How to Recover from a Fatty Meal

Borrowed from Joel K. Kahn, MD

High-fat meals can constrict arteries for hours, reducing blood flow. Dr. Kahn believes everyone would be better with eating more vegetables & less meat. Here is his advice when splurging:

1. Marinate your meat.
When cooking meat at high temperatures, it creates compounds called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. This increases inflammation & the risk of diabetes. To minimize AGE, marinate meat in lemon juice or vinegar, grill it moist at lower temperatures & remove charred corners.
2. Drink red wine
According the Chilean researchers, having 8oz. of red wine a day with a high-fat diet reduces the meals' negative effects on the eaters' arteries. Another study found similar benefits with grape juice.
3. Add healthy grains.
According to a study at Yale University, people who ate bowls of oats or wheat cereal with a high-fat meal had less constriction of their arteries. These grains may reduce fat absorption into the body. Add oats to the hamburger patties or serve meat on whole wheat buns.
4. Add avocado.
UCLA researchers found harmful reaction to arteries within 2 hours of people eating hamburgers. When these people added sliced avocado to the burger, the harm nearly vanished. Nutrient-packed produce, such as avocado, seems to neutralize inflammatory effects of meat.
5. Take a walk.
30 minutes or longer of brisk walking after a meal can reduce the rise of fat concentration in your blood by 10-25%.

I, also, find it helpful to take OmniTrim Chito® to block some of those fat calories.

You Can Get Asthma at Any Age!

Borrowed from "The Doctors" health article in USA Weekend.

Most probably think asthma starts in childhood, but actually asthma can start at any age. Doctors don't know exactly what causes the condition, but they feel genes & environmental conditions contribute. And they don't know why adults develop it later in life. However, asthma rates have been climbing. From 2001 to 2011, the number of cases have grown by about 30% & 1 in 12 Americans are diagnosed with the condition.

1. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America warns that many adults experience a decrease in lung capacity after middle age, which some doctors miss as being due to asthma.
2. Studies have shown that obesity increases your chances of developing asthma as an adult. One study suggests genes linked to chronic inflammation may play a role. And experts believe obesity is linked to worsening symptoms & poorer asthma contol.
3. Other factors that contribute to adult onset of asthma include prolonged exposure to chemical fumes or gases, hormonal fluctuations in women going through menopause, & some respiratory viral or bacterial infections.
4. Newly diagnosed adults tend to have more persistent sumptoms than children.
5. At least 30% of adult asthma cases are triggered by allergies. And people allergic to cats may have an increased risk of developing asthma later in life.

I developed asthma & allergies as a child with cats being one of my triggers. Since I have been taking Omni4® liquid vitamins & Thermo Herbal Tea® from Omnitrition®, I no longer have these problems nor need medication for them. Due to taking prednisone for these conditions, I gained a lot of weight. And thanks to Omnitrition®'s weight loss products, I was finally able to lose 90# & feel better.-Omni Girl

Blame Obesity on the Food Industry?

Borrowed from Mary MacVean. In the last 30 years since the first U.S. dietary guidelines were issued, Americans have become heavier & more have diabetes,as well as other diet-related diseases. "Fed Up" lays a large share of the blame on the food industry. It looks at the idea that we don't seem to get healthier despite a proliferation of products, surgeries, exercise programs & diets. "We've got to change the way we produce & consume food," says former President Bill Clinton. And the message of "Fed Up" is to start by cooking real food & avoiding processed items. "It's a very myopic view of how obesity develops, and it offers no real solutions," according to James Hill, a pediatrics & medicine professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. Hill said that he objected to the lack of attention to physical activity in the film, and that the assessment of caloric sweeteners as the major problem in Americans' diets was mistaken. "I'm not arguing that the food environment is unimportant. I'm not arguing sugar is not important," Hill said. "I think the food industry has some responsibility." He believes the food industry & scientists should join forces to find solutions. From 1977 to 2000, Americans doubled their average daily intake of sweeteners, including high fructose corn syrup, in part because it was used as a replacement when foods were reformulated to remove fat. And at a certain level, sugar is toxic according to Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California at San Francisco. The first change the makers of the movie suggest is to give up added sweeteners for 10 days. Laurie David, who has a cookbook called "The Family Cooks," said she'd like to see school lunch improvements, nutrition education, package labeling reforms to make the information clear & the disappearance of snack foods near store cash registers.

How Much Sugar is Too Much? Borrowed from naturopathic, Dr. Joel with Revivelife Clinic.

According to the American Medical Association, 6 teaspoons/day for women, 9 teaspoons/day for men, & 3 teaspoons/day for children. Examples include: Fruit Loops (91% carbs)= 3 teaspoons Apple sauce= 3.5 teaspoons Coke= 10 teaspoons Kraft dinner= 2 teaspoons Hersey's candy bar= 7 teaspoons Cup cake= 5.5 teaspoons Chicken tenders= 3 teaspoons Vitamin Water/Energy drings= 8 teaspoons Eating or drinking 8 tablespoons, or 100 grams, of sugar(for example, 2 1/2 12oz. cans of soda) can suppress the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40% from 30 minutes to 5 hours after eating. Avoid sugar, sucrose, glucose, cane sugar, corn syrup, corn sweeteners, dextrose and caramel. Sugar is sugar and should be eliminated in all of its forms including white, brown or raw sugar, molasses, kayo, sorghum and any foods that contain sugar in any of the above stated forms. Be aware that many prepared foods contain sugar. Always read the labels of food items you purchase. The "Bad Guys" Sucrose, a table sugar made from highly processed sugar cane or sugar beets, devoid of nutrients, such as glucose & fructose. Fructose, a fruit sugar that is a simple sugar found in honey, tree fruits, berries & melons. Beware of crystalline fructose from corn or sucrose. High Fructose Corn Syrup is made from starches like corn, wheat, & rice(glucose & fructose). It is 1.2 to 1.8 times sweeter than sucrose & cheaper. Low glycemic index, but is processed in the liver. If excess liver turns excess fructose into triglyceride fats, this increases the risk of insulin resistance & diabetes. Devoid of any nutrition. Sugar Alcohols or Polyols, such as Maltitol, maltitol syrup, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, erythritol, & isomalt, is found naturally in plants, but usually made from sugars & starches. Less calories than sugars, but they can ferment in the intestines, causing gas, bloating, & diarrhea. Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup!   It reduces the mechanism that turns off our appetite after we eat enough food. Food manufacturers love to put this in their food, because it makes people eat much more. Avoid Artifical Sweeteners! Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the USDA. There is no clear evidence that the artificial sweeteners available commercially in the United States are associated with cancer risk in humans. Studies have been conducted on the safety of several artificial sweeteners, including saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, & cyclamate. Substitute using honey, pure maple syrup, agave syrup, date sugar, barley malt (contains some gluten) and rice syrup/malt and stevia. Although honey & pure maple syrup are available at grocery stores, the remaining substitute sweeteners are most easily located at health food stores. The "Good Guys" Glucose, a simple sugar from digestion of carbohydrates. The body's chief source of energy. Fructose, a fruit sugar that is a simple sugar found in honey, tree fruits, berries, & melons. Beware of crystalline fructose from corn or sucrose. Maltose, a malt sugar that is half as sweet as sucrose. It is produced from starch: barley, wheat, rice or other grains. Lactose, a sugar found naturally in milk. Xylitol, naturally occurring in many fruits & vegetables. Date Sugar, 100% dehydrated dates ground into small pieces. It is a whole food, high in fiber, vitamins, & minerals. Examples include: Fruit, Stevia, Yacon syrup, Agave syrup, Rice syrup, Coconut sugar, Barley syrup, Honey, Pure Maple syryp, & Black Strap Molasses. Replace with: Instead of fruit juice cocktail try 100% fruit juice. Instead of sweetened applesauce try unsweetened applesauce. Instead of regular peanut butter try 100% natural peanut butter (master’s choice etc.). Instead of jam try 100% fruit jam (Smucker’s Simply Fruit). Instead of canned soup try homemade soup or sugar-free soup from the health food store. Instead of cereal with sugar try PC ‘7 reasons’ cereal or sugar-free cereal from health food store. Instead of canned spaghetti sauce try homemade or sauce from the health food store. Instead of table syrup try pure maple syrup or pure fruit syrup. Instead of regular condiments try ketchup and mayonnaise from the health food store. Instead of prepared salad dressing t try olive oil and vinegar or sugar-free dressing from health food store. Instead of teriyaki sauce try Bragg’s amino acids mixed with honey. Gycemic Index of Natural Sweeteners Stevia= 0 Yacon syrup= 1 Xylitol= 8 Agave Nectar= 15 Fructose= 17 Rice syrup= 25 Date sugar= 32 Coconut sugar= 35 Apple juice= 40 Barley malt syrup= 42 Honey= 50, or 30 raw Maple syrup= 54 Blackstrap Molasses= 55 Turbinado sugar= 65 Refined white sugar= 99

Let Food be Your Medicine

Borrowed from Reader's Digest by Nancy Kalish

Hippocrates noted that those who are very fat were more apt to die younger than those who are thin. He, also, recognized that when people ate mainly a fresh, plant-based diet, they developed fewer diseases. His primary way of treatment was usually improving that patient's diet.

According to cardiologist, Joel Kahn, MD, following a diet based on unprocessed foods, colorful plants, & very little sugar will help you live longer & healthier. A 2013 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that those who ate a Mediterranean-type of diet were 30% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who followed a low-fat diet. Processed foods with sugar, animal saturated fats & trans fats, and artificial chemicals can activate disease-causing genes that may have stayed dormant otherwise. They, also, lack the healthy nutrients that activated protective genes per Dr. Kahn.

How Tabitha Dropped 165 Pounds!

Borrowed from her story in Good Housekeeping, June 2014 edition, by Catherine Clifford

Five years ago, Tabitha weighed nearly 300 pounds, and in 2006, she was diagnosed with #MultipleSclerosis. Here are her top tips to getting back on track & losing 165 pounds:
1. Be competitive. A friend of hers suggested she try a boot camp. Once she started, Tabitha became determined to not fall behind.
2. Fuel the body. Her post-run breakfast includes a protein shake, a banana, & coffee.
3. Control portions. Frozen diet meals made her lunch easy. When going out, she would ask for 4 ounces of chicken without oil & a cup of vegetables.
4. Make slow-cooked meals. She liked to make Buffalo chicken in a slow cooker & put it on a low-carb tortilla or buns with low-fat cheese.
5. Be flexible. It is ok to indulge & have a Snickers bar. She would trim calories elsewhere.
6. Eat what you like. It doesn't always have to be a salad. Try new things until you find healthy foods you love.
7. Get a buddy. Have a good friend or family member anchor each other. If one gets off course, such as with workouts, the other can say, "How can I help you find more time?"

As for her MS, Tabitha has occasional aches & tingles. She's convinced her weight loss & active lifestyle have helped slow the disease.

Unfortunately, many health problems start with being overweight, not just high blood pressure, high cholesterol, & diabetes. I was able to lose 90# using nutritional supplements from Omnitrition & now, I feel so much better.- Gayle@Omni4Me.com

Benefits of Tea

Drink the Right Tea Borrowed from Healthy Eating@ Reader's Digest A report from consumerlab.com found that certain bottled teas contained almost no ECGC, the potent antioxidant linked to cancer prevention & weight loss.  For the most health benefits, make your own.

Black tea can benefit your blood pressure, suggests new research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This idea builds upon an earlier JAMA study that found black tea can reduce hypertension & risk of cardiovascular disease. There's, also, research that shows black tea can lower prevalence of diabetes. Which begs the question: is black tea best for you, or are there healthier options, such as green or white? Either or, says Michelle Davenport, PhD, a nutritionist in San Francisco. "Black and green tea are both from the plant Camellia sinensis and both are high in flavonoid content. Flavonoids have antioxidant activity, which has been shown to fight the oxidation and inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease," she says.

Types of Teas and Their Health Benefits From green tea to hibiscus, from white tea to chamomile, teas are chock full of flavonoids and other healthy goodies. Borrowed from: WebMD Feature By Julie Edgar Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Regarded for thousands of years in the East as a key to good health, happiness, and wisdom, tea has caught the attention of researchers in the West, who are discovering the many health benefits of different types of teas. Studies have found that some teas may help with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; encourage weight loss; lower cholesterol; and bring about mental alertness. Tea, also, appears to have antimicrobial qualities. “There doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea,” says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, LD. “I think it’s a great alternative to coffee drinking. First, tea has less caffeine. It’s pretty well established that the compounds in tea, their flavonoids, are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.” Although a lot of questions remain about how long tea needs to be steeped for the most benefit, and how much you need to drink, nutritionists agree any tea is good tea. Still, they prefer brewed teas over bottled to avoid the extra calories and sweeteners. Health Benefits of Tea: Green, Black, and White Tea Tea is a name given to a lot of brews, but purists consider only green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea the real thing. They are all derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub native to China and India, and contain unique antioxidants called flavonoids. The most potent of these, known as ECGC, may help against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries. All these teas also have caffeine and theanine, which affect the brain and seem to heighten mental alertness. The more processed the tea leaves, usually the less polyphenol content. Polyphenols include flavonoids. Oolong and black teas are oxidized or fermented, so they have lower concentrations of polyphenols than green tea; but their antioxidizing power is still high. Here's what some studies have found about the potential health benefits of tea: 1. Green tea: Made with steamed tea leaves, it has a high concentration of EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s antioxidants may interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels. 2. Black tea: Made with fermented tea leaves, black tea has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai, along with some instant teas. Studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke. 3. White tea: Uncured and unfermented. One study showed that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties compared to more processed teas. 4. Oolong tea: In an animal study, those given antioxidants from oolong tea were found to have lower bad cholesterol levels. One variety of oolong, Wuyi, is heavily marketed as a weight loss supplement, but science hasn’t backed the claims. 5. Pu-erh tea: Made from fermented and aged leaves. Considered a black tea, its leaves are pressed into cakes. One animal study showed that animals given pu-erh had less weight gain and reduced LDL cholesterol.