The Dangers of Belly Fat



Keeping up to shape becomes increasing difficult as we age. So much with the fact that, post pregnancy weight gain and other life challenges have made us susceptible to being overweight. In most cases, the belly is the first noticeable part that gathers much of this excess weight. Keep in mind that, you might be in a normal body weight for your height, and this might make you feel free of worries. But sorry to burst this to you, new researches have come up to suggest that with having a healthy body weight for your height, as long as you still have fat stashed around your stomach you have a higher chance of developing some serious ailments and diseases.

According to mayor clinic, studies have shown that having a larger mid section (big belly) will increase your chance of having the following diseases: cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, cancer and untimely death. The study was based on over 600,000 men and women between the ages of 20 and 83, hailing from different regions. And it was discovered that subjects with larger bellies are likely to have health challenges than those with thinner streamlined belly.

According to mayor clinic, for every two inches gained in both male and female, the higher the susceptibility to the diseases. It said, women are 9 percent higher at risk than men which are 7 percent at risk of developing any of these diseases. 

The good news is that, you can reduce the belly fat. How can you do this? By eating a healthy diet, diet low in calorie and you should exercise moderately on daily bases. This not only adds to your healthy living, but will also enhance your looks and body shape.

Reference
Mayor Clinic

Some health benefits of bitter lemon



Bitter melon, scientifically known as Momordica Charantia is known to be grown in tropical regions. Its origin is traced from India, not until it was grown in China about 6 centuries ago. The fruit can come in different appearances, meaning it has no definite shape but this is dependent on the place grown. The fruit is however good for a verity of medical conditions and widely known to be used in Chinese traditional medicines.
Bitter lemon has the ability to help in treating diabetes according to studies. In this case, it has three components which help in reducing the blood sugar level. The components are steroidal saponins, known as charatin, insulin –like peptides and alkaloids. These three components are the major components that help to fight diabetes.
Bitter melon has also been found to fight against some deadly diseases such as HIV, measles and herpes. Studies have shown that it also works against some cancerous cell growth on the breast and the cervical.
The problem with this fruit is that it is not good for couples who are trying to conceive. This is because it can work against the sperm.

TVs in childrens rooms should be tossed out



Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs you can ever be employed at and yet you don’t get paid for. Raising up a child is quite hard and sometimes can get you frustrated if on most cases, they make you spend too much time away from your spouse. One of the methods and most effective at reducing time spent with kids by parents is putting the television in the room of that child. This will make the child glued to the TV either seeing cartoons or watching his favorite movies. This method can however be very effective when it comes to creating that time for both parents to spend time together with the child not engaging in any of their romantic and quality times. Since the child already gets most of the attention he needs from the television, he might bother less about seeking attention from his parents unless on pressing issues.
However, this behavior of a child becoming too glued to the TV in his room may lead to obesity in children.
According to research, it was found out that those with televisions in their rooms gain extra pound of weight every other year than those who do not have T.Vs in their rooms. In this case, having bedroom viewing in the problem here, which can make children to gain excess weight.
You might be wondering why this could lead to obesity right? Well, researchers have said that longer hours of viewing are likely in the bedroom non-stop. This can lead to high consumption of junk food; and you know what junk foods do right? Other disadvantages of having T.Vs in the bedroom are reduced success at exams, low class attendance and victimization by classmates.
With this, you can see that T.Vs in the rooms of your kids can have bad disadvantages on the long run and will most likely be counterproductive.
If you are a parent and you already fall into this category, you can still reverse this; although, it might be difficult, especially how kids can easily get irritated with your action. However, just make them understand. Keep any means of entertaining devices away from your child most especially in the bedroom. You will be surprised to see increased good sleeping habit and increased performance both at work and school.

Your food contains Synthetics

It might still be quite unbelievable to see that some of the nutrition we still sort out of foods and other food products contain synthetics. This is rather unfortunate as all our hope towards getting natural organic food with almost 100 percent nutrition meant for the body is closing. Rather, we get harmful products in our body with long term effects.

According to wikipedia Synthetic fabrics are textiles made from man-made rather than natural fibers.
Some examples of synthetic fabrics are polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, lastex and kevlar

The article below sheds more light into synthetic in some of the food we eat.
 


"It's not always easy to lead a healthy lifestyle, but many of us try to do our best, especially when it comes to nutrition. Yet sometimes we find out that some of the foods that have been staples of our diets for years may contain something detrimental--and we're not just talking about a few extra calories here. A new report has determined that literally hundreds of foods available on your supermarket shelves may use a chemical called azodicarbonamide, which is also used in the manufacture of plastics, as an ingredient.
This report, created by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, discovered that azodicarbonamide, otherwise known as ADA, was present in close to 500 items that were tested in the United States. Among the items determined to contain ADA were a vast assortment of items made from flour, such as breads, hamburger and hot dog buns, tortillas, croutons, pizza, and more, including a number of brands of 100 percent whole grain products. This is actually not a surprise since ADA is used in baking to bleach the flour to a lighter color. It also helps to make the dough easier to work with and manipulate, and causes the baked goods to become fluffier.

ADA is approved for use as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. According to the FDA, azodicarbonamide is perfectly safe to consume as long as the quantity used is at or below 2.05 grams per 100 pounds of flour, which is the equivalent of 45 parts per million. However, in Australia and several countries in Europe, ADA has been banned for use as an ingredient in anything edible. That's because, according to the World Health Organization, ADA may be associated with an increased risk of developing asthma and skin and respiratory ailments in those who work closely with this chemical and inhale it or handle it directly. For perspective, keep in mind that the same thing can be said for many ingredients used in food: they are safe unless inhaled or handled directly. Citric acid is an example.

Back in the U.S., ADA received approval in 1962 and was even cleared for use in California's Proposition 65 testing. This initiative established a list of chemical food additives that could be potentially hazardous. Not making the list is a good thing. So in 1991 when a widely used dough additive called potassium bromate made it onto the Prop 65 list, since ADA had already cleared the list and did much the same thing, it became the additive of choice. However, the reality is that although little human testing has been conducted on consuming products with ADA, one of its known byproducts is ethyl carbamate, which has been linked in a number of studies to cancer when ingested orally. Now, keep in mind that there's no evidence that ADA breaks down into ethyl carbamate when ingested, but also no proof that it doesn't. Again, there has been little human testing.

A synthetic compound created in 1956 by a company specializing in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and engineering, ADA is also regularly used in non-food items. Its flexibility provides plastics with better elasticity, making ADA a practical addition to such items as the soles of gym shoes and stretchy yoga mats. This was the headline picked up by most news organizations: "Yoga mat chemical found in bread." That makes for a great sound bite, but keep in mind, you could say the same thing for hemp, which is now found in clothing, diapers, yoga mats, purses, as well as many foods including chips, beverages, protein powders, and food bars.

But now, with the EWG report being published and the Subway fast food sandwich chain stating that it would no longer be including ADA as one of its ingredients, the public has become more aware of the presence of this chemical in so many common foods. The EWG has called for all food manufacturers to stop including ADA in their products. In a perfect world, that might happen. But in reality, the majority of manufacturers will likely just continue their business as usual, aware that this will pass from the public eye as soon as the media jumps on the next story. Is it harmful? As we've discussed, the jury is still out. So the real question becomes: why consume it if you don't have to?

So, assuming the manufacturers keep the status quo of using ADA and the FDA does nothing to ban the chemical from our foods, it is up to us to try to avoid it as much as possible. Since it is used in flour-based items, try to buy your breads and such at local bakeries that don't mass produce their products--or consider baking your own bread. Avoid the fast food joints and packaged foods that so commonly use this additive. Base the majority of your meals around natural, unprocessed foods."



 

The 5 Nutrients for a better you, a better health



According to Hippocrates, he said “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’’. This statement simple means that better food and dieting is the only best measure to treat and prevent illnesses and diseases. A popular saying also goes like, health is wealth. It is when you eat well, and healthy that you are considered to be wealthy.
However, the world has changed and the food we eat now a days have little nutritional value or nothing at all, thereby becoming harmful on the long run for us. The fact is that, we human beings have different body types and the food that may be considered good for someone else maybe a time bomb for another person. The thing is that, testing out foods and nutrient and studying what is good for us could actually be one of the greatest ideas to know what is best for you.
However, it may be of note worth that focusing on specific type nutrients may just be good for you. And that is what we are going to discuss here. The five nutrients for a better Body, Shape and health: just know this that the importance of nutrients cannot be de-emphasized in keeping yourself healthy.

5 essential nutrients to keep your body fit are:

1.      Carbohydrates
Although, carbohydrates has been known to enhance some diseases such as diabetes and can increase in the blood sugar level, however, it can only become harmful if it not taken in moderation. Carbohydrate rich foods can contain wonderful vitamins and minerals for the body. According to FDA, your diet must contain between 40 to 50 percent carbohydrate.

2.      Fats
You may be surprised that fat comes in on this list due to the bad light that this nutrient has been painted by the public. Thanks to the media and the other anti fat campaign programs. However, fat consumption is quite good for the body, because the body actually needs it to perform its other functions properly. Some important functions of fat are: production of hormones, build cell walls, dissolve and absorption of vitamins, protection of the body organs. You can have good fat source from beans, nuts, milk, eggs, and avocados.
3.      Proteins
The body is like a factory that manufactures new cells for the organs, blood, and muscles in the body. This is done with the help of protein FDA recommends about 15 percent of protein for the body. The only foods that do are:
  • Meats
  • Fish
  • Dairy
  • Soy
If you don’t eat animal products, you can also get all of your amino acids by combining a grain product with a legume, such as:
  • Red beans and rice
  • Chickpea and quinoa salad
  • Green beans and almonds

4.       Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals both help regulate many bodily functions, and contribute to overall health. There are so many that listing them all—and their benefits—would be another article entirely. The thing you should remember is that the best way to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need is by eating a wide variety of foods.
For example, milk contains the mineral calcium, which makes for healthy bones. It also contains vitamin D, which helps your bones use that calcium. Green, leafy vegetables contain the mineral iron, which is essential for healthy blood cells; and citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which helps your body absorb iron.
FDA recommendation is based on age.

5.      Water.
Water is very important to every living organism. Water is a natural food and no man can go weeks without water. Water is a good detoxifier, helps the heat to work normally, so also other organs in the body. 8 glasses of water a day is good for you.