Living A Better Life Through Nutrition

Lets Quit Lighting Up

2010-07-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Smoking has many damaging effects on people who light up. What dangers do we actually face if were a smoker? In this article

I will go over just that, and hopefully help you kick a hard habit to break.

In late May this was released, "The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General," it cites that more than

1,600 scientific articles on the health effects of smoking. We all know the well known side effects of smoking like

esophageal, mouth and lung cancers. This new report found that smoking is conclusively linked to leukemia, cataracts,

pneumonia, and reproductive complications. That last one would make me never want to touch a cigarette.

Tar, what is it? It coats your lungs and causes cancer. Its very similar to soot in a chimney. Low tar or light cigarettes is

not a good solution. If anything its worst to smoke, because smokers will take deeper puffs and will hold the smoke in their

lungs longer. The carbon monoxide on the body is dangerous too, it can rob your muscles, body tissue of oxygen, brain and can

make your whole body work harder, mostly your heart.

Now that I've covered the dangers of smoking, and believe me there are more of them, I will give tips on how to quit. drink

lots of liquids, especially water, try herbal teas. Cut back on coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol they increase your urge to

light up. Stay away from sugar and fatty foods. Try something with low-calories for snacking such as carrots, sugarless gum,

popcorn, or sunflower seeds. Do not skip meals. Regular exercise helps with cravings. Try getting more rest at night by going

to sleep earlier, you will feel so rested and well before you start your day. There are things you can do to reduce the

stress in your life, take a hot shower, read a book, or even exercise and I'm sure you have a few of your own.

Psychological needs of smoking. Remind yourself everyday that you are quitting for a reason and that reason is. Develop a

plan for relieving stress, in other words find something else that is stress free and makes you feel great about yourself.

Try listening to some relaxing music while you write or draw. Take your mind off a difficult problem and come back to it later in the day. Rely on friends and family for their support. Avoid alcohol, if you consume this stuff the chances of you staying smoke free will be slim.

I hope I have helped some of you realize the dangers and hazards of smoking. If you decide to quit in the near future that is great news and I'm proud of you. For others the addiction is too strong and their willpower to quit isn't strong enough. I would suggest professional classes and support groups if you fall in that category. I want us all to live happy healthy lives, and this is a step in the positive towards that goal.

Four Key Ingredients to a Better you

2010-07-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Would you like to improve your nutrition? I think that's a rhetorical question. Here are four key ingredients.

1. Eat more organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

2. Cut out red meat and limit your portions of sugar, dairy and alcohol.

3. Stay away from processed foods, if you can grow it, its healthy.

4. Stay hydrated!
Honestly that's all there is to it. Americans can waste millions of dollars trying to eat healthy and improve their nutrition, when these key factors are all you need. There is no hidden secrets or magic pills.

A professor of journalism at Berkley, Michael Pollan narrows it down further with his rule, as stated in his latest book In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, is "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

When he says "food," he means food that your great grandmother would consider food. Food-like products with a shelf life of 3 years doesn't count. Fresh whole fruits, vegetables and whole grains is the best food to eat.

We should always consume food, but never too much. In 1973, the average American ate 3,000 calories per day. In 2008, it was 4,000 calories a day. I believe it has everything to do with the ever changing life of Americans daily. We rush to work in the mornings, maybe forgetting to grab breakfast. If we somehow make time for breakfast, its probably something fast like at a fast food chain. Lunch is no different, we fill our hungry stomachs with waste from fast food and products that could last through two ice ages. What is the solution you might be asking yourself? Grabbing something quick to eat in the morning doesn't have to be unhealthy. A banana or apple in the morning or any other fruit could be an excellent start to your morning. When its time to go home after work, and your ready for dinner what are you going to prepare yourself? Try something you could have grown or killed for dinner for a change and feel the difference it will have on you.

That is really all you need to know to have great nutrition. Follow the four key ingredients I have listed and you will be on your way to a better and greater you!

The Best Way To Healthy Fitness

2010-07-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

I, as many Americans today are worried about their health. I recently discovered I could simply and easily discover the secrets behind being healthy.
Through out high school I was overweight and very embarrassed because of it. I did everything I was told on how to lose weight. I would fast, I would sleep more I would exercise as much as possible. The results weren't very evident. I discovered a new tactic to fight the weight.
Now if your like me you cant and simply refuse to drink the doctor recommended daily dose of eight glasses of water a day. I found a new way to apply this same hydration into my system. We will start with tea, tea is just as affective as water in hydration. As long as you don't sweeten your tea with sugar. A couple of slices of lemon will add amazing flavor to your beverage without the need of sugar. Hydration with regular exercise and a multi-vitamin of your choice is a very affective way to lose those extra pounds.