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Whats Cool About Coconuts

August 24, 2011 By 3 Comments

f_01310677836_healthyfood.jpgA switch to a raw, vegan, natural foods lifestyle requires a little creativity and a lot of getting used to. It may feel at first as if we are giving up more than we are gaining.

When I became a ‘raw dude’ I expanded my tastes by experimenting and trying different foods that I previously paid little or no attention to. One of these newfound treasures was coconut.

I am blessed to live in a tropical climate where coconuts grow in abundance so that also had an influence on my desire to include more coconut in my daily diet. I’ve heard amazing things about the healing properties of coconut oil- some of which I will share in this article in hopes that you’ll be convinced to give coconut a try.

You can’t keep a good oil down!

The false and misleading information that has been widely distributed marking coconut oil, or saturated fats, as bad was pushed by the corn oil industry. As we know, whenever huge profits are at stake, the truth is hidden and replaced with lies to support the profit agenda.

However, coconut oil which is far more nutritious and beneficial than corn oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, and even olive oil- contains no dangerous trans-fatty acids. Trans-fats can raise LDLs, commonly known as ‘bad’ cholesterol, and lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and more.

Coconut oil increases metabolism and supports healthy weight loss.

Coconut oil’s saturated fat is a medium-chain fatty acid which means it is digested more easily than other fats. Whereas, other fats are stored in the body’s cells, the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are rapidly broken down and converted into energy putting less strain on the liver, pancreas, and digestive system. By activating the metabolism, coconut oil is outstanding for those with thyroid issues.

Coconut oil is antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-cancerous. It enhances the immune system by destroying lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, influenza, and various pathogenic bacteria.

There are many uses for pure, virgin coconut oil. If you are interested in getting a more in-depth view of healthy saturated fats that should be included in your diet, Dr. Mary Enig’s, Eat Fat, Lose Fat : The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats, is a clear, understandable read on ‘good’ fats. Dr. Enig provides a lot of information on coconut oil as well as other healthy, saturated fats.

Uses of Coconut Oil:

* As a stable cooking oil
* salad dressing
* shakes, smoothies, juices
* skin moisturizer
* massage oil

I feel the best and most complete benefits come from the whole, natural coconut eaten regularly as a part of a natural foods diet. But if you don’t happen to have a coconut tree in your backyard then you must make sure you are getting the highest quality virgin coconut oil.

Some requirements to look for would be:

* certified organic, USDA standards
* low-level heating to preserve natural nutrients
* made from fresh coconuts, not dried
* no chemical additives
* no refinement
* non-GMO
* no hydrogenation
* no hybridized coconuts

Superior quality makes a big difference, not only in regards to health and safety, but also in regards to taste and cooking quality if you use it in sautees and stir-frys. However you use your coconut oil, you can be assured that you are fortifying yourself with healthy, natural foods that taste good and are good for you!

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Keep Fit For Life At Any Age

August 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

f_21310678085_holiday-weight-loss.jpgScientists now know that it’s usually more dangerous to not stay active, no matter how old you are. And you don’t need to buy special clothes or belong to a gym to become more physical.

Most people don’t get enough physical activity. Here are some reasons why they should:

* Lack of physical activity and not eating the right foods, taken together, are the second greatest inherent cause of death in the United States. (Smoking is the number one cause.)

* Physical exercise can help people feel right and enjoy life more.

* Regular exercise can halt or put off some diseases like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. It can also perk up your mood can be a direct result along with helping depression.

* Being active can help people stay independent and able to keep doing things like getting around or dressing themselves as they get older.

There are four types of physical activies you need to do to have the right assortment of physical activities.

1. Get at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe harder on most or all days of the week. That’s called “endurance activity,- because it builds your energy or “staying power.- You don’t have to be active for 30 minutes all at once. Ten minutes of endurance activity at a time is fine. Just make sure those 10-minute sessions add up to a total of 30 minutes most days.

How hard do you need to exercise? The right level of effort is described this way: If you can talk while exercising without any trouble at all, you’re not working hard enough. If you can’t talk at all, it’s way too hard.

2. Keep using your muscles. When muscles aren’t used, they waste away at any age. How important is it to have “enough- muscle? Very! Muscles step-up your metabolism, allowing you to burn off more calories during the day when your body is at rest. Using your muscles may also make your bones stronger, too.

3. Do things to help your balance. Every now and then walk heel-to-toe. When you walk this way, the toes of the foot in back should almost touch the heel of the foot in front.

4. Stretch. Stretching can help keep you flexible and will be able to move more freely. Stretch when your muscles have warmed up. Never stretch so far that it hurts.

So, make physical activity a part of your everyday life. Find things you enjoy. Go for brisk walks. Ride a bike. Dance. Work around the house and in the yard, take care of your garden, climb the stairs, or rake your leaves. Regular day to day chores around the hous can keep you moving and active.

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Hoodia Side Effects : The Good and the Bad News About Hoodia

August 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

f_11310677832_healthyfood1.jpgAnyone who is seriously considering a new diet pill or alternative weight loss product should for good practice become fully informed about its short and long term side effects, and in combination with other drugs. Most weight conscious people today are aware of hoodia gordonii and its incredible appetite suppressing ability. But unfortunately most people are not fully aware of hoodia’s potential long term side effects.

The Good News

The good news about hoodia gordonii is that so far it has demonstrated no short-term harmful side effects. There have been no reports of dangerous side effects from consumers in the West who have taken hoodia. Volunteers who have participated in small group formal testing on hoodia have proven that pure hoodia when taken regularly at an optimal dosage–between 750mg and 1500mg–were eventually eating 1,000 calories less daily in comparison to the control group. In addition, in animal experiments, hoodia has been able to reduce food consumption by as much as 40 percent.

The Bad News

Since it’s yet too early in hoodia gordonii’s overall history in relation to modern consumers, no studies have yet been conducted for evaluating its possible side effects on a long term basis. Until clinical trials are administered on a reasonable large and random group of varying racial makeup, we would not know for the time being what potential side effects hoodia gordonii may have on pregnant mothers, on young obese children, or anyone with chronic conditions like liver, kidney, or heart disease.

Another point to bear in mind is that so far the only harmful side effects by taking hoodia are brought about through abuse or misuse. For example, someone who suffers from an eating disorder may find him or her-self in harm’s way after taking hoodia for several weeks. How? Their health may suffer from a lack of proper nutrients when they do not feel like eating. Appetite suppression can cause unknown damages to your body. So how does one prevent this from occurring? Here’s a simple preventative measure: compliment hoodia with a well-balanced diet and daily exercise.

If you are interested in finding high quality hoodia from trusted reputable companies, read product reviews and testimonials at the site listed below.

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These 3 Weight Loss Myths May Be Dangerous To Your Health

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you ever browse diet-related magazines regularly, you’re certain to discover large numbers of tips about fat reduction. Some of these strategies actually work, and others don’t. The ones that largely fail tend to be those that advocate dietary fads and weight loss pills. The particular strategies that truly deliver the results for everyone will always be uncomplicated: good diet and the appropriate physical activity. However, the weight loss information mill is filled with common myths together with deceptive guidance, and people tend to distort the truth, possibly due to ignorance or simply because they expect to profit from deliberately misleading others. In this article I will focus on three of these types of weight loss myths.

Myth #1: Spot reduction of excess fat is a possibility. Nope, it’s not. Slimming professionals acknowledge this, every one. You can’t force your body to get rid of excessive fat located at targeted spots under any conditions, whatever the type of physical exercises you do or even contraptions you employ. For those who do only crunches and leg lifts regularly, with the hope of reducing abdominal fat, you will find out that instead of reducing your abdominal fat, you will reduce the mass of muscle that resides in your belly. For this reason, your focus should not be on sit ups and leg lifts only. It’s also wise to adopt a healthy diet that would accelerate your metabolism and also help you get rid of fat rapidly.

Myth #2: Only cardiovascular exercises will help you get rid of fat. Nope, plus they may not be the most effective option. Though it is true that cardiovascular exercise can certainly help you shed body fat, it is far from correct that this is actually the only form of weight reduction workout available or even the most effective. In fact, lifting weights is preferable to either cardio exercise or aerobics. Weight training not only helps you shed fat during your workout, but it also increases your muscle tissue, which then burns more calories even when you happen to be sleeping.

Myth #3: An enormous decrease in your calorie intake will reduce excess weight. This is the most harmful of the 3 myths. It’s encouraged quite a few people towards the risk of crash dieting. Most people choose to adopt crash dieting in the expectation of getting rid of extra fat quickly, but they don’t understand the fact that crash dieting harms their bodies as opposed to enhancing their overall health. Believe it or not, whenever you starve or fast, the body reacts by starting starvation mode. It holds back your metabolic rate and uses up your lean muscle instead of fat to meet your energy requirements. This is the complete reverse of what you need. You don’t get rid of a great deal of extra fat in the least, but you do waste your vital muscle mass. This also lowers your resting metabolism even more, guaranteeing that when you go back to your former eating plan, it’s going to be easier for you to gain excess weight all over again. This is the mechanism lurking behind yo-yo dieting, to which a lot of people seem to be at risk. It’s not healthy, not in the short term or the long run.

I truly pray that this ınformation has destroyed these untrue dieting myths and helped you to be aware of the truth. Visit the link below to get a great weight loss programme.

 

 

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