What is Wonderful about Whey Protein?

by Rick Bean

There are countless advantages to adding whey protein to your diet, the most obvious being to promote the growth of lean muscles. Using this supplement is going to give you a lot of other benefits that you might not know about. Here are some of the lesser known benefits of whey protein.

One benefit of whey protein that everyone is going to like, both bodybuilders and non-bodybuilders, is the fact that whey protein helps aid in weight loss. If you are looking to get rid of that extra flab around your stomach or you have a lot of weight to lose, whey protein is going to help you get if off.

Whey protein is going to also give your body (and your bones) extra calcium. Because whey protein is made out of dairy products, it is going to not only keep your body healthier, but the calcium is going to aid in weight loss, as well. If you don’t need to lose any weight, you can still add whey protein to your diet, because it is going to only help you lose weight, not lose the weight for you.

The third benefit to whey protein is going to be a regulation of your blood sugar levels. For bodybuilders this is going to be important because you are going to need extra energy to perform a lot of lifts. If your energy level gives out when you lift, it can be really dangerous. Whey protein is going to give you that energy that you need and give it to you when you need it. For non-bodybuilders, the regulation of sugar levels is going to be important in keeping your body healthy and to train your body to know when its hungry and when its not. Often when we have low blood sugar, we eat something really sugary to pump it back up. With whey protein, your levels are going to be regulated better and you wont get those sugar highs and lows as much anymore.

Of course, the biggest advantage of using whey protein is going to be because it helps to grow lean muscle mass. Bodybuilders primarily use whey protein to get stronger and stronger. Those people who aren’t bodybuilders can expect whey to help get them toned up.

How much protein do you need? If you are always in the gym lifting weights, you probably know that you need nearly one gram of protein for every pound on your body. If you are 100 pounds, you are going to need nearly 100 grams of protein, if you weigh 150 you will need close to 150 grams. It is nearly impossible to get enough protein without a supplement. If you are looking for a great source of protein, whey is going to be it. Those who don’t lift weights every day still might need a supplement if their diets are not perfect. Nowadays, most people don’t get enough protein. When you don’t get enough protein, you are going to have difficult workouts and be tired.

With whey, there are so many benefits to it, and the side effects are small compared to the benefits. If you are looking for a good protein source, whey protein is going to be an excellent choice for of all of these reasons.

The Master Cleanse Fast Diet: JUST A FAD?

The Master Cleanse Fast Diet, otherwise known as the Master Cleanse or Lemon Juice Detox, was designed for flushing disease causing toxins and unwanted body fat out of your system.

Around for over 60 years now, the plan seems a tough act to follow. The thought of not eating anything for ten days seems quite frankly, measured on a difficult scale from 1-10, eleven to me. Simply put, we’re not to live on lemon juice alone.

Despite the hurdle of basically starving yourself for ten days, and feeling it crucially for the first three days, the Master Cleanse Diet makes it well worth it for it helps you get back to your source.

The Master Cleanse Fast literally cleanses body and mind. Doing so creates a natural stop to the sugary and unhealthy foods we crave daily and holds a ten day buffer between us and the supermarket’s endless supplies of foods and our perception of food.

A challenge like that will definitely help you care about the foods you will put into your body for the long run.

Yes, the Master Cleanse Fast Diet might be just a FAD diet for most, but I believe the discipline that goes with it can change your life for the long run.

I think I ought to try it. What do think? Let me know…

When you go to you can see how Beyonce dropped 20 pounds with the Master Cleanse which is amazing until you scroll down the page and see how Robin Quivers from the Howard Stern show practically turned her life around with the help of the Master Cleanse. Not only did she lose a ton of weight (70 pounds), but Robin went through a total health transformation.

Note: Common sense also tells me, when you brave the master cleanse fast diet, and succeed, you should not repeat it more than once a year and without seeking your doctor’s advise as you hopefully do before starting the cleanse for the first time.

Ultra Healthy Detox Diet Plan Recipe

Dr. Rau’s detox diet is hailed to be effective in losing body fat fast and rid the body of toxins for ultimate health and well being. Some people claim to have lost five pounds within the first 7 days. If that is true, besides all the healthy benefits this diet is said to result in then it surely is a diet worth trying.

Reason enough to open up my diary, meaning this keyboard, and start make a miracle happen for myself and anyone who chooses to join me. Wouldn’t it be nice to fit finally into that favorite pair of jeans comfortably? To be honest, I don’t expect to lose 5 pounds in 7 days, but I believe, looking at the first seven day menu, that I’ll definitely be on my way to do so. Then again, this healthy weight loss detox plan might surprise me and I find myself 5 pounds lighter after all.

Why does Dr. Raus detox diet work?
Remember the litmus test in chemistry class? You dip a specially treated paper (litmus) into vinegar/ or detergent + water solution and check the color. If the litmus paper turns blue then the solution is definitely alkaline or if it turns red it is acidic. Dr. Rau says that if the body is too acidic, symptoms of illness - including fatigue, pain and weight gain- may occur. Therefore, it is vital for our health to balance the body’s pH levels by choosing natural foods that help neutralize excess acids - similarly to the litmus test when adding alkaline to neutralize an acidic solution - and foods that further help the body rid itself of toxins that inhibit healthy organ function.

I will write more about Dr. Rau and his weight loss detox diet while actually practicing it.

Now let’s go shopping. I hope you like vegetables. Many Supermarkets carry organic produce which are not treated with pesticides. Since saving on expensive meats, we should splurge and opt in for organic grown produce whenever possible.

Grocery List:

• Flax Oil (store in Freezer)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Green Tea/Herb Tea (decaf)
• 4 Gallons Purified Water (drinking water)
• Vegetable Juice (7daysx4oz=28oz.)
• 1 Package Sunflower Seeds
• Steel Oats (Quaker Oats)
• 7 Dates
• 7 Apples
• 7 Avocados/or Cucumbers (for Snack/and Shredded Raw Vegetables)
• 4 Grapefruit
• 3 Lemons
• 7 Small potatoes
• 7 small carrots
• *Dr.Rau’s Alkaline Soup
• **Shredded Raw Vegetables

**green beans, peapods, cabbage red/white, peppers, carrots, cucumber, zucchini romaine lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cauliflower, celery ribs, broccoli, onion, mix and match to your hearts content

Dr. Rau’s Alkaline Soup Recipe:

• 1 ½ cup finely diced zucchini
• 1 cup thinly cut green beans
• 2 celery ribs, finely diced
• ¾ cup finely diced peeled carrots

Boil vegetable in 2 quarts purified water, skim foam from top
Simmer, pot partially covered, for 10 minutes until vegetables are soft
Remove from heat and keep covered for 10 minutes
Makes about 7 cups broth; 31/2 cup vegetables

Breakfast

• Take 1 Tbs. flax oil from spoon
• 1/2 cup cooked steel oats, 1 chopped date
• ½ grapefruit and ½ apple
• 8 oz. broth from Dr. Rau’s Alkaline Soup*
• 8 oz. decaf green/or herb tea

Midmorning Snack

• ½ apple
• 1 small carrot

Lunch

Salad plate:

• Unlimited shredded raw vegetables
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• fresh lemon to taste**

Steamed vegetable plate:

• Unlimited steamed non-starchy vegetables**
• 1 small boiled potato, 1 Tbs. sunflower seeds
• 2 tsp. each balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Dinner

• 4 oz. fresh vegetable juice
• 2 cups Dr. Rau’s Alkaline Soup (broth 1 cup vegetables)
• 1 cup steamed vegetables or 1 steamed artichoke

• 1 cup herb tea

Note: This is a seven day diet plan. After 7 days you may continue by increasing portions, adding whole grains and low fat goat cheese /milk; cut back again when weight loss stops. Talk to your doctor first before trying any new plan.

Four Food Groups

Four Food Groups

We were taught in school, many, many years ago, that to remain healthy you needed to eat so many servings from the four basic food groups.

They were breads and grains, meats and beans, fruits and vegetables, and dairy.

In 1994, when my children were in school, they were taught, that to stay healthy, you needed to eat so many servings from the "Food Pyramid".

The government had changed the original four groups into six groups.

The foods on the bottom of the pyramid were the ones you were supposed to eat the most of, and the ones on the top should be consumed sparingly.

Not surprisingly, the breads and grains are at the base - which means we should eat more servings of them than any of the others.

I can go along with that - bread, pasta, rice - I love them all - but when dieting, they are the ones that have the most carbs. And watching how many and what kind of carbs you consume plays a big role in loosing weight.

Ok - on to the next level - it is split between the vegetables and the fruits.

They each get their own recommended servings with the veggies making up a bigger part of the intake.

The third layer is also divided between the meats, beans, and nuts and the milk, cheese, and yogurt group. They each get an equal part in the daily intake.

The very top of the pyramid contains the fats, oils, and sweets.

This is the new part that we didn't learn about back in school all those years ago.

They were never figured into the daily consumption, and they were used with a heavy hand.

Everything had butter in it and dessert was a part of every lunch and dinner.

And another thing, obesity across America was not a problem as it is today.

Heart disease and cancer are at all time highs also.

Making the right choices in our food consumption is not an easy thing. I think using the government guidelines is a step, but not necessarily the answer.

Using common sense and doing what works for each individual is the best step towards a more healthy lifestyle.

Abs In, Back Straight

Keeping a straight back is a hard thing to do - especially when sitting at a computer all day.

It starts out with good intentions, and before you know it, the shoulders start to sag, the back becomes a bit hunched, and the abs get really tired of holding themselves in and just let it all go.

There are many health benefits for making correct posture a part of life and making it second nature will eventually be the norm once you get all the muscles trained properly.

It does require thinking about it and doing it. That is really all the cost to it - no extra time to squeeze in a new routine and no cash payout for another unneeded exercise gadget.

And the benefits are tremendous.

That deep breathing that I talked about a couple of posts ago, well it actually helps to promote it - you want to take a deep breath to feed the working muscles with fresh oxygen. So now you are doing two exercises at once.

This next problem really hits home with me - indigestion and heartburn.

Keeping the correct posture actually aids in digestion - keeps the food moving down using that dreaded gravity that we all hate to think about as we get older. At least it works for something.

And here's one of the best reasons to sit straight and keep the abs in - it uses calories.

It doesn't burn a lot of calories, but over time it will add up and it will make a difference when trying to loose the extra weight and tone things up.

You will feel better as you walk and sit taller. It will affect your mental and physical heath in a positive manner.

It really does feel good - give it a try. Back straight, abs in, and breathe deep.

It only takes a nanosecond to remember to do it - that's it.

And did I mention - it's free!

Yawn for Oxygen

Yawns - most of Mother Nature's creatures are caught yawning at some time.

Cats, dogs, birds, and lots of different wildlife all yawn, and I have even observed a pet fish yawning.

In the animal kingdom it can be considered a warning, but in the human race, it is an expression of tiredness, boredom, or just plain uninterested.

But there is a real reason for yawning that I have recently discovered.

Oftentimes yawns are contagious - when someone next to us starts yawning, it seems to trigger something in us to yawn too - and it is all done unconsciously.

I did a post a couple of weeks ago about the benefits of taking deep breaths for better health.

It is not always easy to remember to breathe correctly, and I try to remind myself several times during the day to do so.

Well, come to find out, one reason for yawning is to replenish the body with oxygen.

When our oxygen levels get really low, we feel tired, have no energy, and could so easily just nod off for a cat nap.

I can remember when I worked in an office, by mid afternoon, I could hear the yawns starting, and sure enough, they were contagious.

Yawning makes us take a deep breath, successfully delivering the much needed oxygen to our starved systems.

If we pay attention to this signal from our body, it can help us to remember to breathe correctly.

When we hear or see another person or animal yawning - it can also help to remind us.

Anything that helps me to remember is a good thing.

And what's even better, sometimes all one needs to wake them up is a few good deep breaths of air - not the mid day sugar or coffee fix.

And while we're taking a few deep breaths - a few steps around the office wouldn't hurt either!

Stay Away From the Aisles

The grocery stores are really set up quite conveniently to make shopping a fairly quick task - and to make the most of eating healthy.

The produce is usually located on one end, and the dairy is usually situated on the other end.

All along the perimeter of the store, the meats and other fresh items are arranged accordingly too.

All those aisles - where we usually get behind the inconsiderate or extra-slow shopper - contain mostly prepared or packaged foods.

The aisle foods contain a lot of salt, and sugar, and fat, and artificial ingredients that we really need to watch if we are going to be making healthy choices.

Just about the only aisle I visit is the one with the raw grains - cereals, rices, and pastas - and I have learned to choose the unprepared whole grain varieties.

The bread aisle also gets a visit - but only for a whole wheat or multi-grain loaf.

Shopping along the perimeter of the store gives us the best choices for a healthy lifestyle - the aisles want to rob us of our time, our money, and our health.

The temptation for packaged foods is great, especially when time is short. Sometimes they really are a good deal too when compared to scratch preparations.

But if it seems too good to be true - it usually is - and it's the health that suffers in the end.

Scratch is Best

Scratch is Best






In my last post, I stressed the importance of trying to shop only along the perimeter of the grocery store.

One of the big drawbacks of this for most people is the time spent on preparing this unprocessed food.

We have become a fast paced society and preparing food from scratch is something that takes time.

But it is time that is well spent if you prepare enough food to last for a couple of meals.

Instead of the chicken nuggets, bake a whole chicken - there will be leftovers for sandwiches the next day. And for even more meals, just remember that a turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving. Leftovers from that go a lot farther than sandwiches.

Macaroni and cheese from scratch makes much more than the package, and it tastes so much better.

Salads are so easy to throw together these days too - most of the ingredients can be purchased already cut up. Of course, they are a bit more expensive than cutting them up yourself.

Fresh veggies usually require just a wash and cutting before they are cooked.

Other than an orange, I can't think of a fruit that really takes any time to prepare. Washing them under the water is usually all it takes.

Preparing foods with the idea of leftovers makes good sense in this economy also. It really spreads the dollar a bit farther.

With a bit of time spent on weekends or days off, it is easy to fit in a few extra minutes for preparing meals that save time and money during the busy, working days.

And if one needs assistance for cooking preparations, or uses for leftovers, there is a whole internet available to answer any question that comes along - usually within a couple of minutes!

Real Food Ingredients

Real Food Ingredients






I once read something years ago that has stuck with me and makes me think each time I look at something new in the supermarket.

I don't know who said it or who came up with the idea, but it made sense to me.

It's called the Rule of 1900.

This rule states that if a food ingredient didn't exist before the year 1900 as a food ingredient, then it doesn't belong being consumed by the human body.

This brings to mind all the artificial flavorings, colorings, and fillers that are in many of the processed foods today.

Also, the ones we do not think about - the partially hydrogenated fats, and the numerous artificial sweeteners that are on the market that are supposed to be a "good alternative" for us.

All this modern knowledge and all our high technologies, and we do not have the sense enough to consume real food.

Food is a precious commodity in many countries, and finding ways to increase the production and amounts is a necessary thing, but pushing "fake" food isn't doing any of us any good in the long run.

Take a minute to scan the food ingredients on the next package or box before you put it in your cart and try to keep the ones that only contain real food.

You'll feel better in the end!

We Need an Alternative to Refined Sugar

Here is a scary fact:

On average, Americans consume about 175 pounds of sugar a year - that is almost a half pound each day.

Find it hard to conjure up what a half pound looks like?

Well, it is about 46 teaspoons.

46 teaspoons each day.

I find this figure unbelievable and it is no wonder that diabetes is on the rise in this country.

And we are lead to believe that artificial sweeteners are the answer to this problem.

Well, since I am not an artificial human, eating artificial food is not an option.

In the past I have used fructose, which is about 70% sweeter than sugar, so you don't use as much.

It is still a refined sugar though.

I do know that if I eat very little sugar, the body quickly adapts to the intake amount.

Where you wouldn't notice a sweet taste in a certain food before, when you eat very little sugar, the tongue picks up it's taste in the food. When you actually add more, it becomes too sweet.

I think our bodies develop a tolerance - over time you need more of it to taste it.

There is no nutritional value to sugar at all. It hits a pleasure sensor in us, and naturally we want to consume more of it.

It's hard, but try cutting back on it. You will discover a whole new taste to food.

That romaine lettuce is a sweet treat, but you will not know it unless you go without all the added refined sugar in your diet.

Celery and carrots are also sweet.

Who would have guessed the alternative to refined sugar is none to little in the diet!

Keep It Moving

Keep it Moving








Working from home on a computer each day really takes some motivation to get moving sometimes. How easy it is to continue working as the time flies by.

I have found over the years though, that just sitting is not the way to go. The legs can only take being in one position for so long - then they get twitchy.

So, I have learned that before the twitching starts, I need to get up and take a walk around.

Perhaps the laundry needs to get started, or I need to refill my water glass, water the plants, or just take a minute to step outside the door for a breath of fresh air.

Just five to ten minutes every hour or so really makes a difference.

I feel more attentive and awake when I return to my desk and keyboard.

The blood is flowing, the legs certainly feel a lot better, and the attitude has improved also.

Of course this is in addition to the daily exercises and scheduled walks that I try to accomplish.

By nature we are an active species - all these modern conveniences rob us of the activity that has kept past generations in a more fit condition.

Time for me to go stretch the legs again and get the blood flowing.

Keep it moving - it's nature's way!

Deep Breathing is an Exercise

Breathing deep delivers many of the same benefits of exercise - including loosing weight.

What? How can that be?

Well, it can be compared to aerobic exercise - which causes one to breathe deeply to keep supplying the blood and muscles with oxygen, which in turn, burns fat for energy. This is how weight is lost.

Breathing deeply also supplies the blood with fresh oxygen which encourages fat to be burned, even when we are doing activities that don't require much physical activity.

Now, this is not a substitute for exercises, but it does enhance the cardiovascular system and it's capacities - especially in those who are just beginning an exercise plan. Like conditioning of sorts.

Most of us do not breath deeply - it is something that we need to teach ourselves so it becomes second nature.

Practicing it a bit each day will enhance many areas of health:

• it is a natural stress reliever
  
• helps with depression and anxiety
  
• feel less fatigued
  
• less metal fog
  
• enhances body tissue functions

The shallow breathing that most of us do - especially those with desk or low activity jobs, does not deliver the necessary oxygen to the lungs and heart. And it does not clear the body of the old, used carbon dioxide wastes that we produce when we breath.

This causes the lung tissues to constrict over time and it even has an effect on the lymphatic system, which helps to cleanse the body of toxins.

As the toxins build up over time, we have muscle loss, we gain weight, we develop high blood pressure, and we are more easily fatigued.

Taking control over breathing by practicing deep belly breaths will enhance many functions in the body.

And it can be thought of as an exercise that can be easily accomplished right in an office chair or while watching tv.

No costs or extra time involved - just a few minutes spent thinking about it several times over the course of the day - and doing it until it becomes second nature.

A Pedometer

The Pedometer








My pedometer has become a permanent fixture in my pocket.

For years I used a manual step counter like the one pictured above, and it was hard to keep it attached to my waistband.

It was always falling off and I almost lost it a time or two. And I couldn't just slip it in my pocket - it wouldn't work.

In April, our family signed up for a new cell phone plan and we received new phones with it.

I chose one of the Sony Walkman ones, and it has been one of the best choices I have made.

It has a built in pedometer in it, and it records every step I take all day long - all from my pocket.

It doesn't fall off the waistband and it is not annoying.

This phone has a music player in it and to switch to the next song, you just have to give the phone a little shake.

The technology that powers that is what is used to track each swing of the leg to count each step.

Once it is calibrated to the length of your stride, it also calculates the mileage you put on with the steps.

I try each day to get at least 2500 steps in. I know this is not enough to loose weight - I have been doing this for months now.

I have read that getting 10,000 steps does work.

I will try to increase my number over the next few weeks. Once winter starts to wane, it will be a lot easier.

Up to 3500 Steps

The steps have been increasing on the pedometer. It is slow going, but just to see them increasing is a good thing.

I was averaging about 2500 steps a week ago, and now it is up to 3500, and sometimes, 4000.

We had some really nice days this past week, so getting out for a real walk felt good.

All winter long, my boys have cleared a path around the house so I could still get my steps in when the weather permitted.

Once around, my path gives me about 400 steps. Not very much, but after a few times around at a good pace, you do begin to feel it.

Another snow storm is coming tomorrow, so getting steps these next couple of days won't be easy.

But I will be making up for it in moving all the snow around - it all counts in the end!

1 Down, 38 to Go

Finally - the little butterfly has left the starting gate.

One pound has been lost and there are thirty-eight left to go.

It feels good to finally see some action on the graph below.

Only got about 3000 steps today. I will say though, that trudging through the heavy wet snow made it feel like double that amount.

I have been coming down with a cold over the last couple of days, and the cold air felt good as it helped to clear my head a bit.

Hard to keep on an exercise routine feeling this way, but it does take the mind off it once you get moving.

And loosing a pound helps a lot too!

Strength or Endurance Exercise - Which is Best?

Strength or Endurance






From reading, I have found that there are basically two types of exercise - endurance or stamina training and strength training.

I was trying to find out which is the best so I could concentrate on building my exercise routine around it.

But what I found is that they are very entwined and you really cannot do one without doing the other.

I have always considered walking to be my endurance or stamina building exercise, and I found I was correct in thinking that.

But what I didn't know is that walking also builds strength, and if you were to use small hand or ankle weights while walking, it increases the strength part even more.

The terrain, speed, and distance of the walk all work for building endurance and strength.

The more you walk, the greater the endurance gets, but the strength will eventually begin to reach a plateau.

So, doing some strength building exercise is also needed to keep those muscles performing and burning the calories and fats.

I have always used hand weights and ankle weights for my strength training, which I try to do at least twice a week.

From what I have been reading, if I walk 30 minutes each day for endurance, and do the strength training for 30 minutes each week, then I have the correct basic formula for retaining my current weight and keeping a healthy body.

By increasing the walking just a few minutes, and adding another day to the strength training, it will go a long way towards loosing these extra pounds over time.

And slowly, over time, is the best way to loose those pounds and keep them off.

These are inexpensive and easy things that I can incorporate into my daily routine.

Keeping it simple is my motto, and these exercises fit my plan for working towards a healthy lifestyle - frugally, of course.

Set Calorie Limits

After evaluating what I have been eating over the past four days, I have made some changes to the default values that are set at the Calorie Counter website.

For my age, gender, and height, they determined that I needed 2000 calories a day. I changed that to 1200.

I also lowered the fat intake from 65 to 50 grams a day.

I don't seem to have too many problems with the fats - I don't eat a lot of those to begin with and I have not reached the daily limit yet. Lowering them was not a problem.

Salt is not a problem either. I do not add it to my food or eat things that have high salt contents. I consistently stay under the recommended values.

The biggest problem I have is with the carbs and the sugars. I consistently go over the default values everyday. I will adjust them, but not until I get myself below the defaults.

I tend to be a grain eater - bread, rice, pasta, and crackers. All of my grains are the whole wheat variety, yet I never seem to make the required 25 grams of fiber intake for each day. I am lucky if I even hit 18 grams.

To get the recommended fiber count, I need more grains - yet more grains puts me way over in the carbs and sugars.

I am going to need to do some research on what veggies have for fiber counts. Fruits have good counts, but once again, it increases the carbs and especially the sugars when I eat them.

In the past I have tried one of the Low Carbs Diets, and I did loose some weight.

But sticking to that diet for the rest of my life is not practical.

I like bread, and I love rice and I feel the necessary benefits they offer far outweigh the carb concerns.

I will discover a balance between them over time and will track everything to evaluate what I can consume for my body.

Plate Size for Portion Control

Plate Size for Portion Control






A smaller dinner plate just may be one of the tricks to consider when trying to loose weight.

Looking at a large plate with meager portions in it can make one feel deprived, which is a main reason for a diet failing.

Just using a plate that is two inches smaller makes those portions look larger.

It fools the brain which in effect keeps the emotional side of dieting a bit happier - without even trying to.

I have noticed in a couple of restaurants that we dine in, that the serving plates have shrunk in size.

I haven't seen where the food looks like there is any more though - must be their way of saving money in this economy - serve less and charge more.

I suppose I could look at it as portion control, but since the pocketbook doesn't respond well to this style of thinking, we will be portion controlling ourselves at home without the extra charge.

Weight Charts

Women's

Men's

Height	Small Frame	Medium Frame	Large Frame
4'10"	102-111	109-121	118-131
4'11"	103-113	111-123	120-134
5'0"	104-115	113-126	122-137
5'1"	106-118	115-129	125-140
5'2"	108-121	118-132	128-143
5'3"	111-124	121-135	131-147
5'4"	114-127	124-138	134-151
5'5"	117-130	127-141	137-155
5'6"	120-133	130-144	140-159
5'7"	123-136	133-147	143-163
5'8"	126-139	136-150	146-167
5'9"	129-142	139-153	149-170
5'10"	132-145	142-156	152-173
5'11"	135-148	145-159	155-176
6'0"	138-151	148-162	158-179

Height	Small Frame	Medium Frame	Large Frame
5'2"	128-134	131-141	138-150
5'3"	130-136	133-143	140-153
5'4"	132-138	135-145	142-156
5'5"	134-140	137-148	144-160
5'6"	136-142	139-151	146-164
5'7"	138-145	142-154	149-168
5'8"	140-148	145-157	152-172
5'9"	142-151	148-160	155-176
5'10"	144-154	151-163	158-180
5'11"	146-157	154-166	161-184
6'0"	149-160	157-170	164-188
6'1"	152-164	160-174	168-192
6'2"	155-168	164-178	172-197
6'3"	158-172	167-182	176-202
6'4"	162-176	171-187	181-207

Pounds to Loose

Avocados And Its Health Benefits

Avocado has many health benefits. It is a very palatable fruit that tastes and looks like an egg yolk. It is a very nutritious food that contains all the nutrients in egg less its cholesterol. It is good for the brain and the nervous system. It is packed with vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients or plant compounds that are very important for a healthy body functioning. It has monounsaturated fat that lowers bad cholesterol levels in the body. It was shown in research studies that monounsaturated fats reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol level in the blood, and increases or boost the HDL (good) cholesterol.

Avocado contains folate, one of the B complex vitamins that promotes healthy cell and tissue development. Folate also reduces the risks of birth defects.

Avocado also contains potassium, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B6, lutein, beta-sitosterol. Potassium helps balance the body electrolytes. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant known to slow down the aging process, and helps protect against heart diseases and some types of cancer. Lutein is a carotenoid that can protect against eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Beta-sitosterol is a phytonutrient that inhibits the absorption of cholesterol in the body, and it helps lower blood cholesterol levels.

Avocado also contains magnesium, riboflavin ( vitamin B2), glutathione, niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid(vitamin B5), biotin (also a Bvitamin), copper, vitamin K, iron and zinc.

Avocado is nutrient booster. A research in Ohio State University showed that when avocado is added to green salad, more disease-fighting nutrients like lutein, lycopene, alpha carotene, and beta carotene are absorbed. These members of the carotenoid family are associated with healthy heart, prostate, and good vision.

Soybeans And Its Health Benefits

Soybean is a very nutritious food that have so many health benefits. No other bean has so many beneficial properties as soybean. Soybean belongs to the legume family. It is rich in protein that provides all the amino acids needed by the body for growth. This soy protein is the most complete of all the vegetable proteins. The soybean protein is a light proteinthat can be easily digested, assimilated, and absorb by the body for optimal use. Its protein quality is equal or even better than animal proteins.

Soybean or soy is high in quality proteins. It is low in saturated fats, and has no cholesterol. It is also high in omega-3 fatty acid, which is useful in the prevention of heart disease and certain cancers. It is also high in calcium bioavailability. Soy is lactose free, and it stimulates the growth of friendly bacteria in the body.

Soybean is the richest source of lecithin, the main nutrient in choline and inositol - two powerful B vitamins that are very essential for the healthy functioning of the brain and the nervous system. Soybean contains phynolic acid that can prevent some forms of cancer.

Soybean can prevent or reduce the risks of osteoporosis, kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and menopausal symptoms.

Soybean also lowers the risks of lung cancer. A study in China found that frequent tofu consumption lowers the risk of lung cancer by 50percent. Another study showed that Japanese in Hawaii consuming tofu had a 33% lower risk of stomach cancer, and in China, frequent consumers of soymilk had 40% lower risk of stomach cancer. People consuming soymilk on a daily basis had 70% lower risk of prostate cancer. Soybeans lower the risk of colon cancer by 40%.

Soymilk is better than cow’s milk. It is easily digested and absorb by the body. It is free from growth hormones, chemical additives, preservatives, bacteria and diseases normally found in animal milk.

Vitamin B5: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin B5: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage. Vitamins are vital for the healthy functioning of the body. Their absence or lack may results to weakness, disease or even death. Vitamins are sometimes called as “co-enzymes” because they work together with enzymes or chemical catalyst in the body.

One of these vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. These are vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of the body, specially for the brain and the nervous system.

One of these B complex is vitamin B5 or otherwise known as pantothenic acid. This vitamin stimulates metabolism and all life processes. It helps in the absorption of folic acid, and increases cortisone and other adrenal hormone output. It promotes growth, prevent graying of hair, and changes in skin. It helps the body to resist the effects of infections, stress, and premature aging of skin and organs. Vitamin B5 is an anti-stress factor for a strong immune system. Pantothenic acid or B5 is good for sunburn and skin burns, and may even protect against skin cancers. It protects, and helps in the rapid recovery from the harmful effects of radiation.

Vitamin B5 is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, adrenal function, and to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Vitamin A, C, E, and other B vitamins are needed for the assimilation of pantothenic acid. Vitamin B5 is used in the production of co-enzyme A, and ACP, without which, the fat and carbohydrate cannot be used by the body for energy production. Vitamin B5 is also used in the production of red blood cells and adrenal hormones.

Although vitamin B5 deficiency is rare because pantothenic acid is found in so many different foods, its deficiency symptoms may include extreme fatigue, muscular weakness, infertility, reproductive problems, graying and loss of hair, retarded growth, insomnia, low blood sugar, skin disorders, asthma, anemia, eczema, chronic fatigue, greater tendency to infections, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, stomach distress, painful and burning feet, and numbness and shooting pains in the feet.

Richest source of vitamin B5 are brewer’s yeast, molasses, green vegetables, whole grain products, torula yeast, wheat germ, beans, peas, peanuts, crude molasses, yogurt, and egg yolk.

Dosage: RDA 4 mg; ODA 50 mg; TDA 50-200 mg. Recommended 250 mg daily. For rheumatoid arthritis, 2 grams daily, and for the lowering of cholesterol and triglycerides, 300 mg daily. Note: The above dosages are for adults. Dosage for children 12-17 years old should be reduced to 3/4 of the recommended dose, and for children 6-11 years old, dosage is 1/2 of the recommended. Warning:Continuous ingestion of pantothenic acid in high dosage can cause heart, kidney, and liver problems.

Vitamin B12: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin B12: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

The body needs vitamins to function properly. Deficiency of certain vitamins can result to disease and even death. Vitamins are sometimes called as “co-enzymes” because they work together with enzymes or chemical catalyst in the body.

One of these vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. These are vitamins that are very important for the proper functioning of the body, specially for the brain and the nervous system.

One of these B complex is vitamin B12 or cobalamin. This vitamin is present in animal products, and rarely in vegetables, if ever, and only in very minimal amount. It is needed in the production of red blood cells. It prevents anemia, and promotes growth in children. Vitamin B12 is used in the treatment of impaired mental ability in the elderly. It is also used in the treatment of depression, diabetic neuropathy, low sperm count, tinnitus, multiple sclerosis, and asthma.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms are chronic fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, sore mouth, numbness or stiffness, pernicious anemia, depression, pins-and-needles sensation, and a mimic Alzheimer’s effect in the elderly. Lack of vitamin B12 affects the brain and the nervous system first, and is also the major cause of depression in older people. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes an undersupply of melatonin, resulting in inadequate sleep at night.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid work closely together; they should be taken together to be more effective. In order for the body to be able to absorb vitamin B12, the stomach secretes an “intrinsic factor”, a special digestive secretion that increases the absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine. When there is enough cobalt in the body, the bowel can make its own vitamin B12.

There are two forms of vitamin B12 - methylcobalamin (the active form), and cyanocobalamin. The active form is preferred than the other.

Rich source of vitamin B12 are fortified brewer’s yeast, milk, and egg. It can be found also in some vegetables but rarely, and in very small amount.

Dosage: RDA 3mcg; ODA 200 mcg; TDA 1,000 mcg. Recommended dosage is 2 mcg daily. For pernicious anemia, dosage is 300-1,000 mcg. Therapeutic doses is difficult to assimilate, so doctors give it by injection. The above dosages are for adults. Dosage for children 12-17 years old should be reduced to 3/4 of the recommended dose, and for children 6-11 years old, dosage is 1/2 of the recommended.

Caution: Be cautious in taking B12 if you have folate deficiency, iron deficiency, any kind of infections, Leber’s disease, polycythemia or uremia.

Vitamin E: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin E: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin E is a wonder vitamin. It prevents a myriads of illnesses and diseases. It is a powerful antioxidant that protects against heart diseases, strokes, and cancers.

Vitamin E comes in two forms: the natural and the synthetic. Natural vitamin E is written “tocopherols” or “d-tocopherols”. Natural alpha-tocopherol, the most active form of vitamin E, is written “alpha-tocopherol” or “d-alpha-tocopherol”. The synthetic form is “tocopheryl” (with a “y”) or “dl-tocopherol” (with a “dl”). The natural form is preferred by specialists because it has the highest level of activity. Synthetic vitamin E is worthless. Do not use it. Another commercial form is available in drugstores: “water-soluble vitamin E”. It is more expensive, but is no more absorbable or effective than the natural form.

Vitamin E oxygenates the cells and tissues of the body, and reduces the need for oxygen. It dilates the blood vessels, and improves circulation. Vitamin E prevents the unsaturated fatty acids and oil-soluble vitamins from being destroyed in the body. It helps and pprotects the capillaries, lungs, and the reproductive organs. It prevents the scar formation in burns.

Vitamin E is used in the treatment of heart diseases, varicose veins, emphysema, varicose veins, leg ulcers, angina pectoris, hypoglycemia, infertility in both male and female, and other reproductive problems. It also reduces the risk of miscarriages.

Vitamin E enters the fatty portion of the cell membranes where it protects them from the harmful effects of compounds such as mercury, lead, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, cleaning solvents, drugs, radiation, and the body’s free-radical metabolites.

A high vitamin E diet exerts strong protective effects in many health conditions.
It is very important in the immune function, especially during stress and chronic viral illnesses such as AIDS and chronic viral hepatitis. It protects the thymus gland and the circulating white blood cells from damage.

Vitamin E reduces the LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), and increases the HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). It is excellent in the prevention of strokes, and heart attacks.

Vitamin E protects against cancers when taken in high doses. A study showed that patients with low levels of vitamin E have 50% more risks of cancer. It also relieves hot flashes, menopausal vaginal complaints, post-menstrual symptoms,
including fibrocystic breast disease.

Vitamin E deficiency symptoms are muscle weakness, nerve damage, poor coordination, involuntary movement of the eye, and breaking of the red blood cells leading to hemolytic anemia. Other symptoms are sterility, red blood cell fragility, muscular disorders, pulmonary embolism, strokes, heart diseases, coronary degeneration, testicle degeneration, fat malabsorption syndromes such as celiac diseases, cystic fibrosis, post-gastrectomy syndrome, red blood cell hereditary disorders such as sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia.

The best sources of vitamin E are flaxseed oil, and wheat germ oil. Flaxseed oil is the best to take because it is so rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, that can prevent cancer. Wheat germ oil and flaxsees oil should be fresh and cold-pressed.

Other sources of vitamin E are soy oil, sunflower oil, unrefined cold-pressed vegetable oils, all whole raw or sprouted seeds, nuts, grains, green leafy vegetables and eggs.

Dosage: RDA 15 IU; ODA 400 IU; TDA 1,200 IU. Recommended: Normal dosage is 400-800 IU daily. This normal dosage provides a better oxidative protection for those in high-stress situations. Menopausal patients should take 800 IU daily until hot flashes subside, and then lowered to 400 IU daily. Note: The strengthening power of vitamin E is not felt until one takes at least 200-600 mg daily. (1 mg = 1.5 IU).

Caution: One study suggested that people with high blood pressure, rheumatic heart disease and other heart conditions will do best not to take more than 400-600 IU of vitamin E daily. Iron supplements, rancid foods and grains destroy vitamin E. It is better not to eat wheat germ because it easily become rancid, and it is very difficult to preserve it fresh.

Choline: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Choline: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Choline is one of the vitamin B complex. It is found abundantly in lecithin. This vitamin helps the body to digest, absorb, and carry the fat and fat soluble vitamins in the bloodstream. It helps to regulate the minimal deposition of fat and cholesterol in the arteries and liver. Without this, the arteries become clogged, and hypertension and other cardiac problems follow. This vitamin is also needed in the synthesis of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and for the myelin sheaths of the nerves. It is essential in the manufacture of certain neurotransmitters, and phospholipids. It helps in the liver and gallbladder functions. It is very essential in fat metabolism. Without it, the fat becomes trapped in the liver where they block metabolism.

Choline is used to treat serious liver problems. It prevents gallstone formation, kidney damage, nephritis, glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis. It is used to treat bipolar depression or manic depression. Choline, in the form of phosphatidylcholine, is used to lower total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels; to increase HDL (the good kind of fatty acid), and to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Choline deficiency symptoms include high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, atherosclerosis, kidney damage, cirrhosis and fatty liver degeneration.

Richest source of choline is lecithin, and egg yoke. It is also found in blackstrap molasses, grains, legumes, and in cauliflower and lettuce as free choline.

Dosage: RDA 150 mg; ODA 600 mg; TDA 500-1,000 mg. Recommended: Take choline which has 90% phosphatidylcholine 3 times a day with meals. For liver disorders: 350-500 mg daily. For Alzheimer’s disease and bipolar depression: 5,000-10,000 mg daily. To lower cholesterol: 500-900 mg daily.

Caution: Prolonged megadoses of choline, when isolated from inositol, may deplete vitamin B6. Choline should always be taken with inositol and other B vitamins.

Essential Fatty Acids (Vitamin F): Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Essential Fatty Acids (Vitamin F): Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin F is a fat-soluble vitamin that consists of the essential unsaturated fatty acids, namely, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and the less important arachidonic acid.

Vitamin F is commonly known as EFA or essential fatty acid. It is also sometimes called as “polyunsaturates”. The term “essential” is due to the fact that these acids cannot be made by the body, yet are vital to normal body functioning.

Of all the fatty acids, linoleic acid is the most essential. There are two types of EFA: omega-3 and omega-6. Omega-3 has alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids. They are found in fish, flaxseed oil, and walnut oil. Omega-6 includes linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids. Sources of omega-6 are raw nuts, legumes, seeds, grape seed oil, primrose oil, sesame oil, soybean oi, borage oil, and evening primrose oil. The best single source of EFA is fresh, cold-pressed flaxseed oil because it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6, and cheaper than other sources.

Essential fatty acids reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body. They reduce the risks of blood clot formation. EFA lowers blood cholesterol in atherosclerosis to prevent heart disease. It is needed by the glands for proper functioning. It enables the absorption of calcium and phosphorus by the cells.

Vitamin F or EFA is essential in metabolism and growth. It is needed for healthy skin and mucous membranes. It prevents arthritis, and is a good prevention of candidiasis, cardiovascular diseases, eczema, and psoriasis.

EFA is found in high concentration in the brain, and it aids in the transmission of nerve impulses. It is used by every cell in the rebuilding and the producing of new cells. It is also used by the body to produce prostaglandins which regulate various body processes.

EFA or vitamin F deficiency symptoms are skin disorders such as acne, rashes, eczema, and dry skin. Other symptoms are kidney, prostate, menstrual, and other reproductive disorders.

Dosage: Recommended therapeutic dose should be at least 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of raw, fresh, cold-pressed wheat germ or flaxseed oil at each meal. Do not use cottonseed oil - it can damage the optic nerve. Avoid safflower oil, and hardened (solid) vegetable oil, margarine and butter because they only clog the system. Avoid hydrogenated oils. For EFA to be useful for the body, the oil must be in pure liquid supplement and must not be subjected to heat. Processing and cooking easily destroy the essential fatty acids, changing them to dangerous free radicals.

Vitamin B2: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin B2: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage. Vitamins are essential to healthy body functions. Its deficiency results to disease or death. Vitamins work together with chemical catalysts called enzymes, thus their being called as “co-enzymes”. Among the important vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. This is a group of a dozen or so vitamins that are needful for the proper functioning of the body, specially the nervous system. One of these B complex is vitamin B2 or riboflavin. This vitamin aids in the carbohydrate metabolism. It is needed for growth, good eyes, nails, skin, and hair. Riboflavin helps prevent cataracts, and is very important during pregnancy. It is crucial in the production of energy. Vitamin B2 is used to treat cataracts, sickle-cell anemia, and migraine headaches. Patients with cataract should take not more than 10 mg of vitamin B2 daily. Richest sources of vitamin B2 are almonds, brewer’s yeast, torula yeast, wheat germ, whole grains, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and leafy vegetables. The vitamin B2 deficiency symptoms include eye problems, itching, burning, sensitivity to light, bloodshot, mouth sores, cracking of the lips and corners of the mouth, inflamed tongue, burning and itching of the mouth, oily or dull hair, oily skin, premature wrinkles on face and arms, split nails, cataract formation, loss of visual acuity, disorders of the mucous membranes, seborrheic dermatitis, severe anemia, and certain esophageal cancers. Vitamin B2 is needed in the assimation of vitamin C and other vitamin B complex. Vitamin B2 is destroyed by light, but not by cooking. It has no toxicity or side effects, except for cataract treatment which should not exceed more that 10 mg daily. Dosage: RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) is 1.6 mg. ODA (Optimum Daily Amount) is 50 mg. TDA (Therapeutic Daily Allowance) is 200-500 mg. Recommended is 5-10 mg daily. These dosages are for adults. Dosage for children 12-17 years old is 3/4 of the recommended amount, and for those 6-12 years old, use 1/2 of the recommended dose. Body cannot absorb more than 20 mg in a single dose.

Vitamin B1: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamin B1: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage

Vitamins are crucial to life functions. Without them, you die quickly. Vitamins work together with enzymes, (chemical catalysts), thus their being called as co-enzymes.

Among the essential vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. This is a group of a dozen or so vitamins that are needful for the proper functioning of the body, specially the nervous system.

Among them is Vitamin B1 or thiamin. This vitamin helps and protects the brain, nervous system, muscle, peristalsis, blood circulation, and red blood count. It works with other B vitamins in energy metabolism. It prevents thiamin deficiency in diabetes, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological diseases, including epilepsy. This vitamin is also used to prevent and treat impaired mental function in the elderly, including the Alzheimer’s disease.

Deficiency symptoms include slow heart beat, weight loss, mental depression, chronic constipation, muscular weakness, diabetes, beriberi, edema,and defective hydrochloric acid production. Drinking alcohol, eating refined foods, and eating lots of sugar can lead to thiamin deficiency. Severe deficiency results in psychosis, that accounts about 30 percent of those admitted in psychiatric wards.
Vitamin B1 is needed in the assimmilation of manganese and other B vitamins. This vitamin is easily destroyed by alcohol, by tannins in tea and black coffee, by sulfites, and by uncooked freshwater fish and shellfish. Magnesium is needed in the the conversion of thiamin to its active form.

The richest sources of vitamin B1 are brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, wheat bran, most whole grain cereals especially wheat, and oats, sunflower seeds, unpolished rice, torula yeast, peanuts with skin, all nuts, seeds, all beans especially soybean, and some vegetable such as beets, potatoes, and leafy vegetables.

Dosage: Recommended is 50-100 mg daily. For the elderly with age-related mental impairment, including Alzheimer’s, 3-8 mg per day.

Health Benefits Of Ginger

Ginger is a flowering herb that thrives in Southeast Asia. There are more than 85 species of ginger. It is also grown in the West Indies, China, India, Japan, Africa, and southern Florida. The most common ginger is 2 to 3 feet tall with thick fleshly roots. Ginger is a herb without equal dealing with sea sickness, air sickness, and other kind of motion sickness. It has aromatic, diuretic, carminative, stimulant, and diaphoretic properties.

Ginger cleanses the system through perspiration. When taken hot, the ginger tea is good for suppressed menstruation and scanty urine. Ginger brings heat to the system and stimulates digestion. It raises the body temperature when taken in frequent doses.

Ginger reduces flatulent colic. When taken with laxative herbs, it makes their effects more milder. Ginger cleanses the colon, fights inflammation, reduces spasms and cramps. When taken at the onset of common cold, it eases the effects of its symptoms.

Ginger is also good for coughs, cramps, indigestion, headaches, spasms of the colon, nausea, sinus congestion, morning sickness, and stomach spasm. Ginger is a strong antioxidant, and a very effective germ killer for sores and wounds. Chewing the rootstock of ginger stimulates the flow of saliva, and soothes the sore throat. It is very effective in the treatment of coughs.

Ginger is good for bowel disorders, fever, hot flashes, arthritis,, muscle pains, indigestion, and vomiting. It protects the stomach and the liver. Ginger fomentation is used for the treatment of mumps.

Ginger tea is a better alternative for coffee. It has no addictive effects of caffein, and free from stimulating chemicals or substances. When taken regularly, it makes the skin healthy, clear, and shiny. Ginger is also used to relieve the hoarseness of voice, and to improve it.

Antioxidants And Their Health Benefits

More people are becoming aware of the importance of antioxidants and their health benefits for the body. Beauty products such as creams, and anti-aging medications are mixed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are good for cell and tissue rejuvenation, and are good to reverse premature aging.

Antioxidants are molecules that slow down and prevent the oxidation of other molecules in the body. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers an electron from a substance to an oxidizing agent. This chemical reaction produces free radicals which start a chain reaction that can cause cellular damage. Antioxidants stop this chain reaction by removing the free radical intermediates and prevent other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves.

Free radicals produced during oxidation are not good for the body. They not only damage the cells but accelerate the process of aging too. Saturated fats in the diet, cigarette smoke, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead; hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrous oxide from car exhaust, ultraviolet rays, cosmic rays, medical x-rays, and other toxic chemicals in food, water and air are free radicals that should be avoided.

Certain vitamins, enzymes, and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc are powerful antioxidants. Other antioxidants are the alpha and the beta carotenes, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, coenzyme Q10, cysteine, silymarin, and pycnogenol. These antioxidants are found in herbs such as turmeric, bilberry, burdock, garlic, gingko biloba, and in extracts such as those in grape seed and pine bark.

There are also substances made in the body that fight free radicals. These are glutathione, melatonin and several others. Low levels of antioxidants in the body can cause oxidative stress which may be a precursor of so many diseases. Antioxidants are now widely used as ingredients in most dietary supplements to treat diseases such cancer and coronary heart diseases.

Health Benefits In Listening To Mozart

There are health benefits in listening to Mozart. Most of Mozart’s pieces are now confirmed by scientists to have beneficial health effects on the brain and to the whole body in general.

Some studies showed that listening to Mozart can help epileptics. Seizures were significantly reduced after listening to a Mozart piece for 45 minutes a day.

This “Mozart effect” is also said to enhance fetal development, improve mathematical skills, learning, and increase the spatial IQ. It was also noted that listening to Mozart reduces stress, and arthritic pains, and improves eyesight.

The original research on Mozart-effect looked at how the K448 piano sonata affects the spatial IQ of a person. Volunteers were instructed to visualize correctly the unfolded shape of a piece of paper that had been folded many times. It was found out that those who listened to Mozart had a performance quantified to be equivalent to an increase of eight to nine points in IQ.

It is theorized that this improvement in performance is due to the stimulation and warming up of the areas in the brain that are involved in the processing of music by those concerned with spatial perception.

Neurologists found out that a child with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, had fewer seizures when exposed to Mozart’s K448 piano sonata for 10 minutes every hour. Another study found changes in brain activity in 23 out of 29 cases when Mozart was played.

According to Dr John Hughes of the University of Illinois, this Mozart effect may be similar to pulsating electrical stimulation, that brings order to malfunctioning nerve cells in the brain. Mozart’s music is brilliantly complex, and highly organized, and the cerebral cortex seem to resonate with Mozart’s music to normalize any of its sub-optimal functioning.

Part of Mozart’s genius is his repetition of themes in a way that is not boring, but instead is engaging to the listener. He repeats a theme not necessarily with the same but different notes and at the same interval. This technique in musical composition is only unique in Mozart.

These repetition and periodic changes are also found in all brain and bodily functions. It is this repetition that acts like repetitive electrical stimulation that creates the Mozart effect.

Researchers simulated this electrical stimulation by implanting electrodes in epileptic patients, and found out a 95 percent reduction in seizures. Researches are being conducted to verify the same effect in listening to Mozart.

Mozart soothes the beating heart. A study on the effects of music on heart-rate variability showed that listening to music may be helpful in heart diseases. The study showed that listening to Mozart or Bach lowered the heart rate and its variability.

Listening to Mozart may ease stress in newborn babies. Mozart was played to newborn babies to help them get over the trauma of birth, and doctors are running clinical trials to ascertain whether Mozart’s music can reduce stress, heart rate and motor activity in premature babies.

These are some of the many health benefits that can be derived from listening to Mozart. Besides the health benefits stated above. Mozart music is also beneficial to plants and animals. Plants grow taller, and bear more fruits when Mozart music is played on them. Orchids and other flowering plants bloom faster, and aquarium fish become happy and lively when exposed to Mozart music.

Eight Secrets of Health

Health is Wealth. The happiness that wealth brings cannot be fully enjoyed without health. In fact, wealth is only achievable though good health.
To have good health, we need to know the Eight Secrets of Health. The eight secrets is represented by an acronym of “NEWSTART” : Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in Divine Power.

Good nutrition is essential to good health. Food complete with carbohydrate, protein, and minerals & vitamins should be eaten regularly three times daily.

To stay fit and healthy, regular exercise is needed. Exercise enhances good blood circulation, and dissolves excess fats int the body.

Water is essential for the proper functioning of the body. The body consists 75% water, and all body organs need water. To be healthy, one should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily.

Sunlight is very importanat to human being. We cannot exist without it. Sunlight helps our body to produce vitamin D for strong Bones and teeth.

To avoid diseases. We must practice temperance. We should avoid eating too much of anything whether healthy or not. And not only temperance when it comes to food but of habits or work as well. We should not overindulge in something.

Air is very important to us. Without air, we die. Fresh air invigorates the blood. Our brain also needs enough oxygen from air to function properly.

Enough rest is required to maintain good health. At least 6 to 8 hours of sleep is needed by an adult. Lack of sleep brings a lot of illnesses and diseases. Rest is needed to recharge tired bodies, and to replenish lost energies.

The best antidote to diseases is trust in the divine Lord. To trust and hope in the LORD is health to the bones and marrow. Knowing that the LORD loves us brings real joy and happiness to the heart, and “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

The Advantages of A Vegetarian Diet

People spend lots of money to maintain their health. Millions are payed to hospital bills, doctor’s fees, laboratory fees, medicines, and to regular medical checkup. Almost all of man’s strivings and endeavors are for his health, happiness, and well being.

But money cannot buy health. Rich people are not exempt from diseases, and even the richests die of terminal cancers which their money has no power to reverse. It is for man’s good to finally come into realization of how futile and worthless wealth can be in a life bereft of good health, and therefore very mandatory that he strives to acquire good health.

Good nutrition is one among the eight secrets of good health. Food is the most basic need of man to live. But it is not only the eating and gulping of food you like - it must be nutritionally balanced to be trully beneficial for the body.

A nutritionally balanced diet must include carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Rich sources of these nutrients are fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables.

Most people, especially the children prefer meat than vegetables. They believe that proteins can only be obtained from meats, fish, and other animal products. But this is not true. On the contrary, plants, seeds, grains and vegetables are more abundant sources of proteins. Proteins from meats are heavy proteins and are hard to digest. Plant-based proteins are light proteins and are easily digested and assimilated by the body.

Fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables have all the nutrients needed for excellent health. True, no plant or herbs can produce vitamin B12 - a very essential vitamin in the formation and production of the red blood cells. But the human body can produce its own vitamin B12 when it has enough supply of cobalt which is available in plants or herbs such as Nova Scotia dulse, and Norwegian kelp (types of seaweeds). Vitamin B12 or cobalamin is also partially found in food rich in vitamin B1 or thiamine such as nuts, seeds, beans, brown rice, whole-grain cereals, oats, and leafy vegetables.

Flesh meats of animals, on the other hand, are very harmful to health. Meats of diseased animals are carriers of communicable diseases which are easily transferred to human beings. Most animals today are feed with growth hormones, feed additives, and their meats are loaded with preservatives, food colors, and other toxic chemicals that are dangerous to the body. Healthy animals are butchered in dirty slaughter houses, and bacteria and other pathogens thrive on these meats, and are already putrefying and decayed before it reach the consumers. Eating of flesh meats had long been suspected as the cause of tumors and cancers. Only in this modern time have it been verified and corfirmed by medical doctors as true.

Think twice before eating meat. Where do people get these dreadful diseases: cancers, tumors, mad-cow disease, foot-and-mouth disease, bird’s flu, and the latest scare - the Ebola Reston virus?

Health Benefits of Horse Raddish

Horse raddish is a miracle vegetable. Scientifically known as moringa oleifera, it has 46 antioxidants and 36 anti-inflammatory substances in it. It has 17 times the calcium of milk, 10 times the vitamin A of carrots, 9 times the protein found in yogurt, 15 times the potassium of banana, 25 times the iron of spinach, and 7 times the vitamin C of orange. It has also the full compliment of minerals, and all the amino acids of meat.

Horse radidsh is very good for the whole body. It strengthens the immune system, restores skin condition, controls blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines, prevent diabetes, reduce inflammations and arthritis pains, restricts the growth of tumors, heals ulcers, rebuilds weak bones, enrich anemic blood, calms the nervous system, and is good for beriberi, rickets and scurvy.

Horse raddish has a very important phytochemical niazimin which have been found to have molecular components that can prevent the development of cancer cells.

Fresh roots from young horse raddish tree can be used to treat fever. The infusion of horse raddish roots is good for those with asthma. Horse raddish fruits can prevent eye disorders, and can increase the semen count in men. Unripe horse raddish pods can be used to prevent intestinal worms. Tender horse raddish leaves can reduce phlegm and are administered internally for catarral conditions and scurvy. The flowers of horse raddish can be used to heal inflammation of the tendons and abscesses. The juice of the horse raddish leaves can be taken to remove phlegm and mucus in the body. It is good for the removal of mucus in inflamed sinuses, and for asthma too.

What Does It Take To Lose Weight?

Weight loss is perhaps one of the most often made resolutions just like it is also one of the most commonly broken resolves by the middle of February if not sooner. Finding a diet that will work for you is at the heart of the issue, yet with so many diets on the market, how will you know which one is right for you?.

Unless you are actively trying to lose weight by exercising and dieting, it’s a serious problem. Working off weight is all about creating healthy habits. Before you can do that, you have to let go of unreachable goals and replace them with real ones.

Fat loss is simple, burn more calories then you consume. If you can fully understand that then you are on your way to losing weight. Motivation and focus creates more energy and improved self-esteem along with feeling a sense of control over one’s body and one’s health.

Weight loss is really hard to achieve by yourself. It takes encouragement, support, and a community of like-minded folks who are determined to make a difference. If you can lose from 6 to 11 pounds (3 to 5 kgs), or 5 to 7 percent of your body mass for a year or more you’re on a successful track.

Losing pounds is something that concerns everyone as less work and easy lifestyle is making every one overweight. Losing weight is not tough, but losing weight systematically is something which takes time and proper care.

Burning fat is yet another example of ’slow and steady’ winning the race. Rather than trying to drop a size by tomorrow, set a goal of 1 to 2 pounds (no more than 1 kg) per week.

One must be very motivated, disciplined, patient, have a weight loss plan, be able to follow specific and realistic daily and weekly goals, and be honest with oneself. Weight loss is a precise nutritional marker and represents an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure.

Finding Safe Fat Burners

There are millions of people with weight problems big and small. If you are 10 pounds overweight or extremely obese the first step is finding a safe fat burner & getting the proper guidance on the right steps to take so you don’t literally waste your time.

People who are battling with weight problems often complained that they have
tried everything to lose weight but never seem to get anywhere. Yes, excess
weight can be very difficult to shed off but that does not mean it’s impossible.

Products that claim to burn fat quickly have dangerous side effects. If you
really want to lose weight you just have to do it the traditional way with
plenty of exercise and a balanced diet.

Twenty minutes of cardio 3 times a week is a great regimen to start off with with the intensity level suited to your fitness level. A balanced diet consists of plant food, fruit, water, soya beverages grain products & lean meat.

A balanced meal would consist of Tofu or lean meat cubed and mixed with a green salad with almonds, tomatoes, mushrooms and a light vinagrette dressing. Protein, fat & carbohydrates combined.Safe Fat Burners Include Exercise

Exercise is the best way to drop weight and it does not have any negative side
effects on the body. Despite what you might have read of the magazines or
seen on TV, there is really no substitute to exercise and a balanced diet
when it comes to losing weight.

Yes, there are a number of slimming tea, pills and others that can actually help you burn calories fast and lose weight within a very short period of time but these types of products only have temporary effects and may even cause some long term health problems to the user.

According to some experts, many popular fat burner pills and drinks can cause damage to your kidneys and liver. Once your kidneys and your liver sustain damage, you will suffer from hoards of medical problems especially as you get older.

Choosing The Best Exercise Routine

Although all types of exercises can help you burn calories, the best fat burner is high intensity exercise. High intensity exercise demands a lot of energy and burns calories faster.

Studies also show that certain types of high intensity exercise promotes continued burning of calories for more than 24 hours after you finished exercising. However, high intensity exercise is not for everyone.

Any Kind of Body Movement Is Better Than Nothing!

Not all people are strong enough or well enough to go through those tough exercise routines. If you happen to be one of those people who cannot withstand high intensity exercise, you just have to make do with low–intensity exercise.

Finding safe fat burners include Low-intensity exercise such as walking jogging or climbing stairs can help you burn off calories safely and at your own pace. Only you know your limits and how far you want to go,
it’s up to you!

What Foods Burn Fat?

Eating The Right Food Is Not An Impossible Feat!  

Good food is known to everybody but it just doesn't taste the
same as a bacon cheeseburger? There will come a time when you'll
have to take charge of your diet because of a medical condition &
find out what foods burn fat.

It has been proven time and time again that eating
properly is great for your metabolism.  Metabolism
is the way that your body burns fat and helps you
maintain a healthy body.

Perhaps to some degree this statement might end up
sounding like an advertisement but it is true that
food is a natural fat burner.

Lean Protein eaten 4 to 5 times a day burns fat!
It turns your stomach into a calorie burning furnace.

Nature Knows Best

Green vegetables are extremely beneficial, they are the types of
food that help awaken your metabolism and keep the fat burning
process going on all the time.

This is why you can understand why so many scientists and nutritionists
say that you should eat your greens, as they are the natural fat
burner catalyst you need.

Most of the vegetables are packed with nutrients and fiber, which
is good for keeping your body working to its greatest potential.
That's why foods like carrots & broccoli makes them so appealing.

What foods Burn Fat? Raw Vegetables: The Diet Of All Time!

Raw vegetables are packed with tons of nutrients that support
your skin, bones and organs. The fact that they are uncooked
allows 100 percent of their nutrition potential to remain intact.

Eat As Much As You Want!

The wonderful thing is that you do not have to be afraid of eating
too much as they will make you feel very full soon without putting
on the fat. There are also many other fruits that are part of the
natural fat burner family.

These are citrus foods, which although do not have direct assistance
with fat burning they do help your body to release the fat which is
a very good thing when it comes to weight loss.

Citrus Foods Release Fat

The more information you have about the types of natural
foods the better. You can also sometimes substitute your potatoes
for turnips, which have great fat burning assistance properties
that will probably help you in your with loss or maintenance regime.

Good Food Produces Less Fat, More Energy & A New You!

The more good food you put into your system the better it is for you,
as you will get better results by using the process provided by food
the natural fat burner.

It is always important to understand that you need energy... and fat is
stored as unused energy. In order to release these stores of fat you
need to be able to have the right tools.

The nice thing is that you will be living a lifestyle and not just a one
off diet fad. You'll gain more energy and nutritional benefits from using
natural fat burners that come from our Mother Earth.