One natural supplement that I recommend over and over again to my clients is Brewer's Yeast. It's cheap, it's natural and it's loaded with vitamins and minerals. Just look at the list below of all the nutrients it contains.
Brewer's Yeast is a good source of:
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Biotin
Calcium
Chromium
Folic Acid
Inositol
Iron
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Selenium
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Zinc
Brewer's Yeast is a great supplement for people under a great deal of stress as this depletes the body of the vital B Vitamins. Also people suffering from any of the following ailments would be well advised to consider Brewer's Yeast:
Acne
Anemia
Anxiety
Arthritis
Canker Sores
Dermatitis
Depression
Edema (water retention)
Eye disorders
Fatigue
Forgetfulness
Hair Loss
Headaches
Insomnia
Irritability
Loss of Appetite
Low Blood Sugar
Moodiness
Poor Concentration
Poor Memory
I have personally taken Brewer's Yeast for years and it has always been the best thing to take to get my Eczema under control when it has been particularly bad. I highly recommend it. You can purchase it here http://astore.amazon.com/myheabal2-20 or find it at your local Health Food Store
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Weight Loss - "Just Tell Me WHAT to Do and I'll Do It"
"Just Tell Me WHAT to Do and I'll Do It" - if I had a dollar for every time I heard that from a client, I would be rich. However, if I only received payment if it were true and the client actually followed through with this commitment - well, as you can guess that my bank account wouldn't change much.
When people make this statement, I believe they mean it in the moment - I know because I have made that statement too and meant it. But once they find out the what the "WHAT" is in what they have to do, that the conviction wavers. The truth is that the "WHATs" for weight loss are basically always the same. This list you see below is nothing you haven't read before. However, what may happen this time is that you may actually decide to follow through on that commitment.
WHAT is your return on investment here, anyway? I mean, is it really worth it? Let's see, you will get: more energy; a sleeker, hotter body; improved immunity; longer life expectancy; a new wardrobe (for all you shoppers!); and a better sense of self-worth. I'd say that is a pretty good return on investment.
So here is the list of 10 suggestions that you have probably seen before. But before you read on, say this out loud with conviction: "Just tell me WHAT to do and I will do it!!!!" - even if you only do one of these things, that will be progress.
WHAT #1: Exercise 30 minutes 5-6 times a week elevating your heart rate
WHAT #2: Incorporate Weights into your exercise program
WHAT #3: Eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day - at least 3 servings, but 7-10 servings is the recommended daily amount
WHAT #4: Eat raw nuts and seeds daily
WHAT #5: Eat a variety of grains and choose multigrain breads, crackers, etc.
WHAT #6: Use natural honey or natural maple syrup as sweeteners
WHAT #7: Incorporate legumes into your diet
WHAT #8: Keep a food diary of everything you eat
WHAT #9: Limit consumption of alcohol to 2-3 drinks per week
WHAT #10: Avoid or limit all processed, refined, fried and fast foods
Best wishes!!
When people make this statement, I believe they mean it in the moment - I know because I have made that statement too and meant it. But once they find out the what the "WHAT" is in what they have to do, that the conviction wavers. The truth is that the "WHATs" for weight loss are basically always the same. This list you see below is nothing you haven't read before. However, what may happen this time is that you may actually decide to follow through on that commitment.
WHAT is your return on investment here, anyway? I mean, is it really worth it? Let's see, you will get: more energy; a sleeker, hotter body; improved immunity; longer life expectancy; a new wardrobe (for all you shoppers!); and a better sense of self-worth. I'd say that is a pretty good return on investment.
So here is the list of 10 suggestions that you have probably seen before. But before you read on, say this out loud with conviction: "Just tell me WHAT to do and I will do it!!!!" - even if you only do one of these things, that will be progress.
WHAT #1: Exercise 30 minutes 5-6 times a week elevating your heart rate
WHAT #2: Incorporate Weights into your exercise program
WHAT #3: Eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day - at least 3 servings, but 7-10 servings is the recommended daily amount
WHAT #4: Eat raw nuts and seeds daily
WHAT #5: Eat a variety of grains and choose multigrain breads, crackers, etc.
WHAT #6: Use natural honey or natural maple syrup as sweeteners
WHAT #7: Incorporate legumes into your diet
WHAT #8: Keep a food diary of everything you eat
WHAT #9: Limit consumption of alcohol to 2-3 drinks per week
WHAT #10: Avoid or limit all processed, refined, fried and fast foods
Best wishes!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Heart Healthy is ALL Healthy
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the NUMBER 1 KILLER of men and women in North American. Since 1984, more women than man die from CVD every year. Here are the top 6 killers of women and men in order:
Top 6 Killers of Women
1) Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
2) Cancer (lung, breast, colon...)
3) Respiratory/Lung Disease
4) Alzheimer's Disease
5) Diabetes
6) Pneumonia/Flu
Top 6 Killers of Men
1) Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
2) Cancer (lung, prostate, colon...)
3) Accidents (car,...)
4) Respiratory/Lung Disease
5) Diabetes
6) Pneumonia/Flu
Women live on average 8 years longer than men (sorry, life's not fair) which is why Alzheimer's shows up on the list for women and not men and since there is a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s as you age. This also means that most men will be dead before they will lose their minds (although some women would disagree!!)
All joking aside, the main point here is that taking care of your heart needs to be your top priority. I can remember my aunt, who has a strong gag reflex, asking her dentist if she really needed to floss ALL her teeth. His response was "No, only the ones you want to keep." So when people ask me if they really need to exercise and eat healthy, can you guess my answer? These things are not optional if you want to live a long and healthy life.
The good news is if you take good care of your heart, the rest of your body will follow. First, it is a good idea to know your Cholesterol levels and check your Blood Pressure on a regular basis just so you know your risk factors.
One of the best ways to lower Cholesterol is to increase your fiber since fiber binds with fats, such as Cholesterol, and is excreted. The easiest way to do this is to add 2 Tbsps of ground Flax Seeds to your diet every day. Flax is easy to digest, it is loaded with Omega 3 Fatty Acids, it binds to fats and toxins, it promotes good bacterial growth in the intestines and it makes the stool slippery so bowel movements are easier. Psyllium is often recommended, but I don't like it as much because it has no Omega 3's and it absorbs 40 times it's weight in water, so if you don't drink enough water you can actually become constipated.
Of course the best fiber comes from fresh fruits and vegetables. You absolutely must consume these daily. I know you have heard that a gazillion times and there's a reason for that - IT'S TRUE. The fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients (phyto = plant) are absolutely vital to your health. The more nutrients you get into your body from natural sources, the less likely you are to crave junk food. Many North Americans, despite eating vast quantities of food, are literally "starving to death" because they are not getting nutrients into their bodies from eating highly processed foods that are devoid of all nutrients. When the body is starving, triglyceride levels become elevated and insulin resistance develops which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes (watch for another blog posting to come)
Fish oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties and studies on patients with CVD have found that inflammation is a major cause of the CVD so taking fish oil helps reduce the risk. Cold water fish such as salmon, herring, trout and mackerel are an excellent choice.
Eating Oatmeal, that is traditional oats - not the quick oats, is a great way to lower Cholesterol. They are a rich source of Tocotrienols - these are "relatives" to the vitamin E family and prevent oxidation of LDL Cholesterol.
Almonds and walnuts are a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids. Studies have shown that walnuts significantly increase the elasticity of the arteries.
Reduce simple sugars and eat foods with a Glycemic Index rating of less that 55 (http://www.glycemicindex.ca/glycemicindexfoods.pdf). This is great strategy for reducing all disease. Low Glycemic foods do not spike blood sugar levels and start the insulin roller coaster that leads to nothing but trouble.
Now for the dreaded "E" word - EXERCISE. No one is expecting you to become a marathon runner, but everyone can at least go for a 20 minute fast-paced walk every day. I get up 30 minutes early every morning (and I am NOT a morning person) to go for a bike ride. I always feel amazing afterward. Load your IPod or MP3 with some great tunes, or better yet, a motivational CD, and the time will fly. Your heart is a muscle and you absolutely have to exercise it.
Remember, keeping your Heart Healthy means keeping you Healthy.
Top 6 Killers of Women
1) Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
2) Cancer (lung, breast, colon...)
3) Respiratory/Lung Disease
4) Alzheimer's Disease
5) Diabetes
6) Pneumonia/Flu
Top 6 Killers of Men
1) Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
2) Cancer (lung, prostate, colon...)
3) Accidents (car,...)
4) Respiratory/Lung Disease
5) Diabetes
6) Pneumonia/Flu
Women live on average 8 years longer than men (sorry, life's not fair) which is why Alzheimer's shows up on the list for women and not men and since there is a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s as you age. This also means that most men will be dead before they will lose their minds (although some women would disagree!!)
All joking aside, the main point here is that taking care of your heart needs to be your top priority. I can remember my aunt, who has a strong gag reflex, asking her dentist if she really needed to floss ALL her teeth. His response was "No, only the ones you want to keep." So when people ask me if they really need to exercise and eat healthy, can you guess my answer? These things are not optional if you want to live a long and healthy life.
The good news is if you take good care of your heart, the rest of your body will follow. First, it is a good idea to know your Cholesterol levels and check your Blood Pressure on a regular basis just so you know your risk factors.
One of the best ways to lower Cholesterol is to increase your fiber since fiber binds with fats, such as Cholesterol, and is excreted. The easiest way to do this is to add 2 Tbsps of ground Flax Seeds to your diet every day. Flax is easy to digest, it is loaded with Omega 3 Fatty Acids, it binds to fats and toxins, it promotes good bacterial growth in the intestines and it makes the stool slippery so bowel movements are easier. Psyllium is often recommended, but I don't like it as much because it has no Omega 3's and it absorbs 40 times it's weight in water, so if you don't drink enough water you can actually become constipated.
Of course the best fiber comes from fresh fruits and vegetables. You absolutely must consume these daily. I know you have heard that a gazillion times and there's a reason for that - IT'S TRUE. The fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients (phyto = plant) are absolutely vital to your health. The more nutrients you get into your body from natural sources, the less likely you are to crave junk food. Many North Americans, despite eating vast quantities of food, are literally "starving to death" because they are not getting nutrients into their bodies from eating highly processed foods that are devoid of all nutrients. When the body is starving, triglyceride levels become elevated and insulin resistance develops which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes (watch for another blog posting to come)
Fish oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties and studies on patients with CVD have found that inflammation is a major cause of the CVD so taking fish oil helps reduce the risk. Cold water fish such as salmon, herring, trout and mackerel are an excellent choice.
Eating Oatmeal, that is traditional oats - not the quick oats, is a great way to lower Cholesterol. They are a rich source of Tocotrienols - these are "relatives" to the vitamin E family and prevent oxidation of LDL Cholesterol.
Almonds and walnuts are a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids. Studies have shown that walnuts significantly increase the elasticity of the arteries.
Reduce simple sugars and eat foods with a Glycemic Index rating of less that 55 (http://www.glycemicindex.ca/glycemicindexfoods.pdf). This is great strategy for reducing all disease. Low Glycemic foods do not spike blood sugar levels and start the insulin roller coaster that leads to nothing but trouble.
Now for the dreaded "E" word - EXERCISE. No one is expecting you to become a marathon runner, but everyone can at least go for a 20 minute fast-paced walk every day. I get up 30 minutes early every morning (and I am NOT a morning person) to go for a bike ride. I always feel amazing afterward. Load your IPod or MP3 with some great tunes, or better yet, a motivational CD, and the time will fly. Your heart is a muscle and you absolutely have to exercise it.
Remember, keeping your Heart Healthy means keeping you Healthy.
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