Posts Tagged ‘nutrition’

Eating the South Beach Diet Way

Monday, March 1st, 2010

A couple of years back I wanted to lose the weight I hadn’t been able to lose since I had my last child, so I decided to check out the South Beach Diet.

The First Phase of this diet is to stop cravings, it is fourteen days without bad carbs, bad fats, baked goods, alcohol, fruit or sugar.  The purpose again is to stop cravings.

The Second Phase you gradually add some foods back in, SB has daily meal plans to help you.  They also have lists of foods that you can enjoy on each phase and foods to avoid.

Phase III is designed for maintenance, and designed to last the rest of your life.   It worked for me.  Unfortunately over a two year period the weight crept back up.  It’s because I was unaware of a few food allergies that I had and adding these foods back in brought the weight back up.  I could probably live with this extra weight for the rest of my life but a few pounds off will definitely be better for healthy aging.

I just read an article from Real Age and just a mere 4 pounds can have huge benefits.

This new study “showed that dropping a mere 4 pounds could cut hypertension risk by 8 percent in middle-aged people and by 11 percent in the 50-plus set.”

“Of course, bigger weight loss had even better blood pressure benefits in the 8-year study. For example, losing 15 pounds reduced high blood pressure risk by 21 percent in the middle-aged folks. Better yet, people 50 to 65 who were 15 pounds thinner enjoyed an even more impressive 29 percent risk reduction. And isn’t it great to know that a realistic mini goal of 4 pounds will still bring big health benefits on the road to 15 lbs.”

I’ve never had to diet so thinking of a diet kinda spooked me, a week without fruit or bread, potatoes, rice and pasta?  As if the world would come crashing down after 14 days without these foods.  It is crazy the way we think isn’t it?

Healthy Aging is my theme here on the Ideal Scents Blog and I have come to the conclusion after starting this new way of eating again that it is truly a great way of eating.  I once heard this and totally agree; eat to live, not live to eat.  Makes perfect sense to me.  Since I eat mostly natural and organic foods anyway it may seem strange that those of us who do eat very healthy may still need to lose weight but we do.  We can still eat too many natural grains or sugar, even if it is honey or organic sugar.  It still adds pounds.

In the South Beach Diet Book it talks about emotional eating, this is a whole other topic but one that is crucial in our thinking if we are going to succeed, so I highly recommend reading the book if you are planning on starting this new phase of your life.

So I started this new plan again 8 days ago and it is remarkable what I have discovered for myself.  I have discovered that the fiber in the vegetables is what fills me up, plus the protein I eat at each meal.  The sweet treats that you can have with this first phase are also new for me.  For the past couple of months I had decided to make my after meal sweet treats fruit, low glycemic fruit, so I’m looking forward to phase two so I can add those back in.

What definitely has helped this time around is the on line support from the South Beach community.  It is fantastic to be able to ask questions and get answers within hours of asking.  You get support from those who have lost any where from 5, 10 or even  100+ pounds.  They help you stay on track with encouragement, experience and great ideas.  It’s a win win situation.

So is the South Beach Diet a diet or a new way of living?  It is definitely a new way to eat.  Eating this way keeps the balance that we need without over doing it.

It has been so successful because people lose weight, stop cravings and learn the healthy way to eat,  live healthy food.

Ideal Scents has always taught that we need to eat properly to live a long healthy life and this support from the South Beach Diet, I guarantee can change your life.

Adding exercise to this program can get you on track for a new you, a brand new life with a healthy outlook.  Free from the diseases that being overweight can bring.

I would consider this a preventative medicine lifestyle.

In his book James Geiger MD, The oilMD discusses Worldwide Wellness, he speaks about obesity.

I like this quote that he mentions in the beginning of chapter three.

“The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician.  Therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind.” Paracelsus

There are many diets out there, the problem I see with some of those diets is that you are eating pre-packaged food, its processed. We need live healthy fresh food daily.

Even with these good fresh foods we still need to use supplements because of the depletion of nutrients in our soil, so it is crucial for preventative living that we eat sensible, not just for satisfaction. Eating for satisfaction will just keep us over weight and in risk of disease. Remember our goal is healthy aging.  Imagine at 80+ enjoying your life with friends and family.

Here’s to healthy aging, a new way of living for more energy, feeling good in your clothes, and the satisfaction that you are in control of your life.

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You and You Digestive System Part II

Friday, February 12th, 2010
Digestive Health is important at any age but I have found it to be true that the older we get the harder it is to digest foods, so     I’ve come to the conclusion that we may need to add enzymes, probiotics and prebiotics to our diets.
In studying the intestines we learn that we have bacteria that lives in the gut. The ones I want to discuss here are the ones that are the friendly bacteria.  The friendly bacteria keep away the overgrowth of yeast and keep the bad bacteria restrained.
Having a healthy digestive system is having the good bacteria working to keep your immune system strong.
Keep your body happy by keeping your dietary choices smart, as I mentioned in Part I, a recommended diet of free range chicken, turkey, wild fish and lots of vegetables, fruits with some grains and legumes is another way to eat your way to healthy aging.
Something I’ve done in the past 3 years is that I add to my diet ACAI and Mangosteen, these two super fruits are rich in so many nutrients.  In this day and time our soil is depleted so we do need to supplement our diets in my opinion.
The function of our digestive system is simply this; to break down the food we eat and provide nutrients that can be absorbed.
Our goal is healthy aging and one way this is possible is through a healthy immune system.   A healthy digestive system ensures that the body has the ability to absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat.
What is Dysbiosis?
It is when yeast becomes overgrown in our intestinal tract as well as bad bacteria.
When this happens our doctors may tell us that we have a yeast infection, or a syndrome called irritable bowel and even arthritis.
Many people who use antibiotics on a regular basis can conclude that killing an infection also kills good bacteria in your digestive tract, that is why you will be encouraged to eat yogurt while on an antibiotic to keep the good bacteria alive.
What causes Dysbiosis?
Many situations may cause Dysbiosis.  Our daily dietary habits, stress, and prescription drugs.
Obesity and Dysbiosis
Have you ever heard that malnutrition can be  linked to obesity?  Malnutrition can be defined as having an inadequate or unbalanced diet, problems with digestion or absorption, and some medical conditions.
“Undernutrition occurs when one or more vital nutrients are not present in the quantity that is needed for the body to develop and function normally. This may be due to insufficient intake, increased loss, increased demand, or a condition or disease that decreases the body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients from available food. While the need for adequate nutrition is a constant, the demands of the body will vary, both on a daily and yearly basis.”
When this happens you aren’t satisfied with the meals you are eating because your body is being depleted of the essential
nutrients for healing and growing.  Therefore you keep eating thinking that this will help the body to be satisfied.
The importance for a diet rich in nutrients is vital to a healthy body.  In contrast to this a body that is malnourished will
take longer to heal if you get sick or in and of itself (malnutrition) may cause disease.

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You and Your Digestive System Part I

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Eating Healthy For Your Digestive System

A study that I read said “Although it is counter intuitive to what some people think, vegetarian digestion time is actually longer – significantly longer – than that of meat eaters. The reason is simple. Plants require a lot more work by your digestive system than do meats. Most of the food we eat is digested in the intestines rather than the stomach, and scientists believe the length of our intestines was determined by the fact that humans have always tended to eat a combination of meat and plant based foods in their diet. The reason is simple. “Plants require a lot more work by your digestive system than do meats. If your diet is made up largely of processed foods, then the digestion time is sped up significantly.”

Does it really matter?

Yes and here’s why these benefits are undeniable, but in the long run, most experts agree that the difference in digestion time for vegetarians is really not that important. Most people who are vegetarian by choice live in a place where food is not hard to come by, and they have access to a wide variety of food choices. In real terms, slow digestion may protect from some minor annoyances, but there are not significant health benefits to slower digestion.

So, who cares who digests food the slowest?

  • The slow and steady supply of energy that vegetarians get from a lengthy digestion process saves them from the peaks and crashes of energy that some meat eaters get. (Again, this counts for plant based food eaters. Processed foods will give vegetarians that late afternoon crash just like anyone else.) It is in fact rumored that vegans have the most energy of all.
  • Slow digestion speed makes you feel full for longer – debunking myths that vegetarians feel hungry all the time.

Whether you are a vegetarian or not,  having a healthy digestive system is important.

If you are not a vegetarian you can still benefit from this information as I have.

If your aren’t a vegetarian, a recommended diet of free range chicken, turkey, wild fish and lots of vegetables, fruits with some grains and legumes is another way to eat your way to healthy aging.

Are you noticing that digestion is not the same as when you were younger?

If you find that as you are aging and even if you eat healthy you are still bloated and notice that digesting food is becoming more difficult, this is because “we all make Digestive and Metabolic enzymes as needed, and it is a proven fact that as we age we make less with each passing year.” Study enzymes to learn about:

*Enhancing your blood

*Breaking down fats

*Shedding excess weight

*Enhancing your mental capacity

*Improving aging skin

Enzymes promote a healthy pH in your digestive tract.

I personally recommend the company Bio Essence, Full Spectrum Enzymes.

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Lose Weight With More Fiber and Protein In Your Diet

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

A HIGH FIBER DIET is an essential part of a healthy diet for healthy aging.

I read an article that suggested we eat a salad for lunch everyday, why it recommended this is so that we keep our calories low, and to add more fiber to our diets.  There are so many varieties of salad you should not get bored with it either, so make yourself a delicious salad for lunch, or order one at one of your favorite restaurants.  It will also eliminate the question…what should I have for lunch?

The recommended daily requirement is 35 grams of fiber each day.

Eating a higher-fiber diet has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels, improve and prevent constipation, and eating enough fiber will also slow the rate that foods pass through the digestive system.

A suggestion would be to double your intake of fiber from 15 grams per day to 35 grams. This will help reduce caloric intake, because when we eat enough fiber we feel satisfied after we finish a meal, so we don’t overeat.

Add Protein to Your Diet

Let’s add  protein to this salad meal as well.   Why? Because emerging research has hinted that protein may be able to satisfy hunger better than either fats or carbohydrates. Remember every morning when we wake we have the privilege to take care of our bodies so we can live healthy, vibrant lives.   One way to do this is to keep our weight at the recommended level for our height.   Obesity levels in the U.S. are rising higher at an alarming rate.  You ask how much protein should I be getting everyday?  For every 2 lbs that you weigh you should be getting .8 grams of protein.  Example if you weigh 100 lbs that is 45 kg, x .8  that equals 36 grams of protein needed that day.

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Healthy Immune System Needed to Protect Against Swine Flu

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Immune Health

The majority of health issues can be related to a weak immune system.  Your immune system loses its abilities silently.

Free radicals are bad. They cause cell mutations, damage immune function, cause wrinkles and aging and are a contributing cause behind many diseases including ancer, heart disease, arthritis, alzheimer’s, parkinson’s, and others. Free radical damage is a factor behind almost every known disease according to some researchers

So one key to keeping a strong immune system  is to forfeit the white sugar, white flour, and the processed foods, and instead go for the lean proteins, veggies and fruits.

You are looking for high antioxidants.  Antioxidants are found in plant pigments.  Let me explain further.

These plant pigments are more than coloring agents for fruit juices, wine, and other beverages. They also contain an array of health-promoting benefits.

Eaten in large amounts they will protect our immune systems, anthocyanins are antioxidant flavonoids that protect many body systems.

Anthocyanins possess a strong ability to work deeply in the human body.  These essential phytonutrient pigments are the chemical components that give the intense color to many fruits and vegetables.  They provide powerful protection and have diverse physiological effects that are possible through their powerful antioxidant abilities.

The powerful acai berry takes this to a whole new level.  While anthocyanins are why many doctors and health professionals recommend drinking red wine, the acai berry contains as much as 33 times more anthocyanins that grapes.

Be a friend to yourself and take care of your immune system by eating healthy, drinking plenty of acai, green tea, water, and eat lots of foods that contain that antioxidant protection that you need to stay healthy.

For your health and wellness check out my source for this  antioxidant protection

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How To Use Nutrition To Help With Stress

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Nutrition helps  Stress

Are you on stress overload and noticing that is it affecting your health?

What does nutrition have to do with relieving stress? Our bodies can handle a lot more than we think if we will take care of them.  You can not drive your car for very long if you do not add gasoline or oil when the gas gauge says it is low or the red light comes on saying it needs oil or a tune up right?

(more…)

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Maximizing Brain Function

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Are you questioning your brain function?   Is that because you are 50 something, and you are noticing a change?

Young people may be experiencing some of the same issues.  The importance of nutrition for the best brain, and body function is crucial to healthy aging.  School age children may be sent off to school with a bowl of sugared cereal and a kiss goodbye.   Baby boomers, we are not out of this picture, you  may have the same bad eating habits, this is alarming, and I will tell you why.

The brain is an amazing organ, our brain cells continue to die and  are not replaced.    Our memory on the other hand last our lifetime.  We have billions of brain cells called neurons, did you know that our brains can hold more information in it than all the books in our libraries?

Our brains produce hundreds of chemicals called neurotransmitters that affect our lives in so many ways;  our attitudes, they perform as a pain killer,  an attitude adjuster , and they can work as a natural appetite suppressant.  How this works is that these neurotransmitters are made of up nutrients that allow information to pass to different circuits in an organized manner.  Our bodies are intricate, they function their best when we give them the proper nutrients to work with.  Neurotransmitters are made up of nutrients, that is why I concentrate so much of my energy on educating about the importance of nutrition.  If we don’t get proper nutrients into our bodies on a daily basis trouble will arise.

What happens when we go day in and day out without the proper nutrients that our bodies need to function at their peek?

To reiterate, neurotransmitters are chemicals that the brain manufactures.  Disorders that people are stricken with are caused by nutritional deficiencies.  To name of few;  fatigue, weight gain, moodiness, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, depression, memory loss, loss of appetite, headaches, hair loss, impaired wound healing, arthritis, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, heart disease, acne,  and growth impairment.

We’ve all heard about antioxidants and their importance.  I cannot stress this enough, we need XL amounts of antioxidants on a daily basis.  Just walking down the street you are bombarded perhaps by a gardener using round up on weeds, this gets in the air, how about all the exhaust coming from our cars, must I go on?  These “free radicals” form in the bloodstream as toxins and contribute to  impaired brain function.  This garbage can damage and kill neurons.

Antioxidants kill free radicals and protect our bodies from oxidation.  Like that apple that is cut in half and it sits on the counter, and gets browner by the minute, it is deteriorating.  That is what happens to our cells if we do not get them the proper protection that they need.

A diet that is full of nutritional value  will improve both brain and body function.  A  diet rich in nutrients should include whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, millet, fresh fatty fish (not farmed fish),  lean meat,  turkey and chicken,  brown rice, green tea,  dark green leafy vegetables,  and all the other veggies that are dark with color, plus fresh fruit, and if possible make these choices organic.

Contributing to a diet rich in fresh whole foods are supplements, I prefer liquid supplements, the go to work the minute they touch your tongue.

Adding to this abundant diet of fresh whole foods, is exercise.  I encourage walking, running, hiking, biking and strength training.  There are so many activities that we can do to promote healthy aging, these are just a few of my favorites.

Last but not least keep yourself in a healthy environment that promotes stimulation, so you avoid boredom, and depression.

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