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Showing posts from October, 2013

Got Pain? Drop the Dairy.

The consumption of dairy – specifically cow’s milk products, has been a much debated topic. I mean, how bad can it be? We grew up on the stuff, right? Well, now more than ever, people are becoming aware of the health impact that dairy may have on their bodies. Cow’s milk products have certain protein molecules (casein and whey) that can cause our immune system to over react and stimulate immediate allergic responses such as hives, wheezing and vomiting, or longer term issues such as loose stool, abdominal cramps, and skin rash. However, it seems that you do not have to be allergic to dairy to experience a negative physical response to it. Food sensitivities can equally trigger the immune response and any time the immune response is activated, inflammation will present itself. Why is this important? Well, if you are one of the millions of people that suffer from joint pain or inflammatory diseases such as, Arthritis, Lupus or Fibromyalgia, you can understand that having more inf

Pumpkin Power!

Have you seen them? I just visited Whole Foods and was floored by the selection! So many shapes, colors, sizes. Some with bumps; some smooth. Some full and round; others short and squat. No matter how many varieties there are, you can’t deny that pumpkins are a very popular purchase in the month of October. Though they are mainly purchased to adorn a porch stoop, become a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, or a serve as a centerpiece for autumn decorating, I want to remind you that they are also quite nutritious and delicious. For example, did you know that… Pumpkins contain loads of Vitamin A Vitamin A is vital to the health of the eyes. This vitamin helps the eyes adjust to changes in light. Vitamin A is also important to the functioning of the immune system – quite important to note as we head into the middle of Flu season. Pumpkins contain Potassium Zombies would be happy to know that you were eating your pumpkin! Why? Because the potassium contained therein helps to keep your

Feeling Guilty...

So I was at the gym today doing my time at the treadmill when I look up to one of the feature stories on Good Morning America. It's about Maria Kang and her “offensive” posting of a picture of her and her three boys. Can you believe that? A mother of three post a picture of herself in excellent form to motivate and inspire, yet people find reason to be insulted? How can that be? The pic was family-friendly, certainly nothing pornographic or “artistic” about it. No suggestive poses, or excessive cleavage. So, why the big hullabaloo!?!? Then it hit me. It's the mirror. Know what I'm talking about? It's the times when you look in the mirror and you really don't like what you see… It's those times when you notice the extra inches of flab or the little jiggle-in-the-middle that you just can't seem to get rid of. Then someone posts a seemingly perfect pic of themselves and we compare… What’s worse, we feel judged and our “defensive mode” kicks in quickly fol

Why Breakfast really is the Most Important Meal of the Day

Are you one of those people that just doesn’t see what the big deal is about eating breakfast? Despite the fact that nutrition experts and health professionals have always said how important a hearty breakfast is, I continued to skip breakfast on a regular basis. I know I’m not the only one to do this. A large percentage of us who avoid eating regular breakfasts say it’s because they don’t have time to eat in the morning. A similar proportion say they don’t eat breakfast because they just don’t feel hungry when they first wake up. Whatever your reason for avoiding breakfast, I’m here to say I no longer plan on missing out on the whole range of health benefits this one little meal can bring. Benefits like; Better Concentration Eating a breakfast with complex carbohydrates has been shown to increase concentration and brainpower throughout the day. High-quality carbohydrates that release energy slowly, such as those found in wholegrain breads and cereals, are far more nutrient-rich