7 Ways Your Body Gets Stronger As You Get Older

by | Oct 8, 2013 | General Health | 0 comments

Old Couple There are few things worse than reading article after article about how the aging process wreaks havoc on our bodies.

If it’s not bad enough that our hair is thinning and becoming sprinkled with gray, we’re also shrinking. Indeed, starting at about age 40, people typically lose about half an inch each decade, according to Harvard Medical School.

But there’s some good news, too. Although it undoubtedly becomes harder to firm up certain parts of our bodies as we age — think squishy arms — it’s not impossible. And in certain cases, our bodies actually get stronger and better with age.

For example, many people exhibit greater stamina as they grow older. Although some research shows that one’s body reaches peak fitness at around age 35, other studies show no significant age-related decline in performance for decades to come. In fact, some 25 percent of the 65- to 69-year-old runners tested in one study were faster than 50 percent of the 20- to 54-year-old runners. Experts say that older athletes often perform better because their bodies have been tested more, so they know what reserves they’re able to tap into.

Beyond greater stamina, here are six other ways bodies get better and stronger with age

Grass-fed Beef – Ethical Superfood

by | Oct 7, 2013 | High Fat Diet, High Protein Diet, Meat Products, Natural food | 0 comments

Meat Red meat has taken a lot of hits over the years.  Once the obvious cornerstone to a nutritious diet, red meat finds itself stuck in an uphill battle for relevancy. This is largely due to the system from which most Americans by their meat. The factory farm system is riddled with safety issues, both to the animals and the workers.  Animals are exposed to massive amounts of antibiotics. Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation” and the documentary, “Food Inc.” are damning illustrations of a food industry that feeds the public burgers contaminated with poop and cows with large visible holes, surgically implanted holes. There is a way to eat beef humanely and reap the benefits of a forgotten superfood, and that’s through the consumption of grass-fed beef.

According to an article in The Nutrition Journal aside from being significant source of the macro-nutrient protein, “red meat, regardless of feeding regimen, is nutrient dense and regarded as an important source of essential amino acids, vitamins A, B6, B12, D, E, and minerals, including iron, zinc and selenium.” This means even factory farmed meat has its benefits. If you’re worried about contaminants,  Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, authors of It Starts With Food, recommend sticking to leaner cuts of meat, as poisons collect in the fattier portions.

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Have you decided to go gluten-free?

by | Oct 4, 2013 | Digestive system, Low carb diet | 0 comments

Gluten Free The recent trend from the world of diets might have you saying no to wheat. Many advocates of this gluten-free diet warn that wheat gluten disorders are affecting an increasing number of people. They say that avoiding gluten — a hard-to-digest protein found in certain grains like wheat and rye — leads to better energy levels and removes ill-health. Singer Miley Cyrus and actress Gwyneth Paltrow have spoken in favour of it.

While Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal has slammed the obsession with gluten-free diets popularised by rival Novak Djokovic, the latter has attributed his rise in form to it. Djokovic altered his diet when he discovered that he was sensitive to gluten, which was said to be the reason for his mid-match collapses.

How gluten is the culprit
Gluten is ‘spongy’ and gives food the elastic ability to ‘hold’ together. It is found in pasta, bread, cookies, pizzas, etc and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. Today, an overwhelming number of people are said to suffer from Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion, which is said to cause diarrhoea, weight loss and osteoporosis. When a person with Celiac eats or drinks anything containing gluten, the immune system responds by damaging the lining of the intestine. Unfortunately, Celiac is often mistaken for an eating disorder. The other culprit is the modern diet, which is high in refined wheat products and, in turn, leads to increased consumption of gluten.

What to eat and avoid

Allowed foods
Many foods are naturally gluten-free:
Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural, unprocessed form
Fresh eggs
Fresh meats, fish and poultry (not breaded, batter-coated or marinated)
Fruits and vegetables
Corn
Most dairy products

Not allowed
A strict gluten-free diet involves removing all foods, beverages and some medications that are made from gluten (with barley, rye, and wheat).

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7 (Non-Yogurt) Snacks That Improve Digestion

by | Oct 3, 2013 | Digestive system, Natural food | 0 comments

Fennel Nothing against Jamie Lee Curtis, but sometimes we’re not in the mood for yogurt — or we don’t have a spoon. These alternative foods will also keep your system on track.

The Crunchy, Salty Probiotic You Can Eat With Your Fingers

For a dairy-free digestive aid, try pickles, suggests Beth McDonald, MS, RDN, CSSD, an integrative and sports nutritionist at theContinuum Center for Health and Healing, an integrative health program affiliated with Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Like yogurt, they’re loaded with the kinds of probiotics that displace bad bacteria in the gut, so they, too, can help ease bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation and other digestive issues. They’re an especially good choice for vegetarians and vegans (who may also want to try other fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, as well as miso soup and tempeh).

A Regulating Root That Can Be Taken Sweet

Ginger already has a strong reputation for being able to reduce nausea and vomiting, and it also appears to relax the digestive tract, says McDonald, allowing food to pass through comfortably without getting caught up. For full potency, McDonald suggests a tea made from an inch of raw ginger root boiled in 10 ounces of water for 30 minutes (try it with honey). You could also try ginger candies — opt for the soft, chewable kinds, as sucking in extra air around hard candy can cause gas.

The Hot Beverage That Will Soothe Your Insides

Chamomile has been used for centuries in Europe to relieve gastrointestinal complaints. This herb is believed to aid in sleep, and, McDonald says, it may also have a sedating effect on the digestive tract, leading to reduced symptoms of reflux, abdominal pain and cramping as well as nausea and vomiting. It’s best consumed as a tea, she says. (Keep in mind that chamomile is part of the ragweed family, so those with allergies should talk to a doctor before brewing a pot.)

The Yogurt Cousin You Can Drink Straight Out Of The Bottle

Okay, we’re fudging a bit here, because whilekefir isn’t technically yogurt, it’s awfully close — which means it has the same optimal mix of probiotics (live “good” bacteria that maintain balance in the gut) and prebiotics (nondigestible carbs that act as food for the probiotics). The technical difference: While yogurt is created from milk by adding certain lactic acid bacteria, kefir is made by combining milk with a complex mixture of yeasts as well as lactobacillus bacteria. The difference that will matter to you: Kefir is usually found in liquid form, so it’s like a ready-made smoothie that you can drink on the go (no utensils necessary).

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