Sport Fitness & Physique

Archive for September, 2009

Get Stronger - Live Longer

Researchers from the University of South Carolina have found that total body strength correlates to longer life and better health.

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and insulin resistance are all far less likely to develop in strong, healthy bodies.

Eat Well: Fortify your body with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and seeds.

Train Hard: Engage in strength training three to four days a week. Train your cardiovascular system with interval training at least twice a week.

Follow these simple tips to live a longer, healthier and happier life.

To your Good Health!

Evil versus Adversity: Can you tell the Difference?

Don’t confuse evil with adversity.

Evil (however you might define it), is like a wild animal that you cannot kill.

However, if you don’t feed evil -don’t feed into evil, soon it leaves you ….to stalk other prey.

Adversity …..Adversity is a different animal altogether.

Adversity must be attacked with everything you have …and conquered -no matter the cost.

Do not confuse the two.
~The wasted effort will certainly kill you.

Superfood or Super-Scam?

You’ve seen it, I’m sure….

You’ve heard about it -maybe on television, the radio -certainly you’ve been bombarded by the wild outrageous claims as you browse your favorite websites online.

The acai berry (pronounced “ah sigh-EE”) has been featured in countless news articles, television programs, advertisements and web promotions as an absolute super-food; capable of of miraculous healing, improved sexual function and oh yeah….you’ll drop a ton of weight by adding these little beauties to your diet too.

So is it true?

Does this magical Brazilian rain forest berry really do all that they say it does?

~What do you think?

Look, berries are good for you -No Question!

Berries are full of fabulous fiber, anti-aging antioxidants, flavorful flavonoids and all sorts of cancer fighting, waist slimming, colon cleansing goodness.

But the acai berry is no better than any other berry and it certainly isn’t the super food that many are claiming it to be.

It’s tropical, it’s pretty, it tastes good and it’s good for you. Fine, we get it.

But we also have strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, loganberries and they have all of the very same health benefits that the highly acclaimed acai berries have.

In fact, there are an awful lot of fresh fruits and vegetables that have even greater health benefits than the highly touted acai wonder-berry -but so what?

My point is, that while the acai is a wonderful addition to our fresh fruit and vegetable intake -it can’t replace any of the other wonderful whole foods we are eating to improve our health and wellness. And, we certainly shouldn’t be spending a fortune to get our hands on it either!

Eat your fill of wonderful berries, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, fresh poultry and seafood.

But don’t look for any wonder-drug, wonder-berry or super-food to improve your health.

You’ll be sadly disappointed if you do.

To your Good Health!

You really gonna eat that?

Soybeans have been in use for over 3,000 years, but they haven’t always been used as food -at least not for humans.

The Chinese first used the soybean as an inexpensive animal feed and to replenish nitrogen in the soil during crop rotation.

Soybeans were later fermented and used to make soy sauce, tempeh and natto -a popular fermented bean-like breakfast food, typically served over rice.

Fermented soybeans have very different nutritional characteristics and are actually quite healthy in comparison to the processed soybean.

Unfortunately, the processed soybeans used in products like tofu and veggie-burgers, Soy Milk and soy-based infant formulas are not very good for us at all!

These types of soy products are created by first adding calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate or magnesium chloride to the coagulated soy-milk, allowing the mixture to curdle then pressing the mixture into blocks.

Aside from the chemical additives (which of course we don’t need), soybeans naturally contain phytates and phytates interfere with nutrient absorption in the human body.

Calcium, zinc, magnesium and iron are all essential nutrients that humans need to survive. Consuming soy inhibits the bioavailability of these essential nutrients, robbing our body of  health and wellness.

Additionally, soybeans contain isoflavones which mimic excess estrogen and can lead to estrogen-toxicity. The nasty little beans also have goitrogenic properties which interfere with proper thyroid function and trypsin inhibitors which stunt human growth.

Soy Milk and soy-based infant formulas have been linked to ADD, ADHD and Autism in infants, children and adults. Soy Milk has also been linked to exaggerated PMS symptoms in women, eczema, hives, swelling of the eyes & eyelids, generalized inflammation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and a whole host of other nasty side-effects.

Soy is often used as an alternative protein source, but again….soy fails to deliver.

Soy protein is missing L-lysine -an essential amino acid -which makes soy protein an incomplete protein and a very poor choice in this regard.

If you seek good health -avoid the soy!

There are no benefits to soy consumption and you just don’t need the nasty side-effects.

To your Good Health!