Health and Fitness

Feed your body, Nourish your spirit, you deserve it

Thursday, January 26, 2006

NonMeat Protein For Vegetarians

Although most vegetarians consume a considerable
amount of protein, they often do not absorb as much
as they would on a nonvegetarian diet. This is because
plant proteins are considerably less digestible than
animal proteins, which contain amino acid chains that
are closer or identical to human amino acid chains.

Consuming animal proteins might yield close to a 1:1
absorption ratio, while consuming plant proteins, such
as wheat, might only yield 50% of the amino acids needed
to build a "complete protein" or a protein that can
readily be assimilated into the human body.

In order for vegetarians to absorb a healthy amount
of protein, they must consume a variety of plant proteins
to form complete amino chains. By eating vegetables,
legumes, seeds, nuts, fruits, and whole grains, vegetarians
can increase the amount of complete proteins they create
by combining a number of varieties of amino acid chains.

Vegetarians must also consume more foods that contain
proteins because plant proteins are generally
harder to digest. While a nutritional label may suggest
that pasta has 5 grams of protein per serving; you may
only be able to digest 2-3 grams of that protein, which
means you must complement the pasta with other sources
of protein.

In addition to natural sources of protein, vegetarians
should also seek foods that are "protein-fortified"--
or artificially-infused with protein.

For example, many supermarkets offer a variety
"protein-fortified" pasta and bread. I have seen pasta
that contains as much as 12 grams of protein per serving.

Soy milk is also a good source of protein for vegetarians.
Studies on isolated soy protein show that it can be
absorbed nearly as well as animal proteins, yielding close
to a 1:1 protein absorption ratio.

For non-vegan vegetarians, yogurt, milk, and
eggs (which contain complete proteins) are all
excellent sources of protein.

As a vegetarian you have a number of options to
boost your protein intake - and you should consider
taking advantage of all of them. You should diversify
your food selections, drink more soy products, and
eat "protein-fortified" breads and pasta.

Why People Become Vegetarians

Many nonvegetarians wonder what drives vegetarians to give
up meat and adopt an entirely different lifestyle.
There is no single answer to this question. Nonvegetarians
become vegetarians for a number of different reasons - some
even for multiple reasons.

Most vegetarians claim that they became a vegetarian for
one of three reasons.

The first reason, which most vegetarians claim, is that
they have ethical problems with eating meat. Most disagree
with how chickens are debeaked, forced to live in small
cages, and are then slaughtered when they do not produce
eggs fast enough.

Most vegetarians also disagree with the crowded and
stressful environments animals are forced into; and
the hormone-laden feed used to make them grow faster
and produce more.

People who become vegetarians for this purpose often
draw ethical boundaries in different spots, depending on
their personal beliefs. For instance, some staunch vegans
wont consume yeast, wear wool, or even eat certain
vegetables, such as carrots, that require killing the
plant to harvest.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, some vegetarians--
sometimes referred to as pseudo-vegetarians--will actually
eat fish and chicken on a regular basis.

The second biggest reason vegetarians claim for not eating
meat is that it conflicts with their dietary preferences.
Some of these vegetarians simply do not like the texture
and taste of meat; others do not eat it because it is high
in cholesterol and often contains high concentrations
of hormones and preservatives.

The third and smallest group of vegetarians cite
environmental reasons for not consuming meat. They complain
that consumption of meat causes farmers to continually
deforest land to create grazing land for cattle.

In addition to these three major groups, there are a number
of other smaller groups of vegetarians who stopped eating
meat for entirely different reasons.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Preventing Acne

What is Acne - It is a condition in which the skin is inflamed. It occurs because of bacteria that enters into the pores of the skin and breeds. It can happen quickly. But, why it happens is what is important here. There are many causes of acne but the reaction the body has is the same. Understanding what happens to the body will help in the prevention of additional acne later on.

How it happens - The body normally secretes oil through the skin. This helps to keep the skin healthy. But, sometimes, there are high levels of oils being secreted. On the other side are the pores. The pores can become clogged, so to speak, with dead cells and the oils. The combination makes for a warm, wet location for bacteria to get into and to breed quickly. All of this leads to painful, unpleasant pimples on the skin.

Here are some tips to help you with the prevention of acne:

1. The most important thing to do is to keep your face clean. Your face is normally going to be oily, to an extent. But, you’ll want to keep it as clean as possible nonetheless. Washing it with a good, quality soap is essential to keeping the excess oils off and the bacteria away.

2. Consider your needs for exfoliating. Remember those dead cells we mentioned? They too can get in there and help to cause acne. So, pick up an exfoliating cream or cloth and wash your face with it. It will help to remove dead skin cells from the face and therefore keep the zits away.

3. Seek out the help of a dermatologist. If you are facing continuous problems with severe acne or are otherwise concerned about your skin, you should speak to your doctor. They can uncover several things. First, they may find that there is a need to use prescription medication to slow down the production of oils within the body. They can also prescribe antibiotics to help rid the skin of these infections which are what acne really is.

4. Make sure that you are informed. If you educate yourself about what acne really is and why it happens, you can help to prevent it. It is also important to realize that not all acne can be treated or cured and that some of it is inherited.

5. Lastly, eating a well balanced diet and getting regular amounts of exercise really can make a large difference.

Mike Singh is a successful webmaster of http://www.stopping-acne-now.com

New Study Questions Causes of Acne In Women By Naweko San-Joyz

Hormones, oily skin- they are to blame for unsightly acne- right. Not according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Researchers from Seoul National University examined 46 women without acne and 46 women with acne, all with an average age of 27. The study did not find a link between the oil level of the skin and the number of acne lesions in any given area of the face.

The examiners concluded that increased facial oil secretion in women with acne is not the “primary cause” of acne development, or even the cause of non-inflammatory acne like comedones and blackheads, or inflammatory acne lesions like papules and cysts.

While the study was conducted with Korean women, author of “Acne Messages” Naweko San-Joyz says the study has implications for women worldwide. “Acne can arise as a side-effect of multiple health and environmental factors.” San-Joyz recommends women take a holistic approach to their health when they way to pinpoint the cause of their acne.”

Steps women can take to treat an acne condition include:

Getting proper nutrition
Needless to say, the diet and acne debate remains hotly contested. But, San-Joyz argues that enough medicals studies have linked nutritional deficiencies with acne to justify boosting your nutrient intake to limit the number of acne lesions you have. Consume foods containing vitamins A, B, and C, the mineral zinc and the essential fatty acid omega-3 to help keep acne away.

Managing stress well
Another heated acne topic involves the acne-stress connection. Medical studies have demonstrated that stress can provoke acne lesions. That is because stress can impact a series of biological functions that include food digestion and immune function.

San-Joyz notes, “Most people don’t realize that the skin is not only a vital organ but an environmental barrier. The skin can prevent the formation of zits if it’s capable, but if the skin has to decide between preventing a zit from forming and destroying a viral pathogen, you’ll skin will choose to kill the virus first and handle you zits later.” Constantly managing stress simply limits the number of things that you body can do at one time.

Simple stress reduction tips involve taking deep breaths, taking a brisk walk, or reading for a few minutes to help stress dissipate.

Cleaning with less toxic materials
Dermatologists detest the mythical link between poor hygiene and acne.

Yet, San-Joyz warns that the link between environmental toxins and the growing rates of adult acne cannot be ignored. For example, dioxin is a prevalent environmental toxin that is created by certain household chemicals when exposed to sunlight and garbage incinerators. Dioxin is an oily powder that sticks to the skin and is spread by the wind and rain.

Dioxin exposure can cause the body to produce excess amounts of keratin, the protein found in hair, fingernails and skin. This buildup of keratin clogs the pores and causes pimples and blackheads.

San-Joyz recommends using hydrogen peroxide or vinegar as natural cleansing substitutes when ever possible to avoid creating dioxins.

Health author and Stanford University graduate Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works include Acne Messages: Crack the Code of Your Zits and Say Goodbye to Acne (ISBN: 0974912204) and Skinny Fat Chicks, Why We’re Still Not Getting This Dieting Thing (ISBN: 0974912212). Naweko created the Noixia philosophy to help people enhance their lives by connecting with their inner-mysteries and inner-selves. Her works take often over-looked, yet viable research and transforms in into practical tools that people can use to improve their health. Get useful, but too often ignored women’s health news by visiting http://www.Noixia.com, Where Beauty Means Health.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Home Fitness Equipment

Home fitness equipment is the only option many of us have to get and stay fit. There’s nowhere better to find home exercise equipment than using the internet. Just make an inventory of your exercising needs and start scavenging the net for blockbuster offers you won’t find anywhere else. Home exercise machines of all types can be found with a few clicks, read their specifications real-time, and equip your house with the artillery you need. Homes everywhere today are recognizing this power of shopping on demand for instant gratification, and the exercising industry is no exception.

Its clear were the future is heading and the fitness industry is no exception in this new wave of electronic consumption. Equip your house with machines for all type of exercises. If you’re looking to improve your aerobic capacity and stamina, an exercise bike is an ideal option. This type of equipment doesn’t take too much space, and offers a low impact vehicle for cardiovascular training which your body will surely appreciate. You might also consider equipping yourself with a pair of dumbbells, so you can exercise both lower and upper body simultaneously in a 45 minute session.

It's simple to start training at home
Exercising is a vital requisite for optimal energy during the day. Everybody knows this, but very few people really get to it, even if it’s about training at home. However, finding the right equipment for your needs at lower prices might motivate you to stop procrastinating and begin with something simple. Get a treadmill, an elliptical trainer or an indoor bike for aerobic maturity. Then focus on considering a set of dumbbells for a more complete aerobic/anaerobic session that boosts the benefits of exercising at home.

How to Achieve Lifelong Fitness Success

Every week countless numbers of people rededicate themselves to starting a new diet and exercise program, only to find that they have fallen off their program by the end of the following week. This scenario plays out all too often especially for people who are attempting to keep their fitness program based at home or the office.



The problem here is not where the program is being attempted, but the fact that there actually is no program to follow. No matter what the endeavor, when one sets out to accomplish something without a well thought out plan or a roadmap? the chances for success are slim to none. Health and fitness programs are a prime example of this.



Without a fitness plan, there is no guidance, accountability or direction. Therefore most actions are random and unfocused. This creates an element of uncertainty where one is guessing at what they should be doing. Self doubt is present as the individual isnt even sure that what they are doing is right for them.



Additionally, unrealistic expectations run high in most people who embark on a newfound fitness lifestyle. Changes are expected to occur too fast. When results dont come quick enough discouragement sets in and motivation starts to diminish. The stage is set for another failed fitness program.



Knowing the key components to a home or office fitness program is the first step in defining the necessary elements for achieving lifelong health and fitness success.

The following tips can help you refine your approach to executing your home fitness program by helping you create a mental and physical environment that is conducive to permanent success.



1) If your program happens to be the focus of this year resolution, rename your New Year resolution your New Life resolution and think of what you are doing as something you will do forever, not for a month or two. Focus on long term benefits, not short term changes.



2) Tell others about it. You will hold yourself more accountable for following through and staying true to yourself. Others will be more likely to support or even join you in your new quest for a better quality of life.



3) Realize that exercise is one of the most unselfish acts. What better gift can you give your loved ones than you being alive and healthy for the rest of your life? Not taking care of your self is actually the selfish act.



4) Incorporate nutritional habits that will work for you, not against you. Constantly ask yourself, is what It about to eat or drink conducive to the goals I am committed to achieving??Remember, a fad diet is just that. The one method that works more than all others combined is, take in less calories than you burn.



5) Realize you do not need to spend two hours in the gym every day to get into great shape. There is a lot you can do at home or at the office in 30 minutes. There are many exercise DVDs and small, economical and portable pieces of fitness equipment to provide you with endless workout programs. Gather the tools that suit you best before you start your new program. If you are still unsure, hire a personal trainer to consult with you on starting a home fitness program.



Living healthy and fit is, first, a psychological exercise as you have to think about what you need to adjust in your life and daily habits before you can actually take the actions that will result in the changes you desire.



Spend time on your adjusting mindset by asking yourself what things are most important to you in life and how health and fitness are related to the things that matter most to you. Then take the actions which are in line with your values and goals.



Joey Atlas, MS ?Exercise Physiology, has been helping people break through psychological and physical barriers to achieve superior levels of health and fitness since 1988.

Best Fitness Guide

Welcome to best fitness guide. This blog will share comprehensive information regarding proper diet,exercise,skin care,nutrition and many more so that we can be more aware of our body and take good care of it.