surgery, the Nebraska man who once weighed more than 1,000 pounds says he was 540 pounds in May, the last time he was weighed. That's about 100 pounds more than a year ago. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)Reuters - Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, in extremely obese patients can be cured by gastric bypass surgery, according to the findings from a new study.



Prostate cancer risk increased in obese men: study (Reuters)
Reuters - Use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, especially long-term use, appears to raise the risk of prostate cancer among obese men, according to findings of a new study.
Addiction drug reverses obesity in rats (Reuters)

Study head Amy DeMarco in an undated photo. An epilepsy drug being tested for use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, U.S. government researchers said on Wednesday. (Brookhaven National Laboratory/Handout/Reuters)Reuters - An epilepsy drug being tested for use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, U.S. government researchers said on Wednesday.



Using 'good' fat to fight obesity: study (AFP)

A woman stands outside a sandwich shop. Scientists have found two genetic triggers for producing healthful AFP - Scientists have found two genetic triggers for producing healthful "good" fat in mice, pointing the way to a new treatment for obesity, according to a pair of studies published Thursday.



"Good" fat may be new weapon in obesity fight (Reuters)

A woman walks along a boardwalk in New York September 4, 2007. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)Reuters - A new understanding of the origins of brown fat cells -- the "good" kind of fat that burns energy and keeps us warm -- may lead to new treatments for obesity, two research teams reported on Wednesday.



Obesity Rates Up in 37 States: Report (HealthDay)

An overweight man walks in Washington in this 20003 file photo. A new study suggests that a surprising number of overweight people — about half — have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while an equally startling number of trim people suffer from some of the ills associated with obesity.  (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, FILE)HealthDay - TUESDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The obesity epidemic in America has gotten worse -- not better -- in the last year, despite public service campaigns warning about the health risks posed by carrying too much weight, a new report found.



Statins Help Obese People After Bypass Surgery (HealthDay)

A boy plays by the Yangtze river in Chongqing. Beijing hopes to stave off an obesity epidemic among its youth with a dramatic increase in physical education,(AFP/File/Mark Ralston)HealthDay - FRIDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Statins reduce the perils facing obese people after they have the bypass surgery that restores blood flow to an endangered heart, a study finds.



Heart disease risk soars with obesity, diabetes (Reuters)

File photo shows a microscope in a laboratory. Australian researchers have said they have developed a drug which could potentially spell an end to a life-threatening condition caused by diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses(AFP/File/DIBYANGSHU SAKAR)Reuters - People who are both obese and have diabetes are highly likely to develop heart disease during their lifetime, a new study shows.



Armchair Olympics fuels obesity fears in China (Reuters)

A boy plays by the Yangtze river in Chongqing. Beijing hopes to stave off an obesity epidemic among its youth with a dramatic increase in physical education,(AFP/File/Mark Ralston)Reuters - Armchair athletics may not be an Olympic sport but it's the most popular activity in China this month, fuelling concerns about rising obesity rates.


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