NOURISHMENT

From an evolutionary point of view, skipping a meal here and there would be beneficial to the human body.  After all the human body was designed to go for days without eating anything.  In today’s society we have constant access to food and we are taking in calories all day long.  Calorie restriction is also known as the anti aging diet; it is based on the theory that by eating far less calories we will be able to slow down the aging process.

A 2006 article in the Journal of American Medical Association suggested that by periodically restricting our caloric intake to as little as 890 calories a day, or fasting, resulted in a decrease in insulin levels and body temperatures, another two biomarkers of longevity.  Restricting calories helps to eliminate the free radicals by burning off more calories than you take in thus reducing the amount of fat stored in the human body.

During a research study conducted in 1934, Clive McCay and Mary Crowell used calorie restriction diets to determine the effects on the aging process.  They noticed that when laboratory rats were fed all the needed nutrients but the calories in their diets were drastically cut, the rats lived up to twice  as long as the rats that was not on this specialized diet.  These results have proven consistent over all animals tested.

Tests on the higher primates are currently underway, but due to their long lifespan results do not yet exist.  Certain tests are also being conducted on human volunteers and again, due to the long lifespan of our species, these test are sill underway.

The anti aging diet requires that the person restrict their diet on a large degree.  Eating a diet that is full of fruits, vegetables, fish, and chicken is one way to start.  Avoiding processed foods and certain fats has been shown to improve a persons’ overall health.  A specialized diet is required for the calorie restriction diet.  It’s not just cutting back on a meal here and there.  This brings up the possible danger of not getting the necessary nutrients a person needs to live in a healthy manner.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with aging such as Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Antioxidants.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food.  All of the different Vitamin Bs taken together as B-Complex work together as a team to perform vital biological processes, such as energy production and efficient metabolic function.  Vitamin B boost energy levels and help fight fatigue.

Vitamin C is nature’s protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies’ immune system.  Take 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily.

Vitamin D is manufactured in the skin following direct exposure to sunlight.  Many studies show that Vitamin D production decreases in older people and in those who are housebound.  Vitamin D is needed by the body to absorb calcium, which makes your bones stronger and helps prevent factures.

Vitamin E supplies Oxygen to the heart and the other muscles in the body.  Accelerates wound healing and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Substances called Antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.  Natural Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as, apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, Grapes, spinach, and Spirulina a blue-green algae.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Anti Aging.  He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Anti Aging and how to treat them. Click on [http://www.aging-team.com]Aging Treatment

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Cowley

2 Comments »

Diets can achieve amazing results if followed faithfully, and here are three excellent ones: a cleansing diet, a health diet and a reducing diet.

A Cleansing Diet

There are several good ways to cleanse the system. One way is to stay from five to ten days on a mono diet, that is, to eat as much as one likes of any one of the following:

(a) Watermelon - especially good for cleansing the kidneys. If you feel too hungry, eat a slice of whole wheat bread or whole wheat wafers.

(b) Grated raw apples and herb tea with lemon - especially good for people suffering from dysentery, colitis or sprue. (The apples should be grated on plastic, glass or stainless-steel graters.)

(c) Fresh grapes, unsprayed, in order to avoid danger of poisoning. This mono diet is beneficial for the liver.

(d) Coconut water only - cleanses the liver and alkalizes the system.

(e) Papaya with lemon juice - very good for the intestinal tract.

(f) Grapefruit and/or orange juice - alkalizes the system.

A less rigid cleansing diet was sent me by one of my students who lives on a farm near New York City, where she grows her own vegetables and fruit. By doing some Yoga breathing exercises and Yoga postures and keeping this diet, she completely overcame a bad asthmatic condition. Here it is:

A Daily Diet for Optimal Health

On Arising take 1 glass of water with fresh lemon juice.

For breakfast — Any herb tea or coffee substitute or raw cow ’s , goat ’s , butter-, or soya-bean milk. Whole grain cereal sweetened with honey or date or raw sugar,
or 1 slice whole grain bread with date or almond butter or small dish of stewed fruit or any fresh fruit in season.

Between meals: Water, fruit or vegetable juice or fruit eaten out of hand.

Lunch: Buttermilk or herb tea or cereal coffee; Salad made with any raw greens, including and especially watercress and parsley, with a dressing made of juice of 1 lemon, vegetable salt and safflower, sunflower, sesame or soya-bean oil; 1 slice whole grain bread or baked potato; yogurt, cottage cheese or sour cream with any fruit.

Dinner: Herb tea or cereal coffee. Vegetable broth; Celery sticks, carrots and sliced cucumbers; 1 serving of either meat, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs or nuts; 1 serving of a vegetable grown above ground; 1 serving of a vegetable grown below ground; Fresh fruit or stewed fruit or raisins and nuts.

Take a spoonful of safflower, sunflower, sesame, soya-bean or cod liver oil, four hours after your last meal.

Reducing Diet

Upon Arising: One glass of water with fresh lemon juice.
Lunch: Salad (no dressing except lemon juice); 1 cup of soup (no cream, butter or flour); 1 soft boiled egg or soya bean cake 1 or 32 ozs; lean meat r fish, broiled, baked or roasted; 1 Soya bean cake is known as Tofu in Chinese and Japanese restaurants and markets. Its protein content is higher than that of cheese, meat, milk, or eggs, and it is not acid-forming.

Celery sticks, raw carrots, radishes, cucumbers, etc; Fruit in season. Skim milk or buttermilk, 8 fl. ozs.

Dinner: 1 cup of soup; 1 boiled egg or piece of cheese; 2 cup serving of vegetable. Salad (no dressing except lemon juice); Skim milk or buttermilk, 8 fl. ozs., or yogurt; 2 cup serving of fruit; Herb tea or cereal coffee with skim milk (no cream or sugar).

Evening snack: Any kind of fresh fruit, fruit juice, or vegetable juice.

If you want to cleanse your system, overcome some medical problem or simply reduce your weight, following one of these diets will help.

About the Author:

Who Else Wants To Quickly Get Into Shape, Lose Weight, And Become More ‘In Tune’ With Your Mind, Body And Spirit In Just 5 Days?

Click Here For Free Online Ebook
http://www.yogaposition.org/

No Comments »

Products that claim to be ‘Cholesterol Free’ and ‘Low in Saturated Fat’ often have the most trans-fatty acids. Unfortunately these are the products that most of the public thinks are ‘healthy.’ Remember, trans fats have absolutely no place in the diet! They’re the only type of fat highly associated with very negative health outcomes.

This tip is sponsored by Precision Nutrition - our pick for the best nutrition and supplement resource currently available. Containing system manuals, gourmet cookbook, digital audio/video library, online membership, and more, Precision Nutrition will teach you everything you need to know to get the body you want — guaranteed.

No Comments »

There is a small, but growing group of extreme dieters who believe that significantly reducing the amount of food they eat, will not only delay the aging of the body, but also prevent developing heart problems, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

This movement, called calorie restriction or some call it CR, is getting massive attention from Baby Boomers. Longevity-obsessed people in this category are continuously looking for ways to keep young and fit as long as possible.

Calorie restriction is not just about weight loss like typical diets. It is about reducing long-term calorie intake and consuming adequate amount of nutrients and elements at the same time with a purpose of achieving a more energetic old age.

And there is a scientific proof for it. Many studies on rodents and primates have shown that eating less helped them to live longer and be more energetic. Many people who follow calorie restriction claim that cutting amount of food and calories will prolong their life and keep them healthy longer.

The followers of CR generally eat 20-30% less than the normal recommended meal, avoid sugar and saturated fats. Most of their calories come from fresh vegetables, fruits and grains.

So, for some people CR is a good way to stay younger and healthier longer. But on the other side there are people who will put their health at risk by following CR. These are people who have anorexic tendencies and people with low body fat. Also, restricting diet for at least 12 months even for a normal weight person can result in lower muscle mass and reduced capacity to perform physical exercise. Moreover, long time diet restriction can be associated with low bone density and early developed osteopenia.

Calorie restriction by itself does not mean a person will develop anorexia in the future. Recent study found that over half of the people who develop anorexia are genetically predisposed to it.

So, people who develop anorexia easily have an obsessive gene in their genotype (or gene which is responsible for developing addictions).

People without this tendency rarely develop anorexia if ever. Sometimes it is possible to predict if a person can develop anorexia by observing their behaviors closely. They normally have underlying issues such as self-esteem, control problem, anxiety and depression. They also crave for weight loss and self-control.

To conclude, calorie restriction by itself has two sides. When CR is balanced it helps some people to stay young and healthy longer. But on the other hand many people get obsessed with counting calories and reducing the food amounts that end up damaging their health and longevity.

Some people can develop anorexia as a consequence of CR (normally who are predisposed to it). To avoid negative side effects of CR it is important to know about how to balance what you eat, what your ideal weight and level of fitness are.

Disturbing the balance will bring on one or another negative consequence of dieting. This can affect the subconscious mind and form mental blockages that can have a catastrophic impact on the person by becoming anorexic.

This then has the reverse effect of what CR people are trying to achieve and actually shorten their life span by 10 to 15 years. Plus these subconscious blockages can take many agonizing years to get rid of.

To read more go to www.eatingdisorder-cure.com

Dr Irina Webster MD is the Director of Women Health Issues Program which covers different areas of Women Health. She is a recognised athority in the eating disorders area. She is an author of many books and a public speaker.

3 Comments »

At least 7 scientific studies have provided strong evidence that energy containing beverages (i.e., “liquid calories”) do not properly activate the satiety mechanisms in the body and brain and do not satisfy the appetite as well as food in solid form. 

Epidemiological research also supports a positive association between calorie-containing beverage consumption and increased body weight or body mass index. New research now suggests that soda may not be the only culprit…

Researchers compared solid and beverage forms of foods composed primarily of carbohydrate, fat or protein in order to document the independent effect of food form in foods with different dominant macronutrient sources.

Based on previous research, some experts have recommended targeting specific beverages as being “worse” than others. High fructose corn syrup and soda has been singled out the most and you’ve probably seen that yourself in the news.

There’s no question that soda has been on top of the “hit list” for some time now, by virtue of the amounts and frequency of consumption alone.

However, this recent study says that from a pure energy balance perspective, we should be cautious about ALL liquid calories, not just soda and not just carbohydrates!

Fruit juice for example, appears to be an obvious improvement over soda, so many people have swapped out their soda for fruit juice. However, when fruit juice is compared to an equal amount of calories from whole fruit, the whole fruit satisfies appetite better (largely due to the bulk and fiber content), and so you tend to eat fewer calories for the day.

Men are especially guilty of this when they drink alcohol - Men tend to drink AND eat, while women tend to drink INSTEAD OF eating.

This new research found that with all three macronutrients - protein, carbs or fat - daily calorie intake was significantly greater when the beverage form was consumed as compared to the solid.

Yes, it’s true! Even protein drinks did not satisfy the appetite the way that protein foods did!

While you would think that protein drinks are purely a good thing, because protein foods have been proven to reduce appetite and increase satiety, if you turn a solid protein food into a protein drink, it loses it’s appetite suppressive properties in the same way that happens when you turn fruit into fruit juice.

Why do liquid calories fail to elicit the same response as whole foods? reasons include:

• high calorie density
• lower satiety value
• more calories ingested in short period of time
• lower demand for oral processing
• shorter gastrointestinal transit times
• energy in beverages has greater bioaccessibility and bioavailability
• mechanisms may include cognitive, orosensory, digestive, metabolic, endocrine and neural influences (human appetite is a complex thing!!!)
• last but not least, nowhere in our history have our ancestors had access to large amounts of liquid calories. Alcohol may have been around as far back as several thousand years BC, but even that is a blip on the evolutionary calendar of humanity.

As a result, our genetic code has never developed the physiological mechanisms to properly register the caloric content in liquids the way it does when you eat, chew and swallow whole foods.

Bottom line: This study suggests that we shouldn’t just target one type of liquid calories such as soda. If you’re trying to beat body fat, it’s wise to limit all types of liquid calories and eat whole foods as much as possible.

Start by ditching the soda. Then ditch the high calorie dessert coffees. Then cut back on the alcohol. From there, be cautious even about milk, juice and protein drinks.

Drink water or tea instead, or limited amounts of black coffee - without all the high calorie extras.

If you do consume any beverages that contain calories, such as protein shakes, be sure to account for those calories meticulously and be sure you don’t drink them in addition to your usual food intake, but in place of an equal amount of food calories.

Remember, those protein shakes you might be drinking are called “meal replacements” not “free calories!”

For many years I have suggested focusing primarily on whole foods rather than liquids, even protein shakes. Unlike so many other fat reduction programs, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle does not require any kind of liquid meal replacement or protein drinks and our company does not exist to sell supplements; we are here to educate you and millions of others about the realities of body fat loss.

We now have even more scientific data that confirms what Burn The Fat has been teaching all along.

I hope you found this helpful. You can learn more about “Burn The Fat” at www.BurnTheFat.com

Train hard and expect success,

Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Fat Loss Coach
www.BurnTheFat.com

Reference: Effects of food form on appetite and energy intake in lean and obese young adults. International Journal of Obesity. 2007 Nov (11):1688-95. Mourao DM, Bressan J, Campbell WW, Mattes RD. Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059, USA.

About the Author:

2 Comments »

Here is a raw food and vegan recipe that makes a great breakfast, snack or even a healthy dessert. It is packed with the immune boosting vitamins A and C.

This is my favorite approach to breakfast lately. Blended fresh fruits are very nourishing and gentle on the digestive system while providing concentrated nutrition. The possibilities are endless and limited only by your imagination.

This recipe was created spontaneously based on what was available to me this morning. I didn’t measure anything so the amounts are not exact but it is very hard to go wrong with this type of recipe. I hope you like it!

Ingredients:

1 cup diced papaya
½ seedless orange
1 dried apricot
1/3 cup chopped raw coconut meat

Method:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until a smooth consistency is reached. Add stevia to taste if your fruits are not very sweet.

Nutrition Information:

Energy               |   202 kcal   
Protein              |     2.6 g       
Carbs                |    31.0 g      
Fiber              |     7.0 g      
Fat                  |     9.4 g      

1 Comment »

On average, most people should ensure that 25-35% of their energy intake comes from fat, with your fat intake split equally between saturates (animal fat), monounsaturates (olive oil, avocados, etc), and polyunsaturates (flax oil, salmon oil, etc.). Your total fat in the diet may vary but make sure you’re getting about 1/3 of each type for the best fat balance.

This tip is sponsored by Precision Nutrition - my pick for the best nutrition and supplement resource currently available. Containing system manuals, gourmet cookbook, digital audio/video library, online membership, and more, Precision Nutrition will teach you everything you need to know to get the body you want — guaranteed.

1 Comment »

It’s been quite a while since I updated my progress and experiences with my diet from a personal perspective. I simply didn’t have the inspiration to write and so followed my natural inclinations and let my energy flow into other channels in my life path.

The last time I updated I was experimenting with intermittent fasting. This technique served me quite well at the time, helping to enhance my physical and emotional awareness and to increase my clarity. However it got to a point where I really felt I needed more stability and an increased frequency of nutritional input in order to sustain my energy levels, so I abandoned this approach in favor of a more balanced daily rhythm.

My personal feeling is that intermittent fasting is more useful for those who are at least moderately overweight or for those who would benefit from the potential detoxification effects of this approach. It may be something I return to later if I felt the need to lighten up either physically or on other levels.

Calorie restriction it seems has become a natural way of life for me, and perhaps it has become too easy to eat at a low calorie level. I’ve been eating in a way that feels in harmony with my natural instincts and appetite and have lost a lot of weight since I started with the intermittent fasting approach.

However, I actually was slightly shocked when I weighed myself last week for the first time in a few months and the scales registered 77 pounds! This is a BMI of 15.3 which would seem to be too low to sustain a high level of health based on my knowledge of ideal body weight. The thing is my health has actually been the best it has been for many years so I think I have probably been doing well in regard to nutritional intake, but perhaps the calories have been too low, averaging around 1200 calories a day.

So since then I’ve been actually making a real effort to eat more in terms of volume as well as calories and because my choices have all been really healthy and high quality foods I have noticed a dramatic improvement in my well being after just one week. 

I think perhaps this is one area where dieters and calorie restriction practitioners need to be careful. We become adjusted to a lifestyle and it even can become part of our identity – something that needs to be protected.

I know that personally I often create routine and structure around my eating patterns, and sometimes this can be a way of making myself feel safe; a buffer from the stressors of the outside world and from constant change and external demands. At least there is one aspect of my life that can be controlled and one area in my life where I have the power to affect my outcomes.

But I am also aware of the need to honestly look at myself and my motivations and to change things if they are not serving my personal development and well being.

My current attitude is that I don’t want to label myself as a practitioner of calorie restriction (CRON), even though that is in effect what I am practicing. I would prefer to simply place an emphasis on health and the use of nutrition as a tool by which to enhance well being.

I also believe strongly that the body responds best when we adjust our lifestyle approach in a cyclic manner so that we challenge our physical being to respond. To me this seems more in tune with our genetic heritage and the design of the natural world. 

Of course we don’t have the research to confirm which the best path in regard to longevity is, but from my perspective it is more important to focus on what feels right, and what works to improve quality of life and perception of well being in the here and now.

2 Comments »

If some people eat one food not on their plan, their failure to be perfect sets in motion a psychological chain of events that leads to frustration and the inability to get right back on the plan. The all-or-nothing mentality sets in and BAM, they’re back to nothing. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

100% nutritional discipline is never required for optimal progress. The difference, in results, between 90% adherence to your nutrition program and 100% adherence is negligible. So allow yourself the extra 10% wiggle room. This will allow you the freedom to eat a few extra things not on your menu without the guilt and subsequent crash.

This tip is sponsored by Precision Nutrition -my pick for the best nutrition and supplement resource currently available. Containing system manuals, gourmet cookbook, digital audio/video library, online membership, and more, Precision Nutrition will teach you everything you need to know to get the body you want — guaranteed.

1 Comment »

The phrase “calorie restriction diet” is a bit of a tough sell. It’s not the most appealing name because restriction doesn’t sound fun.

But I see that celebrities are doing calorie restriction. Kym Douglas, the author of the Black Book of Hollywood Secrets says, “The biggest secret I learned from celebrities is that they don’t do “diet food”. They eat the real thing, just not a lot of it.

“I remember sitting down to breakfast with Elizabeth Hurley and being shocked that she was having real bacon with her eggs, not turkey or tofu bacon. And she said: “I’m just going to have a salad for lunch and a little dinner, so it’s fine. But I’m not going to have fake bacon.”

Now, I don’t tend to turn to celebrities for inspiration and I hate the size zero mentality that is so ingrained in Hollywood. I do think that calorie restriction is the most effective way to lose weight, however. So for fun I’m going to list some of the items in the A to Z list of Hollywood’s hottest diet tips:

A FOR ASPARAGUS: Celebrities live on this because it’s a natural diuretic and gets rid of bloating.

B FOR BRUSH YOUR TEETH: A nutritionist advised her famous young client that the best way to maintain her mere 15 per cent body fat was to use a toothbrush after every meal. And a craze was begun. Using a toothbrush signals to your brain that you are full.

…and BENEFIBER: Sprinkle it on your salad or in your coffee because it helps move food through you system more quickly.

C FOR COOKIE: Celebrities such as singer Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson follow the Cookie Diet. In other words, they “eat a cookie, skip a meal.”  They eat a healthy dinner of several hundred calories and eat only calories or biscuits at other meal times. They lose weight because it’s based on calorie restriction.

… and CINNAMON: Celebrities sprinkle it in their tea because it supposedly can lower cholesterol and blood sugar.

E FOR EPSOM SALTS: The salts draw fluids out of your body. Heidi Klum and other stars use these before filming and photo shoots.

I FOR ICE LOLLIES: Oprah Winfrey likes iced fruit bars because they take a long time to eat and also satisfy her sweet tooth.

L FOR LICORICE: Eat a piece of licorice or a strong breath mint when you’re hungry. It numbs the taste buds.

M FOR MATCHA GREEN TEA: One cup cup of matcha green tea is the equivalent of 8-10 cups of regular green tea. This boosts the metabolism and is an appetite suppressant.

P FOR PRUNES: Hollywood nutritionists suggest including four chopped-up prunes with the ground beef when you cook a hamburger. It reduces the fat by 40 percent and the prunes are tasteless so you won’t notice that they are there.

Q FOR QUICK SUGAR FIX: One Los Angeles bun shop is particularly popular with Hollywood celebrities. Many of them order a tiny paper cup filled with icing instead of a big cinnamon roll. That way they satisfy their sweet tooth without eating the calories.

S FOR SUSHI: Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie love sushi. This seaweed is loaded with vitamins, has few calories and can lower cholesterol.

V FOR VEGANISM: Alicia Silverstone says that going vegan is the key to lasting weight loss: “I swear it’s so easy. You don’t have to have a diet mentality at all if you eat healthy, plant-based foods.”

W FOR WEDGE SHOES: According to Hollywood stylists the footwear that makes you look the thinnest. Cameron Diaz, Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani all wear wedges for that reason. Stylists love them for cover shoots as it makes the featured actress look taller and slimmer.

That’s only a partial list but you get the idea. These are tips that even real people like you and me can use. I’m making a mental note to try the icing tip sometime. I think I’ll pass on the wedges, however.

Visit www.sixworddiet.com to learn about a fun new calorie restriction diet. There’s also a complete list of these celebrity tips in the Six Word Diet forum (www.sixworddiet.com/forum).

Article Source: Ezine Articles

2 Comments »