HEALTHY COOKING TRICKS

How learning to cook can help you resolve your issues with food. By Jenny Stamos WebMD Feature Reviewed by Charlotte Grayson Mathis, MD If you feel like you're losing the fight against food -- scarfing chips and cookies when you should be munching on carrots -- maybe it's time you learned the rules of healthy eating and healthy cooking. Learning to feel more comfortable in the kitchen can help you feel closer to your food -- and closer to a healthy lifestyle. Diet Secret: Eat at home and learn healthy cooking tricks Americans eat a lot of food they didn't cook themselves. While three-quarters of us eat most dinners at home, less than 60% of us prepare them in our own kitchens. In 2005, the trend of combining the convenience of take-out food with the comforts of home found each American buying an average of 57 restaurant meals to eat elsewhere, up from 33 meals 20 years ago. And when we do cook, we seldom cook from scratch. Last year, less than half of main meals prepared at home included even one fresh product, according to research from the NPD Group. Why don't we cook more often? Many of us are just too busy--and too tired to face the kitchen after a long day of work. Others don't cook because they see food as the enemy, and are afraid they'll eat what they've made--maybe even all of what they've made, says therapist Karen R. Koenig, author of The Rules of "Normal" Eating and The Food and Feelings Workbook. Another cause for kitchen avoidance is the fear of making mistakes. According to Koenig, some people see the food they make as an extension of themselves, so they worry about being judged by the outcome. Ordering in takes a load of pressure off the perfectionist's back--you can blame a lousy dinner on the restaurant it came from, instead of on yourself. Some of us hope that, by steering clear of the kitchen, we can keep the numbers on the scale from creeping slowly upwards. But when it comes to what we eat, ignorance is not bliss. And avoiding the issue won't keep us from getting fat. In fact, studies show that we're more apt to eat too much, too fast when we don't keep an eye on what goes into our mouths. And how can we make sure our meals are healthy and low-calorie if we don't know how they were prepared? Learn healthy cooking tricks—and resolve your food issues, too One of the best ways to watch what you eat is to make it yourself. "I love shortbread cookies," says Vicki Smythe, 26, a personal trainer. "But I had no idea how much butter was in them until I baked a few batches last week--an entire cup of butter in just 1 dozen cookies! I used to eat up to 4 or 5 cookies at a time, but now I'll definitely be stopping at 2!" There are more reasons than just a reality check. "Cooking helps food matter," Koenig says. Many of us are disconnected from food because we're disconnected from our bodies. Cooking helps us tune in to how food smells and looks (real food - not its fake, processed equivalent), as well as to the whole process of feeding ourselves; a process in which food is energy and nourishment--not the enemy. If your biggest food issue is speed eating (which often leads to overeating), cooking can help you slow you down and connect with your senses, she says. Tasting and smelling food as it cooks encourages you to do the same as you eat. You're also more motivated to slow down and really enjoy a meal after working hard to make it. Learn healthy cooking tricks—and resolve your food issues, too continued... Food and cooking have emotional associations, says Koenig, and paying attention to how you feel as you cook you get in touch with feelings you have about the past that relate to food. Were you often urged to finish your dinner because a parent "worked so hard to make it for you"? Or was your childhood spent eating frozen dinners and fending for yourself? The process of cooking can help you understand why you feel the way you do about food. Ready to get started? Here are 4 healthy cooking tricks that can help you be just as comfortable in the kitchen as you are on the couch. Healthy Cooking Tip #1: Stock your kitchen. Healthy cooking starts with filling your cupboards. Keep these basics on hand, and you'll be able to whip up delicious meals in less than the time it takes for pizza to be delivered. Basic healthy cooking tools: good set of pots and pans vegetable steamer/rice cooker soup pot food processor grill crock pot good utensils Basic healthy cooking ingredients: fresh fruits and vegetables (just an amount you'll be able to use before spoilage) frozen vegetables (They're fairly equal to fresh veggies in terms of vitamin levels, says Lola O'Rourke, a Seattle-based dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.) yogurt cheese eggs low-fat cuts of meat such as chicken breast or pork tenderloin (both fresh and frozen) rice (brown, red, black and mixed rice varieties) pasta (preferably whole grain) whole grain bread and/or pita beans (pinto, black, white, etc., both dried and canned) canned chopped tomatoes salsa (fresh, if available) vegetable or chicken stock garlic onion olive oil vinegar herbs and spices (fresh, if possible) Healthy Cooking Tip #2: Plan ahead. Simplify dinnertime prep by making as much as possible ahead of time, O'Rourke suggests. Make double or triple the amount the recipe calls for, and freeze the extra for future use. (Be sure to label and date each item). Minestrone soup is a great example of something that freezes well and thaws into an instant healthy meal, says Carol Hildebrand, co-author, with her brother Bob Hildebrand, executive chef at The Three Stallions Inn in Randolph, Vermont, of 500 3-Ingredient Recipes, 500 5-Ingredient Desserts and 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Comfort Foods. For example: Clean and chop vegetables. Peel and chop potatoes and store in cold water in the fridge. Cut chicken breast into strips or bite-sized pieces for stir fry. Make vegetable or chicken stock to use as a base for soup. Prepare a basic marinara sauce for use over pasta or with polenta. Cook a big batch of beans for minestrone, chili or beans and rice. Cut up fruit for quick snacks. (According to research in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, it's just as nutritious as fruit cut directly before eating.) Healthy Cooking Tip #3: Keep it simple, sweetheart! Using just these basic healthy cooking tools, ingredients, and pre-made foods, you can make any of the following healthy meals in minutes: Stir fry. Fix quick-cooking rice or use a rice cooker (some can even be set to start on a timer, just like your trusty coffee pot), and serve with stir fry made with your pre-prepped chicken and vegetables and your favorite spices. Pasta. Cook whole wheat pasta and serve with pre-made marinara sauce. Round out the meal with a salad of pre-washed and prepped greens. Sandwiches. Grill chicken breast and serve on a pita or whole grain sandwich, again using pre-prepped chicken and veggies. Beans and rice. Cook black or pinto beans, and eat with rice, salsa and a salad. Soup. Here are two quick recipes from Carol and Bob Hildebrand: Healthy Cooking Tip #3: Keep it simple, sweetheart! continued... o Quick chicken soup: Saute pre-cut chicken breast, garlic and onion in bottom of a soup pot with a small amount of olive oil. Add chicken or vegetable soup stock, chopped basil, and either a half bag of your favorite frozen vegetables or the equivalent amount of pre-cut vegetables, and simmer. o Carrot ginger soup: Sauté pre-cut minced fresh ginger, onion and garlic in a small amount of olive oil. Add finely chopped carrots (can be done in food processor ahead of time), saute a few minutes more, add chicken or vegetable stock to cover, and simmer until the carrots are soft. Puree the whole thing in a food processor and serve topped with a dollop of yogurt. Add a salad and some crusty rolls and you're all set! Dessert. Serve fresh fruit anytime for a quick and nutritious snack or dessert. For a special treat, try one of the following ideas from Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Wellness Institute in Chicago and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association: o Quick apple crisp. Microwave chopped apples topped with sprinkled cinnamon. Serve with a sprinkle of rolled oats and sugar. o Grilled fruit. Grill pineapple, peach or banana, and top with a small scoop of ice cream. o Fruit 'n' yogurt sundaes. Spoon low-fat yogurt and chopped fruit into a sundae glass. Pile high, and top with a cherry and reduced-sugar chocolate syrup. Healthy Cooking Tip 4: Fold in flavor. Garlic and onion add flavor depth to any dish, Hildebrand says, and you can up the ante even more with spices like basil, oregano and cilantro--fresh, if possible. A sprinkle of chopped cilantro over black bean soup, for example, adds punch to the entire dish, she says. And salt, when used judiciously, brings out flavor like nothing else. To save on fat and calories, use low-fat plain yogurt in place of sour cream or mayonnaise, and buy low-fat cheese and milk instead of full-fat versions, says O'Rourke. Add flavor to vegetables with low-fat cheese, nuts, salad dressing or margarine with no Trans fat; then add herbs and spices. Blatner suggests an Italian blend on green beans, curry on cauliflower, cumin on sauteed bell peppers, and lemon pepper on broccoli. And there you have it: 4 healthy cooking tricks for a lifetime of good taste. Bon appetit! ENROLL NOW! WWW.VIDEOFITNESSCOACH.COM

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FAD DIET EXPOSED BY DR. PAMELA PEEKE AND KATHLEEN ZELMAN, RD

Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD WebMD Expert Review What It Is Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox is not a traditional diet, but a detoxification program designed both to "cleanse" the body and cause weight loss. Author Roni DeLuz, a registered nurse and naturopathic doctor (not to be confused with a medical doctor) says she created the liquid diet when she was trying to heal herself. Dieters are supposed to cleanse their bodies by drinking liquids every two hours. They choose from a limited number of options including water, homemade soups, juices made from fruits and vegetables, and powdered antioxidant berry and green drinks available from the author's web site. In theory, once free of toxins, your body functions better and your metabolism soars so you can shed those extra pounds. According to the author, this "is not a so-called weight loss diet; it is a safe, 100% natural healthy detox that allows you to safely lose 21 pounds in 21 days."  The Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan is based on three principles: rest, reduce, and rebuild. "Rest comes from not chewing and ingesting nutrients in liquid form. Eliminating toxins, resting the body and engaging in elimination therapy, you cleanse and rebuild the body so it can shed weight," says DeLuz. Dieters choose between a two-day weekend plan, a seven-day plan, or the full 21-day plan, all with a similar schedule of drinking every two hours. DeLuz recommends a 21-day detox yearly, a seven-day cleanup each calendar season, and a weekend detox each week. Supplements including enzyme capsules, an herb cleansing formula, and aloe Vera, as well as services like lymph drainage massages, cellulite treatment, liver flushes, kidney cleanses, body wraps, detoxifying baths, and weekly coffee enemas and colonics are part of the plan. Exercise is included, as long as it can be tolerated and is approved by your doctor. But the recommended physical activity is limited to walking, yoga, a chi machine (a so-called "passive aerobic exerciser"), or jumping on a trampoline, which is encouraged for lymphatic draining to help your body "oxygenate," according to DeLuz. After 21 days, dieters go off the detox plan carefully, because their cleaned bodies will "no longer tolerate processed and junk foods, which will cause weight gain," explains DeLuz. The author recommends slowly awakening the digestive system with a daily protein powder supplement along with vegetables, soy milk, 3-4 ounces of salmon, and 1 cup nonfat yogurt. More nutritious foods are then added. Nutritional supplements (green drinks, berry drink, and protein shakes) continue to be recommended in smaller doses. What You Can Eat Every two hours, you drink a designated liquid. And at the end of the day, you've consumed 40-48 ounces of water, 32-40 ounces of herbal tea, 16 ounces of vegetable-based soup, and 32 ounces of either a green drink made from vegetables, vegetable juice, or a berry drink. "The plan provides approximately 1,000 calories and about 20 grams of protein per day, depending on your choices," says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Amy Jamieson-Petonic, MEd, RD. What You Can Eat continued... There are plenty of fruits and vegetables on the Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan that are either juiced, pureed, cooked, or come in a powdered form. But there's very little else. Allowed foods include garlic, beans, carrots, cucumbers, celery, collard greens, kale, beets, sweet potatoes, summer squashes, most green vegetables, tomatoes, and purple cabbage. Nutritionists are quick to point out that the Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan is lacking in essential protein, fat, and fiber, which could be dangerous. "Diet plans deficient in protein can lead to muscle wasting, and when you don't ingest enough essential fatty acids from fat, you also risk compromising your immune function," says nutrition and fitness expert Pamela Peeke, MD. This plan makes it almost impossible to go out to eat, unless you take along your drink. Be prepared to give up coffee, which experts point out can result in headaches. Alcohol is also on the extensive list of foods and beverages to avoid until the maintenance stage, and even then it is very limited. How It Works "When you're trying to lose weight, your body is not metabolizing or eliminating correctly, so if you put back natural nutrition into your body, you will lose weight," says the author. She blames the "toxins" in the foods and beverages we consume for causing us to be unhealthy and gain weight. Liquid foods are recommended in the Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan because they allow rest from chewing and are better absorbed in the body. Not so, says Peeke. There is no advantage to consuming foods in liquid form. In fact, it works against you. She says whole foods -- not pureed or juiced -- are the best form to eat. "Your body needs whole foods to chew, digest, absorb to keep the gastrointestinal tract functioning well," Peeke says. "Every part of the intestine is designed to extract nutrients, so there is no advantage in liquefying them." DeLuz thinks everyone needs to detox, and says that unless you have a medical condition, there are no consequences to the cleansing and detoxifying 21 day plan." The Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan would be difficult for anyone who is working or traveling to follow, Jamieson points out. "It is unrealistic to follow the plan unless you are at home," says Jamieson.  She also thinks it is expensive, with all the recommended treatments, supplements, and the need for a juicer not found in most home kitchens. A 21-day program plus nine-day maintenance pack is available online for $199 from the author. The web site estimates that the plan costs around $12 per day, but does not indicate what that amount includes. What the Experts Say Yes, you can lose weight rapidly with Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox. But experts say this is more likely a result of severe caloric restriction, rather than detoxification. Peeke warns that this kind of 21-day detox can actually make you fatter in the end. What the Experts Say continued... "You might lose weight because you are taking in so few calories, but most of the lost weight will be fluids and muscle," she says. "In the absence of adequate protein, your body has to get protein from some source, so it burns up its own muscle mass. And at the end of the fast, the dieter will weigh less -- but their body composition will be higher in fat and lower in muscle." The principle of detoxification raises a red flag, says Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry. "The suggestion that we are filled with toxins creates fear that drives book and product sales," she says. "But in truth, our bodies naturally rid themselves of undesirable substances without any human intervention whatsoever." Says Holly Wyatt, MD, an obesity expert with the University of Colorado: "If anything is important to weight loss, it is getting plenty of liquids and staying well hydrated so the liver and kidneys can function optimally, do their jobs, and rid the body of any toxins." The detox diet is deficient in protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and certain minerals, experts say. "The only positive thing to say about this plan is that it encourages plenty of fruits and vegetables, which most people don't get enough of in their diets," says Jamieson-Petonic. Experts agree there is no credible science to substantiate the claims this plan is built upon, such as the need for detoxification, lymphatic draining, liquid nutrition, and frequent bowel cleansing. There are no studies available to document that dieters will lose 21 pounds in 21 days. Instead, this claim is based on testimonials from the author's clinic and her co-author's personal experience. Unless you have a problem associated with your lymph system, this system does not need any help. "If you are concerned about your lymph system, the best thing you can do is get plenty of exercise and drink lots of water -- but you don't need to jump on trampolines or get lymphatic massages," says Peeke. Another problem is that the Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan is likely to leave you hungry. "When you drink most of your calories, you usually don't get the same satiety value as eating solid foods. So dieters may feel very hungry on this plan," says Jamieson. And what happens when the 21-day period is over? "When using enemas and fasting techniques, the fluids you lose come back almost immediately when you reintroduce food and stop the unusual behavior," says Wyatt. Wyatt cautions that this plan could leave dieters feeling dizzy, dehydrated, and light-headed. This, she says, is the result of an inadequate diet -- not as a result of feeling sick as your body dumps toxic residues as the author explains. Food for Thought While the plan may sound like a scientific approach to weight loss, it lacks the fundamentals that dietitians, doctors, and health authorities know are essential for good health. Further, drinking excessive amounts of liquids that are inadequate in many needed nutrients, along with taking such measures as enemas and lymphatic draining, could be unsafe. If you want to lose weight safely and naturally and keep it off, find a plan you can stick with long term -- one that includes regular physical activity and a well-balanced diet.

OBESITY AND YOUR HEALTH

Today, more than 65 percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese.

 

Obesity puts people at increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and some forms of cancer.

The large number of people with obesity and the serious health risks that come with it make understanding its causes and treatment crucial. This fact sheet provides basic information about obesity:

What is it?
How is it measured?
What causes it?
What are the health risks?
What can you do about it?

"Obesity" specifically refers to an excessive amount of body fat. "Overweight" refers to an excessive amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water. As a rule, women have more body fat than men. Most health care professionals agree that men with more than 25 percent body fat and women with more than 30 percent body fat are obese. These numbers should not be confused with the body mass index (BMI), however, which is more commonly used by health care professionals to determine the effect of body weight on the risk for some diseases.

How is obesity measured?

Measuring the exact amount of a person's body fat is not easy. The most accurate measures are to weigh a person underwater or in a chamber that uses air displacement to measure body volume, or to use an X-ray test called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, also known as DEXA. These methods are not practical for the average person, and are done only in research centers with special equipment.

There are simpler methods to estimate body fat. One is to measure the thickness of the layer of fat just under the skin in several parts of the body. Another involves sending a harmless amount of electricity through a person's body. Results from these methods, however, can be inaccurate if done by an inexperienced person or on someone with extreme obesity.

 

Because measuring a person's body fat is difficult, health care professionals often rely on other means to diagnose obesity. Weight-for-height tables, used for decades, have a range of acceptable weights for a person of a given height.

 

One problem with these tables is that there are many versions, all with different weight ranges. Another problem is that they do not distinguish between excess fat and muscle. According to the tables, a very muscular person may be classified obese when he or she is not. The BMI is less likely to misidentify a person's appropriate weight-for-height range.

 

Body Mass Index The BMI is a tool used to assess overweight and obesity and monitor changes in body weight. Like the weight-for-height tables, BMI has its limitations because it does not measure body fat or muscle directly. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplied by 703.

 

Two people can have the same BMI but different body fat percentages. A bodybuilder with a large muscle mass and low percentage of body fat may have the same BMI as a person who has more body fat. However, a BMI of 30 or higher usually indicates excess body fat.

 

The BMI table below provides a useful guideline to check your BMI. First, find your weight on the bottom of the graph. Go straight up from that point until you come to the line that matches your height. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Please review your findings with your health care provider if your BMI is outside of the normal range.

* Without Shoes
**Without Clothes
Sources
George Bray, M.D., Pennington Biomedical Research Center. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report.

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Body Fat Distribution

Health care providers are concerned not only with how much fat a person has, but also where the fat is located on the body. Women typically collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a "pear" shape. Men usually build up fat around their bellies, giving them more of an "apple" shape. Of course some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, especially after menopause.

 

Excess abdominal fat is an important, independent risk factor for disease. Research has shown that waist circumference is directly associated with abdominal fat and can be used in the assessment of the risks associated with obesity or overweight. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems. Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches may have more health risks than people with lower waist measurements because of their body fat distribution.

 

What causes obesity?
Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories from food than he or she burns. Our bodies need calories to sustain life and be physically active, but to maintain weight we need to balance the energy we eat with the energy we use. When a person eats more calories than he or she burns, the energy balance is tipped toward weight gain and obesity. This imbalance between calories-in and calories-out may differ from one person to another. Genetic, environmental, and other factors may all play a part.

Genetic Factors
Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic cause. However, families also share diet and lifestyle habits that may contribute to obesity. Separating genetic from other influences on obesity is often difficult. Even so, science does show a link between obesity and heredity.

 

Environmental and Social Factors
Environment strongly influences obesity. Consider that most people in the United States alive today were also alive in 1980, when obesity rates were lower. Since this time, our genetic make-up has not changed, but our environment has.

 

Environment includes lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and his or her level of physical activity. Too often Americans eat out, consume large meals and high-fat foods, and put taste and convenience ahead of nutrition. Also, most people in the United States do not get enough physical activity.

Environment also includes the world around us—our access to places to walk and healthy foods, for example. Today, more people drive long distances to work instead of walking, live in neighborhoods without sidewalks, tend to eat out or get "take out" instead of cooking, or have vending machines with high-calorie, high-fat snacks at their workplace. Our environment often does not support healthy habits.

 

In addition, social factors including poverty and a lower level of education have been linked to obesity. One reason for this may be that high-calorie processed foods cost less and are easier to find and prepare than healthier foods, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. Other reasons may include inadequate access to safe recreation places or the cost of gym memberships, limiting opportunities for physical activity. However, the link between low socio-economic status and obesity has not been conclusively established, and recent research shows that obesity is also increasing among high-income groups.

 

Although you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can work on changing your eating habits, levels of physical activity, and other environmental factors.

 

Try these ideas:

 

• Learn to choose sensible portions of nutritious meals that are lower in fat.

• Learn to recognize and control environmental cues (like inviting smells or a package of cookies on the counter) that make you want to eat when you are not hungry.
• Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (like brisk walking) on most, preferably all, days of the week.

• Take a walk instead of watching television.
• Eat meals and snacks at a table, not in front of the TV.
• Keep records of your food intake and physical activity.

 

Other Causes of Obesity

Some illnesses may lead to or are associated with weight gain or obesity. These include:

 

• Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. It often results in lowered metabolic rate and loss of vigor.

• Cushing's syndrome, a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition characterized by high levels of androgens (male hormone), irregular or missed menstrual cycles, and in some cases, multiple small cysts in the ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.

A doctor can tell whether there are underlying medical conditions that are causing weight gain or making weight loss difficult.

Lack of sleep may also contribute to obesity. Recent studies suggest that people with sleep problems may gain weight over time. On the other hand, obesity may contribute to sleep problems due to medical conditions such as sleep apnea, where a person briefly stops breathing at multiple times during the night.

(Visit www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/health_risks.htm#sleep  for more information on the relationship between sleep apnea and obesity.) You may wish to talk with your health care provider if you have difficulty sleeping.

Certain drugs such as steroids, some antidepressants, and some medications for psychiatric conditions or seizure disorders may cause weight gain. These drugs may slow the rate at which the body burns calories, stimulate appetite, or cause the body to hold on to extra water. Be sure your doctor knows all the medications you are taking (including over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements). He or she may recommend a different medication that has less effect on weight gain.

 

Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem. Many serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Men who are obese are more likely than nonobese men to develop cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Women who are obese are more likely than nonobese women to develop cancer of the gallbladder, uterus, cervix, or ovaries. Esophageal cancer has also been associated with obesity.

 

Other diseases and health problems linked to obesity include:

 

• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Fatty liver disease (also called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH).

• Gastroesophageal reflux, or what is sometimes called GERD. This problem occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close properly and stomach contents leak back—or reflux—into the esophagus.

• Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.

• Gout, another disease affecting the joints.

• Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing for a short time during sleep.
• Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Health care providers generally agree that the more obese a person is, the more likely he or she is to develop health problems.

Psychological and Social Effects
Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive. Many people think that individuals with obesity are gluttonous, lazy, or both. This is not true. As a result, people who are obese often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression may occur.

 

Who should lose weight?
Health care providers generally agree that people who have a BMI of 30 or greater can improve their health through weight loss. This is especially true for people with a BMI of 40 or greater, who are considered extremely obese.

 

Preventing additional weight gain is recommended if you have a BMI between 25 and 29.9, unless you have other risk factors for obesity-related diseases.

 

Obesity experts recommend you try to lose weight if you have two or more of the following:

• Family history of certain chronic diseases. If you have close relatives who have had heart disease or diabetes, you are more likely to develop these problems if you are obese.
• Preexisting medical conditions. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, high triglycerides, and high blood glucose are all warning signs of some obesity-associated diseases.
• Large waist circumference. Men who have waist circumferences greater than 40 inches, and women who have waist circumferences greater than 35 inches, are at higher risk of diabetes, dyslipidemia (abnormal amounts of fat in the blood), high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Fortunately, a weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your initial body weight can do much to improve health by lowering blood pressure and other risk factors for obesity-related diseases. In addition, research shows that a 5- to 7-percent weight loss brought about by moderate diet and exercise can delay or possibly prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease. In a recent study, participants who were overweight and had pre-diabetes—a condition in which a person's blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes—were able to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes by adopting a low-fat, low-calorie diet and exercising for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. For more information about pre-diabetes and diabetes, visit www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.

 

How is obesity treated?
The method of treatment depends on your level of obesity, overall health condition, and readiness to lose weight. Treatment may include a combination of diet, exercise, behavior modification, and sometimes weight-loss drugs. In some cases of extreme obesity, bariatric surgery may be recommended. (Visit www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gastric.htm for more information on bariatric surgery.)

 

Remember, weight control is a life-long effort, and having realistic expectations about weight loss is an important consideration. Eating a healthful diet and getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week have important health benefits. Sixty minutes of physical activity a day may be required to prevent gradual weight gain in adulthood. Previously overweight and obese individuals are encouraged to get 60 to 90 minutes of exercise a day to sustain weight loss.

 

Although most adults do not need to see their healthcare professional before starting a moderate-intensity physical activity program, men older than 40 years and women older than 50 years who plan a vigorous program or who have either chronic disease or risk factors for chronic illnesses should speak with their health care provider before starting a physical activity program.

For more information on health risks, treatment options, and binge eating, refer to these Weight-control Information Network (WIN) publications:

Active at Any Size. Available from WIN and online at
www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/active.htm.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Publication No. 04-4352. April 2004.

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20 WAYS TO LIVEN UP "HEALTHY EATING"

Whether you're just starting or have been following a healthy diet for years, sticking to the plan can be challenging. But healthy eating doesn't need to be boring or tiresome. Flavorful food combinations, new cooking ideas and an inventive spirit can enliven your meals and snacks.

 

Here are 20 ideas to keep you on course.

1. Experiment with new foods and combinations. Try mango or peach slices on whole-wheat toast with a little peanut butter and honey. Toss some mandarin orange and peach slices into a salad.
2. Add chickpeas, black beans or garbanzos to your lunch or dinner salad. If you typically buy a salad at work and no beans are available, bring beans from home in a small container.
3. Try something new for breakfast. Munch on leftover vegetable pizza or make a smoothie blended from exotic fruits, low-fat yogurt and a spoonful of wheat germ.
4. Stir-fry extra-firm or firm tofu rather than meat in oriental dishes. Freezing and then thawing tofu before use gives it a firmer, chewier texture.
5. Make a nutritious snack rather than a full meal when time is tight. For example, spread a brown rice cake with ricotta cheese and fresh strawberries or low-sugar, spreadable fruit. Or try corn muffins with apple and cheese slices, or fat-free refried beans mixed with salsa, a small amount of low-fat sour cream and baked tortilla chips.
6. Add crushed bran cereal or unprocessed wheat bran to baked products, such as meatloaf, breads, muffins, casseroles, cakes and cookies. Also, use bran products as a crunchy topping for casseroles, salads or cooked vegetables.
7. Grill fresh vegetables for a quick and healthy side dish. Cut vegetables into 1/2-inch slices or large chunks and baste with a light salad dressing or brush them with canola or olive oil. Grill until tender, turning only once.
8. Take advantage of ready-to-use foods. Fresh bagged salads, frozen vegetables, low-fat deli meats, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain breads, and fresh and canned unsweetened fruits take only minutes to prepare.
9. Vary your salad greens and enjoy the multitude of flavors and textures. Choices include arugula, chicory, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach or watercress. Purchase a different variety each week.
10. For breakfast on the go, munch dry, ready-to-eat cereal with a banana and drink a small carton of low-fat or skim milk.
11. Choose a dish that serves as a full meal for quick and simple cooking. Healthy examples include beef, barley and vegetable stew; chicken, vegetable and rice casserole; turkey and bean casserole (made with turkey breast, white beans and tomatoes); or vegetarian chili with diced vegetables.
12. Take advantage of healthy side dishes offered at fast-food restaurants. Instead of french fries, choose a side salad with low-fat dressing or a baked potato. Or add a fruit bowl or a fruit and yogurt option to your meal.
13. Stock your shelves with good-for-you snacks. Low-fat pudding cups, dry roasted soy nuts, low-fat popcorn and whole-grain crispbread crackers are good choices.
14. Decrease the meat portion on your plate and increase the serving size of vegetables. Use three times as many vegetables on pizzas or in casseroles, soups and stews.
15. Plan meals so that you can use the extra food in other dishes. For example, bake chicken breasts for a meal and use what's left in sandwiches, soup or a stir-fry.
16. Use salsa for more than just chips. Whether it's mild, fruity, scorching, smooth or chunky, salsa is a great companion for potatoes, vegetables, fish, chicken or meats.
17. Marinate meat, chicken, fish before cooking to tenderize and add flavor to foods. Try mixtures of herbs or spices with wine, olive oil, soy sauce, cider vinegar or lemon juice.
18. Expand your grain repertoire with whole-grain complements, such as kasha, brown rice, wild rice, barley or whole-wheat tortillas.
19. Use herbs and spices to add color, savory taste and sensational aroma. Add cilantro to rice or bean dishes. Sprinkle rosemary on roasted potatoes or grilled meats. Add freshly chopped chives to omelets or pasta salads.
20. Explore world cuisines. Discover and enjoy foods from around the world: Mexican, Latin American, Indian, Greek, French and Asian cuisines, just to name a few. Some of the world's most intriguing ingredients — quinoa, edamame, bok choy, bulgur — are as healthy as they are delicious.

2008 ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS -- READY TO GO!

"10 WAYS TO CANCEL OUT CANCER" ---> VIDEO BY DR. ROIZEN, Author of "You on a Diet"

THIS IS A MUST-WATCH FOR EVERYONE!  

 

EVEN KIDS!

 

CLICK HERE - IT'S JUST A FEW MINUTES LONG:

 

http://www.cbn.com/media/index.aspx?s=%2fvod%2fDrMichaelRoizen_SW_091207

 

WHY YOU SHOULD EAT 10 TABLESPOONS A WEEK OF TOMATO SAUCE!

 

HOW TO DECREASE CANCER FOR 4 CENTS A DAY!

 

www.timetogetfit.blogspot.com

www.timetogetfitrecipes.blogspot.com

www.videofitnesscoach.com

HORMONE TESTING?

More on Progesterone...a women's best friend Measuring those Hormones   Often times women will tell me they had their hormones tested and were told everything was normal.  Unfortunately a one time blood or saliva sample doesn't give an accurate measurement to those hormones  due to the fact that they fluctuate so much in a month.  A more accurate picture and diagnosis can be made when several hormone samples in a month can be mapped out to determine if there are any abnormal hormonal variations. I encourage anyone who is struggling with  hormonal issues to take anywhere from 7 to 11 saliva samples to get a clear and accurate picture.    The Stress Connection   Low levels of progesterone is often attributed to your adrenal glands stealing your progesterone.  This is why it is recommended to first measure adrenal function and see how much stress we are truly placing on our body.  The best way to measure your adrenal function is with a saliva test that measures both cortisol and DHEA.    Cortisol and DHEA are direct indicators to how much stress you are placing on the body.  The constant demand for cortisol will eventually exhaust the adrenal glands and disrupt the production of your progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and DHEA.   A good 'adrenal stress panel' will include 4 cortisol measurements, 2 DHEA measurements as well as a measurement for your insulin levels.  Measuring insulin is helpful and indicative to adrenal function, because high levels of cortisol trigger increased insulin which is associated with obesity, cravings, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.  The healing process is more than swallowing a handful of supplements and begins by restoring normal function to the body.  If stress is throwing your body out of balance, check to see if your adrenals need support.  If they are - support them and then it will be easier to rebalancing those reproductive hormones.

PROTEIN & CARB EQUIVALENTS TO "DIET BARS"

Protein and Carbohydrate Combinations Equivalent to Diet Bars:

(Calorie Content is available www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR16-1/wtrank/wt_rank.html )   (Glycemic index is available at www.glycemicindex.com )
3 oz. Rainbow Trout, Haddock, or Rockfish 1 cup Green Peas 1 oz. Cheddar Cheese 2 Scrambled Eggs 1½ cup Honey Dew Melon 1 cup Oatmeal (cooked w water) 1 cup Whole Milk ½ cup Raw Blueberries 1 Morningstar Burger Patty 1 oz. Cheddar Cheese ½ Watermelon Wedge 1 Morningstar Burger Patty 1 oz. Cheddar Cheese 1 cup Tomato Soup 1 cup Raspberries 1 cup Cottage Cheese	½ cup Whole Milk ½ cup Blueberries 2 Scrambled eggs 1 cup Tomato Soup 1 fillet Walleye Pollack Fish 1 cup Chicken Vegetable Soup 1 cup 1% Milk 1 Kiwi Fruit ¾ cup Baked Beans 1 oz. Cheddar Cheese 8 oz. Plain Yogurt ½ Granola Bar 1¼ cup Peanuts 1 Nectarine 1 cup Cottage Cheese

INACTIVE ADULTS LOSE MUSCLE

Inactive adults over age 30 lose about 3 - 5% of muscle tissue every 10 years; here's what you can do. Go to the weight room.   Strength training prevents the reduction in muscle tissue that causes the body metabolism to slow and makes the bones more vulnerable to conditions like osteoporosis.

100 Ways to Cut Calories

ANITA,
This Prevention.com (http://features.prevention.com) article has been sent to you from ANITA.

__________________________________________________

100 Ways to Cut Calories (To stop weight gain, most Americans need to do two simple things each day: add 2,000 more steps and eat 100 fewer calories. These tips from America On the Move will help you cut those extra calories) http://features.prevention.com/100calories

__________________________________________________

About.com Article: Workout of the Week - Core Strengthen

	Exercise

The following article from About.com was forwarded to you by ANITA.

Workout of the Week - Core Strengthen http://exercise.about.com/b/a/257239.htm

This email was not initiated by personnel at About.com or the Exercise site.
About does not monitor these emails and is not responsible for any comments or contents forwarded by the sender.

Our Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street, New York, NY, 10011
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DR. PEEKE HAS THE ANSWER---AGAIN!!!!

GIRLS AND GUYS, YOU AREN'T GOING TO LIKE THIS, BUT DR. PEEKE GIVES IT TO YOU STRAIGHT! READ BELOW! ANITA From: http://health.discovery.com/national-body-challenge/ask-pam/jennifer.html Q: Dear Dr. Peeke, I started the DISCOVERY HEALTH NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE right on track with everyone else, and I make it to the gym 4-5 times a week, lifting weights for about 30 minutes, and running for about 25. I've tried to cut out bad foods, and have been doing okay with that too. So, why aren't I losing any weight? I might drop a pound, but that comes back after a day or two. Help! Confused and frustrated, Jennifer A: Hello, Jennifer. Congrats on joining the National Body Challenge. Let's help you with your frustration. First, you need to burn 400 calories per day doing cardio no less than 5 days a week. That means if you ramp up the intensity, you can burn those calories in about 30 minutes. You should be lifting weights 2 x week in a 45 min session at the gym. That's in addition to the cardio. Again, make sure to add what I call "Vitamin I", or Intensity to both your cardio as well as weight training. Next, you've done a great job of addressing the quality of food issue. Now, you need to rein in the quantity. Grab a simple spiral bound note pad and keep a food record for at least a week. It'll be an eye opener. You never really know how much you're eating until you see it on paper. Keep your dinners light by eating a mound of veggies along with 3-4 oz of protein, but keep the starch out of there 5 nights of the week. It'll bloat you and most women overeat it, especially at night. Wake up feeling good and hungry and ready to start the day. Good luck!

Choose Happiness Forever

Hi fitness friends!  Some encouraging words for you!   ANITA   www.timetogetfit.biz www.timetogetfitrecipes.blogspot.com www.squidoo.com/donotdiet www.videofitnesscoach.com

pH BALANCE

From http://home.bluegrass.net/~jclark/coral_calcium.htm

Coral Calcium and pH Balance

Understanding pH Level and Why Many People Have Disease, Including Cancer.

According to the research of Dr. Enderlein, total healing of chronic illness only takes place when and if the blood is restored to a normal, slightly alkaline pH. In case you missed it, let me say it again...

Total healing of chronic illness only takes place when and if the blood is restored to a normal, slightly alkaline pH.

pH: What does it mean? pH is the abbreviation for potential hydrogen. The pH of any solution is the measure of its hydrogen-ion concentration. The higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is. The lower the pH reading, the more acidic and oxygen deprived the fluid is. The pH range is from 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. Anything above 7.0 is alkaline, anything below 7.0 is considered acidic.

The pH scale is from 0 - 14 --

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 healthy 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Human blood stays in a very narrow pH range right around ( 7.35 - 7.45 ). Below or above this range means symptoms and disease. If blood pH moves to much below 6.8 or above 7.8, cells stop functioning and the patient dies. The ideal pH for blood is 7.4.

A healthy blood pH without cancer has acid + alkaline balance almost equal. Actually a healthy body is slightly alkaline measuring approximately 7.4. This ideal blood 7.4 pH measurement means it is just slightly more alkaline than acid.

0 is acid ------ blood pH ( 7.35 - 7.45 ) healthy ------ over 7 to 14 is alkaline

If you have a health problem, most likely you are acidic. Research shows that unless the body's pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. So, no matter what type of modality you choose to use to take care of your health problem, it won't be effective until the pH level is up. If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Your body pH affects everything.

The body has to have a balanced pH like most living things on earth or it does not function correctly. The alkaline level is very important because research has already proven that disease cannot survive in an alkaline state and yet they thrive in an acidic environment.
An acidic balance will: decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it's ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it's ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.

An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

There are two factors that are ALWAYS present with cancer no matter what else may be present. Those two factors are Acid pH and Lack of Oxygen. Can we manipulate those two factors that always have to be present for cancer to develop and by doing so will that help reverse the cancer? If so, we need to learn how to manipulate those two factors.

Cancer needs an acid and low oxygen environment to survive and flourish within. Terminal cancer patients are around 1000 times more acidic than normal healthy people. The vast majority of terminal cancer patients possess a very low body pH.

Why?

In the absence of oxygen, glucose undergoes fermentation to lactic acid. This causes the pH of the cell to drop from between 7.3 to 7.2 down to 7 and later to 6.5 in more advanced stages of cancer and in metastases the pH drops to 6.0 and even 5.7 or lower. Our bodies simply can not fight disease if our body pH is not properly balanced.

The normal human cell has a lot of molecular oxygen and a slightly alkaline pH. The cancer cell has an acid pH and lack of oxygen. Cancer cells cannot survive in an oxygen rich environment. At a pH slightly above 7.4 cancer cells become dormant and at pH 8.5 cancer cells will die while healthy cells will live. Again, the higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is. Cancer and all diseases hate oxygen / pH balance. The proper alkalinity pH of the blood ( 7.35 - 7.45 ) is critical for the overall health of the body. In other words... alkaline or die.

Remember that the pH number is an exponent number of 10; therefore, a small difference in pH translates to a big difference in the number of oxygen or OH-ions. A difference of 1 in a pH value means ten times the difference in the number of OH-ions, a difference of 2 means one hundred times the difference in the number of OH-ions. In other words, blood with a pH value of 7.45 contains 64.9% more oxygen than blood with a pH value of 7.30.

Fact: If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Also, mucus on the small intestine can block your body from vitamin and mineral absorption. Learn how to cleanse the Small Intestine... Click Here

How To Test Your pH Level...

Test your pH level: If you are sick or have cancer simply wet a piece of Litmus Paper with your saliva 2 hours after a meal. This will give a reflection of your state of health.

Salivary pH Test: While generally more acidic than blood, salivary pH mirrors the blood ( if not around meals ) and is also a fairly good indicator of health. It tells us what the body retains.

Salivary pH is a fair indicator of the health of the extracellular fluids and their alkaline mineral reserves.


Optimal pH for saliva is 6.4 to 6.8. Spit upon arising before anything is put into the mouth. A reading lower than 6.4 is indicative of insufficient alkaline reserves. After eating, the saliva pH should rise to 7.8 or higher. Unless this occurs, the body has alkaline mineral deficiencies ( mainly Calcium and Magnesium ) and will not assimilate food very well. To deviate from ideal salivary pH for an extended time invites illness.

Acidosis, an extended time in the acid pH state, can result in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, most cancers and many more. If salivary pH stays too low, the diet should focus on fruit, vegetables and mineral water as well as remove strong acidifiers such as sodas, whole wheat and red meat.

Urinary pH Test: The pH of the urine indicates how the body is working to maintain the proper pH of the blood. The urine reveals the alkaline building (anabolic) and acid tearing down (catabolic) cycles. The pH of urine indicates the efforts of the body via the kidneys, adrenals, lungs and gonads to regulate pH through the buffer salts and hormones. Urine can provide a fairly accurate picture of body chemistry, because the kidneys filter out the buffer salts of pH regulation and provide values based on what the body is eliminating. Urine pH can vary from around 4.5 to 9.0 for its extremes, but the ideal range is 5.8 to 6.8.

Foods considered to be alkaline-forming and thus helpful to people with consistently acid pH include: almonds, aloe vera, apples, apricots, bee pollen, buckwheat, cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, carrots, cucumbers, dairy products except hard cheese, dates, dulse, poached eggs, figs, grapefruit, honey, lettuce, millet, parsley, raisins, peaches, fresh red potatoes, pineapple, soy products, sprouted seeds, cooked spinach, turnip tops, wakame miso soup, azuki beans, rice, mineral water. More alkaline-forming foods... Click Here

People who remain too acid often display symptoms such as:

anxiety, diarrhea, dilated pupils, extroverted behavior, fatigue in early morning, headaches, hyperactivity, hypersexuality, insomnia, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, restless legs, shortness of breath, strong appetite, high blood pressure, warm dry hands and feet.

Balancing the pH is a major step toward well-being and greater health. Acidosis ( overly acidic body ) is the primary indicator of Calcium Deficiency Disease. Scientists have discovered that the body fluids of healthy people are alkaline ( high pH ) whereas the body fluids of sick people are acidic ( low pH ). Coral Calcium and drinking high pH alkaline natural spring or mineral water can help balance your body pH.

Amazing Coral Calcium ( Coral Calcium from Okinawa )

Over 200 diseases are linked to Ionic Calcium Deficiency Disease (ICDD):
Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis, Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, Eczema, Alzheimer's Disease, Fibromyalgia, High Cholesterol, Muscle Cramps, Kidney Stones, Gallstones, Gout, Indigestion, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, Hiatal Hernia, Hypertension, Heartburn, High Blood Pressure, Acne, and many, many more.

Coral Calcium and drinking oxygen rich spring or mineral water with a high pH factor, combined with minerals and other elements, can help provide our body the natural ability to fight off disease.

Scientists have discovered that a low level of oxygen in the body can disrupt the body's ability to function normally and at the same time can severely cripple the immune system, leaving your body vulnerable to disease and premature aging.

Coral Calcium greatly increases the oxygen level in the body, thereby allowing the body to rid itself of toxic waste that continues to build up. That's why when you indulge yourself in "junk food" the body diverts oxygen away from the primary metabolic functions and works overtime trying to digest your high caloric intake. That's why when you eat junk food or large meals you feel sluggish afterwards. Your body literally slows down its metabolism to compensate for the overload.

Is your body oxygen poor?

Here are a few signs to look for:
muscle aches * poor digestion * dizziness * depression * irrational behavior weakness * acid stomach * irritability * memory loss * circulation problems

Louis Pasteur said before he died: The germ is nothing. The "terrain" is everything. Coral Calcium doesn't cure disease. It simply helps keep the pH level of our body fluids in sync so the body fights disease naturally, like it was meant to. Coral Calcium and drinking high pH alkaline water will definitely help our body's "terrain" in preventing and/or cureing disease. In other words, a body with a balanced pH is a deadly environment for all disease, including cancer.

What Coral Calcium can do for you...
· Maintain optimum alkalinity for optimum health
· Provide you easily absorbed and usable calcium
· Cleanse the kidneys, intestines and liver
· Maintain stronger bones and healthier teeth
· Alleviate insomnia
· Keep your heart beating regularly
· Help metabolize your body's iron
· Aid your nervous system
· Breakdown heavy metals and drug residues in your body
· Neutralize harmful acids that lead to illness
· Achieve a healthy alkaline level, neutralizing acid
· Protect your body from free radical damage
· Control digestive problems
· Increase muscle and joint mobility
· Combat arthritic conditions and heart disease
· Regulate blood sugar levels and blood pressure

The Ultimate Alkalinity Therapy High pH Alkaline Water - Coral Calcium - Digestive Enzymes - Alkaline Forming Foods

How to drink for MAXIMUM effectiveness:

Drink ½ your body weight of water in ounces, daily. Example: 180 lb = 90 oz. of water daily. Divide that into 8 or 10 oz. glasses and that's how many glasses you will need to drink, daily. Use ¼ tsp. of Sea salt (celtic sea salt being the highest in mineral content) as seaoning on your food for every quart of water you drink. As long as you drink the water, you can use the salt. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. These are diuretics and will dehydrate you. Every 6 oz. of caffeine or alcohol requires an additional 10 to 12 oz. of water to re-hydrate you. Interesting Facts About Water and Salt... Click Here

The Minimum Recommendations For Water: ( Use Sea salt same as above ) Drink a minimum of 64 ounces ( about 2 liters ) of water every day. I know this is easier said than done. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink - you'll likely never get this much down. Instead, keep filled water bottles at your desk, in your car, by your bed, and near your favorite chair as a reminder. A lot of information and testimonials... Click Here

[ If you have congestive heart failure or kidney disease, or if you are taking diuretics, talk to your doctor before increasing your water intake.]

Coral Calcium has a pH of 10-12 which is extremely high on the alkalinizing side. This means coral calcium will help offset the acid / alkaline ratio within your acidic body, thereby will help return your body to the normal slightly alkaline level. Suggested Dosage: See Chart, below.

Digestive Enzymes: Very few are aware of the real functions of enzymes in the body. We strongly recommend adding Digestive Enzymes to your Alkalinity Therapy and for very good reason.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN THE TRUE PURPOSE OF ENZYMES AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE... Click Here

Plus, it may be a good ideal to add Vitamin B17 ( 500 mg ) and/or Apricot Kernels to your Alkalinity Therapy for cancer.
Vitamin B17 Suggested Dosage... Click Here

To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods. To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods. A list of Acid / Alkaline Forming Foods... Click Here

Our Coral Calcium (1100 mg capsules)

Your pH level
Suggestions to Increase Your pH

below 6.0
1 capsule, 7 times daily = 7700 mg

6.0 - 6.5
1 capsule, 5 times daily = 5500 mg

7.0 or higher
1 capsule, 3 times daily = 3300 mg

Which Coral Calcium is Best for Optimum Nutrition?.. Click Here

WARNING: IF YOU ARE DRINKING DIET SODAS WHICH CONTAIN ASPARTAME OR USING SUGAR-FREE PRODUCTS - READ THIS!!

Diet sodas, foods labeled as "sugarless" "sugar free" "diet foods" "low calorie" and the like - You had better be careful and read the label to see if they contain ASPARTAME. Please check labels carefully Aspartame is poison and extremely acid forming. Take the 60 day aspartame test. Give up all aspartame for 60 days and note the improvements in your health. Check it out... Do internet search on "aspartame and/or diet cola".

[ note in Australia ( and UK ) who just have numbers on things - not names - Aspartame is 951 ]

Note: Again, if you have congestive heart failure or kidney disease, or if you are taking diuretics, talk to your doctor before increasing your water intake.

10 FITNESS FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Fitness Fact 1. Studies have suggested that walking at a brisk pace for three or more hours a week can reduce your risk for coronary heart disease by 65 percent. Fitness Fact 2. About 25 percent of American adults — and an even greater percentage of women — are sedentary. After age 44, upwards of 30 percent of women are sedentary, and by age 65, the proportion increases to almost 35 percent. By the time they reach age 75, about 50 percent of all women are sedentary. Fitness Fact 3. Only about 22 percent of American adults engage in regular, sustained physical activity for at least 30 minutes five times a week, and only 15 percent exercise both regularly and vigorously. Fitness Fact 4. No matter how poor your current level of fitness, you can start an exercise routine and become fitter and healthier. Even 90-year-old women who use walkers have been shown in studies to benefit from light weight training. Fitness Fact 5. Simply adding movement into your daily routine can increase your level of fitness. For example, if you park in the last row of the parking lot and walk briskly five minutes each way between your office and your car, walk up and down the stairs at your office during your 10-minute afternoon coffee break, and walk the dog for 10 minutes when you get home, you've racked up 30 minutes of exercise for the day. Fitness Fact 6. Women with heart disease or arthritis actually experience improved daily function from involvement in various modes of physical activity. Fitness Fact 7. Fitness consists of four components: your body's ability to use oxygen as a source of energy, which translates into cardiovascular fitness; muscular strength and endurance; flexibility; and body composition. Fitness Fact 8. To address all the components of fitness, an exercise program needs to include aerobic exercise, which is continuous repetitive movement of large muscle groups that raises your heart rate; weight lifting or strength training; and flexibility exercises or stretching. Fitness Fact 9. Walking at a brisk pace (a 15-minute mile or 4 mph) burns almost as many calories as jogging for the same distance. The benefit of jogging is that it takes less time to cover the same distance and it benefits the bones; however, it may be too strenuous for some. Fitness Fact 10. It takes about 12 weeks after starting an exercise program to see measurable changes in your body. However, before 12 weeks, you will notice an increase in your strength and endurance. From Discovery Health - Nat'l Women's Health Resource Center

Kitchen Yoga

Kitchen Yoga: Mellow Moves to De-Stress Cooking — and the Cook By Carol Krucoff   That frazzled window of time after work and before dinner when the kids are cranky, the adults are exhausted, and everyone's bite-your-head-off ravenous. If you're like me, the last thing you feel like doing during this volatile period is cooking. What I really crave is to shut myself in a quiet room, light a scented candle, turn on soothing music, and do 20 minutes of yoga to unknot the physical and mental kinks of my day. Sometimes I do just that, then begin cooking dinner in a much brighter state of body and mind. But all too often, other priorities prevail: The kids have a lesson or sports event to attend, my husband or I have a meeting, or everyone — myself included — is too darn hungry to wait an extra 20 minutes for dinner. We could eat out or bring food in, but that carries its own stress, not the least of which is the cost. Someone else in the family could cook, but let's not even go there. After years of struggling with this dinner dilemma, I recently hit upon a solution that's altered my attitude toward cooking. I call it "kitchen yoga," a practice that integrates the components of yoga with the tasks of preparing dinner. A Headstand While Stirring Peas? Before you picture me doing a headstand while stirring the peas, let me explain. Yoga means "union," and this ancient Indian art seeks to unify body and mind, with the goal of uniting mortal humans with the eternal divine. The physical discipline that has become so popular in our stressed-out society is called hatha yoga and was created, in part, to help release bodily tension so practitioners could sit still to meditate. Hatha yoga is just one of eight distinct yoga practices with the same goal — to achieve enlightenment. Hatha yoga has many health benefits including stress reduction, weight control, increased flexibility and strength. But to think of this spiritual discipline as merely physical training is a common Western mistake that I realized I was making when I felt forced to choose between yoga and cooking. The healthier approach is to combine the two. "Yoga once or twice a week for an hour or so is certainly better than no yoga at all," write Georg (CQ) Feuerstein and Larry Payne in their excellent, if unfortunately titled, guidebook Yoga for Dummies (IDG Books, 1999). "But you unlock the real potency of yoga when you adopt it as a lifestyle. This means living yoga … [and] applying the wisdom of yoga to everyday life." Practicing Kitchen Yoga For me, applying yoga to cooking requires a little preparation. I change into comfy clothes, kick off my shoes (or wear wool clogs if it's cold), drink a glass of water, and put on soothing music. Then I'm ready to practice kitchen yoga. The first step is "sink centering." I wash and dry my hands, then rest them lightly on the edge of the sink while focusing on the three central elements of hatha yoga: 1. Posture. Good alignment reduces the stress on muscles and joints and allows deep, full breathing. Proper standing posture means keeping the weight equally distributed on both feet, relaxing the shoulders and arms, slightly tucking the pelvis and extending the spine so that the head floats gently upward on the neck. 2. Breathing. Yogis have known for centuries — and modern studies confirm — that breathing provides a powerful link between body and mind, uniting them and helping establish a state of physiological calm. Proper breathing expands the abdomen, allowing the deepest part of the lungs to fill. To practice "belly breathing," I place both hands on my abdomen, with index fingers touching each other near the navel. I inhale deeply, so that my abdomen expands and pushes against my hands. On exhale, I tighten my abdominal muscles to push air out of the bottom of my lungs. 3. Attitude. Yoga seeks to cultivate a positive mind-set characterized by two qualities: awareness, which means being consciously present in the moment, and relaxation, which means releasing unnecessary tension. I continue belly breathing for a few minutes and do a quick scan of my body, using my breath to help release any tension I feel. Now I'm ready to cook. As I go about the varied tasks of dinner preparation, I try to retain good posture, breathing and attitude. And whenever I have a few minutes — say, while waiting for water to boil — I do a yoga stretch. While it's true that kitchen yoga is no substitute for a yoga class or practice session, it sure beats cooking with the poisonous spices of tension and resentment. It also helps build flexibility, not just of body but of mind. True fitness isn't about going to the gym a few times a week. It's a matter of staying in touch with your body and honoring its needs for movement and for rest throughout your day. Kitchen Yoga Poses Here are a few kitchen yoga poses you can try, whether you're just preparing a quick dinner or slaving over an extravagant holiday meal: Counter Dog Pose: Rest your palms lightly on a counter top or shelf. Walk your feet back so that your upper body straightens, forming a right angle with your lower body at the hips. Inhale, then exhale, and feel the stretch running from your hands to your tailbone. Keep your knees soft and also feel a stretch in the backs of your legs. Shoulder Opener: Raise your arms overhead, then drop your hands so that you're holding the elbow of your right arm with your left hand and your right hand is lightly touching your back. Gently pull the elbow behind your head. Breathing normally, hold the stretch for 15 seconds, then repeat on the other side. Prayer Hands: Place your palms together, fingers pointing upward as if in prayer, with your thumbs lightly touching your breastbone. Keeping your wrists in this position, gently rotate your hands away from your body as far as you comfortably can, then return to prayer position.

NEW PASTA DIET

PASTA DIET -- IT REALLY WORKS !!  You walka pasta da bakery.  You walka pasta da candy store.  You walka pasta da Ice Cream shop.  You walka pasta da fridge. You will lose weight!