Do Not Pan For Gold… Pan For Health

Health Is Much Important To Any Wealth In This World

by David Paniit on July 17, 2012

“Do not pan for gold… Pan for health.”

Do you want to know the meaning of these words? Are you interested why there is the exclamation remark at the end of this sentence? In case you are a certified health buff that pays so much attention to things and activities that can improve your overall health, then this post will surely capture your attention and interest. If you are not yet familiar with gold panning, then you will be taught of its importance and the need to pan for health.

The gold panning that we are talking here is a type of outdoor activity that promotes health, fitness and beautiful friendship as one is exploring the beautiful parts of the countryside in searching for gold. Although this activity is particularly enticing for any person who wants to uplift the quality of lives of his family, one needs to be reminded that you should pan for your health instead of spending all your time and effort in looking for gold.

While gold is something that can give you the best things in this world, you need to keep in your mind that being healthy is much esteemed. Even if you have all the gold that this world can give you, these will be useless and worthless if you will fail to secure good health. How can you fully enjoy the wealth that you have if most of the times you are lying in your bed and unable to get out? How can you treat yourself with all the money or gold that are stored inside your house, if you cannot even go out of your room and enjoy time with your loved ones?

As you can see, panning for your health is much better than panning for gold since this one is something that cannot be matched by any amount of money.

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Why Do We Need To Work Out?

by PanForHealth on December 10, 2012

Image by The U.S. Army via Flickr

Working out is a must if you want to keep your body working well for you. Exercises and workout regimes are expected to be always a part of your diet process. Eating healthy is not enough if not coupled with activities that will make our body move as well. Why is there a need for a bodyweight workout? Read on.

Reasons for a Bodyweight Workout

There are so many ways to work your abs, machines or bodyweight. All kinds of angles and techniques… When it comes to the best exercises the majority are bodyweight based and pretty simple. With a six pack or toned torso being the number one priority for most people in the gym today a good collection of ab exercises that can be done equipment free is essential. And whilst gaining a toned stomach takes a lot more than simply ab exercises to achieve, consistent core workouts will help you in many ways….

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Hanging Leg Raise – this is a great exercise that can be done at home, the gym or even on a branch of a tree when outdoors. It works deep into the core and by playing around with the angle and raining the knees up-to the sides you can work deeper into the obliques. It also works to strengthen and lengthen the upper body – your arms are forced to work hard in order to support the body.

These are some easy steps that anyone should be able to do.

Crunch Variations – The video below shows a few variations on the standard ab crunch which progress in terms of difficulty. The main thing the video shows is the amount of variation that can be done from one simple laying down position with just your bodyweight and a mat.

By doing a simple 10 minute circuit of bodyweight ab exercises each week you will experience several benefits:

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Better Posture

Improved performance and power when playing sports

Injury Prevention – A strong set of core muscles helps prevent or minimize such damage by providing more an efficient weight-bearing mechanism.

A more stable platform for everyday life

Improved Balance and Co-ordination – Core training creates more and better links between your brain – specifically your cerebellum – and your body. The cerebellum is responsible for muscular coordination, balance, and positional awareness – proprioception – your body’s awareness of its positioning in three-dimensional space.

Do you need more convincing?

Strong Abs look Good!

Start your core training circuit by picking 3 exercises and doing them each back to back for one minute. Take a short break then repeat. This simple circuit done 3 times leads to a 10 minute abdominal session that will give you all the benefits listed above. You can throw it in first thing in the morning, while you are out for a run, or at the end of a gym session. After keeping it up consistently for 2-3 weeks you will start to notice huge differences.

Image by scragz via Flickr

While a strong core does come from doing compound exercises supplementing that kind of training with more targeted ab work is the key to a strong and athletic body.

So, do you know understand the need for a bodyweight workout? If not, you can always read on for more.

…More at Abs: Reasons for a Bodyweight Workout

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Making Your Dinner Healthy But Simple

by PanForHealth on November 29, 2012

Image by ~MVI~ (chasing camels in doha) via Flickr

To some people, dinner could be so grandeur that ample preparations are done. However, when time is your enemy, you will need to think of ways on how you can simplify dinner but still provide nutritious servings on your table.

How to Simplify Dinner

Feeding your family a nutritious meal is possible even when you're short on time. Preparation and planning cut down on the time it takes to get dinner on the table, regardless of your cooking skills. Simple meal planning also enables you to serve healthy, balanced meals and avoid fast food or takeout.

Organize Your Kitchen

A chaotic kitchen with no organizational method forces you to spend more time searching for the ingredients and utensils needed to prepare dinner. If you're constantly searching for the right measuring spoon or have recipes scattered all over, set aside time to straighten up the kitchen. Discard utensils you never use and any expired food, such as spices from several years ago. Create a way to store recipes that makes them easy to find, such as a recipe box, a scrapbook or a computer file.

Nothing beats organization, really.

Image by Jeremy Levine Design via Flickr

Make Meal Plans

Planning at least the main dish you'll serve at dinner is key to simplifying meal time. If you get bored planning menus, get your family involved. Ask your partner to contribute meal ideas and help in the kitchen. If your kids are older, assign each of them a night of the week to pick a meal and handle most of the cooking. Planning out a month at a time makes it easier to grocery shop because you'll know which ingredients to buy. If you find yourself wanting something different than what's on the menu, a variation is to make a list of meals for the month. Buy all of the ingredients for those meals, but don't assign them to a specific day. Consult the list so you know what is available and decide as you go when you'll eat each meal.

Image by Cy-V via Flickr

Handle Prep Right Away

Tackle grocery shopping on a day that allows you to start dinner prep work right away. Instead of putting the groceries away when you get home, start chopping vegetables, trimming fat from meat and marinating food. Place the prepped food in storage containers or plastic bags with labels. If you already have a menu planned for the week, write the date on the label. Another option is to pick a certain day of the week to handle this type of food prep for the rest of the week. The prep work often takes the most time when cooking dinner, so tackling it all ahead of time makes meal time easier.

Grocery shopping must be organized so that you can still have enough time to do the preparations.

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Freeze It

A freezer allows you to store several prepped or fully cooked dinners for a simple meal on a hectic night. One option is to choose one day to make several freezer meals. This gives you several dinners you can simply defrost and reheat. Another option is to make two batches of dinners that you cook. Serve one batch that night and freeze the other for a meal later in the month. A final freezing option to simplify dinner is to prep and freeze raw components of meals. For example, buy a large package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trim them, cut them as needed for the recipe and marinate them right in the freezer bag. Prepare several of the meat packages for meals at a later date.

With all of these tips, how can you ever do wrong again when preparing for dinner?

…More at How to Simplify Dinner

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Intermittent Fasting and Rigid Bodybuilding: Are These The Solutions?

by PanForHealth on November 28, 2012

Image by istolethetv via Flickr

Why are some people so intent on doing intermittent fasting and rigid bodybuilding? Let’s find out why in the succeeding paragraphs.

Intermittent Fasting and Muscle Building

There’s been a lot of hype about intermittent fasting over the last few years. Some people have raved about its effects on fat loss, some say it’s the “secret” to great health, and a few guys are even claiming that it’s the best way to gain muscle. Then, of course, there are plenty of folks – lifters and laypeople – claiming that fasting is the devil, and that you MUST eat six small meals per day.

What’s the real deal? Honestly, intermittent fasting can work pretty well, whether your main goal is to build muscle or lose fat. People have been overanalyzing meal frequency for a long time, and they seem to have forgotten that NOT eating is a damn good way to shed weight. Obviously crash dieting and long-term starvation are bad, but if you’re even on this site, then you already know that! We’re not talking about a reversion to yo-yo dieting and binging, we’re talking about rearranging meals to optimize fat loss and lean muscle gains.

Image by USAG-Humphreys via Flickr

Think fasting is only a good idea if you’re trying to cut? Think again. It’s not the end-all, be-all of diet plans, but it can absolutely help you avoid excessive fat gain while bulking. This is especially true for those of you who used to be straight-up fat.

Metabolism and Meal Frequency

One of the most common arguments against fasting is that eating smaller, more frequent meals is necessary to “stoke” your metabolism. You hear this knowledge-bomb from nutritionists and trainers so often that it must be true, right? Wrong! Numerous studies have shown that meal frequency has no significant effect on metabolic rate. In fact, some research indicates that eating more of your carbs and calories at the end of the day is BETTER for both fat loss and muscle gain.

Seeing that intermittent fasting can work will make think twice about crash diets now.

But your hard-earned muscle mass – won’t it waste away if you endure more than three waking hours without food? Again, no. Even the leanest bodies have some fat to feed on, and THAT is where you’ll get your energy when you’re not eating. If anything, regular fasting makes your body far more efficient at using its fat stores for energy.

As for hunger, it can certainly be a problem at first – but you’ll adapt. If you’re used to eating a big breakfast and following it with small meals every few hours, of course you’re going to feel famished when you change things up. Your body is incredibly adaptable, though, and it’ll “learn” to get hungry at different times. A lack of early-morning hunger doesn’t mean your metabolism has slowed, either. It means you’ve become better at feeding off your fat stores at the beginning of the day.

Finally, think about how often you’re eating on your current meal plan. Do you eat RIGHT before bed? Do you eat in the middle of the night? Do you eat within five minutes of waking up? No? Then you’re already fasting! You probably spend eight, ten, or even twelve hours of every day without food, and you’re not wasting away. Don’t assume that extending that period by an extra four to six hours will kill your gains.

Answering these questions will help make your goals clearer.

Staying Sensitive (to Insulin)

Clearly, fasting is a viable way to shed fat without losing strength. But can avoiding food actually HELP you build muscle? You bet! One of the greatest advantages of intermittent fasting is that it makes your body more insulin sensitive. Without getting into the nitty-gritty details, better insulin sensitivity means leaner gains. When you’re more sensitive, your body is more likely to use anything you eat – especially carbs – for muscle repair. Couple this effect with the anabolic power of weight training and the post-workout window, and you’ve got a potent recipe for fat-free gains.

These are sound tips and advice that anyone can benefit from.

Of course, you’ll only notice this effect if you’re actually eating enough when you DO eat. Remember, intermittent fasting isn’t a low-calorie diet. If anything, you should be eating a little more during your end-of-the-day feeding frenzies than you would on a normal meal plan. This can get tough, especially if you don’t have a huge appetite. Instead of eating all your carbs, fats, and 300+ grams of protein over the course of the day, you’ve got to cram them all into an eight-hour window.

Image by istolethetv via Flickr

Finding what Works for You

Ultimately, you’ve got to find the meal frequency that works best for your body, your schedule, and your priorities. Some people like to fast for an entire sixteen hours, train on an empty stomach, and then eat all of their food for the day. Others like to eat one moderately-sized meal, train a few hours later, and then get their grub on for a few hours after that. And of course, the skinniest of skinny guys usually just need to pack in as many calories as they can, all day every day. So oxperiment with different meal times, different macronutrient timings, and even different training times.

And if what you are doing right now works, then continue with that. I know many guys that are eating 6 meals per day ever 3 hours and are getting insane results. In the same way I know fellow models who swear by intermittent fasting and they are also getting the results they are after. So we are not saying that one or other technique is right or wrong but are just providing you with the facts and more options if what you are doing right is not getting you results and you want to try something else. If you look at what the most successful guys do, you’ll see that the only thing they ALL have in common is that they all do things differently.

At the end of the day, it is still your decisions that will matter in any undertaking you’ll make.

….More at Intermittent Fasting and Muscle Building

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A War That Must Be Won

by PanForHealth on November 26, 2012

Image by Cea. via Flickr

War Against Sugar Begins

Sugar is as damaging and addictive as alcohol or tobacco and should be regulated, claim US health experts. (BBC)

Finally the War against SUGAR, the silent evil killer on our streets, has begun. Governments and politicians, even dieticians have always been wary of pointing their finger at the sugar industry the way they eventually did at the tobacco industry. The sugar industry is so powerful and many of the hereditary richest families in the world have their fingers in the slave trading sugar industry somewhere along the line. People have allegedly mysteriously died for speaking ill of the white stuff in the not too distant past.

Now this is really a cause for alarm, and we should also do our part.

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Anyway you can imagine the cheer amongst nutritionists to see the start of an international nutritional lynch mob starting to gather and pin the blame of all the world's preventable health woes from infertility to obesity, heart disease to diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, dementia and even the common cold and cancer firmly at the door of the world sugar mountain.

In a comment in the journal Nature, Prof Lustig, a leading child obesity expert, says governments need to consider major shifts in policy, such as taxes, limiting sales of sweet food and drinks during school hours, or even stopping children from buying them below a certain age.

The professor of paediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, told the BBC: “It [sugar] meets all the criteria for societal intervention that alcohol and tobacco meet.”

The researchers acknowledge that they face “an uphill political battle against a powerful sugar lobby”.

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Sugar the same level as that of alcohol and tobacco? This is another cause for alarm!

Daily dose of diet soda may increase heart attacks ( Re drinks with artificial sweeteners)

The new findings have suggested that just a couple of daily cans of the supposedly 'healthier' (sic) diet artificially sweetened carbonated drinks, such as lemonade or cola, can raise the risk of liver damage, as well as potentially causing diabetes and heart damage. Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center claim those who drink diet soft drinks are 43 per cent more likely to have heart attacks, vascular disease or strokes than those who have none.The latest study appears in the Journal of General Internal Medicine

But a Danish study suggest non diet soda drinks are just as leathal.

Will you drink another non diet soda? I bet not, too.

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Researchers, led by Dr. Bjrn Richelsen at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark asked people to drink either a liter of water, milk, diet cola or regular cola each day for six months.At the end of the study the regular cola drinkers ended up with 25 percent more fat surrounding their organs, and just about doubled the amount of fat in the liver and muscle.

“This study suggests that the adverse effects of sugary beverages go beyond just weight gain or fat gain. It's the gaining of the wrong fat in the wrong places,” said Dr. Frank Hu, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.

As what has been said, it is a must that we also do our share in fighting this “silent evil killer,” it’s not yet too late.

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Understanding Body Perfection More

by PanForHealth on November 19, 2012

Image by @yakobusan Jakob Montrasio ??? via Flickr

Is perfection really possible? At least, is body perfection possible? A lot of us are dreaming of a perfect body that we can flaunt and brag about. But have we ever thought if there is really such a thing? Read on and let’s find out together.

As I stood in the check-out line the other day, I couldn't help but notice the headlines of all the magazines around me: “Slim Down This Summer;” “Lose 10 Pounds;” “Get Stronger, Leaner, Faster;” “Tone Your Thighs;” “Kiss Cellulite Goodbye.” Screw that, I thought. What's wrong with the way I am?

As women, we're constantly bombarded with these you-need-to-improve messages, making us feel like we're not good enough. Like there's something fundamentally wrong with the way we are. It's become a cultural norm to inundate us with bullshit messages that equate happiness and femininity with losing weight and having a “perfect” body. And for those of us who are athletes, we're constantly challenged with the messages that we must do more, work harder … all so we can get better. Some of the advice is fine if you indeed want to change. But what if you don't?

I couldn’t agree with this even more. Women can be really vain, but one must look deeper on this vain issue. Are we really vain? Or do we just need some assurance?

Image by Mikeyloveswomen via Flickr

Yesterday I was at the pool putting in laps for my morning mile. When I stopped to adjust my goggles, the girl next to me (let's call her an acquaintance and often athletic rival), asked why I was swimming so much lately. (Normally, I'm a twice-a-week swimmer, but given my unrelenting Achilles injury, I've had to drop all running and cycling from my repertoire for the time being, which puts me at the pool every morning for cardio.) After I explained my situation, she said, “Well, maybe you'll get better and faster now.” WTF? What if I don't necessarily want to get better and faster? I already consider myself a decent swimmer (good, but not great); I can do 1.2-mile open water swims for a half-Ironman (and beat this girl's butt at most of them). So what's wrong with the way I swim now? I wanted to ask. Instead, I pulled my goggles back down and swam away. But I kept stewing over the question all day, which made me realize this is probably a much bigger issue.

Now, is there some hint of insecurity here?

Image by martinak15 via Flickr

Every day, we women are told we're not good enough. Don't believe me? Watch any commercial, read any magazine, look at any billboard. You'll see ads promising to help you “get happier, richer, thinner NOW.” They're all trying to capitalize on the fact that women need help, when in fact, many times we don't. We're perfectly fine just the way we are, thank you very much. Maybe we should stop letting these people dictate how we feel about ourselves. Maybe we should stop letting others try to tell us we aren't slim enough, toned enough, strong enough or fast enough.

Yes, these are indeed true.

This is not to say that we don't have room for improvement. I know I do, and given the fact that 25 percent of the American population is considered obese, others do too. The point is that all of this pressure to become better all the time leaves us no room to just “be.” It's no wonder that 50 percent of adults walk around stressed out all the time. (Which, incidentally, doesn't help at all with self-improvement of any kind.)

50%? Now, this is really something to ponder upon.

Our parents' generation wasn't labeled as “broken” in the mid-1900s. For the most part, they held the same jobs for much of their lives, drove the same car, lived in the same house and kept the same friends. They didn't walk around stressed out; many of them were happy and satisfied, despite the lack of a quest for something new, different, or better.

In her book, “Bodies,” psychoanalyst Susie Orbach claims we now see our bodies as projects — not places to live, as she explained to The New York Times:

Image by Thomas Leuthard via Flickr

What I am seeing is franticness about having to get a body. I wish we could treat our bodies as the place we live from, rather than regard it as a place to be worked on, as though it were a disagreeable old kitchen in need of renovation and update.

She says we are at war with ourselves and our lives. I think she's right. And I think outside influences are to blame.

So, to all the media and people (including the girl at the pool) out there trying to improve us: SHUT UP. We don't always have to be better. Being good is sometimes good enough.

I would like to stress out that wanting to look better is not a sin. In fact, it can add to our sense of security and confidence. Nothing is wrong in wanting to look better and feel better—as long as we know our limits.

…More at Body Image: Why “Perfection” Isn't Necessary

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Are You Using The Right Cosmetics?

by PanForHealth on November 12, 2012

Image by Courtney Rhodes Pumpkincat210 via Flickr

How safe are the cosmetics women are using today? This question deserves your attention especially if you are one of the women who depend on make-up or on the cosmetic products to maintain your good looks. While most of the cosmetic products are effective and can be relied when it comes to improving the appearance of its users, it is also essential that one should pay attention on the risks that these products could cause.

Cancer-Causing Ingredients in Your Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

If you’re like most Americans, you may be unknowingly poisoning yourself and your family everyday with the many cancer-causing ingredients in today’s cosmetics, toiletries and personal care products. Makeup, shampoo, hair coloring products, baby powder (Yes, baby powder!), shaving cream, mouthwash and toothpaste are just a few of the products that contain cancer-causing ingredients.

Image by Courtney Rhodes Pumpkincat210 via Flickr

But don’t despair! In just a minute, you’ll know what products to avoid and how to choose those that are safe for you and your family.

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to check the ingredients to see if they’re safe? Doesn’t the government do this?” The answer is: Well, kind of…, but not really!

Image by lindz graham via Flickr

The truth is the cosmetics industry is very poorly regulated. With the exception of a handful of extremely toxic chemicals, manufacturers can put almost anything in their cosmetics without testing to see if the ingredients are harmful. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can only make suggestions or recommendations to manufacturers about cosmetic products or their ingredients, but the manufacturers don’t have to follow them.

If you cannot resist yourself from buying the cosmetic products, then you should be aware on the ingredients of the items you are purchasing. Just what has been said earlier, these products are not properly regulated, which means there is always the possibility of risking your health in using these beauty products.

To make matters worse, most products are labeled to “sell” rather than to provide accurate information. Words like “natural” and “hypoallergenic” (which give us a nice warm feeling about the product and persuade us to believe that a product is safe) do not have official definitions. This means the manufacturers can use them to mean anything they want and not get in trouble with the regulatory agencies. This often leads to misleading information on the label…and more sales.

Here’s a rogue’s list of ingredients in cosmetics, toiletries and personal care products you should avoid:

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Fragrances. Each fragrance can have up to 600 different ingredients which are not required to be listed on the label. Even if you’re not sensitive to fragrances, it’s wise to avoid them because they often have hazardous ingredients and there’s no way of knowing if they do.

Preservatives. Many preservatives contain or release formaldehyde which is a carcinogen, neurotoxin, irritant and sensitizer. These include DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol). Other preservatives that may also cause reactions include the parabens, methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone.

Talc. It may contain carcinogenic contaminants and products containing talc, including baby powder, should never be used on babies and children.

Artificial colors. Many of them cause cancer. Most of the D&C and FD&C colors are derived form coal tar, a known cancer-causing agent.

Silica. By itself, silica is not harmful, but it’s often contaminated with crystalline silica which causes cancer. Manufacturers are not required to list contaminants so you’ll never see it on the label.

After providing you the information about the ingredients of the common cosmetic products, it will now be up to you to make further analysis and studies about these things so you will be well informed about them.

How big of a threat are contaminants to you and your family? From 1978 to 1980, the FDA analyzed 300 cosmetic samples for carcinogenic contamination. Forty percent of the samples analyzed contained carcinogens. Things actually got worse the next time they analyzed cosmetic samples. In 1991-92, they found that 65% of the cosmetic products sampled contained carcinogenic contaminants. More Recently, in 2004, the Environmental Working Group evaluated the ingredients in 7,500 personal care products for safety. They found that “nearly 70% of all products contain ingredients that can be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer and other health problems.”

Polysorbate 60 or 80, polyoxyethylene, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, PEG, anything ending in “-eth,” such as sodium laureth sulfate.

Image by Courtney Rhodes Pumpkincat210 via Flickr

These ingredients may be contaminated with cancer-causing 1,4-dioxane, which is easily absorbed through the skin. Again, manufacturers are not required to tell you about the contaminants.

Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). These two ingredients are found in many cosmetic and personal care products. Even though they don’t cause cancer by themselves you should avoid all products that contain them because DEA and TEA can react with nitrites to form nitrosamines which can cause cancer. The tricky thing is that nitrites can be present as a contaminant and not listed on the label. So there’s no way of knowing whether or not a product with DEA or TEA ingredients is contaminated with the cancer-causing nitrosamines.

Propylene glycol and sodium lauryl sulfate. These are common ingredients in shampoos and they’re both toxic. Propylene glycol is a skin irritant which causes kidney and liver damage. Sodium laurel sulfate causes genetic damage.

So what’s the bottom line? Even though a great many cosmetics and personal care products are harmful, there are products that are safe and healthy to use. But you’re the one who needs to know what cosmetic and personal care products you're using are safe. The way the current regulations are structured, the government simply cannot protect you. Their hands are tied. According to John Bailey, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, “Consumers believe that 'if it’s on the market, it can't hurt me,' and this belief is sometimes wrong.”

Image by jeffgunn via Flickr

Knowing how to read and interpret the ingredient label on cosmetics, toiletries and personal care products is a powerful shield. But the manufacturers are fighting back. They’re designing packaging with seductive designs to make it look like their products are healthy and made from natural ingredients. Don’t be fooled by the fancy packaging and persuasive words like “natural,” “gentle” and “hypoallergenic.” When you read the label, you’ll probably find that is not the case.

As you might suspect, there are more ingredients that can harm you. But if you start avoiding products with the above ingredients, you may find that you and your family feel better and more energetic, allergic reactions may disappear, and your risk for cancer will, most definitely, be decreased.

While there is nothing wrong to have the desire of becoming the most beautiful woman in your batch, you should not forget to consider your health whenever you are choosing the cosmetics that you will use to your face.

…More at Jul 11, Cancer-Causing Ingredients in Your Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

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How The Paleo Weekly Planner Is Done

by PanForHealth on November 9, 2012

Image by goblinbox (queen of ad hoc bento) via Flickr

Are you familiar with the Paleo weekly planner? Just in case this is the only first time you heard this term, then you are fortunate as we are about to provide some key points about this matter. With the help of the information we will share in the succeeding paragraphs, your knowledge battery will be enhanced, which is extremely handy in the long term.

The Paleo weekly planner has a purpose of guiding you in following this diet. In case you are not accustomed in this diet program, then it will be important that you have some guidelines or directions to follow so you will not get lost in this program. With the assistance of this weekly planner of the Paleo diet, you will also be assured of getting its benefits.

Launching the Paleo Weekly Planner

After months in the making, we are excited to announce the launch of the Paleo Weekly Planner! We have hundreds of recipes available, whether it be from our cookbook and various bonus materials, or the recipes published on the website. Now life has gotten a little easier, because we’ve taken these recipes and produced weekly meal plans, consisting of breakfast, snack, lunch and dinner for all seven days of the week.

How does it all work?

Image by J Deamer via Flickr

Those who subscribe will receive an electronic bundle weekly that will contain a meal plan, consisting of three meals and one snack daily, for all seven days of the week. On top of this, your bundle will include a corresponding shopping list, containing a detailed list of everything needed to prepare all the recipes. This list is categorized by food type to make your shopping experience fast and efficient. To make everything even easier for you, all the recipes are taken from the materials you get from both your cookbook purchase, as well as from what we’ve provided for you here on the website.

Image by awhite via Flickr

Quite a bit of thought has gone into the making of the Paleo Weekly Planner. Each meal and snack has been selected strategically to ensure optimal health, a balanced selection and minimal waste of both food and time. As much as our goal is to make your life more efficient in the kitchen, our plan has also been designed to allow for flexibility and creativity. Recipes can easily be swapped and ingredients can often be substituted, added and even taken away. You may find you enjoy the meal plans as they are, while others may prefer to use them as a base to work from. Either way, it’s bound to be an essential tool for your Paleo kitchen.

It is critical for you to spend enough time in comprehending the Paleo weekly planner before you decide of pursuing it, in order to prevent problems or confusion. Keep in mind that the key to success in this diet is the knowledge that you have about this matter.

There you have it, perhaps the biggest incentive yet to getting your hands on the Paleo Recipe Book.

Always keep in mind that in order to achieve success in every diet plan, following the instructions is extremely critical.

….More at Launching the Paleo Weekly Planner

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How To Deal With Heartbreaking Situations

by PanForHealth on November 8, 2012

Image by Jack000 via Flickr

Is there such a thing as a heartbreak diet? For sure, just like others who have encountered this term for the first time, you will also be surprised upon hearing this type of diet. This will also make you think whether we are only fooling you in claiming that there is this thing that is referred as the heartbreak diet plan. However, before you think that we are only wasting your time, allow us to give some of the essential details about this diet in the succeeding paragraphs.

Take a look at the following facts:

Heartbreak as father-of-five dies of luekemia just three months after the birth of his twin sons

A firefighter has died from cancer just months after celebrating the birth of twin sons.

Image by limowreck666 via Flickr

Rob Wright and his wife Samantha were overjoyed by the birth of their twin sons Zack and Owen on July 24. Mr Wright had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia just four months before

Mr Wright, from Wallsend in North Tyneside, had first fallen ill on March 22. Doctors told him he had glandular fever and did some blood tests.

But just a few days later he was in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle having chemotherapy.

'Even when he was first diagnosed with leukaemia, all he was bothered about was getting married and asking if he would be able to go, recalled his widow Samantha, 26.

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If you will analyze the situation here closely, you can arrive at the conclusion that what the people involved are undergoing is not easy. For sure, you will not like to find yourself in the same predicament, especially if you are clueless on how to deal with this situation.

Mr Wright, a firefighter, underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and both doctors and his family had been hopeful he would make a full recovery

'He just wanted to get on with it, he just took whatever they threw at him. His phrase was “let's just get on with it”. He was very brave throughout it all.

'He was really poorly and we had to cancel the evening do for the wedding.'

This is the time when the heartbreak diet will enter the picture. With the help of this diet, one who is burden of health problems and other things will be provided the guidance on how he can get out of this unpleasant situation.

During treatment Mr Wright underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. Both doctors and his family were hopeful he would make a full recovery.

Thinking their luck was turning around, the couple were overjoyed by the birth of their twin sons Zack and Owen on July 24, just as Mr Wright's recovery seemed to be on course.

But a routine MRI scan in October dealt the young family a devastating blow – the cancer had spread to his nervous system.

Mrs Wright said: 'All the way through from the first lot of chemotherapy, all the signs were good. They thought it would be a standard transplant,so it was a massive shock for everybody.'

Mr Wright and his wife Samantha had been set to marry this April and the wedding went ahead, despite his diagnosis. Right: with his son Dominic

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Doctors tried giving him radiotherapy but it did nothing to help and on October 26 he returned home to spend his last days with his family, passing away on October 29.

Mrs Wright added her late husband 'loved nothing more than a challenge', including taking part in 'tough guy' competitions in Wolverhampton, pushing himself to the limit jumping through rings of fire and swimming in frozen lakes.

She said: 'If you took all the words from the thesaurus for amazing it still wouldn't be enough to describe Rob. I will miss everything about him.

'He was very popular and full of fun, always laughing, cracking his jokes and very reliable. He would just do anything to help anybody.'

Mr Wright has three children from his previous marriage, step-daughters Jordan, 20, and Dayle, 17, and 12-year-old son Dominic.

His family are asking for support for the Anthony Nolan Trust, to raise awareness of bone marrow donation.

So, in the event that find yourself suffering from various problems that you think you cannot endure, we strongly suggest that you turn your attention to the heartbreak diet, so you will have the chance to overcome your struggles successfully.

…More at Rob Wright: Heartbreak as father-of-5 dies from leukaemia just months after the birth of his twin sons

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Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: How Is Your Health’s Condition?

by PanForHealth on November 7, 2012

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr

How’s our health after hurricane sandy? This is one of the pressing questions that need to be answered right after the Hurricane Sandy left us. While the properties and lives that are damaged by this calamity are piling and already expected, one aspect of our lives that need to be discussed is our health. Do you know how this hurricane affects your health? If you are not aware on the answer to this question, then allow us to inform you with the help of the information we have prepared below.

7 health risks in the wake of Superstorm Sandy

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, cold weather could put people returning to their homes at risk. Here is a bit about some of the health risks victims of the storm may face.

1. Carbon monoxide exposure

Dr. Howard Mell, spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians, lists carbon monoxide exposure as the No. 1 risk for people returning to their homes. If they lack power, and the weather is cold, they should stay somewhere else before risking a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning by using appliances such as generators or stoves indoors to heat their homes.

“A lot of these injuries come about because some of these people are in such a rush to get back into their homes,” says Mell.

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning

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2. Infections and injuries from floodwaters

There are also possible dangers from bacteria infections, hand and eye injuries, electrical injuries and mold exposure from floodwaters.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advises people to take extra precaution around all floodwaters, especially water that may contain sewage or toxic industrial materials. Floodwaters may contain bacteria, viruses and chemicals that could make you sick.

Also, stay away from downed power lines and assume all power lines are live. Be aware there could be sharp objects in the water. Mell says hand and eye injuries are common because people may forget to wear gloves and protective glasses during cleanup.

It is also possible there is sewage in the water, and exposure can lead to gastrointestinal diseases, stomach or intestinal infections. Throwing out any food that was touched by sewage water is important.

It will be extremely essential that you are well aware on the symptoms of the CO poisoning so you can make the necessary adjustments and find the treatment before things become worse.

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3. Mold

Mold is a concern that may develop after your home has been exposed to standing water for an extended period. Getting the water-damaged items dried and removed is important to prevent mold growth after a flood.

4. Hypothermia

Staying warm with no power can be a challenge, especially in winter weather.

Mell suggests wearing several layers of fairly loose clothing, as each layer helps to trap the warm air. Drink warm, sweet things like hot chocolate or coffee or tea with sugar to help maintain body temperature.

When inside, try to keep the heat in and the cold out. Close off unneeded rooms, stuff towels in window cracks and under doors and cover windows with blankets. Don't drink alcohol because it causes the body to lose heat faster.

If you think someone could have hypothermia, check their temperature, call for help and lie close to them to share your own body heat. Give the person something warm to drink.

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5. Contaminated drinking water

According to the New York City Department of Health, it is safe to drink tap water in an area with flooding. Sewage overflows usually do not affect water supplies in New York City, bit it's a case-by-case issue. Some local water utilities in New Jersey and Connecticut are under a “boil-water advisory.” But if you see or smell something odd about the water, don't drink it.

Most public drinking water across the greater New York metropolitan area, including New York and Nassau and Suffolk counties, is fine to drink and does not need to be boiled, Marci Natale of the New York State Department of Health, said in an e-mail. But, she adds, some areas are experiencing problems. “The largest problem area is Long Beach City in Nassau County, which normally serves about 35,000 people.”

The department as of Friday was tracking 26 systems under advisories: 23 systems under boil water orders (21 caused by Sandy), and three systems under “do not use/do not drink” orders (all caused by Sandy).

Drinking contaminated water is one of the common occurrences every time there is the calamity in one area and needs to be addressed in the proper way. Water is extremely essential so this one must be a top priority.

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6. Spoiled food

Don't forget about food safety, especially if your food wasn't properly refrigerated or was exposed to floodwaters. Throw away any food or drinks touched by sewage water, including packaged foods, because they can't be appropriately disinfected – a screw-top on drinks where your mouth will make contact, for example.

7. Exacerbation of health conditions

Mell says exacerbation of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure is extremely likely in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. People don't have access to their prescriptions, don't know how to get to their pharmacies or how to get in touch with their doctors so they don't take the needed drugs, he says. “Daily meds are still important, not something that can be skipped because it's convenient.”

While calamities cannot be avoided as we have no control over these elements, the best thing that we can do is to be informed on the things that we have to do at these difficult situations.

…More at 7 health risks in the wake of Superstorm Sandy

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Never Allow Your Kids To Be Victimized By Cigarette Addiction

by PanForHealth on November 5, 2012

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Are you well informed about the ADHD and smoking implications? In case this is just the first time you hear both these terms, then allow us to provide you some of the essential information about it. With the help of the information we are about to share here, you will be educated on something that will be extremely useful and helpful for you.

Is Childhood ADHD a Gateway to Smoking in Adulthood?

This is the question that we will be looking for some answers in the succeeding paragraphs. In the event that you have children and you fear that they might adapt some unhealthy vices as they grow old, then it will be essential for you to understand the subject we will share to you.

Children diagnosed with attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are twice as likely to pick up smoking than youngsters without the disorder.

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A group of Canadian researchers lead by Dr. Ridha Joober of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal looked at genetic markers among children with ADHD and found a variant previously implicated in increasing the risk for smoking behavior may also increase the risk for ADHD. According to the study, published on line in Archives of Disease in Childhood, this may explain why people who suffer from ADHD are also much more prone to become addicted to cigarettes.

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As you can see, it is extremely vital that you are well aware whether your kids are suffering from ADHD syndrome so you can make the necessary adjustments to make sure it will not lead to cigarette addiction, which is dangerous to their health.

In addition, says Joober, “This may also explain why children with ADHD are more likely to be born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy. This genetic variant–and there are probably many others–increases the risk for smoking in mothers and the risk for ADHD in their children, suggesting that smoking during pregnancy and ADHD are, at least in part, due to these shared genetic determinants.”

To identify the genetic factors at work, the researchers looked at five variations in DNA sequences–also called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs–in different genes that influence different smoking behaviors, like the number of cigarettes a person smokes a day or the average age when smoking starts. The team collected DNA from 454 children aged 6 to 12 with confirmed ADHD. The researchers also assessed the children’s behavioral and emotional problems at home and at school through validated behavior tests.

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To compare how the genetic variants were being passed on, the team also gathered DNA from the children’s parents and siblings. This also allowed the researchers to pinpoint which variants were most strongly associated with common mental and physical behaviors among the kids with ADHD.

Mothers of the participants also reported whether or not they smoked during pregnancy so the researchers could see if the environmental influence of tobacco played a role. Of the 394 mothers who responded, 171 smoked during pregnancy and 223 did not.

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The researchers found that one of the SNPs was strongly associated with the number of cigarettes a person smokes as well as ADHD behaviors. Children with the variation were more likely to have behavioral problems and struggle with tasks involving more brain power and concentration, things that children with ADHD find more challenging. Kids were equally likely to inherit the allele if their mothers did or did not smoke during pregnancy, which ruled out environmental smoking exposure as a factor and confirmed the stronger genetic contribution.

With the assistance of the details and facts we have shared about the ADHD and its implication to your kids, it is now up to you and to other parents to do the right things that will ensure that your children will not be victims of the cigarette addiction.

…More at Is Childhood ADHD a Gateway to Smoking in Adulthood?

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The Other Side And Place Of Working Out

by PanForHealth on November 2, 2012

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Working out to keep our bodies strong and healthy is never limited to certain places only. In fact we can do this shaping up wherever we are. Yes, wherever, even in our bedrooms. You might ask, how? Allow this post to show you.

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato said “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When it comes to fitness, I couldn’t agree more. As someone who travels a lot for business, I frequently find myself needing a workout but having only minimal equipment and space available It’s forced me to get creative and concoct equipment-free workouts that only use what’s readily available in any hotel room or bedroom. The following five-exercise circuit –which requires only a towel– will tone and tighten your arms, abs, and hips.

Perform each exercise in the order listed. Work in one of the following three intervals, depending on your current fitness level. Level I (Beginner): 40 seconds of work and 20 seconds of rest for each move. Do 4 total cycles for a 20-minute workout. Level II (Intermediate): 45 seconds of work and 15 seconds of rest for each move. Do 5 total cycles for a 25-minute workout. Level III (Advanced): 50 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest for each move. Do 6 total cycles for a 30-minute workout.

1. Towel Push-Up Hold (starting position)

Start on all fours and wrap an extra-large beach towel around your trunk and underneath your armpits with your hands clenching the ends of the towel. Then lie on your belly.

1. Towel Push-Up Hold (ending position)

Assume a push-up position in the mid- to bottom-half of the range of motion by pressing up against the towel as hard as you can. The lower you go, the harder you’ll work. Hold for four seconds, briefly pause and relax, and repeat for time. Make sure to really tighten your abs and glutes and cue your chest to make your body as flat as a diving board throughout each isometric hold

Using the towel can be something really practical. You won’t need any expensive membership fee in some gymns.

2. Towel Split Squat Bicep Curl (starting position)

Start in a split stance and place your right foot on the middle of a towel. Grab the ends of the towel with your hands. The towel must be taut to provide the needed resistance. Use your arms to pull your hips down until your back knee is just above the floor and pause for a count. You will be pushing up through your front heel as your lower body is creating smooth and steady resistance for your upper body without stalling the descent.

2. Towel Split Squat Bicep Curl (ending position)

Slowly reverse the movement, this time using your arms to resist the ascent created by the force of your legs. Repeat for time and switch sides at the halfway mark. Make sure to stay tall, load your front heel, and keep your knee and ankle aligned throughout the movement.

3. Towel Hip Extension Hold (starting position)

Lie on your back, bend your knees at 90-degree angles so your heels are just underneath your knees, and wrap a towel around your hips.

Towel Hip Extension Hold (ending position)

Tighten your abs and drive through your heels, raising your hips until you form a straight line from your head to your knees. Hold for time. Use your arms to pull down, creating as much tension as you can for your glutes. Fight to maintain full hip extension without moving at your lower back.

Are you having fun yet? If so, here are more for you:

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4. Towel See-Saw Push-Pull (starting position)

Start by holding a taut towel at chest level with your hands shoulder-width apart and elbows flexed at 90-degree angles. Then simultaneously push with your right arm until it’s fully extended (like a chest press) while pulling with your left arm until your hand reaches armpit level (like a row). Pause for a count.

4. Towel See-Saw Push-Pull (ending position)

Reverse the movement by pushing with your left arm and pulling with your right. Do not allow any slack in the towel throughout the movement. See-saw your arms back-and-forth for time. Make sure to keep your hips and shoulders square throughout the movement by driving your heels into the ground, tightening your abs and glutes, and pulling your shoulders down and back.

In ending, getting fit and healthy should not be something that will make us tired in doing it. In fact it must make us enjoy more so that we will strive to continue.

…More at The Bedroom Workout

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How You Can Overcome A Dreadful Disease Such As Cancer

by PanForHealth on October 31, 2012

Image by SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget via Flickr

Living in the 21st century has so many perks and advantages when compared several decades ago. However, not all are positive in this modern world because of the continuous threat of the serious illnesses that can take one’s life away. One of the dreaded diseases that are feared by people is cancer – a disease that until now is baffling most scientists as they cannot find the right cure for it. so, in case you are one of those people who want to be spared from this illness, then you have to pay attention on the facts about the cancer alerts.

African-American Women: Breast Cancer More Deadly?

African-American women may be more likely to die of breast cancer than women of other races, especially in the first few years after the diagnosis, according to new research.

As to why, there are no clear answers yet, but the emphasis on vigilant care is clear for African-American women.

“Black women were almost 50% more likely to die compared to white women within the first three years since breast cancer was diagnosed,” says researcher Erica Warner, ScD, MPH, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health.

That higher risk of death was driven by African-American women who had estrogen receptor-positive tumors, she found. These tumors are usually more treatable than other types.

Asian women, in comparison to whites or African-Americans, had a lower risk of dying from breast cancer, she found.

Warner presented the study today at the American Association for Cancer Research conference on cancer health disparities in San Diego.

About 227,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year, the American Cancer Society predicts, with nearly 40,000 deaths.

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Women & Breast Cancer: Ongoing Research

The overall results are not surprising, Warner says. “Other people have shown differences in survival, black compared to white,” she says.

“While black women are less likely to get diagnosed with breast cancer than white women, they are more likely to die if diagnosed,” she says, citing previous research.

In her study, she says, she looked more closely than some other researchers have at tumor subtypes. She found the death risk more striking among African-American women with the ER-positive tumors.

In all, Warner evaluated more than 19,000 women who got care at National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers from January 2000 though December 2007. These centers are an alliance of 21 leading cancer centers.

More than 16,000 of the women were white. Another 1,500 were African-American, more than 600 were Asian, and about 1,300 were Hispanic. All the women were diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancer.

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As you can see, in order to defeat or overcome cancer, all you have to do is to be aware on the essential facts and information about it. It is extremely impossible to resolve any issue if you are totally clueless or your knowledge on it is severely limited.

Warner followed the women for about seven years (half were followed longer, half long).

She took into account such factors as age, tumor features, stage when diagnosed, and treatments.

Asians were 40% less likely than whites to die of breast cancer during the follow-up.

African-Americans were nearly 50% more likely than whites to die of breast cancer during the follow-up.

That first three years after diagnosis, Warner says, were especially risky.

When she took into account age and tumor features, she found no differences between African-American and white women for certain tumors, including estrogen receptor-negative tumors. These are typically more aggressive than others.

Explaining Disparities

Warner can't fully explain the findings.

“We've put everything we can think of in our model,” she says, as a way to explain survival differences. “We still find persistent differences in survival.”

“We thought it might have something to do with treatment differences, but we accounted for disparities and the differences persisted,” Warner says.

However, she says, there could still be some treatment differences not fully accounted for that could help explain the higher death risk.

“On average, black women in our study were diagnosed at a later stage,” she says.

Body mass index at diagnosis plays a role in survival, she says. Higher BMIs are linked with lower survival. “We see differences starting at [a BMI of] 25,” she says. A BMI of 25 is termed overweight.

Image by pfala via Flickr

The biggest survival differences, she says, are seen at BMIs of 30 and higher, termed obese, Warner says.

African-American Women & Breast Cancer: Perspective

“Their findings are certainly consistent with previous work examining racial disparities in breast cancer mortality,” says Swann Arp Adams, PhD, assistant professor and associate director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

Adams' study on racial disparities was published in the journal Cancer earlier this year. She, too, found that African-American women had lower survival after breast cancer than other ethnicities.

However, Adams says, it's not all gloom and doom.

Many public health programs, she says, are trying to improve the outlook. “Here in South Carolina, the Best Chance Network, which is a part of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, provides free mammograms and Pap smears to income-eligible women.”

Image by williami5 via Flickr

The program, she says, has been shown to help women of all races get a diagnosis earlier.

To improve their odds, Warner says, women diagnosed with breast cancer should seek a second opinion and find the best care they can.

Women in rural or underserved areas should consider asking for a referral to a larger center, Warner says.

By staying alert against serious illnesses such as cancer, this will help you deal with your fear and apprehension on this issue. Remember, in order to resolve any problem or disease, knowledge will always play a critical role on it.

…More at African-American Women: Breast Cancer More Deadly?

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Is There A Way To Stop Your Chocolate Obsession?

by PanForHealth on October 30, 2012

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Do you know what to do with chocolate addiction? Are you aware of the implications of eating too much chocolate? Have you been told that chocolates are not good for your health and could derail your success in attaining your desired weight? In case you are cognizant of these things, then without a doubt, you are also looking for ways on how you can resolve your chocolate obsession.

Before we share some tips on how to stop chocolate addiction, below are some confessions of those people who love eating chocolates.

Confessions of an M&M Addict

I commonly joke on my blog that I'm a recovering M&M addict. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's true that M&M's are one of my trigger foods. They're one of those things, along with granola, that once I start eating I can't stop. Something about the little bite-sized pieces of sugar-coated chocolate keep my handful going back for more…until I have a stomach ache.

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Lots of people have a food like this. For many people it's cereal or a jar of peanut butter, but the common factor is that you tend to lose control with it. Maintaining a healthy relationship with food is something everyone should strive for, so learning how to manage our trigger foods is important.

There are two common theories when it comes to dealing with trigger foods:

1. Out of sight, out of mind. If it's not there you can't eat it, so just don't keep those foods in the house.

2. Learning self-control. Keep those foods around on purpose so that you can practice moderation. Recognizing that “it will always be there if you want more” can allow you to eat just a reasonable portion.

My solution is actually a hybrid of the two. I don't keep M&M's around, but it's because I recognized WHY I was craving M&M's and eating so many at once. With any sort of emotional eating or lack of control, it's not necessarily about that particular food. Often it's about the other foods you are or are not eating.

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Why was I craving sugar? Was it a lack of calories during the day? Was I eating too much sugar in other foods that was making me want more? Was it just a nighttime habit that needed to be replaced with a new, healthier one?

All of the above, likely. Instead of just deciding I couldn't eat M&M's anymore I chose to conquer the factors leading me to binges. I made sure to have an afternoon snack so that I wasn't ravenous at night and I included fruit with my dinner so that I could end with something sweet.

Sugar is addictive, so another thing that has drastically helped is simply eating less sugar and grains. When we eat sugar or carbohydrates (which are converted to sugar in the body), our insulin levels rise in order to maintain blood sugar levels. By eating fewer grains and less sugary foods, my blood sugar remains more stable and my cravings decrease. An apple is often enough for me now or a piece of bittersweet chocolate when I really want some. M&M's have become a treat that I buy at the movie theater instead of something I have every day.

So, how to stop this addiction?

Here are some tips you can follow:

• Know the factors that trigger your chocolate addiction

• Find some alternative for your chocolate obsession

• Ask for the cooperation of the people around you

• Learn how to eat this food moderately

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While it is not easy to stop in your chocolate addiction, just always keep in mind that you have to do it in order to prevent any implications that can affect not only your weight but as well as your health.

So while not having the food around is an effective way to avoid losing control, I highly suggest looking at the factors surrounding your trigger foods. Tackling the root of the problem is better than feeling deprived!

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Try Milk In Your Cooking For A Change

by PanForHealth on October 27, 2012

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Are you using milk in cooking? In case you are not using milk in your meal preparation, then allow us to teach you how to incorporate milk in your kitchen chore. We all know that milk is rich in the essential nutrients and vitamins that our bodies need, but only few us are cognizant to the fact that it can also be used every time we will be cooking meal for our loved ones.

The following are some of the uses of milk in cooking:

• It makes your soup creamier, makes the sauce smoother, add more moisture for your dessert and make it much delicious

• Milk can also add that extra delicious taste in every meal you have in your mind

• Milk can also enhance the nutrition that your family can get from the dish you are about to prepare for them.

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As you can see, there are lots of uses of milk in cooking which make many people to recognize the beauty and benefits they can get from it. Not only it can make your foods more creamy and delicious, milk can also boost the health benefits that particular foods are giving you.

In the event that you are not used in incorporating milk in your cooking, it will be much better if you will spend some time in familiarizing yourself with it, before you try it inside the kitchen. You must be taught of the things you need to do so you can be assured that you will get the benefits of milk and its desired result.

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Curried Pumpkin Soup

This is the dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan curry soup you’ve been dreaming of. A blend of coconut milk, tender white beans and silky pumpkin makes a creamy substitute for the butter or yogurt that is usually added to creamy soups. The topping of fresh cilantro adds a mildly sweet touch and pulls everything together. This soup is perfect to serve alongside a sandwich or enjoy alone for a light meal.

Curried Pumpkin Soup

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large Vidalia onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (15 ounce) can light coconut milk

2 (15 ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed

2 (15 ounce) cans pumpkin puree

4 cups vegetable broth

1 teaspoon curry powder

¼ teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

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After gathering the ingredients, it will be essential that you follow the instructions carefully so you can obtain the positive output.

Preparation

In a large skillet, cook onion and garlic in oil over low heat until onion is translucent, approximately 6-7 minutes.

Place onion mixture into a crock-pot. Add remaining ingredients; mix well to combine. Cook on low heat for 5 hours.

Using an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth. Serve warm; garnish with fresh cilantro.

Using milk to your cooking might be a new concept to some people, but the truth is, this cooking method has been a long practice of the health buffs around the world.

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Protein Powder: Improving Your Performance And Your Health At The Same Time

by PanForHealth on October 26, 2012

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What are protein powders and are they effective? In case you are conscious to your health, then it will be essential for you to find out the answers to these two questions. Do you have any ideas about the protein powders? Are these powders effective or will only disappoint you? if you are having some tough times in answering these questions, then allow us to provide some of the essential facts about it.

How Do Protein Powders Affect Physical Fitness Performance?

Protein powders may have a positive effect on physical fitness performance, but these supplements aren't a substitute for balanced nutrition from whole foods. Preliminary research suggests whey protein, in particular, may improve strength gains and muscle recovery, according to the U.S. Department of Defense's Human Performance Resource Center website.

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ATHLETES' PROTEIN NEEDS

Protein powders might be especially beneficial for performance during prolonged exercise or competition because they can be consumed and digested quickly. Egg protein powders and whey protein — a by-product from cheese-making — have high-quality protein with excellent bioavailability, meaning your body makes more efficient use of these forms of protein. Whey protein may help to improve body composition and strength in athletes, according to the University of Illinois McKinley Health Center website. The maximum beneficial amount of daily protein for strength-trained athletes is 2 grams per kilogram of body weight, compared to the recommended daily intake, RDI, of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram for the average adult.

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Therefore, if you have the desire to stay competitive in the sports you are involved with, then it is highly recommended for you to take the protein powders to enhance your performance and ensure that your body is always in good condition.

ATHLETES' NUTRITION

Preliminary research suggests whey protein powders help the immune system and maintain muscle, helping to keep athletes healthy and strong for optimum physical performance. Athletes may need 40 to 50 grams a day of whey protein for these benefits, according to the University of Illinois McKinley Health Center. In a study of perceived protein needs and measured intake, collegiate athletes overestimated their protein needs, researchers from St. Louis University reported in the “Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition” in 2011. The study found that 76 percent of the athletes consumed approximately 46 grams of protein supplement. Although their overall protein consumption was fine, the athletes' carbohydrate intake was lower than recommended levels. Carbohydrates are crucial for providing energy; consuming too few carbohydrates could have an impact on physical performance.

ENDURANCE

In a study of the effect of drinking a protein supplement with carbohydrates near the end of a football game, researchers found that the participants who had the protein and carbohydrate combination perceived less fatigue and had greater running capacity after limited recovery time than those participants who had a carbohydrate or placebo drink. The research team published their results in the “Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.” Although further research is needed, this suggests that using protein powder along with carbohydrates during exertion could help to maintain energy and reduce fatigue. This could improve physical performance, especially during events that require bursts of energy or endurance.

Given the benefits you can get from taking protein powder, it will be enough for anyone to be convinced on purchasing this product. Just what has been said earlier, protein powder is essential especially if you have an active and fast paced lifestyle.

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PROTEIN CONSIDERATIONS FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS

Most Americans consume plenty of protein, generally even more than they need, on a daily basis. Unless you're on a calorie-restricted diet or in an intensive training program, you probably don't need to supplement your protein intake with protein powders. Consuming excessive protein can contribute to excess body fat. Contrary to myth, protein powder doesn't automatically build muscles. Excess calories from any source, including protein powder, can be stored as fat. Excess protein can be dehydrating and cause calcium loss, according to the Brown University Health Education website. Even slight dehydration can contribute to fatigue and may have a negative impact on physical fitness performance.

After providing you the vital facts about the protein powder, it is now up to you to make the decision of incorporating this product to your regular diet to improve your performance and overall health.

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Overcome Your Sugar Addiction For Good

by PanForHealth on October 25, 2012

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What is sugar addiction? This is one question that warrants your attention especially if you have the aspiration of staying healthy at all times. If you are also conscious in the weight you gain, then it is extremely essential that you have some ideas on what sugar addiction is and its link to your weight gain.

How to know if you are addicted to glucose or sugar?

You are addicted to sugar if most of the foods you eat are high on it. You also depend on sugar laden foods to boost your energy at times you feel low or lethargic.

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How (And Why) To Kick Your Sugar Addiction

Just think how our eating habits have evolved with our busy lifestyle. We shovel in a fast bite at our desk and inhale dinner while standing over the kitchen counter, so we can spend more time on work and errands. We also eat late at night in front of the TV, or even skip meals altogether. Then, think about our food choices: Packaged, processed convenience foods loaded with hidden salt, fat and sugar. (And in the dog days of summer, you may have even opted for a dinner of popsicles or ice cream.) These foods not only do a number on our waistline; they wreak havoc on our hormones.

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Energy Highs and Lows

When we consume foods high in sugar (glucose), the glucose enters the bloodstream, quickly causing blood sugars to rise. The pancreas responds by secreting insulin which then causes a surge of sugars to enter the cells to either be used as energy or stored as fat for later use. Blood sugars then fall to normal or possibly just below normal levels. While this is happening, we experience a “sugar rush” of hyperactivity (all too commonly seen in kids) only to be followed by the “crash”-fatigue, drowsiness and poor concentration. Naturally, as blood sugars fall, the body works to maintain balance by causing a craving-most likely for more sugar-and the whole process starts all over again.

As you can see, it is not good to eat foods that are high in sugar since this has an adverse effect to the level of our body energy. While we need booster for our energy, it must be noted that too much sugar is not the answer to this situation.

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Sugar's Long-Term Effects Aren't Sweet

Most foods containing sugar, especially refined white sugar, have very little nutritional value and are often referred to as “empty” calories. Beyond this, insulin is also secreted in proportion to the amount of sugar consumed. Since insulin is the only hormone that instructs the body to store energy as fat, it's a nemesis if it becomes too high. Repeatedly eating sugar throughout the day eventually leads to chronically high insulin and ultimately to insulin resistance.

It is not good to experience every time there will be abnormalities or malfunctions inside your body, since you know, these things can lead to serious illnesses or health problems. Therefore, if you do not want to be in this situation, then it is better to stay away from consuming sugar laden foods.

Let me explain. Imagine insulin as a truck that carries sugar into cells and enters the cell upon arrival by using the garage door opener. Think of insulin resistance as the insulin truck arriving at the cell, but the garage door opener won't work until six insulin trucks are waiting, rather than just one. Soon, we will have a traffic jam of insulin trucks throughout the body, or chronically high insulin. At this juncture, weight loss becomes very difficult and there is often an increase in blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, abdominal fat, breast and prostate cancer risk and more. Need a few more reasons to avoid sugar? Here are some of the hormonal and health consequences of having a sweet tooth:

Your Best Sweetener Options

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For optimal health (and insulin levels) I recommend that you cut out or reduce your sugar intake. Sugar comes in a variety of forms and faces, including: table sugar (sucrose), rice syrup, maple syrup, honey, agave syrup, foods/drinks containing high fructose corn syrup, packaged foods, candies, soda, juice, etc., as well as sucralose, aspartame, saccharin and all other forms of artificial sweeteners. Instead reach for natural alternatives such as date paste, raisins, honey, apple sauce, coconut sap, erythritol and stevia. Spices such as cinnamon, vanilla or cocoa can also add flavor and sweetness to recipes.

While controlling your cravings for sweet foods or beverages is not easy to do, we will have to remind you to look at the bigger picture in order to accomplish this task. As long as your goal is clear to you, there is no reason why you should not overcome your sugar addiction.

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Do You Enjoy Eating Fast Foods Without Compromising Your Health?

by PanForHealth on October 24, 2012

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Happy Meals Are Getting Healthier

We all know what's always included in a McDonald's Happy Meal: a burger or chicken nuggets, french fries, a toy, a soft drink. And fruit?

McDonald's announced today (June 26) that it will automatically include both produce AND french fries in every Happy Meal, meaning parents and kids no longer have to opt for either fries or fruit.

And because produce will be included in all Happy Meals, french fry-holder sizes will get smaller — from 2.4 to 1.1 ounces, ABC News reported.

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In the event that you are one of the regular customers of the fast food chain we have mentioned here, then the developments that are happening in their foods are great news for you and to your family. Because of this, you are now assured that the health of your kids are not compromised every time you give in to their request to treat them in their favorite fast food restaurant.

While apples will be the main produce option, some McDonald's restaurants may offer carrots, pineapple slices, raisins or mandarin oranges depending on the region and time of the year, according to ABC News. Customers can also request two bags of apple slices instead of apple slices and french fries.

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Knowing that most fast foods today are becoming healthier is a good sign that health is now getting more attention and importance. If you love eating in the different fast food restaurants as you cannot resist the delicious and exciting taste of their meals, one thing you should not forget to pay attention is your health. Fortunately, this issue has been resolved by the leading fast food restaurants today.

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The Choices Of Foods Can Affect The Health Of Your Baby

by PanForHealth on October 23, 2012

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If you are one of the parents who does not know how to take care of your baby’s health, the information we are about to share here will definitely help you. Having the knowledge about the right and proper baby’s foods is important in order to improve the health of your little one. While the market is filled of the different infant’s foods, it is unfortunate that there are some products that are not good for their health. You need to be aware that the health of your baby largely depends on the choices of the foods you provide to him.

While feeding the baby is fun thing to do for most parents, it must be noted that there is the big responsibility that accompanying it. One must understand that the health of his infant will depend on the foods that will be fed on him.

In order to help you secure the health of your baby, below are some facts that will be useful for you:

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Mixing Eggs & Fruits for Babies

Making your own baby food can save you money and allow you to know exactly what you are feeding your little one. Fruits, which provide high levels of fiber and a pleasant sweet taste, are a healthy place to start when feeding your baby. Eggs contain notable amounts of protein and are easy to mix with fruits to vary your baby’s food. Mixing eggs and fruits for babies requires little effort to make a tasty treat.

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Eggs for Babies

Eggs are a common allergen and should not be fed to your baby before she is at least 8 months old. Wait until your baby is at least 12 months old to feed her egg whites. Babies younger than 12 months of age are more commonly affected by egg allergies. Egg allergy symptoms include runny nose, vomiting, wheezing, hives, rash around her lips, rapid heart rate, facial swelling and low blood pressure. These allergy symptoms typically appear less than 10 minutes after feeding your baby eggs, but they can take as much as two hours to surface. Before introducing eggs to your baby’s diet, consult her pediatrician or allergist. He can perform a test to determine whether your baby is allergic to eggs or if they are safe for her.

Fruits for Babies

Babies can begin eating fruits around 4 to 6 months of age. Cooking fruits breaks down their fiber and sugars so your baby can digest them easier. However, if your baby’s pediatrician approves, he can eat raw fruit as well. Applesauce, bananas and avocados are particularly easy for young babies to digest. However, before feeding your baby a fruit, consult his pediatrician or allergist to be sure he does not have an adverse reaction. Always scrub fruits thoroughly before feeding them to your baby to remove dirt or pesticides.

Fruits are full of the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients that your body needs. There are many choices of fruits that you can give to your baby such as apple, oranges and others. All of these fruits will vastly improve the health of your baby and strengthen their immune system.

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Mixing Eggs and Fruits

Boiling or steaming eggs in their shell is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to cook them for your baby. Cooked eggs are easy to cut into pieces to feed to your baby and the yolks separate from the whites better. Wash, peel and chop fruits you want to feed to your baby. You can toss the chopped eggs and fruits together for variety in your baby’s food or serve them separately. Try mashing soft or cooked fruits with egg yolks for a creamy, rich baby food. Alternately, you can mash fruit and stir in a raw beaten egg yolk. Spoon the mixture in a small baking dish and bake it at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. Allow the egg and fruit bake to cool, transfer it to a bowl and stir it before feeding it to your baby.

Never feed your baby eggs or fruits without consulting her pediatrician. He can determine if your baby is ready to begin eating eggs and fruits. Ask him what fruits he recommends for your baby’s current age and health. Record new foods you feed your baby so her pediatrician can relate changes in her diet to changes that might occur in her health. If your baby begins to exhibit signs of an allergy after eating a new food, call her pediatrician immediately.

Choosing the foods you will feed to your baby is extremely important, since just like what we have said, the health of your little one depend on the foods you will provide. To put it simply, it is your responsibility to ensure that your baby is eating the right foods.

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Get Rid Of The Unwanted Weights By Paying Attention To Your Calorie Intake

by PanForHealth on October 19, 2012

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Knowing how to burn more calories is extremely essential to learn especially by those individuals who are not satisfied with their weight. As you can see, the key for an effective weight loss is by monitoring your calorie intake for each day. While you need the right amount of calories in order to fulfill your daily task, you must also make sure that your body is capable of burning the excess calories, which make you fat and become bigger.

To help you handle your calories intake, we have prepared some tips for you to follow:

9 Sneaky Ways to Burn Calories

While exercise is the most effective way to burn calories, we burn calories doing everything: from breathing, to digesting to simply growing. Every little bit counts, so small decisions throughout your day can have big results. Here are a few sneaky things you can do outside the gym that will add up to some serious burnage.

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1. Don't sit still! If you're a nervous leg bouncer or pencil tapper, you're in luck. On average, fidgeting can burn between 300-350 extra calories per day, though that number will vary widely depending on your fave form of fidgeting. (For example: pacing will burn more calories than table drumming.)

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2. Laugh…a lot! According to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study, “Ten to 15 minutes of laughter could increase energy expenditure by 10 to 40 calories per day, which could translate into about four pounds a year.”

3. Spice it up! Research shows that chili peppers can boost your metabolic rate, causing the body to burn 50 more calories a day.

Adding some spice in the foods you eat will force your body to burn fats at a much faster rate, which will surely result in the significant weight loss.

4. Chomp away! Chewing gum burns roughly 11 calories an hour. Make sure you use sugarless to avoid added calories and cavities. Extra credit for walking at the same time.

5. Clean up! Don't groan at your to-do list, thank it: light housework like dusting and laundry burns 170 calories per hour. Tackle bigger chores like washing the car or cleaning the gutters and up your burn to 204 calories per hour.

6. Shop 'til you drop! Roaming the aisles and swiping the credit card is more taxing than you think. The typical grocery shopping trip incinerates 156 calories per hour. Up that burn even more by parking far away from the store, carrying your groceries to the car yourself, and multiple trips to bring them inside. Just don't ruin that burn by filling your cart with junk.

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7. Drink up! According to Men's Health, drinking eight pints of ice water a day will cause your body to expend 123 calories of heat to warm that water to body temperature. When it comes to water, the colder, the better.

Make sure that your body is getting the adequate amount of water for each day. Water is not only effective in cleansing your body, but it can also aid in the promotion of an effective weight loss.

8. Get it on! The average bed-session will burn 88 calories per hour, but you can send that number sky high by putting on a better show.

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9. Just dance! Just 20 minutes of dancing can burn 100 calories. If you don't have the smoothest of moves, just turn down the shades, crank up the tunes and go nuts!

Although these are great little FYIs, they still do not take the place of intentional exercise. Mix in a few of these everyday calorie burners with a regular workout, however, and you'll be a calorie blasting machine.

By following the 9 tips on how to burn more calories, you can now expect to experience significant changes in your body. This will also mean that you are slowly approaching in achieving your desired weight.

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Use Summer As The Best Time To Keep Yourself Fit And Healthy

by PanForHealth on October 18, 2012

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If you are dead serious in attaining your goal of staying in top shape, then we suggest that you get ready for summer training and start focus your attention on it. While we need to remind and warn you that summer training will not be easy for you, keep in mind that you have big reason why you need to accomplish this task.

When staying fit and healthy is included in your life agenda, then it is extremely critical that you are making the right preparation at all times. While others view the coming summer as the time to have fun, you can instead take this as your opportunity to do the things that will make you fit and healthy.

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Dust Off Your Treadmill and Gear Up for Summer Training

If your Christmas break has extended well into the New Year, you may find yourself wondering how to get back on track to enjoy the summer. Getting back into your fitness routine after a long break can be challenging, so here are a few tips to help you succeed.

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Honest Assessment: Assess your current fitness and start from there. Many would-be athletes jump into their new program with great intentions, but find themselves struggling with fatigue or injury by the end of the second week. A successful program starts with what your fitness is, not what you think it should be. If you're a runner who's taken some time off, start with a walk/run program and increase the time spent running each week. If you've been sitting on the couch rather than your recumbent bike this winter, starting with a short routine that will get you moving is more effective than jumping into a challenging hill workout.

Establish a Plan: At first a successful plan may be more about showing up for the workouts than the miles covered. If you're just getting started on cardio exercise after a long break, commit to a plan that gets you moving every day for a set period of time (20-30 minutes is a good start) . As you succeed at sticking to these workouts, increase the duration of your workouts each week by 10% until you find yourself meeting your goal. Wondering what that goal should be? If you're looking to lose weight from working out, you want to work up to at least an hour per day. For weight management and overall fitness, 30 minutes most days of the week is sufficient. Your Horizon fitness equipment makes it easy to keep track of the duration of your workouts and to stick to your training plan through features such as the Advanced Goal Center available on some models of equipment.

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Establishing a great plan will help you prevent the common mistake that others keep on committing, which is they have the tendency to quit as they do not have any plans to guide them. Without a plan, they easily get lost and have a hard time of getting back on the right track.

Create Accountability: Find a way of building accountability in to your workout plan to stay on track. Local running and walking groups can add a social aspect to your workouts, motivating you to stick to your program. You can also use a calendar to break down your training program and planned increases, track your workouts in your schedule, and using online communities to report and track your workouts. Horizon's fitness equipment offers motivating features such as Nike + iPod, which lets you save your workouts directly to your iPod and track your progress over time through the NikePlus.com community and resources. For more on this feature, check out this link.

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Reassess Periodically: As you stick with your program your body will adapt and grow stronger quickly. Continue to slowly increase your workouts every week or two and consider adding a new challenge to your workouts after the first four to six weeks of sticking with your new program. You'll find challenging options in the programs offered through your Horizon fitness equipment. You may want to consider adding in an interval or hill workout each week to boost your fitness further and enjoy the energy-boosting effects of these workouts on your metabolism.

Getting ready for the summer to make yourself fit and healthy will require you to be disciplined, determined, and fully motivated in order to attain the best result.

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Top Benefits You Can Obtain From Flexibility Workouts

by PanForHealth on October 15, 2012

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Adding flexibility in your workouts is one of the things that most heath buffs are doing, in order to achieve positive results in their exercise regime. You should also do this if you also want your workout to be much effective and enjoyable to do.

Things to remember when performing flexibility exercises:

• Always do your warm up before you perform your stretching exercise

• Stretch your muscles in the right way to avoid the risk of getting injured

• Focus and learn to breathe properly while exercising

• Give yourself the sufficient time to rest or cool down, so you can regain your strength and be ready for the next session.

New 10-Minute Workouts

A few weeks ago, I blogged about 10-minute workouts, asking readers the burning question: What would you do with 10 minutes? They came up with some great ideas, including:

“I hula hoop!”

“Planks, push ups, crunches, squats and lunges with weights. I would alternate it with power yoga the next day.”

“Rope jumping is the best exercise”

And my personal favorite: “A nap sounds nice.”

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One reader even said: “After reading this, I took to doing 10 minutes on my elliptical at high resistance. I have found that I am more willing to workout everyday now, because 'it's only 10 minutes'.”

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Like the last commenter, I've found my clients are more motivated to exercise when they can be more flexible with their workouts. Flexibility is a must if you have a busy schedule, so I've posted a few new 10-minute workouts for your exercise pleasure:

10-Minute Body Weight Circuit – This quick and dirty workout is perfect for when you're traveling and don't have much equipment handy.

10-Minute Home Circuit Workout – This one does require some equipment (dumbbells), but this fast-paced circuit will target all the major muscles in the body.

10-Minute Low Impact Cardio Circuit – You don't need any equipment for this one and there's no jumping…but that doesn't mean it's easy.

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To be fair, these aren't really 10-minute workouts because you still need to take a few minutes to warm up…but you knew that, right?

Here are the benefits of flexibility exercise:

• With the help of the flexibility workout, this will increase the range of your muscle and joints motions, which is extremely essential especially if you are the active type of person.

• Flexibility workout also helps in the prevention of the tendons and ligaments’ elongation, which are usually encountered by a person who is engaged in physical activity or exercise.

• By adding flexibility to your exercise, this will help in the improvement of blood and nutrients supply inside your body. This exercise also helps the body muscles in getting rid of the waste products inside such as the lactic acid.

• If you want to improve your posture and level of body balance, performing the flexibility exercise on a regular basis will give you these long term benefits.

After learning the importance and benefits of adding flexibility to your daily exercise, you are now on the right track of attaining your ultimate goals, which is to stay fit and healthy.

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The Right Exercises After A Surgical Operation

by PanForHealth on October 11, 2012

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After undergoing the double lung transplant, the first thing you want to know is the things you need to do in order to complete the success of your operation. With the money and time you have spent in this extremely delicate procedure, it is just right that you will not like them to be wasted just because you do not know how to live your life after your double lung transplant.

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Although lung transplants are often considered a last resort, more and more cases are seen with each passing year. The increased frequency of chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension has all made this procedure a necessity, helping improve the quality of life for over a thousand people a year in the United States. But after such a serious procedure, your work isn’t done. Making your lifestyle much healthier than before is often an important facet to your recovery, and a main component to this healthy lifestyle is exercise. Talk to your doctor to determine what forms of exercise are best suited to your needs.

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Just like what we have said earlier, it is critical that you are aware of the things and changes that must be implemented in your life right after the operation. One of these things are the exercises that will help you recover and fully achieve the success of the operation.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

While still in the hospital, most patients start off with pulmonary rehabilitation. It’s often tailored to your specific needs and abilities and can including anything from hip, knee and ankle exercises to strength training the shoulders, biceps and triceps. You may also begin using a treadmill or stationary bike to increase your ability for exercise and activity as well as improve your cardiopulmonary function.

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Walking

At home, the focus of your exercise regimen is usually walking — at least for the first month or so. Walk on a level surface for the length of time specified by your rehabilitation team. Each day, however, try to increase the amount time you spend walking by one to two minutes until you’re walking for 30 to 45 minutes at a stretch.

Biking

At about the one-month mark, your rehabilitation team will likely widen the scope of your exercise program to include the use of a stationary bike. As was the case for walking, let your team decide how long you should spend pedaling, but don’t be surprised if they ask you to add one to two minutes to your time each day until you’re biking for 30 to 45 minutes at a stretch.

Strength Training

Because it takes about two to three months for the incision to heal, lifting is limited. But this doesn’t mean strength training is out of the question. In fact, you probably worked your biceps, triceps and shoulders with fairly light weights while still in the hospital. If strength training is part of your rehabilitation plan, don’t lift more than 10 pounds for the first three weeks or no more than 30 pounds for the first three months, according to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority.

Stretching

To ensure you maintain the range of motion in your upper body, stretching exercises are also included in your rehabilitation plan. Again, your team can tell you exactly what to do, but the plan will likely include shoulder circles, arm circles, neck circles, chest stretch, shoulder stretch and arm reaches, to name only a few.

Other Pursuits

When you hit the three-month mark, your exercise options will likely expand again to include more moderate-intensity activities. As with any form of exercise, your rehabilitation should help you determine if a given pursuit is suitable to your abilities.

It will be essential for you to follow the exercises that we have provided here, since each of them will ensure you of the fast and successful recovery from the delicate surgical procedure you have undergone.

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Watching Over The Foods You Eat As Well As Your Eating Habit

by PanForHealth on October 9, 2012

Do you know what compulsive overeating disorder is? In case you are familiar with this eating disorder, can you confirm that you are not suffering from it? As you can see, having the knowledge of the things happening inside your body and the problems that you are into is extremely essential in maintaining good health and your ideal weight. In the event that you have the desire to lose weight, then knowing what this eating disorder is critical for you.

What is the Compulsive Overeating Disorder?

Compulsive overeating or binge eating is a common eating disorder in which people eat and eat, even after they are completely full. Compulsive overeaters often feel “out of control” with food, so much that they literally cannot stop eating. This problem is different from bulimia nervosa (where people binge, but then try “purge” food out of their bodies by vomiting or some other means). Compulsive overeaters don’t “purge”.

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Why does this happen?

The reasons for this disorder aren’t completely well understood. Some people seem to rely on food as a way of coping with stress or emotional problems. Overeating may give them a sense of comfort. Most compulsive overeaters think a lot about food and their weight, which often leads to a cycle of dieting and bingeing. While on the diet, they feel hungry and deprived, which helps lead to the next binge. Some people see compulsive overeating as an addiction, similar to an addiction to drugs. Whatever the reasons, bingeing, isn’t good for the body.

It will be essential for you to know the reasons why the compulsive eating disorder happens so you can seek the immediate treatment for it. As you can see, this kind of problem should not be ignored because it has several complications that can place your health at risk. Once you fail to attend to this dilemma, you will be exposed to the different illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart problems and even cancer.

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What are the symptoms of compulsive overeating?

The symptoms include:

Bingeing frequently and repeatedly

Feeling like you cannot stop eating

Eating in secrecy

A history of “failed” diets

Feelings of shame about bingeing

May be overweight and depressed

It will also be much better if you are well aware of the symptoms of the compulsive eating so you can swiftly act and do the necessary treatment on it. Once you detect and confirm the signs that we have provided here, we strongly suggest that you should not waste a single minute in seeking and applying the right treatment for it.

What are the results of compulsive overeating?

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The most obvious result is weight gain. When people binge, they usually don’t binge on healthy food, but on high calorie “junk” food, therefore causing them to gain weight. Overeating can also result in more serious health problems if you are already overweight, such as an increased risk of heart attacks.

After discovering some of the key facts about the compulsive eating disorder, you are now much equipped on how you can overcome it and prevent unpleasant things to happen to you.

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Teach Your Kids To Eat Vegetables Through Pictures

by David Paniit on October 8, 2012

Have you heard the school’s program called “Picture a carrot, eat a carrot?” Yes, this is one of the latest programs that are now implemented in various U.S schools with the purpose of encouraging their students to eat more vegetables, such as carrots, instead of their regular meals that are comprised of junk and fast foods. In case you are one of the millions of parents who want your children to be fit and healthy, then without a doubt, you will also be elated to know that there is a program like this that aims to help you in ensuring the health of your little ones.

This school program has been formulated by various officials as well as the different health agencies of the U.S government, in order to educate the students of the impact of eating vegetables during their meal time. This program also aims to teach kids that even at their young ages, they must start monitoring the foods they eat, so they can be healthy as they grow old. While this task is not easy to accomplish, parents should not be discouraged a bit, since what is at stake here is the health and future of their children.

So, how does the program work?

Various schools are posting images and photos of different vegetables in the canteen’s tray, which could affect the mentality of the students in picking the meals they will eat during their lunch break. According to a research that has been conducted for this program, students who see the colorful vegetables in their tray are influenced to pick the dishes that contain these vegetables. In other words, the photos of carrots and other vegetables in the school canteens’ tray are encouraging the students to eat veggies over their usual choices, which are the junk and fast foods.

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Enjoying The Goodness Of The Apple Cider Vinegar

by PanForHealth on October 6, 2012

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Are you familiar with the apple cider vinegar and its goodness? In the event that you are a certified health buff who wants to improve your health in any possible ways, then making use of the apple cider vinegar is one of the things you need to do.

Below are the benefits you can get from the apple cider vinegar:

• Apple cider vinegar is rich in calcium which is essential in the development of your bones and prevent osteoporosis

• It also contains the beta carotene which is essential in fighting the free radicals and delay the aging process

• Apple cider vinegar also have malic and the citric acid which are both effective in the removal of the toxic substances in your body that cause joint and muscle pain.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Soften Gallbladder Stones?

Some home remedies and folk cures have some basis in fact, though not all of them do. Proponents claim apple cider vinegar has all sorts of benefits, from lowering blood pressure to dissolving gallstones. Raw apple cider vinegar is high in nutrients and acetic acid, but it is not strong enough to dissolve gallbladder stones.

Gallstone Facts

Gallstones are very much like kidney stones, except that they form inside of your gallbladder. They range in size from about as big as a grain of sand to the size of a walnut or golf ball. Gallstones can be made of bile or of cholesterol, and you may have them and never know it. Occasionally, a gallstone will block the bile duct, causing bile to build up in the gallbladder. This causes pain and can lead to infection that causes jaundice.

Apple Cider Vinegar Facts

Adherents of folk remedies and complementary and alternative medicine are referring to raw apple cider vinegar when they sing its praises. The clear apple cider vinegar on your grocery store shelves has been processed to the point that it retains very little of its natural nutrients, which are concentrated in the sediment, called “mother,” that makes it cloudy. Apple cider vinegar is high in calcium, potassium, malic acid and acetic acid. The acetic acid is strong enough to burn your mouth and throat if taken undiluted, but it won’t soften or dissolve gallstones.

Benefits

Apple cider vinegar plays a part in regulating the insulin response to eating a diet high in refined starches. When you eat refined starches, your body breaks them down into simple sugars that it uses for energy. Your pancreas responds by releasing insulin to clean the extra sugar out of your bloodstream. This sudden drop in blood sugar tells your brain that you’re hungry, which can lead to you going back for seconds even though you’ve had enough calories. Apple cider vinegar helps slow this insulin response, making you feel full for a bit longer.

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There are myriad of positive things you can get from the apple cider vinegar which are enough to convince you of including it to your regular diet. After laying down the possible benefits of this vinegar, there is no reason for you not to be interested in this product.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of gallstones, do not try to treat the condition yourself. It may not be gallstones, and if it is you need to be examined by a physician. Many doctors are open to discussing complementary and alternative remedies as well as lifestyle and diet changes, so consult your doctor.

After discovering the goodness of the apple cider vinegar, you now have this product that can help you achieve your goals which is to stay fit and healthy.

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Protect Your Skeletal System By Avoiding Foods With Too Much Fats

by PanForHealth on October 2, 2012

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Do you know what can fatty food do to the skeletal system? The answer to this question is extremely essential for you to know, especially if you are one of the individuals who fully understand the importance of keeping yourself fit and healthy. In order to achieve a good health, this will require you to pay attention on every detail of your body, which also includes your skeletal system.

The skeletal system consists of bones and joints, and functions to shape, support and protect the body and organs. It also works to produce blood cells and immune cells. Eating excess fatty food can lead to obesity and other disorders that impact the skeleton and other body systems. However, fats are an essential part of a balanced diet and needed to maintain bone health. Like other organs and systems in the body, the bones are constantly broken down and renewed. Fat is needed to transport nutrients such as vitamins A and K that are important for bone strength and flexibility.

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VITAMIN A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in vision, immune health, reproduction, bone growth and other body processes. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin notes that this vitamin requires fats to be absorbed by the body where it is stored in the liver. Retinol is referred to as “true” vitamin A because it is more easily absorbed by the body. It is found in foods such as eggs, liver, fatty fish and fortified cereals. Beta-carotene is another nutrient that is a precursor to vitamin A and is converted to retinol in the body. It is commonly found in dark green and orange plant foods such as kale, carrots, sweet potatoes and mangoes.

You need to consume foods that are abundance in the vitamin A, since this will ensure the proper development of your bones which are considered as the most important element of the skeletal system.

VITAMIN K

The health journal “Nutrition” published a study that demonstrated that vitamin K is needed for bone health. Like vitamin A, vitamin K requires fats to be absorbed by the body and is stored in the liver. It helps to increase bone mineral density and reduces the risk of fractures in people with osteoporosis, a disease in which the bones become weak and brittle. Vitamin K acts in conjunction with vitamin D, another fat-soluble vitamin that maintains bone health. For more vitamin K in your diet, eat green vegetables such as cabbage, asparagus, spring onions, cucumbers and brussels sprouts, and add spices such as paprika, chili powder and cayenne to your cooking.

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CALCIUM

Calcium is a key bone-building nutrient that is also important for heart and blood vessel health. This mineral is found in fatty foods such as milk and dairy products as well as broccoli, almonds and other sources. The amount of calcium you need for healthy bones depends on your age, lifestyle and other factors. Calcium works in synergy with magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K to build a healthy skeletal system. The site HelpGuide.org advises that eating excess fatty or sugary foods can deplete calcium stores and weaken the bones.

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FAT

Weight gain and obesity can lead to disorders and diseases that affect several body systems including the bones. Research published in the “Journal of Orthopedic Surgery Research” determined that obesity can affect bone metabolism by affecting the cells that break down and reform healthy bone. This can lead to porous or weakened bones and lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis. A high-fat diet can also directly interfere with calcium absorption from the intestines and decrease the necessary amounts of this bone-building mineral in the body. Additionally, being overweight or obese can cause mechanical strain on weight-bearing joints, particularly the knees, and cause pain, stiffness and osteoarthritis.

Eating fatty foods are not good for the health of your skeletal system since these will erode the density and strength of your bones. It will block the calcium absorption of your body, which is one of the nutrients that play a critical role in the proper development of your bones. So, if you really want your skeletal system to stay healthy, avoiding fatty foods is one thing you need to do.

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Do Not Forget Your Weight Loss Goal During Holidays

by PanForHealth on October 1, 2012

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If you are one of the individuals who love to travel and spend time in the other places, then one thing that is likely bothering you is the uncontrolled weight gain every time you are in a different place. This is true since during a vacation getaway, most of the times you are tempted to eat all the delicious foods that are served in your front without considering if they are good for your health and to your weight loss program. So, because of this, we will remind you the importance of a weight check during the holidays to help you control your weight gain.

Many people are concerned that vacation weight gain will mar their chance to get away from work and home life for a brief period of time. If you go off on vacation and end up gaining weight while you’re there, it can have a negative impact on your life when you return home as well.

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Vacation weight gain does tend to be a common phenomenon, but it’s not difficult to combat. There are a number of other scenarios which may predispose you to weight gain in a similar way. Because it’s important to maintain a healthy weight be aware of the various scenarios which may cause you to gain excess weight so that you’ll be better able to predict them and deal with them before they can become a problem for you.

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Vacation Weight Gain

There are a number of reasons why you may be more prone to gaining weight while on a vacation. First, while many people are on vacation they are not as consciously aware of getting exercise. Your normal routine is broken up and you may be less likely to visit the gym, go for a run, or otherwise engage in the activity that you might normally participate in. This means that you’ll likely be burning off fewer calories, which can lead to weight gain.

Additionally, many people tend to eat and drink more than they normally would while on vacation. This is easy to do if you’re visiting an exciting new place and you’re in a festive, happy mood. The types of foods that you might eat on vacation and the quantity of the food as well can have an impact on your weight too.

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Holiday Weight Gain

Many people tend to also gain weight around the holidays. This is likely due to several of the same reasons. First, the weather in many areas is quite cold at this time of year, so you may be less inclined to go outside and exercise. Additionally, you’ll tend to eat more food and food that is less healthy as well. This can also make an impact on your total weight too.

In case you are one of the individuals who experience a massive weight gain during holidays or in your vacation travels, then knowing the factors that trigger this dilemma is critical for you to understand. In this way, you will be able to make the right adjustments that will help you prevent problems involving your weight.

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Combating Weight Gain

The best way to combat the weight that you might gain through these or other similar situations is to use caution. Moderate what you eat; do not avoid eating special foods altogether, but make sure that you maintain a healthy diet as well and that you don’t overeat. Monitor your alcohol intake as well, as there are lots of calories in alcohol which contribute to nothing but weight gain. Additionally, it’s a good idea to make sure that you continue to exercise as you would normally. If this isn’t possible, make sure that you do something active while on vacation as well; you can incorporate fun activities into your daily itinerary in order to make this possible and help stave off weight gain.

Checking your weight is extremely essential especially if you are on a vacation trip or during holiday season. It will really require you to pay attention more on your weight since the tendency to overeat is strong during these times, which could make you fat and grow bigger.

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The Vital Truth Behind The Great Egg Debate

by PanForHealth on September 27, 2012

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Are eggs good for you? In case you are unsure of your answer to this question, then we will be able to help you as we are about to share some of the essential details and the benefits you can get from eating eggs. With the help of the information we will provide here, it could help you finalize your decision with more ease and confidence.

Nutrition Debate: Are Eggs Good For You?

Kobe versus MJ.

Angelina versus Jen.

Whole eggs versus egg whites?

In the world of nutrition, few debates have remained as heated as the great egg debate. For nearly 40 years, researchers have tried to determine whether your omelets, scrambled eggs and frittatas are actually healthy. The argument against has always revolved around two simple factors — eggs are high in fat and cholesterol. So it’d be easy to assume that removing the yolk or avoiding eggs altogether are part of any get back in shape diet plan. But a closer look at the research reveals that the real debate about eggs is why there was any question about their health benefits. In fact, a quick look at the most common myths shows that making eggs a standard part of your diet is one of the best decisions you can make.

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Myth: Eggs make you fat Truth: Eggs are a great food for weight loss

You may have heard that eating eggs will make you fat because 60 percent of the calories in eggs come from fat. However, eating fat doesn’t make you fat and eggs are a calorie-controlled food designed to maximize weight loss, not prevent it. One egg is only about 70 calories, with a great balance of 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. The protein/fat combination of increases satiety hormones — the ones that tell your brain you are full. The protein in eggs also causes your body to release the hormone glucagon, which encourages your body to release and use stored carbohydrates and fat.

Here are some of the benefits you can get from eating eggs:

• Eggs are proven essential for clear eyesight.

• Eggs can lessen the risks of one person to suffer various eye diseases such as the catarata. This is due to the zeaxanthin and lutein that are found in eggs which are both essential in taking care of our eyes.

• Eggs are rich source of high-quality proteins that your body truly needs.

• Eating eggs can also prevent blood clots, heart attacks and stroke contrary on what the other studies findings.

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To prove the point, compare eggs to rice cakes—a timeless “diet” food. Two rice cakes also contain 70 calories, but with no protein or fat. Those calories come from 14 grams of high glycemic, fat-cell stuffing, refined carbohydrates, which makes it a much less desirable choice.

Myth: Eggs raise your cholesterol Truth: Eggs don’t affect cholesterol levels

Reducing blood cholesterol levels has been a major public health mission for decades. It would make complete sense that if you wanted to decrease the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream then you should reduce the amount of cholesterol you are eating. That’s why eggs have typically been touted as dangerous, as they contain approximately 200 mg per serving.

The problem: Dietary cholesterol doesn’t actually raise cholesterol as much as you might think. In fact, only 30 percent of people experience significant increases in cholesterol levels after following a diet high in cholesterol. Researchers from Harvard looked at the dietary habits of more than 100,000 people and concluded that daily egg consumption in healthy individuals didn’t increase risk of coronary heart disease. What’s more, a study from the University of Connecticut found that eating three eggs per day as part of a low carbohydrate regimen improved HDL — the “good” cholesterol — without any negative health effects.

Myth: You should only eat egg whites Truth: Enjoy the entire egg — yolk included)

The “egg white only” movement was created out of the mass movement to remove as much cholesterol and fat from the American diet to fight heart disease and obesity. An egg white contains all protein — 3.5 grams per egg; the rest of the nutrients, protein and fat are hiding in the yolk, which means the yellow is the most nutritious part. Egg yolks contain 240mg of leucine, the amino acid single-handedly responsible for flipping your genetic muscle-building switch .

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But egg yolks are much more than just a muscle building nutrient. They also include choline — essential for cell membrane function — cholesterol, which serves as the molecular framework for multiple hormones in the body, vitamin A , vitamin D and vitamin E. You can also get eggs that come from chickens that were fed omega-3 rich feed, the omega-3s in their feed enriches the omega-3 fats in the yolk, giving you as much as also contain 150mg of the long chain omega-3 fat DHA . Enjoy the entire egg to take advantage of all the nutritional benefits

Myth: Eating raw eggs allows you access to more nutrients Truth: Cook your eggs to ensure you access all the nutrients

KOn the flip side, raw eggs contain a compound called avidin, which binds and prevents the absorption of the essential nutrient biotin. Cooking eggs deactivates avidin, rendering it biochemically useless. And while only 1 in 10,000 eggs is contaminated with salmonella, properly cooking eggs will effectively kill any salmonella that is present—as well as significantly reduce the risk of any food-borne illness that might exist.

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So, to summarize things here, eggs have many benefits to offer that you just cannot ignore just because some people say that eating this food is bad for you. Remember, before you believe others, it is essential that you make your own research about the subject involved, then you make your final decision.

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Good Exercises Never Compromise Your Heart’s Health

by PanForHealth on September 24, 2012

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Extreme workouts: are they good for the heart? This is one question that deserves everyone’s attention especially if one has the mentality of doing extreme exercise can fasten his muscle growth and attain his desired body physique.

There are also some people who prefer fast paced exercise so they can lose their excess weight fast. While there are some truths in these things, one thing that one must be wary of is the fact that extreme workouts are not good for his heart.

Here are some reasons why doing tremendous workouts might be detrimental for your heart’s health:

• Extreme exercises can cause some structural changes such as stretching of tissue and the increase in the biomarkers that are all connected to heart injury.

• Extreme exercises can also lead to constant heart rhythm problems that could be scary to most people

• This type of exercise is also linked to the increase of calcium buildup in the heart’s artery wall, which makes the arteries narrow.

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Know what your Heart Rate is doing

It is extremely important to know exactly what your heart rate is doing when it comes to working out. See, we have all been there. You had a bad day or just don’t feel like working out. So you go for you jog and it feels like it is a real struggle. Like you are really working hard. But then as you look down onto your heart rate monitor you are actually not working that hard at all and you are just wasting your time.

So knowing what your heart rate is doing will eliminate the psychological aspect of working out and you will know exactly if you can push harder or take it easy and that will relate almost directly to the kind of results you will be getting.

These days you can get some real cheap heart rate monitors and believe me it will be worth every cent!

Surround yourself with Winners…

Or at least with people who are looking to achieve the same goal you are. For example, I always make sure if I train with someone that they are either stronger than me already or have the kind of body I am working towards. The same goes for my business life. I am always around people who are more successful then me as this always pushes me and more importantly you get to learn some valuable lessons from people who have already achieved the kind of success you want to achieve. Another great thing is that you never get arrogant and think I HAVE ARRIVED as there is always someone better than you out there and so you always keep pushing rather than stagnating

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So you must do one of two things. Find someone who is looking to also achieve the kind of results that you want to achieve. It might just be that both of you are trying to lose some weight. But make sure this training buddy is dedicated, no point getting someone who won’t kick your butt if you skip a gym session.

OR find someone who has already done what you want to achieve and get them as a mentor and go workout out with him or at the same time as him and use them as an inspiration.

Persistence

You are not going to get any kind of results following something for 3 days and then moving onto something new. In fact it does not even matter how powerful the workout or diet program you are on is, unless you follow it regularly, you will never see any real results.

I always love telling the story of two guys, Mike and Gary. Mark has a personal trainer that created a powerful custom diet and workout program just for him. Gary just searched the internet ( if he was lucky he might have found Sixpackfactory ) for some stuff and came across some healthy eating tips and a random workout program.

After 30 days Gary has been following his general healthy eating tips and been doing his “one fits all” workout every single day. Mike has only been following his custom weight loss program 2 to 3 days per week. WHO DO YOU THINK got the best results after 30 days???

Yip, Gary, Why? Because doing, even the basics, correctly on a daily basis is going to get you much better results than doing advanced stuff only every now and then.

But you know the best part, if you do have a custom workout and diet plan and you then ALSO do it persistently, that is when you will start seeing some amazing results.

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Work out around other people.

Now I love working out at home! When I put my earphones on and I get into the zone, I can get really focused and push myself to a whole new level. But the truth is that many people cannot motivate themselves to that point. And I have to be honest, if I had a long day and am feeling tired, I sometimes have to go to the gym just to feel the energy of everyone around me and so push through my own workout, even if I am doing the same workout at the gym that I would have done at home.

Having someone besides you while working out will give you many benefits that can help you attain the best result out of your exercise program. This will also keep you focused on your goal and prevent minor distractions in achieving your goal.

Research has actually shown that you can get up to 43% better results when you train around other people and that you will stick to your workout program for longer.

One other advantage to working out around other people or even the gym is that you will have fewer interruptions like the phone or the children that could hinder your results.

So, if you can’t get to the gym, maybe find a workout buddy or three and train together at home.

Get the right advice.

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First of all, I am not really that against what is known as BROscience. Let’s face it, if someone has a great body they probably know a thing or two about how they got it in the first place, they had to eat the food and do the workouts after all. BUT you must also realise that many people out there, even top athletes, are also just following a workout program they got from a real expert and sometimes they don’t really know themselves WHY exactly they are getting results other than following the workout and diet plan they got from a trainer. On top of that you have 1000’s of so called self-proclaimed experts who never studied anything other than reading the same Magazines you do each month, so you probably know just as much as they do.

So make sure you get the right advice from the right people. Make sure they are qualified, have some experience and even proof that they know what they are talking about in the form of results from their clients. BUT most importantly, and this is a big one for me personally, see what they look like themselves! Are they in shape? do they preach what they practice? Are they an example of what you want to become. If you can tick the boxes on all the above, then you should be ok to start taking advice from them, if not, start looking for somone new, there are many great trainers out there!

While exercises are critical for your health, it is vital that you need to perform it in the right way without compromising the health of your heart.

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Good Health Can Be Gained Through Healthy Eating Habit

by PanForHealth on September 19, 2012

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Do you know the importance of eating healthier foods? In case you are looking for ways on how you can improve your health, then the first thing you really need to do is to start with your eating habits. As you can see, you cannot achieve the good health if most of the foods you eat are high in calories but are low in the essential nutrients. You need to change this habit as soon as possible and replace it with eating the right and healthy foods.

Here are some of the top benefits of eating the right foods:

• Consuming healthy foods will strengthen your immune system and gives you the protection against various diseases.

• You will be provided the required nutritional needs that are essential in the maintenance of good health

• You will be provided the energy that you need to accomplish your tasks

• Eating healthy foods is also an effective way to lose your excess weights.

Want to Eat Healthier? Check Out These 7 Movies About Food and Make it Happen

Believe it or not, movies can help you eat healthier. Motivation is the name of the game when it comes to healthy eating. We are bombarded with advertising for unhealthy, processed foods almost constantly. Remaining motivated to eat healthier can be a challenge at best. Combat the negative message with some that will help you want to eat healthier.

Movies, specifically documentaries, can help keep the reason why you want to eat healthier in the forefront of your mind. They are also a great way to begin educating your family about food and getting your kids or spouse on board with healthy eating.

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Supersize Me. This is the classic tracking of one man’s journey with a daily fast food diet. Watch what happens to his weight and health as his progress is tracked by doctors. After watching this movie you will think twice about stopping at the drive through.

If you love to dine out in your favorite fast food restaurant, you need to avoid eating in large plate or upgrading the size of your soda or fries. This is not healthy and will only make you fat and prone to diseases.

Fat, Sick, And Nearly Dead. This is the story of one man reversing his illness via a juice fast and how he impacted many others during his journey. This film is revitalizing juicing all over the world.

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Forks Over Knives. This film looks into how a whole food, plant-based diet can reverse illnesses and improve your health. Tired of being sick and tired, learn more about how healthy eating can energize you.

Food, Inc. Explore the food industry in the United States. Learn how food gets to your grocery shelves. If you and your family have never visited a farm or driven through this nation’s heartland the roots of food production will be quite an eye opener. The treatment of animals and lengths we have gone to in the name of food production will shock even those who’ve raised farm animals.

Food Matters. Hippocrates famously said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Food Matters explores how healthy eating can be help us prevent and recover from illness.

Crazy Sexy Cancer. This is the documentary of Kris Carr’s journey through a cancer diagnosis in her twenties. Healthy eating, juicing, positive self-work made her healthier, happier and helped her beat cancer.

Let Me Be Frank. One man’s journey to improve his life and health through food and self-improvement. After years of hard living Frank wants something more, with the help of others watch his journey to a happier, healthier life.

With the help of the information we have provided here, you will be able to manage your health and weight with more ease and confidence, since you know the foods you will eat are the right ones that your body truly needs.

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Flexing Your Muscles Even Inside Your Comfort Zone

by PanForHealth on September 18, 2012

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Do you know the benefits of working out at home? In the event you are thinking of joining the fitness program that most of your friends are recommending to you, then we might change your mind by providing another option, which is the home workout.

To further convince you, here are the positive things you can gain from working out right inside your home:

• Saves more time as you will not need to go out since you will do your exercise right inside your home.

• You will be more comfortable in working out since you have an easy access to foods, refreshing drinks, and other things to make you feel comfy.

• More fun. This is real true since your kids can join you while doing your workout.

• More privacy. If you want to do your workout alone, then purchasing the exercise equipments and bring it in your home is the best thing you must do.

• You can save more money since there is no membership or registration required in doing your work out inside your home. You will also not need to worry of paying the parking fees on the expensive body building gyms.

• You will have unlimited access to the exercise equipments.

• There is no curfew or time limit of using the exercise equipments since anytime of the day, you are free to workout.

• Working out inside your home is also effective especially if you have someone who is knowledgeable and will accompany you while exercising.

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Extreme Core Workout : Build a Bullet Proof Core at Home

In this workout video we show you one of the most powerful core workouts we have ever done. Using some cutting edge functional exercises this workout will help you build a bullet proof core fast.

And getting a strong core is very important as having a six pack abs is useless unless it is also functional. But building a strong core will also help you developed a health body that will be design for longevity so that you can enjoy life to the fullest for a long time to come.

Keep in mind that in order to attain the best result, you need to pay attention in every detail of the workout you are performing.

What I love about this workout is that the exercises are a lot of fun but also extremely powerful so make sure you watch the video above so that you do them correctly without causing injury.

So if you want to build a bullet proof core then start doing this full body function core workout at least 3 to 4 times per week!

Core Workout Structure

Kick-Throughs x 30 sec

Rest 10 sec

Power Pike Push-up x 30 sec

Rest 10 sec

Weighted Matrix + Twist x 30 sec

Rest 10 sec

Push-up Stair Climber x 30 sec

Rest 10 sec

Weighted Russian Twists x 30 sec

Rest 1-2 minutes

Repeat full circuits 3 to 4 times

After providing you the benefits of doing your workout inside your home, you now have other option in case you do not have the money and time to enroll in the expensive body building gyms.

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Warning – Too Much Protein Could Is Bad For Your Health

by David Paniit on September 14, 2012

Are you eating too much protein? This is one of the questions that you need to provide the answer for, if you are really serious in attaining your desired health condition. Although protein is considered one of the most essential nutrients that your body must have, you must also be reminded that it is extremely critical that you know the right amount of protein to take each day. This is very important and must be understood, since just like some nutrients, too much protein intake can also be bad for your health.

Here are the negative things that you might get from too much protein intake:

By consuming more protein instead of the calories on your diet, you will not be helped in building any mass muscle. What will happen instead is that it will put your body’s system in due stress that you might not be able to handle.

More protein and increasing the caloric intake of your body will result to more fats. This has been proven by the several studies conducted to those people who take too much protein while maintaining the same level of their exercise routine.

It is not right for you to take more protein over carbohydrates on your diet since this will force your body to fight back, which is not good and could derail the success of your weight loss program.

Too much protein intake will also result to the toxic ketones build up that will place you at risk of suffering dehydration, most especially when you are exercising heavily.

In order to prevent the cited implications of too much protein intake, it will be vital for you to know the right amount to take for each day. According to the study, you must consume at least .36 grams of this nutrient for every pound of your body mass. So, with the help of some calculations, you will be assured of not experiencing the unpleasant things cited earlier.

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Lose Weight Effectively With The Raw Green Coffee Bean Extract

by PanForHealth on September 14, 2012

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Knowing how to lose weight with green coffee bean extract is very important before you decide to buy this product. While there are many people, such as your friends or relatives, who will encourage you to place your money in this product, it will be much wiser if you will spend time knowing the different facts and relevant information about the green coffee bean extract. This is very essential and a must do, especially these days when lots of fake and poor imitations coming out in the market that will only waste your time and rob you of your money.

There are many reasons why taking the green coffee bean extract is the right thing to do in order to get rid of your excess weight. If you are fed up of the failures you have experienced with your past weight loss products, then this product might just be the answer that you have been waiting to come along. This product is worth trying, especially if you are a regular and avid follower of Dr. Mehmet Oz. Yes, he is the host of the popular Dr. Oz show which provides answers to the questions that are related to weight and health issues. If you are informed of the reputation of this doctor when it comes to these topics, then every product he will recommend will surely grab your attention.

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How To Lose Your Unwanted Fats With The Help Of The Green Coffee Bean Extract

When we say green coffee, we are referring to the coffee on its raw and purest form and not the processed ones you used to buy in the market. Most weight experts have agreed that this product is really capable of melting excess body fats, which are causing embarrassments for you for such a long time now.

Since you cannot consume this coffee on its raw form, various companies have come up of a weight loss supplement that is made from the green coffee bean extract. This diet supplement, which is now out and available in most markets, promises to help you in getting rid of your unwanted fats safe and fast.

Besides Dr. Oz, there is another person who has been impressed by this product – Lindsey Duncan. He is one of the top health specialists and celebrity nutritionists just like the status of

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Dr. Oz. He also recommends the use of the green coffee especially the raw and the unroasted form to his clients who are looking for ways on how to get rid of their unwanted pounds safely. He and Dr. Oz endorse the use of this weight loss supplement, since they have proven its effectiveness and safety by trying the product itself.

By just taking 20mg serving of the green coffee bean extract, this will not cause you to be nervous or experience jittery since it is not like the typical coffee in the market that stimulates you. What the green coffee bean extract does is that it controls the glucose release and increases the metabolism process to make you lose weight effectively.

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The Things You Must Do To Attain African Mango’s Best Results

by PanForHealth on September 12, 2012

Do you know how to lose weight with African mango? Answering this question is easy, especially if you are one of the ardent followers of the latest trend in the weight loss market. To be updated with the latest weight loss products or methods today, you also need to be aware of the amazing things that the African mango can do for you. You might also have some friends or relatives who have benefited from this product, which is gaining lots of attention from people who are not satisfied with the diet products they are using.

However, despite the popularity of the African mango diet supplement, there are still some people who are left in the dark on how to use it. Are you one of these people? If you are, then allow us to provide the proper ways of losing weight with the African mango.

The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that you are buying the legitimate African mango in the market. As you can see, there are lots of imitations of this product that you will find in the market today. Spotting these products is not easy since they also bear the same logo and labels just like the original African mango diet supplement. You will only find out that you have been cheated right after you use this product, because you will surely be upset with the results you will get from the bogus one.

After confirming that it is the authentic diet supplement you are buying, the next thing to do is to read the instructions provided in the package of the African mango. These instructions are supplied by the manufacturer to serve as a guide to those individuals who will be using their products for the first time. It must be noted that every detail of the instruction must be understood, so you will not get lost in using this supplement.

While others keep on saying that they have lost their excess weight with the help of this product without doing any exercise, it will be much better for you to accompany this supplement with your regular exercise in order to attain the best results. You must also follow the right diet while taking this supplement, since no matter how effective this product is, it will be still useless if you are not eating the right foods.

Changing some of your habits is also critical in order to achieve the best results in using the African mango diet supplement. You will need to make some sacrifices such as staying away from eating at your favorite fast food restaurants and eating junk foods for your midnight snack. These things must be done in order to attain the best results that African mango are capable of giving.

As you can see, the proper way of using the African mango is extremely important to be understood and followed so you will have a clear shot of shedding your excess weight. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of this product will also depend on how you incorporate it to your daily life.

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What You Can Get By Investing Your Money In The Gym

by PanForHealth on September 11, 2012

Image by ~Twon~ via Flickr

One way to attain your ideal weight is by joining a fitness program and follows the instructions that will be given to you there. Membership at gymnasiums is becoming very popular nowadays since this has been proven to be effective in producing the positive results that one is looking for. If you will ask the individuals who have availed the memberships in the different gymnasiums, most of them will surely encourage you to invest your money in these places.

Here are the benefits that you can get from joining the different gymnasiums:

• You will be taught of the right exercises to perform that will help you obtain your desired weight.

• You will be guided in the right ways of doing a particular exercise

• You will also be taught of the right diet to take that will complement your workout regime.

• You will have the chance to meet people who are also like you looking for ways on how to achieve their ideal weight.

Here are more facts about gymnasium’s membership:

To All Ex-Free StrongLifts Members

Five months ago, the StrongLifts Inner Circle changed from a free to a paid-only community. Since then, I've received several emails from ex-free Members upset about this change. After reading every single one of these emails, and now that five months have passed, I have some observations and conclusions.

Image by USAG-Humphreys via Flickr

First, I am sure switching to a paid community was the correct decision. Recently StrongLifts achieved a new breakthrough by reaching over a million people per month from over 187 countries. We are changing more bodies and lives than any other strength training website. And we're just getting warmed up: my goal is to help 100 million people a year by StrongLifts' 10th anniversary in 2017.

To accomplish this goal we need to hire talented people. Which also means we need stable and scalable streams of income to pay for their work. It was obvious StrongLifts couldn't keep relying on ads and affiliates to generate 80% of its revenue. We had to change to a freemium model where StrongLifts.com remains 100% free while StrongLiftsInnerCircle.com becomes paid-only.

This change has paid off. Revenue has boomed. As a result, the StrongLifts 5×5 App for iPod/iPhone was released (100% free), and revenue continues to be poured into its development to add more features requested by guys like you (Android is coming as well). Revenue is also being poured into the development of the new workout tracker inside the StrongLifts Inner Circle Community. None of this would have been possible if we had clinged to the old revenue model.

Second, nothing has worked better to keep the spam, trolls and bullies out of the StrongLifts Inner Circle Community than charging a fee. With our thousands of paid Gold Members from all over the planet, this not only continues to make us the biggest private strength training community on the Internet, but also the most friendly and helpful one. This, together with the new workout tracker that is being developed, continues to keep us far ahead of the competition.

Three, even though we've made the right decision by keeping StrongLifts 100% free while making the StrongLifts Inner Circle a paid-only community… and even though this has increased the quality of the experience for the thousands of existing Gold Members, the founding

Image by USAG-Humphreys via Flickr

Members deserved a better treatment.

I blew it by disabling your free account weeks after promising you could remain for free. I blew it by disabling all accounts of free Members who did nothing wrong when a few free Members were trying to bring the place down because they didn't agree with the changes. And I blew it by disabling your free account without warning and without giving you the opportunity to backup your training log or exchange information with the friends you made over the years.

Hundreds of ex-free Members became paid Gold Members anyway in the days, weeks and months that followed. But some were too upset to ever trust me with their hard-earned cash and lost access to their training logs as a result.

Therefore, because I know your training log was vitally important to you, I'd like to offer you a free copy of your training log(s) at no cost. Simply submit a ticket inside our helpdesk, mention your username, and you will receive a free copy of your log within seven days. Dozens of ex-free Members like Adam and Andreas have already received copies of their logs during the past months. So will you.

As you can see, spending your money in the gymnasium you prefer is a smart choice, since you are assured of getting the worth of the money you will invest on it.

Click here to request a free copy of your training log.

Image by famrust via Flickr

I've also decided to offer every ex-free StrongLifts Member who helped building our community (registered before 2011 and with over 100 posts) a 20% Gold Membership discount if you become part of our community again. Simply submit a ticket in our helpdesk next time the doors open to get the special discount.

I really want to help 100 million of guys change their body and life. I've been doing this for not even five years, so I still have to learn a lot. I apologize if I disappointed some of you, and will keep working hard so StrongLifts and the StrongLiftsInnerCircle continue to be the best strength training resources ever.

-Mehdi

So, in case you want to get or maintain your ideal weight, joining a fitness program that is offered by various gymnasiums is one best options you can take.

….More at To All Ex-Free StrongLifts Members

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Hard To Get Facts About Smart Diet Finally Revealed

by David Paniit on August 22, 2012

The task of doing a diet the smart way is something that most people would like to accomplish, even if they have to spend their hard-earned money for it. Although there are lots of products that can help you to maintain your preferred weight, you must be reminded that not all these items can give you the satisfying results. However, besides looking for the top diet products, you can also achieve your preferred weight by just following some smart tips in doing your diet.

Here are the smart ways to get the most of your diet:

Never skip meals. Contrary to what others think that skipping a meal helps in reducing your excess weights, the result that you will get from is exactly the opposite. Skipping meals, whether it is your breakfast, lunch or dinner will only make you feel sluggish and weak. This will only make you prone in eating more, as you need to load your body with the energy to do your regular tasks.
Learn to cook your own food. It is crucial that you have the knowledge on cooking your own foods, so you can prevent spending your money in eating at your favorite fast food restaurant. In this way, you can monitor the nutrition that your loved ones are getting, since you have the full control on the ingredients of your dishes.
Make your own research of the best diet program. Instead of relying much from the referrals of your friends and office mates, you can make your own research of the right diet for you to follow.
Keep the faith by sticking with your diet. You need to be patient to your diet by sticking with it, even when the progress seems slow. You need to understand that losing a significant amount of your excess fats is not done overnight.
Be open to constructive criticism. You need to be open minded in every comments or opinions that you will receive. You just need to learn to balance these things, and prevent them from distracting your focus to your goal.

With the assistance of the above tips, it will now be very feasible for you to achieve the positive results from the diet you intend to follow.

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Why You Must Make Cooking Healthy Food A Priority For Yourself

August 22, 2012

Eating the right foods and including it in your daily diet is not enough to guarantee a satisfactory health. You must be trained on cooking healthy foods, so you can give yourself, and your family the assurance that it is the right foods that are always served on your dining table. Needless to say, you [...]

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