life and healty

The 3 Day Diet

2008-12-07T19:54:00.001-08:00

WebMD Expert Review

What It Is

Surprisingly surviving the test of time, the 3 Day Diet is another fad diet, dating back to 1985. Copies of the "3 Day Diet" continue to float around cyberspace, promising quick weight loss, cleansing, lower cholesterol, and increased energy. However, no diet book exists to substantiate the science behind the "unique metabolic reaction."

Often mistakenly called The Cleveland Clinic Diet, the 3 Day Diet is a regimented plan that must be followed exactly for three days at a time, followed by normal eating for four or five days before opting to resume the plan again.

Followers of the 3 Day Diet are promised up to a 10 pound weight loss in three days, although realistically, most of that weight is likely due to fluid loss and not the more desirable fat loss. To achieve the proposed loss, exercise is not mentioned in the plan.

What You Can Eat

The 3 Day Diet is a very specific food plan that must be followed precisely. Portions must be eaten exactly as specified and dieters are warned not to overeat -- otherwise the promised 10 pound weight loss may not be achieved. Likewise, dieters should not under-eat, even if they are not hungry. The detailed plan does not mention or recommend any exercise.

The 3 Day Diet meal plan:

Day 1

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1/2 grapefruit or juice

1 piece toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Lunch

1/2 cup tuna

1 piece toast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

Dinner

3 ounces any lean meat or chicken

1 cup green beans

1 cup carrots

1 apple

1 cup regular vanilla ice cream

Day 2

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1 egg

1/2 banana

1 piece toast

Lunch

1 cup cottage cheese or tuna

8 regular saltine crackers

Dinner

2 beef franks

1 cup broccoli or cabbage

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 banana

1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

Day 3

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

5 regular saltine crackers

1 ounce cheddar cheese

1 apple

Lunch

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1 boiled egg

1 piece toast

Dinner

1 cup tuna

1 cup carrots

1 cup cauliflower

1 cup melon

1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

In addition to its strict daily food prescription, dieters drink 4 cups of water or noncaloric drinks daily.

How It Works

By some unspecified magical force, the combination of the suggested foods included in this plan is supposed to create a unique metabolic reaction and boost fat burning.

Without an author or book, there is no documentation or explanation of how the 3 Day Diet food combinations burn fat, increase energy, cleanse the body, or lower cholesterol.

As the name suggests, the 3 Day Diet lasts only three days, though it's said that it can be repeated indefinitely, as long as you alternate with 4-5 days of undefined "normal eating." The purpose of returning to your usual eating style is to keep your metabolism from slowing, reverting to fat-storing, starvation mode.

What the Experts Say

Make no mistake: the 3 Day Diet is not associated with the prestigious Cleveland Clinic. "There is no such thing as a Cleveland Clinic diet," says Cindy Moore, director of nutrition therapy at The Cleveland Clinic. "It is an urban legend that is not nutritionally sound, and the only reason it causes weight loss is because it is so low in calories, not because of any food combinations or metabolic reactions."

Following a plan with fewer than 1,000 calories a day concerns Moore. "The plan yields about 1,000 calories a day which has the ability to lower metabolism so when you revert back to normal eating, you regain weight even quicker."

Moore adds that the diet "sets up a vicious cycle of being hungry during the restrictive three days and most likely overeating on the off days."

And the diet is so monotonous, dieters gladly return to their old eating habits. "What good is it to go back to the old habits that caused the weight gain, without resolving weight issues?" asks Moore. "Hands down, the 3 Day Diet is not conducive to changing habits or encouraging a healthier lifestyle, which are fundamental to weight control," she says.

Because the 3 Day Diet is so low in carbohydrates, it's likely the initial weight loss is primarily water weight, as carbohydrate encourages your body to retain water. As soon as the dieter goes back to consuming a normal amount of carbohydrate, the water weight comes back.

Food for Thought

Experts worry that when dieters can't follow restrictive plans like the 3 Day Diet, they blame themselves and think they've failed.

But "fad diets are not sustainable for any period of time, and it is the reason so many people throw in the towel, feeling frustrated that diets don't work, when in reality it is the diet, not the dieter," Moore says.

Weight loss is possible on the 3 Day Diet, but only because it is very low in calories. Going back to so-called normal eating does little to promote a healthier lifestyle, instead the pattern promotes undesirable yo-yo dieting or an on-again off-again approach to weight management that is not successful long term.

Bottom line: keep looking for a well-balanced weight loss plan that controls calories every day, includes exercise, and allows a wide variety of healthy foods. To lose weight, it is simply not enough to eat a prescribed diet for three days without addressing eating habits that cause weight gain.

Lose Weight Fast: How to Do It Safely

2008-12-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

Sick of crash diets and fat diets? Follow these healthy tips for rapid weight loss.

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

You've heard it time and again: fad diets don't work for permanent weight loss. But what about those times when you really need to lose some weight fast? It's hard to pass up the promise of crash diets like the Lemonade Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, or Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days when your mission is to squeeze into a new outfit in time for a reunion, wedding, or other special event.

So what's wrong with dropping 20 pounds fast so you can wow your friends and family with a svelte new shape?

The truth is that nothing is wrong with losing weight rapidly -- as long you do it the right way, says Michael Dansinger, MD. He's the medical doctor for NBC's The Biggest Loser show, which spotlights quick and dramatic weight loss.

"In theory, one could drop as much as 20 pounds in a week following a very ambitious eating and exercise plan, devoting more than seven hours per week to rigorous exercise, and under a physician's care like we do on the television program," he says.

But even if you can't drop everything to go to weight loss "boot camp," you can safely lose 3 or more pounds a week at home with a healthy diet and lots of exercise, says weight loss counselor Katherine Tallmadge, RD.

In fact, having a goal like a looking great at a wedding or reunion can be a great motivator, as long as you follow a weight loss plan that you can keep up after the special event.

But you need to plan ahead and allow enough time to make changes to your shape.

"Don't wait until one week before the reunion to try and lose 10 pounds," advises Tara Gidus, MS, RD, team dietitian for the Orlando Magic.

The Secrets to Fast Weight Loss

Losing weight is a simple mathematical formula: You need to burn more calories than you eat. Experts generally recommend creating a deficit of 500 calories per day through a combination of eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity. Over the course of a week, this should yield a loss of about 1-2 pounds of fat.

If you want to lose weight faster, you'll need to eat less and exercise more. Bottom line: 1,050 to 1,200 calories and one hour of exercise a day (but be sure not to dip below this calorie level for safety's sake). On this type of plan, you can expect to lose 3-5 pounds the first week, or more if you weigh over 250 pounds.

"Dieters who follow the plan can lose 2 pounds from diet and 1 pound from exercise each week, and even more if they have more to lose, because the more fat you have to lose, the faster it comes off," says Dansinger.

You may lose even more weight initially if you limit salt and starches.

"When you reduce sodium and cut starches, you reduce fluids and fluid retention, which can result in up to 5 pounds of fluid loss when you get started," explains Dansinger.

ts for Fast Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, calories count the most, says Dansinger. He recommends cutting back to a daily level of 7 calories per pound of your current body weight (which for a 200-pound person, for example, would be 1,400 calories), but no less than 1,050 calories/day (the lowest level that can be done safely at home). Dietitians more typically recommend 1,200 calories as a daily minimum.

Dansinger advocates a diet that minimizes starches, (even healthy whole grains should be controlled), added sugars, and animal fat from meat and dairy foods. For rapid weight loss, dieters should eat mainly fruits, veggies, egg whites, soy products, skinless poultry breasts, fish, shellfish, nonfat dairy foods, and 95% lean meat.

He notes that there are other ways to control calories, such as minimizing total fat, but believes that tends to be more challenging than his suggested weight loss plan.

Other experts interviewed by WebMD recommended tactics including drinking lots of water, eating plenty of protein, and keeping a food journal.

"Eat enough protein and distribute it evenly through your meals to minimize muscle loss and maximize fat loss," says Tallmadge, author of Diet Simple, who also advises clients to swap out carbs in favor of veggies.

American Dietetic Association spokesperson Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, recommends:

Eat plenty of low-calorie vegetables to help you feel full.
Drink plenty of water so you don't confuse hunger with thirst.
Clear the house of tempting foods.
Stay busy to prevent eating out of boredom.
Eat only from a plate, while seated at a table.
Always eat three meals and one snack daily -- no skipping meals.

Weighing yourself daily and tracking your food intake can also help you keep focused, experts say.

"Even if you write it down on a napkin and end up throwing it away, the act of writing it down is about being accountable to yourself and is a very effective tool for weight loss," says Bonnie Taub Dix, MA, RD, a food and nutrition blogger for USA Today.

Although it won't actually help you lose weight, Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet, says that eating fennel seeds, ginger, parsley, peppermint, pineapple, and yogurt with honey one to three days before the big event can help you de-bloat and keep your tummy feeling flatter.

Exercising for Fast Weight Loss

Even if you are currently exercising, you'll need to kick it up a notch if your goal is rapid weight loss, says Gidus. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated that losing weight requires close to an hour a day of moderate exercise.

That fits in with Dansinger's recommendation of seven hours per week of cardio exercise leading up to your special event.

"Cardio burns the most calories, so it is ideal for fast weight loss, but afterwards you need to include a few hours a week of strength training," he says. To burn the most fat, try to break a sweat after your warm-up and keep sweating for the entire hour, says Dansinger.

Most everyone can do an hour a day, but the intensity of your workout will depend on your current state of fitness. Experts recommend gradually increasing exercise intensity to avoid injury.

When you can't do cardio, Tallmadge recommends doing strength training at least twice weekly, working all your major muscle groups, and fitting in at least 15,000 steps a day (get a pedometer to keep count).

Gidus suggests doubling up on your exercise routine: "Do a morning and evening workout, and if you don't have time to do two a day, expend more calories in the workouts you are currently doing."

Another option is to incorporate interval training. The new South Beach Supercharged plan by Arthur Agatson, MD, promotes adding high-intensity intervals to workouts to burn more calories in less time.

"Interval training allows people to work harder without having to spend the entire time at the higher level, and over time, the more you do it, the easier it becomes to burn more calories," says Blatner.

Fad Diets and Crash Diets

Many people don't have the time to do the rigorous amount of exercise required to lose weight quickly, and so turn to fad diets. But keep in mind that if a diet plan sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So steer clear of programs that promote pills, laxatives, fasting, or potions, and any that promise weight loss faster than 2-3 pounds per week.

The truth is that cutting calories below 1,050 per day is counterproductive, because you need strong muscles to be able to exercise effectively.

"When you eat too few calories you lose fat but also precious muscle, which is the worst thing you could do because it slows your metabolism and makes it more difficult to increase exercise intensity or duration," says Dansinger.

And what about over-the-counter (OTC) diet pills? Except for the OTC version of Alli, most respected experts do not recommend them.

"Diet pills are either ineffective or extremely dangerous, and not recommended," says Dansinger.

The bottom line? Weight loss experts agree that any rapid weight loss diet should be identical to a long-term, sustainable plan -- and not a fad diet. And fasting or cutting calories below 1,050 are not appropriate for the long term unless you are under a physician's care.

Obesity

2008-12-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

Obesity is a chronic disease affecting millions of Americans. It is defined by excess body fat and is generally measured by calculating a person's BMI (body mass index). If a person's BMI is 30 or above, he or she is considered to be obese. The concern of health care providers about people being obese isn't because our society places an emphasis on being thin. Rather, being obese means that you're carrying too much weight for your height. The additional weight puts stress on your body that can adversely affect your health.

Obesity is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Obese people are also at high risk for depression, job discrimination and other social problems. Some 300,000 premature deaths are caused by obesity each year, and about $100 billion in annual health care costs is attributed to obesity. After tobacco use, obesity is the second-leading cause of preventable deaths. About six out of 10 Americans are overweight or obese, and those numbers are rising. The number of children and teens who are overweight or obese is also expected to increase.

To determine if you are obese, your doctor uses a formula to determine your BMI.

Here's how to calculate BMI:

BMI = (

Weight in Pounds

(Height in inches) x (Height in inches)

) x 703

A person who weighs 220 pounds and is 6 feet 3 inches tall has a BMI of 27.5.

(

220 lbs.

(75 inches) x (75 inches)

) x 703 = 27.5

BMI	Weight Status
Below 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Normal
25 - 29.9	Overweight
30 and above	Obese

Obesity would most likely be diagnosed in the following cases:

A 6-foot-tall individual who weighs 221 pounds.
A 5-foot, 5-inch-tall person who weighs 180 pounds.

Anyone whose BMI is 40 or higher is considered severely (morbidly) obese. Severe obesity would probably be diagnosed in the following cases:

A 5-foot, 3-inch-tall person who weighs 226 pounds.
A 6-foot, 1-inch person who weighs 303 pounds.

Waist circumference measurement for obese people helps determine health risks related specifically to abdominal fat. Men and women with apple shapes (weight mostly in the belly area) are particularly at risk. Measure your waist size by wrapping a tape measure around the area above your hip bone and below your rib cage.

Men at high risk for diseases have a waist measurement greater than 40 inches.
Women at high risk have a waist measurement greater than 35 inches.

Prognosis: Obesity does not have a magic pill, but diet and exercise can help reduce weight. However, that might not always be enough. Surgery or medication may also be used along with diet and exercise.

10 best healty and beauty diets

2008-12-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

If you feel disorder, a special diet can make a good effect for getting well. There are several spread rations for those who want to manage the diseases.

So, if you want to repair or improve your skin there are several rules that can help you. You should refuse to eat french fries and milk chocolate, drink minimum alcohol and black tea. The following nutrition can help you to make the skin perfect. The diet can last 7 up to 21 days. You should eat water porridge with fruits and fresh juice for breakfast. The lunch must consist of salad leaves, vegetable soup and a little bit chicken/fish, the cocktail of fresh carrot and apple juice would be good as well. And dinner must include fruit salad, chicken without skin, yoghurt and herbal tea. The result can be seen within 7 days.
The second variant of this diet is called anti-acne diet. It’s not a secret, that the chips, chocolate, nuts (overeating) and french fries can worsen the acne skin. So there is another type of the skin nutrition right for acne leather: fruit salads with porridge for breakfast, steamed lean red meat or fish with little vegetables for lunch and wholegrains with fruits for dinner and, of course, no iodinated milk.

Many people all over the world can suffer from colitis. This disorder in its turn can also cause skin problems. Here is the commonly accepted anti-colitis diet: purees of vegetables and fruit, boiled eggs (no more than 1), steamed meat, hard cheese, coffee, tea and fresh vegetable or fruit juice. You should divide all this by 5 little portions and eat them during the day. Avoid the next products: cream, pastry, chocolate, ice-cream, mushrooms, beans, fizzy, tinned goods, pickle and different sausages.

Another problem is the stomach problems. Sometimes overeating or malnutrition can cause stomach problems or gastritis. The anti-gastritis diet requires: milk, rabbit-meat or chicken meat without skin, egg-white omelet, porridge, fruits and vegetables. Like in case of anti-colitis diet you should have the small portions during the day and no less than 3 hours between them. You should avoid spices and use greens instead. Try to deny eating muesli and brown rice.

Anti-cholecystitis diet considers dieting without any sweets. The only sweet allowed is honey. The food allowance of the diet is as follows: dry bread or cookie, mild cheese, milk, vegetables and fruits without acid, bananas, watermelons, lean meat and not sour fresh juice. The other products must be reduced or, in case of acute condition, excluded.

The anti-flu diet is recommended for people with high temperature. The flu virus can be beaten by adding garlic and onion into nutrition, drinking fresh sour juice, especially lemon, raspberry, orange, grapefruit and pineapple, clear soup of chicken and a little bit white fish. You can even drink a little red wine but no more than half a glass a day.

The selenium diet serves for enlarging selenium in your organism. One needs selenium for immunity, anti-aging and good eyesight. The selenium diet must include the following products: broccoli salads and soups, fresh onion, tomato in different products (but fresh is more preferable), germinated and bran wheat, bilberry puree, jams and juice. You can have this nutrition for a long time.

The diet for people with low hemoglobin can include chocolate, different kinds of raisins, honey, nuts and fried apricots. You shouldn’t surpass in eating these products if you have gall-bladder or stomach problems. And, of course, these products should be eaten a little at a time. Your ration may also include pineapple, bananas, bilberry, dark grapes, red wine and pomegranate juice as well.

The lack of calcium can be treated with the bone and nail diet. The principle of the diet is eating calcium 400 mg a day by men, 1000-1500 mg by pregnant women and old people. Such diet consists of the following necessary products: milk, cheese, nuts, turnip, broccoli and cabbage, tune fish and boiled salmon. The scientists say this diet can make nails and teeth better and strengthen the bones. This nutrition is recommended for many people especially for pregnant and nursing mothers.

And, at last, every one must have heard that most of our diseases are particularly connected with nervous system and can be caused by stress. There is a special anti-stress diet to manage nervous pressure. This diet must be kept within 21 days. Every day you should eat half grapefruit and yoghurt for breakfast. But the lunch and dinner differ. You should eat vegetable salads or steamed vegetables, eggs or seafood, nuts, rice or kiwi for lunch. Lean meat, seafood, white/red fish or chicken without skin for dinner. The seventh day evening ration must consist only of fruit salad without anything else. Of course, you should vary meat products while dieting, i.e. if you have chicken for dinner you shouldn’t have fish at a time, if you take a main course of lean meat then you shouldn’t eat seafood. The dietitian guarantees no stress after this nutrition.

Let’s hope the following rations will do their best for our health.

5 Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight

2008-12-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

Extra calories may not be the only cause of weight gain.

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

It's no mystery that a diet full of fried foods, giant portions, decadent desserts, alcohol, and sugary soft drinks will lead to weight gain. And there's little question why the pounds pile up when you take in more calories than you burn in physical activity. But how do you explain weight gain when your lifestyle includes regular exercise and a healthy diet that is controlled in calories? Gaining weight is absolutely maddening, especially when you really don't understand why the needle on the scale keeps going up.

Several things should be considered if you are gaining weight while watching calories and being physically active. More than likely, it's a variety of things working together that have resulted in the weight gain.

Also See: Depression is a serious disease that can be hard to understand and diagnose. Here’s what you need to know to recognize the symptoms of depression:

· Craving Carbs: How To Know When It Is Depression

· 9 Painful Symptoms That May Signal Depression

· Postpartum Depression: Winter Baby Blues

· 4 Ways to Manage Pain & Depression

Related to Depression

Seasonal depression, Depression medications, New Year's blues, Cognitive therapy, Emotional symptoms, Treating depression, Depression causes, support, Winter depression, Mood and Hormones

"Weight gain is so complicated; there are so many factors that can impact your weight. It is more likely a combination of things more than just one factor," explains Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry? What to Do When Diets Don't Work.

Here are five factors that can cause the scale to creep up when you least expect it.

(Need to lose a few pounds? Maybe even 50 lbs? You’re not alone. Join the discussions in our Diet Club message boards.)

1. You Might Be Gaining Weight Because of Lack of Sleep

The body functions best when well rested. "When you don't get enough sleep, your body experiences physiological stress and, biochemically, you store fat more efficiently," says May.

When you're tired, you also don't handle stress as well, so you may reach for food as a coping mechanism. Further, you may be taking in extra calories from late-night snacking. Some people think eating might help them get back to sleep, but all it really does is add more calories to their daily total.

Symptoms that you may not be getting enough rest include fatigue, low energy levels, nodding off easily, and feeling irritable.

Strive to get eight hours of sleep each night.

"Add about 15 minutes to your bedtime and see how you feel," suggests May. "Continue to experiment with additional 15-minute increments until you find the ... amount of sleep that is right for you."

When you develop good sleeping rituals and get regular exercise, you sleep better, she adds.

2. You May Be Gaining Weight Because of Stress

We live in a society that demands we do more, be more, and achieve more. Stress moves us forward and helps cope with life's demands, but it also affects our mood and emotions.

"Stress response, whether it is 'fight-or-flight,' juggling too many responsibilities, or coping with financial pressures, triggers a biochemical process where our bodies go into survival mode," explains May. "Our bodies store fuel, slow down metabolism, and dump out chemicals [cortisol, leptin, and other hormones] which are more likely to cause ... obesity in the abdominal region."

2. You May Be Gaining Weight Because of Stress continued...

Many people reach for food to help ease the stress. But, of course, this doesn't work in the long run.

"Food is a temporary fix because it does not deal with the real stressors that must be addressed in order to reduce the trigger for eating and fix the problem," says May.

Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, assistant director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, says stress eaters tend to prefer high-carbohydrate foods because these foods trigger an increase in the brain chemical serotonin, which has a calming effect. "It is almost like self-medicating," she says. "Many people binge on starchy foods to make themselves feel better."

Both May and Bowerman recommend relaxation techniques as well as exercise, which also burns calories and provides other health benefits.

3. You May Be Gaining Weight Because of Medications

Some prescription drugs used to treat depression, mood disorders, seizures, migraines, blood pressure, and diabetes can cause weight gain, from a modest amount to as much as 10 pounds per month. Some steroids, hormone replacement therapy, and even oral contraceptives may also cause gradual weight creep. Your medicine cabinet might be the cause of your weight gain if you've gained 5 or more pounds in a month without a change in your lifestyle.

"Every drug works a little differently to cause weight gain, from increasing appetite, altering the way fat is stored, to how insulin levels change," says May. "And not all drugs have the same side effects on all people."

In the case of antidepressants, weight gain may not even be related to the action of the drug -- feeling better can also result in a heartier appetite. Some drugs can cause fluid retention that shows up on the scale as weight gain, but is not fat, and is usually easily corrected.

Experts say that some of the most common types of medications that may cause weight gain are:

Steroids
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
Antiseizure medications
Diabetes medications
High blood pressure medications
Heartburn medications

But it's important to remember that a few extra pounds may be well worth the trade-off of what a particular medication does for your overall health, experts say. Further, even if your medications are the cause of your weight gain, you still need to be mindful of eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.

"Rarely is the problem solved with a change in meds," says May. "These things can contribute, but rarely are the sole cause of the weight gain."

If you suspect your medication is causing weight gain, talk to your health care provider to see about changing your prescription. But whatever you do, don't go off your medication without seeking medical advice.

"There could be very serious consequences if you stop taking your medication without consulting your physician," says May.

4. You May Be Gaining Weight Because of a Medical Condition

The most common medical condition that causes weight gain is hypothyroidism. A deficiency of thyroid hormone can decrease metabolism, causing appetite loss and weight gain.

"If you are feeling fatigued, lethargic, swelling, hoarse voice, intolerance to cold, sleeping too much, or headaches, you should see your doctor for an easy test to determine if you have hypothyroidism," says May.

Much rarer is a condition known as Cushing's syndrome -- a disorder caused by an excess of the hormone cortisol -- that can also result in weight gain.

5. You May Be Gaining Weight Because of Menopause

Women reach menopause at a range of ages, but most are in midlife and are often less physically active than when they were younger. Along with aging comes a natural slowing of metabolism. At the same time, hormonal changes can trigger hunger, depression, and poor sleep.

"It is multifactoral. When women go through menopause, they lose estrogen, causing their shapes to change -- usually a loss of hip and thigh weight. And they start to gain more in the middle," says Bowerman. She explains that estrogen favors fat deposition in the lower body, and when you lose this hormone, fat is more likely to be deposited in the midsection (much like men). This spare tire around the middle has been not so affectionately called the "menopot."

The key to avoiding this extra belly fat is to maintain and increase the amount of lean body mass, which will, in turn, increase your metabolism or calorie burn rate.

"Women need to understand how critically important weight lifting and strength training is to their health," says Bowerman. And don't worry, doing strength training won't make women muscle-bound, experts say.

Exercise also helps offset bone loss that can come with menopause. A combination of exercise and a healthy, calorie-controlled diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is the answer to thwarting menopausal weight gain.

“EYE DISEASE”

2008-12-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing eye disease. Diabetes specialists recommend you take steps to protect your vision and make sure to have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist at least once a year. Your eyes should be dilated during the exam. That means eye drops are used to enlarge your pupils to allow the eye care professional to examine the retina in the back of the eye. Finding and treating the disease before it causes vision loss or blindness is the best way to control diabetic eye disease.

What kinds of eye problems affect people with diabetes?

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy. This disease, which is specific to those with diabetes, damages blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that translates light into electrical impulses that the brain interprets as vision. There are no early symptoms. Only an eye exam can identify diabetic retinopathy. Irreversible vision problems occur if the disease progresses.
Cataracts. Cataracts are the clouding of the eye's lens that causes vision to become blurry. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop a cataract as those who do not have the disease. In addition, cataracts tend to develop at an earlier age, around middle age, in people with diabetes.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma results from an increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to progressive optic nerve damage and loss of vision. People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop glaucoma as other adults.

Why is diabetic retinopathy a concern with diabetes?

Diabetic retinopathy is the most serious diabetic eye disease. The National Eye Institute estimates nearly half of the millions of Americans with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness in American adults.

It is caused by changes in the retina's blood vessels. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes can cause vision loss or blindness.

Who is most likely to get diabetic retinopathy?

Anyone with diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely diabetic retinopathy may develop. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, nearly three-quarters of all diabetic patients develop microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime. Virtually all people who have had type 1 diabetes for 15 years or more have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.

What are its symptoms?

Many people with diabetic retinopathy don't have early symptoms. There is no pain, no blurred vision and no inflammation of the eyes. In fact, many people don't develop vision problems until the disease has reached an advanced stage. At this point, the vision that has been lost cannot be restored.

With diabetic retinopathy, blurred vision may occur when the macula (the part of the retina that provides sharp central vision) swells from the leaking fluid. This condition is called macular edema and does not usually cause pain.

If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye and block vision. But even in more advanced cases, the disease may progress a long way without symptoms. That is why regular eye examinations for people with diabetes are so important.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, your eye care professional may suggest laser treatments, which aim a high-energy beam of light onto the retina to shrink the abnormal vessels. Laser surgery has proven to reduce the risk of severe vision loss from this type of diabetic retinopathy by 60 percent.

If you have macular edema, laser treatment may also be used. In this case, the laser beam is used to seal the leaking blood vessels. However, laser treatment cannot restore vision that has already been lost. That is why early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best way to prevent vision loss.

Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?

Not totally, but your risk can be greatly reduced. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that excellent control of blood sugar levels slows the onset and progression of retinopathy, and lessens the need for laser treatment for severe retinopathy.

The study found that people with diabetes who kept their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible had much less eye, kidney and nerve disease. This level of blood sugar control may not be best for everyone, including some elderly patients, children younger than 13 or people with heart disease. So ask your doctor if this approach is right for you.

How common are the other diabetic eye diseases?

If you have diabetes, you are also at risk for other diabetic eye diseases. Studies show you are twice as likely to get a cataract as someone who does not have diabetes. Also, cataracts often develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Cataracts can be treated by surgery.

Glaucoma may also become a problem. A person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to develop glaucoma as other adults. And, as with diabetic retinopathy, the longer you have had diabetes, the greater your risk for glaucoma. Glaucoma may be treated with medications, and by laser or other forms of surgery. An annual eye exam is best way for early detection of forms of diabetic eye disease and to prevent vision loss.

Self care

Monitor and control your blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage your eyes. Have your health care provider check your blood pressure at least four times a year. If your blood pressure is higher than 130/80, you may want to check your blood pressure regularly at home. Your health care provider can tell you where to buy a cuff.
Get regular eye exams. Even if your sight is fine, you need regular eye exams. Ask your health care provider to help you find an eye doctor who cares for people with diabetes. You should have your eyes dilated and examined once a year. Keep track of these exams. Even if you've lost your sight from diabetic eye disease, you still need to have regular eye care. Be sure your doctor checks for cataracts and glaucoma.
Control your blood sugar as much as possible.
If you are pregnant and have diabetes, see an eye doctor during your first three months. If you are planning to get pregnant, ask your doctor if you should have an eye exam.
Don't smoke.

5 Heart-Healthy Foods

2008-12-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

Build these five heart-healthy foods into your daily diet for great taste - and better health.

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Nothing matters more than taking good care of your heart. Getting regular exercise, not smoking, and controlling stress are just a few things health experts recommend, along with eating a variety of nutritious, heart-healthy foods that make up a healthy diet.

Where to start? Add these five "super-foods" to boost nutritional goodness while eating your way to a healthier heart.

Blueberries

Blueberries top the list as one of the most powerful disease-fighting foods. That's because they contain anthocyanins, the antioxidant responsible for their dark blue color. These delicious jewels are packed with fiber, vitamin C, and are available all year long. Boost heart health by adding them into your diet regularly. Here's how:

1. Top your whole-grain cereal with fresh or frozen blueberries to add delicious flavor, a dose of fiber, and heart-healthy antioxidants.
2. Power up pancakes, waffles, or muffins with fresh, frozen, or dried blueberries for a nutritious breakfast.
3. Eat them plain or mix with other fruit for a low-calorie, high-fiber tasty fruit salad, dessert, or snack.

Recipe idea: Make an irresistible trifle by layering lady fingers, light whipped topping or low-fat pudding, and blueberries. Or puree a batch of berries for a breakfast or dessert sauce.

Salmon

This cold-water fish is a great source of protein and is also packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association advises eating salmon and other omega-3 rich foods twice a week for benefits that go beyond heart health. Americans love salmon because it is so versatile, easy to cook, and tastes great.

1. Salmon is easy to prepare on the grill, in the oven or microwave, or on the stovetop. Save leftovers to toss into pasta dishes, make into salmon cakes, add to salads, or mix into dips or spreads.
2. Smoked salmon comes in two varieties. The raw type is commonly used in appetizers and on bagels with cream cheese and capers. The dry smoked type has more of a cooked appearance. You can enjoy it the same way as the raw style, and add it to cooked dishes such as pasta.
3. Salmon cooks in a matter of minutes and its delicate texture quickly absorbs and showcases the flavor of added ingredients. For example, toss chunks of salmon into a chowder of corn and potatoes, or wrap salmon with herbs and chopped onion and tomatoes in parchment or aluminum foil and grill or bake 12 minutes for a satisfying meal.

Recipe idea: Marinate salmon in a lime, onion, garlic, and soy mixture for 15 minutes before grilling for a delicious fish taco or grilled fish sandwich.

Soy Protein

This inexpensive, high-quality protein contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals -- all the ingredients for a heart-healthy meal. Also, a diet rich in soy protein can lower triglycerides, which help prevent cardiovascular disease and keep your heart strong and healthy. In those with high cholesterol levels,the benefits of soy foods are due to their high levels of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Soy Protein continued...

1. Pack a soy protein bar or a bag of soy nuts for a quick snack during the day.
2. Edamame (the Japanese name for green soybeans) are snacks even kids will love! Find these nutritious nuggets in the freezer section at your supermarket. Boil them, then serve warm in the pod. Pop them out of the pod to eat plain or with a low-fat dip.
3. Tofu, made of soy beans, takes on the flavor of spices and foods you cook with it. Saute cubed tofu with green and red peppers, sliced garlic, and a dash or two of curry powder. Or add tofu to soups for a healthy dose of fat-free protein.

Recipe idea: Soy milk is not just for the lactose-intolerant. Make a nutritious beverage with chocolate soy milk, a banana, and some ice for a delicious smoothie.

Oatmeal

Grandma called it roughage and we need plenty of it each day. Oatmeal is one way to get it. Oats are nourishing whole grains and a great source of vitamins, minerals, and cholesterol-lowering fiber. The FDA allows manufacturers of oats to make health claims about the grain on their products, suggesting that a diet high in oats can reduce the risk for heart disease. Research shows oats lower cholesterol levels, keep you regular, and may help prevent certain cancers.

1. A warm bowl of oatmeal fills the belly for hours with its high fiber content. Top it off with fruit (such as blueberries or strawberries) for added fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
2. Add oats whenever you bake. Substitute up to one-third of the flour with oats in pancakes, muffins, quick breads, cookies, and coffee cakes for an added dose of fiber.
3. Use oats in place of bread crumbs in dishes such as meatloaf, meatballs, or breading on poultry.

Recipe idea: Make your own crunchy granola by baking three cups of oats at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally, then cool and mix in a variety of chopped dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.

Spinach

Popeye knew firsthand the value of eating spinach. Hands down, spinach is the powerhouse of the vegetable kingdom. Its rich, dark color comes from the multiple phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals (especially folate and iron) that also fight disease, protect against heart disease, and preserve your eyesight.

1. Keep frozen, chopped spinach in your freezer for an easy, quick addition to pizza, pasta, soups, and stews. Just defrost and squeeze the liquid from a box of chopped spinach before you toss into cooked dishes.
2. Mix fresh spinach with salad greens or alone, then top with peeled and segmented Mandarin oranges or sliced strawberries, nuts, and crumbled cheese for a satisfying and delicious salad.
3. Steam spinach, mix with garlic, a little olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon for a low-fat potato topper.

Recipe idea: Mix spinach with pine nuts and raisins, then stuff into winter squash and bake for a colorful, delicious main or side dish.

How to Get Healthy With Fiber

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Step1

The daily recommended amount of fiber for older children, teenagers and adults is between 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day. Fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals should be introduced to younger children, but without counting grams. The amount of food young children eat in a day won't allow them to reach this level of fiber in their diet. The way to ensure adequate fiber intake is to eat a variety of foods, including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereals, and dried beans and peas.If you are not having enough, add fiber to your diet gradually. Water aids the passage of fiber through the digestive system, so drink plenty of fluids. Take a few weeks to build up the amount of fiber in your diet to avoid discomfort. When you don't peel fruits and vegetables, you are actually getting more fiber. Cooked food may actually increase your fiber intake by decreasing the volume of the food that you eat. Eating fiber-rich food is beneficial, no matter if it is cooked or raw.

Step2

Two types of fiber are: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel during digestion, slowing digestion down. Soluble fiber is found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables. Soluble fiber has been scientifically proven to lower cholesterol, which can help prevent heart disease. Insoluble fiber is found in foods such as wheat bran, vegetables and whole grains. Insoluble fiber seems to speed the passage of foods through the stomach and intestines. In some cultures, diseases such as colon cancer are unknown because of their high fiber intake. High-fiber foods include all fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. The majority of the fiber is in the food skins. It is better to eat a baked potato's skin and throw the inside away. Brown rice and whole-wheat bread are much healthier than the white rice and white breads. Other high-fiber foods include beans and legumes.

Step3

Eating too much fiber in a short period of time can cause bloating and cramps. This usually goes away once the natural bacteria in the digestive system gets used to the increase in fiber. It has been mentioned that too much fiber may interfere with the absorption of minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. Fiber protects the intestinal wall by adding bulk to the diet. Bulk aids digestion by making food move faster through the system, not only preventing constipation but reventing the absorption of unhealthy substances as well. Fiber helps to prevent diabetes, heart disease and diverticulosis, which sometimes develops into colon cancer.

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables: Food of the Gods

2008-12-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

It appears to be so simple to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, no matter who you are and what life style you lead. If it is so simple, why aren't more people doing it? Why is there so much information available everywhere about eating more fruit and vegetables on a daily basis? For example, the media is full of articles and news items about eating fresh, raw vegetables and fruits. Turn on the television and there is yet another famous chef helping us to eat good foods, and open the daily newspaper and, yet again, we find another article about the necessity of eating raw foods.

The facts of the matter are, a diet which abounds in raw foods, is also incredibly beneficial when it comes to combating the diseases that are common in our society. For example, increasing your intake of fresh, raw, organic foods will decrease your risk of getting any kind of cancer, as well as keeping your blood pressure low and lowering your blood sugar levels. This, in turn, means that your appetite works properly and your cravings are reduced.

The different colours that are available in fruits and vegetables are actually extremely important. They are an indication of the various vitamins and enzymes available to you, and you may well find that some are more attractive than others. These are the ones that your body is craving at any particular time. The cleaner your body becomes and the less toxic and acidic your body is, the more you can trust its food desires.

There are a number of tricks that you can use that will help your family to increase its intake of fruits. When you come home from the market, put your fresh fruit into a visible bowl. This will make the look of the fruit more appealing to family members, and this, in turn, means that it will be more readily chosen as a snack, rather than that obsequious bag of potato chips, which is full of trans fats and salts.
There is so much conflicting information available to people today that it confuses rather than informs. There is information about carbohydrates and the glycemic index, and food combining and including this food and excluding that food. Not all of this information is correct, so how can we know what to do?

Should we be taking supplements in the form of vitamins and minerals to make up for the lack? Should we cut out tea and coffee because it is acidifying in the body? How can we possible know what is best?

Go back to the basics and look at how God made the human body. What do we need? We want to have as much energy as we need for each day and we want to feel enthusiastic about each day. It has become more and more obvious, in this sit down world of ours, that movement and exercise is crucial to our well being. This is as well as our food intake.
As an encouragement to our children, friends and family, a bowl which is brimming with the latest organic, fresh fruit will tempt the appetite and encourage good eating habits. How much better for the human body is a fresh mango or apple than a bag of highly processed, heavily salted potatoes, which is no longer recognises as a potato.

In every meal, resolve to include fresh vegetables. When you serve up your meal, ensure that your plate has at the very least, 50% vegetables.
Experiment with new vegetarian recipes. Be careful, though, of your use of dairy. Many vegetarian recipes, which eliminate meat, try to replace the meat with cheese or milk, which can also be heavy on the digestive system.

Steaming vegetables and served with a modicum of butter is healthy. Serve the vegetables with a salad and a light dressing and you are well on the way to a healthy way of eating. When you include fruits as a separate meal or snack, you will be allowing your body to detox.

Remember that the lowly potato is not the best choice for a fresh food diet. When you are shopping, look around in the market and sometimes choose unfamiliar fruits and vegetables. Remember that variety is the spice of life. It was only yesterday that this author's sister, Lucy, sent a text message asking if she knew what kohlrabi was, and how was it cooked. Follow Lucy's lead and experiment. Buy unfamiliar fruits and vegetables and learn how to cook and prepare them. We have the internet available which is an incredible tool. Simply google the unfamiliar name and find hundreds of different ways of eating and preparing hitherto unfamiliar foods.

It wasn't' so long ago that Gary and Raylee found themselves on a long trek to the outback with a durian. The fruit in question had been shipped to Australia before it was ripe and so was able to handle the 13 hour trip to the outback from the coast. It tasted like an onion flavoured custard, and so was not popular, Nevertheless, how will you know what you like if you aren't prepared to try?

2008-12-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

And God Made The Vegetables

When God made vegetables, he made them attractive on purpose. The variety of colours, from the vibrant green of broccoli to the subtle shades of red in the capsicum to the darker greens of the spinach and lettuce families, is an indication of the nutrients available in each particular vegetable.
They attract both the eye and the palate. There is nothing better that we could do for our children than to introduce them to raw fruits and vegetables from an early age. Our taste buds will respond accordingly and so will our health. It is common for young children to leave their broccoli and spinach on the side of the plates, but we are referring to a legacy from our parents and grandparents wherein our vegetables were cooked and cooked and cooked. The nutrients were then thrown out with the water in which these vegetables were cooked in.
Is it any wonder that these insipid vegetables were then left on the side of the plate? Where were the crunch and the individual colours? Where the attraction and the delight which comes when each vegetable is lovingly prepared and presented in an attractive way?
Certainly, the more foods we eat that are high in salt and sugar, and the more animal protein we consume, the less our desire for the foods that were created for the human body. Our taste buds become tainted and the lowly apple no longer looks attractive.
There are a variety of fruits and vegetables available on the market today, which means that there is no excuse for us if we are not partaking daily of the necessary nine servings of raw foods which are recommended by the US government. We didn't think that the US government cared, but even they are aware of our need for the nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables.
All of us know that we shouldn't overcook our vegetables. Many of us have grown up with a mum who only knew that vegetables were boiled and boiled until they were soft and most of the colour had gone out of them. Broccoli was a tropical fruit in the days of our wonderful parents. Cabbage had to be well and truly killed. Kohl Rabi was something to paint on the lips and the turnip was a luxury and a speciality.
Potatoes were common and the number of recipes for the humble potato abounded. Potatoes and peas and green beans, which were humble additives to steaks and chicken and veal, were daily fare.
Times have changed. Today, the availability of vegetables from around the world is astounding. Fruits are imported from Asia which we were formerly unfamiliar with, such as the jackfruit and the rambutan. Mangoes are available almost all year round in some areas and in Queensland, Australia, it is not uncommon to find the lowly watermelon on the breakfast table every morning, come rain or shine, come winter and summer.
This in turn means that there is no excuse for us if our diets are reflecting what has come to be termed the SAD diet. The standard American diet leans heavily upon grains, dairy, sugars and salts, and is responsible for many of the ills that have overtaken us, from cancer to diabetes to gout to heart disease to arthritis, the SAD diet is responsible.
Responses to the various diseases in society have been many and varied, and one response in particular has focused on the need for fresher, raw, organic foods in the diet and the raw food diet was born. Cooked food became a thing of the past and mental energy turned to different ways of presenting raw vegetables and fruits to make them appealing and attractive to the palate.
This is not a new diet. It has been presented and expounded on over the years and has its principles set in concrete. Our creator knows what our bodies need and created the foods that would provide those ingredients.
One little known factor today is the necessity for enzymes. Our bodies are born with an �enzyme bank', which we spend every time we eat cooked food. When we eat enzyme rich, raw food, however, the enzymes in the foods that we are eaten are used first, which means that our own enzymes are preserved, which, in turn, means that we conserve our youthful looks and our energy.
The potency and benefits of raw foods have been propounded for years by such well known people as Dr Norman Walker, Ann Wigmore and Dr Howell. These people have all lived long and healthy lives and are living examples of how raw foods are the best diet that we can possibly eat.
Snacking on fresh fruit keeps our weight at the premium and our health at the optimum. It is the best inheritance that we can give to our children and our grandchildren. We are surrounded by an influx of unhealthy influences which are propounded by the media and available on every street corner.

RAW and FRESH : key to healty living,is it right???

2008-12-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

Raw And Fresh: Key To Healthy Living

The key to a healthy way of living lies in the amount of fruit and vegetables that you include in your diet and in your families diet. They say that variety is the spice of life and when it comes to fruits and vegetables in the daily diet this is true. Look at the different colours that are available in today's market and take advantage of them. Be sure to include red, yellow green, orange and white in your daily intake of fresh foods. The differing colours of the varying vegetables equal differing amounts of minerals and vitamins, all of which are crucial to for a healthy body and lifestyle.

Ultimately, the increase in fresh, living foods which equates to a diet of raw fruits and vegetables means more energy, vitality and natural beauty. The pharmaceutical industry would soon go out of business if more people started to literally thrive on the raw foods that are available on today's market.
There are internet sites that will tell you that the carbohydrates that are available in grains will give you the necessary energy for the day's activity. There are other sites that will inform you of the difficulty that the body has when it comes to digesting any kind of grains. It becomes difficult to know where to turn and who to believe. We have to listen to our bodies and watch how they react to the different foods that we ingest.

If you turn to living foods, which are full of vitamins and enzymes, you may well be on the path to putting the pharmaceutical industries out of business. Use raw fruits and vegetables with relaxation, detoxification and exercise and you will reach your optimal health and weight,
We are talking about rejuvenation. The more foods that we eat that are organic, natural, fresh and living, the more our bodies can rejuvenate. The more conventional foods that we tap into in our day to day living, the more time our bodies have to spend detoxifying and aging.

Eating fruits and vegetables will give you a softer and silkier skin and a more relaxed and comfortable sleep.

Jessica had been brought up on a conventional SAD diet, despite living in the UK. The standard American diet was very similar to the UK diet some 50 years ago, and included large amounts of roast meats and gravies made out of wheat and salt. The vegetables had tended to be overcooked and she could recall her stepdad suggesting that she drink the water that the cabbage had been cooked in because it was �full of goodness'. It hadn't tasted too bad so it hadn't been too much of a punishment.

One of the worst instances of hot cabbage water was the Hector dinner. They were living in New Zealand at the time and it was before Lois and Lucy Lane were born. Hector was a large, white, Muscovy duck that was born in Auckland. The first thing that Hector saw when he was born was Trexy and he loved her and followed her everywhere. As far as Hector was concerned, Trexy was his mother.
The time came for Trexy and her husband and Jessica to leave NZ for warmer shores. Australia beckoned. What to do about Hector? Trexy's husband was nothing if not practical and before you could say �bye' he had Hectors head on the chopping block. It was one of the most delicious roast duck dinners imaginable, but Trexy couldn't' touch it.
This implies that a raw food diet, consisting of fresh fruit and vegetables is the diet that God intended for mankind. Some even go so far as to suggest that the human digestive system is designed to live mainly on fruits with just a small amount of raw vegetables which give necessary fibre and minerals.

It is very much a personal choice and decision, but most people recognise that highly processed foods that are high in sugar and salt are not only difficult to digest but also make people feel sluggish and lethargic. We are ultimately searching for a way of life that will give us high energy, optimum mental clarity and fitness.

Our foods are a crucial choice in life. We need to care for our emotional, spiritual, mental and physical health and they are all ultimately interlinked. Those who are dedicated to teaching about the benefits of a raw food diet insist that organically grown fruits and vegetables are natural for the body and are not harmful. Animal protein, on the other hand, is full of injected hormones, steroids and antibiotics, which we ingest.

Raw fruits and vegetables are �living foods', and as such can provide the body with the nourishing enzymes needed to literally give �life' To quote Juliano, who runs the exquisite raw food restaurant in California, �Raw', �raw food has ultimate pure flavor, millions of textures, and beautiful effects on body, mind and soul, and environment!�

Stay Healthy, Eat More Fish and Seafood

2008-12-05T03:44:00.000-08:00

Stay Healthy, Eat More Fish and Seafood

There are a lot of very good reasons to eat fish and seafood. Fish is a source of high quality protein, and is low in fat and cholesterol.

Fish and seafood are an excellent source of Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Omega 3 fatty acids. There is now a lot of evidence that people who regularly include fish in their diet have a lower risk of unwanted weight gain.

The Omega 3 fatty acids that Fish is rich off are a very important factor in the health benefits of a fish and seafood rich diet. Together with high quality vegetable oils health gains are impressive. So you better hit the tuna steak and reduce your intake of beef steak? Well not really as always its a matter of balance.

Omega 3 fatty acids are linked to a substantial decrease in the symptoms of inflammatory diseases like arthritis and colitis. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), they significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer. Better yet, rich Omega 3 foods like fish have been tightly linked to positive mood changes. So, fish can even be of therapeutic value in the treatment of a mild depression or the “winter blues”!

More good news, there is evidence of a lower risk of developing Alzheimer disease as well as a reduction in the probability of developing type 2 diabetic diseases. Of course there are still a lot of unanswered questions in this area, but Fish and Seafood are a major part of the Mediterranean Diet. People in the countries that are eating fish and using olive oil are known to have less cancer and heart problems than we have in America.

And the list goes on. It seems that Fish and seafood are very beneficial for pregnant women as well. The Omega 3 fatty acids seem to have a positive effect on fetal brain development and may reduce the risk of premature birth. There are positive effects on the growth and health of the fetus.

All of these very positive effects seem to be linked to the Omega 3 fatty acids, but there is now more and more information coming in about the importance of other nutrients in fish and other seafood. Proteins, vitamins and amino acids may all play a part in the health benefits of eating fish. It’s a case of the sum is more than the total of the parts.

The benefits of eating fish and seafood are so obvious that the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommends that adults eat fish at least twice a week and if you have heart disease, the AHA recommends a diet that contains as many Omega 3 fatty acids as one “fatty fish” meal a day. So Fish is beneficial for the health of people with heart problems as well as it prevents getting those problems in the first place.

When you read all this it seems obvious. Eat more fish and seafood. We have a great selection of seafood recipes available on our website. Talking about great news for seafood lovers! And did you know that there are really zillions of ways to prepare a great seafood meal?

With so much positive news about fish, one doesn’t get around the idea that there might be a catch. Well in a way there is. There are dangers in the form of heavy metals found in fish. An article about the dangers and some FDA guidelines on gaining and not losing your health can be found on our web.

Hans is author of Seafood Recipes at http://www.steaks-guide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Dekker

HEALTY SKIN

2008-12-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

WANNA KNOW ABOUT HEALTY SKIN?????

Drink a lot of water. Your body is composed mainly of water and it is a necessary component of all the natural processes that occur there.http://www.jurgita.com/pictures/articles/1211344501455dd8ec3cc17.jpg When you drink water it not only hydrates your insides but it hydrates your skin as well. Drinking enough water is also one of the best "diets" for weight loss. You should drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses per day.

Stay out of the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are VERY damaging to your skin. Use sunscreen when you are out in it. Be careful of the reflected rays even if you are in the shade. A moisturizer or foundation containing sunscreen is highly recommended for everyday use. I mean EVERY day.

Get plenty of rest. Think that beauty sleep is just a myth? Think again. Proper rest is very important to your overall health and the health of your skin.

Eat Healthy Foods Simple foods are good for you in a lot of ways. They provide essential nutrients; vitamins, minerals and fiber, and are often lower in calories than processed foods. You know the kinds of foods I mean. Beans, rice, vegetables, yogurt, lean meats-there are many more. Cook with olive oil. Use onions, garlic and other high-mineral foods. Many herbs and spices, besides seasoning your supper, also contain beneficial substances. See my Natural Foods page for more information.

Do some type of exercise regularly. Exercise stimulates your entire system to rid itself of built-up toxins. You don't have to buy a treadmill or join a gym (unless you like that kind of thing). Gardening, playing golf, hiking in the woods, whatever you choose to do to get your blood moving is a step in the right direction. Try parking your car a few blocks away from work. There is no doubt that regular activity will begin to make you feel and look better. Once you are accustomed to the walk you may even begin to look forward to it!

You could take up a sport. Even playing frisbee can provide a good cardiovascular workout. It can also improve your strength and hand/eye coordination. Stretching exercises of all kinds are good for working and flexing your joints and muscles. You can do these anywhere; in the middle of your walk, in your living room or kitchen with a chair, even in bed. So get moving! Once you are hooked on activity you may even have to break out that treadmill for rainy days!
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Reduce stress. Easier said than done right? Research has shown that stress is a contributing factor in many health problems. If you are not healthy your skin is not going to look healthy. Take some time out just for you. A luxurious bath is a great stress reliever (Perhaps with some nicely scented oil or salt!). So is relaxing with a good book, a cup of hot Earl Grey tea, watching the sun set, taking a walk, or just sitting and watching birds at a feeder outside your window. Most importantly you must be comfortable with yourself. You have to find happiness in what you are doing RIGHT NOW. Not happiness as some sort of goal: ("I will be happy when I have reached this point, have accomplished this much, have finished...") Get the idea? Decide to be happy now.

MOISTURIZE! I mean all the time. Morning and night. This ties in somewhat wi...

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