Fiber and Good Carbs Assist Weight Loss

(Article first published as Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: Using Fiber to Drive Weight Loss on Technorati.)

Most people are familiar with the popular diet plans which millions follow in a desperate attempt to lose weight and improve health. Low carb diets have garnished much attention over the past 40 years as scores of people have quickly dropped weight following the program made popular by Dr. Robert Atkins. The Atkins plan has not been without controversy due to the inclusion of processed meats, high fat dairy and the initial exclusion of fresh vegetables.

Fad Carb Diets Don’t Work Long Term

While initial results of people following the Atkins program are impressive, most are unable to attain or maintain their target weight. For many, sustainable and healthy weight loss is only possible by following a high fiber diet which encourages plenty of leafy greens, proper balance of healthy fats and a high fiber intake which requires more energy for the body to break down.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition distinguishes carbohydrates based on their glycemic index, a measure of how quickly they convert to glucose in the blood. Glucose is released slowly in carbs which are high in fiber, blunting the typical blood sugar spike. These foods are associated with a lowered risk from many metabolic disorders, and may help prevent diabetes from progressing to an advanced form of the disease.

All Carbs Are Not Created Equal
Raw vegetables and cake both contain carbohydrates, yet most people would identify the dessert as an unhealthy carb choice. The key difference is in the way they release glucose to the bloodstream. The sugars in vegetables are closely bound with fiber, and are difficult for the body to break down quickly, while the cake immediately turns to sugar beginning in the mouth. Carbohydrates are essential to good health, but making the proper choices will lead to reduced disease risk and natural weight loss.

Making the Good Carb Choices

Carbs come in all different forms, and selecting wisely by choosing high fiber foods will assist in establishing your weight loss goal. Fiber can’t be digested by the body, and doesn’t have a caloric impact on fat metabolism and storage. Learn to read nutrition labels to determine the fiber content of foods.

You’ll quickly learn that the core of your diet should be from fresh leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds balanced with lesser amounts of meats and unprocessed fats. Work up to 40 to 50 grams of fiber each day, and watch your weight loss progress naturally.

Eliminate the Evil Carbs
Sugar added from any source is a top reason people gain weight and ruin their health. Sugar, glucose and fructose are all bad carbs which have no nutritional value and no fiber content to offset the impact on blood sugar. All refined grains, baked goods, candies and snacks should be eliminated from your diet. Be wary of the multi-grain marketing scheme, as these products will cause your blood sugar to rise as quickly as their refined counterparts.

Healthy weight loss is an admirable goal, frequently sabotaged by the typical refined junk food diet. It’s critical to incorporate high fiber foods into your diet which will help you feel full and avoid the blood sugar rollercoaster which leads to weight gain and declining health. Monitor your fiber intake, and benefit from lower disease risk and natural weight loss.

Best Men's Diet for Health and Weight Loss Goals

(Article first published as Foods to Improve Male Health and Assist Weight Loss on Technorati.)

Few people would disagree that men and women are different in many ways, and their diet is no exception. While both sexes should avoid health degrading foods such as trans fat rich baked and fried items along with sugar and fructose laden soft drinks and desserts, there are certain foods which are especially important to male health.

Foods to Improve Mood, Memory and Muscles

Diet is the single most important factor which conditions men’s health. The body has evolved to be influenced by the vitamins, minerals and macronutrient composition of our food which alters genetic expression and ultimately disease progression and length of life.

Information provided by Parade magazine highlights specific foods and food groups which directly impact male health, affecting muscle development, fat metabolism and weight loss.

Fish and Omega-3 Fats for Heart Health

Fish and fish oil provide the highest amounts of the critical Omega-3 EPA and DHA fats. Extensive research directly links consumption of these fats with a one-third reduction in the risk of sudden cardiac death. Omega-3 fats reduce inflammation throughout the body, and especially in the critical coronary arteries.

These fats also encourage natural weight loss due to their ability to reduce insulin levels by up to 50%. Further, Omega-3 fats are linked with lowered incidence of blood clots caused by platelet clumping.

Nuts and Seeds for Prostate Health

Selenium is an essential mineral which has been shown to be effective in lowering risk from prostate cancer. Nuts (especially Brazil nuts) are an excellent source of this nutrient, and as little as an ounce daily provides enough selenium to provide protection from prostate disorders.

Many seeds are a wealth of nutrients which benefit the prostate, including sunflower, flax and chia seeds. Both nuts and seeds are good sources of the full spectrum of Vitamin E which promotes heart health.

Fiber Rich Vegetables to Stabilize Mood

Mood is deeply affected by a combination of factors including neurotransmitter function in the brain, environmental and life changes and the diet we eat. Diet is the factor which is directly within our control, and the foods we eat can play a big role in the way we perceive others and the world around us.

Men are best served eating plenty of fiber rich carbohydrates from fresh vegetable, and to a much lesser extent, fruits and grains. These foods hold blood sugar swings in check which help maintain proper brain chemistry balance.

Protein also helps to maintain homeostasis of blood sugar and insulin levels, in turn helping to control dopamine secretion in the brain. This regulates male mood by uplifting the spirit, helping to provide better concentration and allowing for an improved quality of life.

Food has a significant impact on the composition of our body and the way we think and process thought. Experts note that specific foods are positively linked with male health. Men have evolved differently from women, and need a custom macronutrient ratio to achieve optimal health.

Improve the male body, mind and spirit by eating a diet prescribed by your genes, and benefit from natural weight loss and a healthy quality of life.

Vitamin D is Critical for Immune Health

(Article first published as Vitamin D is Vital to Health on Technorati.)

Evidence continues to mount validating the critical nature of Vitamin D to human health. Actually a form of hormone, Vitamin D exerts a powerful influence on virtually every cell in the body as it’s been shown to activate the immune systems ability to identity and thwart pathogens and rogue cancer cells.

Medical science has been aware of the health benefits of Vitamin D for decades, noting that certain cancers are much more prevalent in colder northern climates than in the sun-saturated southern geographic zones. Research published in the journal Nature Immunology provides the evidence and scientific evidence behind this miraculous pro-hormone.

Vitamin D Activates the Immune Response

Our body is very sensitive to Vitamin D circulating in the blood, with insufficient levels leading to poor immune system response and disease. Man has evolved with much higher blood levels of Vitamin D than many people experience today, due to regular sun exposure experienced by our ancestors. Our genetic code has incorporated this hormone and uses it to perform many cellular functions.

Scientists have discovered that Vitamin D activates white blood cell components of our innate immune system known as T-cells, which are responsible for tagging an intruder pathogen for destruction. This study is important because it demonstrates that this is only possible when there’s enough Vitamin D circulating in the blood. When the vitamin is deficient, there’s no detection and the pathogen or rogue cancer cell are permitted to flourish and multiply.

Vitamin D Trains the Immune System for Future Assaults

Under the guidance of Vitamin D, the T-cells are able to store information which helps our immune system recall prior invaders, and how to respond to them more quickly if a future attack should occur. Disease response memory is critical to providing natural defenses as we age, since the body can rapidly identify and conquer a host of pathogens as it continually adapts to its environment. Many researchers believe this is a key reason that man has been able to survive and evolve in a relatively hostile viral environment.

Vitamin D Critical to Cancer Prevention: Supplement
While Vitamin D is an important factor in the reduction of risk from diabetes and heart disease to stroke and dementia, it’s critical in the prevention and even treatment of many types of cancer. When sufficient blood levels of Vitamin D are present, the active receptors on each cell in the body are filled, providing a metabolic instruction manual for cellular replication.

As cancer is a disease initiated through genetic mutation, it’s important to effectively replicate DNA strands to future cellular generations. This occurs under the control of Vitamin D, and only when optimal amounts are present on the cellular receptors. Monitor blood levels of vitamin D through regular blood testing to ensure a level above 50 ng/ml.

The missing link to understanding many of the most devastating diseases which plague mankind is now within our grasp, as we better understand the role of Vitamin D in activating the scavenging power of our own immune system.

Researchers estimate that 80% of the US population is deficient in Vitamin D and requires some level of supplementation, yet most are unaware that they can dramatically lower their risk from developing a host of lethal conditions. Have your blood checked today and harness the power of your own immune system toward a healthy, disease free life.

Steps to Cancer Prevention

(Article first published as Best Cancer Prevention Steps on Technorati.)

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Americans, yet many people are unaware of the cause of this devastating disease, and that they can control the risk factors which lead to cancer initiation and development. Cancer is a disease caused largely by poor lifestyle choices and external factors. While genetics can play a role by influencing a predisposition toward cancer, disease prevention is within our control.

Sugar and Fructose Feed Cancer Cells

Doctors and medical researchers have known for years that cancer cells thrive on simple table sugar, or glucose, but information published in the journal Cancer Research indicates that fructose (fruit sugar) not only helps cancer cells to survive, but allows them to proliferate and multiply at a much higher rate.

High fructose corn syrup is a supercharged form of fructose used in virtually all sweetened soft drinks and processed foods which fuels cancer growth, particularly pancreatic cancer, a lethal form of the disease. Fructose is just one of the many lifestyle choices and environmental factors we’re exposed to which lead to toxic overload and the development of cancer.

Immune System Overload Leads to Cancer

Our immune system is quite effective at detecting and snuffing out rogue cancer cells which are present in our bodies every day. As we age, and tax our natural defenses with a never ending assault of chemical food additives and nutrient-poor diet, our immunity breaks down, allowing cancer cells to develop. Many people have adopted a strategy to clean up their diet and environment in an effort to lower the risk of cancer by following these steps.

Step 1: Sweep out the Sugar

Information from this study makes it clear that eliminating sugar, and specifically fructose, can dramatically lower your cancer risk by limiting the cancer cells preferred energy source. It’s important to note that many processed carbohydrates quickly turn to glucose after eating, and provide a ready source of glucose to fuel cancer growth. It’s necessary to severely limit or eliminate sugars and refined carbs in all their different forms to lower cancer risk.

Step 2: Make it Organic, Cut the Chemicals

When purchasing fruits and vegetables, you should choose organic whenever possible. Many types of produce are laced with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other toxins which must be filtered by your body when eaten. The body stores these poisons in fat cells where they remain for decades Eventually, your immune system is no longer able to fight off a lifetime of toxic assaults and cancer is allowed to progress.

Step 3: Live Clean, Breathe Clean, Drink Clean

Tap water in many communities is a significant source of contamination. EPA levels for heavy metal and chlorine allow a continual source of poisons to filter through our cells. Install a reverse osmosis filter system for all drinking water and use a carbon-based shower head filter to lower the effect of breathing evaporated chemicals found in most public water systems.

We’re continually exposed to a barrage of potentially harmful chemicals from household cleaning products to personal care items and vehicle emissions in the air we breathe. While a small amount of exposure is inevitable, it’s possible to reduce the amount of contaminant exposure by choosing naturally produced cleaners and cosmetics, and be sure to read labels carefully. Chances are if you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s a cause for concern.

The amount of sugar in our diet is a controllable risk factor for the development of cancer. Identifying and eliminating sugar and other environmental and chemical risk factors is not an easy task, yet the health benefits are enormous. Cancer takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of people much too early each year. Every person can feel assured by the knowledge that cancer risk is within their control, and that it’s never too late start a campaign toward a clean and healthy cancer-free lifestyle.

Best Heart Disease Prevention Steps

(Article first published as Top Heart Disease Prevention Steps on Technorati.)

Why are some people seemingly able to eat a diet loaded with heart clogging fried foods and fats, while others seem destined to poor health regardless of their diet? This question has plagued medical researchers for decades. The answer is now beginning to unravel, in part due to advancements in decoding the human genome, and an understanding of the intricate genetic interactions which respond to diet and lifestyle decisions we make every day.

Genes Provide the Missing Link to Heart Disease

Scientists are able to watch gene alterations or switching in virtual real time, as they observe the positive or negative influences of specific food items in each meal. According to a study published in the journal Nature, researchers have identified nearly 100 genes which specifically control up to a third of the inherited factors controlling our cholesterol, specifically LDL cholesterol and triglycerides that are known factors in the development of coronary artery disease and heart attack risk.

Our Genes Aren’t Set in Stone
This study demonstrates for the first time that certain individuals are predisposed to developing abnormal types of oxidized LDL cholesterol through a hereditary link. Based on the results, up to 20% of people are at increased risk for developing heart disease, as their genes have been ‘switched’ in favor of  developing a poor blood lipid profile.

This does not mean that you’re condemned to poor health due to heredity. Our genes respond to the cues they receive from the foods we eat and the lifestyle we lead. A predisposition to heart disease is not destined. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can follow to reduce and virtually eliminate the risk for coronary artery disease, regardless of the genetic cards you’ve been dealt.

Step 1: Eat Fat with Your Heart in Mind

Diet is the single most important factor which controls the actions of your genes. The nutritional content of each bite of food directly impacts and influences how each gene activates, and scientists are able to track subtle changes which take place after each meal. Diets which are high in hydrogenated trans fats such as fried foods are particularly damaging from a genetic perspective.

It’s important to understand that not all fats are the same when it comes to heart health. For a half century, saturated fats have been maligned, and most have been advised to avoid them at all cost. Nothing could be further from the truth, as these fats play an essential role in cellular health.

Omega-3 fats from fish and fish oil are essential to the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Ensure that the ratio of Omega-6 fats (from vegetable oil sources) to Omega-3 fats is no higher than 4:1 to reduce systemic inflammation and proliferation of coronary disease.

Step 2: Limit Refined Carbs and Wheat Based Foods
Extensive scientific data is mounting which correlates excessive consumption of wheat-based foods with progression of coronary artery disease. Wheat has been a part of the human diet for a relatively short period of our evolutionary history, and genetically we’re not well equipped to digest these grains.

To make matters worse, most foods made with wheat have been highly refined, stripping out any beneficial fiber which cause wild swings in blood sugar levels. Limit or fully eliminate wheat and refined carbs to avoid dangerous triglyceride and oxidized LDL cholesterol levels.

Step 3: Supplement with Heart Friendly Nutrients
People who are genetically predisposed to heart disease, as well as those with the desire to prevent this silent killer will want to supplement with a targeted nutritional cocktail which has been shown to stop coronary artery disease in its tracks. The B complex vitamins along with C and E provide critical support for the heart, as long as they are taken in their natural forms.

Magnesium, Selenium, Chromium and Potassium are essential minerals. It’s important to note that a daily multi vitamin doesn’t provide the proper amount or type of these critical nutrients. Choose a non-synthetic source made from whole foods. The amino acids Lysine and Proline in combination with Vitamin C (The Pauling Therapy) can be used for advanced protection against heart disease.

Research has uncovered the genetic link to heart disease which many have suspected since the beginning of modern medicine. We’re now able to use gene mapping to understand how this disease develops, and more important, how we can affect our diet and lifestyle to reduce our risk factors, and prevent and even treat coronary artery disease.