There are some very simple nutrition mistakes, that can be corrected for free, that would take care of a lot of people’s diet difficulties. Yet millions of dollars are spent every year in helping people supposedly eat their way to health, through hundreds of various diets and allegedly new health trends. The number one enemy for losing that extra weight is sugar. “You have to be careful of the word `nonfat,’ because that usually implies more sugar,” says Larry Krug, chief executive officer of the online nutritional-consulting firm Eatwize.com. In the majority of instances ‘fat-free’ simply means the product is full of calories, because of the added sugar. Consuming lots of fruit juice is not the answer either. Laura J. Kruskall, Ph.D., R.D., an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas says “People assume that juice is healthier than cola, so they’ll go ahead and drink a heap of it. Yet your average half a cup of juice equals about 60 calories”.When orange juice is consumed it converts directly to sugar Many people eat whole grain products in the wrong assumption that they are ‘eating healthy’. In fact whole grain pasta, whole wheat bread, health cereals and whole grain crackers all convert to sugar when they are consumed. The number two enemy in the battle of of the bulge is consuming processed foods. They contain loads of sugar and a wide variety of harmful chemicals, which prevent the liver from working to optimum. Conola oil, vegetable butter, fake margarine, hydrogenated oils, substitute butter, artificial sweeteners, as well as processed soy products, all assist in the retention of bad fat. Real butter, coconut oil, whole eggs, avocados, bacon, raw nuts and olive oil are all aids when it comes to burning up bad fat. Carbohydrates are vital to good health, so consuming plenty of fruit and vegetables will assist in regulating the blood sugar level and help burn up unwanted fat. Going without food is another wrong conception when it comes to losing weight. Starving the body only causes it to store what fat it already has. In order to keep blood sugar and insulin levels even, it is better to eat healthy food, small and often. Correct hydration is another important key to losing weight. This entails drinking non-caffeinated fluids before they are required, as the body often fails to sense its own thirst, until after the fact. Drinking plenty of liquids burns fat and notifies your body to lose that layer of muscle-camouflaging water it likes to hold between your skin and muscles. Susan Kundrat, M.S., R.D., of Nutrition on the Move says. “I recommend a minimum of 12 eight-ounce glasses of noncaffeinated fluids per day, plus an additional six ounces for every 15 minutes of training you engage in.” Several authorities claim that once you start to eat healthily, you will throw your body onto auto-pilot, so that it will continuously discard that unwanted fat. Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO’s and founders of YouMe Support Foundation, providing high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check out the Sponsor a Student program at (http://youmesupport.org). It will change the life of some really needy kids in the South Pacific. Feel free to contact Wendy on
Category: Nutrition
Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked
Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked
1. Sugar Causes Diabetes
The most common nutrition myth is probably that sugar causes diabetes. If you have diabetes, you do need to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake, with the help of your Registered Dietitian, to properly manage your blood sugar level. However, if you do not have diabetes, sugar intake will not cause you to develop the disease. The main risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are a diet high in calories, being overweight, and an inactive lifestyle.
2. All Fats are bad
It’s a long-held nutrition myth that all fats are bad. But the fact is, we all need fat. Fats aid nutrient absorption and nerve transmission, and they help to maintain cell membrane integrity – to name just a few of their useful purposes. However, when consumed in excessive amounts, fats contribute to weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancers.
3.Brown Sugar is better than White Sugar
The brown sugar sold at grocery stores is actually white granulated sugar with added molasses. Yes, brown sugar contains minute amounts of minerals. But unless you eat a gigantic portion of brown sugar every day, the mineral content difference between brown sugar and white sugar is absolutely insignificant. The idea that brown and white sugar have big differences is another common nutrition myth.
4.Brown Eggs are more nutritious than White Eggs
Contrary to a widely believed nutrition myth, eggshell color has nothing to do with the quality, flavor, nutritive value, cooking characteristics, or shell thickness of an egg. The eggshell color only depends upon the breed of the hen.
5. Avoid seafood to lower blood cholesterol
I still can’t believe it, but I heard this nutrition myth from my own doctor! In fact, the dietary cholesterol found in seafood and other meats has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids are the most important factors that raise blood cholesterol.
6.Avoid carbohydrate to lose weight
The key message that many low-carb diets convey is that carbohydrates promote insulin production, which in turn results in weight gain. Therefore by reducing carbohydrate intake, you can lose weight. Unfortunately, this is just another nutrition myth.
7. Avoid nuts as they are fattening
Yes, it’s true that nuts are quite calorically dense. Fifteen cashews, for instance, deliver 180 kilocaleries! On top of that, it is very tough not to overeat these tasty snacks. But if you can restrain yourself from overeating them, nuts can be a part of a healthy diet.
8. Eating for 2 is necessary during pregnancy
Energy requirements vary among individuals. Unfortunately, the idea that pregnancy is an ice cream free-for-all is a nutrition myth. It is generally recommended that pregnant women increase their daily intake by 100 kcal in the first trimester and 300 kcal in the second and third trimesters. An extra snack before bedtime consisting of a fruit, a serving of milk or yogurt, and a few biscuits is often enough.
9. Skipping meals can help lose weight
Many people think that by skipping a meal, they will be eating less food and therefore lose weight. As we now know, this is a nutrition myth. People who think skipping meals means weight loss do not understand how our bodies work.
If you skip a meal, your body will think that you are in starvation mode and therefore slow down the metabolism to compensate. You then tend to overeat at the next meal. Often, skipping a meal and then eating too much at the next one means that you have a higher total caloric intake than if you just ate more frequently throughout the day. A better approach is to eat smaller frequent healthy meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar balanced.
10. Red meat is bad for health
I often hear people saying that they do not eat red meat. When I ask why they don’t, or even what they consider to be red meat, the answers vary dramatically.
It is a nutrition myth, however, that red meat is altogether bad for your health. Instead of excluding red meats, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. For beef, choose eye of round, top round roast, top sirloin and flank; for pork, choose tenderloin and loin chops.
Mma Fight Nutrition And Hydration
Sports Nutrition for MMA
Fluid Needs for Fighting
Your mom may have told you: drink 8, 8oz. glasses of water per day. Although this advice is considered conventional wisdom, it surely isnt based on any science. If that advice does apply to anyone, it certainly isnt mixed martial artists who spend a good amount of their day jumping, punching, and wrestling in a hot, stuffy gym. Your fluid needs are unique, and as such, need a unique approach. As you likely know, dehydration results in a tremendous reduction in performance capacity. If youre dehydrated, your body and mind will suffer. In the ring, this is a formula for disaster. There are two major reasons why an MMA practitioner has different fluid needs than both your average Joe and other athletes: one is that your activity level is much higher than most other athletes. Because MMA training is unusually intense and usually has a long duration, there is significantly more fluid loss than a steady-state activity like jogging. Secondly, because of the level of conditioning required to be competitive, mixed martial artists tend to have significantly more muscle mass than most. Glycogen, the storage form of carbohydrate, needs a lot of water. The vast majority of glycogen is stored in muscle, so you need to drink more fluid just to keep the glycogen in your muscle hydrated.
How Much Fluid Do I Need?
Simple, everyone is different. Alright, so figuring out exactly how much fluid you need isnt quite so simple. But, with a little bit of work up-front and a commitment to monitoring your progress; you can ensure youre getting the right amount of fluid. Here are some general guidelines that you can use as a baseline:
Hydration Before Training
Drink at least15-20 fl oz. 2 hours before training/competition
Drink 8-10 fl oz. 15-30 minutes before training/competition
Hydration During Training
Drink 8-10 fl oz every 10 minutes
If youre training more than an hour and a half, drink 8-10 fl oz. of electrolyte replacement drink every 30 minutes.
Its possible that what youre already doing closely resembles these guidelines. However, because the variability of ones training varies so much, there is a more accurate way of going about staying hydrated.
Easy Ways for Mixed Martial Artists Assess Hydration
Although following the guidelines above gives you an excellent baseline, there are many variables like altitude, humidity, and clothing that can make generic guidelines inaccurate. One of the most accurate ways to assess hydration is to check out your urine color. If its cloudy and yellow, then you know that youre dehydrated. This is because the toxins that your kidneys filter out arent diluted in a large enough urine volume to be invisible. On the other hand, if its clear, youre likely getting enough fluid. Its normal to have a slight color in your urine, especially first thing in the morning or after taking a multivitamin.
Another fantastic way to monitor your hydration is to weigh yourself before and after your training session. Although you do burn a bit of fat during training, the vast majority of your weight loss is fluid. For example, if you weighted 155lbs. before your training session and weigh in at 153lbs. after your training, which means that, you lost 32oz. of fluid. (1 pound=16 ounces of fluid). A 2-3% loss of bodyweight during training can impair your performance and put added stress on vital organs. You should try to maintain adequate levels of hydration during training and replenish any losses within 1 hour of training. If you weigh more after training than you did before, thats a sign you overdid it and drank too much.
The Hydration Plan Recap:
1.Mom may know best in most cases, but not when it comes to your hydration!
2.Everyones fluid needs are different from yours-so learn what your body needs.
3.Use the hydration guidelines as a starting point. Adjust to your training and body needs.
4.Check the color of your urine. Dark Yellow/Brown=severe dehydration, Yellow=moderate dehydration, Slight Yellow/Clear=Hydrated!
5.Weight yourself. Before and after training to get an idea of how much fluid you have lost and drink according. Sipping works better than chugging.
Train hard, eat smart and stay hydrated!
Daniel M. Solomon, Registered Dietitian (RD)
Reference: (1)Benardot, Dan. Advanced Sports Nutrition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2006. Print.
(2)Clark, Nancy. Nancy Clarks Sports Nutrition Guidebook . 4th. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2008. Print.
(3)Judelson, Daniel. Hydration and Muscular Performance: Does Fluid Balance Affect Strength, Power and High-Intensity Endurance?. Sports Medicine 37(2007): 907-921. Print
Natural Life Extenders And Nutrition For Aging
Coenzyme Q10 Aids circulation, increases tissue oxygenation, protects the heart and is vital for many bodily functions. 100 milligrams daily.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is an adrenal hormone that enhances immune function. It has been found to help prevent and treat many of the disorders associated with aging. Take as directed on label.
DMG (Dimethylglycine) is a derivative of the amino acid glycine. It improves tissue oxygenation and boosts immune function. Take as directed on label.
Melatonin is a natural hormone that acts as an antioxidant. The body produces an abundant supply early in life, but as we age, production steadily declines. It may also help counteract insomnia, boost immunity and prevent cancer. 1.5 – 5 milligrams daily, taken 2 hours or less before bedtime.
Mushrooms Maitake, morel, reishi and shitake are mushrooms that the ancient Chinese praised as superior medicine that give eternal youth and longevity. They are found fresh as well as in supplement form.
PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid) is one of the B vitamins. It keeps skin healthy and delays wrinkles. Take as directed on label.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) keeps hair healthy with little graying and prevents premature hair loss. It is also important for normal adrenal and immune function. As prescribed by physician.
Helpful Herbs For Old Age
Burdock root and red clover cleanse the bloodstream. They can be used separately or in combination.
Chaparral has antioxidant characteristics.
Echinacea helps to boost the immune system.
Garlic helps immune function and protects the heart.
Ginseng and ginkgo biloba extract are good for giving extra energy, increasing circulation and improving brain function. (Do not use ginseng if you have high blood pressure.)
Gotu Kola is called the “fountain of youth” herb in China and is thought to work with the immune system.
Horsetail, taken in form of tea or extract, is an excellent source of silicon, which is important for maintaining the strength of bones and connective tissue, and possibly the walls of blood vessels.
Ligustrum has immune fighting properties and is used to reverse prematurely graying hair and to retard aging.
Milk thistle promotes good liver function.
Stinging nettle is full of vital minerals, good for prostate, hypoglycemia, allergies, depression and urinary tract disorders, and a host of other problems.
Valerian root is valuable as a sleep aid and tranquilizer.
Wild yam contains natural steroids that have a rejuvenating effect. Steroids are what help exercise to melt off more weight and build muscle.
As with all supplements, herbal supplements should only be used in amounts typically recommended for medicinal purposes and you should always consult with a health professional first, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or taking prescription medications.
Many People Do Not Comprehend The Necessity Of Proper Nutrition
As you continue to read you’ll be pleased to realize that we will be speaking about the importance of nutrition whether individuals are dieting or not.
Carbohydrates are generally one of the first things which dieter’s will wind up eliminating from their daily routine. These men and women don’t recognize that carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for an individual’s body. Many men and women end up becoming very tired and lethargic by not consuming carbohydrates, but these carbohydrates can reverse this. Obviously this is something which will have to be limited, mainly because if you eat way too much carbohydrates it’ll be stored inside your body as fat. Obviously in relation to eating carbohydrate you want to try and do this in the healthiest way possible, through fruits and vegetables.
Protein is yet another one of those items that you are going to have to consume each day in order to maintain a healthy body. Something about protein is that it can be quite important to be able to help you maintain your muscle mass, and it can also help in repairing tissues. Protein is additionally used to be able to help individuals create hormones that are going to end up being vital to your state of health. As many of you are aware there a lot of various kinds of meats that a particular person can consume and the majority of these are packed with protein. There are a number of vegetables that contain a good deal of protein but you are going to also see that nuts and peanut butter will be a good choice as well.
One more thing a lot of individuals try and eliminate from their diet are fats, but fats are an essential part of a healthy and nutritious diet. In relation to these different fats you are going to find that they are split into two categories, unsaturated fats and saturated fats. The fats which are not good for your body and can actually lead to different types of health problems are the fats generally known as saturated fats. The unsaturated fats that you can find in foods are actually a healthy option.
Getting enough vitamins and minerals is another thing that you’re going to need, and this is primarily because all of the organs inside your body need these to function properly. Veggies and fruits will be able to offer you almost all the minerals and vitamins your body requires every single day. You are going to see that just about every vitamin and mineral you are going to require for your body is going to be found in various fruits and vegetables. With regards to the actual amount of fruits and veggies you should be eating every day, you need to understand that it’s no longer three servings a day but five.
By making certain you’re eating the correct kinds of foods you are going to see that you’ll be able to have a much healthier body.
