Archive for March, 2009

80% of America is Dehydrated, Why?

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

This is one of the first things that I have to tell people about when it comes to your health.

-70% of the earth is covered with water
-70% of your body is water

It’s Funny those two numbers seem to be pretty close, But they do tell you one thing for sure ” Water is very important in your body and in our environment. Now I want to show you a couple things water does in the body:

* Water serves as a lubricant
* Water forms the base for saliva
* Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.
* Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.
* Water reduces constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent
* Regulates metabolism

Now with all that said you have to wonder why 80% of America is Dehydrated? Don’t they realize the health benefits of Water?

It’s actually really simple in today’s society to become dehydrated, This happens when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than the amount being taken in. (sounds simple) The body is very dynamic and always changing, and this is especially true with water in the body. We lose water routinely when we:

* breathe

* as humidified air leaves the body

* when we sweat to cool the body

* when we urinate or have a bowel movement to rid the body of waste products

* when you drink Pop, Coffee or Energy Drinks (this one is huge!)

I believe on of the biggest reason why the average person is dehydrated is because of the Pop, Coffee and Energy drinks we seem to love here in America. On the commercials they neglect to tell you that Soda is one of the most acidic beverages you can buy, not to mention Soda contains high levels of phosphorous which will leach calcium from your bones, causing a whole host of long term problems. You need to get this point if you don’t get anything else from this blog:

Pop, Coffee and Energy Drinks TAKE water out of your body!!! (not a good thing)

Generally when you are ingesting water, you’re doing your body a favor by providing it, even bathing it in much needed minerals which result in better energy, memory and overall immune strength.

But the most important vitamins water associates with is by far the large group called “water soluble vitamins” that you ingest when you eat food. Vitamins and minerals are substances that are found in foods we eat, and we go into detail on these in previous posts.

I have explained the basics of nutrition within the last 8 posts, Now I am going to talk about the second part of health and that is Detox. I am going to go into detail about the main ways your body detoxes and what you can do to detox on your own.

Thanks for your time, Leave a comment below it helps me to better understand what you want to know more about. Also it allows me to answer any questions you might have, because if you have the question, there is a good chance someone else has the same question. Don’t forget to subscribe to my RSS on the right hand side.

DECIDE to live healthy today!

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What Vitamins do you take? I used to hate it, But things have changed!

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

This is a funny one, because most children growing up in America (and I am sure around the world) remember waking up in the morning and taking our children sized, multi-vitamin. But what is sad is that most people don’t know much more about vitamins than that.

Vitamins just like minerals are found in foods we eat, and your body needs them to maintain a strong immune system, and fight of disease and sickness. When it comes to vitamins, each one does a different job in the body. For example:

* Vitamin D in milk helps your bones.
* Vitamin A in carrots helps you see at night.
* Vitamin C in oranges helps your body heal if you get a cut.
* B vitamins in leafy green vegetables help your body make protein and energy

There are two types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble.

Fat-soluble vitamins- these are stored in the fat tissues in your body and in your liver. They wait around in your body fat until your body needs them, they actually stay stored in your body for awhile — some stay for a few days, some for up to 6 months! Then, when it’s time for them to be used, special carriers in your body take them to where they’re needed. These include:
-Vitamin A _______ 1 mg/day
-Vitamin D _______ 500 to 900 IU/day
-Vitamin E _______ 10 mg/day
-Vitamin K _______ 80 mg/day

Water-soluble vitamins- When you eat foods that have water-soluble vitamins, the vitamins don’t get stored as much in your body. Instead, they travel through your bloodstream. Whatever your body doesn’t use comes out when you urinate. These to be replaced often because they don’t stick around, They include:

-Vitamin C ____________________60 mg per day
-B1 (thiamin)__________________1.4 mg/day
-B2 (riboflavin_________________1.6 mg/day
-Niacin ______________________6-12mg a day
-B6 (pyridoxine)_______________1.3 mg to 2.00 mg/day
-Folic acid ___________________400-500mcg/day
-B12 (cobalamine)_____________2.4 micro grams/day
-Biotin ______________________ 30 mcg/day
-Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)____ 4 to 7 mg/day

Your body is one powerful machine, capable of doing all sorts of things by itself. But one thing it can’t do is make vitamins, I promise you that one. That’s where food and when you can’t get it in your food, supplementation are very important. Your body is able to get the vitamins it needs from the foods you eat because different foods contain different vitamins. The key is to eat different foods to get an assortment of vitamins.

I will discuss further about how to find quality supplements in later posts, because to be completley honest there are a lot of crap products on the market, and you have to know what to look for or you will be wasting your money on products you would be better off not taking.

Knowledge is Key, The more your know, the better your heath will be!

Thanks for your time, I will be talking about water in my next post and really going into what is best for you. Please leave your comments below and let me know what you think. Also subscribe to my RSS and enjoy the blog.

DECIDE to live healthy today!

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What is a Mineral? How do they help Me?

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

I have to admit, I didn’t know about minerals until recently, I now realize the importance of this information:

Minerals are from the soil and cannot be created by living things, such as plants and animals. But trust me humans need minerals in order to be healthy. Plants absorb minerals from the soil, and animals get their minerals from the plants or other animals they eat.

Most of the minerals in the human diet come directly from plants, such as fruits and vegetables, or indirectly from animal sources. Minerals may also be present in your drinking water, but this depends on where you live, and what kind of water you drink (bottled, tap). Minerals from plant sources may also vary from place to place, because the mineral content of the soil varies according to the location in which the plant was grown.

Now I want to give you a list of the most common minerals that should be in your diet on a daily basis:

-Calcium———1000 mg/day
-Copper———-1.5 – 3.0 mg/day
-Iodine———–150 mcg/day.
-Iron————-Women need 15 mg/day, whereas men need 10mg/day
-Iodine———–310 to 420 mg/ day
-Phosphorus——700 mg/day
-Manganese——2.0-5.0 mg/day
-Potassium——-2000 mg/day
-Selenium——–70 mcg/day
-Sodium———-500 mg/day
-Zinc————-15 mg/day

Now you know what minerals you need in your diet and how much you need, you have to figure out how to get this into your diet on a consistent basis. It’s really hard to actually implement into your life, because in today’s lifestyle we are so busy we seem to neglect our health because we feel healthy at the time. You must realize:

If you don’t take care of your health your will lose it!

This could not be more true, Because I have seen many people not care about your health, and once they LOSE it then they start learning. Don’t wait, Learn how to take care of yourself today!

Thanks for your time, I am going to talk about vitaminsZin and how important they are in your life. Leave your comments below and don’t forget to Subscribe to my RSS

Decide to live healthy today!

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Is it Possible that “Fat” Is actually Good for You?

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

Your health has a direct correlation to what you know, So this is what you should know about fats:

Fat is important for many body processes and you need to eat some fat in your diet. (Most People think the opposite) Fat protects your organs, keeps you warm and helps your body absorb and move nutrients around, it also helps hormone production. However, some fats are better than others and having too much of any one type is not a good idea.

First I must distinguish the Four types of Fats:

* Saturated
* Mono-unsaturated
* Polyunsaturated
* Trans fats

Different types of fats react differently inside the body. (some good, some bad)

1. Saturated fats-(found mostly in animal products) increase blood cholesterol, which is a risk factor in coronary heart disease. (So Try to stay away from these)

2. Mono-unsaturated fats- Its considered to be probably the healthiest type of general fat. It has none of the adverse effects associated with saturated fats, trans-fats or omega-6 polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

3. Polyunsaturated fats- These can have a beneficial effect on your health when consumed in moderation and when used to replace saturated fats or trans fats. Polyunsaturated fats can help reduce the cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease. (They also include essential fats that your body needs but can’t produce itself – such as omega-6 and omega-3. You only get these nutrients play a crucial role in brain function and in the normal growth and development of your body, just keep in mind these are good in small amounts)

4. Trans Fats- These raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating these fats and you increase your risk of developing heart disease, stroke and developing type 2 diabetes. (all you need to know is Trans Fats are good in moderation)

One thing you need to understand:

Cholesterol is a natural waxy substance that forms digestive juices and other important work. It is present in the body no matter what is eaten. Cholesterol is a good thing, It has important jobs in the body! (The excess is what is bad)

Keep this in mind when you are looking at labels on the food you eat, Because you will save your health big time!

Until next time when I am going to talk about minerals, and the important role they play in the body. Leave your comments below and let me know what you think. Also don’t forget to subscribe to my RSS feed.

Decide to Live healthy today!

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Aren’t Carbs Bad? (Most People Think So) Here is what You Should Know

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

Don’t Listen to fad diets that falsely accuse Carbohydrates as Being “Bad” They actually provide your body with the fuel it needs for physical fitness and for proper organ function, and they are an important part of a healthy diet. There is one thing you should know, Some Carbs are much better than others!

These are some of the best sources of carbohydrates—whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. They promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients into your body.

Easily digested carbohydrates from white bread, white rice, pastries, sugared sodas, and other highly processed foods contribute to weight gain, interfere with weight loss, and promote diabetes and heart disease (and a host of other problems)

So your thinking “How much of the good Carbs do I need in my diet?”

This formula is a little more complex than some, So I found a good way to determine what your Carb intake should be on a daily basis, Go to the Carb Calculator and it will do all the hard work:

http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/carbohydrate.asp

For me it said 364 grams of Carbs a day, for You I am sure it’s different, But that’s one of the things I have to say over and over again, because it’s so true.

Every Person is different, There is no perfect health Plan, Everyone needs to learn How to make there own. (cause thats the only way it will work!)

In the next post I will talk about the Fats and Oils and the vital role they have on your health. Thanks for your time, Go apply what you learned here, don’t just read and forget. Changes only occur when action is taken!

Leave your comments below, tell me what you think and ask any question you want, I would love to help. Have a wonderful day, Decide to Live Healthy Today!

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How much Protein show You intake each Day?

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

Everyone knows Protein is Important, But How much should you take? What Kind?

The simple answer is it depends on you. If you sit on the couch all day you will not need as much protein as a professional body builder. Make Sense?

Many foods contain protein, but the the most common are:
-beef
-poultry
-fish
-eggs
-dairy products,
-nuts
-seeds
-legumes
-black beans
-lentils.

Protein builds up, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. Your muscles, your organs, and your immune system are made up mostly of protein, and Water.

Your body uses protein to make lots of specialized protein molecules that have specific jobs, For example: Your body uses protein to make hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen to every part of your body. Other proteins are used to build cardiac muscle (Your heart) In fact, whether you’re running or just hanging out, protein is doing important work like moving your legs, moving your lungs, and protecting you from disease.

When you eat protein your body will break it down into amino acids (the building blocks of protein) then can be reused to make the proteins your body needs to maintain muscles, bones, blood, and body organs.

There are 22 Different amino acids that are vital for human health, Of those 22 amino acids, your body can make 13 of them without you ever thinking about it. Your body can’t make the other nine amino acids, but you can get them by eating protein-rich foods. They are called essential amino acids because it’s essential that you get them from the foods you eat.

SO you get what a Protein is, Now you have to Figure out the hardest Part:

How much do I need?

Adults, on average, need about 60-80 grams per day. But a more complete measurement of what you need is the following formula:

You need half your body weight in Grams!

So if you weigh 100 pounds, you are going to need 50 grams, If you weigh 200 pounds you are going to need 100 grams a day.

That was simple, But you can’t just know this information, you need to apply it in your life on a daily basis.

When you eat food that contains the nutrients you need, usually your body will assimilate the nutrients into the blood stream much more efficiently than supplementation. But I can think of two exceptions, So I will talk about those in a later post.

Thanks for your time, I hope your learned something, But more importantly decided to implement this into your life. Leave your comments below and tell me what you think, Feel free to ask any questions you have about this, and tell me your struggles in this area, I would love to help. Don’t forget to subscribe above on the right hand side. Live a healthy life!

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How to Understand the Simple Dynamics Of Nutrition

March 24, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

You can get a nutrient by what you eat, and or the supplements you take. No matter how you get it, It has to be a BALANCE between the following items:

Proteins
Carbohydrates
Fats and Oils
Minerals
Vitamins
Water

Sounds Simple Right?

Just like your car needs Different Fluids (in diff amounts) So your body needs a combination of the Six main things I listed above. Sounds simple, but many people get this confused. You just need to figure out what your body needs for each aspect. I wish I could say what everyone needs X grams of proteins each day, and you need X ounces of water each day, ect ect…

But if I did that I would be WRONG!

Every person is different, so that’s why I am teaching you how to make a customized “Health Protocol” for yourself. Most people don’t even realize these areas are more important than the price, calories or even taste. When you have a balanced diet and supplementation your body will heal itself. Food can have many healing abilities, it a really powerful concept, and there are a couple books dedicated to the topic. When you get a cut on your hand, within a couple days your skin will heal and you won’t even know you had a cut 2 weeks later. Your body will do the same thing with disease’s and sickness when you give yourself the write tools. Let me say that again to make sure you got it…

You give your body the right tools, It will HEAL ITSELF!!!

That’s why you need to pay attention to this, because you don’t have to really on drugs or doctors to get better.

In the next post I am going to go into how important Proteins are, and how you figure out what is best for you. Thanks for your time, Leave your comments below, and I subscribe up on the right hand side. Be Healthy, and Have a wonderful Day!

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What is My Health Protocol? What is Yours?

March 23, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

Today I am really excited, because I am going to get into your “Health Protocol” and I am going to show you how you make one for yourself. First thing I am going to address is the difference between Diet and Supplements…

You are what you eat!!! (more true than I think you realize)

AND “Pill Poppin”, But not drugs silly, we are Talkin Supplements,

So there are two ways to get a nutrient into your body, you can eat a food with a nutrient in it, or you can take a supplement with a nutrient in it. Period!

When getting a health protocol together for yourself, you need everything to be balanced. Easier said than done, I promise you! And it’s one area I see a lot of people go astray really quick. They are all excited about this new information that they just learned about diet and supplementation. Before they know it they are taking 50 grams of protein a day, and they are neglecting other areas, Like Water (80% of America is Dehydrated!) causing a strong in-balance in the body and on your goal of overall health.

They say if you do something for 21 days you will start to form a habit.

This is what I want for YOU:

A solid and balanced “Protocol” and the ability to take action and make it a habit in your life! (For the Rest of your Life)

On the next posts I will talk about the core areas you need to focus on when putting your Protocol together. Thanks for your time, Leave your comments below and Subscribe to my RSS on the right hand side.

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Nutrition is like an “Oil Change” for Body

March 23, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Today I am going to talk about one of two main areas of health, and that is Nutrition.

If you never focus on nutrition, your body and overall health will suffer greatly. Just like your car gets new oil, gas, filters, tires and brakes, your body needs the proper nutrition to function properly, and I know your saying duh, I already know that! But stay with me here…

But You may know the importance of Nutrition, but how much do you apply in your life?

I am going to give you an example of how nutrition works. Lets say your body needs 100 points of nutrition each day:

10 points calcium
10 points of Water
10 points protein
10 points Love (yes its very important to your health)
10 points Amino Acids
ect….

So get this, what if you gave your body 100 points of “Health” every single day? What would your health be Like?

Trust Me, You would surprise YOURSELF at how good you would feel!!!

So you need to realize your body needs what I call a “Nutrition Protocol” and when you give your body the right protocol it is “Life Changing”

Now I am going to show you that protocol, and I will in the following posts, so read. Leave your comments, and subscribe so you get future posts.

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Health is Really Simple, I Will Prove It!

March 23, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

So the first thing that you must understand is your health is directly proportionate to what you know and apply in your life. If you don’t know about your health it will show in your physical body.

Having said that you have to focus on 2 main aspects when it comes to your health.

Nutrition and Detox

When you put the right stuff in your body and get the junk out your body will function the way it was designed.  That is the simplest way to put it.

Now your job is to improve those two areas from this day forward.

I will show you, and teach you how to do this in future posts. Leave your comments and let me know what you think.

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