Saturday, June 14, 2008
Why your favorite wine is a plant-killer ...
The highlight of my Father's Day weekend was learning that my daughter's application to the International Association of Culinary Professionals has been accepted. Way to go, Lizze Marie!
My Father's Day gift? A hike with my daughter up a local mountain ... we hiked about three miles together and I enjoyed a nice apple on the summit. It was a fun time and we're planning on cooling off in the pool later.
This is my seventh day eating squeaky clean ... five days of juice fast, followed by mostly raw foods. Today I had two whole eggs, two egg whites, and barley for breakfast, snacked on an egg and some raw nuts during the hike, then ate a lunch salad with hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, spinach, sunflower seeds, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It's a great zone to be in because even though I am allowing myself two "splurge" meals I haven't really WANTED to splurge! I have NO cravings for ice cream, chocolate, sugar, or any of that nonsense. And you know what? I don't feel like breaking that feeling by even having a small bit ... if I don't need it, and don't desire it, why force the issue? This is exactly what I prayed for before beginning the fast.
In other news ...
"High blood pressure. Soaring blood pressure. A fatty liver. Dangerously elevated insulin levels."
Thus begins the Time article titled, Overweight Children: Living Large that covers in detail the trend of obesity in the U.S. and the fact that it is now impacting more children than ever before (despite the news that the rate of increase is slowing, it still doesn't change the percentage of children who are obese and overweight).
I love the quality of Time's articles ... when you're done with that one, check out the one that epxlains why It's Not Just Genetics and then How America's Children Packed on the Pounds.
Pesticides in your wine?
It's disturbing news, especially for someone like me who loves a good red wine. Apparently, a recent study found that pretty much every bottle of European wine contains pesticides — some as many as ten different types.
Sleeping the Weight Off
Last week during my juice fast, I got plenty of sleep. I also lost plenty of weight. While that's obviously due to the restricted calories, the sleep didn't hurt. According to one study, sleep can aid weight loss. I'm not surprised, because stress seems to be a key factor in preventing weight loss and more sleep correlates to lower stress levels.
An Apple a Day Keeps Slow Metabolism at Bay
Recently it was discovered apple pectin may protect against metabolic syndrome, as well as positiviely impacting cholesterol and other health markers, too. But we've known an apple a day was important long before the scientists proved it, didn't we?
Sun Exposure Fights Cancer?
We've heard that too much sun can cause cancer, but short exposure of just 10 minutes a day may help prevent cancer by helping the body produce Vitamin D.
American's Live Longer ... Than Themselves?
The life expectancy in America is increasing ... recently it has risen to 78 years. That means we're getting better ourselves each year ... but when you compare America to other countries, we're still a dismal 31st place. It is interesting that with all of our "modern medicine" and "advanced healthcare" and of course Hollywood diets, we are still more obese and die sooner than those other countries that don't allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise on prime time TV (and how on earth DO they get away with drinking wine and eating cheese all the time?). Let's face it ... we're doing things wrong here, and Americans need to step it up. Look, your bones won't crack if stop drinking milk and it doesn't help you lose fat, those are just advertisements supported by the government not because they are concerned with your health, but because they need you to drink the subsidized dairy. Yes, you hear about these horrible food shortages and how prices of agriculture are supposedly increasing because corn is being used as an alternative fuel, but on the other hand they are still shoving it down your throat by throwing high fructose corn syrup in just about everything we eat.
Here's an interesting experiment to try ... why not go on a dairy and corn strike for 2 months? It may seem near impossible with the amount of whey and corn that is in every product these days, but if you are up for the challenge, cut dairy and corn out, spend 8 weeks, and report back. I won't be surprised if you find the solution to the obesity epidemic on your own without going on a low carb diet or training for a marathon.
So THAT's Why it Eden, Not Adam
A recent study analyzed the impact of fructose, the sugar specifically found in most fruit, on triglyceride levels in men and women. Men's triglyceride counts skyrocketed 71 percent, while women's only increased 16 percent. This doesn't mean you need to ditch your fruit, however. If you look closely, they weren't just fed fruit, the subjects in this study were "overloading on fructose" and I'm not sure what "overload" means, exactly ...
My Father's Day gift? A hike with my daughter up a local mountain ... we hiked about three miles together and I enjoyed a nice apple on the summit. It was a fun time and we're planning on cooling off in the pool later.
This is my seventh day eating squeaky clean ... five days of juice fast, followed by mostly raw foods. Today I had two whole eggs, two egg whites, and barley for breakfast, snacked on an egg and some raw nuts during the hike, then ate a lunch salad with hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, spinach, sunflower seeds, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It's a great zone to be in because even though I am allowing myself two "splurge" meals I haven't really WANTED to splurge! I have NO cravings for ice cream, chocolate, sugar, or any of that nonsense. And you know what? I don't feel like breaking that feeling by even having a small bit ... if I don't need it, and don't desire it, why force the issue? This is exactly what I prayed for before beginning the fast.
In other news ...
"High blood pressure. Soaring blood pressure. A fatty liver. Dangerously elevated insulin levels."
Thus begins the Time article titled, Overweight Children: Living Large that covers in detail the trend of obesity in the U.S. and the fact that it is now impacting more children than ever before (despite the news that the rate of increase is slowing, it still doesn't change the percentage of children who are obese and overweight).
I love the quality of Time's articles ... when you're done with that one, check out the one that epxlains why It's Not Just Genetics and then How America's Children Packed on the Pounds.
Pesticides in your wine?
It's disturbing news, especially for someone like me who loves a good red wine. Apparently, a recent study found that pretty much every bottle of European wine contains pesticides — some as many as ten different types.
Sleeping the Weight Off
Last week during my juice fast, I got plenty of sleep. I also lost plenty of weight. While that's obviously due to the restricted calories, the sleep didn't hurt. According to one study, sleep can aid weight loss. I'm not surprised, because stress seems to be a key factor in preventing weight loss and more sleep correlates to lower stress levels.
An Apple a Day Keeps Slow Metabolism at Bay
Recently it was discovered apple pectin may protect against metabolic syndrome, as well as positiviely impacting cholesterol and other health markers, too. But we've known an apple a day was important long before the scientists proved it, didn't we?
Sun Exposure Fights Cancer?
We've heard that too much sun can cause cancer, but short exposure of just 10 minutes a day may help prevent cancer by helping the body produce Vitamin D.
American's Live Longer ... Than Themselves?
The life expectancy in America is increasing ... recently it has risen to 78 years. That means we're getting better ourselves each year ... but when you compare America to other countries, we're still a dismal 31st place. It is interesting that with all of our "modern medicine" and "advanced healthcare" and of course Hollywood diets, we are still more obese and die sooner than those other countries that don't allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise on prime time TV (and how on earth DO they get away with drinking wine and eating cheese all the time?). Let's face it ... we're doing things wrong here, and Americans need to step it up. Look, your bones won't crack if stop drinking milk and it doesn't help you lose fat, those are just advertisements supported by the government not because they are concerned with your health, but because they need you to drink the subsidized dairy. Yes, you hear about these horrible food shortages and how prices of agriculture are supposedly increasing because corn is being used as an alternative fuel, but on the other hand they are still shoving it down your throat by throwing high fructose corn syrup in just about everything we eat.
Here's an interesting experiment to try ... why not go on a dairy and corn strike for 2 months? It may seem near impossible with the amount of whey and corn that is in every product these days, but if you are up for the challenge, cut dairy and corn out, spend 8 weeks, and report back. I won't be surprised if you find the solution to the obesity epidemic on your own without going on a low carb diet or training for a marathon.
So THAT's Why it Eden, Not Adam
A recent study analyzed the impact of fructose, the sugar specifically found in most fruit, on triglyceride levels in men and women. Men's triglyceride counts skyrocketed 71 percent, while women's only increased 16 percent. This doesn't mean you need to ditch your fruit, however. If you look closely, they weren't just fed fruit, the subjects in this study were "overloading on fructose" and I'm not sure what "overload" means, exactly ...
Labels: juice fast, metabolism, pesticides, sleep
Sunday, June 08, 2008
The Start of the Juice Fast
I began my 12-week intensive competition today. This is the day I started my juice fast. It's been an interesting day ... so far I've handled the fast well. It is amazing how the body tunes into the juice ... you can start to feel tired and even get a bit of a headache, mix up some juice, and within seconds of taking it in feel the energy just flow in and the pains subside. I will fast through the week, wean off on Friday, get some good variety of foods on Saturday, and then celebrate Father's Day with some protein at a Brazilian-style buffet on Sunday.
12 weeks seems to be a common timeframe for getting into a program and seeing recognizable results. I believe a large part is the cycle ... the first 4 weeks are really what it takes to form a habit but are too soon to see tangible results. The next 4 weeks prove you are committed and let you make the tweaks you need to keep seeing success, and the final 4 weeks are when you start to really notice dramatic changes.
Apparently the formula works ... for example, a recent study found that diabetics who followed a 12 week weight loss program kept most of it off the following year.
While I'm going to still perform some exercise during this period (mainly my Jangle routine, I have to wonder about a recent study that suggests we are no more sedentary now than years ago. The study says that despite our technologically advanced lifestyle, we still burn the same energy today on average as people did 20 or 30 years ago and even before the industrial age.
I for one have a hard time believing this ... and would love to hear your thoughts.
Well, it looks after so many years of the dominance of the American Medical Association (AMA) over who can practice medicine, one state is taking a stand. The AMA has been so successful with its sales and marketing that most people don't realize this corporation (yes - corporation, not government entity or non-profit organization, but a for-profit entity) has managed to sway and influence the legal system in the United States to the extent that most people believe its sanctioned doctors are the only ones qualified to practice health.
The truth of the matter is that many organizations existed in the mid-1800s with differing believes about the practice of medicine. The AMA managed to grow the most successfully and has imposed its views on us since. I believe chiropractic medicine is the first major non-AMA group of health practioners to successfully challenge the monopoly and demonstrate that there are other forms of care.
Now the state of Minnesota passed a law to give official recognition to the practice of naturopathic medicine and even allows these practioners to call themselves "doctors."
While it is a major step, it also has opened the floodgates to debate over who is qualified and even what "naturopathic" medicine really is or means.
At any rate, I'm back to my highly-controversial "juice fast" ... enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Warmly,
12 weeks seems to be a common timeframe for getting into a program and seeing recognizable results. I believe a large part is the cycle ... the first 4 weeks are really what it takes to form a habit but are too soon to see tangible results. The next 4 weeks prove you are committed and let you make the tweaks you need to keep seeing success, and the final 4 weeks are when you start to really notice dramatic changes.
Apparently the formula works ... for example, a recent study found that diabetics who followed a 12 week weight loss program kept most of it off the following year.
While I'm going to still perform some exercise during this period (mainly my Jangle routine, I have to wonder about a recent study that suggests we are no more sedentary now than years ago. The study says that despite our technologically advanced lifestyle, we still burn the same energy today on average as people did 20 or 30 years ago and even before the industrial age.
I for one have a hard time believing this ... and would love to hear your thoughts.
Well, it looks after so many years of the dominance of the American Medical Association (AMA) over who can practice medicine, one state is taking a stand. The AMA has been so successful with its sales and marketing that most people don't realize this corporation (yes - corporation, not government entity or non-profit organization, but a for-profit entity) has managed to sway and influence the legal system in the United States to the extent that most people believe its sanctioned doctors are the only ones qualified to practice health.
The truth of the matter is that many organizations existed in the mid-1800s with differing believes about the practice of medicine. The AMA managed to grow the most successfully and has imposed its views on us since. I believe chiropractic medicine is the first major non-AMA group of health practioners to successfully challenge the monopoly and demonstrate that there are other forms of care.
Now the state of Minnesota passed a law to give official recognition to the practice of naturopathic medicine and even allows these practioners to call themselves "doctors."
While it is a major step, it also has opened the floodgates to debate over who is qualified and even what "naturopathic" medicine really is or means.
At any rate, I'm back to my highly-controversial "juice fast" ... enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Warmly,
Labels: holistic medicine, juice fast, weight loss program
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