The Power of Intermittent Fasting

 

intermittent-fastingIf you’re already off to a good start on a healthy fitness plan, and you’re looking for ways to take it to the next level, then you might want to consider intermittent fasting. In essence this fitness-enhancing strategy looks at the timing of meals, as opposed to those fad plans where you eat just one or two things for several days in a row.

On intermittent fasting, the longest time you’ll ever abstain from food is 36 hours, although 14-18 hours is more common…

12 May 2015

Beginners Guide to Strength Training

 

strength-trainingStrength training is an integral part of any well-rounded exercise program, regardless of your age or gender.

Unfortunately, many ignore strength training when designing their exercise plan, thinking it’s only for those who want to “bulk up.” However, nothing could be farther from the truth!

Put to rest any worries that weight training is going to make you look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, because your muscle growth is controlled mostly by…

12 May 2015

Lack of Sleep May Lead to Brain Shrinkage

 

human-brain-healthRecent studies show poor sleeping habits cause both brain damage and brain shrinkage, and may even accelerate onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Previous research published in the journal Science2 revealed that your brain removes toxic waste during sleep through what has been dubbed “the glymphatic system.”

This system becomes active during sleep, thereby allowing your brain to clear out toxins and harmful proteins.

12 May 2015

Importance of Acai Berry

 

acai-nutrition-factsSimilar to a cross between a grape and a blueberry, the acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry is a small, reddish-purple drupe consisting of a cluster of seeds, with only around 15 percent or so being edible, harvested from tall, slender palm trees found around the Amazon River basin of South America.

These berries are also quite perishable, but have significant nutritional attributes when eaten fresh…

11 May 2015

6 Reasons to Drink Coffee Before Your Workout

 

hqdefault (8)If you’re like many people, you may start your day with a cup of coffee. According to Health Magazine,1 about half of American adults stick to this daily ritual, despite conventional warnings that coffee might not be all that good for you.

My own understanding of coffee’s virtues and risks was greatly enhanced by my 2011 interview with Ori Hofmekler, author of The Warrior Diet and Unlocking the Muscle Gene, who has researched coffee extensively…

11 May 2015

Less Can Be More, Research Shows: Maximizing Health Benefits of Exercise By Finding Your “Goldilock’s Zone”

 

goldilocks-zoneOne of the biggest hurdles people face in maintaining an exercise program is finding the time to do it. Fortunately, modern exercise research shows that you can significantly reduce your workout time while reaping better health benefits, compared to a traditional cardio program.

The key is Peak Fitness or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which also goes by other terms such as anaerobic, or burst training, which I’ve discussed on numerous occasions over the past couple of years…

11 May 2015

11 Surprising Factors That Mess With Your Memory

 

memory-lossFear of losing your mind is a pervasive, fear. Among Americans, the notion of losing mental capacity evokes twice as much fear as losing physical ability, and 60 percent of US adults say they are very or somewhat worried about memory loss.1

The good news is that your brain is a dynamic organ, constantly adapting and changing, for better or for worse. Many daily activities such as, lack of sleep can seriously interfere with your memory the next day…

11 May 2015

Importance of Amaranth

 

amaranth-nutrition-factsCultivated by the Aztecs 8,000 years ago and still a native crop in Peru, the ancient history of amaranth can be traced to Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. Today, it’s grown in Africa, India, China, Russia, throughout South America, and emerging once again in North America.

Somewhat of an unknown quantity to many, amaranth is tall – often six feet – with broad green leaves, bright red or gold flowers, and around 60 different species…

10 May 2015

Fluoride Isn’t the Answer, Sugar Is the Problem

 

dietary-sugarDental caries are caused by demineralization of your teeth (enamel and dentin) by the acids formed during the bacterial fermentation of dietary sugars.

Demineralization is countered by the deposit of minerals from your saliva, or remineralization, which is a slow process, and enthusiasts report that fluoride prevents dental caries by enhancing this mineralization…

10 May 2015

How Probiotics May Aid Your Weight Management

 

microbiotaYour gastrointestinal tract houses some 100 trillion bacteria—about two to three pounds worth. In all, the bacteria outnumber your body’s cells by about 10 to 1.

Your intestinal bacteria are part of your immune system, and researchers are discovering that microbes of all kinds play instrumental roles in countless areas of your health. For example, beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics, have been shown to:..

10 May 2015