Would You Eat A Raw Food Diet?

March 10, 2008 | 18 Comments

Photo by E p i t a
A menu consisting of raw foods sounds kind of boring, huh!

Yet, people who eat raw food diets claim they feel younger, have increased their energy, healed their body of certain ailments, and have even lost weight.

But, before you answer the question above - “Would you eat a raw food diet?” - let’s clear up the definition of “raw food” as it seems everyone has different opinions. Raw does not mean eating nothing but raw vegetables …. or salads. A raw menu, according to Carol Alt over at Raw Nutrition, can consist of sandwiches, smoothies, soup, granola, hummus, and desserts. Raw simply means foods that have not been cooked. And that can include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, unpasteurized dairy products, fish, and meat. Raw can also mean (and this is where some may disagree) food that has not been sprayed with pesticides, has no added preservatives, or has not be irradiated (treated with ionizing radiation to kill germs). I personally think of the latter as organic, but for some people this falls under the raw category because its causes foods to lose their vitality.

There are pros and there are cons to cooking these foods.

The pros are the main purpose for cooking the foods . . . to destroy all bacteria and other pathogens that could cause serious illnesses. And for that reason alone, many people understandably choose not to eat a raw food diet.

And the cons . . . that eating foods cooked at high temperatures (more than 112 degrees) can increase the rate at which we age plus it can contribute to weight gain. Again, according to Carol Alt, this is due to four things happening to the food when it is cooked at high temperatures:

1. The molecular structure changes.
2. The enzymes are killed.
3. The vitamins and minerals are destroyed.
4. The acid alkaline balance changes.

All this has an effect on how our body digests food which in turn prevents us from absorbing all the nutrients we need. The end result … the onset of weight gain and aging more quickly.

The health benefits of choosing raw foods over cooked include,

1. Weight loss
2. Slower aging
3. Better digestion
4. Increase energy
5. Improved skin appearance
6. Reduced heart disease

By simply changing how foods are prepared, we could shed our body of fat and we could lessen the effects of aging. But before giving up all our home-cooked meals, we need to decide which is the better risk,

1. Consuming foods that are cooked and considered bacteria free but which could promote weight gain and early aging, or
2. Consuming foods that are raw and facilitate weight loss and anti-aging and which perhaps is not bacteria free, but the fact that it provides better absorption of nutrients may be enough to protect against diseases.

For recipes for a raw food diet, consider Carol Alt’s book, The Raw 50: 10 Amazing Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, and Drinks for Your Raw Food Lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: raw food diet, Carol Alt, benefits of raw food, health, wellness, weight loss

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Beauty, Blog, Health, Weight Loss, Wellness

Menopot Fat vs. Visceral Fat

March 6, 2008 | 6 Comments

Photo by Pedrosimoes
Middle-aged women are commonly frustrated with extra weight gain going straight to their buttocks, thighs, and belly.

If you are attempting to fight off a middle-aged belly, it is important to learn about the two types of fat and whether or not they pose any danger to your health.

Fat No. 1: Menopot fat. This is a layer of fat that lies on top of the abdomen. It is also referred to as the ”pinch-an-inch” fat and will cause the body to have an ”apple” shape. It is quite common for women to gain 3-5 pounds of menopot fat around the belly as they reach perimenopause, although men can get it too as they approach age 40. As long as the weight gain is minimal, chances are menopot fat won’t cause any serious health problems.

What causes menopot fat and how do you get rid of it? Menopot fat develops on women’s hips, thighs, and buttocks during perimenopause due to changing levels of estrogen. Daily stomach crunches alone won’t get rid of it. Watch calorie intake and decrease the consumption of white carbohydrates and sugar. Exercising with aerobics, walking, and weight training will greatly help burn fat.

Fat No. 2: Visceral fat. This is fat that lies beneath the abdominal wall. It surrounds vital organs thereby making it much more dangerous than menopot fat. It increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. With visceral fat, the abdomen protrudes excessively giving you a “pot belly” or “beer belly” effect.

What causes visceral fat and how do you get rid of it?

Genetics is partly responsible for visceral fat. However, a high-saturated fat diet and low physical activity contribute as well. You can get rid of visceral fat by building muscle through weight lifting or other resistance training as muscles will burn fat. The more muscles you have, the more fat you’ll burn.

How do you tell the difference between menopot fat and visceral fat?

When lying down, menopot fat will fall to the side while visceral fat will stay raised.

Technorati Tags: menopot fat, visceral fat

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Weight Loss

Curcumin For Powerful Health Protection

March 5, 2008 | 5 Comments

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Wouldn’t it be nice to have a spice that acted as a safe multipurpose drug?

Scientific researchers from around the world are studying curcumin (derived from the curry spice turmeric) for its effects in fighting . . . cancer, arthritis, diabetes, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cystic fibrosis, and reversing Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin even shows promise as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis and skin disorders such as psoriasis and wounds, among many other things.

The downside is, however, that despite its benefits, in the past the effectiveness of oral supplementation of curcumin has been limited by poor absorption into the bloodstream through the digestive tract. But according to Life Extension Magazine, scientists have recently discovered an advanced formulation which is more readily absorbed than other curcumin supplement products. The new formulation is called BCM-95® and it is a registered trademark of Dolcas-Biotech, LLC. Compared to standard curcumin supplements, the BCM-95® formulation delivers up to seven times more curcumin to the bloodstream, sooner, and it sticks around nearly twice as long, which should greatly enhance the benefits of curcumin.

Is curcumin safe?

Turmeric has been safely consumed for thousands of years and it can be taken as a simple daily supplement. There have been few reports of mild gastrointestinal distress, which can be minimized by eating food with the supplement. Seems to me like a fair trade-off for the benefits it provides.

Technorati Tags: curcumin, turmeric, cancer prevention, Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health, Wellness

Good Health Does Not Lead To A Heart Attack

March 5, 2008 | 2 Comments

Photo by Hvnly
Have you ever known anyone to say he/she feels healthy and has no symptoms so therefore must be healthy, but then a few days later dies from a heart attack?

Obviously, the person was not healthy as there was a health problem that caused the heart attack. So how do we know if we are healthy?

Start this, stop that, eat what?

Each of us are on a road to either sickness (which leads to death) or wellness (which leads to good health). We constantly read about things that we should or should not be doing in order to maintain good health. And every decision we make affects our health. But making lifestyle changes is not easy and it takes time, patience, dedication, and motivation to stay on track. It is difficult to know if we are doing enough to increase the years we have left on this precious earth.

But there are key factors that will help us know if we are at least moving in the right direction.

In order to have excellent health, we need to first examine what we are putting into our body and how we are treating our body, physically and mentally. Namely, the foods we eat and the exercise we get. But we must also acknowledge the good stresses in our life from the bad. There is such a thing as positive stress and it comes from regular exercise, solving problems, and working towards goals. And negative stresses come from sleep deprivation, bodily injuries, drinking alcohol excessively, worrying about finances, difficulties with career, and arguing with spouse. Stress has a huge impact on our overall health and is a big factor in whether we will be going in the direction of wellness or sickness.

It is detrimentally important that the good stresses outweigh the bad. Some strategies to help accomplish that include,

1. getting lots of ZZZ’s
2. smiling often
3. drinking wisely
4. maintaining a good attitude
5. relaxing

Which direction are you going?

Technorati Tags: health, wellness, stress

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health, Wellness

Not Everything Causes Cancer Afterall

March 3, 2008 | 1 Comment

Photo by Midiman
A group of researchers are telling us we can relax as studies now show that not everything causes cancer as we commonly read.

According to these researchers, the only cancer-causing things we really need to worry about are smoking, alcohol, and sunlight. So we can put on our deodorant, drink our coffee, and eat our fruits with pesticides, and have no worry.

But should we really not worry?

According to the American Cancer Society, it is expected that over 1,437,180 cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2008. They say cancer cases which are most preventable are those cancer cases which occur as a result of smoking, drinking alcohol, and being exposed directly to too much sunlight. And only about 1/3 of all cancer cases could be prevented by making proper lifestyle choices.

Anyone can get cancer. While it may be true that no one knows for certain what causes cancer, we do know that by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we greatly decrease our chances of developing the horrible disease.

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends these guidelines for cancer prevention:

1. Choose mainly plant-based foods and limit red meat and processed meat.
2. Be active every day in any way for 30 minutes or more.
3. Aim to be a healthy weight throughout life.
4. Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods high in added sugar, low in fiber, or high in fat.
5. Do not use tobacco in any form.
6. Limit consumption of alcohol.

We never know from one week to the next what the researchers will be saying. But it doesn’t take a researcher to tell us that with a little common sense and a healthy lifestyle, we greatly increase our chances of living longer.

Technorati Tags: cancer prevention, causes of cancer

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health, Wellness