Health and Diet Articles

Archive for April, 2009

Omega-6 And Saturated Fats Should Be Replaced With Omega-3

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

omega3One of the main reasons why obesity is becoming such a problem in the States today is because of the increasing amount of processed and junk food available which contains fats such as Omega-6 and saturated fats. These fats are all bad for the body and now account for a considerable part of many people’s diets.

However, few people realize that fats are actually essential for the proper healthy functioning of the body. These fats are of the Omega-3 variety, which are actually good for you but have unfortunately been rapidly disappearing from our diets in recent times. Health experts agree that Omega-3 fats offer a great number of advantages to your health, including lowering the risk of a number of medical conditions and diseases.

To make this even worse, the Food and Nutrition Board have constantly downplayed the benefits of Omega-3 and do not even include it on the recommended daily intake statistics provided on the packaging of food products. This is unfortunate, since it makes it more difficult for people to be aware of the benefits.

Health experts say that there a number of benefits of incorporating the right amount of Omega-3 in your diet. These include benefits for the brain and helps to prevent Alzheimer’s. They also state that it can reduce the inflammation of the arteries.

There are also less certain benefits of Omega-3 which have not yet been entirely proven. These include the decreased chance of a number of disorders such as prostate cancer and arthritis, but there are many more.

Omega-3 fats can be found in some types of fish, this being the most common natural resource for the fats. Another option is to take food supplements which contain Omega-3 fats.

It is recommended to have a combination of the two to ensure that you get enough Omega-3.

Mackerel, tuna, salmon and sardines are all good natural sources of Omega-3. Unfortunately though, a lot of these fish are farmed these days and contain higher amounts of contaminants that they did not have before. Eating fish that has not been farmed is a good idea if you want to get the maximum health benefits from it, however, this can be expensive.

Perhaps the easiest way to increase your Omega-3 intake is to buy fish oil which you mix with certain types of food. Cod liver oil, for example, has a number of great health benefits and it is wise to include this in any healthy diet.

If you are looking for a good fish oil supplement, make sure you read the label to find out how much DHA and EPA there are in each capsule, rather than the total number of milligrams.

Capsules can also come in liquid form if you prefer. One thing to note of importance is that, if you are taking blood thinners, you should consult your doctor first for advice regarding the dose you should take.

Using Diet To Build Muscle

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

using-diet-to-build-muscleTo build up your muscles properly and healthy, it is crucial to do it correctly. While changing your daily habits with regards to eating may seem like a restrictively challenging task, it is still something that you have to do and gather the willpower required to do it.

Doing some research into what you should be eating and when is essential if you want to have a healthy diet and speed up your metabolism in order to burn the excess pounds.

The human body relies on proteins, fats and carbohydrates to function properly and healthily. Attempting to completely cut one or more of these three essentials out of your diet can damage your health in the longer term.

The body uses carbohydrates for energy and if you are taking up exercises such as weight training, then increasing the amount of carbohydrate in your diet is essential. These carbohydrates need to be the right ones, however, since there are healthy and unhealthy carbohydrates.

This means avoiding heavily processed foods and any foods containing carbohydrates that are not going to help you build up your muscle.

Contrary to popular belief, skipping meals is actually a very bad idea if you are trying to build up your muscles. In fact, if this is what you want to achieve, then you need to be eating a number of small meals throughout the day which will allow the body to release insulin which in turn helps your body to use the carbohydrates to build up the muscles.

The consumption of protein is also essential if you want to build up muscle. Proteins can be found in abundance in lean meats and chicken without the skin. There are a number of other sources of course, but these are perhaps two of the best and most popular options.

Health care professionals recommend that you should consume two grams of protein per each pound of body mass per day.
Fat should also not be avoided if you are trying to build up muscle.

As with carbohydrates, consuming the right type of fats is essential. These ‘good’ fats can be found in the fatty acids of things such as salmon. It is called Omega-3.

Avoiding the fats which are bad for you must be paid strict attention to as well. Fats such as that found in much junk food or most diary products are generally not good for you and should be replaced by the fats found in ingredients such as nuts or seeds.

You can also try supplements such as cod liver oil, which is also very good for the bones. When cooking, using olive oil is far healthier than the other options.

A highly nutritional and balanced diet with a focus on the best types of carbohydrates, fats and plenty of protein is essential if you want to get into muscle building and live a generally healthier lifestyle. If you need more motivation, you can also try talking to a professional trainer who will be able to help you.

The Effects Of Diet On Fatigue

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

At the beginning of the summer, most people are often busier in their lives than at any other time of the year. It is a time when people need to be full of energy and be ready to look after your body is essential if you want to avoid the health risks associated with overworking or under-eating etc.

An abnormal level of fatigue can be caused by these issues and a number of other medical issues and ailments. If you are feeling abnormally tired and experiencing an especially low level of energy, then it is strongly advisable to seek out some professional advice from your doctor.

Solving the problem of abnormal fatigue is rarely as complicated as some may think. It simply requires that you pay more attention to four key elements in your life. These include hydration, relaxation, sleep and good nutrition.

Although things are starting to change, these four elements of leading a healthy lifestyle do not tend to have the exaggerated and pricey marketing campaigns associated with them. In spite of this, some brands have started to promote bottled mineral water and sleep numbers for beds.

Although this might seem like common sense, you have to ask yourself when was the last time you had two litres of water in one day and a solid eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Good nutrition in the form of numerous diets, including many fad diets that really do not help you in the longer term, is something that has for a while now, been extensively promoted.

In addition to this, there are an increasing number of brands promoting all the energy boosting dietary supplements and energy drinks, all promising that you will feel great deal healthier and better after consuming an unhealthy cocktail of unnatural chemicals.

It is important here to remember that there are only three things that your body can really process into energy and these are fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The substances used in energy drinks or anything including caffeine does not contain these vital ingredients and actually just tricks your body into feeling more energetic by making your heart beat faster.

Once these effects wear off after a few hours, you will find yourself experiencing more fatigue than ever and you will have achieved absolutely nothing. In addition, you can get hooked on these unhealthy chemicals which can only have an adverse effect on your health in the longer term.

To conclude this, it is essential to realise that true energy means taking in calories and if a product is advertising the fact that it has no calories, then it is bad for you.

You also need to remember that none of the many dietary supplements out there can substitute a poor diet. Although it might seem hard to do things the proper way, you need to have patience, willpower and commitment and also not expect dramatic changes just overnight.
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