Bee Pollen has many benefits including:
Energy Enhancer – The carbohydrates, protein and B-vitamins can help give you lasting energy.
Skin Soother – For inflammatory problems and skin irritations. The amino acids and vitamins protect the skin and aid in the regeneration of cells.
Respiratory System – Contains a high quantity of antioxidants that may have an anti-inflammatory effect on the lungs.
Treating Allergies – Reduces allergies and sinus problems. Bee Pollen is wonderfully effective against a wide range of respiratory diseases.
Digestive System – Bee Pollen aids with proper digestion.
Immune System Booster – Bee Pollen is good for the healthy bacteria in the intestines, which also supports the immune system.
Treats Addiction – Can help battle addiction problems and inhibit cravings, due to the high protein, amino acid and B-vitamin content.
Supports the Cardiovascular System – Bee Pollen contains a substance that has strong anti-clotting powers, which may help prevent heart attack and stroke.
Increase your energy and health today!
Shop: Peter's Choice Bee Pollen!
To you health!
Peter Gillham
Almonds are very nutritious and have a lot of health benefits. For some people, almonds can help relieve a headache or minimize the frequency of migraines. For others, however, almonds may actually trigger a headache.
Almonds contain an ingredient called salicin. This is the primary by-product of aspirin metabolism. Another ingredient in almonds that may help headache sufferers is magnesium. Magnesium, the anti-stress mineral, relaxes muscles and nerves and is particularly good for headaches caused by tension.
In one study done by the University of Maryland Medical Center, it was found that people who took magnesium reduced the frequency of attacks by 41.6%, compared to 15.8% of those who took a placebo.
How many almonds should you eat? If you are a regular headache or migraine sufferer, and know that almonds are not one of your trigger foods, try eating 10 – 15 almonds a day for 6 weeks to see if your attacks become less frequent and/or severe.
Antioxidants – Almonds, particularly the brown skin, have high amounts of antioxidants. In one clinical study, done with 60 male smokers, almond consumption reduced oxidative stress markers over a 4 week period by 23 – 34%. This is not the only study done with similar findings.
Blood Sugar – For diabetics, almonds are an excellent food source. They are low in carbohydrates and contain high amounts of good quality protein, fat and fiber. Almonds contain about 20% magnesium which is a key nutrient to help stabilize blood sugar. Over 25% of type II diabetics are magnesium deficient. Almonds also help reduce insulin resistance.
Blood Pressure – The high magnesium content in almonds can also help to lower blood pressure levels.
Cholesterol – Almonds may also help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. In one study, snacking on almonds lowered LDL cholesterol levels by 14%.
Weight Loss – There is some evidence nuts may slightly boost metabolism. Nuts are actually difficult for the body to digest and 10-15% of the calories don’t get absorbed. Like most nuts, the high fiber and protein content in almonds can contribute to increased satiety.
Unless you are sensitive to almonds, there are so many excellent reasons to include them in your diet on a regular basis.
To your health!
Peter Gillham
]]>We are always hearing about the benefits of all sorts of fruits and vegetable, but seldom about the mighty eggplant. This is one vegetable that definitely needs to be in the spotlight. It can help us in so many ways ranging from cancer treatments to weight loss aids.
Here are some of the reasons you should be eating more eggplant:
The dark pigmentation of the eggplant indicates it has a high antioxidant value. The more antioxidants you consume, the healthier (and younger) your body will be. Antioxidants are nutrients that neutralize unhealthy molecules in our body that cause cellular damage and disease.
One antioxidant, nasunin, can only be found in the eggplant. It is know to be a very strong anti-inflammatory compound. Nasunin has also been shown to protect DNA and cell membranes from oxidative stress and damage. Nasunin is one antioxidant involved in the ability to help cells receive and use nutrients from food, and also to discard waste. This is very important for disease prevention.
For some of us, the potential weight loss benefits of eggplant might be reason enough to stock up the kitchen with this vegetable. Eggplants contain compounds called saponins which help to prevent fat absorption. Eggplants are high in fiber, water content and nutrients, and very low in calories. They can be flavored easily and can be substituted for other ingredients in high carbohydrate dishes like lasagna. Eggplant is also an excellent laxative thanks to the high fiber content.
Eggplants are good for the heart. They contain phytochemicals, nutrients which are found in plant-based foods and help to lower the risk of heart attacks. The dominant antioxidant in the eggplant is called chlorogenic acid which helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
The chlorogenic acid in the eggplant is antimutagenic. This means it can protect cells from mutating into cancer cells. A topical extract made from eggplant has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of large, non-melanoma skin cancers.
There are many more reasons to include eggplant in your diet. They are high in several nutrients, excellent for digestion, and they can even benefit the liver and gallbladder.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>For decades it has been known that TV watching contributed to child obesity. Children who watch just one hour of TV a day have a significantly higher possibility of becoming overweight.
But it’s not just kids who plump up watching the boob tube. The TV can have very detrimental affects on adults too.
Several years ago a study was done with 4000 adults of both sexes. Two groups were formed. One group increased their TV watching over a 5 year period. The other group’s TV watching stayed the same over the 5 years. At the end of the study the researchers examined both groups. The people who had increased their TV watching also increased their waistlines. The women in this group also had an increase in blood pressure. There were no significant changes with the group that did not change their TV habits.
Obesity isn’t the only health concern for TV fans. Adults who watch even 14 hours of TV per week show increased signs of Metabolic Syndrome (aka Syndrome X). These symptoms include insulin resistance, high cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Overeating is another problem associated with watching TV. People tend to eat larger meals when their attention is elsewhere. Snacking on chips, sodas, etc., is also very common when watching TV. Being sedentary for hours is bad enough, but coupled with mindless eating too? No wonder Americans are becoming obese.
Perhaps one of the greatest dangers from watching TV is the hypnotic effect it can produce on our minds. TV is a covert method of mind control. Most shows deal with one or more of the following: crime, violence, substance abuse, bad relationships, dysfunctional families. How are our youth supposed to view the world and live their lives? Well, like the characters in the TV shows of course. There is one show that appeals to young adults (Vampire Diaries) where the main characters are teenagers and they drink all day long. The characters often start drinking in the morning, or anytime there is any sort of problem. What sort of message is that sending to our youth?
Do watching shows with violence and emotional problems make someone feel happy? Of course not. Is your TV making you fat? Watching TV is not good for you physically or spiritually. Turn off the TV. Go for a walk, play with the kids, spend time doing hobbies, read a book. Life is around you. TV isn’t real, and it’s bad for your health.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>I have become very enthusiastic about traditional Chinese medicine because of the results I have obtained. There were some key dietary changes My acupuncturist asked me to make. Because of this, I became interested in Asian cooking. I thought I would do a little research on the reason Asian cultures seemed to use white rice instead of whole grain brown rice. Why weren’t they concerned about the greater nutritional value of brown rice?
The focus of this article changed after doing a little research on this subject. I found out something more interesting. Rice has concerning amounts of inorganic arsenic in it. Even though this isn’t the reason that Asians eat white rice, I thought it was something that should be made known.
Arsenic is a mineral that exists in nature and is in all living things. This is not the same as inorganic arsenic which has been creeping into our environment more and more each year thanks to the increasing usage of pesticides and poultry fertilizer. Inorganic arsenic is bad news. It has been associated with birth defects, miscarriages and reproductive issues. Arsenic is also a known carcinogenic and may contribute to many forms of cancer.
Rice is particularly susceptible to inorganic arsenic which tends to dissolve in water. Rice, grown in wet conditions, absorbs it more easily than other plants. In 2012, Consumer Reports announced that “worrisome levels” of arsenic had been found in rice, and rice products. Their findings concluded that rice eaten daily could drive up inorganic arsenic levels in the body by as much as 70%.
According to the latest information from Consumer Reports, white basmati rice from California, Indian and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the USA, usually have much less inorganic arsenic than other types of rice. In fact, brown rice contains 80% more inorganic arsenic than white rice of the same type.
Lundberg, one of the main suppliers of rice, and rice products in the US, has detailed information about this topic on their website. They have full disclosure on the levels of inorganic arsenic in their rice.
Rinsing your rice thoroughly before cooking will also cut down on the amount of arsenic in your rice.
I still don’t know why Asians prefer to eat white rice over brown. I will figure it out, and when I do, I’ll let you know.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>A friend and I started seeing a doctor from China that practices Oriental medicine in downtown Los Angeles. My friend has stage 4 cancer and heard about him from her roommate. I started going because of pain throughout my body that had become so debilitating, I could barely walk anymore. A month ago we went to see Dr. Teng, a skilled acupuncturist and herbalist. I was shocked by his dietary recommendations, but was willing to have treatments and do the diet for 6 weeks to see if it helped. It has been less than 4 weeks and I am sold on acupuncture, and the diet. I am a new woman.
Chinese medicine is all about restoring balance to the body. All pain and disease comes from an imbalance. Once the imbalance is restored, the body will heal itself. A key factor to recovery and maintaining the balance is the diet.
Forget about everything you know (or think you know) when it comes to what we should be eating. Most “diets” we follow in North America are relatively new compared to the Chinese diet which has been eaten for thousands of years. There are few raw or cold foods and beverages in a traditional Chinese diet. Food must be close to body temperature before the body can begin to break it down and extract the nutrients. Raw food may have a higher nutritional value, but that is undermined by the loss of energy to heat the food and assimilate it. Heating the food inside your body strains your energetic resources, and over time weakens you.
The Chinese eat a wide variety of food except dairy. Milk is for baby cows. No grown mammals (except humans), eat their mother’s milk when they become an adult.
Dairy is considered a “dampening” food. We do not want to eat food that create dampness within our body. Dampness hinders the free flow of energy, creating blockages which can cause pain and disease.
The only other dietary recommendations that Dr. Teng emphasized were avoidance of GMO foods and sugar.
Eating a completely cooked and warm diet is not as easy as you think. Most health-oriented people have been conditioned to eat “live” foods. I know, I was. I have attempted to eat a raw food diet a few times in my life (both vegan and animal). I felt terrible and weak on both kinds of raw food diets, attributing it to detox, when in fact I was draining my body of energy.
I live in Southern CA. It is not easy giving up cold beverages and salads in the heat. The loss of pain I have experienced in 3 weeks is astounding. I realize this may not be the right diet or alternative therapy for everyone, but for me it worked. I am now a huge fan of Chinese medicine.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Over the past several years we have been introduced to many new varieties of food. The abundance of food on this planet is amazing. (Food shortage scares are not based in reality.) We westerners love to buy new, and trendy items. Foodies are always looking for the latest delectable goodie. Here are a couple of the newest, as well as healthy foods to hit the market:
Meet “Opal Apple” the delicious new apple that is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Topaz apple. Cross-breeding fruits, vegetables and flowers is a common practice. (For more information on this practice, click here).
The Opal apple is widely available in organic form which is a big plus considering the huge volume of pesticides that are sprayed on apples. They are crisp, juicy and delicious. Opal apples are also the first certified non-GMO crossbreed of apples. Their season runs from late winter into early spring.
Now, this is pretty exciting. Even if you are not trying to avoid gluten or grains, these new flours sound like a great addition to any kitchen.
Several companies are making flours from squash, apples and sweet potatoes. We bet other varieties will be showing up soon too. These flours are from cold-milled fruits and vegetables which means they are processed at a low temperature. (But don’t forget if you bake with them, the cold-milled benefit is gone). They can be used in your grain-free baking. These flours will add a sweetness to the food so you may want to mix them with a nut or seed-based flour like flax, coconut or almond. At least one of the companies producing these flours (Anti-Grain), uses non-GMO ingredients from fruits and vegetables grown in the USA.
The newest vegetable to hit the market, kalettes, are a combination of kale and Brussels sprouts. Combined from two powerhouse vegetables, kalettes are packed with nutrition. They can be cooked, dehydrated into snacks, or used in salads. Kalettes are non-GMO and commonly found in organic form. Sounds yummy!
There are lots of new and exciting products coming on the market. We’ll keep you posted.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>I got excited a few months ago when I heard that the cookie diet, which has been around since I first started dieting (practically out of the womb), was still in existence. Having put on an awful lot of weight in the last few years, I thought, heck I can do that for a few weeks. Yes, I know it is not the proper way to eat, but why not? Nothing else had been working – not low carb, intermittent fasting or eating vegetarian. I started to gain weight rapidly 2.5 years ago for no apparent reason. I was game for anything at this point.
Ingredients are important to me. So what are the ingredients in these magical diet cookies? Good question. Even with all my excellent research skills, I was not able to get any information. Apparently, Dr. Siegal, who created the original Cookie Diet, is still personally mixing the dough (at the age of 80) so his secret recipe never gets out. I suspect there are GMO ingredients, possibly even artificial sweeteners. But without actually getting a list of ingredients, its all conjecture.
I have never been a fan of eating 3 meals a day, 5 small meals, or any other sort of regimented eating schedule. I really liked the idea of intermittent fasting when I heard about it a few years ago. A lot of people have very good success with this dietary lifestyle though it hasn’t helped me lose weight. I really believe it is healthy to go long periods of time without food. If we are going to eat a “natural diet”, well let’s face it, humans didn’t always have available food for a sit-down meal, 3 times a day. I bet humans went many hours,and days, without food at all. Eating all day long isn’t very “natural”.
Mike Mattson, a neuroscientist at the National Institute on Aging, has observed studies with mice over 2 decades. Mice who skipped feedings, lived longer and leaner, than the mice fed regularly.
In 2012, biologist Satchidananda Panda of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, observed that mice eating their food within an eight-hour window were less likely to develop metabolic diseases like diabetes.
Intermittent fasting isn’t necessarily for everyone, but it does seem to have health benefits. If nothing else, it is a good practice in discipline.
One of the oldest forms of medicine, Chinese medicine, has been helping people for thousands of years. Two weeks ago I started seeing an acupuncturist from China. I have had two treatments so far and both times whined about my weight (not the reason I went to see him). Both times he waved his hand and said to stop worrying about the weight. He said “your body will lose the weight when you are healthy“. His diet recommendations were very surprising. All food must be cooked and warm. . He explained in Chinese medicine if a body is not in balance, it needs only warm, cooked food. When asked about the nutritional benefits of raw food versus cooked, he replied that the effort the body has to go through warming and digesting cold or raw food, was a greater burden on the body than eating cooked food with less nutrition. That was an interesting viewpoint. No GMO and minimal sugar were the only other comments on what to eat. Well, the Chinese do eat everything, and I meant everything.
I am going to follow the advice of my acupuncturist for 6 weeks. If I don’t start to lose weight by then, my Plan B is the cookie diet. Always good to have a fall-back plan.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>The other day I got an email from a friend lamenting the fact she was on a diet and weighed 2.5 pounds more than the previous day. I emailed her back and told her I had two words for her – water retention.
Whether dieting or not, water retention is a problem for many women. I am sure men have it too, but we don’t hear a lot about “feeling bloated” or “swollen feet” from the male gender.
Celery is a wonderful natural diuretic because it contains sodium and potassium. If you suffer from edema (water retention), this is an excellent food to eat/drink on a daily basis. For me, drinking celery is more preferable. Eating stalks of celery is just not very appetizing to me unless they are dipped in peanut or almond butter. Celery is great juiced or pulverized in a strong blender for a smoothie. It doesn’t have a strong flavor and easily mixes with other fruits and vegetables.
Oops, I used the word “amazing”. I saw a post on Facebook the other day that the words “amazing” and “awesome” were so overused, they are now passe. Of course everything on Facebook is true, LOL. Well, whether we call them amazing, awesome, great or whatever, the benefits of celery rock.
Inflammation – Celery contains many inflammatory compounds and is very useful for helping combat pain.
Digestion – The high water and insoluble fiber content in celery helps encourage bowel movements. It also helps promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Stress – Celery is high in the anti-stress mineral, magnesium, which helps soothe the nervous system.
Cancer Prevention – Several anti-cancer compounds have been found in celery which may inhibit certain types of cancer cells. Celery also helps to alkalize the body. Many diseases are caused by an over-acidic condition.
Cholesterol – Two stalks of celery a day can help to lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol in the body.
Blood Pressure – Celery contains compounds that help increase circulation. Celery compounds can help relax muscles allowing vessels to dilate.
Be sure to eat celery every day. This vegetable is awesome. I mean great.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Food is is truly our medicine. The sweet potato is not only nutritious, it may even help prevent certain types of cancer. With Thanksgiving around the corner, and sweet potatoes freshly harvested, now is the perfect time of year to indulge in this vegetable.
There are about 400 different varieties of sweet potatoes which range in color from a pale yellow, to orange, pink, and even purple. The darker colors indicate the high beta-carotene content of the sweet potato. It also contains high amounts of the B vitamins, vitamin C, and minerals such as zinc, potassium and manganese.
Studies show sweet potato has an anti-obesity potential. Even though it has a fairly high sugar content, it has a low glycemic index. In clinical trials, sweet potato reduced blood sugar levels and improved insulin sensitivity (even in type 2 diabetes patients). In one study with mice, sweet potato was shown to reduce appetite and food intake.
Researchers have discovered an extract of sweet potato kills up to 65% of human leukemia cells in vitro. Another study from Japan showed pre-menopausal women who eat sweet potato more than 3x weekly had a 30% less breast cancer risk.
The purple sweet potato contains nutrients that help suppress certain types of cancer cells including stomach, colon, lung, gallbladder, kidney and breast.
Sweet potatoes may have anti-inflammatory properties and help reduce inflammation in brain and nerve tissue throughout the body. They also contain ingredients which prevent blood clots and may help to fight heart disease. The nutrients in the purple varieties can also help neutralize the dangers of heavy metals including mercury, cadmium and arsenic.
This is one vegetable that is best eaten baked, steamed or broiled. Studies show that heating helps release the beta-carotene, making it more accessible to the body, Boiling, however, is not recommended as this method will destroy the nutrients.
Enjoy sweet potato, not just over the holidays, but all year round.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Did you know that pumpkins are not just for pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes at your favorite coffee hangout? Pumpkins have lots of health benefits too. Here are some great reasons to eat pumpkin:
Pumpkins are very nutritious. They contain high amounts of vitamin A (from beta-carotene) C, B-Complex and other nutrients like magnesium, zinc and potassium. These are all very important nutrients to strengthen our immune systems. The oil that is extracted from pumpkins is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. A good supply of beta-carotene may help to lower your risks of some types of cancers.
Eye Health – Pumpkin contains two very important antioxidants for the eyes – lutein and zeaxanthin which may help to prevent cataracts. Pumpkin’s bright orange color comes from beta-carotene which the body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant, is essential for healthy eyes.
Anti-Aging – The two kinds of carotenes in pumpkins, beta and alpha, may also help keep you young. These antioxidants kill the free radicals running around in your body that cause it to get old and diseased.
Inflammation Reduction – Foods with orange pigments like pumpkins (carrots & oranges too), are powerful antioxidants, and help fight inflammation.
Did you know that Mr. Pumpkin could also help you fight the fat? Pumpkins have a high water content (nearly 90%) and lots of fiber that helps slow digestion. When you eat pumpkin, you stay fuller, longer. And for those of you counting calories, pumpkins weigh in at about 50 calories per cup.
Pumpkin seeds are chock full of B-complex vitamins which are essential for your nervous system, hormone regulation, metabolism, blood sugar and more.
The seeds are also rich in the amino acid, tryptophan, which may help you sleep better and even improve your mood. The magnesium in pumpkin seeds benefits your blood pressure, blood vessels, bones, teeth, bowels, sleep and many other functions in the body. Magnesium is so important that it may even help prevent cardiac disease.
Enjoy lots of pumpkin this season. It is such a versatile vegetable and can be cooked, baked, used for frozen deserts and even applied topically in a mask for healthy looking skin.
But as for those pumpkin lattes, there is nothing nutritious about them. They are full of sugar, GE milk and other undesirable ingredients. Just saying……
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Why are more and more people are becoming gluten-intolerant? Is this because wheat has been altered from its original state or could there possibly be other reasons? I thought modern wheat had been genetically altered (well it is, and it isn’t), but apparently wheat is not considered GE. So why are so many people having problems with it?
According to a recent article in “The Healthy Home Economist” , the reason wheat is causing issues with so many people is because it is drenched in Monsanto’s herbicide “Roundup” before it is harvested. Apparently this practice of soaking pre-harvest wheat results in a higher yield.
The deadly active ingredient in Roundup is “glyphosate”. Though Monsanto denies it, glyphosate has the ability to cause enormous damage to our health. It plays havoc on our gut bacteria creating many digestive disturbances. Glyphosate is also linked to infertility, kidney disease, birth defects, certain types of cancers and even autism in children. For more information on the dangers of glyphosate, see this article by Dr. Mercola.
Apparently the application of applying Roundup prior to harvest has been routine for the past 15 years and is used as a drying agent 7-10 days before harvest within the conventional farming community. According to Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT, most of the non-organic wheat in the US is now contaminated with it.
While the wheat that is grown throughout the world is not considered genetically altered, it is not the same wheat that was grown in ancient times either.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, an American scientist, Norman Borlaug, developed new kinds of wheat. These new versions were nothing like ancient wheat. They were better at resisting disease, yielded higher crops, and grew quicker. In 1970 Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with wheat.
In order to modify the wheat, Borlaug crossed traditional wheat with non-wheat grasses, used chemicals, x-rays and various other mutation methods. Maybe his methods were not considered GE by the current definition, but the wheat was definitely altered, almost beyond recognition.
Taking one of the most nutritious foods on the planet and greatly altering it, was bound to cause destruction. Messing with mother nature seldom results in an improvement. In fact, I can’t think of one instance.
Regardless of the reasons why wheat has become toxic, it is best to avoid it whenever possible. There is, however, a company called “Jovial” that claims to sell the original wheat that has never been hybridized. You may want to check them out.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>I was in one of those big warehouse stores the other day and saw a demonstration of a whole body vibration exercise machine. I had never seen one before and was curious as to its purpose. According to the sales “pitch”, this machine could help tone the body, improve circulation, burn calories, strengthen muscles, increase bone mineral density, improve lymphatic flow, contribute to a better range of motion (flexibility), reduce cellulite, stimulate collagen and more. It had a hefty price tag – over $2,000. For that price, it better walk the dog too.
Back so very long ago, when I was in my 20’s, vibration machines were advertised to help passively exercise the body and lose weight. You had to go to a clinic to use them. I remember being intrigued by these ads. But the fad seemed disappear. I guess they didn’t work very well.
Over the years, I have gone to chiropractors that have used powerful vibrating massage tools. I have definitely felt the circulation improve wherever they were applied, so it makes sense that vibrating the entire body could have the same effect, but on a broader scale.
I decided to do a little research on these machines. Though some of the weight loss and toning claims might be exaggerated, there does seem to be some endorsement by the medical community that these machines have benefits.
There is no doubt that the circulation will improve, including blood and lymphatic flow. That is definitely a good thing. A good circulatory system is very important for detoxification, nutritional delivery and healing. There is also evidence that bone density might be improved which is also very positive. As for the other claims like weight loss and cellulite reduction? There is no evidence to support these claims.
There are definitely benefits to using vibration exercise machines, but sadly weight loss isn’t one of them. Adding a vibrating machine along with regular exercise may be beneficial. For people who are not able to exercise, such as the elderly, these machines can help improve bone density and muscle strength.
You don’t have to pay a fortune for one though. There are many machines available for under $500.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>I have always known the value of sleep for weight loss. I have a good friend who, like myself, put on weight over the past few years. But hers began falling off a few months ago. My friend has an ongoing respiratory infection that she hasn’t been able to shake, and it has made her tired. She began sleeping 14 hours (or more) a day. The more she has been sleeping, the skinnier she is getting. She told me that the moment she started to sleep long hours, she began to lose the weight effortlessly.
Sleep is important for weight loss, as well as general health. I can almost pinpoint the day I started to gain weight. A very stressful incident happened to me. My lifelong habit of sleeping like a baby came to an end. That was 2 years ago this month.
One of the more obvious reasons sleep helps with weight loss is that a tired person tends to eat more than a rested one. Numerous studies have shown that sleep-deprived people don’t just eat more food, they tend to eat high carbohydrate and sugary foods for that rush (though short-lived) of energy.
Lack of sleep interferes with hormone production. There are two appetite hormones called leptin and ghrelin which are made primarily during sleep. Leptin is produced by your body’s fat cells and is responsible for suppressing hunger. Ghrelin is released by your stomach and stimulates appetite A lack of sleep lowers leptin and increases ghrelin. You will be hungrier and have a bigger appetite.
Growth hormones help the body build muscle, repair and rejuvenate tissue while sleeping. A body that is deficient on sleep will build less muscle. Because muscle burns calories, less will be burned.
Insulin sensitivity is another factor in weight gain. A reduction in insulin sensitivity means that the body will store more fat.
Cortisol, the body’s “stress” hormone is over produced during times of mental or physical stress. Sleep deprivation is a form of physical stress. High levels of cortisol in the body will slow down metabolism. It will also interfere with the body’s ability to build muscle mass.
If you want to lose weight, you must sleep well. Quality of sleep is very important. If you are not waking up rested, you are not getting enough sleep.
If you are not able to sleep well, there are many natural supplements available to help with this. It may require trying a few different products to see which works best for your body. The mineral, magnesium, and the amino acid, L-tryptophan, have helped a lot of people.
If you want to sleep well, you must stop worrying. I am not being glib when I say this. I was in a high state of anxiety for almost 2 years. It has been a gradual process, but I have forced myself to calm down. The minute I stopped worrying, the better my sleep (and life) became. It takes daily affirmations to maintain this state of mind, but it is working. My sleep has greatly improved, and the weight gain has ceased.
Go forth and sleep like a baby.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Convenience food bars have become very popular over the years. Energy bars, breakfast bars, protein bars and meal replacement bars line the shelves of supermarkets as well as health food stores. Most of these bars are not good for you. Sure, there may be a few awesome raw, organic bars in the health food store, but the majority of them contain some pretty undesirable ingredients.
It just takes a few minutes to throw together really tasty and healthy food bars. Not only will they be much healthier, but you will save yourself money making your own.
Just in case you are feeling lazy, here are a few reasons to avoid many of the food bars you find in stores. Most processed food bars have all, or some of the following:
GMO Ingredients – Soy, ingredients from corn (i.e. corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin), sugar (most sugar in the US comes from GMO sugar beets)
Natural Flavors – I have a few words (or a lot) to say about these food additives. “Natural flavors” may include anal glands from beavers. I don’t know about you but I never found an apple with beaver butt in it before.
Bad oils – Hydrogenated oils, soy, canola
Dairy – From cows fed GMO grains, antibiotics and hormones
Bars with some, or all of the above ingredients – Power Bars, Promax, Luna, Pure Protein, Zone Perfect, Tiger’s Milk, Think Thin, Balance…..(this is just a partial list)
I am going to give you some tips on how to make great bars. I am not a recipe person and practically worship anyone smart enough to figure out all the perfect ingredients and their measurements to make a finished food. I could never do that. I never follow a recipe, but have lots of recipe books to give me ideas. If you ask me for exact measurements for a dish I have made I will not be able to give them to you. I will probably ask you – How long have you been preparing food? Can’t you figure it out after xxxx (fill in the blank) years of cooking?
I definitely recommend you use raw, organic ingredients whenever possible. But that is up to you. Here are some suggested ingredients:
Nut butters, dried fruit (i.e. coconut, dates, raisins, cherries, cranberries, apricots, etc) , nuts and seeds, raw cacao powder, carob powder, vanilla or other flavorings, stevia, raw honey or any other sweetener of your choice.
Food processor and/or coffee grinder
Now, remember I don’t do measurements. But this will give you a pretty good idea how to make your bars.
1. Process the drier ingredients like nuts or coconut first. Ground nuts and coconut are good for the base of the bars. For an even finer powder, use a coffee grinder.
2. Remove the nuts from the processor and add the combination of fruit you desire. Process the fruit until mixed and then then gradually add the nut mixture to give you the desired consistency. Add sweetener if desired.
3. Form into balls or bars and roll into ground nuts or flaked coconut.
Low Carb Bars – If you don’t want to use fruit, grind your nuts/seeds and gradually add in your favorite nut butter and stevia if desired.
Have fun. They are very easy to make and SO yummy!
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>I’ve been studying a bit about cults recently. I was reading a few blogs this week and realized that most diet programs, philosophies or whatever you want to call them, require strict adherence to the diet’s philosophy. Though you aren’t punished or expelled from the diet if you break the rules (like cults), you do feel an enormous guilt at having betrayed your diet beliefs. Here is a perfect example. A friend of mine, a macrobiotic for 20 years or more, starting sneaking in an egg or two. But oh, the guilt. She had to confess it to me. She also started drinking coffee, another no-no on a macrobiotic diet (shame on her – kidding).
Not to offend vegans (I am an ex-vegan) but this is probably the strictest diet cult of all. You NEVER eat animal products. Speaking from personal experience, a vegan does feel superior over the “animal eaters.” Another cult trait. I have another friend who has been eating raw for about 15 years now. Actually, I got her on this raw diet (Aajonus Vanderplanitz), as well as many other people. This diet endorses eating raw animals (chicken, fish, beef) as well as raw dairy and other assorted “items” (a polite term – you don’t want to know what else he recommends eating). Though I gave this diet up after 3 years, my friend has stayed on it, and for the most part flourished. But after her infrequent binges of cooked food, she feels incredibly guility.
Over the past 20 years many people have woken up to the fact that their diet is important and have sought information on what they should be eating. This hasn’t been a simple task, however. There are probably as many opinions on diets as there are people looking for them. If you are confused, you are not alone. Every diet “cult” believes it is the answer. If you follow the low carb ideology, all excess weight is from too many carbs. A low carb diet can reverse diabetes and even cure cancer. But wait, doesn’t a raw diet cure cancer too? I lost a lot of weight on various low carb diets several years ago. And then, almost overnight, without changing my diet, I started packing on the weight again. Low carb isn’t working for me anymore.
Now, what I am about to tell you isn’t rocket science. For that matter, it isn’t science at all. If it works for you, great. If not, then don’t do it. Having worked in the holistic area of health for over 20 years, I have come across various methods a person can use to test foods on themselves. We are all different. Raw milk might be great for one person and not for another. The same for a fruit, vegetable or any other item of food. Try this and see if it helps you. Stand up straight, feet firmly planted on the ground. Take an item of food and hold it to your chest. Keep your mind blank – no thoughts about anything, especially the food you are holding. If you body likes the food, it will sway forward. If it does not like the food, you will fall slightly backwards. That’s all there is to it. Even if you do not test your body on various foods, just listen to it. Most of the time it will tell you if the food is good for you or not. For instance, if you get gas after eating a particular food, it is probably not for you. Tiredness after a meal is another signal the food was not well received. It might take some trial and error, but you will be able to figure it out. I am absolutely convinced there is not one diet for everyone. I wish you well in your journey. As for me, I am free of all diet cults now. Freedom feels good!
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Though hundreds (thousands?) of diet fads have come and gone over the years, the science behind why apple cider vinegar (ACV) may help you with weight loss is pretty solid.
Several studies have shown that apple cider vinegar helps to lower blood sugar levels. When the blood sugar is high, insulin is released from the pancreas to bring it down. Excess insulin gets stored as fat. It is important for weight loss to maintain low blood glucose levels.
The acids in apple cider vinegar help digest food, particularly protein. In order for our hormones to function properly, they require proteins. Happy hormones are important for weight loss. One particular hormone called “growth hormone” is instrumental in maintaining a healthy metabolism and breaking down fat cells.
Apple cider vinegar helps to detoxify the body in a couple of ways. It assists in the break up of mucous throughout the body and cleanses the lymph nodes. A healthy lymphatic system will remove toxins from the cells.
Another way that ACV aids the body is by stimulating the circulation and helping the liver get rid of toxins. Ancient cultures used apple cider vinegar to cleanse the blood. Because ACV is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, it can help eliminate an overgrowth of candida. Candida is common in overweight people.
In order to benefit from apple cider vinegar’s health properties, it is very important that only raw (unpasteurized), organic ACV be used. You can find it in any health food store and many conventional supermarkets. For best results, take 1 tbsp in a glass of water before, or with a meal. (You may want to start with 1 tsp and work up.) Do this a minimum of 2 times a day. When you first start drinking ACV, you might find the taste slightly objectionable but that seems to pass very quickly. In fact, you may find yourself actually craving it.
In many studies, ACV was found to be helpful when used with good dietary habits for moderate weight loss.
Apple cider vinegar has a very high nutritional content. It is full of vitamins, minerals and enzymes and can benefit the body in may different ways. Even if you do not need to lose weight, ACV is a great addition to almost anyone’s diet.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>It is unfortunate that most American diets do not include more bitter greens. We are a population that chooses mostly overcooked and doctored food, and bitter flavors are not very popular.
In Ayurvedic tradition, bitter foods are considered to help with weight reduction as well as reduce food cravings. In Traditional Chinese Medicine bitter foods are recommended for removing heat in the body.
Eating bitter greens like kale and watercress activate the taste buds causing enzyme production and the bile to flow. This helps to promote digestion. Bitter greens also contain high amounts of fiber which are important for waste elimination in the digestive tract. Many people who are following some of the popular diets that are high in fat and lower in carbohydrates could really benefit from a small addition of bitter greens every day.
Bitter green foods are loaded in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. For example, just one cup of watercress contains 959 mg of vitamin A. Both watercress and arugula are high in isothiocyanates (organic compounds with anti-cancer properties). Dandelions have more overall nutrition in them than Popeye’s spinach.
Bitter greens are excellent for cleansing the body. They help the liver detoxify with their sulfur-based compounds. A healthy liver is very important to the overall well-being of a person. Not only is the liver very important to remove toxins from the body, it also helps to balance cholesterol levels, regulate hormones and metabolize fats. Dandelions leaves increase urine production. This helps the kidneys with their elimination chores.
We would be remiss if we didn’t also point out that bitter greens may even help you slim down. They help to reduce food cravings which are the downfall of so many people who are trying to lose weight.
Summer is the perfect season to pick up wonderfully fresh arugula or some lovely kale. They are both perfect for salads alone, or mixed with other greens. Other bitter greens like dandelions and mustard, are probably better in smaller doses. Next time you go shopping, make sure to pick up some bitter greens.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Today I came across a recipe of a a “slimming” cake by Weight Watchers. Why was it slimming? Because it had sauerkraut in it. That is weird in itself, but this “slimming” cake recipe also included tons of flour (wheat), sugar and fat. Fat is good for you, but not when it is combined with sugar and starch. At least the Weight Watchers recipe was using butter and not some GMO canola oil, or other such crap.
This is not a rant against Weight Watchers. They have helped a lot of people lose weight over the past 50 years, myself included. But what I don’t like about them, and other big weight loss programs (i.e. Jenny Craig), is the foods they often recommend are just plain bad for you. If you looked at some of the ingredients in their pre-packaged foods, you would (or should) be shocked.
Yes, you might lose some weight using pre-packaged foods by some of the big weight loss programs, but unless you change your diet permanently and start to eat real food, you will never keep the weight off permanently.
A few months ago I was feeling lazy and thought maybe I could find some low carb frozen dinners in the supermarket. I used to eat them occasionally several years ago. There was one brand that used to have several low carb choices but they seem to have disappeared (or maybe this supermarket just wasn’t carrying them anymore). Anyhow, I only saw one low carb meal and it was full of so much crap (additives and GMO items), I decided to pass. Just out of curiosity I began to look at all the frozen “diet” dinners and was utterly disgusted at the ingredients listed on the label. Back to the salt mines to make my own food.
If you want to get sick (or worse) just start eating “diet” food by some of these companies. They are marketing geniuses and their ads for weight loss can be very seductive, I know. But the long term effects on your body just won’t be worth it.
If you have been on the dieting merry-go-round for any length of time, you have probably tried quite a few diet aids. Even I have been gullible and bought a few products after one of Dr. Oz’s weight loss promotions. The vast majority really don’t do much. Finding a way of eating that is right for you is really the only long term solution.
There are a few products that do seem to work. In our diet section you will find digestive enzymes and other products that are not marketed specifically for weight loss, but do also help in that area.
It would be wonderful if there was one diet that worked for everyone. But that is simply not the case. You may have to try different diets to see which works best for you. Some people get very thin on a vegan diet, while others (myself for example), get heavier. Paleo and low carb work for many people, but again not all. Always eat organic when you can and avoid processed food whenever possible. Good luck!
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>You may have noticed I write about dieting and weight loss a lot. I am somewhat of an expert. When I was about 12 years old my mom put me on the Weight Watchers diet. Back when I was a kid (yes, in the dark ages,) that was the only “diet” program in existence. How times have changed.
I have spent the better part of the last 45 years on some sort of eating program (I refuse to call it a diet anymore). I have even been a vegan or vegetarian a few times. I love animals and hate eating them but I have never felt good on a vegan or vegetarian diet. The Dr. Atkins Diet, the 70’s version and the current one didn’t work that well for me but I did lose 60 pounds over a period of about 3 years doing different low carb (and low fat) diets. After I lost the 60 lbs I had no problem keeping it off for 2 years – the longest stretch in my life that I was slim.
For two years I ate whatever I wanted and it was a piece of cake (I love food metaphors) to keep the weight off. I used to brag to my friends how I ate tons of food. And I did. I just ate earlier in the day. I swear I ate about 2,000 calories most days. I didn’t know about intermittent fasting and thought I must be burning off the calories. I didn’t lose weight but I was happy just maintaining for the first time in my life.
There are various ways to do intermittent fasting. You can just eat your food during a smaller window of time every day (my favorite), eat 500 or 600 calories two days a week, or if you are really disciplined, don’t eat anything at all 1 day a week. Though I am a firm believer in the fact there is no one size fits all when it comes to slimming down, I do believe if you want to lose weight, you should give intermittent fasting a try.
According to Dr. Mercola , ” One of the most effective ways I know of to eliminate sugar cravings and shed unwanted weight is intermittent fasting as this will help reset your body to burning fat instead of sugar as its primary fuel. When sugar is not needed for your primary fuel and when your sugar stores run low, your body will crave it less.”
Intermittent fasting is a tool. This doesn’t mean you can chow down several plates at a lunch buffet. Eating good quality food is important. I won’t go into that because I am going to assume if you are reading this blog, you already know what that is. If not, leave a comment and I will answer.
I did put on some of the weight I lost years ago. I stopped the intermittent fasting. I am going to put that back into my life and will let you know the results. I love this way of eating because I am one of those people who detests following a strict protocol. I also love the discipline of not eating for 16 hours a day (not to mention less meal planning). One of the interesting things about intermittent fasting is that your body gets used to not eating for hours and you won’t feel hungry. Sometimes I used to go 20 hours without eating because I wasn’t really hungry. Our ancestors weren’t chowing down on food all day long (at least I don’t think they were). It makes sense that 1 or 2 meals a day is all we need to stay healthy and slim.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>I read a comment on a blog the other day that the paleo diet was just another fad. Is it? I don’t think so. Whether the diet is called paleo, primal or LCHF (low carb, high fat), it is a clean way of eating that for many people can result in weight loss, more energy and improved health.
It’s pretty funny actually seeing all the “paleo desserts” and other baked items using some very strange sounding “flours”. (I didn’t know nuts could become flours.) Of course any decent diet is gluten free nowadays. That goes without saying. But really? Paleo cookies, ice cream and smoothies? I don’t know about you but I don’t think my ancestors were baking up a storm in the kitchen or whipping something up in the Vitamix. For that matter, I doubt anyone was eating coconut oil a couple thousand years ago. Maybe olive oil, but coconut?
In my circle of friends and acquaintances (mostly middle aged), it does seem like people are tending towards lower carb diets. Last weekend I was in my favorite farmer’s market in Studio City, CA. There were lots of organic fruit stands. And they were really busy. I looked at the people buying up loads of fruit and most of them were skinny. Mmmm, skinny people are buying sugary fruit. More confusion. Is low carb better? If you are confused about what you should be eating, join the crowd.
What I do appreciate about all the “latest fad” diets is that they are sane. Call them what you want. It is about eating healthy food the way nature intended. I think being a vegan (without vegan processed foods of course) is pretty healthy as well as a raw foodist. Each diet has its own merits. I don’t believe there is one diet for every body either. Our ancestral background does have an effect on what we should be eating now.
Earlier today I watched a really enjoyable 12 minute video called “The Calorie Myth” by Jonathon Bailor. Jonathon made a clever point in his video “We were slimmer and healthier before we ever knew what a calorie was”. That is so true. My mother, nor her mother, every counted calories (or carbs for that matter) or went on diets. Never. And while they might not have been the “Hollywood” skinny body type, they always had healthy body weights. When I was growing up size “zero” didn’t even exist. Why? No one was that skinny back then. The smallest size was a 5. Now, I am from Canada and our sizes our smaller up there so our size 5 was (and still is) probably closer to an American size 3. I have a fond memory of starving myself and getting so skinny in my early 20’s that size 5 was too big. Ah, those were the days…..
Though I may never see a size 5 again (or even 7 for that matter), I believe if we all focus on just plain wholesome food and fine tune what works with our body and what doesn’t, we will at least be a healthy size, have lots of energy and feel good. After all, that is really what matters in the long run…right?
Will I ever stop wanting to be a size 5? Probably not. The conditioning to be skinny has been going on for too long now. But maybe I can at least stop calculating those damn calories or carbs in my head every time I eat. Just maybe.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Fermented foods have been eaten by various cultures around the world for thousands of years. They help restore balance and health to the body. The fermentation process was also a way of preserving food before the days of refrigeration.
Our gut requires good bacteria to remain healthy. Fermenting foods increases the nutritional value of food and helps the good bacteria to flourish in our gut. Studies have been done showing that thin, healthy people have a greater amount of good bacteria in their gut while overweight people have less. Fermented foods improve digestion and the elimination of toxins from our body. Fermented foods helps balance our body’s pH levels and increases B vitamins. Many people find their energy improves when adding fermented foods to the diet which also contributes to their ability to lose weight. If you eat processed food you are killing of colonies of good bacteria. Do not buy commercially fermented products unless you know for a fact they have been cultured properly and do not contain preservatives. See recipe below on how to make Water Kefir.
According to Dr. Mercola, getting a regular supply of good bacteria in your digestion is crucial because “an estimated 80% of your immune system is located there.” If only 50% of your immune is located there, improving the conditions in your guy will greatly enhance your health and prevent health robbing diseases.
Stop consuming sugary and processed foods as well as most grains. Avoid chlorinated water, antibacterial soaps and chemicals. Antibiotics also destroy gut flora so whenever possible, find a natural alternative instead to handle the condition. Add one or more of the following into your diet: fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut and pickles, kombucha (fermented drink from a mushroom), kefirs from either fermented grains (see recipe below) or dairy, coconut yogurt, miso or kimchi (Korean dish from fermented cabbage). Take a good probiotic supplement for a few months (or longer) to help re-colonize your gut.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Bee pollen is simply amazing. It is the male seed of flowers and is the food of young bees. It contains nearly all essential nutrients required for the life of a human body. Quite a feat! About 40% of bee pollen is protein and it assimilates very well into our bodies. Not only does this wonder food offer complete nutrition, it can reverse serious health conditions, help a person lose weight and even keep the body young. Because of its high nutritional content, bee pollen can also help curb cravings for addictive substances. If you or someone you know craves sugar, alcohol or worse, have them add bee pollen to their daily diet.
Though we hear of a lot of products nowadays that supposedly help with weight loss (and don’t), bee pollen can definitely deliver in this area. One of the ways it does this is by correcting chemical imbalances in the body that can cause weight gain (or loss). Bee pollen also speeds up metabolism. The body will burn more calories after it eats bee pollen. It contains about 15% lecithin. Lecithin helps to break down fats and flush them from the body. There are still other ways bee pollen helps with weight loss. It literally boosts the value of the nutritional content of the food you eat. The result is an elimination of cravings. Bee pollen also contains a nutrient called “phenylalanine” which is an amino acid that helps to suppress appetite. For that reason phenylalanine is often found in weight loss products.
Bee pollen can also help to relieve hay fever if taken several weeks before and during high pollen season. In fact, it can be very effective against a wide range of respiratory conditions including asthma, sinus problems and bronchitis. Sometimes chronic symptoms have been aleviated in literally minutes after taking bee pollen.
Bee pollen has been used in Europe for decades to improve the appearance of skin. When taken on a daily basis, bee pollen can help rejuvenate the body and complexion. According to G. Liebold, a holistic physician in Germany, bee pollen causes an increase in physical and mental abilities, activates sluggish metabolic functions, and strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Several medical professionals throughout Europe have used it in their geriatric research and practices with remarkable results.
Bee pollen may be one of the best kept secrets in the world of athletes and body builders. It improves energy, strength, stamina and endurance and has been used by Olympic athletes as well as other sports enthusiasts.
Some of the oldest and healthiest cultures in the world eat bee pollen as part of their daily diet. The vast amount of research on pollen indicates that many people benefit from it. If you are interested in improving the condition of your body, it may be the perfect addition to your diet. Bee pollen must be raw and unheated to be effective.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>Many people I meet these days are trying to lose weight.
Some say they are going to exercise.
Some don’t have time.
Others want to eat less…
And then, there are those that try to drink one glass of lemon cayenne water, per day for a week while the rest of us think “I could never do that, I would starve to death.” and to those who succeed, you have my respect.
Another approach is to learn a little about which foods you eat, that cause most of the actual weight gain.
Some people don’t eat much, but they still gain weight. When you look you find that they have their 1 Coke per meal (or per day) and then wonder why they have love handles or slightly plump thighs. There is a reason!
My question to you is this:
How many sodas or sources of added sugar, granola bars, coffees, cookies, do you eat/drink per day?
Here are some interesting facts about what it is exactly that helps us make our little meals pack on so many pounds.
According to data from the U.S. in 2008, the average person consumed over 60 pounds of sugar per year, not naturally occurring sugar and not including fruit juices.
The average intake was 76.7 grams of sugar per day or 19 teaspoons per person, per day (basically 306 calories worth of just straight sugar added to your meal, all this in one day!)
To put this in perspective, one author writes that the maximum calories your body can burn (use up), per meal per day, for an average human is about 400 calories per meal and anything over that gets stored.
You can have a few snacks in between, depending on your body type, age and job, but that’s about it.
More makes you fat, less makes you thinner, you get the idea.
So a minimum of 1,200-1,400 calories per day on average would be good.
In the current day and age, Per Forbes.com, the average American currently consumes 41 teaspoons of sugar per day (double 2008’s consumption), which adds up to roughly 3 pounds of sugar per week, per person.
I’m no mathematician, but on a wild average that means that around 600+ calories (out of your 1,200 to 1,400 or more) that you consume per day, is just sugar.
And if you stretch out the math a little further, it means you eat about 130 pounds of sugar per year.
The consumption of added sugar accounts for 600+ calories per day and can cause a weight gain of 1 pound of fat per week.
And yes, folks that is cumulative weight. No going back to 0 at the beginning of the week.
Per the American Heart Association, the maximum amount of added sugar your body can tolerate in a day is about 7 spoons (not 41):
So, if over half of the average daily diets calories are made up of sugar and not actually a usable sugar that becomes energy, then, yes, that is a lot of what your body converts into good old fashioned fat (love handles, your spare tire, thunder thighs or a “cute” belly, etc).
From a quick review of the current american diet, two of the highest commonly consumed sources of sugar are:
SODA and COFFEE
Here are some facts and figures:
1 tsp of sugar is roughly 4.2 grams of sugar
Just take the grams of sugar on any bottle and divide it by 4.2 ( the number of grams in a teaspoon of sugar), to see how many spoons of sugar you consume when you drink a soda.
This glass holds about 3 cubes more than the sugar that’s in a Pepsi, Coke or Mountain Dew. Just imagine adding fizzy water and drinking that!
Some of the most popular sodas and their sugar content:
Mountain Dew (20 oz) 77 grams of sugar = 18.3 tsp’s of sugar
Pepsi (20 oz) = 69 grams of sugar = 16.4 tsp’s of sugar
Coke (20oz) 65 grams of sugar = 15.4 tsp’s of sugar
Sprite (20 oz) 64 grams of sugar = 15.2 tsps of sugar
7 up (20 oz) 62.5 grams of sugar = 14.8 tsps of sugar
Starbucks Mocha Frap (with whipped cream) tall = 42 grams of sugar = 10 tsps of sugar
Starbucks Café Mocha (with whipped cream) tall = 28 grams of sugar = 6.6 tsps of sugar
Red Bull (8 oz) 27 grams of sugar = 6.4 tsps of sugar
Now most people have a drink in addition to the meal. So you see how this adds up.
If you were to imagine the human body like a car which takes a certain type of gas to make it run.
We could say for the purpose of this example, that the sugar that is in soda, coffee and a lot of our daily snacks, is actually the wrong type of gas for our body (or car).
The human body does use a kind of sugar to make it run, but it is not the same kind as in our sodas and snacks.
The sugar we eat in our food actually gets treated similar to poison in the human body.
We eat the wrong types of sugar everyday, so what does the body do with it?
Some of it becomes fat, some gets converted by your body into usable sugar we need for energy and the excess, goes out in our waste (when it doesn’t make up tired or depressed).
What does our body use to change this bad sugar into usable sugar?
The answer is B-1 and B Complex vitamins. We get it in small amounts from our food, but no where near enough compared to the amount of sugar we consume!
And, what does the body need to help handle the excess sugar that goes out in the waste?
Vitamin C !
As with many types of poison, the body uses vitamin C to help handle toxins.
So, if by reading this you noticed that you are eating too much sugar and are tired alot, cranky or are gaining too much weight, or are depressed and want to cut back or be a bit healthier, then yes, the answer is to eat less sugar.
But, in addition to that, you can simply start taking more B-1 and B complex per day (with protein) to help your car change that wrong type of “gas” into the right kind for your car (body).
For great discounts on B-1, B Complex and C check out our website:
http://www.vites.com
Just type in "B-1", "B Complex" or "Vitamin C", and you are there!
Happy weight loss everyone!
Peter Gillham
Did you know there is a new diet in America? That’s right. Be the first to get the scoop here folks. If you thought you were confused on just what was the perfect diet to eat, keep reading. We have it all figured out for you. Calorie counting is so passe. Thank goodness because it was a real drag. Paleo eating seems to be the “in” thing these days with raw or vegan a close second. Low carb food is helping a lot of people slim down and feel good but there are also some very convincing arguments to eating a higher carb diet. Many people are losing fat and body problems concentrating on fruits and vegetables too. Are you tracking so far? Of course it was just a matter of time before someone put together the perfect diet to fit everyone’s needs while at the same time not offending anyone at all. No animals are killed on this diet and it is environmentally sustainable. Yep, we call this a perfect diet.
So glad you asked. Now, remember, it may seem a little restrictive but we are sure you will lose weight, cure your physical problems and feel great!
1. Bottled water – We forgot. Some bottled water is REALLY bad for you. You must drink water from a well, mountain or river that is not exposed to any toxins anywhere, (don’t forget about exposure to chemtrails either).
2. Vegetables – Oops, there we go again jumping the gun. Some vegetables are a no-no on the super low carb diets. Don’t eat any vegetables that are grown under the soil. Oh, and don’t eat starchy vegetables because they can’t be eaten on low carb diets either. Non-starchy organic vegetables grown above ground are acceptable all current popular diets. (Don’t forget to find your vegetables where they have not been exposed to toxins.)
3. Raw nuts and seeds. Now this depends on which paleo diet you follow because some don’t recommend them (cave men in America were most likely not eating almonds and pistachios). Don’t forget the carbs in nuts can add up so don’t eat a lot if you want a low carb menu plan.
4. Fruit. Sorry, most fruit is not recommended on a low carb diet though it is an excellent choice for raw foodies, vegans or vegetarians. Fruit must be eaten in season. Feel free to indulge in berries in the summer and fall. They seem to fit well into most diet plans.
5. Extra-virgin oils. Not all oils are allowed of course. In fact, we are going to arbitrarily take remove coconut oil from the list of acceptable oils. How many cavemen in North America or Europe had access to coconuts? Find oils that are native to your genealogy only.
Don’t give up! We really do have the perfect diet worked out for you that everyone can enjoy bear. Are you ready? Here is your list of acceptable foods. Eat all you want. You are guaranteed to lose weight! Just one tiny point we forgot to mention. You have to fly to the Himalayan mountains to do this diet because of the environmental purity that exists in that region. At least we are hoping geo-engineering hasn’t polluted the area yet. If so, we may have to revise the diet…..
1. Water from Himalayan mountain sources 2. Fruits or vegetables grown in this area (they should be naturally organic)
That’s it! We hope you have enjoyed your introduction to the latest diet to hit America. Looking forward to seeing a skinnier and healthier YOU!
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>No, this isn’t about some crazy drink water or eat oranges for a week plan. Here are 3 tips that really work to help drop a few pounds without any crazy diet.
Ok, so maybe this isn’t the first time you have heard about drinking all this water. But do you know why? Did you know that pure water, and lots of it actually speeds up the metabolism? Now, don’t you feel more motivated to drink more water? And when we say water, that is exactly what we mean. Sorry, but your caffeine fixes, sodas (which are really really bad), and other drinks don’t count. Just pure water.
Become a “glutard” (one who avoids wheat). Besides being a “frankenfood” (genetically altered from its original form), wheat will bloat a person. Many people who stop eating wheat often drop 5 lbs in a week when giving it up. You will probably find you have a lot flatter stomach too. There is also another bonus in giving up wheat. You will probably be healthier. Check out a book called “Wheat Belly” by cardiologist, Dr. William Davis. He goes into great detail how wheat destroys our health and causes our bodies to put on weight.
Stress can cause weight gain. When a person sleeps well, wakes up refreshed (preferably without some piercing alarm going off), they tend of be more relaxed and are more able to deal with stressful situations. Stress releases the hormone “cortisol” which stores fat. Of course we have lots of other recommendations that will also enhance weight loss goals. Try to eat organic food whenever possible, avoid GM foods (genetically modified) and never eat artificial sweeteners.
To your Health!
Peter Gillham
]]>