Acai Berries Are They A Superfood?

I get this question all the time, people want to know if the acai berry is good for weight loss or as a health food supplement. I want to let you know that it can be a great source of antioxidants but thats about it. That being what it is it can still be very good, because antioxidants fuel your immune system and will give you a energy boost right off the bat. And being that acai berries carry the most antioxidants than any other fruit they are a perfect source for this purpose. They also have the lowest sugar content than any other fruit this is great news for a diabetic.

That being said you have to watch for a couple of things first is the process, most claim they carry 1,200ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) per gram of acai berry. This is based on the raw berry itself and not after processing, after they are processed the number drops to a staggering 100 ORAC. Like any other food or super food in this case, you need to do your research.
Second, the price is high for this "super food" mainly because of the demand and the fact that they are fragile plus grown in brazil. You can save money by just eating more fruit and vegetables.
Third, Nothing will ever replace a great whole/raw food diet and regular exercise as it pertains to weight loss. You will never find a "fix all" so stop looking for one.

There are many other super foods out there that can help you achieve optimal health without making your wallet lighter.
Blueberries
Concord grapes
Bilberries
Pomegranates
Artichokes
Spinach
Black beans, just to name a few.

So no more questions about the acai berry, and stop spending money on a product that can be replaced with something grown locally for half the price.
I am going to go and enjoy some super foods now you should do the same, I think it would be super!

Raw Recipes

Paul Nison, the author of a half-dozen books on raw foods, brings a wealth of information and experience in raw food nutrition to the table. When he speaks on the topic, his passion for raw food and its health benefits canscarcely be contained. Paul believes that consuming live and uncooked foods is the most healthful way our bodies can receive nourishment.

When you eat raw foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, all the nutrients and enzymes are present and
intact. If you cook your foods, however, high temperatures may destroy these important nutrients. More and more people are becoming interested in preparing and eating their food raw because they’ve heard that processed and chemically sprayed foods do not offer the best nutrition for the body. Even people who eat “regular” food are realizing that raw foods are packed with necessary nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, phytonutrients, and other nutritive co-factors—all of which can be severely diminished if heated or processed. When that happens, there’s not as much nutritional “oomph” left in the food to nourish the body. That’s why they’re switching their food preparation techniques to include more of this much-easier and more nutritious way of eating.
In addition, the probiotics and enzymes found in raw foods help in the digestive process, allowing the body to break down the food and assimilate its nutrients into the bloodstream.

Paul says eating foods raw may result in:

Increased energy
Weight management
Quicker meals
Lower cost
Great taste
The following raw food recipes from Paul Nison can help make eating raw foods a delicious, fun, quick and simple experience. You can find out more about Paul and the raw food lifestyle by checking out his website at www.paulnison.com.






Mushroom Pizza


Ingredients
1 Portobello mushroom
1 tomato
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons of almond butter or tahinidressing (see Paul’s Tahini Dressing recipe below)
Directions
Clean and stem mushrooms so you just have the mushroom caps. Clean mushroom caps and turn upside down. Put lemon juice over them, then add nut spread. Next, make very thin tomato slices and lay them on top.
SERVES 2





Tahini Dressing


Ingredients
4 oz of raw tahini
½ lemon, juiced
1 garlic clove
pinch of cayenne pepper
Namo Shoyu soy sauce to taste
Directions
Blend all ingredients with enough water to make a dressing consistency. Add Namo Shoyu to taste.
SERVES 5





Pesto


Ingredients
2 bunches of spinach
1 bunch fresh basil
½ lemon, juiced
2-4 cloves of garlic
1 cup pine nuts
½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt
½ cup olive oil
Directions
Clean and wash greens. Blend garlic in a food processor, add remaining ingredients, and blend again. Serve as a dip or over pasta.
SERVES 4





Spaghetti Zucchini-Style


Ingredients
2 medium-sized zucchini, shredded in
“spaghetti-like” fashion
Put the zucchini into a saladacco
Tomato-Based Sauce
Ingredients
3 large fresh tomatoes, puréed
1 large green pepper, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
Directions
Place shredded zucchini on plate, which will serve as the “spaghetti.” Blend together tomato-based sauce and pour over the top of the zucchini.
SERVES 2





Cool Summer Salad (Semi-Raw)


Ingredients
3 cups spinach leaves, shredded
1 cup Romaine lettuce, shredded
½ cup shredded organic carrots
2 zucchini, shredded
1 cup of alfalfa sprouts
1 cup of broccoli florets
½ cup diced yellow bell pepper
1 cup red cabbage (chopped)
2 hard-boiled omega-3 eggs (sliced)
2 ounces shredded organic cheese
Dressing
Blend together 2 organic tomatoes, one peeled and pitted avocado, 1 celery stalk, and 2 carrots, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, and a dash of Herbamare.



Icy Fruit Dessert


Ingredients
Fresh papayas
Strawberries
Blueberries
Pineapple,
Nectarines
Bananas
Or fruit of your choice
Directions
Peel and slice the fresh fruit of your choice. Place freshly sliced fruit in a freezer container and freeze solidly. When you are ready to eat your icy fruit dessert, remove the frozen fruit from the freezer and allow to partially
thaw. Put partially thawed fruit in a blender and puree.
SERVES 1







Chillin' Apple Pie


Ingredients
One baked whole wheat deep-dish pie shell, cooled
Pie Filling
6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1½ tablespoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup raw, unfiltered honey
Directions
Chop apples into small chunks. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the chopped apples, cinnamon, allspice, ground cloves, lemon juice, and raw honey. Spoon the pie filling mixture into the pre-baked whole wheat pie shell. Refrigerate for one hour prior to serving. Can be topped with organic ice cream or organic whipped cream.
SERVES 4





Pine Nut Pudding


Ingredients
1 cup pine nuts
1 cup soft dates
1 cup water
Directions
Blend all ingredients in a blender. You may sprinkle with nutmeg if you like.
SERVES 4





Body-Ready Brownies (Semi-Raw)


Ingredients
1 teaspoon coconut oil
½ cup raw honey
1½ cups raw almond butter
1½ cup carob powder
1¼ cups of date paste (You can buy date paste in stores, or you can make your own.
Note: 1 lb. of dates makes 1 cup of date paste.)
Directions
Mix all ingredients together and press into a 9x9 glass pan. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, cut into squares.
SERVES 4





Refreshing Fruit Salad (Semi-Raw)


Ingredients
2 bananas
1 cup of white or red seedless
grapes
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
2 sliced kiwis
Topping
1 cup Greek yogurt (whole fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons raw honey
Directions
Cut up fruit, add topping, and serve chilled.
SERVES 2





Apple Sauce


Ingredients
3 apples
1 banana
4 soft dates
¼ cup water
Directions
Blend all ingredients in a blender. You may sprinkle with nutmeg if you like.
SERVES 2

Vacation Precautions

I am headed out or am out on my Christmas vacation right now, so I will be enjoying family and friends while stomaching bad foods.
How I plan on staying healthy is to bring with me an arsenal of vitamins and other supplements as well as as much food as I can take. The list is extensive but, I take my health very seriously for my family as well as myself. We also like to go to the gym while we are on vacation, so we don't lose any progress that we have gained while at home.

Kombucha, is a great health food and is easy to find or make. This cultured tea is full of B vitamins and beneficial enzymes that will boost your metabolism and give you an energy boost to keep up with all of the festivities.

Kefir, another cultured health food and it is a little harder to get a hold of, because it is at its best when made from whole grass fed unpasteurized milk. If you have access to this then you are way ahead of the "game", kefir has a yogurt like texture and is great with berries and bananas. It is easy to digest and is packed full of probiotics even more than the kombucha.

Omegazyme digestive enzymes come with me when ever I think that I might have something that will screw up my system by slowing down my digestion so much that it puts my immune system in jeopardy. Because 85% of your immune system is in your digestive tract. So don't take any extra energy away from it!

Perfect Food Green Powder is in my kefir shake with the berries and the bananas every morning because it is so hard to get your daily greens everyday but especially when you are on a trip. The perfect food powder can also be mixed with water or tea and will make your body feel energized right away.

Primal Defense Powder this is a must for any body including kids. This a highly concentrated probiotic blend that is easily assimilated by the body than the lesser GNC or Walmart brands. This will restore the beneficial bacteria in your gut that you are killing with the bad foods, or antibiotics that WILL compromise your immune system.

Vitamin Code Multi Vitamins, These are a newer addition to my arsenal but it has shown itself as a great fighter and energy restorer. The Vitamin Code multi's are great and by far the best vitamins I have ever taken, simply because I feel amazing after taking them. Your body will tell you whats good when you have it running really clean, it will react to the good and bad with signals that help you to determine what is good and bad, that is if you are listening to the messages your body is sending you.

Some other items I take with me are,
Ezekiel 4:9 Bread
Free Range Turkey Bacon and Eggs.
Honey
Whole Milk Butter.
And my wifes' great organic chocolate chip little pieces of heaven cookies.

You can find all of these items with some exceptions on my webstore
www.nashvillenutritionals.com
What do you do to stay healthy while on a trip?

Learning How To Eat Again

Hormone Influences Your Sweet Tooth

In fact, your sense of taste may be little more than the result of a poor diet to begin with, rendering it a symptom, not an underlying cause, for overeating and obesity.

Here’s how this works: The hormone leptin has been shown to target taste receptors on your tongue, thereby increasing or reducing cravings for sweet foods. It is believed that leptin is a sweet-sensing modulator (suppressor), and therefore a contributor to the process that regulates food intake.

It is likely that either a lack of leptin, or your body's failure to respond to the hormone due to defects in your leptin receptors, contributes to the so-called 'sweet tooth' that affects so many people.

It’s already been discovered that animals and humans with low leptin levels, or with defective leptin receptors, tend to become obese. Leptin -- a hormone produced by your fat cells -- is directly involved in weight regulation by signaling your brain when your fat cells are full; instructing your body to reduce hunger, increase fat burning, and reduce fat storage.

So, in addition to increasing cravings for sweets, low leptin levels (or conversely, excessive leptin levels due to leptin resistance) also diminish your feelings of satiety, leading to continued intake of sweet foods.

But, what causes your leptin levels to go haywire in the first place?

If you eat a diet that is high in sugar and grains, the sugar gets metabolized to fat (and is stored as fat in your fat cells), which in turn releases surges in leptin. Over time, if your body is exposed to too much leptin, it will become resistant to it (just as your body can become resistant to insulin).

And when you become leptin-resistant, your body can no longer “hear” the messages telling it to stop eating, burn fat, and maintain good sensitivity to sweet tastes in your taste buds -- so you remain hungry, you crave sweets, and your body stores more fat.

Leptin-resistance also causes an increase in visceral fat, sending you on a vicious cycle of hunger, fat storage and an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and more.

So in essence, whether or not you have fewer, or less sensitive, taste buds may be inconsequential. That’s NOT the underlying problem. Being leptin resistant is the problem; one that can be fixed, as I’ll explain in just a moment.

Sugar Cravings is an Addiction!

Making matters worse, refined sugar has been found to be far more addictive than cocaine -- one of the most addictive substances currently known! So, if you think quitting tobacco is tough, giving up sugar can be even harder.

And, it’s important to remember that refined sugar is not the only culprit you have to contend with if you’re craving sweets.

Starch, in the form of grains and potatoes, metabolizes into sugar in your body and should therefore also be limited within your diet if you want to lose weight and feel better. Following my nutrition plan is a simple way to automatically reduce your intake of both grains and sugars.

How to Re-Sensitize Your Taste Buds and Restore Optimal Health

All of that said, it’s important to remember that your taste buds are likely not the best indicators of what foods are good for your body.

Many people, especially those who are overweight, have developed a link between their taste buds and their brain that cause their body to produce leptin and insulin, the moment they eat anything sweet. And due to the rise in leptin levels, you keep craving more sugar and grains.

Fortunately, there are ways to remedy this problem and put an end to the evil circle. Here’s how:

Modify your diet – A strategic diet that emphasizes good fats, and avoids blood sugar spikes will re-sensitize your cells' ability to hear hormonal messages correctly.

But I recommend taking your dietary modifications even one step further. Though increasing healthy fats and limiting sugar and carbs will benefit everyone, understanding your nutritional type is equally important when losing weight. Just as you are unique in all other respects, your body has a unique biochemistry that requires certain proportions and types of healthy carbohydrates, fats and proteins that differs from other peoples' requirements.

Learning your nutritional type will help you get started on an eating plan that is right for you (and your taste buds).

Reeducate your taste buds -- This is simply a matter of "cleaning" your palate of grains to eliminate your body's learned response to sugar. Once you’ve abstained from grains for awhile, you'll notice that foods will taste better than ever.

Battle the physical aspects of your sugar cravings -- Anyone who exercises intensely on a regular basis will know that significant amounts of cardiovascular exercise is the cure for sweet cravings.

It always amazes me how my appetite, especially for sweets, dramatically decreases after exercise. I believe the mechanism is related to the dramatic reduction in insulin levels that occurs after exercise.

Elevated insulin levels are one of the primary reasons for food cravings and if insulin levels are reduced, many of these cravings simply disappear.
Sources:
Dr. Mercola

Sugars And Cancer

Originally printed by The Alternative Research Foundation
By: Dr.Mercola

It puzzles me why the simple concept "sugar feeds cancer" can be so dramatically overlooked as part of a comprehensive cancer treatment plan.

Of the 4 million cancer patients being treated in America today, hardly any are offered any scientifically guided nutrition therapy beyond being told to "just eat good foods." Most patients I work with arrive with a complete lack of nutritional advice.

I believe many cancer patients would have a major improvement in their outcome if they controlled the supply of cancer's preferred fuel, glucose.

By slowing the cancer's growth, patients allow their immune systems and medical debulking therapies -- chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to reduce the bulk of the tumor mass -- to catch up to the disease.

Controlling one's blood-glucose levels through diet, supplements, exercise, meditation and prescription drugs when necessary can be one of the most crucial components to a cancer recovery program. The sound bite -- sugar feeds cancer -- is simple. The explanation is a little more complex.

The 1931 Nobel laureate in medicine, German Otto Warburg, Ph.D., first discovered that cancer cells have a fundamentally different energy metabolism compared to healthy cells.

The crux of his Nobel thesis was that malignant tumors frequently exhibit an increase in anaerobic glycolysis -- a process whereby glucose is used as a fuel by cancer cells with lactic acid as an anaerobic byproduct -- compared to normal tissues.

The large amount of lactic acid produced by this fermentation of glucose from cancer cells is then transported to the liver. This conversion of glucose to lactate generates a lower, more acidic pH in cancerous tissues as well as overall physical fatigue from lactic acid buildup. Thus, larger tumors tend to exhibit a more acidic pH.

This inefficient pathway for energy metabolism yields only 2 moles of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy per mole of glucose, compared to 38 moles of ATP in the complete aerobic oxidation of glucose.

By extracting only about 5 percent (2 vs. 38 moles of ATP) of the available energy in the food supply and the body's calorie stores, the cancer is "wasting" energy, and the patient becomes tired and undernourished. This vicious cycle increases body wasting.

It is one reason why 40 percent of cancer patients die from malnutrition, or cachexia. Hence, cancer therapies should encompass regulating blood-glucose levels via diet, supplements, non-oral solutions for cachectic patients who lose their appetite, medication, exercise, gradual weight loss and stress reduction. Professional guidance and patient self-discipline are crucial at this point in the cancer process. The quest is not to eliminate sugars or carbohydrates from the diet but rather to control blood glucose within a narrow range to help starve the cancer and bolster immune function.

The glycemic index is a measure of how a given food affects blood-glucose levels, with each food assigned a numbered rating. The lower the rating, the slower the digestion and absorption process, which provides a healthier, more gradual infusion of sugars into the bloodstream.

Conversely, a high rating means blood-glucose levels are increased quickly, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood-sugar levels. This rapid fluctuation of blood-sugar levels is unhealthy because of the stress it places on the body
To read the rest of this article please go here.
Mercola

Christmas Time Clearance!

I hope you are having a great weekend! I also hope that you are all in good health, I understand that there is a "bug" going around. If you got this message in a email I apologize for the bad spelling, I just realized that I made a mistake there.

With that, I trust you all are well and ready for the holidays, but if not get well soon and take your probiotics!

Click Here For Probiotics

I have a couple of deals to give you fro this the last week before Christmas. If you are like me I like to take some good foods and supplements with me out of town to ensure my health while I enjoy my family. If this is you then you are in luck!

I have Perfect Weight America (PWA) Protein bars on Clearance this week. 

2 boxes for $52.25

If you are trying to keep your weight in check this holiday season or you want to give the gift of weight managment to a friend or family member then your deal is right here.

The PWA and Nashville Nutritionals has come together for a special package just in time for Christmas.

PWA Weight Managment Kit!

1 Box PWA protein bars 

FucoThin Fat Burner Supplements

PWA Vitamin Code, vitamins

Perfect Meal Shake Mix

PWA paper back book

Detoxifiber Powder

MSRP-$215!

Your Price Is $159.95

$55 in savings !!!

If you want this offer please to the contact section and I will help you out. If you want to laugh then you shouldread this.

Have a great day!

The Coconut And Its Wonderful Benefits

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.

The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system.

Coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

Health benefits of coconut oil include the following:

• Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shinny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged air. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.
• Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.
• Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.
• Premature Aging: Coconut oil helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.
• Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.
• Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.
• Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.
• Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
• Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.
• Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
• Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.
• Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.
• Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.
• Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.
• Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.
• Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.
• HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients.

The Importance Of Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that lives in your gut along the intestinal tract. This "good" bacteria is responsible for ushering out bad bacteria found in processed and cooked food. When our food is cooked the living nutrients are deactivated and the enzymes are usually killed or damaged.

These bad bacteria or dead bacteria have to go some where so they will sit in the lining of you gut and if the sit there long enough the buildup will grow until you find yourself over weight or with a leaky gut.

Having a leaky gut will contribute to things like gall stones, kidney stones, cysts, and the worst case is a tumor. 

These side effects will take some time to occur but when they do they often go unnoticed till they become so big that they interfere with our other organs. Once they have made their way into the body they feed on processed sugar and flours. Why? Because the sugars and flours are in the simplest form so they act as a great food source for the bad bacteria causing it to grow rapidly with minimal effort.

Probiotics in your gut like I stated at the begging, will usher out the bad bacteria much like good fats in the body push out the bad. Once you have started to take these probiotics you may notice some slight discomfort but thats only because it is working and it doesn't last long. One thing you don't want to do is to continue to eat your normal processed and cooked foods for this will over ride what you are trying to do. 

Eat as close to a raw food diet as you can possibly do, this will regulate things like your weight, your metabolism, and your bowls.

Stick to it even though your gut will kill some of the good bacteria this has to happen but you have to make sure you are getting the best quality of probiotics. How you do this is by reading the bottle, you need more species of bacteria and then more parts per billion.

For instance if you are taking a probiotic that has 5 species and then 1 million parts per billion you are doing ok.

But if you are taking a probiotic that has 13 species and 9 billion parts per billion you are probably taking a Garden Of Life Product hence doing the best you can do.

Primal Defense

Is what I recommend and the only brand I have ever used because of one simple fact, it was made from a raw source and never cooked beyond 113 degrees. So none of the enzymes and the good bacteria are not only protected but they are easier for my body to use and thats what its all about anyway.

I hope you are considering changing your diet with the help of this blog and these wonderful supplements. Remember you have a friend in nutrition here

MMMMM Protein!

So I have been on a quest of sorts for about a year now, this quest, if you will has been geared towards muscle gain. 

In order for me to gain muscle I need to do 2 things, 1) is to work out like crazy. 2) is to eat clean foods such as protein and fiber from raw sources whenever possible.

Why?

Well, I am glad you asked, these foods will be more useful or easily assimilated into the body. Thus, I will not be wasting precious energy on digesting my food and more energy on muscle repair. 

This adventure has been going swimmingly, I will hit you with the numbers so you can see why I think so.

I started this and my body weight was 150 lbs.

I could lift 140 and I worked out 3 times a week for about 30 minutes with very little cardio.

What I did to gain weight is I slowly started to eat more cleanly and more often, for example I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on organic sprouted Ezekiel 4.9 brand bread right before I went to bed. 

The peanut butter was raw organic and the jelly was more of a jam with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

I had 2 every night for about a month, followed by a breakfast of turkey bacon and free range eggs as soon as I got out of bed.

Then mid morning I had a protein shake with 4-6 raw free range eggs, 2 cups of raw grass fed organic milk, 2 tablespoons of cocoa in the blender.

Lunch was usually another sandwich on Ezekiel bread, maybe peanut butter and jelly or a b.l.t. made with turkey bacon.

Afternoon snack was just that something like cereal, Ezekiel 4.9 makes a great tasting high protein cereal.

Dinner was fresh vegetables, sweet potatoes (roasted in coconut oil) and chicken or free range beef.

This process was delicious and helped me to go from 150 to 198 in 6 months! I am now close to the 200 mark, but this has made my workout routine change and I have forced cardio into it as well as changing out some of my protein sources.

I work out now for 1 hour at least 3 times a week, and I run 3 times a week for 2 miles and have seen a significant difference in muscle mass as well as density.

I lift 200 pounds now and spend less time with muscle recovery, the biggest thing now is how good I feel. 

I think this is a lot to do with the type of protein I have switched to and that is the Fuco Protein bars and the perfect meal shakes.

They have replaced my mid morning shakes and mid afternoon snacks. The difference is the way I feel and that is...great!

The Perfect Weight America Program from Dr. Jordan Rubin is geared towards changing your weight by changing your life to achieve your perfect weight. It is used more often for a meal replacement but I have used it to increase my protein consumption in a clean easily digestible way, and they are thermogenic! 

This is great because they will help your body to burn fat naturally so you don't have to worry about it, ever. Thermo- means "heat" and genic- means "generate" these bars help you to naturally burn body fat by generating heat,thus causing you to sweat more, the coolest thing ever because it is organic and raw!

So you see it is good for both the weight gainer and the weight loser (ha), take it from me because I use it and it works!

On sale now Fuco Protein Bars

Is Vitamin C Really Good For You?

Chances are good that we have all heard about the benefits of vitamin C in the diet. This water-soluble vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, is a primary antioxidant that is essential in the prevention of scurvy. It is also necessary for tissue growth and for blood vessel health, for the formation of collagen (the connective tissue in skin, ligaments, and bones), and wound healing. Additionally, vitamin C assists in the absorption of calcium and iron, the utilization of folic acid, and gives antioxidant protection to the eye.

In short, it is a pretty phenomenal vitamin that we just cannot do without.

Although vitamin C can do a lot, there are still some gray areas as to its full capabilities. For instance, the idea that vitamin C can assist in prevention of the common cold is still undergoing debate. According to Mayoclinic.com, scientific studies generally indicate that, as far as the prevention of the onset of cold symptoms, that vitamin C may not be fully up to the task.

What many of us may not be aware of, however, is vitamin C’s role in memory and concentration. Since vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it provides protective support for the body against free radicals—even those that can adversely affect the brain.

The fact is that vitamin C plays an important role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, which are critical to brain function. Vitamin C specifically has an effect on the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which affects parts of the brain where attention and response actions are governed.

Great sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits and their juices; papayas; hot chili peppers; bell peppers; broccoli, potatoes, dark leafy greens; kale; red cabbage; cauliflower; cantaloupe; sweet potatoes; and Brussels sprouts.

With all the amazing benefits from vitamin C, be sure that you get sufficient amounts in your diet.

And don’t forget—it can also help your memory and concentration!

Check out the Vitamin Code in the web store now!Check It Out!

Web Store Plug

I know, and I hate to do it...but I am going to. 

Get your coupon code for the web store and save up to 20% How? If you are not on the mailing list send me you email address just go to the contact section on the web store and do it!

If you don't want to do that then use the coupon code ettlt10 and get 10% off today. Did I mention that we offer free shipping on everything?! 

Get your order in by December 18th to have your products for Christmas, you can also get gift certificates for training. These are both great gift ideas, you are giving health with the training and life with the living product from the web store.

Thanks in advance for your orders!

Its that time of year again

If you are looking to get sick let me tell you how to do it!

First eat lots of bad food like potato chips, donuts, pork, conventional milk, or any thing artificial. There are so many foods that will impair your immune system, but thats not the only thing that will cripple your immune system.

Second ,eating out of a set schedule or not at all.

Third, eating to much or to late. 

Fourth, taking any medication. 

What you will want to do to increase your odds of getting sick is eat all this and more. What happens when you do this?

Let me tell you, all of your bodies energy that is naturally created by the good foods that you eat, the raw fruits and vegetables is going to be used to digest your food. So you are pulling vital energy away from your immune system to eat to your taste and pleasure not to live. 

This is so commonly the case and most people think it has to be a virus that they have come in contact with recently, when thats not the case at all. Your body stores things all of the time especially foreign substances including dead or bad bacteria. This sits around till your body is forced to push it out or use it, either way you will not like the results. 

Sticking to a schedule when eating and then eating raw easily digestible food will help you to stay well and maximize your health not to mention aid in boosting your energy and your immune system. If you are trying to lose weight then it is especially beneficial for you too.

Some other things you can do is take Probiotics found in the web store as well as some immune support teas and supplements also found in the web store.

www.nashvillenutritionals.com

What You Need To Know About Tyson Chicken

Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat processor and the second largest chicken producer in the U.S., has admitted that it injects its chickens with antibiotics before they hatch and then labels them as raised without antibiotics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has told Tyson to stop using the antibiotic-free label, but the company has sued for the right to keep using it.

Poultry farmers regularly treat chickens and other birds with antibiotics. But scientists have become increasingly concerned that the routine use of antibiotics in animal agriculture may accelerate the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

After Tyson began labeling its chicken antibiotic-free, the USDA warned the company that such labels were not truthful, because Tyson regularly treats its birds' feed with bacteria-killing ionophores. Tyson argued that ionophores are antimicrobials rather than antibiotics, and are not used on human patients. Tyson suggested a compromise which was eventually accepted by the USDA -- they would use a label reading "raised without antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans."

Tyson's competitors: Perdue Farms Inc., Sanderson Farms Inc. and Foster Farms sued, and in May 2008, a federal judge ruled in their favor and told Tyson to stop using the label. Not long after, USDA inspectors discovered that in addition to using ionophores, Tyson was regularly injecting its chicken eggs with gentamicin, an antibiotic that has been used for more than 30 years.

The agency told Tyson that based on the new discovery, it would no longer consider the antibiotic-free label "truthful and accurate." Tyson objected again, claiming that because the antibiotics are injected before the chickens hatched, the birds can truthfully be said to be "raised without antibiotics." Tyson has filed a lawsuit against the USDA, claiming that the agency had improperly changed the definition of "raised without antibiotics" to include the treatment of eggs.

Sources:

• Natural News November 9, 2008

A Meal Fit For A Pilgrim

Most of us will be sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal this week, but have you ever wondered how our traditional Thanksgiving meal stacks up against what was eaten at the first Thanksgiving? You might be surprised and it might sound a little extreme-- even in a day and age when we have extreme eating on the cable sports network.

Our national Thanksgiving holiday has its roots in the 1621 fall feast that took place between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans in celebration of the colony’s first successful harvest. It was no small event, either. In fact, there are accounts that this first feast included all the Pilgrims, ninety of the Wampanoag, and it went on for three days.

But what was on the menu? Historians are not completely sure what was on the menu beyond venison and wild fowl. One thing they are sure of, however, is that it was not the sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, dressing, and all the trimmings that usually accompany our modern day repast. Instead, the first Thanksgiving meal probably included venison, ducks, geese, swans, and wild turkey as well as maybe seal, lobster, eel, fish and crabs—and maybe some corn and wheat.

Vegetables probably didn’t make the menu, though, because vegetables weren’t big in the 17th century and for the Pilgrims, it would also have depended on what vegetables were in season. When vegetables were in season, however, they may have had beans, onions, carrots, and peas—although this is not confirmed.

They probably didn’t have much in the way of sweets, either. They brought some sugar with them on the Mayflower, but the supply had diminished by the time of their first Thanksgiving meal, so sweets would not have been included. (Besides, the pilgrims didn’t have ovens, either, so pies, cakes, and bread were not on the menu.)

So much for that pumpkin pie…

What they did have, surprisingly, was a lot of spices in their food—not bland food like many might imagine. They used herbs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, pepper, and dried fruit in their wares.

In short, their Thanksgiving meal was high in meat dishes—which offered great sources of healthy protein and fats and was low in carbs, including sugars. They probably could have used a few more vegetables, but, times being what they were, that was not the case.

Nowadays, however, our Thanksgiving meals are usually high in carbs and unhealthy fats and can also pack in between 2,000 to 3,000 calories for just that one meal-- which is more calories than most people should have for an entire day. Now that’s what I would call extreme eating.

And while I am not advocating adding seal or even fish to your holiday menu, maybe this Thanksgiving dinner we can take a hint from the Pilgrims and eat more of the healthy proteins and fats (yes, fats) and scale back on the carbs and sugars.

Why Raw Vitamins?

Imagine yourself 100 years ago describing the latest craze in health and nutrition, the “RAW” food movement, with someone living at that time. RAW Foods are natural, uncooked, untreated, unadulterated — NO BINDERS and NO FILLERS. Right after you finished sharing what you consider a groundbreaking concept of consuming foods in their natural state with that person, they would most likely stare at you and tell you that you just described the way they eat every day. What is now considered unique and advanced was for our ancestors the norm.

In today’s modern system of agriculture, the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers allows the average acre of farm land to yield more food than that same acre would have 50 years ago. The flip side of that is due to all of those chemicals, our food is not as nutrient dense as it once was. A comparison of U.S. Department of Agriculture food composition tables from the 1960s and 1970s to the present day reveals that the vitamin and mineral content of the nation’s breadbasket has declined 25 percent to 50 percent in just the last generation.

Our food is less nutritious coming off the farm. This fact is made much the worse when you consider what we do to our food after it leaves the farm. In the name of convenience, safety and even marketing, we subject that food to processing such as irradiation, chemical preservation, heating and treating. Food is created solely based on how well it can be packaged, shipped and sold and not in terms of the nutrition it should be providing. This whole concept supports the maxim that we are overfed and undernourished.

In order to overcome the “nutritional gap” created by an increasingly under-nutritious food supply, many people turn to multivitamins. Unfortunately most multivitamins are chemically isolated, synthetic versions of vitamins and minerals found in food. They are inorganic, lifeless.

We’ve replaced food with an anti-food. Until the Vitamin Code™, there have been few options available for those who wish to supplement with a RAW, living multivitamin. The Vitamin Code represents the next breakthrough in multivitamins.

The RAW Factor
The magic of RAW food is truly found in its simplicity. When you eat a food that is uncooked, untreated, and unadulterated, you are eating that food in harmony with nature’s intention and your body’s design. RAW food enthusiasts will tell you that there are many benefits derived from eating RAW.

When you consume RAW foods you are consuming all of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics and phytonutrients contained therein. Simply heating foods can result in the loss of hundreds of these co-factors. When you add different chemical treatments and adulteration to the mix, you are often left with food that is a shell of its former self.

Most people readily accept this premise. Who among us would argue that eating a canned fruit cup in syrup is better than eating a fresh apple?

While all foods provide some nutrition, RAW foods provide higher levels of the 45 nutrients we need to supply our bodies every day. In addition, the co-factors mentioned above are incredibly important. Our bodies are designed to take in food and then break it down in order to glean nutrition from that food. Co-factors such as probiotics and enzymes aid this process. The probiotics and enzymes present in RAW food aid the digestion process, allowing the body to break down the food and assimilate the nutrients into the bloodstream. Nature provides the complete package of vitamins, minerals and co-factors necessary for the body to maximize the nutrient potential of RAW food.

No supplement can compare to the benefits associated with consuming RAW foods. If you have a nutritional deficiency or you just don’t eat a healthy balanced diet you probably need to supplement to give your body the basic nutrition it needs to function properly. If you are going to supplement, you should seek out a RAW, Whole-Food multivitamin. The Vitamin Code is a multivitamin that was developed to provide supplemental nutrition as close as supplementation can get to actual RAW food.

Is Your Multivitamin RAW?
Each vitamin and mineral contained in The Vitamin Code multinutrient formulas is individually cultivated resulting in a process that mimics plant activity. In nature, plants transform inorganic material into useable and bioavailable nutrients. Similarly, the Vitamin Code Process transforms isolated nutrients, renaturing them into whole foods. The result is an innovative RAW vitamin, mineral or antioxidant that is surrounded by the probiotics, enzymes, phytonutrients and other co-factors that create a nutrient-rich source of fuel beneficial for the body.

At no point during the cultivation process are the vitamins and minerals treated, adulterated or cooked. More importantly is what you won’t find on the label — no binders or fillers. The Vitamin Code nutrients are 100% active, meaning that every ingredient contained within them has nutritional value and purpose. The Vitamin Code represents a breakthrough in multivitamins: RAW, living multivitamin/mineral supplements. 

Probiotics and Mercury

Some developmental, neurological changes do not have a clear genetic linkage. One hypothesis is that mercury poisoning through environmentally acquired mercury, which could be due to casual contact or through vaccination, may exert neurological effects on the brain. It may be that mercury exposure during early development might “throw a genetic switch”. There is anecdotal evidence that soil-based organisms can help with detoxification. Pathogenic organisms have been shown to readily detoxify mercury.

The detoxification of organic mercury in bacteria occurs from their ability to convert highly toxic Hg2+ to Hg (0) via a redox reaction. It has been known for over 25 years that the intestinal flora could produce organic mercury from ingestion of mercuric chloride. Enteric bacteria, including streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, yeasts, lactobacilli, bacteroides and bifidobacteria, are capable of methylating HgCl.

Probiotic organisms such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria produce only small amounts of methyl mercury. The elemental mercury escapes from the bacteria after detoxification, where it may continue to 1 of 4 possibilities: expulsion, reabsorption, or be taken up and processed back to methyl mercury by either pathogenic or probiotic bacteria. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 90 % of methyl mercury is excreted through bile in the feces. Elemental mercury or mercuric chloride is taken up and processed much more slowly to methyl mercury. With large numbers of probiotic bacteria, mercury can effectively be driven toward expulsion.

It is estimated by the American Academy of Pediatrics that during childhood vaccinations, it is possible for the dose of mercury to exceed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended levels for safety. There are chelation protocols using ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) or dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) to effectively clear mercury from the body. The administration of probiotics would prevent any recycling of toxic mercury.

As probiotics contact and process the various types of mercury, there would be some mutations that would occur in the probiotic genomes. The body has an innate ability to clear organic mercury, with 90% of methyl mercury being excreted through the bile in feces. 
There is a belief that the gastrointestinal tract plays a major role as mercury exerts an effect on the immune system in the gut. Mercury can cause an autoimmune response. Probiotics along with monoterpene may be valuable in detoxifying mercury, since monoterpenes can increase phase II detoxifying in the body.

Whats In Your Gut?

Do you wonder what is in your gut? Or how you can remove it? 

Chances are you have, well let me tell you a little bit about the good and the bad bacteria in your gut.

Yes! There is such a thing as "good bacteria" but because so much of what we see or hear of is bad bacteria the good tends to be guilty by association. This should not be the case, as a matter of fact if you had enough good bacteria in your gut there would be a lot less bad bacteria to kill in your whole body.

One cannot survive where the other one thrives, this is to say when you build up the good bacteria in your gut it will usher out the bad. Preventing sickness, bad skin, stomach acid, and weight gain. It will aid in digestion, regularity, energy, weight loss and over all good health. I know this maybe a little much to understand I feel like I spend a lot of time convincing people of this when it should be common knowledge. Medically speaking it is over looked and because of that and other factors of course, it is not widely known and or reported.

The truth is you have bad bacteria in your gut and it is making you fat, unhealthy and cranky. It can also cause leaky gut or LGS which lets toxins and bad bacteria leach into the blood stream cause high blood pressure, cholesterol, and artery disfunction. So what can you do?

Start eating as much good bacteria as possible:

-sour kraut

-lacto-fermented beverages and foods

-raw grass fed milk and kefir

-raw grass fed dairy and yogurt

-kombucha

-you can also take a simple supplement to aid in this process learn moreClick Here

Is the Beautiful Skin Diet Next?

You most likely have heard you are what you eat, but did you know that same principle may apply to skin health, too? It’s true. Your diet might have a lot to do with the condition of your skin, and vitamins and antioxidants as well as other nutrients, can play major roles in skin health.

Karen E. Burke, Ph.D. of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s dermatology department says that vitamins C and E as well as selenium can support the skin’s natural repair systems against free radical damage. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, red peppers and broccoli, while tasty sources of vitamin E include whole grains and nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts. You can get selenium from cod, turkey, and Brazil nuts.

But these do not stand alone in how to maximize beautiful, healthy skin. Vitamin A is also important for skin because, like vitamins C and E, it acts as a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin A can be found in dark orange vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash as well as dark green veggies such as broccoli, spinach, and kale.

Vitamin B plays a role in skin health as well because the B vitamins are essential for body cell health—including the skin cells. A vitamin B deficiency can lead to itchy, dry skin, so it’s important to get enough foods rich in the B vitamins including fish, eggs, whole milk, chicken, and whole grains.

Additionally, the natural antioxidant coenzyme Q10 can help cells grow and can protect them from free radical damage. Interestingly enough, coQ10 levels generally drop as we age and this drop is believed to add to skin’s aging process. Good dietary sources of CoQ10 include: sardines, mackerel, heart, liver, beef, lamb, eggs, spinach, broccoli, peanuts, wheat germ, and whole grains.

And don’t forget those healthy fats—such as omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s can help produce and preserve the skin's natural oil barrier which is essential to keeping skin hydrated, plumper, and younger looking. Foods high in omega-3s to look for include salmon, flaxseeds, nuts, and high omega-3 eggs.

And here’s some good news that is sure to put a smile on your healthy-skinned face: chocolate might even help improve your skin. In fact, a German study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that women who drank hot cocoa with high flavonoid concentration had smoother and softer skin than those who drank cocoa with a lower flavonoid concentration. (But be sure to not overdo it, chocolate lovers!)

The bottom line is that a healthy diet can support skin health. What a delicious way to love the skin you’re in!

Passion For Health

This weekend I learned a lot about myself through my church's membership class. I enjoyed the class much more than I thought I would, but only because I don't like talking to people about my feelings. Its a right of passage for men only, sorry ladies. 

Anyway through this class we did a passion assessment, this where I truly feel I have made some steps in the right direction.

I learned that I really love what I do (biblical health and personal training) I love it so much I have become very passionate about it. I want to make sure that set the record straight as to why I am so passionate. Because I love to see people change their lives and I love being a part of it. I know this sounds very cliche' but it is the truth.

It is even more relevant than I knew before because of the biblical health aspect. This is true for the simple fact that you can't have true change unless you surrender to Christ. This is as much true in your life as it is in mine.

God is love and love is real, this is the difference between what I do and anything else you may  find out there in the "fitness world". I am and will always be invested in the relationship, for the sole reason of Gods love.

I would love to talk to you about this on a personal level so that I can explain more how Christ and health are so important for your life. 

I will tell you that being healthy is one thing but living up to Gods standards for health is much more beneficial because He does things with excellence.

I will say it like this, serving God with your health is just another way for you to be vessel to be worked through and to be ministered to. A vessel that is perfect to look at but most importantly holds the Living water.

Another tool in your spiritual tool box!

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100th Post!!!

I wish I could be more excited about the fact that we finally reached 100 postings but I am sadly not that excited.

Because I want you to have the best information out there, the numbers are just a bonus. I want to reach out to you with the best content possible giving you the most informative articles and post that I can find or type.

If that the case I better get busy huh?

Well speaking of content, I am a firm believer in reading the labels on my food. So much so this is the first things I teach my clients. Its not about calories its about content, that is the truth! 

Listen to your body and take notes on how you feel after a meal. DO you feel tired or do you feel energized?

If you said energized then you are probably eating living foods, otherwise you are feeling so so.

Most people don't even think about how they feel after they eat, which can be a reason why we are an obese nation.

I want you to get the most out of your food, so.. read the labels. You don't need three sweeteners, two preservatives and flavor in your water. You just need pure water! Well if you can find water that still contains its natural minerals than you are doing even better but you get my point.

And that's just water! Think of all the others things that are in our food, I know its overwhelming.

Do me this favor and just start by eating raw, and then organic foods then tell me how you feel.

Can't afford it? Well you cannot afford to be sick or get cancer or miss work either can you? Think about it and get back to me.

Tips For The Holidays

In addition to eating sensibly during the holidays, it is also important to exercise. Many, however, get “too busy” during this season or just don’t feel like exercising during the holidays—especially since normal routines are often temporarily put on hold.

Next to diet, however, exercise is the most important factor for achieving and maintaining optimum physical health as well as keeping your weight in check. It can also stimulate circulation, keep muscles toned, and help diminish the effects of stress. 

Regular physical activity is one of the simplest, least expensive and most rewarding ways to maintain a healthy body—even during all the holiday festivities. So, before you get into the throes of the holidays, make a pact with yourself to continue incorporating good nutrition and fitness into your routine. 

Here are some ways you can keep fit—even during the busiest of holiday schedules:

• First of all, don’t put your fitness goals on hold until the New Year. If you cannot exercise as often or as long as you want, then adjust accordingly. It’s better to cut back on fitness time, than to eliminate it.
• Integrate exercise times into your schedule. Mark these on your calendar as appointments and set aside time to complete them. 
• Resist the “couch potato syndrome”; instead, walk around the block.  Or you can exercise on a rebounder, treadmill, or exercise bike—even while watching TV or listening to your favorite holiday music.   
• If traveling, pack workout clothes and equipment like resistance bands or exercise videos. Then use them!
• Walk the dog frequently or walk the mall while doing your holiday shopping.
• Choose an exercise you enjoy and work out with a friend.
• Do not let more than 2 days go by without exercising—even if it is a reduced workout.
• On days when you might lack motivation, do only 10 minutes of exercise. 

If you usually go to the gym or a class to exercise, consider exercising at home. You might be more inclined to exercise if you don’t have to go somewhere to complete it.

Don’t let the holidays cause you to put fitness on hold. By starting now and continuing during the holiday season, you could avoid the holiday weight gain, feel better, and have more energy to enjoy your gatherings with family and friends

Here Come The Holidays!

It’s about to start again. The holidays, that is. In less than two weeks our nation embarks on the holiday season filled with family gatherings, favorite foods, serious shopping, and perhaps a few added and unwanted pounds.

The truth is that, on average, Americans gain about a pound during the holiday season (some gain more), but this extra weight can accumulate through the years and may be a major contributor to obesity later in life.  In fact, 65 percent of Americans are overweight, and rates of weight-related illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, are skyrocketing.  Carrying around that extra weight can also put a person more at risk for high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, coronary artery disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and cancer.

Researchers from one study on holiday weight gain found that two primary factors influence weight gain: level of hunger and level of activity. They found that those who were much more active or much less hungry were the least likely to gain weight over the holidays, but those who were less active or more hungry had the greatest holiday weight gain. Not surprising, right?

Family ties and friendship ties, however, may have something to do with weight gain as well. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that obesity is “socially contagious,” spreading from person to person in a social network—including friends and family. The researchers, who have studied networks of obesity, found that if someone's friend becomes obese, that person's chances of becoming obese increase by more than half—57 percent to be exact.

And among mutual friends, the effect is even stronger, with chances increasing by a whopping 171 percent. On average, having an obese friend made a person gain 17 pounds, which put many people over the body mass index (BMI) measure for obesity—and the analysis revealed that the “infectious” effect is much greater among friends of the same sex. You have a 71 percent increased risk of obesity if your same-sex friend gains a lot of weight.

The researchers also found that siblings and spouses have an effect on a person’s weight, too. In short, people whose siblings became obese were themselves 40 percent more likely to grow obese. And if you are a woman and your sister becomes obese, your risk rises by 67 percent. If a man's brother becomes obese, his risk rises by 44 percent. They also found that people whose spouses became obese were 37 percent more likely to become obese too.

So what can be done? You have heard that you don’t choose your family, and that’s true. But you can choose a healthier diet and lifestyle for yourself. And while people can have trouble getting through the holidays without weight gain, the most successful at managing their weight monitor their eating. Therefore, it is wise to have a holiday eating plan. Here are some ideas:

• Plan your eating strategies and eat a healthy whole foods-based diet, allowing for only occasional small portions of traditional holiday treats.
• Decide to maintain your current weight through January. 
• Eat plenty of small meals often; do not save up so you can “pig out” later.   
• Drink plenty of water—choosing it as your beverage whenever possible.
• Avoid filling up on sugars and empty calories.
• If you overindulge, get back on track the next meal or the next day.

Those extra holiday pounds can quickly become a weighty health concern, so do your best to avoid them this season. Not gaining them could translate into pounds of prevention.

The Truth About High Fructose Corn Syrup (revisited)

The truth is, scientists have linked the rising HFCS consumption to the epidemics of obesity,diabetes and metabolic syndrome in the U.S., and medical researchers have pinpointed various health dangers associated with the consumption of HFCS compared to regular sugar. This is why the corn industry is now scrambling to save face and profits – NOT because it’s really okay to consume an average of 59 pounds a year of this stuff.

The American Medical Association issued a statement on June 17, 2008, stating that "high-fructose syrup does not appear to contribute more to obesity than other caloric sweeteners." However, they also recommend you limit the amount of ALL added caloric sweeteners to no more than 32 grams of sugar daily, which, by the way, comes out to just over 25.5 pounds of sugar per year.

The AMA’s recommendation is over five-and-a-half-times less than the current yearly sugar consumption of the average American – which currently weighs in around 142 pounds a year -- but is still five times higher than my own recommendation of 5 pounds of added sugar per year.

Their evaluation that HFCS is not a major contributor to obesity is puzzling, considering the fact thatthe number one source of calories in America is soda, which contains about 40 grams of HFCS per can – more than the AMA’s recommended daily maximum for ALL caloric sweeteners.

And that’s without adding in all the corn syrup now found in every type of processed, pre-packaged food you can think of. In fact, the use of high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. diet increased a staggering 10,673 percent between 1970 and 2005, according to the latest USDA Dietary Assessment of Major Trends in U.S. Food Consumption report (whereas sucrose consumption declined by 38 percent), far exceeding changes in intake of any other food or food group.  

And what kinds of foods account for more than 90 percent of the money Americans spend on their meals? You guessed it: processed food.

All in all, according to the USDA’s report, about one-quarter of the calories consumed by the average American is in the form of added sugars – the majority of which comes from high fructose corn syrup.

Folks, this is a prescription for disaster.

Kombucha!

I realize I haven't blogged about this but I am selling it and singing it praises to my clients. Kombucha is a wonderful elixir type of drink that is very fizzy and nutritious. I enjoy because it cleans my liver out and give me a little buzz and then I soon feel a boost in energy soon after. 

There are many other benefits too such as: B vitamins, probiotics and enzymes that help you assimilate your food better. Plus boost immune health as well as digestive health. I have found another blog for you to check out, actually I have Sherry to thank for this, either way here you go.

http://hymn-addict.blogspot.com/search/label/kombucha

nashvillenutritional.bigcartel.com

Its finally here! http://nashvillenutritionals.bigcartel.com

This has been on my wish list for sometime now and is finally here and ready for you. I went out of my way to make a deal with Garden Of Life to give you the best pricing you will find anywhere in Nashville!

We will be carrying the full line of GOL products, yes everything. 

Garden Of Life is the only brand that I have 100% confidence in, enough that I use their products every day. With the raw, organic, and living nutrients offered plus the new Vitamin Code there are no excuses to not be eating as healthy as your trainer tells you too (inside pt joke that only my clients would get).

This is local and the only source for raw organic living products around! Now go check it out!

Getting Over The Pain

Well hello there, that is if there is still anyone out there that reads this blog. I wanted to tell you if not warn you that you must get over pain for food and fitness.

This will be hard depending on the specific type of pain you are dealing with but I say this so that you will not medicate but exercise if you haven't already then eat. Once you have done this reevaluate your pain then proceed with your day.

Examples I know you want them so here they are:

Running will help you if you have a headache by increasing the blood flow to the brain much like caffeine will thin the blood helping it to get to the brain faster which I do Not recommend.

Eating will help a headache as well but you will not feel like doing these things which makes it that much harder.

Muscle pain can be remedied as well if you are hurting do to a pull or sprain then you best take it easy. Otherwise you will want to proceed with an exercise that indirectly benefits the pain. then you may take a warm bath that will relax all you muscles.

One thing that you will want to remember is that contracted muscles burn fat the more you can contract the more fat you will burn.

No get out there and do your workout and have a great weekend.

Prayer for whomever is in office

This from John Piper and is for anybody who is letting politics get under their skin or are really discouraged about the new president. Because this blog is more than physical health and it will not be put into a box. We live and move and have our being in Christ that is it.

Thanks for reading.

How does the Bible instruct us to pray for “all who are in high positions”? It says,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).

A few observations:

1. Giving thanks “for kings” is hard when they are evil.

And, as Calvin said on this passage, “All the magistrates of that time were sworn enemies of Christ.” This shows us that anarchy is a horrible alternative to almost any ruler.

We should give thanks for rulers because “non-rule” would unleash on us utterly unbridled evil with no recourse whatever.

Again Calvin: “Unless they restrained the boldness of wicked men, the whole world would be full of robberies and murders.” The better we understand the seething evil of the human heart that is ready to break out where there is no restraint, the more thankful we will be for government.

2. The effect we pray for is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly, and dignified in every way.”

Dignified means “serious and reverent,” not stuffy. I suspect what Paul means is not that we can’t live godly and serious lives during times of anarchy. We can. I suspect he means that peaceful and quiet lives, which are the opposite of anarchy, are often wasted in ungodly and frivolous actions.

So he is praying for a government that would give peace and quiet (not anarchy), and that Christians would not fritter away their peaceful lives with the world, but would be radically godly and serious about the lost condition of the world and how to change it.

3. Using our peace for radical godliness and serious action will lead to more effective evangelism and world missions.

This last observation is confirmed by the hoped-for outcome Paul mentions. Paul says that the reason God delights in such peaceful, Godward, serious action is that he “desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

More people will be saved if our government restrains the horrors of anarchy, and if Christians use this peace not to waste their lives on endless entertainment, but seriously give their lives to making God known.

Ten Reasons to Buy Local Food

Brenton Johnson, an organic farmer and owner of Johnson’s Backyard Garden, came up with this list of top 10 reasons to buy local food, based on his philosophy to live in harmony with the land.

1. Locally grown food tastes better. Food grown in your own community is usually picked within the past day or two. It’s crisp, sweet, and loaded with flavor. Produce flown or trucked in is much older. Several studies have shown that the average distance food travels from farm to plate is 1,500 miles.

2. Local produce is better for you. Fresh produce loses nutrients quickly. Locally grown food, purchased soon after harvest, retains its nutrients.

3. Local food preserves genetic diversity. In the modern industrial agricultural system, varieties are chosen for their ability to ripen simultaneously and withstand harvesting equipment. Only a handful of varieties of fruits and vegetables meet those rigorous demands, so there is little genetic diversity in the plants grown. Local farms, in contrast, grow a huge number of varieties to provide a long season of harvest, an array of eye-catching colors, and the best flavors.

4. Local food is GMO-free. Although biotechnology companies have been trying to commercialize genetically modified fruits and vegetables, they are currently licensing them only to large factory-style farms. Local farmers don’t have access to genetically modified seed, and most of them wouldn’t use it even if they could.

5. Local food supports local farm families. With fewer than 1 million Americans now listing farming as their primary occupation, farmers are a vanishing breed. Local farmers who sell direct to consumers cut out the middle man and get full retail price for their crops.

6. Local food builds a stronger community. When you buy direct from the farmer, you are re-establishing a time-honored connection between the eater and the grower.

7. Local food preserves open space. As the value of direct-marketed fruits and vegetables increases, selling farmland for development becomes less likely. The rural landscape will survive only as long as farms are financially viable.

8. Local food helps to keep your taxes in check. Farms contribute more in taxes than they require in services, whereas suburban development costs more than it generates in taxes.

9. Local food supports a clean environment and benefits wildlife. A well-managed family farm is a place where the resources of fertile soil and clean water are valued. Good stewards of the land grow cover crops to prevent erosion and replace nutrients used by their crops. Cover crops also capture carbon emissions and help combat global warming.

10. Local food is about the future. By supporting local farmers today, you can help ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow, so that future generations will have access to nourishing, flavorful, and abundant food.

Sources:

• Green Right Now October 14, 2008