salt is very tasty, just like sugar. The combination of salt, sugar and fat is unbelievably tasty. All mammals have the desire to eat these bad foods.
The amount of salt that is available today, just like the amount of sugar that is available today, is far beyond what we were meant to have in our diets.
Rachel Johnson, professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont in Burlington:
Excess sodium increases blood pressure because it holds excess fluid in the body, and that creates an added burden on the heart. Too much sodium will increase your risk of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer and kidney disease. And, 1 in 3 Americans will develop high blood pressure in their lifetime.
Limiting your sodium is tough because about 75 percent of sodium in Americans' diets comes from processed or prepared foods, not salt that we add at the table. If you're a savvy nutrition label reader, it can be shocking.
Even foods such as breads and cereals can have high amounts of salt. We call it a silent killer because a lot of people don't realize they have high blood pressure.
Marisa Moore, registered dietician and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
The average American eats about 3,400 milligrams sodium a day, but the recommended amount for a healthy person is 2,300 milligrams a day. For people with high blood pressure or diabetes, African Americans, and anyone who is age 51 or older, the daily recommendation is 1,500 milligrams of sodium.
So, most people are consuming double what they need in terms of salt.
For most people, a high sodium diet can lead to retaining fluid. And for some sensitive people, retaining fluid can lead to higher blood pressure, which puts someone at higher risk of stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. Whenever you have a high blood pressure, it causes your heart to have to work a lot harder and it can cause damage to blood vessels and the heart muscle itself.
+ + +
Stephanie Dunbar, registered dietician, director of Nutrition and Medical Affairs at the American Diabetes Association
Excess salt is has been linked to hypertension, and of course hypertension is a risk for heart disease. Some populations of people are very sodium sensitive, meaning when they eat sodium they retain fluid and their blood pressure rises.
There's some research that shows if everybody reduced sodium in their diet, the rates of heart disease in the United States would go way down.
With our current food production it's very difficult to cut out sodium. A slice of bread can have 250 milligrams of sodium alone. Unless you get back to a diet where you're really cooking from scratch, and not using processed foods or canned foods, it's really hard to reach that recommendation.
Salt has been used for hundreds of years as a preservative, and some food makers use it as a flavoring because it's cheaper. It's more expensive to use other herbs and spices to make food taste good better than to add salt.
Mary Ellen DiPaola, outpatient dietitian at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center
Sodium chloride, which we acquire from table salt as well as from salted food products, is required for metabolic functions in the body and helps regulate fluid volume. The issue with sodium is similar to sugar: The average American consumes well above the recommended amount.
If we are consuming fresh, whole and natural foods, sodium intake can be reduced quite easily. Avoiding added salt, soy sauce or other salty condiments will also help reduce total sodium intake. Look for products less than 140 milligrams per serving, which is considered to be low in sodium.
Requesting less sodium added to foods in restaurants is another means to reduce total daily sodium. More importantly, consider cooking at home with fresh foods and low sodium recipes.
And why should you lower sodium intake? Sodium in excess can increase blood pressure in those who have hypertension (high blood pressure), it can make the body retain fluids which may cause swelling in susceptible individuals, and salty foods tend to also be high in total fat and calories – leading to excess total calorie intake, overweight and obesity.
A long term problem related to hypertension is kidney disease, a chronic illness which can lead to kidney failure.
Showing posts with label addiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label addiction. Show all posts
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
5 exercises to build triceps
The Top 5 Exercises for Increasing Triceps – The Breakdown
There are a number of exercises that will work the triceps, with many focusing on a broad range of muscles in the arm. There are however a number of specific exercises that will target primarily the triceps and deliver the best results.
While this article focuses primarily on using free-weights in the top 5 exercises for increasing triceps, there is some use of a machine within. Keep in mind that you can alter your own exercises to use the appropriate machines and weights, provided you understand the form and function of the muscle groups within the triceps.
Top Triceps Exercise #1 – Weighted Dips
Muscle is improved by providing resistance. The primary source of resistance is by adding weight. Weighted dips rely primarily on your own body weight, though additional weight can be added in your lap to increase the resistance on the muscles.
Use two benches, placed approximately 3-5 feet apart. Sit on one bench with your heels resting on the other; you may need to adjust the distance between the benches depending on your height. Place your palms on the bench you’re sitting on and slide forward, using your arms to support your weight. Now, slowly lower yourself until the bend of your elbows reaches a 90 degree angle. Maintain tension and push yourself back up until your arms are completed extended.
Top Triceps Exercise #2 – Close Grip Bench Press
This press keeps the elbows close to the body, with the hands no more than a foot apart – they should not extend out beyond your shoulders. The focus of the close grip bench press is on the muscle groups of the triceps however the mechanics of the bench press will supply some additional workout to the pectoral muscles as well the muscle groups of the biceps.
As you un-rack the weight bar, begin with arms fully extended and lower the weight toward the lower part of the chest slowly while keeping the elbows tucked in. Bring the weight back just before you touch the bar to your chest and return your arms to a fully-extended position.
Top Triceps Exercise #3 – Seated Triceps Extension
This position places a great deal of emphasis on the triceps equally. For this exercise, it’s important to use a seat or weight bench of some kind with an adjustable seat to aid in back support. Choose an appropriate dumbbell weight and hold it with both hands. Raise the weight up and behind the head.
While holding the dumbbell, carefully lower it behind your head. Lower the weight behind your head so that it is even with the lower part of the back of your head – try not to let the weight fall too far to avoid over-exertion of the triceps during this exercise. Raise the dumbbell back overhead so that arms are fully extended and repeat.
Top Triceps Exercise #4 – Clapping Diamond Pushups
We talk a lot about how resistance will bring on muscle gain. If you want your muscles to increase in mass then you have to use them. You need to use them a lot, from different angles and in different ways. This may seem a little unorthodox but this method will definitely push triceps to the limit.
Position your hands under chest like a push up but bring your hands together so that your index fingers and your thumbs are touching, forming a diamond shape. Perform 10 pushups like this. In order to get the clap in between each push up, you’ll need to push yourself with enough force to leave the floor, gaining enough height to insert the clap and still bring your hands back to a diamond form.
Top Triceps Exercise #5 – Rope Pushdowns
This can be easily done with a number of machines. When using a machine, try to balance the weight so you can fit it a set of approximately 10 reps easily while still feeling the proper burn in the triceps. This top triceps exercise requires a bit more form than others. When pulling the weight with the rope, it’s important to keep your upper arms locked at your sides while keeping your back straight.
If you release your arms, twist or bend your back you’ll start using your shoulders and back to take the brunt of the weight, giving little gain to your triceps.
There are a number of exercises that will work the triceps, with many focusing on a broad range of muscles in the arm. There are however a number of specific exercises that will target primarily the triceps and deliver the best results.
While this article focuses primarily on using free-weights in the top 5 exercises for increasing triceps, there is some use of a machine within. Keep in mind that you can alter your own exercises to use the appropriate machines and weights, provided you understand the form and function of the muscle groups within the triceps.
Top Triceps Exercise #1 – Weighted Dips
Muscle is improved by providing resistance. The primary source of resistance is by adding weight. Weighted dips rely primarily on your own body weight, though additional weight can be added in your lap to increase the resistance on the muscles.
Use two benches, placed approximately 3-5 feet apart. Sit on one bench with your heels resting on the other; you may need to adjust the distance between the benches depending on your height. Place your palms on the bench you’re sitting on and slide forward, using your arms to support your weight. Now, slowly lower yourself until the bend of your elbows reaches a 90 degree angle. Maintain tension and push yourself back up until your arms are completed extended.
Top Triceps Exercise #2 – Close Grip Bench Press
This press keeps the elbows close to the body, with the hands no more than a foot apart – they should not extend out beyond your shoulders. The focus of the close grip bench press is on the muscle groups of the triceps however the mechanics of the bench press will supply some additional workout to the pectoral muscles as well the muscle groups of the biceps.
As you un-rack the weight bar, begin with arms fully extended and lower the weight toward the lower part of the chest slowly while keeping the elbows tucked in. Bring the weight back just before you touch the bar to your chest and return your arms to a fully-extended position.
Top Triceps Exercise #3 – Seated Triceps Extension
This position places a great deal of emphasis on the triceps equally. For this exercise, it’s important to use a seat or weight bench of some kind with an adjustable seat to aid in back support. Choose an appropriate dumbbell weight and hold it with both hands. Raise the weight up and behind the head.
While holding the dumbbell, carefully lower it behind your head. Lower the weight behind your head so that it is even with the lower part of the back of your head – try not to let the weight fall too far to avoid over-exertion of the triceps during this exercise. Raise the dumbbell back overhead so that arms are fully extended and repeat.
Top Triceps Exercise #4 – Clapping Diamond Pushups
We talk a lot about how resistance will bring on muscle gain. If you want your muscles to increase in mass then you have to use them. You need to use them a lot, from different angles and in different ways. This may seem a little unorthodox but this method will definitely push triceps to the limit.
Position your hands under chest like a push up but bring your hands together so that your index fingers and your thumbs are touching, forming a diamond shape. Perform 10 pushups like this. In order to get the clap in between each push up, you’ll need to push yourself with enough force to leave the floor, gaining enough height to insert the clap and still bring your hands back to a diamond form.
Top Triceps Exercise #5 – Rope Pushdowns
This can be easily done with a number of machines. When using a machine, try to balance the weight so you can fit it a set of approximately 10 reps easily while still feeling the proper burn in the triceps. This top triceps exercise requires a bit more form than others. When pulling the weight with the rope, it’s important to keep your upper arms locked at your sides while keeping your back straight.
If you release your arms, twist or bend your back you’ll start using your shoulders and back to take the brunt of the weight, giving little gain to your triceps.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
BUILDING ABS
Don't work your abdominal muscles every day. "Physiologically, your abs are like any other muscle in your body," says David Pearson, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., an exercise scientist at Ball State University. Train them only 2 or 3 days a week.
Yup, that's right don't train them everyday!!! All your doing is breaking them down and not allowing them time to grow!
Yup, that's right don't train them everyday!!! All your doing is breaking them down and not allowing them time to grow!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Tips about Running
Running is the best activity a human being can commit to in this life. It is the natural activity of the body. The benefits to the mind, body and soul are more numerous than modern science has yet to conceive.
The benefits on the mind include increased cognitive abilities of concentration, mental speed, mental stability, clarity of thought, and on and on…
The benefits to the body extend to all avenues; especially when running true to nature. Thus running combined with aerobics, dancing, or other agility activities brings running closer to the true natural form. Specific physical benefits include bone density, modest strength (especially in the legs), improved conditioning, regulated breathing, regulated appetite, regulated weight, better heart, better lungs, better intestines, vitality, etc.…
Regardless of religious affiliation, for inspiration, running allows this uninhibited moment moving through the world to be limited only by one’s effort (or capability) with the reward of a pleasant attitude. Furthermore, the instinctual vision and responses during a run require a certain amount of inner self trust; and the more one runs the more comfortable one becomes with this sense of inner flight.
Running is part of the human being’s destiny on this Earth. Even if running is not possible for someone, or if one has already completed a fatiguing run, visualization of running free over the Earth is majestic in and of itself.
The benefits on the mind include increased cognitive abilities of concentration, mental speed, mental stability, clarity of thought, and on and on…
The benefits to the body extend to all avenues; especially when running true to nature. Thus running combined with aerobics, dancing, or other agility activities brings running closer to the true natural form. Specific physical benefits include bone density, modest strength (especially in the legs), improved conditioning, regulated breathing, regulated appetite, regulated weight, better heart, better lungs, better intestines, vitality, etc.…
Regardless of religious affiliation, for inspiration, running allows this uninhibited moment moving through the world to be limited only by one’s effort (or capability) with the reward of a pleasant attitude. Furthermore, the instinctual vision and responses during a run require a certain amount of inner self trust; and the more one runs the more comfortable one becomes with this sense of inner flight.
Running is part of the human being’s destiny on this Earth. Even if running is not possible for someone, or if one has already completed a fatiguing run, visualization of running free over the Earth is majestic in and of itself.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
quick Easy and healthy meals
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Weight Loss
The theory: There’s more to dieting than counting calories—if you make healthy choices that fill you up, you’ll eat less. Weight Watchers’ PointsPlus program, launched in November 2010, assigns every food a points value, based on its protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, calories, and how hard your body has to work to burn it off. Choices that fill you up the longest “cost” the least, and nutritionally dense foods cost less than empty calories. So if you’re wavering between a 200-calorie fruit smoothie and a 200-calorie iced coffee, the smoothie is the smarter choice.
In other words what you eat has to be burned. If you eat more than you burn then you will gain weight it's quite simple! Exercise and burn unnecessary carbs and calories so you can look lean and mean.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
10 foods to boost your Iron intake
To boost the amount of iron in your diet, try these foods:
1.Red meat
2.Egg yolks
3.Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
4.Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
5.Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
6.Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
7.Turkey or chicken giblets
8.Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
9.Liver
10.Artichokes
And here's a tip: If you eat iron-rich foods along with foods that provide plenty of vitamin C, your body can better absorb the iron.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
3 key steps to weight loss
The three steps to losing weight are what people typically miss, and know it's not diet supplements or even joining a gym. The most important thing to losing weight is your attitude. If you are constantly doubting yourself then you will NEVER lose weight. It's simple psychologically really. Instead talk yourself up and tell yourself you will do it and you will with work lose it! Secondly write down your goals with DATES!!!! I Can not tell you enough how important this is. Buy a day planner or write your goals down in a journal, This way you will stay on top of things and find time to get what you need to get done, DONE! You will have better time management and will be able to prepare yourself better without being rushed etc. Third step is keep working at it and don't quit! Typically the average person quits their workout program after three months! The reason for this, is because they see results and think they will be okay. That is in fact not the case you must continue to workout and continue the healthy life style You can't just hop on board then hop off when you want. That's not how the body works. Now with that being said, I hope you change your attitude, be positive, become better, and ultimately achieve what you set out to do!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
3 facts on kale
For your immune system: Kale is rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), a powerful antioxidant that may help boost the immune system and possibly protect against some chronic diseases and cancer. At least one study also found that long-term consumption of beta-carotene had cognitive benefits.
For your bones: Kale is is one of the few vegetables with a decent amount of calcium, but it’s especially high in magnesium — just a cup contains 40 percent of the RDA — which is very important for bone health and to protect against osteoporosis. Magnesium has a crucial job working with vitamin D to help your bones absorb calcium. In addition, research has shown that the vitamin K in kale also contributes to bone health by improving bone density.
For your heart: While recent studies have found that antioxidant supplements, like vitamin E pills, don’t protect against heart disease, foods like kale that are naturally high in antioxidants are definitely heart-healthy, says the Cleveland Clinic. Plus, kale’s magnesium and potassium help lower blood pressure, and its high fiber content can help lower cholesterol — all beneficial factors in lowering your risk of cardiovascular illness.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
5 easy steps to getting over caffeine addiction
Caffeine is the most widely ingested psychoactive drug in the world, primarily used to increase wakefulness and alertness. Mostly derived from the coffee bean, caffeine is highly addictive, with strong side effects upon withdrawal, including headaches and extreme fatigue. Too much caffeine can cause dizziness, anxiety and acid reflex. Consuming caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight, smaller head size and possible DNA inhibition. Fortunately, there are several substitutes for caffeine that offer similar focus and wakeful results.
1) Ginkgo
This is an herbal extract from the nut of the tree with the same name. It has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and works as a vasodilator, which increases of blood flow, particularly to the brain and extremities. People have reported better focus, well being and even creativity when taking this herb. Ginkgo is also used to treat asthma and circulatory diseases. It can be consumed in capsule, tincture or tea.
2) Ginseng
This is an extract derived from the ginseng root. It grows in many parts of the world and varies in potency. Also used since ancient times, ginseng is beneficial for increased blood flow, and like coffee, has a stimulating effect. It's been shown to reduce depression and stress. It can be consumed in capsule, tincture or tea.
3) Ice Cold Water and a B12
Ice cold water first thing in the morning can shock your system into a metabolic furnace that kicks into gear to warm the water put into your system. Combined with vitamin B12, this is an excellent way to jump start your engine. B12 is known for its mental clarity and energy enhancing properties (take a look at some of those energy drinks; B12 is usually front and center). It also plays a role in melatonin production (a hormone that regulates healthy sleep cycles). B12 can help depression, asthma and the formation of red blood cells. The best way to take B12 is subliminally (under the tongue).
4) Teeccino and Cafix
These are two caffeine substitutes often found in health food stores. They are primarily made from grains, figs, chicory and beetroot. These products have had great success in mimicking the familiar taste of coffee, without any caffeine or acidity whatsoever. Like anything, there would be an adjustment period, but most people trying to kick the caffeine addiction give these two products high marks.
5) Stretch and Eat an Apple?
Stretching upon rising catapults oxygen metabolism in the blood, sending oxygen rich cells to the muscles and the brain, which sparks an alert and focused body. Combine this with a fresh apple and you can boost your system into a similar caffeine wakefulness. The act of chewing an apple opens up neural and muscle pathways, and the fructose sparks the metabolism into energy production.
Note: If you are a daily caffeine drinker, any of the above substitutes will take time to work as your body deals with caffeine withdrawal. Caffeine is very strong and rivals most other products, but in due time, the body will get used to the lack of caffeine and embrace other choices. Be sure and check with your doctor before withdrawal and replacement of these and any other ideas.
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