Tuesday, September 7, 2010

anti_oxidants_pomegranet

Anti-aging 101, the best natural agents for anti-aging and cancer prevention

Many people are starting to become very health and body-conscious because of the many different health issues erupting in the medical setting today. Because of the changing environment, there are many environmental concerns and foods in our diet that can actually hasten aging and/or even cause cancer! However, scientists and doctors have found new ways to prevent these from happening with the use of certain antioxidants such as acai berry, CLA and green tea. These antioxidants are healthy substances that are able to prevent some of the harmful environmental factors and processes that damage DNA and cells and lead to aging and cancer.

Cancer or tumorigenesis is the mutation of DNA into harmful cancer cells or the formation of tumors that divert blood and nutrient supply from healthy tissues in order to feed themselves. This may be caused by a number of factors from your external environment. Certain high frequency radiation, like radon from uranium-rich soil, ionizing radiation (IR) from x-ray machines and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, are also major reasons for cancer. Other health risks are smoking, ingestion of carbonaceous materials, excessive use of certain drugs and alcohol, psychological stress, cellular phone use, asbestos exposure, electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, and nuclear facility exposure. Therefore, a particular lifestyle decision, such as taking in antioxidants, can help prevent these things from happening and even help in anti aging.

After the peak of the body’s development and growth in the mid-20s, the human body begins the process of aging as it normally transitions from the various stages of human development. In this process though, the body starts to decline in function in its latter stages, especially without preventive measures such as a healthy diet and exercise. Aging can be caused primarily by pollution in your environment or exposure to infectious diseases. It is normal for the biological system to create oxidants or free radicals which react with other cells and destroy them. Anti aging products include antioxidants that could effectively cleanse the system from harmful oxidants taken in from the environment through breathing, eating or other biological processes (e.g. absorbtion of harmful rays).

One of the most well known antioxidant-rich compounds is a acai berry – a fruit harvested from the acai palm tree, which has been found to contain health-promoting nutrients because of their concentration of anthocyanin. It helps to counteract oxidants from destroying connective tissue and to repair damaged proteins in the walls of blood vessels. This definitely helps the process of anti aging and, at the same time, helps to fight diseases like cancer.

However, there are more superior antioxidants for better anti aging and for combating cancer. CLA or conjugated linoleic acid, which naturally occurs in meat, has been found to inhibit tumor growth by as much as fifty percent and helps one lose weight by detoxifying the system of fat cells by breaking them down. Green tea has been studied to inhibit the ability of tumors to elicit capillary growth that direct blood and nutrients to the cancer cells. It also has the ability to boost the metabolic rate by thirty percent, allowing more fats to get burned. CLA and green tea are the best anti aging supplements.

Its important to note that the best defense against harmful free radicals is avoidance. Staying away from known sources such as cigarret smoke, drugs, harmful radiation etc is the best way to avoid the deleterious effects of harmdul free radicals. At the same time maintaining a healthy diet combined with daily exercise ensures that your body is able to keep its stores of naturally occuring antioxidants high. Beyond this, supplementing with powerful antioxidant such as CLA or green tea gives you the best chance at preventing damage to your DNA, cells and the health risks rthat accompany free radicals.

lose-fat-fast---fit-and-fab

Weight loss can be difficult, thats for sure, but like anything else – the more you know, the easier it is. Once you understand the basics, you’ll make constant steady progress, stay fit, make you look great and help you feel fabulous. The basics of being fit and fab are all about keeping your metabolism going strong. It is definitely a challenge to lose fat and maintain a healthy and trim body, but there are a lot of easy exercises and fun activities that you can engage in and a lot of supplements you can take for you to keep your metabolism running fast and steady.

It’s really important to build muscles and strength train regularly because this can maintain a high metabolic rate when trying to lose fat. If you lose muscle tissue instead of body fat, your fat burning capacity will decrease. The more calories you will burn, the more you use your muscles. Walking and high intensity interval training can burn can burn fat significantly than sleeping or watching TV. Exercising frequently, especially in the morning, also speeds up your metabolism and can still burn your calories even after the session. This is why it is advisable to take in calories post-exercise. You can try having interval training as often as possible. This will only take only about ten minutes and greatly improves fitness and metabolic levels. Mental exercises are also very important in keeping your whole body healthy. Avoid stress through relaxing activities such as yoga, tai chi or even writing.

In order to lose fat more effectively, you also have to remember that you should not reduce your calorie level too much. With too few food intakes, you can increase your appetite to an unhealthy level and start eating too much after your starvation diet. Avoid skipping meals and spread out calorie intake into four to five well-balanced snacks and meals for the day. It is very important to keep within your recommended calorie range and still keep the capacity of burning stored fat and have energy for your daily activities, too. Also, do not deprive yourself of sleep as studies show that this may slow down your metabolism as well.

There are also a lot of supplements that can help you lose fat. CLA or conjugated linoleic acid is a group of essential fatty acids that enhances metabolism by allowing lipids to be used as energy and reducing blood sugar. Research shows that CLA can help boost lean body mass, especially in the abdomen. Green tea with its antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC) activates brown adipose tissue (BAT) to participate in a heat-generating metabolic process called thermogenesis. This heat induces loss of appetite and increases fat and calorie-burning, slows down release of carbohydrates, stops sudden rising blood-insulin levels, and lowers cholesterol. L-dopa is a mood stabilizer or enhancer that controls emotional or stress eating. This can also stimulate the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH), which increases lean muscles and decreases fats as well. You can lose fat and lose pounds immediately with these helpful tips and get that dream body you’ve always been aspiring for.

mediterranean-dietIts official – everybody seems to be interested in the connection between their health and their diet. Following that old adage “you are what you eat”, we now know that our diets can have wonderful, positive effects on our health and well-being – or negative and disastrous effects. There’s been a lot of focus on the health and weight loss benefits of low fat, and low carb diets – but what about the Mediterranean diet? One of the most popular diets observed by a lot of people from around the world is the mediterranean diet. The mediterranean diet does not only incorporate the proper foods, it also fosters an improved attitude towards a healthier lifestyle.

The Mediterranean diet is actually a bit of a misnomer – as there are many Mediterranean people and cultures that do not follow this diet. What it actually refers to is the pattern of eating and lifestyle observed in poor Mediterranean cultures in the 1960s.

While the Mediterranean diet was originally described earlier (1940s) it didn’t really catch on until the mid 1990s after the most commonly accepted version of the diet was put forth by Dr. Walter Willet of Harvard University’s School of Public Health. The diet was based on patterns of food consumption typical of Crete, parts of Greece, and southern Italy in the early 1960s. This diet, in addition to “regular physical activity,” emphasizes abundant plant foods, low to moderate amounts of fish and poultry, a maximum of four eggs consumed weekly, red meat consumed in low quantities, fresh fruits for desserts and olive oil as the principal source of fat as well as dairy products (principally cheese and yogurt) in low amounts, and wine consumed in low to moderate amounts. Total fat in this diet is about 30% of calories, with saturated fat at 8% or less of calories.

Over time the Mediterranean diet has been extensively researched. In most of the clinical trials and meta-analyses done the diet continues to prove its multiple health benefits. For example compared to low fat and low-carb diet, it has been shown to lead to greater degrees of weight loss, with lower rates of lost weight re-gain

There are also clear health benefits as well despite the diets high mono-saturated fat and salt content (from olive oil, nuts &olives). Reductions in the overall mortality rates as well as death due to cardiovascular disease and cancer have been reported and well documented. Some studies even suggest that it can even reduce the incidence of and severity of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Mediterranean diet is not without controversy however. Some people argue that a mediterranean diet is generally high in fats, and this is certainly true. However, it is extremely low in saturated fats, which are considered as bad fats. It stresses lots of olive oil, which is why a lot of experts claim that it is high in fat and yet; olive oil has been proven to increase the good cholesterol levels in the body. Still, other researchers feel that the health benefits associated with this diet are due the lifestyle choices common to the region – such as high degree of physical labor and increased amounts of sunlight – inducing a solar UVB elevation in vitamin D levels in skin oils, this has been linked to decreased levels of cardiovascular disease in some study participants. The Mediterranean diet is also amazingly high in antioxidants and fiber as these can help the body lessen the risk of heart disease, stroke and other forms of cancer. It also effectively delays aging.

So while there is some controversy, its pretty well accepted that the best diet for your healthy living and even weight loss is a diet that is low in meat products, high in fiber and vegetables with a moderate amount of carbs is best. Combined with regular daily exercise and some alcohol consumption this diet and lifestyle is supremely equipped to you’re your health up and your weight down. So follow a healthy diet and stay light & lean – just like your food!

low-salt-dietHypertension refers to the increase in blood pressure. It is a chronic medical condition leading to damages in your major organs like the kidneys, heart and even the brain. Previously, the condition was only common among the older population. However, with the prevalence of deleterious lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet and decreased physical activity, the incidence of high blood pressure amongst even the younger generation is alarming. Today, hypertension is the underlying cause for the death of millions of people yearly. Generally, the treatment includes medical therapy, but lifestyle changes, including exercise and a diet low in fats and sodium have shown promise. Knowledge is power; here’s some important information about the condition.

Types

Health experts classify hypertension as either primary or secondary. Around 90% of the cases are unknown and classified under the primary type, whereas the remaining 10% are secondary where the underlying cause is identifiable. Although the causes of primary hypertension are unknown, there are some predisposing factors like sedentary lifestyle, stress, obesity, and diet. If you love eating salty and fatty foods, your diet could be a significant risk factor in contributing to the development of hypertension. Secondary hypertension is typically caused by specific factors – such as certain tumors (adrenal glands) or tightening of the artery that leads to the kidneys – that cause an increase in resting blood pressure.

Signs and Symptoms

Generally, experts diagnose this health condition by a persistently high blood pressure reading and/or the manifestation of symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sweating. Your physician will make a thorough assessment on the possible cause/s of the medical condition. If you don’t follow a low fat diet and are fond of eating fatty, salty meals like animal meats, foods high in preservatives and fried foods, there is no doubt about the cause of your symptoms.

Complications

If your high blood pressure continues and you tend to neglect diet low in fats and sodium, then complications can begin to appear. Some of the dreadful complications can involve the kidney, retinas and brain – even resulting in a stroke. As the arteries become thickened with fats, and clogged with inflamed and damaged tissues in various stages of repair as a result of a high fat diet, your major vital organs will receive lesser amount of oxygen and nutrients, leading to tissue death. It can lead to blindness and kidney failure. In many cases, left untreated – symptoms of high blood pressure can lead to the rupture of major blood vessels leading to the brain and major organs causing catastrophic injury and even death.

Treatment

Hypertension treatment includes medical management with various classes of drugs. However, its become increasingly clear that a lifestyle change can also bring about control of high blood pressure – often reducing or even eliminating your dependence on drug therapy. Of course prevention is always better than cure. You can begin today by adopting a healthy diet and incorporating exercise as part of your daily activities. Get serious about your health – lose the fatty diet and start one low in fats and salt, but rich in fiber, while including plenty of fruits and vegetables. Instead of getting your all your protein from animal meats sources, mix it up a bit! Get some from fish and vegetables sources as well. Modify your cooking methods to include boiling, broiling and steaming instead of frying. Medical treatment of High blood pressure is important, but lifestyle and diet changes can avoid the need for treatment or reduce the amount of treatment needed. Check with your doctor before you consider changing or beginning any treatment.

Hypertension has claimed the lives of millions of people and continues to cause a great deal of morbidity. However, adopting a low fat, high fiber diet amongst other healthy lifestyle choices can ensure that you lead a long, healthy and high quality life.

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