IF BACON FAT CAN DO THIS TO YOUR PIPES, WHAT IS IT DOING TO YOU?

Strategies to help promote flexible and healthy joints

The first thing everyone things of when it comes to joint health is glucosamine and chondroitin. Those two molecules make up the type of cartilage found within joints. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint. Inside your joints, cartilage undergoes a constant process of breakdown and repair. However, to be properly repaired, the building blocks of cartilage must be present and available. The theory behind using the glucosamine and chondroitin joint supplements is that more of the cartilage building blocks will be available for cartilage repair. (more on this subject at a later date)

While both of those products are fantastic to help support your joints , there are other strategies that one can use to prevent or diminish the risk of joints issues. Here are 6 of them:

1. Exercise. There's a common urban legend that exercise is bad for your joints. It's simply a myth that you can 'wear down' your knees just from average levels of exercise – and/or normal activity. In fact, inactivity causes your muscles to become weaker and actually works against optimal joint flexibility and comfort.

One caution, however when using this valuable tool, you need to start slowly if you have not been exercising regularly, and build up to higher activity levels otherwise you risk incurring an injury that could cause really set you back..

2. Achieve your optimal weight to improve your bio-mechanic function. Overweight and obese people compromise joint comfort more than those who are carrying their ideal load. Each additional 2 pounds of body mass increases the compressive load over your knee by nearly 9 pounds.

Research shows that a weight loss of as little as 11 pounds can have a positive effect on joint function. And those who are at their optimal weight experience increased joint health as compared to those who are obese or overweight.

3. Eat a higher quality diet. Eliminate sugar and starchy carbs from your diet. And definitely stop drinking soda. These foods do absolutely nothing to support healthy joints or a healthy body. In fact, their potential for damage is well documented.

4. Optimize your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D also supports a healthy immune response.

5. Get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids

6. Minimize the mental and emotional stress in your life. I know, easier said than done. But this step is great for your health in general and for your joint health as well. If you experience an overabundance of stress, make sure you practice relaxation techniques, do some yoga, take a break. And most importantly, don’t forget to laugh!!!!

REASONS TO GO OUTSIDE

REASONS TO GO OUTSIDE

1. Reduce stress with a walk through a park. Nature… the best stress reliever

2. You burn much more calories walking outdoors than sitting indoors watching TV

3. Working out in the sunshine and fresh air boosts your “happy hormones” level

4. Great way to spend some quality family time. Hiking, biking, swiming or just playing games in the back yard

5. Boosts your level of vitamin D by soaking up the rays. Beat that ugly cabin fever.

6. Increase your energy level. The more energy you spend, the more you will reap.

7. Have fun!!!

Aging ??

Eating the wrong foods -- or not eating the right foods -- can result in symptoms that most people tend to assume are due to aging. Here are to steer you in the right direction. There are more but this is a good beginning.

Mistake #1: You avoid all animal protein
Vitamin B12, which is essential for energy, is found only in foods that are derived from animals. This nutrient helps regulate your metabolism, and it is an important part of maintaining a healthy brain and nervous system. Fatigue is a classic sign of B12 deficiency

Mistake #2: You're not getting enough manganese and copper
Manganese and copper prevent joint pain, and are both essential for maintaining joint cartilage and flexibility. In many cases, getting enough of these nutrients reverses joint deterioration and eliminates joint pain.

Mistake #3: You avoid healthy fats
Omega-3 fats are part of your brain's building blocks. If you're not getting enough in your diet, the architecture of your brain becomes weak, and brain function, including memory, deteriorates.

Mistake #4: You favor packaged foods over whole
Most processed foods do not have enough potassium, which can result in high blood pressure. Eating better can correct the problem.

Be smart, stay healthy.. and young !!!

Essential Fatty Acids

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS--VITAL FOR LIFE...Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are essential for the healthy functioning of every organ, cell, and tissue in your body. They are vital for cell oxygenation, proper brain and nerve function (fatty acids constitute 70% of brain and nerve tissue) proper growth, health skin, lipid and metabolism regulation, prostaglandin and hormone formation, rapid recovery of fatigued muscles, etc. EFA's are anti-inflammatory, brain and cardio protective, and necessary for any weight loss program.

Unfortunately, although our modern day diets are high in fat, it is not the "good" kind of fat. Our foods are cooked with overheated, processed, and often rancid oils. The delicate EFA's in oil are completely destroyed by high temperatures. In fact, prolonged heat completely changes an oil's molecular structure, making it rancid, toxic and very difficult for our bodies to digest and assimilate.

Essential fatty acids are healthy fats, the "good" kind of fats, fats that heal. They are "essential" because our bodies do not manufacture them, so they must be supplied by specific foods or through supplementation. If we get the right kind of fats in the right amounts and balances, they build our health and keep us healthy. The wrong kinds of fats cause degenerative diseases. We need to choose healthy fats every day.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID DEFICIENCY:

• Dry skin and hair; impaired nail growth
• Chronic eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis; adult acne
• Chronic diarrhea; Chron's disease; Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Attention Deficit Disorder, hyperactivity
• Irritability and/or nervousness; PMS, mood change
• Have emphysema, asthma, or other chronic lung disease
• Chronic joint pain or arthritis; increased susceptibility to infection
• History of infertility or impotence
• Chronic depression
• Low metabolic rate; weight gain

The dreaded PMS

The 4 Definitive Signs of PMS are:
1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a group of physical and emotional symptoms that some women experience in the week or two before their menstrual period. Symptoms subside when the menstrual period starts and within a couple of days of menstrual flow.

PMS symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Symptoms may include:

· Breast Swelling and Tenderness

· Dizziness

· Headache

· Cramps

· Nausea and vomiting

· Food cravings

· Abdominal bloating

· Weight gain from water retention

· Stomach upset

· Swelling of the face, hands, ankles

· Depressed mood, mood swings

· Crying spells

· Anxiety, irritability, anger

· Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)

· Appetite changes or food cravings

· Fatigue

Here are some things that can help your symptoms of PMS

· Good chiropractic care, the goal of chiropractic adjustments is to attempt to restore proper functioning of the nervous system, which helps to eliminate the monthly symptoms of PMS.

· A mixture of essential fatty acids (EFAs) was shown to significantly improve the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome

· Studies suggest that calcium levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation may reduce the severity of symptoms. A large study looked at 1057 women with PMS and 1968 women without PMS. Women with the greatest intake of calcium from food sources had the least PMS symptoms.

· Another study found that 300 mg of calcium carbonate four times a day significantly reduced bloating, depression, pain, mood swings, and food cravings.

· Magnesium is an important mineral that helps form bones, relax muscle spasms, activate cellular enzymes, and regulate nerve and muscle function. There are many ways in which magnesium helps provide relief to symptoms associated with PMS

· Intake of vitamin B6 helps in blood circulation and water retention.

Dietary Suggestions

· Reduce sugar and salt intake. This is especially useful for bloating and swelling of the hands and feet, breast tenderness, and dizziness. Increase foods rich in potassium, such as fish, beans, and broccoli.

· Eat small, frequent meals to help stabilize blood sugar.

· Eliminate caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety, depression, and breast tenderness.

· Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fish.

· Avoid alcohol.

· Decrease intake of fatty foods

Exercise
Regular aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling may help relieve PMS symptoms. In one study, the frequency but not the intensity of exercise was associated with a decreased PMS symptoms.

Relaxation
Breathing exercises, meditation, aromatherapy, and yoga are some natural ways to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Many women feel more assertive and attuned to their needs in the weeks before menses. This can be used constructively by allowing for personal time to relax, expressing emotions, and giving priority to your needs and what nourishes you.

Herbal remedies

There are a lot of herbal remedies and teas that will help women.

· Peppermint tea

· Chamomile tea

· Yarrow tea.

· Alfalfa seeds

· Evening Primrose

· Chaste tree berry

· Valerian root,

· St. John’s Wort

Be smart, stay healthy

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) comprises any of a group of corn syrups that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fructose to produce a desired sweetness. HFCS typically contains a mixture of 45 percent glucose and 55 percent fructose

The corn-based sweetener is found throughout the American diet, in everything from sugary foods like soda and cookies to savory products like tomato sauce and salad dressing.

HFCS was invented in the 1960s and has been used extensively in consumer products since only the late 1970s. Being less expensive to produce makes it more attractive to manufacturers than regular sugar.

Nearly half of the 20 HFCS samples tested in a recent study contained small amounts of potentially harmful mercury, according to a report in Environmental Health. While the Corn Refiners Association argues that the research was based on outdated information, another study by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy found that one-third of all HFCS-containing foods it bought in the fall of 2008 tested positive for the toxin. The researchers believe that HFCS is probably the source: A compound known as caustic soda, which is used to separate the corn starch from the kernel, can be tainted with mercury, and there's no way for you to know whether the caustic soda used was contaminated, according to study author David Wallinga, MD. Although much of the US production of caustic soda uses mercury-free technology, not all manufacturers worldwide have followed suit, adding fuel to the argument for minimizing HFCS intake.

When you eat 120 calories of glucose, less than one calorie is stored as fat. 120 calories of HFCS, on the other hand, results in 40 calories being stored as fat. Consuming HFCS is essentially consuming fat!

The metabolism of fructose by your liver creates a long list of waste products and toxins including a large amount of uric acid, which drives up blood pressure and causes gout.

Fructose also interferes with your brain’s communication with leptin, resulting in overeating.

Only foods labeled 100% organic can be assumed to be HFCS-free.

The USDA recommends that a person with a 2000 calorie, balanced diet should consume no more than 32 g (8 tsp) of added sugar per day. Here are some sweet foods and the percentage of the daily recommended amount of sweeteners they provide

· typical cup of fruit yogurt - 70%

· cup of regular ice cream - 60%

· 12-ounce Pepsi - 103%

· Hostess Lemon Fruit Pie - 115%

· serving of Kellogg's Marshmallow Blasted Froot Loops - 40%

· quarter-cup of pancake syrup - 103%

· Cinnabon - 123%

· large McDonald's Shake - 120%

· large Mr. Misty Slush at Dairy Queen - 280%

· Burger King's Cini-minis with icing - 95%

Avoid sodas and fast foods.

Learn to read your labels.

Make smart choices.

You hold your health in your own hand!!!