Today’s Olympic Champions Are Going Farther And Faster Than Ever Before … And The Rest Of Us Can Too

August 18, 2008 | 1 Comment

Photo by Incase Designs

How are today’s Champions reaching overwhelming speeds on the race tracks?

With Michael Phelps surpassing Mark Spitz at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, along with many other amazing feats happening there, the question arises … what are these athletes doing these days in preparation for the Olympics?

You may take a look at the fitness clothing and shoes that they wear (surely for a hefty price) and think these things are making a big difference. But when Spitz competed and earned his title as the greatest Olympic athlete of all time, he did so simply in a regular swimsuit, without either the goggles or the swim cap. 

Today’s athletes are competing into their 30’s and 40’s as well.

Take for instance 41-year-old Dara Torres, who is one of the oldest Olympians at the 2008 Olympics. Dara is a personal inspiration to me. Quoted for saying, “You can’t put an age limit on your dreams,” she is competing against (and defeating) women young enough to be her children. Unheard of? No. Unusual? Yes. And to prove that she has been competing fairly and naturally and not illegally doping, she has requested extra testing be done on her.

So what’s their secret?

Today’s champions endure intense training. They train longer and they train harder. They aren’t necessarily born with just the right genes. As Dr. Joyner at the Mayo Clinic stated, “Many genes contribute to performance, but it isn’t likely that one individual would have the right combination of all genes that would give you a natural competitive edge.” Dr. Joyner also attributes new world records being made to the fact that today’s athletes have improved medical care, plus there are many more athletes, from more countries, participating.

But there is one other secret they have that stands out.

These Olympic Champions have a strong mind and have a strong faith in themselves. With that faith, they are achieving world records. These athletes are proving to the rest of us that, whatever age we are, we can achieve great fitness, build good physique, and even fight aging. No matter what our health or fitness goals are, with good mental determination, we can achieve them.

But we first have to get off the sofa. And stop dreaming of being a champion, and go out and become one.  No excuses!

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

The Smog In Beijing And Its Effects On Our Athletes

August 9, 2008 | 1 Comment


I am happy with the peace.
Originally uploaded by Luo Shaoyang

While our world leaders and our best athletes meet in Beijing for the 2008 summer olympics, should we be concerned for their health?

Well, the smog certainly doesn’t seem to be harming the young girl and her friend in this precious photo which was taken in Beijing.

But what are the experts saying about the affects Beijing’s polluted air will have on the world’s best athletes?

The air pollution in Beijing is considered to be among the world’s worst. In fact, it has been found that Beijing and its surrounding areas have the world’s highest levels of nitrogen dioxide … which is poisonous to the lungs. As a precaution from getting sick, some of the athletes have unboarded planes wearing masks. And as a result, they are being accused of spating in the face of China which has so graciously welcomed them.

But these athletes have been training for many years for this event. Are they being over cautious or are they taking necessary steps to protect their performance during perhaps the biggest event of their lives?

According to experts, exercising athletes take in seven to eight times more air than a sedentary person and they are more likely to be affected by the pollution. And while all athletes and spectators are at risk for having respiratory problems, people with pre-existing lung or heart conditions, such as the case with USA cyclist Mike Friedman, are at a higher risk for having severe problems. All that being said, one would conclude that the athletes are justified in wearing masks.

But experts are also saying that the pollution is a fine gas. And while a mask will provide some protection, no mask will provide adequate protection. Basically, there is little to nothing the athletes can do to stop the exposure to the pollution.

Looking at the flip side, perhaps unboarding a plane with a mask on your face is going just a little over board. Afterall, the experts claim that a person is more likely to be affected due to inhaling more air “while exercising”.  How many athletes will actually be wearing their mask during exercise?  Then again, it is the individual athlete’s health … and their moment to shine … and therefore it should be their choice when it comes to protecting their health. The choices they made are what got them there in the first place.

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Viagra vs. Watermelon vs. The Little Blue Pill

July 7, 2008 | 2 Comments

Photo by Shrff14
If your choices to add vitality to your love life were … viagra, watermelon, or the little blue pill … which would you choose?

Of course, Viagra is the first treatment to come to mind. It is better known and it works. But there are pitfalls. It comes with side effects. Stomach discomfort, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, bladder pain, and vision loss to name a few. And it is expensive! First introduced in 1998, it arrived with a hefty price of $10 a pill. Sure, men found it pricey. But it was better than the alternative … impotence. Is it worth the risk though, especially when Viagra is just cosmetic. It does not cure or treat an illness. It is not for anything life threatening or critical. It only temporarily restores a body function for sexual enhancement.

But other alternatives have surfaced since 1998. And healthier ones too!

Take for instance a recent report involving watermelon. Researchers are saying that watermelon contains the ingredient citrulline which triggers production of a compound that relaxes the body’s blood vessels. Which is basically the same effect that Viagra has. And they tout, it tastes good and is side-effect free. But can it really be considered side-effect free when watermelon is a diuretic and will have you running to the bathroom all night long. Afterall, these same researchers claim you would need to eat at least six cups of watermelon in order to get enough citrulline into your body’s system. And while watermelon is a health food, let’s not forget, it is loaded with sugar and six cups in one serving may be a little too much. So far, which would you choose? Viagra or watermelon?

But wait, there is another alternative to consider … the little blue pill.

Popular in the UK, there is a little blue pill made of herbal ingredients which supposedly works just like Viagra. But unlike Viagra, it has zero side effects. Available at have.co.uk, it comes with a cheaper price and you don’t need a prescription. If it is as safe as the company claims, then this cheap Viagra is quite possibly a better alternative than Viagra itself and perhaps even better than watermelon. It would be just like taking Viagra without the dangers associated with it. And it could be swallowed a little faster than six cups of watermelon. Heck, I think it would be cheaper than watermelon too.

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Posted by Julie | Filed Under Blog, Men's Health, Wellness 

Would You Eat A Raw Food Diet?

March 10, 2008 | 20 Comments

Photo by E p i t a
raw-food.jpgA 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 been 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.

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Curcumin For Powerful Health Protection

March 5, 2008 | 6 Comments

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curcumin.jpgWouldn’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. 

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Good Health Does Not Lead To A Heart Attack

March 5, 2008 | 3 Comments

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are-you-healthy.jpgHave 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?

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