Perfect Weight America

When Jordan Rubin shared the Perfect Weight Message across America she found many people did not want to go on diets as they are too restricting. Though, she did point out an interesting point that most of us are on a diet in the sense that when we travel to the grocery store we purchase the same 30-50 items every time we go. Meaning we consume the same cereals, meat and dessert unconsciously.

Jordan Rubin’s book Perfect Weight America teaches you what to eat, when to eat it, and jus how to cheat when you want to. She teaches you what foods are filling and the importance of staying hydrated. Rubin also speaks about detoxifying and cleansing the body, which she suggests should be done seasonally.

Rubin claims this is the perfect book to change your life, for it is a new way to eat with all the directions. For more information visit http://www.perfectweightamerica.com/. You can join the online community and partake in such activities as the online journal, shopping lists, individualized exercise plans and daily reminders. Of course there is a catch, for nothing is free in life; you do have to pay for the online subscription. Yet, this does seem like a great self motivator. You have a healthy lifestyle support group from you desktop! Don’t forget joining is not mandatory, you can buy the book as well.

What’s in your frozen dinner?

So you are looking in the freezer section of your local grocery store searching for the healthiest frozen dinner yet you cannot quite figure out what all of those ingredients are. Are they fattening, cancer causing or perhaps just fancy names for the food. Well here is a list of some of the words you may find, along with a description.

Butylated Hydroxtoluene (BHT): This preserves the oil that fries the food. Though the FDA approves BHT, studies conducted on animals by the Center for Science in Public Interest disagree. Some of these studies have been linked with an increased cancer risk.
Cheese Culture: This is also known as bacteria. Don’t be scared, this is not a “bad” type of bacteria. This type is the kind which turns milk into cheese, nothing to fear.
Disodium Inosinate: It is similar to MSG, as this is a flavor enhancer. This chemical does not have a flavor to itself, yet it does stimulate your taste buds making them more sensitive to meaty and savory flavors.
Ethyl Alcohol: You can find this in chardonnay. This dissolves the vanilla flavor in an apple dessert similar to an alcohol of a vanilla extract.
Polysorbate 80: We are greatful for this chemical, as it keeps the oil-based flavorings from separating when we heat the meals. If Polysorbate did not exist our meals would look like a greasy mess. One would also see this in shaving creams.
Propylene Glycol: Close to antifreeze and also found in condom lubricants. Since there is such a small amount used it is nontoxic.
Sodium Aluminosilicate: A white powder from the rocks felder and zeolite. It is also seen in sweet cream, perhaps to stop the powdered cream from getting lumpy.
Soy Protein Isolate: Another powdered product from soy flour, it thickens the sauce so it does not become to watery.
Sugars: These are found in abundance in many ingredients, as they come under many different names. Some are dextrose, molasses, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and high-fructose corn syrup. Therefore, to get an idea of really how much sugar is in the total meal look at the nutrition facts.
Top 5 almost all natural list: Amy’s Asian Noodle Stir Fry, Cedarlane Zone cheese & vegetable enchiladas, Celentano pene with roasted vegetables, Kashi chicken pasta pomodora, Lean Cuisine salmon with basil.

Foods can protect you from sun?

Foods high in antioxidants have been proven to prevent against skin cancer. Dietary antioxidants can reduce the risk of sunburn, precancerous skin growth, and squamous cell carcinoma.
You always hear don’t wear black it attracts the sun, well for plants their colorful pigment repels the sun. Their color is similar to sunscreen; the more colorful the plant is the more protection it has. Imagine what happens when we consume these fruits and vegetables. Most plants contain lycopene which is a type of carotenoid found in red and pink fruits. Caritenoids protect against areas such as the eyes and skin. Perhaps you have heard carrots are good for your eyes. HMM? Raw tomatoes also contain lycopene, yet cooked are even better. A study was conducted where the subjects consumed tomato paste for ten weeks. After those weeks they were 40 percent less likely to be burned by the sun.
The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish protect our skin, as they aid in inflammation. Fats such as monosaturated fats able to defend themselves better than saturated fats, for “good” fats are better for your body. Those who cut his or her fat intake decreased their risk by a whopping 75%.
Believe it or not chocolate is another helpful food in the protection against the sun. Chocolate contains antioxidants called flavoniods. Try it at home by eating 2 ounces of dark chocolate a day.
Green tea and black tea contain polyphenols, antioxidants that target “free radicals” from the sun. These may also modereate the sun exposure. Those who drank two or more cups a day had a 30 % less chance of developing cancer. Hint: the longer the tea steeps the more polyphenols are being released.
Last but not least green leafy veggies are another great addition to your sunscreen diet. These would include kale, chard, broccoli, and spinach. Broccoli contains sulfraphane an anticancer compound which increases the bodies natural production of enzymes.
This could very well be related to different cultures around the world, for we all consume different foods and all have different skin tones.

Natural Cure for Depression?

Everyone seems to rush to the prescription drugs to cure depression; however there are natural supplements which can aide in relieving depression. This video introduces two important supplements that can help. More importantly the video touches on the needs beyond nutritionally to cure depression.
Its worth viewing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3agIy5L4JMY

The OH soo Sweet Stevia

If one were to look up Stevia on the internet, you may find it was discovered by Paraguay. However, it is known that the Guarani Indians of South America assumed that the leaves of the plant had a significant value. If you chew the leaves they have a very unique and refreshing taste. It was not long after the discovery in the 1800’s that Paraguay took the shine for Stevia. It was used in teas, foods an a number of other mixtures. Once Fracne got a hold of this sweet plant, two chemist were successful in extracting crystalline compounds, known as steviosides Now in the Japan in the 60’s Steviosides were very useful, as Japan had outlawed chemical products in food. By 1990, Japan had accounted for over 40% of the word’s use of Stevia. The US banned the use of Stevia in 1991 for its questionable safety, to be later contradicted.
Stevia is nothing but a natural sweetener, which contains 100 phytonutrients. It does not have any calories and does not promote tooth decay.
Okay so theres all this good information on stevia from one article I read. Then when I looked it up online I saw all the studies one it, I guess from 1991, which said it was once handled as if were an illegal drug. Websites also stated it could not even be considered a sweetener? Now who do you listen to? I guess this is kind of like the whole debate between splenda being a carcinogen or consuming raw sugar.

Detoxxx

I recently read an article in a health magazine, what else is new. Well it was about detoxifying the body; I have always heard about it but never done it. When I read the opening paragraph I instantaneously felt the need to cleanse. It stated “ even if you live in seclusion in a remote corner of the world, it is impossible to avoid pesticides, herbicides…” ECT. And you get the point. Because the body creates metabolic wastes, the body detoxifies itself naturally. However, when these chemicals accumulate, they can negatively affect your immune system, generate fatigue, add to PMS and depression. Thankfully we can help the body through this process with useful herbs. For first timers Karen McKinley suggest a cleanse for novice cleansers. This particular cleanse should be made of whole herbs rather than concentrated extracts.
When detoxifying, subjects usually forget about their daily lives. Usually cleansing is done once in the fall and once in the spring, though it is entirely up to you. Spring cleansing is especially beneficial due to winter stagnation. This cleanse also releases many of the heavy winter foods consisting of meat and grains. Fall cleanses releases the parasites that accumulate and prepare for the winter. Therefore, it is important to do at least twice a year, as our diets change due to seasons. Scary to think about the parasites as well. Huh?
Cleansing rejuvenates as it releases toxins in the liver and fatty tissue. Seems like it would almost be a liberating feeling knowing you are getting rid of unhealthy things in your body. During this process you are improving your digestions, for if those toxins remain in the body inflammation and auto-immune problems like arthritis can arise.
Three important herbs to remember when cleansing are oregano leaf, garlic bulb, and nettle leaf. Oregano leaf is known to fight drug resistant pathogens as well as anti-bacterial agent. Oregano also placates the power of caustic substances which damage the intestinal tract. Who knew the spice used in many foods was, twenty times the antioxidant than other herbs. Garlic bulb is used to cleanse the blood and protect against the damage of DNA and lower risk of cancer. It also clears the body of parasites and yeast. Last but not least Nettle Leaf cleans the urinary tract and aides in blood circulation. You can even use this as a diarrheic or a laxative.

"Lowdown" on vitamins

Our bodies need thirteen essential vitamins. They consist of vitamin A, C, D, E, K and the B’s : B-6 and B-12. In addition the body also needs, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and folate. It is when we eat that we get most of our vitamins; however, the body generates vitamin D and K. Each vitamin serves an important purpose to the body whether it is to prevent disease or to prevent any deterioration. For example without vitamin D, you could develop rickets and vitamin A averts night blindness.
There are two types of vitamins out there:
Water-soluble and Fat-soluble. Water soluble are much easily absorbed into the body, though they do not store in large quantities. The kidneys then take the liberty of removing unwanted vitamins. On the other hand, fat-soluble vitamins take the use of bile acids in the stomach to be digested. The body then stores them similarly to fat and are used when need, just as we use stored fat as energy.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests a supplement to add more nutrition to those who are prone to not receiving enough vitamins. Additionally, the Director of FDA's Office of Nutritional Products states, “. . .supplements may be useful when they fill a specific identified nutrient gap that cannot or is not otherwise being met by the individual's intake of food. . . nutrient supplements are not a substitute for a healthful diet” Her point is well said, for one should not lack his or her food intake and substitute it with a vitamin or two. Food is our main source of nutrition.
****The FDA only approves vitamins as a dietary supplement intended to supplement the diet. In June 2007, FDA established dietary supplement "current Good Manufacturing Practice" (cGMP) regulations requiring that manufacturers evaluate their products through testing identity, purity, strength, and composition.

C: Potential protection against heart disease/May prevent allergies/May reduce symptoms of arthritis, skin ulcers, allergic reactions. You can find it in: Strawberries VegetablesBlack currants
D: Promotes healthy nervous and immune system as well as prevents breast and colon cancer. Found in: milk, oily fish, liver, and eggs.
E: Contains antioxidant also known as tocopherol. It plays a role in the formation of red blood cells. Spinach and other green leafy vegetables such as asparagus and vegetable oils contains this vitamin.
K: This particular vitamin encourages normal blood clotting and kidney function. dark leafy greens, oils from green plants, and some dairy products
B-6 This could be a possible anemia treatment, in a addition to reducing pms symptoms. It is found meat, fish, eggs, milk, and whole grain foods.
B-12 is good for skin, nails and hair, as well as working to release food energy. Again this is found in meats, fish, eggs, and dairy products.
Thiamine: keeps a normal nervous system heart and muscles. It also reduces fatigue and motion sickness. One can get this from meat, whole grains, fish, and nuts.
Riboflavin: This is necessary for the regulation of certain hormones. It could increase growth of body during development stages as well as a potential treatment for cheilitis. Riboflavin is in mixed vegetables, pork tuna, and wheat germ.
Niacin: decreases cholesterol, ear-ringing and dizziness meat, fish, and whole grains
Pantothenic acid: may relieve stress, fatigue and hasten healing in animals eggs, nuts, and whole-wheat products.
Biotin (Vitamin H): helps muscle pain, the formation of fatty acids and aids in relieving depression egg yolks, fish, nuts, oatmeal, and beans.
Folate necessary for the production of DNA, Any woman who is pregnant should be sure to get enough folate. Low levels of folate are linked to birth defects such as spina bifida. Green, leafy vegetables Fortified foods

Must See!

Have you ever seen the show “The Truth About Food”. It is a highly informative hour long show on the discovery health channel. I saw it for the first time last night and actually learned a lot of information. I wanted to grab a pen and paper and jot a few things down! What they do on the show is propose an idea, such as does adding calcium to a women’s diet can reduce PMS, and follow the study throughout.
However, this would not be what the show is based on essentially; there are plenty of other topics. They not only tell you what to eat, but it is like they investigate why. The show aims to please every part of the body, from the mind to the immune system. Not only your body, but your every day moods, and fertility.
I looked on the website and it stated that they have conducted thirty “ground breaking experiments”, breaking many myths you may have on the way food effects the body. Their scientist conduct their tests using the most up to date technology consisting of feces analysis, MRI scans, retina laser screening, blood tests and genetic testing. There is always something to learn, especially with all the new research taking place. I would defiantly tune. Check your local listings for times. I have posted the next show and its contents.
***Catch the next episode airing tonight at 12:00 on: discover how the mere color of some foods can fight the aging process, how eating spinach might save your eyesight, and how eating tomatoes could stop you from getting wrinkles

Apple Cider Vinegar??

Take a bit out of this!
Growing up I was always told an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Now I find it is true with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. It is rich in potassium which promotes cell growth, causing it to be coined the “fountain of youth” many years ago. The vinegar also helps cramp and aids in lowering high blood pressure. It was used by the ancient Assyrians to cure earache as well as an antiseptic and disinfectant during the Civil War.

However, when you purchase your vinegar, make sure you purchase it from a health food store, to insure that it is organic. A lot of the vinegar sold in stores have chemicals or are diluted. It is funny how relevant this blog is today, as I went to the health food store today and a woman was purchasing apple cider vinegar. When she was close to the counter the man working there actually commented “ohh I love that stuff, I use it every day”. And she replied, “Yeah, I recently read the book about it; I am a strong believer as well.” So I browsed the store and found the book. If you like to read further the book was simply called Apple Cider Vinegar by Patricia and Paul Bragg.

Fast Food

Ever need to grab something to eat on the go because you just had no time to eat, or prepare any food for yourself. So what you went to a fast food restaurant. Its not the end of the world. At least you honored your hunger, with our bringing yourself to the point of being ravenous? Ayy?? You have to look at the positives. I looked online to find out the best restaurants incase a situations like this arises, or on the other hand if you enjoy dining in these fine eateries.
A lot restaurants have outlawed trans fats; however as you can see in these fast food places it still exists. Besides trans fat (highest from White Castle at a whopping 11 grams) , the total fat is still extremely high at some places at 37 grams. Sonic came in with the best ratings, with 0 trans fat and only 280 calories, greatly contrasting with the 730 from dairy queen. AND THAT’S ONLY FRIES! Add the burger, a soda and anything else? Wow! Again, if this is going to be a one time event, not every night, its not going to kill you. Coughhh. This is hard for me to say, for I honestly can not remember the last time I ate fast food. Lol Needless to say this website is very helpful, it not only has lunch/dinner but breakfast and fast food pizza places. Maybe jot down which restaurant has the healthiest egg sandwich or breadsticks-what ever is to your liking! Remember
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/fast-food.php

Food and its side effect

Like the many medications out there, food has its side effects. Who knew? Well as Christine Simmons writes, all food we eat has its own consequences such as giving off body odor, acne. Allergy, yeast infections, heart burn/ acid reflux, kidney stones, high cholesterol, memory and cognition impairment, water retention and migraine/ headaches. We all know that when we eat onions and garlic, we tend to give off a negative body odor, for mosquitoes don’t even like to come near us. But did you know red meat does the same? I thought this was odd. Perhaps it has to do with the complexity in digestion? High saturated, and trans fats lead to the acne as well as milk. This is why they tell you to steer away from chocolate when you want clear skin. which contains both.
Any foods that can disrupt the body’s level of natural bacteria (in women of course) leave you at higher risk. These would include: sugars, vinegar, starches, refined carbohydrates, yeast and yeast containing products. If you think you are suffering from heartburn or acid reflux, foods to stay clear of are citrus fruits, fried foods which are high fat, or just foods that are fatty in general, vinegar, tomatoes, and chocolate. What she had to offer as high cholesterol foods surprised me, for she mentioned animal meat: the brains of beef, pork and lamb. In addition, organ meat (liver, kidney, spleen) and eggs.
This was surprising, for usually you would see an article mention to cut out fatty foods in general however, these specific meats if you did not know were high in fat. People who are at risk of stones are ones who lack fiber and eat lots of animal protein. To fix this one must restrict foods rich in oxalate, salt, foods which rhubarb such as spinach and tea. As we age our cognitive ability decreases; however if we eat less fats and COPPER, we may prevent this. Next question? What foods contain copper. I took the liberty in looking this up because I was very curious myself and discover shellfish, liver kidney and nuts! Ever wake up and your eyelids look swollen or your rings don’t fit? Think it was because you ate too much salt? Recent studies also claim sugar causes water retention.
And last but not least, next time you get a headache, think bout what you ate. Did you eat aged cheese, chocolate, red wine or beer? These products all lead to migraine headaches. Any product containing amino acids tyramine and phenyethyamine may have also contributed. Now with this all said and done, will you think twice before you eat, for will there be a day when the side effects will be listed next to the nutritional value?

Hungrygirl.com

WOW. I just discovered a great website! Go to hungrygirl.com. The site has tons of healthy recipes, including reviews of diet products. Excuse my excitement, but whenever I find more health friendly areas, I am happy to see the world becoming informed. I for one am a fan of peanut butter, so I checked out the review on the calorie free spread and ordered it offline. The peanut butter substitute came just the other day and it was not too bad. It was just a little watery; however it did do the trick with its nutty taste.

Maybe you can find a product you like or a recipe you may like to take a try at. You also have the opportunity to ask hungry girl a question! In addition to all the guilt free food tips, there are plenty of food offers and links to other websites. Its worth taking a gander at. I am glad to see there are alternatives, it is as if more doors are opened when we discover sites like hungrygirl.com.

Sluggish bowels?

Did you know? Ancient Egyptians were not only known for their pyramids but their sluggish bowls. Yes it is true. In their culture laxatives were a common medicinal use by the Pharaohs. In our culture today 15- 20 percent of Americans experience chronic constipation, four million have continual constipation and with age the problem only worsens. An adequate bowel movement would be defined as every day to every other day, without being dry or hard to pass.

Now it is time to fix the problem! Perhaps it is the way you are sitting on the stool? Now I never thought about this one. Try taking a stool and place your feet on it, creating a squatting position (like you are out in the woods). This is the perfect physiological way to have a smooth bowel movement. This may seem awkward at first, but hey if it works-it works. Here are some other things we can do to regulate ourselves: exercise, get a good nights sleep, relieve stress add needed vitamins and minerals such as C B5 choline and magnesium, quit eating refined foods and add fiber.

Researches say we need to consume about 35 grams of fiber a day. High fiber foods include: figs, bran, prunes, apricot, oatmeal, beans and vegetables. You could even take a supplement; however, make sure it contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Herboligists would suggest Triphalia constipation, along with its many other health benefits. Dehydrtation also can lead to irregularity, for when water moves through the gastro-intestinal tract it is absorbed into the body and dry out the large intestine. Be sure to drink a half ounce to every pound you weigh.
It is also important to remember that if you are taking any medication which may constipate you as well, for you may be doing all of this and are still feeling “stuck”. Or you may also have inadequate digestive enzymes contributing to your problem, another factor which isn’t an easy fix. Overuse of laxatives and enemas could furthermore add to the predicament. Now it is your turn to be active and prevent or fix constipation for ever.

Portion Size

The findings of a recent study regarding portion size and over eating were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study was led by a Dr. Jennifer Fisher, who focused on 59 low-income black and Hispanic children at risk for obesity. The mothers and the children’s caloric intake was monitored. The five-year-olds in the analysis ironically did not finish the smaller portions; though, when given the super sized portions they seemed to consume 12% more. The mothers also ate a larger amount, at 6% more. The children ate 180 calories more from those particular foods. WOW that’s a lot. Their snacks were even doubles. You may even ask yourself, “is this humane?” They are putting human beings health in jeopardy.

Nonetheless, one can surmise greater portions are a great contribution to our obesity in the world today. However, the article did state that long-term studies will be needed to further cement children’s risk of obesity through larger portion sizes.

Do we feel pressure to finish a certain portion, or percentage of our food? Is it set in our mind to leave or finish our food? Personally, I believe so. Lesson to be learned: do not super size it! The key is to watch portions, for this meal is not you last meal you will have another…I promise! Not only will you keep yourself healthy and give yourself longevity but you may watch your weight.

Good BYE white flour!

There are other flours out there. Sometimes I go to the health food store just to look around. Funny right? Every time I go there I find new and exciting products for healthy eaters like you and me. Last time I was there I found the best baking flour of all-SOY FLOUR. With soy flour you can only replace it with 1/3 of the recipe. Before I begin I want to explain the idea of net carbs it is the total carbohydrates minus dietary fiber. So here we go. Soy flour= Net Carbs: 5 ( 8 carbs -3 dietary fiber = 5 grams ), Protein: 10, Total: 6 Sat: 1. This particular flour has a higher total fat, which is good for, don’t be scared. It is also high in protein, another good factor. I also recently purchased barley flour which has, Net Carbs: 15 (19 carbs – 4 dietary fiber = 15 ) Total: 1 Sat 0, Protein 3. This flour is reasonably low in carbs, lower in fat and lower in protein, though you can substitute it cup for cup. Compare this to regular wheat flour at Net Carb 19 ( 22- 3= 19 Dietary fiber) Total: 1 Sat:0 Protien:3. Wheat is the highest in carbs of these basic flours, though similar to barley in other aspects.

Yet taste does come into play. Barley flour has a distinct taste, more of a doughy taste while whole wheat is more on the gritty side. I have made brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and even my own pasta with these flours. You simply substitute the flour for white flour, except for the soy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

As we look around us we see others exchanging flowers, teddy bears and of course the decadent chocolates and candies in a way to show their love and appreciation for one another. However, there is no reason why we can’t love what we eat on this day just as well. Although it is easy to indulge in the plethora of sweets and give in to the “Well its only one day a year” mantra, there are ways to survive and be strong. Whether your method is to have a little bit of everything (if it is possible to survive with a bite) or to simply make healthier choices; be WISE.

I have included some tips to remember as the day goes by such as paying attention to labels. By reading the labels you can be sure to avoid all hydrogenated fats found in a lot of WHITE CHOCOLATE. The reason for this is because it tastes best when made with cocoa butter, a natural fat. Hence, when presented with the choice of a chocolate covered something or another or a tart with vanilla cream filling, go for the chocolate. The filling consists of more fats, cream and artificial flavorings. Who knew the purest, lightest chocolate is the worst. Dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate only contains 60 percent sugar coming directly from the cocoa bean, hence less carbs than milk chocolate. Milk chocolate is made with dairy.

A good chocolate fix is dark chocolate bark, which resembles tree bark. You can find this with sliced nuts or dried fruit inside. An even better choice would be a chocolate covered pretzel in comparison to chocolate covered nuts for example. They have less calories and less fat. Last but not least, make sure if you are going to splurge, make sure it is a high quality chocolate-one that melts in your mouth for sure.

Good Carb BAD carb?

Do we all know why carbohydrates are so bad? Perhaps its time you should. You see when sugar enters the body, minerals are taken from the body to digest the substance balance the acids; therefore, you loose natural minerals form veggies we consume as well as our own bones. Also, once the sugar turns into glucose it is stored in the liver. Once the liver cannot handle its capacity, the glucose returns to the blood as a fatty acid. The blood carries the fatty acid to all areas of the body, storing them in inactive areas. After these areas are targeted, organs such as the heart and organs are influenced. The result can lead to abnormal blood pressure.

Now when you eat complex sugars, such as honey and wheat, they are digested into products called "monosaccharides", which are usable substances-nutriments. Now think about it which would you rather eat? After hearing the chemical path sugatr takes in your body, would you rather consume one of a natural source? I hope so, for these are less detrimental. We hear “don’t eat sugar” or “don’t eat white flour” all the but are not really sure why or what exactly what it does to our bodies, well not we know!

I for one am a yogini, a female practitioner of yoga. With many years of practice, I have come across numerous Buddhist beliefs I am fond of; Ironically, I am a devout Catholic. I was surfing the internet a few days ago and saw a web site on the Buddhist’ view on eating. I have listed their values below:
1. I consider the work required in producing this food. I am grateful for its source.

2. I evaluate my virtues and examine any spiritual defects. The ratio between my virtues and defects determine how much I shall deserve this offering.

3. I guard my heart cautiously from faults, particularly greed.

4. To strengthen and cure my weakening body, I consume this food as medicine.

5. As I continue on the spiritual path I accept this offering with appreciation and gratitude.

I truly feel America does not consider more than one of these beliefs when eating. I would say the most popular belief would be number four, as for our culture is selfish and thinks of only him of herself. However, if we stop and consider these points we may cherish our food, and enjoy it to the fullest. Not to mention, by slowing down being grateful and actually reflecting on where the food came from, we may eat less. Number five, can also help with the guilt healthy eaters experience if they eat something “not so healthy”, as they accept the offering and continue on with life. Or on the flip side, one may take it as not wasting food, even if it is not tantalizing to your taste buds. Either way, when we stop and consider the Buddhist pointers on eating we prevent ourselves from shoveling food in our mouths, without purpose.

Is Weight Watchers another diet or truly a life style? I pose this question as a former dieter looking for a good and easy system. You see weight watchers has it all planned out for you. On the flip side, it can still be restricting! Once you start the “diet”, if I may dare to use that word, you receive a certain amount of points you are not allowed to exceed. “Uh ohh I went over my points today and I ran out of extra points for the week!” Does this lead to a feeling of disappointment any other diet would give? Or I ate more than 3 pretzels rods (which serving size is 2 points.) Hmm? For those strict dieters out there, this could take a little getting used to, unless they are trying to get rid of the diet mentality completely.

For that matter I would suggest taking a little from Weight Watchers and adding a little of your own twist. For example, eat everything in moderation, not excluding any foods. However, when eating, take a break half way and access your hunger and see if you want to finish the rest of your food, as they mention in the book. Another aspect of Weight Watchers I do not agree with is the consumption of pure sugar. Since sugar, as we all know, turns into fat eventually, I feel it is a better idea to eat natural sugars. Natural sugars are found in cane juice, and corn syrup. In addition I prefer to stick to whole wheat, rye ect., as Weight Watcher does not. Regular carbs, tend to make my body feel bloated.
The meetings are another great aspect of Weight Watchers, for it is a support group for you and your fellow weight conscious friends. You guys are in it together. Each week you discuss how you handled your eating healthy and share tips with one another. At each meeting you also get weighed to see if you have lost, gained or maintained. In retrospect the “weigh ins” could be a good thing unless you have anxiety or are embarrassed. They also tend to suck money out of you with all the Weight Watcher products at these meeting. Like I said, you can learn a lot about portion sizes and analyzing your hunger from their program. I would say it’s worth a try.

FAD diets = not so good

FAD DIETS can also lead to eating disorders. I for one was on a fad diet, the South Beach diet. I started off with the no carbs the first two weeks and saw positive results. After that I decided, “hey i like this I can keep this up!” Six months later I lost 15 pounds going under my goal weight of 115 to 110. I loved the attention I was getting. At this point I wasn’t purging or exercising excessively, or at least I thought so. I was just eating the same thing every day, my safe foods and always seemed to be mad at the world. This went on for two and half years.

Once I went to college and saw everyone else eating everything in the universe, I suddenly lost my will power. Perhaps, I could not deal with the distance of my friends and family. I began to binge and purge. I learned you don’t get any skinnier when you binge! WOW weird huh? When a person takes laxatives to release the intake of food, he or she surprising only gets rid of 10% of the calories.

The DSM-IV-TR for Bulimia states a person must binge eat at least twice a week for three months, feel a lack of control when eating and purging i.e. laxatives, starving, exercise, enemas, diuretics, and vomiting. Anorexia Nervosa states the refusal to maintain body weight at or above normalcy, distorted body image, fear of weight gain. He or she may also binge and purge or restrict. When an anorexic being goes under their natural weight, they develop a layer of furry hair, like peach fuz, called lanugo. This is a defense mechanism in order to protect the body from hypothermia. Both of these “eating problems”, as I like to refer to them as, can be caused by biological, social or psychological dimension.

It is important to seek help to find the root of the problem, for it is not worth living life for others, or living life under certain constraints let alone all health risk which come a long with these disorders. I myself am now seeking counseling and have learned a lot about myself and the sickness.

At the very start of this of this year I was working at a small restaurant named “Call it a Wrap”. It was a pun off of the plethora of wraps offered on the menu. The place is a healthy restaurant, as is offers Weight Watchers portions and the option for whole wheat everything, including pasta and pancakes! Sounds like a pretty nice restaurant huh? Well if you really think about it, it was the worst time to just start a job at this specific location. Everyone and their mother came in with their New Year’s resolution to loose weight! You couldn’t believe how many people were on these FAD DIETS. It’s a terrible thing see. How about all the commercials that air just around Christmas time as you sitting on the couch eating your Christmas cookies, indulging in your last supper type of meal, promising tomorrow, “I will start all over again!” The truth is these diets do not work. They may work for a little, perhaps a month or even longer depending how long your tolerance it; nonetheless, you are bound to give in at one point or another. It is only natural! Sure the South Beach Diet will cut the weight in two weeks fast, but after that what happens? I’ll tell you, the idea of good and bad foods (may) permeate(s) the mind. This isn’t true for all; however, appears in lots of cases, this is called the DIET MENTALITY. Once the idea of bad foods is created it is forbidden and guilt is felt immediately after eaten. This leads to the depression-binging and the cycle of yo-yo dieting. The body also becomes accustomed to the low calorie intake slowing the metabolism; therefore, when calories are added, the body cannot take them and in fact stores them as fat quickly. There is actually a show on MTV called TRUE life "Im on a FAD diet", or somehting of that nature. The girl only eats cottage cheese to look good for a beauty pagent. Mean while she has a dietition working with her. What is wrong with her??!!! The cure is to eat in moderation. This is not easy for professional dieters (anyone who has been on a diet for many years) as certain foods are embodied in the mind as bad and good. The process takes time, and he or she needs to give themselves permission to eat freely again. At the end you will look like the girl below! lol

Nutrition 101

Nutrition is defined as the process of nourishing or being nourished, especially the process by which a living organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and for replacement of tissues. Where as a nutritionist is defined as a person who is trained or expert in the science of nutrition. I would like to consider myself a trainee, for I feel my job in life is to reach out to others and teach them about health. As a college student I am the outcast who knows all the nutrition facts on every label while I sit there and enjoy my apple when everyone else is guzzling down pizza, ice-cream and chips. Then they turn to me and ask hey tal, “How bad is pepperoni for you?” Or my roommate asked me yesterday, “does water make you loose wait?” It is for this very reason I believe I can help many people learn the right way to treat his or her own body and in fact better their mind and soul. It is easy to start paying attention to your own body, just listen to what it wants, and pay closer attention to what you are putting inside it.

For example my idea of “running” to the super market to pickup a few things turns out to be an hour outgoing, for I read the backs of every label, then the ingredients, then I compare it to the other foods I am looking into. This simple process becomes a confusing completive battle between the foods. Should you go for the one gram of sugar over the one gram of fat? AHHH all these diets out there tell you something different, ultimately leaving you puzzled! Don’t worry the answer is simple: treat your body with dignity. “Health is not associated with denial of anything.” –D.W. Winnicott. Everything in moderation is the key to basic health and nutrition. Hah and life basically! Simple right? Easier said than done.