Sickly sweet: 10 sneaky names for sugar | Haylie Pomroy

Sickly sweet: 10 sneaky names for sugar

Posted on October 25, 2013

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If you’re on the Fast Metabolism Diet, you know to avoid sugar. But manufacturers have all sorts of ways to avoid slapping “sugar” on the label. Don’t be fooled!
1. Evaporated cane juice. Take the juice from a sugar cane plant, then spin it around to separate the molasses from the sucrose, and what do you get? Sugar. But some manufacturers are calling it “evaporated cane juice” to avoid labeling their products as containing sugar. Sneaky indeed.
2. Agave nectar. “Nectar” sounds healthy, right? Well, agave nectar is made from a different plant, but it’s still sugar. In fact, it might be even worse than sugar, since it contains a higher percentage of fructose (as in high-fructose corn syrup).
3. Fruit juice concentrate. What are you left with if you remove all of the fiber and water from fruit? You guessed it.
4. High fructose corn syrup. You probably already know about this one.

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The Best Way to Get a Flat Stomach | Women's Health Experts

20 Secrets to a Flat Stomach

Follow these tips to get toned, enviable abs

Posted on August 21, 2013 by POPSUGAR Fitness

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By Leta Shy for POPSUGAR Fitness

It may not be a secret that the best way to a six-pack is regular exercise and a healthy diet (even if it’s no diet at all), but there’s a right way and wrong way to a flat stomach. Read on for the ultimate guide to getting flat abs.

1. Know the Formula
Getting flat abs isn’t about starving yourself or living at the gym. Reducing belly fat involves a mix of smart eating and effective exercise. Make sure you eat enough food to keep your body from experiencing hormone imbalances; eating too little (fewer than 1200 calories a day) reduces the amount of the fat-burning hormone leptin in your body, which will slow down weight loss. And if you’re just exercising without changing your diet, you’ll spend a lot of time at the gym with little result. Read more about the dieting and exercising formula for reducing belly fat here.

2. Posture Makes Perfect
Doing regular posture-building exercises pack a double punch when it comes to busting that belly. Having good posture helps you look slimmer instantly, while sticking to a posture-building routine every day will strengthen your ab muscles, and help get you well on your way to a six-pack. Here are some posture-building moves to help you look like you’ve dropped five pounds.

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7 Horrible Foods You Should Not Allow Near Your Mouth

7 Horrible Foods You Should Not Allow Near Your Mouth

 

By Dr. Frank Lipman
July 22, 2013 7:00 AM EDT

        

Not long ago, a seemingly radical idea arrived at the grocery store—the mandatory nutrition information label. Designed to help consumers get a clearer picture of what exactly was in their food, the idea essentially legislated food processors into being more transparent about their ingredients. 

Instead however, we got a lot of confusion as Big Food found ways to put questionable substances and suspected carcinogens in plain sight, right there on the nutrition label! Buried in the small print, with abbreviations and chemical chart names only Stephen Hawking would understand, consumers were left little more enlightened than they were before mandatory labeling. 

To help unravel the label gibberish, here are the 7 ingredients you should always leave behind on the supermarket shelf:

1. Aspartame

If it says Equal or NutraSweet on the box, don’t put it in your cart. It’s a chemical sweetener that’s loaded with phenylalanine. This is a neurotoxin which many scientists believe can alter brain function, cause behavioral changes in adults and even mental retardation in growing fetuses when used by mothers-to-be. If that weren’t enough, side effects can also include headaches, seizures, menstrual problems, and gastro-intestinal distress.

2. BHA and BHT

These two similar chemicals are used to prevent oil-containing foods from going rancid. A seemingly admirable enough use. However, they also come with some serious concerns—they’re known carcinogens, having caused cancer in lab rats, mice, and hamsters. Avoid it BHA and BHT all costs.

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Good News: Artificial Sweeteners Are Gaining Bad Press

Artificial Sweeteners Gaining Increasingly Bad Press—and for Good Reason

October 23, 2013 | 39,510 views

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By Dr. Mercola

Soda and other sweetened beverages have been pinpointed as some of the primary culprits in the obesity epidemic.

Recent research¹ also suggests that regular soda consumption may increase aggressive behavior in young children. The study found that each incremental increase in daily soft drink servings resulted in a corresponding rise in aggression scores.

In an obvious effort to save the beverage industry, companies like Coca-Colahave rolled out glossy ads touting the myth that you simply need to exercisemore to burn off the extra calories. This “conventional wisdom” has been firmly debunked by science. Not all calories count equally...

Coca-Cola has also resorted to fake “infomercials” that look like public service announcements touting the “scientifically proven” safety and benefits of aspartame for those struggling with their weight.

For this, I think they ought to be fined for fraud by the FTC, as research^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7} has repeatedly demonstrated that artificial sweeteners actually make you gain equal or more weight than regular sugar. In fact, research has shown that diet sodas may actually double your risk of obesity.

Furthermore, recent research has also demonstrated that aspartame worsens insulin sensitivity to a greater degree than sugar, making it a hidden threat to those trying to manage their diabetes.

Artificial sweeteners of all kinds have been found to wreak havoc in a number of different ways. Aspartame, for example, has a long list of studies indicating its harmful effects to you and your family, ranging from brain damage to pre-term delivery.

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as acceptable and even preferred alternatives to sugar, which is at best confusing and at worst seriously damaging the health of those who listen to this well-intentioned but foolish advice.

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8 Fitness-Enhancing Foods and Nutrients

8 Fitness-Boosting Foods and Nutrients

August 30, 2013 | 217,946 views

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By Dr. Mercola

If optimal fitness is your goal, there's no getting around your diet. That’s right, fitness is not all about designing the ideal workout plan, as your diet can easily make or break an otherwise excellent regimen.

Knowing which foods and specific nutrients deliver the most bang for your buck in terms of supporting your fitness goals can go a long way.

First and foremost, however, keep in mind that while pre-packaged processed foods may be convenient, cooking from scratch using fresh unprocessed ingredients is an absolute must if you want to improve your health.

Processing tends to denature nutrients, so what you end up with is typically a far inferior version compared to the real thing.

Fitness-Boosting Foods and Helpful Supplements

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Why Saunas Are Great For Your Heart: A Cardiologist Explains

Why Saunas Are Great For Your Heart: A Cardiologist Explains

By Dr. Joel Kahn
February 28, 2013 3:43 PM EST

Can one of the hottest treatments to heal the heart be heat itself? 

Over the last two decades, I've treated patients with advanced heart disease, and I've seen many innovations in medications, surgeries, and devices. But there is still an enormous toll on quality and quantity of life. 

Heart disease is a great model to test other approaches to healing as even studies with small groups of patients may show benefits of therapy quickly. 

One of the treatments which has been a relative secret but needs to be outed now is sauna therapy for heart health. And not just any type of sauna heat. Doctors in Japan have been working for over 20 years testing the benefits of infrared dry sauna therapy in some of the sickest heart and vascular patients, and they've published nearly 20 research articles showing this is a major breakthrough. 

They've used a technique called waon therapy, from the Japanese words wa for soothing and on for warmth, or so called soothing warmth therapy. The way it works: patients sit in an infrared sauna set at 60° C (140° F) for 15 minutes, followed by resting outside the sauna for 30 minutes, wrapped in towels. People are encouraged to drink water to compensate for the perspiration. 

And what can waon therapy do in heart patients that might apply to your general health?

Waon therapy improves the health of arteries.

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Better stop sneering at those body vibration machines 

Researchers at U of C believe machines can help treat blood-flow, balance issues

 

By Meghan Jessiman, For the Calgary Herald October 16, 2013

                              

 

Research technician Jordyn Vienneau monitors Jay Bauman on the Total Body Shaper vibration platform at the University of Calgary’s High Peformance Lab on Oct. 16, 2013.

Photograph by: Gavin Young , Calgary Herald

Admit it. Every time you hit the gym, you cast a sideways glance at the sci-fi-looking platform collecting dust in the far corner and give it a moment’s consideration.
You’ve yet to actually see anyone hop on board, probably out of fear of how the high-frequency vibrations this piece of equipment delivers makes both one’s face and booty look to passersby. Frankly, that’s one of the main reasons you haven’t tried it out, either. That, and the fact that you are a serious gym-goer. What could that oversized shake-weight possibly have to offer?
According to new research coming out of the University of Calgary’s Human Performance Lab, more than you might expect.
Six years ago, Don Hartwell, owner of Calgary’s Total Image Fitness, was about to give up on exercise. “I was at the point of giving up almost all physical activity. I’d had four lower back operations and was told by my neurosurgeon not to lift more than 10 pounds,” Hartwell says.
As if that wasn’t distressing enough, while Hartwell was loading a tractor onto a trailer, the tractor rolled on its side causing his leg to bend 45 degrees the wrong way, snapping his knee ligaments and destroying his anterior cruciate ligament.

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How to Do a Tabata | Women's Health Magazine

How to Do a Tabata Workout

You can get a great workout in just four minutes—really!

PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 16, 2013  |  BY KENNY THAPOUNG

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Short interval workouts do work, and here’s even more proof: High-intensity Tabata workouts effectively boost your cardiovascular strength, according to a recent study commissioned by the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

How it Works
Tabata has been around since the ‘90s, but in case you’re not familiar, here’s your primer: Tabata workouts include 20 seconds of high-intensity cardio exercises (like burpees, lunges, or jumping jacks) with 10 seconds of rest between each move. That’s one rep, and typical Tabatas consist of eight intervals for a total of four minutes. 

For the study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, recruited 16 fit students to try a 20-minute Tabata-style workout—they did a 5-minute warm-up and four rounds of Tabata. Participants’ heart rate and VO2 max (breathing capacity) levels after the workout met the industry standards for improving cardio fitness and changing body composition, and the average calorie burn (15 cals per minute) met the guidelines for improving health and losing weight. Translation: Tabata is a quick, effective way to work out.

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Perfect workout for a whole body vibration platform.

5 Foods That Beat Bloating and Flatten Your Stomach | The Dr. Oz Show

5 Foods That Beat Bloating and Flatten Your Stomach

By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD for YouBeauty.com

Posted on 9/13/2013 | Comments (3)

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It’s finally fall, which means it is time to get excited to pull out our autumn scarves and slip back into our skinny jeans. But just when you thought you were safe ("Phew! The pressure of bikini season is over!"), there is a chance that as you tried to zip up your jeans, you came in contact with an uncomfortable obstacle – bloating.

We’ve all experienced it – that sensation of fullness and swelling in the abdomen. This feeling is not only physically uncomfortable but also may affect our mood and self-esteem. So why does it happen and how can we stop it?

We all will experience bloating from time to time. Often caused by natural processes during digestion, bloating is typically triggered by the accumulation of fluid or production of gas in the body. However, bloating is not always caused by too much gas, but rather, how the body handles that gas.

Now for the good news: The occasional puff up can be reduced through some wise food choices and lifestyle changes. To ward off the inflation, try these bloat-blocking foods to feel like yourself again.

Rice (fully digested carbohydrates): Some foods, especially certain carbohydrates, are either indigestible or only partially digested in the gut. These foods can cause gas buildup and therefore bloating. According to American College of Gastroenterology, rice and rice flour make a good substitute for starches such as wheat, oats, corn and potatoes. Rice is fully digested in the small intestines, giving it the least potential to form gases in the gut.

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8 Foods Even The Experts Won't Eat

October 8, 2013 by APRIL McCARTHY

8 Foods Even The Experts Won't Eat

Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals--and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health. Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they won't eat these eight foods.

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe--or not--to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health--and peace of mind.

1. The Endocrinologist Won't Eat: Canned TomatoesFredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi. Exposure to BPA Causes Permanent Damage In OffSpring

2. The Farmer Won't Eat: Corn-Fed BeefJoel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.

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The Planks You Should Be Doing (But Probably Aren't) - Q by Equinox

The Planks You Should Be Doing (But Probably Aren't)

Master Trainer Josh Stolz recommends you take this traditional move in new directions.

Wednesday, September 04, 2013 | Sheila Monaghan

Now that the plank has effectively supplanted the crunch as the go-to core-strengthener, exercisers have placed a premium on their ability to hold the toning move—the longer, the better. As one-minute planks gave way to three-minute planks, and three-minute planks evolved into ten-minute planks, marathon plank-holding has become a calling card of sorts. But, according to Equinox experts, in terms of your fitness progression, it's an exercise in futility, as pointless as cranking out a crazy number of sit-ups. 

"Being able to hold a traditional plank for 10 minutes isn't very functional for anything except just that," says Tier 4 trainer Josh Stolz. "Even Stuart McGill (a top authority and researcher of low back pain and function) recommends holding a plank for 10 seconds, tops, followed by a brief, 1-to-2 seconds-long relaxation of the muscles. This can be repeated a certain number of times, but the point here is that standard planking for a long period of time is not functional because muscles and fascia need to turn on and turn off." 

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