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Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked

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Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked

1. Sugar Causes Diabetes
The most common nutrition myth is probably that sugar causes diabetes. If you have diabetes, you do need to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake, with the help of your Registered Dietitian, to properly manage your blood sugar level. However, if you do not have diabetes, sugar intake will not cause you to develop the disease. The main risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are a diet high in calories, being overweight, and an inactive lifestyle.

2. All Fats are bad
It’s a long-held nutrition myth that all fats are bad. But the fact is, we all need fat. Fats aid nutrient absorption and nerve transmission, and they help to maintain cell membrane integrity – to name just a few of their useful purposes. However, when consumed in excessive amounts, fats contribute to weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancers.

3.Brown Sugar is better than White Sugar
The brown sugar sold at grocery stores is actually white granulated sugar with added molasses. Yes, brown sugar contains minute amounts of minerals. But unless you eat a gigantic portion of brown sugar every day, the mineral content difference between brown sugar and white sugar is absolutely insignificant. The idea that brown and white sugar have big differences is another common nutrition myth.

4.Brown Eggs are more nutritious than White Eggs
Contrary to a widely believed nutrition myth, eggshell color has nothing to do with the quality, flavor, nutritive value, cooking characteristics, or shell thickness of an egg. The eggshell color only depends upon the breed of the hen.

5. Avoid seafood to lower blood cholesterol
I still can’t believe it, but I heard this nutrition myth from my own doctor! In fact, the dietary cholesterol found in seafood and other meats has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids are the most important factors that raise blood cholesterol.

6.Avoid carbohydrate to lose weight
The key message that many low-carb diets convey is that carbohydrates promote insulin production, which in turn results in weight gain. Therefore by reducing carbohydrate intake, you can lose weight. Unfortunately, this is just another nutrition myth.

7. Avoid nuts as they are fattening
Yes, it’s true that nuts are quite calorically dense. Fifteen cashews, for instance, deliver 180 kilocaleries! On top of that, it is very tough not to overeat these tasty snacks. But if you can restrain yourself from overeating them, nuts can be a part of a healthy diet.

8. Eating for 2 is necessary during pregnancy
Energy requirements vary among individuals. Unfortunately, the idea that pregnancy is an ice cream free-for-all is a nutrition myth. It is generally recommended that pregnant women increase their daily intake by 100 kcal in the first trimester and 300 kcal in the second and third trimesters. An extra snack before bedtime consisting of a fruit, a serving of milk or yogurt, and a few biscuits is often enough.

9. Skipping meals can help lose weight
Many people think that by skipping a meal, they will be eating less food and therefore lose weight. As we now know, this is a nutrition myth. People who think skipping meals means weight loss do not understand how our bodies work.

If you skip a meal, your body will think that you are in starvation mode and therefore slow down the metabolism to compensate. You then tend to overeat at the next meal. Often, skipping a meal and then eating too much at the next one means that you have a higher total caloric intake than if you just ate more frequently throughout the day. A better approach is to eat smaller frequent healthy meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar balanced.

10. Red meat is bad for health
I often hear people saying that they do not eat red meat. When I ask why they don’t, or even what they consider to be red meat, the answers vary dramatically.

It is a nutrition myth, however, that red meat is altogether bad for your health. Instead of excluding red meats, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. For beef, choose eye of round, top round roast, top sirloin and flank; for pork, choose tenderloin and loin chops.

Natural Life Extenders And Nutrition For Aging

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Coenzyme Q10 Aids circulation, increases tissue oxygenation, protects the heart and is vital for many bodily functions. 100 milligrams daily.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is an adrenal hormone that enhances immune function. It has been found to help prevent and treat many of the disorders associated with aging. Take as directed on label.

DMG (Dimethylglycine) is a derivative of the amino acid glycine. It improves tissue oxygenation and boosts immune function. Take as directed on label.

Melatonin is a natural hormone that acts as an antioxidant. The body produces an abundant supply early in life, but as we age, production steadily declines. It may also help counteract insomnia, boost immunity and prevent cancer. 1.5 – 5 milligrams daily, taken 2 hours or less before bedtime.

Mushrooms Maitake, morel, reishi and shitake are mushrooms that the ancient Chinese praised as superior medicine that give eternal youth and longevity. They are found fresh as well as in supplement form.

PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid) is one of the B vitamins. It keeps skin healthy and delays wrinkles. Take as directed on label.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) keeps hair healthy with little graying and prevents premature hair loss. It is also important for normal adrenal and immune function. As prescribed by physician.

Helpful Herbs For Old Age

Burdock root and red clover cleanse the bloodstream. They can be used separately or in combination.

Chaparral has antioxidant characteristics.

Echinacea helps to boost the immune system.

Garlic helps immune function and protects the heart.

Ginseng and ginkgo biloba extract are good for giving extra energy, increasing circulation and improving brain function. (Do not use ginseng if you have high blood pressure.)

Gotu Kola is called the “fountain of youth” herb in China and is thought to work with the immune system.

Horsetail, taken in form of tea or extract, is an excellent source of silicon, which is important for maintaining the strength of bones and connective tissue, and possibly the walls of blood vessels.

Ligustrum has immune fighting properties and is used to reverse prematurely graying hair and to retard aging.

Milk thistle promotes good liver function.

Stinging nettle is full of vital minerals, good for prostate, hypoglycemia, allergies, depression and urinary tract disorders, and a host of other problems.

Valerian root is valuable as a sleep aid and tranquilizer.

Wild yam contains natural steroids that have a rejuvenating effect. Steroids are what help exercise to melt off more weight and build muscle.

As with all supplements, herbal supplements should only be used in amounts typically recommended for medicinal purposes and you should always consult with a health professional first, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or taking prescription medications.

What’s Different About Metagenics Supplements

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An important feature of healthy eating involves getting the essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to help nourish your body. However, often you may not get the right amount of nourishments from your diet because of either eating a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables or too much processed foods. A good way to help boost your dietary needs is by taking nutritional supplements. The metagenics supplements, produced by Metagenics, Inc., is a superior brand that stands apart from other products because of the companys philosophy of using the best quality resources, standards, processes, facilities and staff to formulate nutritional food items.

With so many different types of nutritional supplements available on the market, finding the right ones that actually work for your health situation is not always easy. The metagenics supplements brand offers high quality nutritional products for many health issues and is an industry leader with the use of cutting-edge expertise. The nutritional supplements and formulas are developed using the nutrigenomics technology, which examines the relationship between genetics and nutrition for a healthier body. The supplements also referred to as netraceuticals, target specific health concerns to help reverse some diseases and illness. These may include conditions relating to joint health, cardiovascular health, gastrointestinal health, musculoskeletal and neurological health, mens and womens health and blood sugar stability.

The difference with metagenics supplements may be summed up in the five quality principles, which are used. These include:

1. Certification by three independent quality assessors as a good manufacturing practice (GMP) company that offers high standard products,

2. Use of ingredients that are thoroughly researched, tested and reviewed for safety and efficacy in producing formulas for nutritional supplements,

3. Multiple layers of purity and safety testing of ingredients and raw materials beyond the federal agency requirements to ensure high quality products,

4. Dedicated and qualified scientific staff to oversee the innovation and processing of the nutritional supplements as well as the use of cutting-edge labs and facilities for research and production,

5. Conducting clinical trials with people at the companys owned research center to evaluate the effectiveness of the supplements on actual patients.

With the patients and end users as the primary focus for the metagenics supplements, the company is constantly improving its products to add value. Other factors that make metagenics supplements to be different from the competition are as follows:

High absorbency rate of the nutrients,
Proper dosage amounts for effective and safe use of the supplements,
A variety of flavors used,
The availability of all forms of delivery, including liquid, capsule, chewable, tablet, soft gels or powder to ensure the correct use of ingredients and to meet the needs of patients,
Tablets designed to provide the best performance and absorbency levels,
Ongoing research and testing of final formulas to maintain high product standards.

The overall goal of metagenics supplements is to enhance the lives of people to lead and enjoy a happier and healthier life. With its patient-focused approach, Metagenics, Inc. provides various information channels to empower patients. Healthcare professionals and providers are also equipped with research and educational programs to help meet the demands and needs of patients and their health concerns. The difference with metagenics supplements is the quality products and the important role that genes and nutrition play in your overall health and wellbeing.

Paleolithic Nutrition Diet Confessions Of A Near Suicidal Paleo Diet Practitioner

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Look, theres no doubt in my mind that Paleolithic nutrition diet is one of the healthiest diets in the world. After being on this diet for more than 6 months, I was rewarded with the following benefits:

(1)Reduced sleeping period. I do not feel sleepy throughout the day and also feel less groggy upon waking up.

(2)Less muscle soreness after exercising. I usually sore for a couple of days depending on the intensity of the workout. But since being on a solid Paleolithic nutrition diet, muscle soreness often dissipates the following day.

(3)Marked reduction in the total amount of body fat and better skin complexion.

Okay Paleo diet sure offers a lot of positive benefits but it wasnt a bed of roses in the beginning. No siree, not at all! My initial transition to what some call the caveman diet was a really painful one. It made me near suicidal!

Alright! Alright! Im exaggerating but it was pretty terrible at first. So, what was the issue?

Well, for the most part, many Paleo diet recipes are dreadfully bland. When youre on Paleolithic nutrition diet for the first time, making meals that are tasty and in compliance with the Paleo principles can be hard.

Also, cookbooks concerning Paleo recipes are quite few and far between. I found a few online but the recipe selections and variations are limited. In fact, they dont wet my taste buds at all.

Fortunately, my online buddy directed me to a wonderful collection of Paleolithic recipe cookbooks. All kinds of recipes from appetizer to dessert, and Paloe breakfast recipes to dinner meals. There were hundreds of recipes all compiled in an easy, printable format.

So, if you wish to embrace the Paleolithic nutrition diet, be sure keep your meals interesting to avoid nausea.

Anti-nutrients The nutrient Busters

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Many people incorrectly assume they get adequate nutrients from the food they eat. Unfortunately, in todays world it is virtually impossible to get the necessary nutrients to sustain a healthy body and mind by just eating modern foods and drinking liquids.
This means that everyone must look at choosing the right food they eat, organic if possible, and supplementing their diets with multivitamins and minerals to assist in the journey to optimum nutrition.

In an ideal world this would be adequate, but very few people realize that modern lifestyles and current eating habits introduce anti-nutrients into our bodies that deplete nutrition. Modern food is devitalized by man made chemicals, pesticides, contaminants and food processing. These nutrient busters prevent nutrients from being absorbed or used by the body and in some cases promote their excretion. Many modern day diseases and deaths are not only caused by a deficiency of nutrients but also because of an excess of nutrient busters.

Most cancers, for example, are associated with an excess of anti-nutrients, like chemicals and free radicals resulting from smoking.

Unfortunately our lifestyles dictate the extent to which we are exposed to these nutrient busters. It is essential for us to reduce the exposure to anti-nutrients by assessing our lifestyles and the environment we live in, so we can fully understand how to manage this gigantic onslaught of nutrient busters and change our lifestyles accordingly.

How big is the problem ?
There are more than 3,000 man made food chemicals and over 20,000 pesticides registered in the US. American agriculture is reported as using 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides annually, that are used on more than 900,000 farms. The UK is reported as using 250,000 tons of food chemicals a year and 400 million litres of pesticides and herbicides sprayed on to food crops, pastures and surrounding areas. In addition billions of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks are consumed in the UK, not to mention the millions of antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs, recreational and street drugs taken, and the industrial pollution of more than 50,000 chemicals pumped into the air every day.

Its no wonder we have health problems.

In his article The Amazing Human Being, Richard Penfounde starts by saying,

Human beings are the only creatures on earth that:

smoke tobacco
consume processed foods
drink coffee and tea copiously
eat fried foods continuously
drink cow’s milk throughout our lives
add sugar to our foods and liquids
add salt to our foods and liquids
continue to eat when we are not feeling well
consume social and medicinal drugs

We are the results of the products that we put in our mouths and often those that we do not put in our mouths. Our bodies are eventually shaped and our skin conditioned by these processes over a period of time. Every disease takes time to develop, often 20 or more years. Disease in our body varies from mild to moderate to serious and the progression is often so slow that it is not recognised at the time that it is happening.

The major Lifestyle nutrient busters

As optimum nutrition is the key to a healthy body and mind, we must be aware of how each of our lifestyles expose us to anti-nutrients and subsequent diseases and death.
The main problem is that these nutrient busters build up in the body, slowly over time eventually resulting in one or other serious disease. So before its too late, we must prevent this from happening by having regular check ups and appropriate tests. Richard recommends that it is very important to start a regimented optimum nutrition programme as soon as possible to start combating the nutrition busters onslaught.
You may also, depending on your specific circumstances, look at other appropriate tests like the hair-mineral analysis, food-tolerance tests, vitamin blood tests, the functional homocysteine test and a cholesterol test to establish your risk and to see if you have any specific disease symptom or nutrient deficiency.

For each of us to do a proper analysis of our lifestyles, we must however understand what these nutrient busters are, and make the necessary lifestyle changes to minimize or eliminate them.

Nutrient deficiency and depletion
There are many different nutrient busters that have negative affects on our bodies which can contribute to disease and death. Each contribute in a different way to the depletion of the nutrients we require to achieve and maintain optimum health.

Together with these anti-nutrient activities we must also understand that even refined foods that do not have man-made chemical additives or anti-nutrients, often contribute to nutrient deficiency as they do not have sufficient quantities of nutrients to sustain the body and mind. It is estimated that half of most peoples diets consist of these refined foods which means that the other half of their diets have to make up the full nutrient requirement. This isnt always possible or the case, for most people.

The result of all of this is that it is essential to be aware of these conditions and to eat according to our individual nutrient requirements, but more importantly to change our lifestyles to avoid nutrient busters where possible, and then to supplement the nutrients through our diets and an appropriate optimum nutrition supplement programme containing multivitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, essential fats, phytochemicals and amino acids.

This is the only way to achieve optimum health.

So lets look at the major nutrient busters.
Lifestyle, taking into account the effect of the following:
o Living in a city or near an industrial area
o Eating fast foods regularly
o Smoking cigarettes
o Drinking alcohol
o Taking recreational or street drugs
o Taking birth control pills
o Taking antibiotics regularly
o Limited or no regular exercise
o Limited sleep
o Highly stressful lifestyle
The environment we live in, taking into account the effect of the following:
o Traffic pollution, time spent in heavy traffic
o Industrial air and water pollution
o Drinking water contamination
o Pesticide and herbicide utilization and distribution
o Living or working in a smoking environment
The food we eat, taking into account the effect of the following:
o Man made food chemicals, additives, preservatives and food colouring agents
o Genetically modified foods
o Consumption of fast foods, fried foods and fatty foods
o Food processing using heat
o Food browned or burnt using heat
o Fruit and vegetables contaminated by pesticides and herbicides
o Foods wrapped in PVC plastic film
o The consumption of tea, coffee, sugar, salt and alcohol
o Household drinking water from taps
The drugs we take taking into account the effect of the following:
o Pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics
o Recreational and street drugs
o Birth control pills
The exposure to nutrient busters depends on your specific lifestyle and therefore defines the activities you need to take to minimize or eliminate the exposure, to assist in achieving optimum nutrition.

Richard Penfounde

Natural Health Advisor

www.naturallyhealthylifestyles.com