Monday, June 30, 2008

“Move More”


Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn.
Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool; it’s a stress buster. Think ‘move’ in small increments of time. It doesn’t have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class, that’s great when you’re up to it. Meanwhile, just move more!

Thought Of The Week: He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.

Until next time,
JT

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Nutritional Compounds To Support Cholesterol Reduction


Coronary heart disease (CHD) is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world, but its prognosis has improved during the past decades, in part because of better understanding of CHD's underlying pathology. Researchers have identified factors, both modifiable and nonmodifiable, that are associated with CHD risk. Much research on CHD risk has focused specifically on the distribution of cholesterol through different lipoproteins. For example, elevated low-density lipoprotein levels or low high-density lipoprotein levels signal an unfavorable fasting lipoprotein profile. Moreover, evidence is mounting that increased serum triacylglycerol concentration is positively related to cardiovascular risk. [ 1 ]

Diet is a cornerstone for improving unfavorable lipoprotein profiles. Studies continue to support dietary advice that focuses on reducing cholesterol as well as saturated and trans fatty acid intake; eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains; and preventing obesity. [ 2, 3 ] By achieving these goals, people can often reduce their LDL cholesterol by 10 percent to 15 percent.

Functional foods offer further lipid profile improvements. Most promising are soy protein, soluble fiber, fish oils and plant sterols or stanols, all of which help improve serum lipoprotein profiles.

Click on the Waiora link to find more info about fish oils and one of the only fiber products that also contains plant sterols.

Until next time,
JT

References



1. Austin MA. Plasma triglyceride and coronary heart disease. Arterioscler Thromb 1991;11:2-14.

2. Grundy SM. United States cholesterol guidelines 2001: expanded scope of intensive low-density lipoprotein-lowering therapy. Am J Cardiol 2001;88:23J-7J.

3. Kraus RM, et al. AHA dietary guidelines. Revision 2000: a statement for health care professionals from the nutrition committee of the American Heart Association. Circulation 2000;102:2284-99.

Friday, June 13, 2008

How do you take your multi-vitamin?


How do you take your multi-vitamin?
Multi-vitamin products are commonly manufactured in tablet form. When they enter your body, they disintegrate, get absorbed and later enter the bloodstream. There are also gel capsules that release the multi-vitamins once the protective covering is dissolved. These forms are ideal for people who prefer the convenience and ease of use and storage.

Multi-vitamins can also come in powder and liquid forms and are often mixed with food and drinks. If you dislike swallowing pills or tablets, you might want to use these instead.

What are the vitamins that should go into a multi-vitamin pill?
Multi-vitamins are not necessarily complete. Some may even contain just three or five of the most important vitamins and may already be marketed as multi-vitamins. However, don't rule these out yet. If you only need certain combinations of vitamins, these can come in handy.

If you prefer multi-vitamin products that you can take regularly, go for those that contain all or most of the following vitamins:

- Antioxidants and fat-soluble vitamins such as A, C, D, E and K.
- Water-soluble vitamins such as the B group: B1, B2, B3 or niacin, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid.

What is the advantage of taking multi-vitamin products?
The first is that a multi-vitamin product is already complete. You don't need to take 5 or 10 pills in order to complete your daily dose. Second, there is no fear of overdosing on fat-soluble vitamins because they come in the appropriate amounts. And third, multi-vitamin products are convenient. They are easy to find, purchase, use and store. For more information concerning multi-vitamins, especially the liquid version, click on the Waiora link located on this page.

Until next time,
JT

How To Go Vitamin-hunting And Find The Best Multi-vitamin For You


So you think you need a multi-vitamin? Here is a short guide to help you find the best multi-vitamin product to use.

Do you have a special multi-vitamin requirement?
Everyone needs the same group of vitamins. We only differ on the dosage because of certain differences such as our habits, lifestyles and health condition. A person who doesn't get enough sunlight, for example, will need extra Vitamin D compared to someone who gets regular sunshine.

Age and certain conditions are also a consideration for the type and dose of multi-vitamins you need to use. Children's multi-vitamin requirements, for example, differ from the needs of adult men and adult women. Pregnant women also have special multi-vitamin needs. And as you progress in life, the recommended daily allowance for certain vitamins may also increase or decrease.

How do I find the best multi-vitamin?
When you have so many choices (and we mean many), it can get downright confusing when it comes to deciding which multi-vitamin to buy. One keyword search in the Internet and you'll get millions of hits, each one a promise that it is the best multi-vitamin brand around. So how do you search for the best multi-vitamin for you?

Put your trust on reputation. There are many companies that claim too many things about their products which are often bogus. But then, there are also upstarts that operate an honest-to-goodness business. Check consumer reports or go the Better Business Bureau website and search for complaints lodged against these companies and their products.

Read the label. Don't buy a multi-vitamin product with no labels to indicate the percentage of recommended daily allowances and a list of active ingredients. The label should tell you what each pill consists of and how much of the ingredient was used. If the list of ingredients is not included, you risk taking a multi-vitamin with components that cause side effects.

If there is an ingredient you don't recognize, ask your pharmacist or do some research. Many multi-vitamin products don't just contain vitamins; they also contain herbal ingredients, some of which have unproven effects.

Look for the expiry date. The manufacturing date is also indicated on the label and can indicate that the product is good for 6 months to about 2 years. The multi-vitamin product should also come with a return policy.

To read the rest of this article by Author: Mario Churchill, go to http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-go-vitaminhunting-and-find-the-best-multivitamin-for-you-159851.html

Check the JTT Company store or click on the Waiora link for additional vitamin and supplement information

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Prepare for change



Change is not always comfortable or easy. Adding physical activity to your life requires both time and energy. Where will the time come from? How will you summon the energy? Make a concrete plan for fitting exercise into your life, then take a critical look at your plan. Is it realistic? People beginning the new year often overestimate their powers, and underestimate the time and energy required to stick to their resolutions. If your goals are too unrealistic (you probably won't lose 30 pounds in 30 days), you will quickly be disappointed.

Set attainable goals. For example, many experts recommend that instead of a weight-loss goal, make your goal the lifestyle change itself: enjoying daily physical activity and eating less junk. If you are successful in achieving these daily goals, the weight loss will gradually follow.

You may wish to get some help as you prepare for change. Find out about opportunities for physical activity in your community and at work. Consider taking an exercise class, joining a fitness center or working with a personal trainer. Ask a friend or family member with similar interests to join you. If you have health concerns, talk to your healthcare provider before increasing your level of vigorous physical activity.

Most of all,remember to have fun on your journey to good health.

Until next time,
JT

Monday, June 9, 2008

Change for the right reasons



The right reasons to change your lifestyle are positive, and based on the belief that you deserve a little time each day to keep yourself healthy. When you take a little time to nurture yourself, you will have more to give to the people and things you care about -- your family, your work and your community.

Wrong reasons focus on self-blame and guilt, and lead to low self-esteem and negative feelings. They make you feel bad, and when you feel bad you lose the motivation to exercise, or to follow through with other actions to improve your health.

Until next time.

John T

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

More on Water


Water Facts and Guidelines

· The adult human body is approximately 55-75 percent water.

· How much water your body needs depends on age, sex and lean body mass.

· The rule to drinking water is about 4 cups for every 1,000 calories.

· Eight 8-ounce glasses a day for people who consume 2,000 calories per day.

· Without water the average adult could only survive 3 days.

· A 5 percent loss of body water will cause weakness.

· Water is lost through perspiration, lungs, body functions, urine, stool and air travel.

· Water loss impairs an athlete’s performance, not salt or sodium loss.

· Fluids should be increased in the heat of the summer.

· Increase fluids to prevent constipation when increasing fiber.

· Coffee, tea, soda and alcohol have a dehydrating effect and will decrease body fluids.

To Promote Increased Water Intake Daily:

· Add lemon or lime to water

· Keep bottled water readily available

· Don’t wait for thirst to be an indicator






Until next time,



JT

Monday, June 2, 2008

Water Works for Weight Loss


Nothing quells the appetite like water, lots and lots of water.

Start out with two quart bottles in the morning and carry one with you to work or wherever you go. If you like, divvy up the 64 ounces of water into eight (8-ounce) bottles or four pint (16-ounce) bottles to carry around with you all day.

Freeze half of them the night before and they will last all day, even in a hot car. Keep some unfrozen so they will be ready to drink immediately.
Yes, you will have to make more frequent bathroom trips, but it is worth it.

Drink your 64 ounces of water before dinner, if possible, so you're not up half the night going to the bathroom.Water not only fills you up and lessens your appetite, it prevents those "hungry horrors" we all encounter when our blood sugar drops and we reach for cookies, candy, ice cream, fries or other high-calorie treats. Water also flushes out the system, rids the body of bloat and toxins and rosies up the complexion. Now, start splashing.


Until next time,


JT