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

Curcumin For Powerful Health Protection

March 5, 2008 | 5 Comments

Photo by Buntalshoot
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

Beef Recall: Where Does Our Meat Come From?

February 20, 2008 | 1 Comment

Photo by Drawings of Light - Paul
Ironically, the same slaughter house that won 2004-05 Supplier of the Year to the National School Lunch Program is also responsible for the nation’s largest beef recall ever.

The total amount recalled: 143 million pounds of beef! And it is estimated that 37 million pounds of that recalled beef went to school programs. That is, our kids.

The recent recall, which has been the nation’s top story for the past few days, came about after an undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the U.S. at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. This recall isn’t due to some illness wherein one infected cow came to the slaughterhouse and infected the others. This recall is due to the mistreatment, or should we say torture, of sick and injured “downer” cattle which were forced to stand long enough to fool the USDA into believing they were healthy and therefore pass the USDA’s inspection. Normally, downer cattle are prohibited from entering the food supply because they are more likely to spread Mad Cow’s disease, E coli, and salmonella. Once the sick cattle passed inspection, they went through the slaughter process and ended up on our children’s plates. This is a prime example of why we should be more aware of whom we are getting our food from.

How can we know if a supplier is a good one or a bad one?

The ill cattle at Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. passed the USDA’s inspection. Even the Cattlemen’s Association claims that the abuse is something they don’t condone and don’t tolerate and that they were unaware of the treatment at Hallmark. If both the USDA and the Cattlemen’s Association were unaware of what was happening with the downer cattle at Hallmark, then can we be assured that they know what is happening at the other 900 or so slaughterhouses in the U.S. and that we are buying untainted meat?

Our best bet is to buy beef locally. Buy from farmers who allow their herd to roam the range and live in conditions similar to their natural behavior with sunshine, fresh air, water, and a pasture. And while you are shopping for farmers, choose ones that don’t inject their livestock with antibiotics or growth hormones.

If you aren’t yet convinced of the necessity to shop around, take a look at this graphic video from the HSUS:

Technorati Tags: beef recall, Hallmark Meat Co.

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health

Warning: Pain Relievers, Like Tylenol, Can Cause Death

February 18, 2008 | 2 Comments

Photo by Twenty Questions
Each year, over-the-counter pain relievers containing acetaminophen are to blame for more than 100,000 calls to poison control, nearly 56,000 emergency room visits, over 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 deaths from liver failure.

Many consumers believe that taking over-the-counter medications are safe as long as taken as directed. The truth is, even a low dose of acetaminophen can put us at risk for severe liver damage, a liver transplant, and even death. But you would never know it just by reading the warning on the label.

Most likely, your acetaminophen bottle has this simple message on it,

“Warning: Taking more than the recommended dosage can cause severe health problems, including liver damage.”

As it turns out, however, this widely used pain reliever causes liver failure even at doses that are within the recommended range. Doctors have reported cases of liver failure among individuals who were taking acetaminophen while following the dosage rules on the package. From these individuals, doctors have concluded that when acetaminophen is taken by consumers who are not eating (perhaps due to vomiting, fasting, or anorexia), or are drinking alcohol, the pain reliever would become very toxic and the consumer would basically be taking an accidental overdose, possibly resulting in liver failure. Yet, the warning on acetaminophen packaging is weak and does not convey the serious risks.

Why isn’t anyone changing this?

When comparing the above statistics to the millions of people taking acetaminophen without harm, the liver failure and death rates are fairly low. However, they are high enough that you would think the FDA would require the drug companies to list stronger warnings on their labels … that is, if the FDA is at all concerned about our safety. The FDA’s own guidelines require drug companies to list adverse drug events on packaging “even if there are only one or two reported events.” With acetaminophen, there have been many. It appears to be a case of the FDA protecting the pharmaceutical companies.

What you can do to protect yourself.

Acetaminophen is found in many over-the-counter medications (such as Tylenol) as well as numerous prescription drugs (such as Vicodin, Lortab, and Lorcet). You can protect yourself by:

only using one acetaminophen product at a time
avoiding the pain reliever during vomiting or fasting
and avoiding alcohol while using the drug

Half of the people who overdose on acetaminophen do it unintentionally. They are not aware of either how much they are taking or that they are taking it under conditions that could make it toxic. Taking precautions will help decrease your chances of liver damage.

Technorati Tags: acetaminophen, liver damage, liver failure

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

Dogs Detecting Cancer

February 4, 2008 | 1 Comment

Photo by Tanakawho
Man’s best friends can save lives with their keen sense of smell.

A 2006 study revealed that dogs can detect lung and breast cancer simply by sniffing a person’s breath. Supposedly, cancer patients release biochemical markers in their breath which dogs can detect. Domestic dogs that were studied, and which only had a few weeks training, were able to distinguish between breast/lung cancer patients and healthy patients. This is no surprise to most dog lovers (like me!) who know dogs to be one of the most amazing creatures placed on this Earth. Afterall, they are known to save lives in many ways, including sensing the onset of a seizure.

Technorati Tags: dogs detect cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer

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

Support The Fight Against Heart Disease

February 1, 2008 | 2 Comments

Photo by Antennae
Join the movement and help raise awareness by wearing your favorite red.

The Go Red For Women Movement is women banding together in an effort to wipe out heart disease and stroke. You can support the fight against heart disease by wearing red on National Wear Red Day on February 1, 2008. By wearing red and making a donation, you’ll support the American Heart Association in its ongoing research and education about women and heart disease.

Other ways to take part on National Wear Red Day.

1. Get a heart checkup.
2. Start a daily healthy exercise routine, if you haven’t already.
3. Start eating healthier. Go Red For Women provides healthy recipes to help you get started.

Do it for your own health!

Technorati Tags: National Wear Red Day, Go Red For Women Movement, heart disease, stroke, American Heart Association

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health, Women's Health

Queen Latifah Speaks Out On Diabetes and Losing Weight

January 22, 2008 | 1 Comment

Photo by Mel B.
Queen Latifah, now a diabetes spokesperson, has joined Jenny Craig and hopes to lose 5-10% of her body weight.

Her reason for doing so: “I am taking the first step to improving my health by announcing my goal to lose 5-10% of my body weight with Jenny Craig. My hope is to help educate people and motivate others to take their first step to have a positive impact on their health. By losing just 7% of your body weight, and increasing weekly activity, you can lower the risk of developing type II diabetes by 58%.”

The Back In Skinny Jeans blog asks its readers if they find it disappointing that Queen Latifah, who has always spoken about how proud she is of her full figure, is now promoting a weight loss program. So what do you think, inspiring or disappointing? Will people see this as a let down or will they be motivated to lose weight? Here’s how I see it.

Queen Latifah is a new spokesperson for a Type 2 diabetes campaign. Her Grandmother had Type 2 diabetes whom Queen Latifah watched become sick and fragile from this disease. According to Queen Latifah, her Grandmother “lost her leg, part of her sight, and eventually her life.” Obviously, Latifah’s personal connection is a motivation for becoming a spokesperson. And as a spokesperson for diabetes, she needs to state the risks of dying from diabetes among the overweight. Yet, on the flip side, Queen Latifah is a full-sized woman and a gorgeous one at that. She sets the perfect example that larger women can be beautiful, successful, and accepted. She has publicly stated she is proud of her body, and she should be. But being both beautiful and content with our size does not protect us from illnesses which we acquire due to the excess fat we are carrying. Being content does not make us exempt from bad health and/or an early death. Queen Latifah is in the spot light. She is admired by many and looked up to. She reminds us all that fuller women should be accepted for their size. Yet, for her to be standing in front of her peers and claiming there is nothing wrong with excess weight can be quite dangerous.

While I am grateful that Queen Latifah’s image tells young women to be happy no matter what their size, I think it is a good thing that she is now telling them to take control of their health. She is not claiming that women need to be a size 6. She has learned from a bad experience, and she wants to pass that knowledge on to others before it is too late for them. I applaud her for that.

Technorati Tags: Diabetes, Queen Latifah, Jenny Craig, weight loss

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

There’s A Health Carnival, And We Are There!

January 21, 2008 | 1 Comment

Photo by Sister72
Carnivals are great, and this one you can attend and never leave home.

Our friends at FitBuff.com hold a weekly “Total Mind And Body Fitness Blog Carnival“ and this week they’ve included my article titled, “The Race To Good Health.” Thanks, FitBuff! It would be well worth a person’s time to check out this carnival as it includes health related articles on exercise, nutrition, grooming, money, sex, stress, work, and even brain power. Looks like they’ve got us covered.

Please send me your e-business card.

I would love to meet the people who are reading my blog. Over the weekend I’ve joined Entrecard and now you can send me an Internet business card. Entrecard is a new service … only a couple months old …. but is quickly gaining popularity. It is a great way to get to know other bloggers and I’ve already met quite a few. It also provides you an opportunity to advertise on other blogs without spending a dime. If you would like to send me a card, find the Entrecard in the column on the right and click on “drop yours.” Or if you want to learn more about Entrecard before joining, Problogger covers it pretty well.

Technorati Tags: health blog carnival, FitBuff.com, Entrecard

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health