New research points to the critical role mono and polyunsaturated fats play in weight control and maintaining weight loss. There’s more and more evidence that many fats are good for us and actually reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Good fats raise HDL (good cholesterol), which is extremely important in an age where many Americans are struggling with their cholesterol levels and fighting heart disease and obesity. They also help our sugar and insulin metabolism, and therefore contribute to our goals of long-term weight loss and weight maintenance.

Both Omega 6 and Omega 3 are the essential fatty acids (EFAs) needed in our diets — what we call the “good fats.” But it is important that we consume them at the right ratio. They should be consumed at a ratio of 2 to 1. However, the American diet today has a much higher ratio, more like 25 to 1.

Omega 6 is only considered a good fat when consumed in moderation, and in proper proportion to Omega 3.  When too many Omega 6s are consumed, they become pro-inflammatory and your body becomes toxic. Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory. 

The bad fats are saturated fats (in most cases animal fat), but some vegetable foods like coconut oil and coconut cream are also high in saturated fat.

The worst fats are Trans fats.

Trans fats are vegetable oil that has been through hydrogenation. Manufacturers add hydrogen to the oil in order for it to last longer and be more stable.

Stay far away from hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. They are very toxic. 

However, fat is only part of the problem when it comes to the obesity epidemic now plaguing our nation. Obesity is much more complicated than just over eating a single nutrient. People who get little physical activity and eat a diet high in calories are going to gain weight. Genetics, age, sex, and lifestyle also contribute to weight issues. That said, dietary fat still plays a significant role in overweight America. Studies have shown the more fat we have cut out of our diets, the fatter we have become! So, it’s time we get educated and read labels.

If you are looking for help with your eating habits or need to lose weight, I can help. I offer several weight loss programs designed for every individual. No points, no calorie counting, no gimmicks. It’s all about the food, not about you.

For more information on these programs and links to additional FREE articles and downloads, please visit http://www.intuitivehealth.com. Launching November 2008: Exciting New Weight Loss e-Book and Affordable Take Home Study Course with complete 90-day step-by-step weight loss plan, including shopping list, menus, supplements and online support.

The American population today is in dire need for better health education.  Most people don’t know or even realize the harmful foods they are putting into their body on a daily basis. One of the most common, you guessed it: High Fructose Corn Syrup. This “sugar” is hidden in almost everything today — mostly because it’s cheap, but also because it’s 20 times sweeter than sugar and very addictive. But if you don’t read labels, you wouldn’t know it’s in many of the foods you eat. Even those you think are healthy or considered diet snacks, like protein bars, contain high fructose corn syrup. Did you know that most every brand of sliced bread that you buy in any supermarket chain contains high fructose corn syrup? It’s almost impossible to avoid, if you are not aware!

High-fructose corn syrup is a sweetener and preservative used in many processed foods. It is made by changing the sugar in cornstarch to fructose — another form of sugar. Because high-fructose corn syrup extends the shelf life of foods, it has become a popular ingredient in many foods, including sodas, fruit-flavored drinks and many other processed foods.

Alarmingly, today the number one source of calories in the US comes from high fructose corn syrup.  Even though fat has 250% more calories than sugar, people still get MOST of their calories from sugar out of corn, primarily in the form of soft drinks.

Some nutrition experts blame increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup for the growing obesity problem. One theory is that the body actually processes the fructose in high fructose corn syrup differently than it does old-fashioned cane or beet sugar, which in turn alters the way metabolic-regulating hormones function. In addition, fructose is more readily converted to fat by your liver than is sucrose, increasing the levels of fat in your bloodstream.

The end result is that our bodies are essentially tricked into wanting to eat more (remember it’s highly addictive) and at the same time, we are storing more fat.

Scientific evidence aside, it’s clear that Americans are consuming large quantities of high-fructose corn syrup hidden in a variety of every day food choices. These types of foods are often high in calories and low in nutritional value. This fact alone is reason to be cautious about foods containing high-fructose corn syrup, especially if you are struggling with a weight problem or other health-related issues.

If you are looking for help with your eating habits or need to lose weight, I can help. I offer several weight loss programs designed for every individual. No points, no calorie counting, no gimmicks. It’s all about the food, not about you.

For more information on these programs and links to additional FREE articles and downloads, please visit http://www.intuitivehealth.com. Launching November 2008: Exciting New Weight Loss e-Book and Affordable Take Home Study Course with complete 90-day step-by-step weight loss plan, including shopping list, menus, supplements and online support.

Rebounding as it is called, (the motion of bouncing on a mini trampoline) is an exercise that reduces body fat, strengthens muscles, increases agility, provides an effective aerobic workout and rejuvenates the body. It will firm your legs, thighs, abdomen, arms and hips, increase your balance and put you in an overall state of health and fitness.

Anybody can do this exercise. Young and old, even the sick. You don’t need to jump per se, to get the benefits of rebounding. Your feet don’t even have to leave the mat. Just the up and down motion you get with a gentle bounce is enough to stimulate your immune and cardiovascular systems and improve your health. Even better, you can exercise for hours without getting tired, which makes it a great way to burn off calories and lose weight.

As we age, our bodies generally become more toxic due to the pollutants in today’s world. When you rebound, you are helping your cells metabolize, cleanse and renew and your helping your lymph system to pump and drain out the body’s waste. The lymphatic system rids you of toxins such as dead and cancerous cells, nitrogenous wastes, infectious viruses, heavy metals and other toxins carried into the body. The rebounding movement pumps the lymphatic system which drains away these potential poisons. There are only 3 ways to activate the flow of the lymph: exercise, massage and gravitational pressure. Rebounding does all three.

People who jump on a mini-trampoline a few times a day for a minimum of 10 minutes each time find they’re able to work longer, sleep better, and feel less tense. The effects of Rebounding are both physical and psychological. The action of bouncing up and down against gravity, without the trauma to the musculoskeletal system, is one of the most beneficial aerobic exercises ever developed.

Most people are unaware of the many potent chemical toxins contained in soy. Because of the way soybeans are manufactured and processed (quick and cheap), it does not matter what kind of products you buy, organic or not. They all carry high levels of toxins, and should not be eaten, or only very sparingly, like they do in Asian cultures. Contrary to popular belief, soy products have never been a food staple in Asian countries. Historically, soy was used by the poor in times of extreme food shortage, and only then the soybeans were carefully prepared by lengthy fermentation to destroy the soy toxins.

So, if you think soy will keep you and your kids from getting fat, think again. These claims come directly from the soy industry who has led us all to believe in its “health food” qualities. It really doesn’t make sense, especially when we know farmers give animals soy feed to fatten them for slaughter as fast as possible.

Soy contains an abundant amount of isoflavones (phytoestrogens), which actually interfere with the thyroid gland’s ability to manufacture thyroid hormones, and that means weight gain, tiredness and depression. A diet rich in soy is also rich in isoflavones, and it doesn’t take much. Just one glass of soy milk a day, said to contain between 30-45 milligrams, is enough to suppress thyroid function. And with a weakened thyroid, you’ll find it harder and harder to lose any weight at all.

It is the isoflavones in soy that are supposed to protect us from heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and the discomforts of menopause. Not so.

But the most alarming and extremely sad effect comes from feeding soy to our infants. While everyone knows, breastfeeding is best; mothers today think they are doing their newborns a service by giving them soy-based formula instead of the traditional milk-based. In fact, it is causing devastating harm to our children.

Infants exclusively fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula, the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day. Premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula, as has the underdevelopment of males.

The soy industry is a powerful multi-billion dollar industry. And the PR and funding for its advertising as a “health food” is really causing a “health crisis.” Soy is dangerous —  for you, and especially your children. Don’t get sucked into their marketing gimmicks.

Did you know that probiotics can play a major role in your natural weight management? Perhaps, it’s the lack of probiotics that is keeping you from achieving your weight loss goals?

Currently, much research is being focused on the possible connection between the lack of friendly gut flora in our intestines and the growing epidemic of obesity around the world.

We’ve all heard the saying “Death Begins in the Colon.” Right in line with that theory, many alternative doctors believe that a disrupted ecology of the gastrointestinal tract may be at the heart of up to 90 percent of all known human illnesses and disease.

A properly functioning intestinal system guards your body against harmful bacteria, yeast and viruses. It also stimulates the function of the entire digestive system and produces essential vitamins and regulates their levels. Total health begins in the gut so if your GI tract is not in optimal health, then your overall health will be compromised.

Science now recognizes that 80% of your immune system is actually living right in your digestive tract.

Is you’re digestive tract at peace? If not, your body could be staging a war against you?

The delicate bacterial balance in the intestines can easily be upset. What we have come to learn is that there is a strong connection between our body’s intestinal flora and its’ ability to prevent serious illness and add vital years to our lives. When you consume a diet rich in sugars and processed foods, take antibiotics, experience stress or suffer from lack of sleep, the protective bacteria in your digestive tract weakens. A continued weakened gut eventually leads to the overgrowth of harmful bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, Candida Albicans, and many others that cause diseases as well as food sensitivities and excessive weight gain.

The more often you take antibiotics or cortisone-containing drugs, the more disturbed your natural balance of intestinal flora. As the flora in your intestine becomes increasingly out of balance, two things happen: the lining of your intestines weakens and you develop a craving for sugars and carbohydrates to try to feed the unnaturally large amount of yeast in your intestine.

If indeed you are not feeling well and you have had a course of antibiotics, been under considerable stress, or eat nutrient poor food, the cause could very well be a bacterial imbalance and a high quality probiotic formula may be of great value to you in restoring your health. With the proper diet, including food products rich in beneficial bacteria, (such as cultured yogurt, buttermilk, kefir and other soured milk food products) and additional supplementation, everybody is capable of achieving and maintaining an extraordinary new vigor and vitality far into the future, regardless of age.

Certain studies have proven the many health benefits of probiotics such as the prevention or control of:

• Food and skin allergies in children
• Bacterial vagniosis
• Premature labor in pregnant women
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Recurrent ear and bladder infections
• Chronic diarrhea
• And now… obesity

For years now we have been faced with the question: Is organic food really better for you?

For me, it has never been a question. My intuition has always told me that pesticide, fungicide and other chemicals cannot be promoting vibrant health.

Well, now results from years of research, is telling us exactly that. Many countries, including USA, Canada, Netherland, Denmark, Australia and others have all done research on livestock, fruits and vegetables, and they all concluded that organic food and produce have higher amounts of vitamins, minerals and cancer fighting antioxidants. Milk was the winner, with up to 80% more nutrients in the summer months when the cows are grass fed.

There is now a growing consensus in the scientific communities that even a small amount of exposure to pesticides and other chemicals can affect people adversely, especially during the critical window of fetal development and in childhood. Several countries have now done studies on the effect of breast milk containing pesticides and infant health. Studies found that infants who were regularly exposed to higher than recommended doses of pesticides had an increased heath risk.

Pesticides can cause developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction and even affect babies in the womb.  

Most pesticide residue safety levels are set for individual pesticides, but most produce carry multiple pesticide residues. What then? What about the cocktail affect? Where are the studies showing us the safety of that? I do not believe there are any. Research is now emerging showing that this synergistic increase in toxicity could have a potential of increasing the toxicity 100 times.

Conventional fruits and vegetables look great, and they are on average much bigger. But don’t be fooled. The artificial fertilization associated with conventional crops, produces lush growth by swelling produce with more water. Up to 25% more water. And studies also show that the bigger the fruit and vegetables grow, the fewer nutrients they have. So is organic food really more expensive? Maybe not.

But instead of making the argument that small amount of pesticide is OK, I say lets rather talk about how organic food is much more nutritious and better for you.

Studies are now coming in showing that organically grown food has more nutrients, more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Like I said before, milk was the winner with up to 80 % more antioxidant in the summer months. Organic milk also had higher levels of vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein, zeathanthin and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Studies also compared pasture fed and grain fed cows. The study showed that grain fed beef had higher total fat content and lower omega 3 and CLA in the milk. So here you have it. Grass fed beef is better for you, producing better, more nutritious meat and milk.

You are what you eat, does not only apply to humans, but animals as well.

Here are some more studies on Organic verses non organic.

• Organic corn had 58% more nutrients
• Organic strawberries 19% more nutrients
• Organic Marion berries 50% more nutrients
• Organic milk 60-80% more nutrients
• Organic tomatoes had twice the amounts of the flavonoids, quercetin and kamempferol.

Studies have been done on other fruits and vegetables, and they all show increased amounts of vitamins, minerals and cancer fighting antioxidants.

Below is a list of fruit and vegetables with the highest and the lowest pesticide levels

Highest in Pesticide

Apples, Bell peppers, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries.

Lowest in Pesticide

Asparagus, Avocados, bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Corn, Kiwi, Mangos, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, Sweet Peas.

USDA’s legal standard for “organic” certification

For fruits, vegetables and grains:

• Safe soil: free of sewage, lead salts and potassium chloride, among other substances for at least three years prior to the first organic harvest
• No modification: GMO’s, irradiation and additives are prohibited
• Separate storage: handlers, food processors and food manufacturers must separate organic products from non organic products and take steps to ensure that organic foods do not come in contact with forbidden chemicals or substances.

For meat, milk, eggs and other animal products:

• Timing: animals must be raised organically from the last three gestations (for livestock) or no later than the second day of life (for poultry).
• Organic feed: livestock feed products must be 100% organically grown.
• Hormone-and antibiotic-free: sick animals must be treated, but if an animal has been treated with a prohibited medication, it can’t be labeled and sold as organic.
• Outdoor access: including pasture land for animals that graze. Each animal must have shade, shelter, fresh air, direct sunlight and room to exercise appropriate for its species.
• No commingling: Organic animal products must be separated from non organic products. Organic animal products must not come into contact with prohibited chemicals or substances.

Another important fact to note is that Natural does not equal Organic. Natural is an unregulated term, only the USDA Organic labels indicate that a food is certified organic. Food labels like All Natural, Free Range and Hormone Free means only that.

 So here is a summary of my opinions:

1. Organic food really is better for you.
2. Organic food really is not more expensive when you take a closer look.
3. Reading labels is the most important thing you can do to improve your health.
4. Locally grown, freshly picked, conventional fruit and vegetables are, in most cases, better for you than imported organics.

To Your Health,

Bente

One item now under the microscope is Stevia, a natural sweetener, (food companies are not even allowed to use the word sweetener) no caloric herb, native to Paraguay, with no known side affects. Stevia has been used for years by many countries, including China and Japan, and by the indigenous people for over 400 years.

The FDA is now threatening to confiscate all imported food products containing Stevia, unless they are labeled as dietary supplements.

The FDA has received over 1000 scientific studies regarding Stevia, 99.9% of which verify the safety of the herb.

In stark contrast to the artificial sweetener Aspartame, previously owned by Monsanto, nearly half of all the studies indicate serious health concerns, even deaths. Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure.  It is now said by many to be the most dangerous supplement ever added to food, yet it is one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners in the US today. Not only has aspartame been proven to make you fatter, it’s been proven to cause some pretty serious diseases, not the least of which are cancer and neurological diseases.

Where are we going wrong? I say follow the money.

It is up to us to do our own research. I have always said, artificial anything cannot be good for your body.

Aspartame is said to account for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA.  Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms being caused by aspartame include:

Headaches/Migraines           Dizziness
Seizures                                Nausea
Numbness                            Muscle spasms
Weight gain                          Rashes
Depression                           Fatigue
Irritability                             Tachycardia
Insomnia                              Vision Problems
Hearing Loss                        Heart palpitations
Breathing difficulties            Anxiety attacks
Slurred Speech                      Loss of taste
Tinnitus                                Vertigo
Memory loss                         Joint Pain

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame:

Brain tumors                         Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy                                Chronic fatigue syndrome
Parkinson’s Disease              Alzheimer’s
Mental retardation                Lymphoma
Birth defects                         Fibromyalgia
Diabetes
The reason why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. Many people are being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!

Stay away

Another sweetener to look out for today is High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Very cheap to produce and made mostly of Genetically Modified Corn, its many times sweeter than sugar, and again in many people’s opinion, very addictive, not to mention very toxic. It is actually promoting obesity.

The manufacturers of food containing these additives in most cases know the health risks associated with their products. But instead of removing the cheap known toxic additive, they try to disguise it by naming it something else.

It is time we educate each other, and refuse to buy these products. Some grocery chains are now getting proactive and refuse to sell certain products. This is the only way the manufacturers are going to listen. We have to stop buying products with known heath risk ingredients.

Look at Partially Hydrogenated Oil. It has now been removed from almost all products.

Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods. Are you poisoning your body?

You can find a lot of valuable information on www.organicconsumers.org