Since you’re an Inspired Lifer, I want you to live forever. Really I do. I think people who are showing up in the world, making meaningful contributions, and playing a BIG game should be around for as long as possible so they can continue to impact the world in a positive way. But alas, forever young is but a fantasy…but that doesn’t mean that you can’t slow down or even reverse the aging process.
You may be aware that the Inspired Living Challenge is on the horizon (7/7 is the official date we’ll get going!) and if you participated last year, you probably remember what I had to say about sugar. Welp, I’m saying it again.
SUGAR is your body’s worst enemy. Now if a murderer or thief wanted to come and hang out at your home, you’d probably object. Consider sugar the murderer and thief – it’s been caught stealing a youthful appearances and it’s been convicted of murdering health.
There are an infinite number of “healthy” lifestyle choices you could make – cutting out alcohol, exercising more often, cutting out red meat (and eventually I’ll address all of these – exciting huh?) but if you had to make only one choice, eliminating processed sugar would be a lifesaving choice.
So you’re probably going, “Yeah ok, Lisa, it sounds great now, but it won’t be quite as inspiring when I’m starving and just want to grab a candy bar.” You’re right. And that’s why I’m supplying the tips below to help you over the hump. It’s also why I’m sharing these 76 reasons sugar ruins your health…because you can’t have too much motivation.
-Eat 4-6 small meals during the day. Craving sugar and binging often comes from a dip in energy levels, but consuming refined sugar causes a spike in insulin levels which speeds up aging, inside and out.
- Drink water help curb sugar cravings. You’d be surprised how much a little water will do for you. Sometimes we’re reaching for sugar because we really want a snack and water is filling and energizing.
-Find alternatives to your usual sugary treats. If you’re a cookie monster, seek out natural, honey sweetened cookies to replace your Oreos. If you’re a candy connoisseur (I sympathize with you because I used to be addicted – been clean since 2007!), find organic fruit snacks and natural candy that contains simple fruit juices. It’s next to impossible to break a bad habit without replacing it with a good one so set yourself up for success by finding your alternatives first, then making the switch.
-Before reaching for sugar, try eating protein or having a small meal. If you crave something sweet, try fruit! It's called nature's candy for good reason. Pause periodically to ponder the good choice you're making for your health!
And if all else fails, read this list. Like I said, you’re an Inspired Lifer and you know that health is a fundamental principle to living well. So, get off the white stuff and turn back the clock!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
76 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health
76 Additional Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health
In addition to throwing off your body's homeostasis and wreaking havoc on your metabolic processes, excess sugar has a number of other significant consequences.
Nancy Appleton, PhD, author of the book Lick the Sugar Habit[5], contributed an extensive list of the many ways sugar can ruin your health from a vast number of medical journals and other scientific publications.
1. Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.[6] [7]
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in your body: causes chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.[8] [9] [10] [11]
3. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.[12] [13]
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol.[14] [15] [16] [17]
5. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function.[18]
6. Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
7. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive hypoglycemia.[26] [27]
8. Sugar can weaken eyesight.[28] 1
9. Sugar can cause many problems with the gastrointestinal tract including: an acidic digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption in patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]
10. Sugar can cause premature aging.[34] In fact, the single most important factor that accelerates aging is insulin, which is triggered by sugar. 1
11. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.[35]
12. Sugar can cause your saliva to become acidic, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.[36] [37] [38]
13. Sugar contributes to obesity. [39] 1
14. Sugar can cause autoimmune diseases such as: arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis.[40] [41] [42]
15. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections) [43]
16. Sugar can cause gallstones.[44]
17. Sugar can cause appendicitis.[45]
18. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.[46]
19. Sugar can cause varicose veins.[47]
20. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.[48]
21. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.[49]
22. Sugar can cause a decrease in your insulin sensitivity thereby causing an abnormally high insulin levels and eventually diabetes.[50] [51] [52]
23. Sugar can lower your Vitamin E levels.[53]
24. Sugar can increase your systolic blood pressure.[54]
25. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.[55]
26. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs),which are sugar molecules that attach to and damage proteins in your body. AGEs speed up the aging of cells, which may contribute to a variety of chronic and fatal diseases. [56] 1
27. Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.[57]
28. Sugar causes food allergies.[58]
29. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.[59]
30. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.[60]
31. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.[61] [62]
32. Sugar can impair the structure of your DNA.[63]
33. Sugar can change the structure of protein and cause a permanent alteration of the way the proteins act in your body.[64] [65]
34. Sugar can make your skin age by changing the structure of collagen.[66]
35. Sugar can cause cataracts and nearsightedness.[67] [68]
36. Sugar can cause emphysema.[69]
37. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in your body.[70]
38. Sugar lowers the ability of enzymes to function.[71]
39. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson's disease.[72]
40. Sugar can increase the size of your liver by making your liver cells divide, and it can increase the amount of fat in your liver, leading to fatty liver disease.[73] [74]
41. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney such as the formation of kidney stones.[75] [76] Fructose is helping to drive up rates of kidney disease. 1
42. Sugar can damage your pancreas.[77]
43. Sugar can increase your body's fluid retention.[78]
44. Sugar is enemy #1 of your bowel movement.[79]
45. Sugar can compromise the lining of your capillaries.[80]
46. Sugar can make your tendons more brittle.[81]
47. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.[82]
48. Sugar can reduce the learning capacity, adversely affect your children's grades and cause learning disorders.[83] [84]
49. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves, which can alter your ability to think clearly.[85]
50. Sugar can cause depression.[86]
51. Sugar can increase your risk of gout.[87]
52. Sugar can increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease.[88] MRI studies show that adults 60 and older who have high uric acid are four to five times more likely to have vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s.1
53. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalances such as: increasing estrogen in men, exacerbating PMS, and decreasing growth hormone.[89] [90] [91] [92]
54. Sugar can lead to dizziness.[93]
55. Diets high in sugar will increase free radicals and oxidative stress.[94]
56. A high sucrose diet of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.[95]
57. High sugar consumption by pregnant adolescents can lead to a substantial decrease in gestation duration and is associated with a twofold-increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.[96] [97]
58. Sugar is an addictive substance.[98]
59. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.[99]
60. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.[100]
61. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.[101]
62. Your body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.[102]
63. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.[103]
64. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[104]
65. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.[105]
66. Sugar can impair the function of your adrenal glands.[106]
67. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in normal, healthy individuals, thereby promoting chronic degenerative diseases.[107]
68. Intravenous feedings (IVs) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to your brain.[108]
69. Sugar increases your risk of polio.[109]
70. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.[110]
71. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.[111]
72. In intensive care units, limiting sugar saves lives.[112]
73. Sugar may induce cell death.[113]
74. In juvenile rehabilitation centers, when children were put on low sugar diets, there was a 44 percent drop in antisocial behavior.[114]
75. Sugar dehydrates newborns.[115]
76. Sugar can cause gum disease.[116]
It should now be crystal clear just how damaging sugar is. You simply cannot achieve your highest degree of health and vitality if you are consuming a significant amount of it.
Fortunately, your body has an amazing ability to heal itself when given the basic nutrition it needs, and your liver has an incredible ability to regenerate. If you start making changes today, your health WILL begin to improve, returning you to the state of vitality that nature intended.
In addition to throwing off your body's homeostasis and wreaking havoc on your metabolic processes, excess sugar has a number of other significant consequences.
Nancy Appleton, PhD, author of the book Lick the Sugar Habit[5], contributed an extensive list of the many ways sugar can ruin your health from a vast number of medical journals and other scientific publications.
1. Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.[6] [7]
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in your body: causes chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.[8] [9] [10] [11]
3. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.[12] [13]
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol.[14] [15] [16] [17]
5. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function.[18]
6. Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
7. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive hypoglycemia.[26] [27]
8. Sugar can weaken eyesight.[28] 1
9. Sugar can cause many problems with the gastrointestinal tract including: an acidic digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption in patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]
10. Sugar can cause premature aging.[34] In fact, the single most important factor that accelerates aging is insulin, which is triggered by sugar. 1
11. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.[35]
12. Sugar can cause your saliva to become acidic, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.[36] [37] [38]
13. Sugar contributes to obesity. [39] 1
14. Sugar can cause autoimmune diseases such as: arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis.[40] [41] [42]
15. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections) [43]
16. Sugar can cause gallstones.[44]
17. Sugar can cause appendicitis.[45]
18. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.[46]
19. Sugar can cause varicose veins.[47]
20. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.[48]
21. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.[49]
22. Sugar can cause a decrease in your insulin sensitivity thereby causing an abnormally high insulin levels and eventually diabetes.[50] [51] [52]
23. Sugar can lower your Vitamin E levels.[53]
24. Sugar can increase your systolic blood pressure.[54]
25. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.[55]
26. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs),which are sugar molecules that attach to and damage proteins in your body. AGEs speed up the aging of cells, which may contribute to a variety of chronic and fatal diseases. [56] 1
27. Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.[57]
28. Sugar causes food allergies.[58]
29. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.[59]
30. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.[60]
31. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.[61] [62]
32. Sugar can impair the structure of your DNA.[63]
33. Sugar can change the structure of protein and cause a permanent alteration of the way the proteins act in your body.[64] [65]
34. Sugar can make your skin age by changing the structure of collagen.[66]
35. Sugar can cause cataracts and nearsightedness.[67] [68]
36. Sugar can cause emphysema.[69]
37. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in your body.[70]
38. Sugar lowers the ability of enzymes to function.[71]
39. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson's disease.[72]
40. Sugar can increase the size of your liver by making your liver cells divide, and it can increase the amount of fat in your liver, leading to fatty liver disease.[73] [74]
41. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney such as the formation of kidney stones.[75] [76] Fructose is helping to drive up rates of kidney disease. 1
42. Sugar can damage your pancreas.[77]
43. Sugar can increase your body's fluid retention.[78]
44. Sugar is enemy #1 of your bowel movement.[79]
45. Sugar can compromise the lining of your capillaries.[80]
46. Sugar can make your tendons more brittle.[81]
47. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.[82]
48. Sugar can reduce the learning capacity, adversely affect your children's grades and cause learning disorders.[83] [84]
49. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves, which can alter your ability to think clearly.[85]
50. Sugar can cause depression.[86]
51. Sugar can increase your risk of gout.[87]
52. Sugar can increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease.[88] MRI studies show that adults 60 and older who have high uric acid are four to five times more likely to have vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s.1
53. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalances such as: increasing estrogen in men, exacerbating PMS, and decreasing growth hormone.[89] [90] [91] [92]
54. Sugar can lead to dizziness.[93]
55. Diets high in sugar will increase free radicals and oxidative stress.[94]
56. A high sucrose diet of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.[95]
57. High sugar consumption by pregnant adolescents can lead to a substantial decrease in gestation duration and is associated with a twofold-increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.[96] [97]
58. Sugar is an addictive substance.[98]
59. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.[99]
60. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.[100]
61. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.[101]
62. Your body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.[102]
63. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.[103]
64. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[104]
65. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.[105]
66. Sugar can impair the function of your adrenal glands.[106]
67. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in normal, healthy individuals, thereby promoting chronic degenerative diseases.[107]
68. Intravenous feedings (IVs) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to your brain.[108]
69. Sugar increases your risk of polio.[109]
70. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.[110]
71. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.[111]
72. In intensive care units, limiting sugar saves lives.[112]
73. Sugar may induce cell death.[113]
74. In juvenile rehabilitation centers, when children were put on low sugar diets, there was a 44 percent drop in antisocial behavior.[114]
75. Sugar dehydrates newborns.[115]
76. Sugar can cause gum disease.[116]
It should now be crystal clear just how damaging sugar is. You simply cannot achieve your highest degree of health and vitality if you are consuming a significant amount of it.
Fortunately, your body has an amazing ability to heal itself when given the basic nutrition it needs, and your liver has an incredible ability to regenerate. If you start making changes today, your health WILL begin to improve, returning you to the state of vitality that nature intended.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Keep Your Temple Litter Free!
YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR FIRST WEALTH!
Many people have heard about my affinity towards Ralph Waldo Emerson and his essays. I find that he was ahead of his time and offered timeless wisdom on how we can live meaningful lives. This great quote on health is no different.
This week, we’re dealing with the wealth of your health. How is your health? Do you believe that health is your first wealth? If you’ve ever been sick for any significant length of time, you probably realized that without your health, most other things become irrelevant. After all, if you can not walk, the nicest shoes won’t matter. If you don’t have eyes to see, the most beautiful home won’t matter. If you are unable to move about, the most fabulous vacations won’t matter. We need our health to be able to enjoy other aspects of our lives and to express ourselves at the highest level.
Your body is not your own; it has been given to you by God as a gift of temporary housing. When we abuse our bodies, we move further from our authentic selves and from God. He wants to see us prosper; we can not serve others and live well if we are not in optimal health. It’s easy to do the right thing, but it’s also easy to not do the right thing. The cumulative effect of our choices results in great health or poor health. Remember that every choice counts.
I’m playing on Earth month this week using litter as a metaphor for junk food and destruction to our bodies. In honor of keeping your temple litter-free, I want to offer 4 important aspects of honoring your temple.
Water, water everywhere, and you really need to drink! Water is essential to a healthy body. You may be thinking, “I already know this.” Well, are you consistently drinking half your weight in ounces of water? For instance, if you weight 200 lbs, you should consume approximately 100 oz of water. Our bodies are about 60% water so it’s easy to understand why dehydration causes so many problems. Cutting back on soda and sugary fruit juices while increasing our water intake can make a dramatic difference in our internal and external health. Oftentimes, we don’t need another pill or miracle juice to gain health – we just need more water!
By your fruit, people will know you! Are you eating fruits and vegetables every day? The enzymes, minerals, and vitamins contained in fruits and vegetables outshine those of any multivitamin. If you have a tough time getting 5-9 servings in, consider blending your own smoothies and then supplementing with fruit as a snack. And remember, there are plenty of great fruits and veggies to choose from so get creative with what you eat and how you prepare it. Avoid potato chips, candy bars, and fattening snacks and reach for healthier alternatives like banana chips, organic fruit snacks, and vegetable trays.
Deep sleep! Your body repairs itself during rest so you need sleep! As busy as we all are, it’s easy for sleep to be the first thing we cut when our schedules get hectic. However, a lack of sleep is a culprit of so many ailments: headaches, poor digestion, weight retained in the midsection, slow recovery from sports injuries and more. Your body and mind need time to rejuvenate and repair in order to serve you every day.
Work that body! We need exercise to keep our energy levels high and to enhance mental clarity and hormonal balance. In addition to keep our bodies toned and fit, exercise is responsible for the release of endorphins, the feel good neurotransmitters in the brain that reduce pain and induce euphoria. Many people have been able to successfully address depression and other emotional issues with regular exercise. As a successful, spiritual person, you want a temple that reflects the health of your heart, mind, and spirit.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Eat To Live!
Ok so I know it's the holidays and we all want to enjoy the amazing food that's offered up this time of year. I enjoy a hearty meal just as much as the next person, but it's not worth a health setback!
Ask yourself whether you're eating to live or living to eat. Many folks are eating themselves into an early grave by not thinking critically about what they're choosing to put into their bodies. Remember that your body is a temple and littering is strictly prohibited! Your job is to maintain your body in order to achieve optimal health. After all, if you don't have your health, you can't enjoy much else about life!
This holiday season, while enjoying good times with friends and family and enjoying good food, remember to make smart dietary choices. Reach for the veggies and keep the water intake up. Be sure you're hitting the gym or getting a brisk walk in each day. And of course, maintain a positive attitude and remember to be present and enjoy your many blessings.
Happy holidays!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Day 20 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge
NO JUNK FOOD!
Your body is a temple and littering is strictly prohibited!
Here's the scoop:
What? - No junk food - no fast food, no pastries, no cookies, no soda, no potato chips, no candy, etc.
Why? - Junk food wreaks havoc on your body! Your body needs whole, nutrient rich foods in order to thrive! Besides being high in salt & sugar (two things that, in excess, destroy good health), junk food is void of nutrients and often causes a wide range of physical ailments and disease. Many conditions can be healed and corrected through proper nutrition and that begins with eliminating junk food.
How? - Make healthy choices! Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Enjoy nuts as a snack and be sure to start the day with a hearty breakfast to avoid binge eating midday. Drink plenty of water and enjoy a nice long walk.
Ready, set, GROW!
Your body is a temple and littering is strictly prohibited!
Here's the scoop:
What? - No junk food - no fast food, no pastries, no cookies, no soda, no potato chips, no candy, etc.
Why? - Junk food wreaks havoc on your body! Your body needs whole, nutrient rich foods in order to thrive! Besides being high in salt & sugar (two things that, in excess, destroy good health), junk food is void of nutrients and often causes a wide range of physical ailments and disease. Many conditions can be healed and corrected through proper nutrition and that begins with eliminating junk food.
How? - Make healthy choices! Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Enjoy nuts as a snack and be sure to start the day with a hearty breakfast to avoid binge eating midday. Drink plenty of water and enjoy a nice long walk.
Ready, set, GROW!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Day 15 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge
SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL CHECKUPS!
Your health is your first wealth! Make appointments today to see specialists for your annual checkups. Even if you feel great, you'll want to be sure that your temple is in tip top shape by using preventive medicine!
Here's the scoop:
What? - Schedule appointments with doctors and specialists to be sure your body is in great health.
Why? - Your health is your first wealth! The best way to ensure great health is to stay ahead of any possible conditions by getting regular checkups. Preventive medicine is the best way to preserve your health.
How? - See your doctor for a regular physical along with your dentist, optometrist, dermatologist, ob/gyn (for ladies) and any other specialists such as podiatrist, gastroenterologist, etc.
Ready, set, GROW!
Your health is your first wealth! Make appointments today to see specialists for your annual checkups. Even if you feel great, you'll want to be sure that your temple is in tip top shape by using preventive medicine!
Here's the scoop:
What? - Schedule appointments with doctors and specialists to be sure your body is in great health.
Why? - Your health is your first wealth! The best way to ensure great health is to stay ahead of any possible conditions by getting regular checkups. Preventive medicine is the best way to preserve your health.
How? - See your doctor for a regular physical along with your dentist, optometrist, dermatologist, ob/gyn (for ladies) and any other specialists such as podiatrist, gastroenterologist, etc.
Ready, set, GROW!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Day 9 of the Inspired Living Challenge
DAY 9
NO SUGAR!
Sugar is an addictive substance and an enemy of good health!
Here's the scoop:
What? - Don't consume any refined sugar - pastries, soda, candy, chocolate, etc.
Why? - Sugar has been linked to a very long list of diseases. Check out this list to learn why you should avoid sugar at all costs: 76 ways sugar ruins your health
How? - Eating 4-6 small meals during the day and drinking water help curb sugar cravings. Before reaching for sugar, try eating protein or having a small meal. If you crave something sweet, try fruit! It's called nature's candy for good reason. Pause periodically to ponder the good choice you're making for your health!
Ready, set, GROW!
NO SUGAR!
Sugar is an addictive substance and an enemy of good health!
Here's the scoop:
What? - Don't consume any refined sugar - pastries, soda, candy, chocolate, etc.
Why? - Sugar has been linked to a very long list of diseases. Check out this list to learn why you should avoid sugar at all costs: 76 ways sugar ruins your health
How? - Eating 4-6 small meals during the day and drinking water help curb sugar cravings. Before reaching for sugar, try eating protein or having a small meal. If you crave something sweet, try fruit! It's called nature's candy for good reason. Pause periodically to ponder the good choice you're making for your health!
Ready, set, GROW!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Day 8 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge
DAY 8
DRINK 2L OF WATER
Your body is 75% water! You can't afford not to drink this life elixir!
Here's the scoop:
What? - Drink 2 liters of water today!
Why? - Water is a wellness beverage! Water has been proven to prevent a wide range of conditions and diseases. Water improves energy levels, mental clarity, skin quality, kidney function, and much more. Dehydration has even been linked to depression! You can't afford to skimp on your water intake. Your body needs to have toxins flushed out regularly and water does just that. Here are 16 more great reasons to drink water:
1. Weight loss. Water is one of the best tools for weight loss, first of all because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn't have any calories. But it's also a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar. Drink plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.
2. Heart healthy. Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.
3. Energy. Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired -- even mild dehydration of as little as 1 or 2 percent of your body weight. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated -- and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.
4. Headache cure. Another symptom of dehydration is headaches. In fact, often when we have headaches it's simply a matter of not drinking enough water. There are lots of other causes of headaches of course, but dehydration is a common one.
5. Healthy skin. Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It won't happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.
6. Digestive problems. Our digestive systems need a good amount of water to digest food properly. Often water can help cure stomach acid problems, and water along with fiber can cure constipation (often a result of dehydration).
7. Cleansing. Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body.
8. Cancer risk. Related to the digestive system item above, drinking a healthy amount of water has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.
9. Better exercise. Being dehydrated can severely hamper your athletic activities, slowing you down and making it harder to lift weights. Exercise requires additional water, so be sure to hydrate before, during and after exercise.
10. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population.)
11. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.
12. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.
13. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
14. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
15. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain or up to 80% of sufferers.
16. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a ! printed page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
How? - Keep your water with you! It's easier to sip throughout the day when you keep your bottle on your desk or in your handbag. Drinking from a bottle will make measuring easier to be sure you get in all of the watery goodness!
Ready, set, GROW!
DRINK 2L OF WATER
Your body is 75% water! You can't afford not to drink this life elixir!
Here's the scoop:
What? - Drink 2 liters of water today!
Why? - Water is a wellness beverage! Water has been proven to prevent a wide range of conditions and diseases. Water improves energy levels, mental clarity, skin quality, kidney function, and much more. Dehydration has even been linked to depression! You can't afford to skimp on your water intake. Your body needs to have toxins flushed out regularly and water does just that. Here are 16 more great reasons to drink water:
1. Weight loss. Water is one of the best tools for weight loss, first of all because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn't have any calories. But it's also a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar. Drink plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.
2. Heart healthy. Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.
3. Energy. Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired -- even mild dehydration of as little as 1 or 2 percent of your body weight. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated -- and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.
4. Headache cure. Another symptom of dehydration is headaches. In fact, often when we have headaches it's simply a matter of not drinking enough water. There are lots of other causes of headaches of course, but dehydration is a common one.
5. Healthy skin. Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It won't happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.
6. Digestive problems. Our digestive systems need a good amount of water to digest food properly. Often water can help cure stomach acid problems, and water along with fiber can cure constipation (often a result of dehydration).
7. Cleansing. Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body.
8. Cancer risk. Related to the digestive system item above, drinking a healthy amount of water has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.
9. Better exercise. Being dehydrated can severely hamper your athletic activities, slowing you down and making it harder to lift weights. Exercise requires additional water, so be sure to hydrate before, during and after exercise.
10. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population.)
11. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.
12. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.
13. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
14. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
15. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain or up to 80% of sufferers.
16. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a ! printed page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
How? - Keep your water with you! It's easier to sip throughout the day when you keep your bottle on your desk or in your handbag. Drinking from a bottle will make measuring easier to be sure you get in all of the watery goodness!
Ready, set, GROW!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
You Are What You Eat!!!!
I'm always perplexed when I see people constantly eating junk food and chemical laden foods. I've grown to understand that a lot of times, people eat this way out of ignorance. If they knew better, they might do better. Also, I know how good it feels to have energy, sleep well, and be healthy, but for a person who's never enjoyed those things, they may not understand how critical nutrition is to their overall wellbeing.
A recent guest on my radio show discussed the connection between nutrition and professional success. I complimented her on that excellent point because most people never think about brain function and how it might be affected by their diet.
Years ago, I wasn't doing too hot. I had terrible acne, no energy, shedding hair, restless sleep, muddied thoughts, seasonal allergies, anemia, and a host of other ailments. I started doing some research on this store I discovered...Whole Foods. I had heard about natural foods and things before but I thought it was for those "healthy people". I realized that it was time for me to go deeper in my research and examination of food and the effect it had on my body.
The things I discovered blew me away. I could write an entire book about it, but in short, I discovered that dairy was not serving me, excessive cooked meat was not serving me, and that everything I ate and drank had an impact on my body. I started examining how I could correct some of my health issues with diet and exercise. I gave healthy eating an audition and the results were so phenomenal that I never looked back.
People kept saying that eating healthy was more expensive so I decided to comparison shop. I made a list of the foods I generally buy in a week at a conventional grocery store and decided to buy those same items at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Believe it or not, buying the healthier items was cheaper than the conventional items! I was pleasantly surprised and decided to stay the course.
So, here are some the things I did...
-Started drinking 1.5L water
-Started drinking green tea daily
-Stopped eating pork
-Started eating 3-9 servings of fruits and veggies every day
-Stopped eating candy
-Stopped eating fast food
-Stopped eating foods containing high fructose corn syrup
-Stopped eating foods containing partially hydrogenated oils
-Stopped drinking soft drinks and sugary juices
-Started eating organic foods whenever possible
-Started adding lemons and/or limes to my water (to increase my alkalinity)
-Stopped eating refined junk food (potato chips, cakes, etc)
There's more where this came from, but in short, I dramatically cleaned up my diet and started eating foods that would really serve my body and nourish my body instead of those that simply tasted good and satisfied my cravings.
I strongly encourage you to consider eating well! It's essential to your health. There are very few diseases and physical ailments that are not caused or cured by food and drink. Your body is a temple - littering is strictly prohibited! If you think "healthy eating" is not for you, just give it an audition and see how it goes. Your body may begin to detox at first but once you flush out the toxins, you'll have more energy, better sleep, more mental clarity, few colds, and all around better health.
Eat to live!
Check out this show entitled Necessary Nutrition featuring my special guest, Robin De-Ivy Allen. You'll learn new things about what it takes to properly nourish your body!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/InspiredLifeRadio/2009/09/21/September-21--Necessary-Nutrition
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