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!