Water - The Free Investment For Our Long-Term Health! (4/9)

Can we drink too much?

Drinking too much during physical effort can be fatal! The reason for this is that the kidneys can not discharge surplus water while exercising. This results in an excess water flow to the brain cells which can harm them.


Therefore, athletes, (marathon) runners and cyclists should estimate how much water they lose throughout the physical exercise by weighting their body weight before and after. If they weight more after the exercise than they have drunk to much!

Watermelon - Nature's Viagra!

Watermelons are great. Their tasty and even healthy.
Watermelon is an excellent source of potassium and vitamins A, C, and B6. Watermelons also contain more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. Lycopene is an antioxidant known to prevent cancer. I always thought that tomatoes were good to eat because they have lycopene, but it turns out that watermelons really have even more. Another great benefit is that watermelon is fat free and it also has a high water content (92%). This means that it has very few calories in one serving. 1 cup of watermelon is around 46 calories and still fills you up pretty well. And the best thing is that it's sweet enough to get rid of the craving for some dessert after a meal.

The one day watermelon diet is an easy way to slim yourself up for a special evening. Eat nothing else expect a watermelon with it's juices during the day. Ok some glasses of water is still ok. Then be amazed when you look in the mirror in the evening before you wear the dress you haven't been able fit into before without loads of babyoil.


And one more thing that might get you to go buy some watermelons. For some men it can have samekind of effects as with viagra.. So of course someone already named it nature's viagra.

posted by Miikka

Kate Winslet's Secret Diet!

Kate Winslet won the top acting prize at the 81th Oscar award. She is so beutiful and has wonderful body, but she used to be obese when she was 14-year-old. She was a little bit chubby when taking Titanic, so she succeed in losing 10lb only two weeks!



That was a CABBAGE DIET.
Cabbages are one of the famous low calories food. It contains los of minerals, fibers, and vitamins so cabbages are helpful to lose weight.



She ate 2 cabbages per day. In the morning, she ate one toasted bread, a cup of american coffe, and a half cabbage with yogurt dressing.



At the lunch and dinner, there are only a half cabbage, chicken breast with at least fat, and a grapefruit which contain many vitamins and mineral but low calories.



The point of this diet is you NEVER do seasoning all of the food.





posted by Jiwon

Where to get your recipes from?

Nowadays you can basically find everything on the internet. But is it really a subsitute for nearly everything, and can it really substitute Mum's good old cookbook?

Yes, it can. At least in some cases. I found a very good one this morning and want to share it with you.

Click here.

Mischa Barton's "Obsessed With Pilates"

In recent days, slender star Mischa Barton’s even slighter frame has been cause for concern among many celebrity weight watchers, but the former O.C. actress insists to OK! she isn’t taking matters to extremes, and reveals that pilates is her secret to looking svelte.

“For me, it’s all about pilates recently,” the 23-year-old told OK! during Tuesday night's G-Star Raw luxury jeans fashion show at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom. “I’m obsessed with pilates. I think it’s so fun.”

And whatever you might believe, Mischa says she's certainly not starving herself.

“I don’t do any crash diets,” she explained. “There’s nothing that I really do like that, because I’m always working. I mean, before I go do a film, I do workout more. I do get ready for a film and try to be healthy and in shape. And when I’m not working, I do less of it.”

To get into fighting form, Mischa says it’s all about the gym.


“I do more cardio because I work long hours. Jogging, running — stuff like that’s really good before you do a film so you have more energy.”


Here's a pic of Mischa from last night's event. Do you think she's getting too thin?




Meanwhile, Mischa gives a “maybe” to remaking The O.C. a la the recent reboot of 90210.


“I’m not sure that anybody’s ready for an O.C. remake,” she told OK! “Maybe I would do it. I don’t know. Marissa died, so it would be really hard to remake it. I don’t think she can come back from the dead, but maybe there’s another version of the show to be remade one day.”
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posted by So young Lee

When organic food is not enough

Organic foods are a great source of healthy food that hasn’t been altered or been sucked dry of their nutritional potential. But for some people organic food is not enough. There are other options beyond it. Some consumers have realised that farmers farming organic food are forced to use processes similar to those of conventional agriculture. This is simply due to organic food being used more and more. Another reason for other forms of organic food besides increased demand for the regular stuff is because of all the bureaucracy associated with organic food. Farmers who wish to harvest better crops and refuse to go to the trouble of qualifying for organic accreditation, simply find new and improved ways to grow naturally.

Take a look at the following two options for traditional organic food and then go see if you can find any food produced in either way from your local supermarket. Good luck with that.

Grass Fed

Grass Fed is a simple term that distinguishes livestock fed on their natural Pasteur from livestock fed with grain and chemically induced supplements. With grass fed livestock you find a healthier animal then you do the supplement fed livestock. This negates having to give the livestock antibiotics and other drugs that end up in our meat, because they get sick less.


All Natural


All Natural, or naturally grown foods, are those that are grown with organic principles in mind. The guidelines for food to be certified organic are fairly strict, and can take some time to put in place. So many responsible farmers instead produce all natural food which is free of horomones, pesticides and other unnatural ingredients. However, the label
"all natural" can be a bit misleading at most since its use isn’t regulated by the FDA.

A funny trailer of a movie about a Farmer who after "some" hardship started to produce organic food:




Posted by Miikka

aqiasnnasind naisndoasdn ninasdnia from new york post

Why should you exercise?

Well, I am looking out of my window at the moment and it's raining cats and dogs. Should I really drive to the gym or go for a run in the rain? Or shall I do any other activities rather than sitting on my couch and watching TV?

The answer is a YES.

But why is exercising so important for your body?

1. Well exercising helps any part of your body, even your mind due to the production of endorphins that make you happier and more peaceful.

2. Exercising will help you to stay in shape. So even though you have a busy schedule and your eating habits are quite bad from day to day exercising can help you not to gain wait because you burn calories.

3. Another fact is, when you get older and still constantly exercise your bones stay stronger.

Everyone should exercise in order to live a better and healthier life, but you shouldn't take it always to the limit because this may harm your body.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain a carotenoid called lycopene which gives tomatoes their red color and has antioxidant properties. Lycopene may be one of the reasons tomato consumption has been linked with lower rates of cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.

Interestingly, tomato sauce consumption has been associated with an even greater reduction in prostate cancer risk compared with raw tomatoes and the availability of lycopene may be responsible.

When we cook tomatoes to make a sauce, lycopene is liberated from the cell walls and is more readily absorbed which may explain the observed reduced prostate cancer risk. In fact cooking tomatoes for just 30 minutes will increase lycopene levels three fold and antioxidant activity will increase by more than half. Blending tomatoes in a food processor or a blender will also help free up lycopene and make it more readily absorbable. Lycopene, like other carotenoids, is fat soluble so a little extra virgin olive oil will help improve absorption.

posted by So young Lee

Top tips for healthy eating at fast food restaurants

Healthy fast food?
Yes, it's possible if you make careful choices!


Make careful menu selections - pay attention to the descriptions on the menu. Dishes labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, batter-dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy, scalloped, Alfredo, au gratin or in cream sauce are usually high in calories, unhealthy fats or sodium

Look before you leap - check out the chain’s website. Many fast food chains post nutritional information on their websites - we’ve listed a few below. The lists are often confusing in their detail but if you frequent a favorite chain and often choose certain menu items, you may be amazed by the calories, saturated fats and sodium you are consuming. Finding satisfying substitutes is more than worth the time and effort.

Undress” your food. When choosing, be aware of calorie- and fat-packed salad dressings, spreads, cheese, sour cream, etc. For example, ask for a grilled chicken sandwich without the mayonnaise.

Don't be afraid to special order. Many menu items would be healthy if it weren't for the way they were prepared. Ask for your vegetables and main dishes to be served without the sauces. If your food is fried or cooked in oil or butter, ask to have it broiled or steamed

Watch portion size - share or bring a portion home. At a typical restaurant, a single serving provides enough for two meals. To overcome this obstacle, take half home or divide the portion with a dining partner. Sharing might make dessert (or something else indulgent) more of an option.

Watch your salt. Fast food restaurant food tends to be very high in sodium, a major contributor to high blood pressure. Don’t add insult to injury by adding more salt

Avoid buffets – even seemingly healthy ones like salad bars. You'll likely overeat to get your money's worth. If you do choose buffet dining, opt for fresh fruits, salads with low-fat dressings, broiled entrees and steamed vegetables. Resist the temptation to go for seconds, or wait at least 20 minutes after eating to make sure you’re really still hungry before going back up to the buffet.

Remember soda is a huge source of hidden calories - According to The Center for Science in the Public Interest, soft drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet. One 32-oz big gulp with non-diet cola packs about 425 calories, so one Big Gulp can quickly gulp up a big portion of your daily calorie intake. Try switching to water with lemon or unsweetened iced tea.

Eat mindfully. Mindful eating means paying attention to what you eat and savoring each bite. Being mindful also means noticing when you are almost full and laying down your fork. Mindful eating relaxes you so you digest better and makes you feel more satisfied.

Remember the big picture – Think of eating out in the context of your whole diet. If it is a special occasion, or you know you want to order your favorite meal at a nice restaurant, cut back on your other meals that day. Moderation is always key, but planning ahead can help you relax and enjoy your dining out experience without sacrificing good nutrition or diet control.


from http://www.helpguide.org
posted by JIWON

Water - The Free Investment For Our Long-Term Health! (3/9)

What should we drink? What should we avoid?

Sodas/soft drinks provide our body with enough fluids but the high sugar content and artificial flavors are harmful to our health in the long-run.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks contain water, but these caffeinated beverages flush water out of our body. An alternative is provided by decaffeinated teas.

All in all, natural pure water is the best choice. If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle and long-term health, make water a habit and a priority in your life!

Water - The Free Investment For Our Long-Term Health! (2/9)

How do I know whether I have drunk too little water?

A definite sign is the recognition of thirst. This sign however should be regarded as the last sign given by your body. That is because thirst does not develop until your body fluids are below the required level for optimal functioning.

In order to be on the safe side you should check your urine:

1) If you have provided your body with the necessary amount of water, your urine is clear or slightly yellow.
2) If you have drunk too little water, your urine is yellow.
3) If you have drunk way too little water, your urine is orange or dark-colored.

Even mild under-provision of water can result in:

- Blood pressure changes
- Decreased coordination
- Fatigue
- Dry skin
- Decreased urine output
- Dry mucous membranes in the mouth and nose
- Impairment of judgment.


Middle-term side effects of a constant under-provision of water are:

- Stress
- Headache
- Back pain
- Allergies
- Asthma
- High blood pressure
- Degenerative health problems

Mediterranean Diet is good for you - New study shows that the diet also prevents mental decline

A food pyramid showing what a Mediterranean Diet consists of.

There has been news during the past week about a new study showing the benefits of a Mediterranean Diet. The benefits of the diet are nothing new, but the new study adds to the previous ones by showing one of the biggest advantageds being the prevention of mental decline.

The study shows that eating a Mediterranean diet appears to lower risk for mental decline, and may help prevent Alzheimer’s in people with existing memory problems, new research suggests. The study results can be found on from the website of Archives of Neurology.

The idea of Mediterranean eating is to eat simply made dishes in small proportions and the meals should be consumed among good friends or family for the best effect. The ingredients are nothing special. The diet has lots of green stuff. That means alot of fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, beans and olive oil. Eggs, dairy, poultry and fish are consumed regularly, but the portions are smaller than typically consumed in a Western diet. Meat is used quite rarely and more often in sauces and the like than in the form of a big blood dripping steak. Other fats (for example butter) than olive oil are consumed rarely. And of course you shouldn't forget your daily glass of good red wine (life is too short for drinking bad wines). More info about the diet can be found from the Mayoclinic website.

Water - The Free Investment For Our Long-Term Health! (1/9)

This series deals with the importance of water in terms of our health. Water is the basis of our body.

Visualize that:

- our lungs are more than 90% water
- our blood is 82% water
- our brain is 76% water
- our muscles are 75% water
- our skin is 70% water





Now imagine what would happen if we don't drink enough water every day?
Right! The organs are not able to function properly any more!

So, in order to comprehend this topic better, let's answer 9 important questions.

How does the body loose water?

On average everybody loses about 3- 4 liters (about 10-15 cups) of water a day because of sweat, urine, exhaled air and bowel movement. (We lose approximately 1-2 liters of water just from breathing!) This amount must be replaced by the water we drink and the food we eat.
Exercise and sweating can significantly increase the amount of water we lose each day by up to several liters.

Apple Diet helps you lose weight

At the Obesity Society meeting new research was presented that showed people who ate an apple about 15 minutes before lunch consumed almost 190 fewer calories than when they didn’t have the apple.

Well this should not come as a surprise to many. Fruits and veggies are big on volume and fiber, and low on calories. So if you fill up on “big” low-cal foods like apples before you eat (presumably more calorie heavy foods) you’ll eat less and lose weight. Now it’s confirmed in the study.

I’m sure that this would be true of any fruit or veggie. This just as easily could have been the pear diet, tomato diet, bell pepper diet etc. Now an apple a day will keep the weight away but not the celeb diet doctor.

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posted by So young Lee

Second Annual Best and Worst Celebrity Diet List of 2008

It’s time to review the good, the bad and the ugly in celeb diets of 2008. First a brief recap of 2007. The picks for 2007 were for the most part right on. As predicted, Kirstie Alley did in fact fall off the wagon with Jenny Craig. No surprise, Ricki Lake continues to shine with her remarkable weight loss success as she adopted some key weight loss behaviors. Capping a remarkable turnaround for 2008, Britney went from the worst celebrity diet list of 2007 to the best celebrity diet list this year proving that you are what you eat.

This brings me to theme for the year in celebrity diets of 2008, specifically that “diets don’t work.” The key to sustainable weight loss is not so much a particular diet but the adoption of the proper lifestyle behaviors. It’s the reason why Oprah can’t achieve sustainable weight loss despite trying multiple diets and having all the resources in the world (personal chef, trainer, Dr Oz etc).

You’ll also noticed that this year’s winners all have one thing in common as they develop their new lifestyle dietary behaviors. They achieved their remarkable slim downs by increasing their intake of veggies and fruits. No crazy fasts, diet pills, supplements or miracle cures. Here’s to 2009 and hopefully you’ll find some inspiration from this year’s crop of winners. Enjoy and be healthy, Dr Marc

Best Celebrity Diets for 2008:

5. Jennifer Love Hewitt: Those unflattering bikini photos seem so long ago as this Ghost Whisperer star has been letting her body speak loud and clear; daily fruits and veggies do a body good.

4. Jessica Alba: Jessica exercised her superhero abilities on a regimen of whole foods, cardio and interval training to power her fantastic 25 pound post-pregnancy slim down.

3. Debra Messing: Eating gracefully, Debra lost 42 pounds of her post-baby weight by sticking to a diet high in unprocessed veggies, fruits and lean protein.

2. Kelly Osbourne: By fixing her refined carb cravings with her new addiction to veggies and fruits, Kelly Osbourne is reborn with a healthy new figure.

1. Britney Spears: Since ditching her “Toxic” junk food diet for veggies and lean protein, Britney is sporting a new outlook and an A-list slim down that has everyone wanting “A Piece of Me.”

And the Worst Celebrity Diets for 2008:

5. Carnie Wilson: Carnie proves that even gastric bypass is not a fix for sabotaging behaviors. Despite her much publicized surgery and weight loss, this Celebrity Fit Club participant regained 58 pounds. (Her yo-yo dieting continues; she most recently lost 50 pounds before her current pregnancy.)

4. Monica Seles: This former tennis star may have lost 33 pounds on a high protein diet but she also increased her risk of chronic disease. Advantage: heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

3. Hilary Swank: 47 ways to sub-optimal health. Reportedly downing 47 “million dollar” supplements a day, this Million Dollar Baby star is unwittingly subjecting her body to accelerated aging.

2. Kim Kardashian: Kim has kept her shapely “junk in the trunk” figure with exercise and a gig on Dancing with The Stars. However, her junk food diet will inevitably cause… too much junk.

1. Oprah Winfrey: The queen of media and yo-yo dieter is the poster child for “diets don’t work.” Proper weight loss behaviors and habits should be one of Oprah’s “favorite things.”

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posted by So young Lee

How many calories dose FAST FOOD have?

Calorie Content of Burger King Fast Food
Whopper contains 670 calories
Double Whopper w. Cheese has 980 calories
Bacon Cheeseburger contains 400 calories


Burn Calories in Burger King Fast Food
About 106 minutes of walking (4mph) burns the calories in 1 Burger King Whopper.

Calorie Content of Kentucky Fried Chicken

KFC Chicken breast (hot & spicy) contains 495 calories

KFC Chicken breast (original recipe) contains 410 calories

KFC Chicken breast (extra crispy) contains 475 calories

Crispy Strips (1 pieces) contains 105 calories

BBQ Wings (each) contains 100 calories

Calorie Content of McDonalds Fast Food
Big Mac contains 590 calories

Chicken McGrill contains 450 calories

9 Chick McNuggets contain 430 calories

Burn Calories in McDonalds Fast Food
About 92 minutes of walking (4mph) burns the calories in 1 McDonalds Big Mac

Calorie Content of Taco Bell Fast Food
Taco/regular contains 200 calories

Chicken Fajita/regular contains 460 calories

Chicken Burrito/large contains 500 calories

How to Burn Calories in Taco Bell Fast Food
About 88 minutes of walking (4mph) burns the calories in 1 Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch.

Calorie Content of Wendy's Fast Food

Chicken Club Sandwich contains 450 calories

Fries/med contains 400 calories

Chili/large contains 320 calories

How to Burn Calories in Wendy's Fast Food
About 60 minutes of walking (4mph) burns the calories in 1 Wendy's medium fries.

Calorie Content of Hot Dog
Small Hot Dog contains 200 calories

Medium Hot Dog contains 300 calories

Large Hot Dog contains 350 calories

How to Burn Calories in Hot Dog
About 54 minutes of walking (4mph) burns the calories in a large hot dog.

Calorie Content of French Fries
French Fries (McDonald's) (small) contain 200 calories

French Fries (McDonald's) (large) contain 550 calories

French Fries (Carl's Jr) (large) contain 540 calories

French Fries (Wendy's) (med) contain 390 calories

French Fries (Wendy's) (Biggie) contain 440 calories

French Fries (Wendy's) (Great Biggie) contain 530 calories

French Fries (Burger King) (med) contain 350 calories

French Fries (Burger King) (large) contain 490 calories

posted by JIWON

What is ORAC ?!

ORAC is short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is a test tube analysis that measures the total antioxidant power of foods and other chemical substances. Antioxidants are essential to good health, especially with respect to aging and age related disorders, since they increase our resistance to disease and boost immunity.
ORAC measures how well the antioxidants in food neutralize free radicals. The higher the ORAC score, the greater is the food's antioxidant capacity. The USDA (United Stated Department of Agriculture) recommends an ORAC unit ingestion of about 3000 to 5000 units daily by eating 5-9 different kinds of vegetables and fruits.
Here is a list of some common foods with an high antioxidant level per 100 grams:

• Prunes - 5,770
• Wolfberry Juice - 3,472
• Pomegranates - 3,307
• Raisins - 2,830
• Blueberries - 2,400
• Blackberries - 2,036
• Garlic - 1,939
• Kale - 1,770
• Cranberries - 1,750
• Strawberries - 1,540
• Tahitian Noni Juice - 1,506
• Raw Spinach - 1,260
• Raspberries - 1,220
• Brussels Sprouts - 980
• Plums - 949
• Alfalfa Sprouts - 930
• Steamed Spinach - 909
• Broccoli - 890
• Beets - 840
• Avocado - 782
• Oranges - 750
• Red Grapes - 739
• Red Bell Pepper - 710
• Cherries - 670
• Pink Grapefruit - 495
• Kidney Beans - 460
• Onion - 450
• Corn - 400
• Cauliflower - 385
• Frozen Peas - 375
• Potato - 300
• Cabbage - 295
• Banana - 210
• Carrot - 200
• Apple - 207
• Tomato - 195
• Peach - 170
• Lima Beans - 136
• Pear - 110

Model's Death from Anorexia Spurs Warnings

The death Tuesday of anorexic model Ana Carolina Reston has those close to her hoping the fashion industry will finally wake up to the dangers of the eating disorder.

Reston, 21, a Brazilian model who weighed only 88 pounds at the time of her death, succumbed to a generalized infection caused by anorexia nervosa, officials at Sao Paulo's Servior Publico Hospital said.

Reston's mother, Miriam, told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper she'd pleaded with her 5-ft., 8-in. daughter to eat more, the Associated Press reports. "She would say: 'Mom, please don't fight with me. There is nothing wrong with me, I'm fine.' "

Also speaking out is the mother of Reston's model boyfriend, Bruno Setti, 19. "Ana's death should serve as a wake-up call to modeling agencies about the danger of anorexia," Setti's mother Viviane said, according to the London Times. "There's nothing glamorous about an ending like hers."

Reston's cousin, Dani Grimaldi, told Estado de Sao Paulo that Ana Carolina also suffered from bulimia. "Fifteen minutes after eating she would lock herself in the bathroom and turn on the shower so no one could hear her vomiting," he said.

In September, the organizers of Madrid Fashion Week banned models below a minimum body-mass index from the event's shows after the death of model Luisel Ramos, 22, from heart failure, reportedly after weeks of consuming nothing but lettuce and diet drinks.


posted by So young Lee

A checklist for a weightloss product/program promised not to work

If you are looking to lose weight quickly and willing to pay big money for probably nothing, please atleast check the following list before choosing your weightloosing method. If the weightloss product or program promises even one of the following things then it would be better to just burn the money instead of loosing your cash and precious time on the ripoff diet.

So don't buy it if it promises to:

1. Cause weight loss of two pounds or more a week for a month or more without dieting or exercising

2. Cause substantial weight loss no matter what or how much you eat

3. Cause permanent weight loss (even when the you stop using the product)

4. Block the absorption of fat or calories to enable you to lose substantial weight

5. Safely enable you to lose more than three pounds per week for more than four weeks

6. Cause substantial weight loss for ALL users

Posted by Miikka

Superbowl

What a game! This Superbowl was a thrill until the last second. I had never expected the Cardinals to catch up the lead of the Steelers. But Larry Fitzgerald shifted the momentum with his Touchdown reception, but the last TD by Santonio Holmes was just amazing. In my opinion one of the best Superbowls in the last years.

Check out the game winning TD!