Benefits of eating Watermelon

Summer foods have great benefits. Read all about Watermelon today.
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Watermelon is an excellent fruit that effectively hydrates, detoxifies, and cleanses the entire body on a cellular level. It is rich in vitamins A and C as well as lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin which are excellent for providing protection from lung, mouth, pancreatic, breast, prostate, endometrial, and colon cancer. Watermelon is also known to significantly reduce inflammation, help flush out edema, aid in weight loss, and alleviate depression. Watermelon can also boost the immune system as well as strengthen vision. Watermelon is not nearly as high in sugar as most people think as it has half the sugar than an apple. Watermelon is loaded with antioxidants that have the ability to neutralize free radical molecules and aid in the prevention of chronic illnesses. The rind of the watermelon is equally beneficial as it is one of the highest organic sodium foods in nature and one of the best sources of chlorophyll and can be juiced for a delicious and healing drink. And, if you are lucky enough to get a watermelon with black seeds, even better! Crunch those seeds up too, they have an amazing effect on the nervous system, aiding in relaxing the body and lowering blood pressure and contain helpful amounts of iron, zinc, and protein.

Trim the Tummy Fat!!!

Burn the Belly Fat and keep your tummy FLAT!

Here are some proven steps to help keep your body fat on the retreat.

1 EAT HEALTHY FATS

When trying to drop fat, it may seem appropriate to reduce dietary fat. At 9 calories per gram, fats are a denser caloric investment than carbs or protein. But fats are, in fact, good for you, and consuming enough of the good fats will help you lose fat, build muscle, and recover faster from your workouts. Healthy fats also have numerous health benefits, including being good for your heart and cardio-battered joints.

Polyunsaturated fats, such as those from fish and nuts, and the monounsaturated kind, such as those from peanut butter, olive oil, egg yolks, and fish oil are the ideal choice (especially omega-3s).

2 ADD A HIGH-CARB DAY

When dieting down, most people turn to low-carb diets. (We can see you nodding your head in affirmation.) But what most seem to forget is that carbs are your body’s preferred fuel source and adding a high-carb day now and then can really rejuvenate the metabolism and get that engine revving again.

A low-carb diet long term can actually end up having adverse effects as leptin – the satiety hormone -- levels fall faster when on a low-carb diet and this in turn ends up slowing down metabolism and actually making you feel more hungry.

Try to plan your high-carb days around your more intense sessions, such as leg day, and take down those higher-carb meals pre- and post-workout. Adding 1-2 high-carb days will essentially mean you are carb cycling and will help you avoid any plateaus that may be on the horizon.

3 EAT PROTEIN PLENTY OF PROTEIN

This is a no-brainer, right? At only 4 calories per gram, protein is an ideal choice for keeping your calorie count in check. It also keeps you fuller longer and rebuilds and preserves muscle. Research has also found that a high-protein diet increases fat loss because it increases metabolic rate and decreases hunger.

You should consume a range of .8 to 1.5 grams per lean body pound of weight.

4. HYDRATION IS CRUCIAL

You can try to will yourself into eating less at each meal, or you can put some proven science to work for you at the dinner table. A 2010 study found that participants who drank a full glass of water before dining typically consumed 75-90 fewer calories from that meal. It’s not complicated – the extra water made them feel fuller.

Drinking more water will also ensure your metabolism is running smoothly and will ensure that you stay hydrated. Additionally, consuming more water keeps your body shedding more water. Some athletes find that they retain less water when they begin consuming more. Aim for half your body-weight in ounces per day. So a 200-pound individual should strive for 100 ounces.

5. CHOICE OF EXERCISE

I find that mixing HIIT workouts with resistance exercise are the most beneficial and effective methods for dropping unwanted body fat. The resistance exercise builds lean body mass. The more muscle the higher the metabolism runs. and the HIIT training stokes the metabolism up to 48 hours after the training session. So make sure you hit the gym 2-4 times a week and perform some HIIT exercises 2-3 times a week as well.

Health Foods to Eat, The many benefits of eating Salmon.

  The many benefits of eating Salmon.

This protein is loaded reasons to eat more fish.

 
​Salmon is the common name used to denote the various species of fish belonging to the family of Salmonidae. Salmon is born in fresh water and it gradually migrates to the ocean. However, it comes back to the fresh water to reproduce. Since times immemorial, people have been using salmon as a tasty and nutritious food. The fish can be consumed fresh as well as in the form of preserved types, like smoked salmon or salted salmon. Today, most of the salmon comes from Alaska, Eastern Canada, The Pacific Northwest, Greenland and Norway.

Here is a detailed list of the many benefits of eating this awesome fish!

1. Salmon is rich in Omega-3, which has several health benefits to its credit. Its Omega-3 content, along with the niacin and vitamin 12, is extremely beneficial for cardiovascular health.

2. Omega-3 and the trace mineral selenium, present in salmon, have defensive action against colon, prostate and breast cancer.

3. The omega-3 in salmon helps in reducing depression and thus, keeps a person in good mood. Depression and stress are the principal causes that boost the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines increase, the depressive symptoms accelerate simultaneously.

4. Omega-3 improves the electrical properties of cells present in heart and is also defensive against the deadly abnormal heart rhythms.

5. The omega-3 present in salmon prevents obesity and increases the response towards insulin. It is also beneficial in reducing the formation of cytokines, which causes the inflammatory response lined with atherosclerosis.

6. Omega-3 helps in lowering the level of triglycerides, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in case of its high accumulation.

7. The omega-3 present in salmon also comes into limelight for the protection it provides from both early and late age-related muscular degeneration.

8. Omega-3 is also known to have anti-inflammatory effects. It has the ability to protect the skin against sunburn and most possibly, skin cancer also.

9. Salmon, like any other fatty fish, is helpful against kidney cancer. It is effective in defending against renal cell carcinoma, which is the most common kidney cancer.

10. Consumption of salmon works effectively in lowering the risk of multiple myeloma, leukemia and non-hodgkins lymphoma.
Even a small amount of salmon fish is healthy for protection against digestive tract and ovarian cancers. People eating salmon have less chances of getting cancer in pancreas, ovaries, mouth, stomach, colon, rectum, esophagus and pharynx.

11. Salmon promotes the health of your heart, by accelerating the heart rate variability (HRV).

12. Salmon prevents and controls high blood pressure. It gives more protection against heart attack. It has a vital role to play in protection against ischemic stroke as well

13. Eating salmon helps prevent deep vein thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which blood clot develops in the deep veins of thighs, pelvis or legs.

14. Salmon also is protective against pulmonary embolism. Embolism is formed in case of the breakage of a part or a whole of the blood clot from its site of creation, following which it starts moving through the venous system. The condition in which the clot resides in the lung is called pulmonary embolism.

15. Salmon offers cardiovascular protection for postmenopausal women suffering from diabetes. It also facilitates better functioning of brain cells.

16. The risk of colorectal cancer decreases to a considerable extent with the intake of salmon.

17. A person suffering from dry eye syndrome (DES) will find relief by eating salmon.

18. Salmon proves highly beneficial in destroying the Alzheimer’s plaques.

19. It also proves highly helpful in protecting against childhood asthma.

20. When cooked properly Salmon tastes great!!!!!

I know that's allot to think about right? Salmon is better at healing the human body than the drugs the doctor gives you.

Here's something to really think about....

Eating healthy foods like Salmon is so beneficial, yet so many people complain that eating foods like this is far too expensive.

Well yes and no, you see eating fast foods may be a little cheaper and much easier to obtain than Salmon, however the damage the fast food causes will cost you much more money in the long run. Fast food is poison to our bodies! You may not see the effects right away but the damage is happening and slowly but surely it will catchup with you in the long run.

Want proof?

Fact: Obesity is now an epidemic and along with that is cancer, diabetes and a host of other diseases and yes it's caused by the junk food industry.

The Side Effects of Atrificial Sweetners

The Side Effects of Artificial Sweeteners.
Body fat loss stuck on hold? Can't seem to lose that last little bit of fat?

This may be the problem.......


Artificial Sweeteners will over stimulate the hormones that make you hungry and create a resistance too the hormones that suppress hunger...... IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD!!!

Contrary to popular belief, studies have found that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain. In one of the most recent of such studies, saccharin and aspartame were found to cause greater weight gain than sugar.

Aspartame is perhaps one of the most problematic. It is primarily made up of aspartic acid and phenylalanine. The phenylalanine has been synthetically modified to carry a methyl group, which provides the majority of the sweetness. That phenylalanine methyl bond, called a methyl ester, is very weak, which allows the methyl group on the phenylalanine to easily break off and form methanol.

You may have heard the claim that aspartame is harmless because methanol is also found in fruits and vegetables. However, in fruits and vegetables, the methanol is firmly bonded to pectin, allowing it to be safely passed through your digestive tract. Not so with the methanol created by aspartame; there it’s not bonded to anything that can help eliminate it from your body.

Methanol acts as a Trojan horse; it's carried into susceptible tissues in your body, like your brain and bone marrow, where the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzyme converts it into formaldehyde, which wreaks havoc with sensitive proteins and DNA. All animals EXCEPT HUMANS have a protective mechanism that allows methanol to be broken down into harmless formic acid. This is why toxicology testing on animals is a flawed model. It doesn't fully apply to people.

Now a little education on the two hormones that artificial sweeteners effect.

A lot is known about what causes obesity. The simplest explanation is that the genes that have protected us from famines for millions of years are at the core of the cause of obesity. These powerful biochemical systems are centered on a small area in the middle of the brain called the hypothalamus. A specialized area in the hypothalamus, called the arcuate nucleus, is where the signals that control metabolic rate, hunger and satiety are located.

In the arcuate nucleus are two cells types. One cell is the NPY/AGRP (Neuropeptide Y/Agouti Related Protein) cell. This is the hunger cell. If it is stimulated you feel hungry and your metabolic rate drops. The other cell is the POMC (Proopiomelanocortin) cell. This is the satiety cell. If it is stimulated you feel full and your metabolic rate increases.

The two major hormones that control the hunger and satiety cells are ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is produced by the stomach and travels to the brain where it turns on the hunger cell and turns off the satiety cell. Leptin is produced by the fat cells of the body and travels to the brain where it turns on the satiety cell and turns off the hunger cell. When you are obese you have lots of fat cells and thus your leptin levels are high. The high leptin levels in combination with high insulin levels turn off the stomach cells that make ghrelin so your ghrelin levels are low. Now if that seems backward, your right. The problem is that high leptin levels over time make the satiety cell insensitive to leptin and low ghrelin levels make the hunger cell hypersensitive to ghrelin. The result is that even though the leptin levels are high and the ghrelin levels are low, the hunger cells are turned on and the satiety cells are turned off.

This is exactly the situation that occurs in a famine, hunger cells on and satiety cells off. So if you are obese, even though you have plenty of fat stores, the brain behaves like you were starving. This has many consequences. First and foremost is a loss of the conscious signals that tell you when you are full and when you are hungry. A common sign of this is that most obese people don't feel hungry when they get up in the morning. As a result they often skip breakfast. The brain interprets this as more starvation signals and further shuts down the metabolism. In fact the number one risk factor for obesity was skipping breakfast.

Ghrelin is also important in many other functions of the body. One of the most important is sleep. In order to efficiently progress though the normal cycles of sleep you need adequate ghrelin levels. If you don't have them you will not sleep as efficiently, you will dream less and get less restorative sleep. This will make you more tired the next day and since dreaming promotes leptin production, you will be hungrier and have a lower metabolic rate.

The imbalance of leptin and ghrelin are at the heart of the cause and consequences of obesity.

Now I know your thinking to yourself this only effects obese people not someone like me that only needs to drop a few more pounds, right?

WRONG, I am especially talking you you folks that just need to drop a few pounds and in particular those of you getting ready for a competition.

You see the leaner your body becomes the more sensitive it becomes too. Drop the artificial sweeteners and see the difference for yourself. You will be amazed at how quickly your body will respond and those last few fat pockets will vanish.

Healthy Food Choices...Chicken

Benefits of eating Chicken Breast.

Chicken soup, chicken stew, chicken chili, chicken breast on salad…chicken in almost any form is great for your health—unless you’re the chicken of course!



All kidding aside, the health benefits of eating poultry are plenty. When this fowl comes in a lean breast, it’s low in fat and calories and high in protein, which makes it ideal for weight maintenance. Not to mention that this bird is jam-packed full of essential nutrients and vitamins.

Plus, with so many ways to prepare this plucky protein, you’re family won’t tire of chicken as a frequent weekly menu staple. Here are the top ten healthy benefits of eating chicken:

1. High in Protein

If you’re looking for a great source of lean, low fat protein, this bird is the word. The protein in chicken lends itself to muscle growth and development, and help support a healthy body weight and aid weight loss.

2. Natural Anti-depressant

Chicken, like its brother fowl the turkey, is high in an amino acid called tryptophan, which gives you that comforting feeling after consuming a big bowl of mom’s chicken soup. In fact, if you’re feeling depressed, eating some poultry will increase the serotonin levels in your brain, enhance your mood, blasting stress, and lulling you to sleep.

3. Prevents Bone Loss

If you’re entering your senior years and you’re concerned about Osteoporosis or arthritis, eating chicken will aid in your fight against bone loss thanks to the protein punch it packs!

4. Poultry for Heart Health

Homocysteine is an amino acid that can cause cardiovascular disease if levels are high in the body. Fortunately for us, eating chicken breast suppresses and controls homocysteine levels.

5. Phosphorus

Chicken is also rich in phosphorus, an essential mineral that supports your teeth and bones, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system function.

6. Selenium

Chicken also abundant in selenium, an essential mineral involved in metabolic performance—in other words thyroid, hormone, metabolism, and immune function.

7. Metabolism Booster

Vitamin B6 (or B-complex vitamins) encourage enzymes and metabolic cellular reactions (or a process known as Methylation), which means eating this bird will keep blood vessels healthy, energy levels high, and metabolism burning calories so you can manage a healthy weight and activity level.

8. Rich in Niacin

Chicken also happens to be rich in niacin, one particular B-vitamin that guards against cancer and other forms of genetic (DNA) damage.

9. Promotes Eye Health

Chicken is high in retinol, alpha and beta-carotene, and lycopene, all derived from vitamin A, and all vital for healthy eyesight.

10. Essential for Healthy Tissue Growth

Many of us are plagued with chapped lips, cracked mouths, tongue sores, or dry skin in winter. However, a boost in riboflavin (or Vitamin B2), found in chicken livers, will drastically reduce your skin problems and repair dry or damaged skin.

So make sure you include chicken breast as a part of your nutrition program. There are so many different ways to cook chicken too.

Healthy Food Choices

Food tip of the day.

New Potatoes and their health benefits.
 



Sorry folks this does not include McDonald's French Fries....

Just what is in your spud?


 

Calories

A single cooked new potato contains only about 26 calories. Since new potatoes can vary in size and specific variety, the calorie content of a 100-gram serving of plain, steamed new potatoes can range between 70 to 100 calories. About 86 percent of a new potato's calories come from carbohydrates, while nearly 10 percent is provided by protein and 4 percent or less from fat.


Fat

Steamed new potatoes served without butter, cheese or cream sauce contain a negligible amount of fat. The USDA National Nutrient Data Laboratory reports that a small potato measuring between 1.75 inches and 2.5 inches in diameter provides only 0.21 grams of total fat.


Carbohydrates

One serving of new potatoes, steamed with the skin intact, contains approximately 30 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance of carbohydrates for a healthy adult. These carbohydrates can be broken down into two main categories: sugar and dietary fiber. A new potato serving can provide between 8 percent to 11 percent of your daily fiber intake. Diets high in fiber-rich produce, like potatoes, are linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. People trying to lose weight often avoid potatoes since nutritionists typically categorize them as having a high glycemic index. Foods with a high glycemic index contain sugar carbohydrates that are digested quickly and can leave you feeling hungry shortly after eating. However, researchers reported in the "British Journal of Nutrition" that new potatoes have a medium to low glycemic index when the potatoes are steamed whole and eaten cold, making them a good food choice for people trying to lose weight.


Vitamins

Steamed new potatoes contain significant amounts of essential vitamins, particularly if they are prepared with the skin left on. One serving of potatoes provides almost 45 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, and 10 percent of the RDA for vitamin B6, a vitamin required for neurotransmitter synthesis and cardiovascular system health. New potatoes also contain approximately 2.2 milligrams of niacin, 37 micrograms of folate, 14 grams of vitamin A and 3.9 micrograms of vitamin K per serving.


Minerals

New potatoes contain a high concentration of potassium -- 620 milligrams, or 18 percent of the RDA, for a single serving. They also contain 6 percent of the amount of iron needed daily for optimal health, as well as 99 milligrams of phosphorus, 39 milligrams of magnesium and 12 milligrams of calcium in a serving.


Antioxidants

New potatoes are a good source of antioxidants, compounds that prevent DNA damage by inhibiting the function of free radicals. Potatoes are highest in kukoamines, and flavonoids like anthocyanins and carotenoids. Consuming foods rich in kukoamine compounds may help prevent hypertension, while flavonoids may protect against heart disease and cancer.


1. Eating potatoes can reduce inflammation. How? Potatoes are wholesome, nightshade vegetables, loaded with carbohydrates, protein, calcium, niacin and Vitamin C. Because of the fiber in potatoes, they are soft and easily digested. The Vitamin C in potatoes make them great antioxidants which repair cells in the body. Potatoes can relieve inflammation in the intestines and digestive track. Raw potatoes can also be mashed and applied to relieve external burns, inflammation, and so forth.

2. Eating potatoes can increase brain function. The brain or nerve center of your body relies on several things to function, including balanced glucose levels, oxygen, Vitamin B complex, amino acids, Omega-3 and other fatty acids, among others. Potatoes contain these elements and so much more to keep your brain performing as it should.

3. Eating potatoes can help prevent cardiovascular disease. Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, protein, calcium, niacin and Vitamins C and B-complex. These properties help fight heart disease and keep blood pressure at normal levels. Potatoes also contain carotenoids, key to heart health and overall health and wellness.

4. Potatoes may offset incidence of kidney stones. There are an increasing number of studies that indicate that potatoes may have protective health benefits. For example, potatoes are rich sources of magnesium which can offset the accumulation of calcium in the kidney.

5. Potatoes advance skin care. Potatoes have all the right stuff to optimize health and wellness. Potatoes contain Vitamins C and B-complex, potassium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus, all excellent vitamins and minerals for your skin. Raw potatoes can be mashed and mixed with honey to make a masque for your skin. Raw potatoes can also be applied to burns and rashes to ease the swelling and pain.

The Amazing Avocado

10 Benefits of the Avocado

 

Would you believe that the avocado is considered by many nutritional experts to be a perfect food? It's considered a super-food by many.

Surprise, it's not really a vegetable, it's a fruit. In areas south of the border, it's often called the alligator pear because of its shape and dark green roughly textured skin.

Though avocados are heavy in calories, those are nutrient dense calories. And the fats are heart healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3. Besides actually being healthy, there are many ways to enjoy avocado, from a few guacamole recipes to mixing into salads and to using it as a meat substitute for sandwiches.

(1) Healthy brain: Dr. Daniel G. Amen, author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Life considers avocados as one of the top brain-healthy foods that can help prevent Alzheimer's Disease. The folate in avocado contributes to preventing the formation of brain tangles that are considered a factor for Alzheimer's.

Avocados combine brain healthy omega-3 fatty acids with natural vitamin E, which has been clinically proven to prevent Alzheimer's disease from progressing and even reversing it in its earliest stages.

(2) Healthy heart: Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats that boost heart health and help lower blood pressure. Avocado monounsaturated fats contain the phytonutrient beta-sitosterol, which was clinically proven to lower LDL and triglyceride blood levels while raising HDL.

Avocados' vitamin B6 and the natural folic acid from their high amount of folate help regulate homocysteine, which if high is a harbinger of bad heart health. The natural vitamin E and the master antioxidant glutathione in a base of avocado's monounsaturated fat's oleic acid are also recognized heart health boosters.

(3) Pregnancy: Folic acid is commonly recommended for pregnant women to help the fetus develop its brain and other vital organs. But some health experts consider synthetically extracted folic acid a problem. They recommend using natural folate for its folic acid content instead.

Folate also reduces stroke risk, according to a study of people who eat folate rich foods.

(4) Eye health: Avocado contains the carotenoid leutein, an antioxidant that specializes with protecting the eyes from oxidative stress damage leading to poor vision, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

(5) Blood pressure: The combination of avocado's high potassium content, 30 percent more than banana, with omega-3 and oleic acid are beneficial toward reducing blood pressure.

(6) Blood sugar: Avocado's monounsaturated fats can prevent or reverse insulin resistance, a source of type 2 diabetes. The high soluble fiber of avocado helps prevent blood sugar spikes.

(7) Anti-inflammatory: Inflammation is considered the basis of most non-contagious diseases. Avocados have an abundance of plant phytonutrient polyphenols and flavonoids, which have been discovered as anti-inflammatory agents.

(8) Anti-aging: The master antioxidant glutathione supports the liver and the nervous system. It is responsible for replenishing and recycling other antioxidants in the body. It is vital for a strong immune system, and avocado is one of the few foods that contain a considerable amount of glutathione.

(9) Digestion: Nutrients and enzymes in avocado reduce inflammation in the stomach and small intestine's mucous lining. This also improves the body's ability to absorb carotenoids and nutrients.

A study's participants who ate salads with avocados absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids than those who did not include avocados. Carotenoids include beta carotene and lycopene. Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, and lycopene is a compound that reduces stroke and prostate cancer risks.

(10) Cancer: Avocados can help protect against prostate and breast cancers.

Muscle Basics 101

MUSCLE BASICS 101
Part 1

Muscles are one of those things that most of us take completely for granted, but they are incredibly important for two key reasons:

Muscles are the "engine" that your body uses to propel itself. Although they work differently than a car engine or an electric motor, muscles do the same thing -- they turn energy into motion.
It would be impossible for you to do anything without your muscles. Absolutely everything that you conceive of with your brain is expressed as muscular motion. The only ways for you to express an idea are with the muscles of your larynx, mouth and tongue (spoken words), with the muscles of your fingers (written words or "talking with your hands") or with the skeletal muscles (body language, dancing, running, building or fighting, to name a few).

­Because muscles are so crucial to any animal, they are incredibly sophisticated. They are efficient at turning fuel into motion, they are long-lasting, they are self-healing and they are able to grow stronger with practice. They do everything from allowing you to walk to keeping your blood flowing!

­When most people think of "muscles," they think about the muscles that we can see. For example, most of us know about the biceps muscles in our arms. But there are three unique kinds of muscle in any mammal's body:

Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that we can see and feel. When a body builder works out to increase muscle mass, skeletal muscle is what is being exercised. Skeletal muscles attach to the skeleton and come in pairs -- one muscle to move the bone in one direction and another to move it back the other way. These muscles usually contract voluntarily, meaning that you think about contracting them and your nervous system tells them to do so. They can do a short, single contraction (twitch) or a long, sustained contraction (tetanus).
Smooth muscle is found in your digestive system, blood vessels, bladder, airways and, in a female, the uterus. Smooth muscle has the ability to stretch and maintain tension for long periods of time. It contracts involuntarily, meaning that you do not have to think about contracting it because your nervous system controls it automatically. For example, your stomach and intestines do their muscular thing all day long, and, for the most part, you never know what's going on in there.
Cardiac muscle is found only in your heart, and its big features are endurance and consistency. It can stretch in a limited way, like smooth muscle, and contract with the force of a skeletal muscle. It is a twitch muscle only and contracts involuntarily.

In this article, we will look at the different types of muscles in your body and the amazing technology that allows them to work so well. From here on, we will focus on skeletal muscle. The basic molecular processes are the same in all three types.


Skeletal-muscle Basics

Skeletal muscle is also called striated muscle, because when it is viewed under polarized light or stained with an indicator, you can see alternating stripes of light and dark.

Skeletal muscle has a complex structure that is essential to how it contracts. We will tease apart a skeletal muscle, starting with the largest structures and working our way to the smaller ones.

The basic action of any muscle is contraction. For example, when you think about moving your arm using your biceps muscle, your brain sends a signal down a nerve cell telling your biceps muscle to contract. The amount of force that the muscle creates varies -- the muscle can contract a little or a lot depending on the signal that the nerve sends. All that any muscle can do is create contraction force.

A muscle is a bundle of many cells called fibers. You can think of muscle fibers as long cylinders, and compared to other cells in your body, muscle fibers are quite big. They are from about 1 to 40 microns long and 10 to 100 microns in diameter. For comparison, a strand of hair is about 100 microns in diameter, and a typical cell in your body is about 10 microns in diameter.

A muscle fiber contains many myofibrils, which are cylinders of muscle proteins. These proteins allow a muscle cell to contract. Myofibrils contain two types of filaments that run along the long axis of the fiber, and these filaments are arranged in hexagonal patterns. There are thick and thin filaments. Each thick filament is surrounded by six thin filaments.

Thick and thin filaments are attached to another structure called the Z-disk or Z-line, which runs perpendicular to the long axis of the fiber (the myofibril that runs from one Z-line to another is called a sarcomere). Running vertically down the Z-line is a small tube called the transverse or T-tubule, which is actually part of the cell membrane that extends deep inside the fiber. Inside the fiber, stretching along the long axis between T-tubules, is a membrane system called the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which stores and releases the calcium ions that trigger muscle contraction.
Part 2 tomorrow

Natural Remedies: Lemons & Baking Soda

 Natural remedies are safe and often equally if not more effective as the prescription medicines sold to us by the pharmaceutical industry. The biggest problem is we've never been taught about natural remedies.  In addition the pharmaceutical industry does not want you to know there are natural remedies that actually work. In fact the Pharmaceutical Industry spends billions of dollars every year to keep us from using natural cures.  In addition the Federal Government and in particular the FDA prevents the distribution of natural remedies claiming no scientific data or studies to back-up natural claims. So in order to learn about natural cures for fatal diseases you must do your own research which could take hours, weeks and even months, so who has the time  to research? Many of us just go to the doctor and prey that the medicines prescribed will fix our problems.

Fact: Did you know that over 150,000 people die each year from taking medicines their doctor prescribed to them?

So Texas Metabolics, has already done more than a decade of extensive research and we will share what we know with our clients. We want you to have a healthy alternative to what western medicine has planned for you. We do not treat or medicate symptoms we look for the root of the problem and do our best to solve issues, not hide them with drugs.

Here is an article that will open your eyes about two simple products that most of you already have in your home, Lemons and Baking Soda. These two products can work miracles for you.


Lemon & Baking Soda Treatments
If you are a supporter of alkalizing therapy, then this natural treatment for cancer will resonate with you.
In vitro tests have shown cancer cells thrive in acidic and oxygen-free (anaerobic) environments. The first to describe the correlation between the acidic environment and cancer cell growth was Dr. Otto Warburg, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology in 1931.

Dr. Warburg’s work

In his work he scientifically explained how the growth of cancer cells is triggered in the absence of oxygen, and as a result of sugar fermentation that occurs under such conditions. Dr. Warburg was in fact describing acidic conditions. For cancer cells to maintain effective metabolism, they need a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Their tolerance for change is small, therefore it has been argued that by raising the blood’s pH, we will effectively target the cancer cell’s cycle, stop its growth and cause it to die. The key is to make your body more alkaline, and different ways to do that have been proposed

Alkalizing the body with baking soda and lemons

​​It has been shown that sodium bi-carbonate (baking soda) alkalizes the area around the tumor and prevents development of metastasis (spread of a cancer from one organ to another) in mice with breast cancer. A study published in Cancer Research in 2009 confirmed that inhibition of tumor’s acidity reduced the number of metastasis in some cancers. A new study is underway at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, which will look specifically at the effects of sodium bicarbonate on breast cancer patients. Lemons, too, help to balance the body’s pH. They have an alkaline effect on the body, despite their initial (citric) acidity. They contain limonoides which are phytochemicals and have anti-cancerous properties. Vitamin C destroys free radicals, which damage our cells. An interesting thing about lemons is also that they act as an anti-microbial. Some researchers suggest that cancer is like a fungus, and should be treated in the same way, so lemons might be a powerful remedy.
Now put baking soda and lemons together, and you get a potentially powerful anti-cancer concoction. Also, lemons are a safe way to introduce high alkaline substances into the system. If successful, this method destroys only cancer cells, while healthy cells are left alone. You can ingest the mix by drinking a glass of water with half a lemon and half a teaspoon of baking soda. It is recommended to drink this mixture between meals, as if taken with food, it will reduce the effectiveness of the stomach’s acid and compromise digestion. Other methods of taking the mixture have been described, but they might require professional guidance, such as intravenous vitamin C therapy.
As we know, conventional cancer therapies come with many side effects, and sometimes there is little they can do for the patient. According to The Cancer Alternative Foundation, when applied properly, alkalizing or ‘pH therapy’ has had a success rate of 80% and higher, which is a hugely significant rate when compared with some of the mainstream methods. There are of course many factors that influence the individual’s treatment process, and there is no cure that would suit all. What is important is to keep an open mind, and evaluate all options available.




Article Credit: Jenny Hills

Resources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19276390
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/323645
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bk-1994-0546.ch015
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/why-alkaline-approach-can-successfully-treat-cancer?page=2
http://www.livestrong.com/article/376495-the-effects-of-drinking-baking-soda-water/

Have a great day!

your Friends at,
Texas Metabolics

 

Natural Sun-Screen It really works!

Today is June 1, 2015 and for many people it's the first day of Summer. Many children are already out of school for summer and most everyone will be out by the weeks end. Many of us will be out in the sun and enjoying the warm weather. 

However many of us will purchase sun screen and or sunblock to prevent burning and the damage it causes. Have you ever stopped and read the list of chemicals in your bottle of sunscreen?  Did you know some of the chemicals found in sunscreen can cause cancer along with other serious side effects and keep you from absorbing  proper levels of vitamin D from the sunlight!

There is an alternative solution and you can make it yourself at home. Yes you can make your own sunscreen and it's actually healthy and has many benefits when used properly.

Home Made Sun Screen

Many of the ingredients in this recipe have a natural SPF but since this is a natural recipe and has not been tested by a regulatory organization, I can’t make any claims or even guesses as to the combined SPF. The individual ingredients that are naturally SPF are:

• Coconut Oil- SPF 4-6
• Shea Butter – SPF 4-6
• Almond Oil- SPF around 5
• Zinc Oxide SPF 2-20 (depending on how much used)
• Red Raspberry Seed Oil SPF 25-50
• Carrot Seed Oil –  SPF 35-40

Sun protective ability depends on the amount of each ingredient used. This sunscreen is somewhat, but not completely, waterproof and will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming. Make sure not to inhale the Zinc Oxide- use a mask if necessary! This recipe has an SPF of about 15, though adding more Zinc Oxide will increase the SPF. Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smooth sunscreen. I recommend coconut or vanilla extract or lavender essential oils for fragrance. Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup Almond Oil
• ¼ Cup Coconut Oil
• 2 Tbsp Shea Butter
• ¼ Cup Beeswax
• 2 Tbsp Zinc Oxide
• 1 Tbsp Red Raspberry Seed Oil

This formulation can be used everyday with no ill side-effects. In fact it will make your skin look years younger and repair damaged skin from over exposure to sun light. It will also keep the nasty chemicals out of your body and your children's bodies too!!!

So have a great week and an awesome, safe SUMMER!!!

From your friends at,

Texas Metabolics

Maximizing Healthy Lifestyle Choices Vitamin C Part 3

Maximizing Healthy Lifestyle Choices

In our efforts to reduce the risk of heart disease, regular exercise plays an important part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The increased delivery of oxygen-rich blood to tissues is a vital part of the process—but it can also produce destructive free radicals. Clearly, the solution is not to stop exercising! Rather, a series of recent studies shows how supplementation with vitamin C can mitigate free-radical damage from intense exercise.

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British researchers evaluated the effects of just two weeks of modest vitamin C supplementation (200 mg twice daily) on the recovery from an unaccustomed bout of exercise. Eight healthy men were given either a placebo or vitamin C supplementation each day, and after 14 days performed a 90-minute-long running test. The supplemented group had less muscle soreness, better muscle function, and lower blood levels of the oxidative stress-induced molecule malondialdehyde. And although both groups experienced post-exercise elevations in levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, increases in the supplemented group were smaller than in the placebo recipients. The scientists concluded that “prolonged vitamin C supplementation has some modest beneficial effects on recovery from unaccustomed exercise.” Timing is critical, however. When the researchers repeated their study with subjects who took vitamin C only after exercise, no benefit was seen.

Oxidative stress during exercise induces significant changes in proteins, producing compounds known as protein carbonyls. Measuring levels of protein carbonyls is therefore a useful indicator of oxidation. Exercise scientists at the University of North Carolina studied the impact of vitamin C supplementation (500 or 1,000 mg/day for two weeks) compared with placebo on oxidative stress indicators in 12 healthy men. As expected, exercise acutely reduced total blood levels of antioxidants in both groups. Levels of protein carbonyls increased by nearly four-fold in the placebo group, while vitamin C recipients experienced little or no elevation. This vital study demonstrates that vitamin C can protect against exercise-induced protein oxidation in a dose-dependent fashion.

Muscle soreness after exercising can be a big disincentive to continue on a healthy fitness program. That’s why the subsequent findings of that UNC group are so important. The scientists gave vitamin C supplements (3,000 mg/day) or placebo to a group of 18 healthy men for two weeks before and four days after performing 70 repetitions of an elbow extension exercise. Not surprisingly, considerable muscle soreness ensued, but it was significantly reduced in the supplemented group. The release of creatine kinase, an indicator of muscle damage, was also attenuated with vitamin C, compared with the placebo group. Blood levels of natural antioxidants fell significantly in placebo subjects, while vitamin C supplementation completely prevented this change. Results such as these suggest that the supplemented group would be much more enthusiastic about exercising the next day!
Minimizing Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices

Vitamin C may offer important protective benefits for smokers and those who are passively exposed to tobacco smoke. Smoking has been linked with elevated levels of C-reactive (CRP) protein, an inflammatory marker linked with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. As Life Extension readers know, it is crucial to monitor your CRP levels through regular blood testing and to keep your CRP under control in order to limit cardiovascular problems. Fortunately, vitamin C has been shown to play a role in helping to combat excessive CRP levels.

Researchers in Berkeley evaluated the impact of antioxidant supplementation on blood levels of CRP in both active and passive smokers. They studied 160 healthy adults who were actively or passively exposed to cigarette smoke and randomly assigned to receive placebo, vitamin C (515 mg/day), or an antioxidant mixture (including vitamins C, E, and lipoic acid). Subjects in the vitamin C group underwent a significant 24% reduction in their plasma CRP concentrations, while neither of the other groups showed a significant change. This remarkable result provides strong support for chronic supplementation with vitamin C, whether or not you smoke.

Smoking causes cancer in part by directly damaging DNA, which is a vital first step in the onset of cancer. In studying the effect of vitamin C supplements on reducing DNA damage in blood cells, Danish researchers gave relatively low doses (500 mg/day) of vitamin C as plain-release or slow-release tablets combined with vitamin E (182 mg/day), or placebo, for four weeks to a group of male smokers. The slow-release formulation of vitamin C reduced the number of DNA damage sites measured in white blood cells just four and eight hours after a single tablet, a positive result that was still evident at four weeks. The plain-release tablets also exerted a protective effect at four hours, suggesting benefits of long-term vitamin C supplementation in minimizing DNA damage.

Once DNA is damaged, however, smoking induces pro-inflammatory changes that can allow a malignant cell to become a dangerous tumor as well as causing blood vessel damage associated with atherosclerosis. Vitamin C supplementation is a logical approach to reducing the impact of these inflammatory changes, as was shown recently by a British investigative team.15 They studied 10 smokers with the high-risk lipoprotein ApoE4 gene as well as 11 non-smokers, all of whom took just 60 mg/day of vitamin C for four weeks. Remarkably, these high-risk smokers on this low-dose regimen responded with a marked reduction in levels of a host of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As the authors themselves pointed out, this study identified core molecular mechanisms that help explain the known benefits of vitamin C supplementation in smokers.

Literally scores of other studies have been published demonstrating the benefits of vitamin C supplements in smokers and those passively exposed to cigarette smoke. One study found that 500 mg of vitamin C twice daily for just two weeks reduced the depletion of vitamin E caused by smoking by up to 50%.

Two other studies investigating low and high doses of vitamin C supplementation revealed its benefits in improving endothelial function, a cornerstone of cardiovascular health, known to be impaired in smokers. The first study showed that just 60 mg of vitamin C daily given to a group of smokers for 12 weeks improved endothelial function as assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation. In the second study, Dutch researchers found that 2,000 mg/day of vitamin C for two weeks reversed endothelial dysfunction caused by the abnormal migration of monocytes7 implicated in atherosclerosis.

Furthermore, Berkeley public health researchers successfully reduced levels of F2-isoprostanes, a sign of oxidative stress and cell damage, in a group of 67 passive smokers who were given vitamin C supplements daily for two months. The researchers stressed the value of these findings in preventing tobacco smoke-induced health damage in non-smokers.

Vitamin C are you getting enough? Part 2

Vitamin C are you getting enough? 
  Part 2

Does Vitamin C effect your lipid profile........

Lipid Profiles, Blood Pressure, and Body Mass Index

Most people have learned to pay attention to the amount and kinds of fats and cholesterol in their blood (lipid profiles), their blood pressure, and their body mass indexVitamin C are you getting enough? (BMI), the most meaningful measure of how weight and health are related. This group of parameters not only influences endothelial function but is instrumental in laying down atherosclerotic plaque, helping set the stage for atherosclerosis.

Data from just the past few years reveal that vitamin C plays an important role in helping to prevent such a scenario.

In 2000, British researchers reported a six-month, double-blind study of vitamin C 500 mg/day versus placebo in 40 men and women, aged 60-80 years. The study was a “crossover” design in which subjects took the assigned pills for three months, stopped them for one week, and then reversed their assignments for another three months; this is a particularly strong study design because it helps to eliminate individual differences. The results were impressive—daytime systolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 2 mm Hg, with the greatest drop seen in subjects who had the highest initial pressures. Women in the study also had a modest increase in their beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The authors concluded that these effects might “contribute to the reported association between higher vitamin C intake and lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.”

Researchers in South Carolina conducted a 2002 study of 31 patients with a mean age of 62 years, who were randomly assigned to take 500, 1,000, or 2,000 mg of vitamin C daily for eight months. This research group actually found a drop in both systolic (4.5 mm Hg) and diastolic (2.8 mm Hg) blood pressure over the course of supplementation, although there was no change in blood lipid levels. Interestingly, this study found no differences between the groups taking the various doses, though the number of subjects was small and a larger study might have demonstrated important dose-related differences.

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference correlate well with risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A landmark 2007 study from nutritionists at the University of Arizona explored the relationships between vitamin C levels, body mass index, and waist circumference. In 118 sedentary, non-smoking adults, 54% of whom were classified as obese and 24% overweight by BMI standards, lower vitamin C levels were significantly correlated with higher BMI, percentage of body fat, and waist circumference. Women with higher vitamin C levels also had higher levels of the fat-suppressing hormone, adiponectin. This remarkable study demonstrated a vital relationship between vitamin C levels and obesity-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Vascular Stiffness and Coagulation

The development of atherosclerosis involves dysfunction of the vascular endothelium. As plaque accumulates and as vessel walls thicken, blood vessels become increasingly stiff, making them less able to participate in blood pressure control and to deliver appropriate amounts of blood flow. Endothelial dysfunction increases the tendency for arterial blockage due to a blood clot, or thrombosis. Like several other “atherogenic” changes, these effects are related to the impact of free-radical damage. Vitamin C’s antioxidant characteristics are showing great power in reducing or even reversing some of these ominous vascular changes.

Medical researchers explored the impact of vitamin C supplements on both arterial stiffness and platelet aggregation (an important early step in clot formation). They provided vitamin C in a single 2,000 mg oral dose, or placebo, to healthy male volunteers. Just six hours after supplementation, measures of arterial stiffness decreased by 10% in the supplemented group, and platelet aggregation (as stimulated chemically) by 35%, with no changes at all seen in the placebo group. As the authors point out, this impressive impact of vitamin C even in healthy subjects may imply an even greater effect in patients with atherosclerosis or cardiovascular risk factors, and that “vitamin C supplementation might prove an effective therapy in cardiovascular disease.”

Many other studies have further advanced our understanding of how vitamin C might reduce atherosclerosis risk factors. Finnish researchers studied 440 adults aged 45-69 years with elevated total serum cholesterol. Subjects took daily doses of just 500 mg slow-release vitamin C and 272 IU vitamin E and were followed for six years for evidence of progression of atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels. The chief study outcome was the intima-media thickness, or IMT (an indicator of stroke risk) of the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Supplementation with vitamins C and E significantly decreased the rate of IMT increase over the six-year period by 26%. Importantly, this effect was even larger in people with low baseline vitamin C levels and those with pre-existing plaques in their coronary arteries. In other words, supplementation seemed to provide the greatest benefit to those with the greatest need. This study shows that supplementation with vitamin C slows down the progression of stroke-inducing atherosclerosis.
Part 3 tomorrow.

The Importance of Vitamin C Series. Part 1 of 4.

Vitamin C are you getting enough?

Part 1
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required by the body for the development and maintenance of scar tissue, blood vessels, and cartilage. Vitamin C is also necessary for creating ATP, dopamine, peptide hormones, and tyrosine. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C helps lessen oxidative stress to the body and is thought to lower cancer risk. Millions of years ago our bodies were capable of producing Vitamin C however we lost that ability and now depend on foods for our bodies demand for Vitamin C.

Here are some of the top foods that will provide you with much needed Vitamin C.

1. Red and Green Hot Chili Peppers

An excellent way to spice up soups, curries, and sauces, green chillies provide the most vitamin C than any other food with 242.5mg (404% DV) per 100 gram serving, 181.88mg (303% DV) in a half cup chopped, and 109.13mg (182% DV) in a single green chili pepper. Red chillies provide 144mg (240% DV) of vitamin C per 100g serving, 108mg (180% DV) per half cup chopped, and 65mg (108% DV) per pepper.

2. Guava

Depending on variety, guavas can provide as much as 228mg (381% DV) of vitamin C per 100g serving, 377mg (628% DV) per cup, and 126mg (209% DV) per fruit.

3. Bell Pepper

A staple of pasta sauce and pizza the sweet bell pepper packs a high vitamin C punch. The amount of vitamin C depends on color. Yellow peppers provide the most vitamin C with 184mg (206% DV) per 100 gram serving, 341mg (569% DV) per pepper, and 95mg (159% DV) in 10 sliced strips. Green peppers provide the least vitamin C with 132mg (220% DV) per pepper.

4. Fresh Herbs (Thyme and Parsley)

Fresh and dried herbs are packed with vitamins and health benefits, they can be used in almost any soup, stew, or as the main ingredient to a salad like tabouleh. Thyme provides the most vitamin C of any herb with 160mg (267% DV) per 100 gram serving, 1.6mg (3% DV) in a single teaspoon. Parsley provides 133mg (222% DV) per 100 gram serving, 79mg (133% DV) per cup, 5mg (9% DV) per tablespoon, 13.3mg (22% DV) in 10 sprigs.

5. Dark Leafy Greens (Kale, Mustard Greens, Garden Cress)

Dark leafy greens are more than just a source of calcium, and are packed with other vitamins including vitamin C. Raw kale provides the most vitamin C with 120mg (200% DV) per 100 gram serving, 80mg (134% DV) per cup chopped. It is followed by mustard greens which provide 70mg (117% DV) per 100 gram serving, and 29mg (65% DV) per cup chopped. Garden cress provides 69mg (115% DV) per 100 gram serving, or 35mg (58% DV) per cup.

6. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts

Broccoli provides 89mg (149% DV) of vitamin C in a 100g serving, 81mg (135% DV) per cup chopped, 28mg (46% DV) per piece. Raw cauliflower provides much less with 46mg (77% DV) per cup, raw brussles sprouts provide 75mg (125% DV) per cup, 16mg (27% DV) per sprout.

7. Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi fruits are tart as well as decorative, they make a great addition to any fruit salad or dessert. A 100g serving will provide 93mg (155% DV) of vitamin C, that is 164 mg (273% DV) per cup, 84mg (141% DV) per fruit.

8. Papaya

In addition to vitamin C, papaya is also a great source of vitamin A and folate (vitamin B9). Papaya provides 62mg (103% DV) per 100 gram serving, that is 87mg (144% DV) per cup cubed, and 188mg (313% DV) in a medium sized papaya.

9. Oranges

Oranges, citrus fruits, and their zest (the shavings of their peel) are all high in vitamin C. Oranges provide 59mg (99% DV) per 100 gram serving, 98mg (163% DV) per cup, and 83mg (138% DV) per orange. Clementines, or tangerines, provide 49mg (81% DV) per 100 gram serving, or 36mg (60% DV) per fruit.

10. Strawberries

Strawberries are delicious and make a great addition to desserts or drinks. Strawberries provide 59mg (98% DV) per 100 gram serving, 98mg (163 % DV) per cup slices, and 11mg (18% DV) in a single large strawberry.

Further benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is rapidly finding new applications in protecting against endothelial dysfunction, high blood pressure, and the blood vessel changes that precede heart disease.3 Additional research is discovering that vitamin C can be helpful in preventing asthma, protecting against cancer, and supporting healthy blood sugar levels in diabetics.

While often taken for granted, vitamin C is a critical supplement in your program to improve cardiac health and avoid degenerative diseases.

Vitamin C—Breakthroughs in Cardiovascular Health

One of the most intensely studied areas of vitamin C benefits is in the area of cardiovascular health. Researchers are finding that vitamin C impacts several aspects of cardiac health, ranging from blood pressure to endothelial health. Perhaps it’s not surprising that as the relationship between oxidative damage, inflammation, and atherosclerosis becomes increasingly investigated by science, vitamin C is seen as a key protective element against many aspects of cardiovascular disease.

For years, scientists have warned us against the dangerous buildup of plaque that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Researchers are investigating the possibilities that vitamin C may play a role in reducing our risk of plaque buildup.

In the early stages of atherosclerosis, white blood cells called monocytes migrate and stick to the walls of the endothelium. Once this process begins, our vessel walls begin to thicken and lose their elasticity, which paves the way for atherosclerosis.

Interestingly, British researchers studied the effects of vitamin C supplementation (250 mg/day) on this adhesion process in 40 healthy adults. Before the study, subjects with low pre-supplementation levels of vitamin C had 30% greater monocyte adhesion than normal, putting them at higher risk for atherosclerosis. Impressively, after six weeks of supplementation, the rate of this dangerous monocyte adhesion actually fell by 37%.

The researchers went on to demonstrate that the same small dose of vitamin C was able to normalize a molecule that white blood cells use to adhere to the endothelium. The findings indicated that through supplementation with vitamin C, scientists were able to regulate how specific genes produce vital proteins, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease at the molecular level.

Muscle Myths

 I don't lift heavy weight because I do not want to have big muscles.


Yes there is a dark side and it is full of myths that keep you from reaching your goals.


Ladies, lifting weights will not give you big muscles, classic example in our very own  Amanda Harris. She is 5'3" tall and weighs 135lbs at about 20% body-fat (leaner for competitions). Amanda has been lifting extremely heavy weights since she was 8 years old. In fact at age 10 she set a world record in the squat with a lift of 220lbs at a body weight of 64lbs and today she squats well over 400lbs. By looking at her you would never believe the numbers I just told you, but hey the proof is in seeing it for yourself. Amanda has documented her career as a 17 time World Champion Powerlifter by posting over 100 videos on Youtube. (just search Barbie Barbell).

"I don't want to workout lifting weights because I don't want to build big muscles " or "I just do aerobics and sit ups to lose weight because if I lift weights, I may build muscle and looked like a man."

Ladies. Have you made these comments before? Awww... c'mon ladies, if you have ever uttered these words, you have just done a terrible disservice to yourself and are missing out on many great benefits that working out with weights can give you. Have you ever pointed to your belly or butt and sweetly proclaimed, "I want lose weight here." So managed to convince yourself that sweating profusely is the answer to a slim and beautiful body and you hit the gym day in and day out just to sweat off your tummy or butt fats!


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So you peddle away on your stationary bike in the gym just like little hamsters or frantically stepping away on the step up machine and then you woefully do crunches after crunches in the hope of having a flat belly and a well rounded shapely butt not realizing that there is no such thing as spot reduction.

You never even bother take a look at the weight lifting machines or the free weights lying everywhere in the gym not to say even touching those weights. Gosh, this terrible myth of building big muscles on women is creating so much fear in women causing them never to train with weights at their detriment.

Ladies! If you are listening, I want to say this loud and clear. There is no way women will build big huge muscles unless you are on special supplementation and specially designed training system. Some of those muscle bound ladies you have seen may even be taking steroids which are illegal and obviously harmful. Never touch steroids to build muscles.

So, why is it difficult for women to build big muscles? Well, it is simply because you do not have enough of testosterone, a male hormone that encourages your muscles to grow. In fact, women have ten to thirty times less testosterone than their male counterparts. Women who accept the myth that they will build big muscles if they workout with weights will miss out on all of the benefits that weightlifting and bodybuilding can offer. This myth is so ingrained in women's psyche that even after explaining the facts to our women clients, they are still afraid to lift weights. So will women who lift weights in their workouts build more muscle tissue? Yes, of course, but it will not be those big huge muscles like those of male athletes. Your muscles will give you the body shape that you most desire, resulting in a tight, firm, healthy, attractive and desirable body. The body shape that is ever so sexy and healthy. Yes, you may have noticed an increase in weight when you step on a scale. This is because muscles weigh more than fat. Thus, as you increase your muscle tissue, your weight will increase but your fats will be reduced giving you a well toned sexy body which most women can only dream of.

Myostatin (also known as growth differentiation factor 8, abbreviated GDF-8) is another big reason females CAN NOT gain muscle size. Myostatin prohibits muscle growth and females typically have 10 times the amount of myostatin in muscle cells as do males. So combine the increased Myostatin and low Testosterone levels it makes it next to impossible for you to gain any male like size or characteristics that you see in the magazines. Trust me the women you see in the muscle magazines have been hormonally enhanced with testosterone. The only way a female can gain that type of size is by abusing her body with illegal drugs!

There are major benefits to having a little more muscle on your body.

Muscle burns calories naturally even when you are sleeping. In fact, research has shown that for each kilo of muscle you build, you will burn 70-100 more calories per day. So, if you gain 2 kilos of muscle and lose 2 kilos of fat, you will burn about 75 more calories per kilo, which equates to burning 150 additional calories per day, which translates into 4200 additional calories per month and ultimately results in a fat or weight loss of 7-8 kilos a year without doing anything! One kilo is 2.2 pounds. Doesn't that sound great?

Another reason that women should do weightlifting is the benefit it can have on your bones. Weight training is a powerful preventive action against osteoporosis, a disease caused by porous bone and low bone density. Women have a much higher risk than men to suffer from osteoporosis. In fact, most women will suffer from this disease as they age. Those plagued with osteoporosis have an increased susceptibility to fractures. These fractures can even be fatal. So, women should exercise with weight to strengthen and increase bone density. Research has shown that six months of weightlifting may increase bone mineral density by as much as 15 percent. As you increase your muscle tissue, your bones must adapt to accommodate this increase in your muscle mass, your bones respond by increasing in density. The result? You will own a stronger skeletal structure and a reduced risk for osteoporosis.

So, don't completely swear off weightlifting fearing that training with weights will build big muscles and turn you into an Incredible Hulk! You won't and you can't. Period.

OK girls, the weights are over there. Let's lift them now! Have the last laugh when your girl friends tell you that they don't want to lift weights and yet watching you transform your body that will make heads turn when you are in your bikini.

Have an awesome week!

From your Friends at Texas Metabolics

Coenzyme Q10 and the Benefits this Enzyme has to offer us

Coenzyme Q10 and the Benefits this Enzyme has to offer us.

Ubiquinone is another name for Coenzyme Q10 and is also known as COQ10 but don't let the names confuse you they are all one in the same.

A Brief History:

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that was discovered by Dr. Frederick Crane at the University of Wisconsin in 1957. CoQ10's main function is to destroy free radicals in the body to help in the maintenance and growth of cellular tissues and organ function. Dr. Peter Mitchell of the University of Edinburgh was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1978 for discovering CoQ10's ability to produce energy at the cellular level. By the 1980s, the number of clinical trials being completed grew in size and number, due in part to the large quantities of CoQ10 available from pharmaceutical companies in Japan.

What does it do for you:

CoQ10 helps the body in producing adenosine triphosphate ATP, the body's main source of energy, and aids the body in driving numerous biological processes. Some of these processes include the production of protein necessary for muscle tissue growth, repair and contraction, fueling all of the body's daily movements along with eating, digestion and waste removal.

CoQ10 also helps the body increase the efficiency of its metabolic reactions. Mitochondria, known as the powerhouse of the cell, contain the most abundant source of CoQ10 in the body and release this powerful antioxidant to destroy free radicals. This helps ensure that all of the body's natural biochemical processes that comprise metabolism function optimally to effectively break down foodstuffs. Metabolism provides the body with enough energy for exercise as well as breathing, circulation and absorption of nutrients.

Research Shows more proof of it's effects:

MayoClinic.com reports that some preliminary research has been done that indicates CoQ10 might cause small decreases in blood pressure. In patients who have Alzheimer's disease, preliminary research indicates that CoQ10 might be effective in slowing down the progression of dementia. Other areas currently being researched in terms of CoQ10's benefits include angina, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and coronary heart disease.

 
Taking COQ10:

For adults over the age of 19, supplementing with 30 to 200 mg daily of CoQ10 is sufficient. The recommendation is to take it in the evening before going to sleep. CoQ10 is fat soluble and should be taken with a meal containing fat, to help in digestion and absorption. I highly recommend that you take your COQ10 with a dose of MCT Oil or even better a tablespoon of Coconut Oil.

I am in high hopes of offering us all some well needed answers to helping our loved ones with Alzheimer and Dementia. Coconut Oil along with COQ10 is part of the answer. I am doing more research and getting to the bottom of what a very select few doctors already know. Once I get all the information compiled I will share it with you all. The dosage of COQ10 and Oils will vary depending on the stage of the disease as well. More to come on this once I've received all the information I've requested.

Warning:

Taking Statin drugs will most likely disable your natural production of COQ10 by as much as 60%. So if you are taking a Statin drug you desperately need to supplement with COQ10.

Let's get Motivated!

Do you lack Motivation?

Here is a great article on getting back on track and rekindle that fire within you!!!

Even the most motivated of us — you, me, Tony Robbins — can feel unmotivated at times. In fact, sometimes we get into such a slump that even thinking about making positive changes seems too difficult.

But it’s not hopeless: with some small steps, baby ones in fact, you can get started down the road to positive change.

Yes, I know, it seems impossible at times. You don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve been there, and in fact I still feel that way from time to time. You’re not alone. But I’ve learned a few ways to break out of a slump, and we’ll take a look at those today.

When I fall out of exercise, due to illness or injury or disruption from things going on in my life, it’s hard to get started again. I don’t even feel like thinking about it, sometimes. But I’ve always found a way to break out of that slump, and here are some things I’ve learned that have helped:

1. One Goal. Whenever I’ve been in a slump, I’ve discovered that it’s often because I have too much going on in my life. I’m trying to do too much. And it saps my energy and motivation. It’s probably the most common mistake that people make: they try to take on too much, try to accomplish too many goals at once. You cannot maintain energy and focus (the two most important things in accomplishing a goal) if you are trying to do two or more goals at once. It’s not possible — I’ve tried it many times. You have to choose one goal, for now, and focus on it completely. I know, that’s hard. Still, I speak from experience. You can always do your other goals when you’ve accomplished your One Goal.

2. Find inspiration. Inspiration, for me, comes from others who have achieved what I want to achieve, or who are currently doing it. I read other blogs, books, magazines. I Google my goal, and read success stories. Zen Habits is just one place for inspiration, not only from me but from many readers who have achieved amazing things. My  Mentor Dr. Fred Hatfield was the first man to squat over 1,000lbs and I followed in his foot steps to become one of the few to ever achieve the goal of being a 1,000+ LB squatter. I listened to his every word and followed his training cycle to the tee and surprise I eventually achieved success and hit 1,025.50 lbs and set a world record in the squat.

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3. Get excited. This sounds obvious, but most people don’t think about it much: if you want to break out of a slump, get yourself excited about a goal. But how can you do that when you don’t feel motivated? Well, it starts with inspiration from others (see above), but you have to take that excitement and build on it. For me, I’ve learned that by talking to my wife about it, and to others, and reading as much about it as possible, and visualizing what it would be like to be successful (seeing the benefits of the goal in my head), I get excited about a goal. Once I’ve done that, it’s just a matter of carrying that energy forward and keeping it going.

4. Build anticipation. This will sound hard, and many people will skip this tip. But it really works.  If you find inspiration and want to do a goal, don’t start right away. Many of us will get excited and want to start today. That’s a mistake. Set a date in the future — a week or two, or even a month — and make that your Start Date. Mark it on the calendar. Get excited about that date. Make it the most important date in your life. In the meantime, start writing out a plan. And do some of the steps below. Because by delaying your start, you are building anticipation, and increasing your focus and energy for your goal.

5. Post your goal. Print out your goal in big words. Make your goal just a few words long, like a mantra (“Exercise 15 mins. Daily”), and post it up on your wall or refrigerator. Post it at home and work. Put it on your computer desktop. You want to have big reminders about your goal, to keep your focus and keep your excitement going. A picture of your goal (like a model with sexy abs, for example) also helps.

6. Commit publicly. None of us likes to look bad in front of others. We will go the extra mile to do something we’ve said publicly. Now, you don’t have to commit to your goal in your daily newspaper, but you can do it with friends and family and co-workers, and you can do it on your Facebook or Twitter page if you have one. And hold yourself accountable — don’t just commit once, but commit to giving progress updates to everyone every week or so.

7. Think about it daily. If you think about your goal every day, it is much more likely to become true. To this end, posting the goal on your wall or computer desktop (as mentioned above) helps a lot. Sending yourself daily reminders also helps. And if you can commit to doing one small thing to further your goal (even just 5 minutes) every single day, your goal will almost certainly come true.

8. Get support. It’s hard to accomplish something alone. When I started Powerlifting my goal was to win a local meet and maybe even a State Championship. As I progressed and got better and stronger I realized that I needed help to spot me while lifting heavy weights to prevent injury or even death. As I improved and started winning National Level shows I recruited even more help with coaches and mentors to help improve me even more and once I was ready for the world championships I surrounded myself with guys that had already been where I was going. The knowledge I received from these people helped me attain things I never even realized I could do. I ended up winning five (5) World Championships and a World Record in the squat of 1,025.50 LBS and yes I was DRUG FREE! Since then I've taken my experience and my knowledge and passed it on to others with great success including my daughter Amanda Harris who now is the top female Powerlifter in the world and a 17 time World Champion with 464 State, National and World Records. SO SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL FOR SUCCESS!!!!!

9. Realize that there’s an ebb and flow. Motivation is not a constant thing that is always there for you. It comes and goes, and comes and goes again, like the tide. But realize that while it may go away, it doesn’t do so permanently. It will come back. Just stick it out and wait for that motivation to come back. In the meantime, read about your goal (see below), ask for help (see below), and do some of the other things listed here until your motivation comes back.

10. Stick with it. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Even if you aren’t feeling any motivation today, or this week, don’t give up. Again, that motivation will come back. Think of your goal as a long journey, and your slump is just a little bump in the road. You can’t give up with every little bump. Stay with it for the long term, ride out the ebbs and surf on the flows, and you’ll get there.

11. Start small. Really small. If you are having a hard time getting started, it may be because you’re thinking too big. If you want to exercise, for example, you may be thinking that you have to do these intense workouts 5 days a week. No — instead, do small, tiny, baby steps. Just do 2 minutes of exercise. I know, that sounds wimpy. But it works. Commit to 2 minutes of exercise for one week. You may want to do more, but just stick to 2 minutes. It’s so easy, you can’t fail. Do it at the same time, every day. Just some crunches, 2 pushups, and some jogging in place. Once you’ve done 2 minutes a day for a week, increase it to 5, and stick with that for a week. In a month, you’ll be doing 15-20. Want to wake up early? Don’t think about waking at 5 a.m. Instead, think about waking 10 minutes earlier for a week. That’s all. Once you’ve done that, wake 10 minutes earlier than that. Baby steps.

12. Build on small successes. Again, if you start small for a week, you’re going to be successful. You can’t fail if you start with something ridiculously easy. Who can’t exercise for 2 minutes? (If that’s you, I apologize.) And you’ll feel successful, and good about yourself. Take that successful feeling and build on it, with another baby step. Add 2-3 minutes to your exercise routine, for example. With each step (and each step should last about a week), you will feel even more successful. Make each step really, really small, and you won’t fail. After a couple of months, your tiny steps will add up to a lot of progress and a lot of success.

13. Read about it daily. When I lose motivation, I just read a book or blog about my goal. It inspires me and reinvigorates me. For some reason, reading helps motivate and focus you on whatever you’re reading about. So read about your goal every day, if you can, especially when you’re not feeling motivated.

14. Call for help when your motivation ebbs. Having trouble? Ask for help. Email me. Join an online forum. Get a partner to join you. Call your mom. It doesn’t matter who, just tell them your problems, and talking about it will help. Ask them for advice. Ask them to help you overcome your slump. It works.

15. Think about the benefits, not the difficulties. One common problem is that we think about how hard something is. Exercise sounds so hard! Just thinking about it makes you tired. But instead of thinking about how hard something is, think about what you will get out of it. For example, instead of thinking about how tiring exercise can be, focus on how good you’ll feel when you’re done, and how you’ll be healthier and slimmer over the long run. The benefits of something will help energize you.

16. Squash negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones. Along those lines, it’s important to start monitoring your thoughts. Recognize negative self-talk, which is really what’s causing your slump. Just spend a few days becoming aware of every negative thought. Then, after a few days, try squashing those negative thoughts like a bug, and then replacing them with a corresponding positive thought. Squash, “This is too hard!” and replace it with, “I can do this! If that wimp Leo can do it, so can I!” It sounds corny, but it works. Really.

My personal thoughts.....

The energy you put out, is exactly the energy the universe will give back to you. Please remember to think positive always focus on the solution, not the problem. Avoid negative people, they will bring your energy down, surround yourself with like minded people and feed off of each other. I wish you are much happiness and success!

Part 3 of the Spring Body Cleanse; The Kidneys

Part 3 of the Spring Body Cleanse.

Our Friends at the Global healing Center leave no stone unturned when it comes to providing you with the very best information in body cleansing. They not only teach you step by step on cleansing each vital organ of the body they also grow most of the herbs used in their cleansing kits and they have their own labs to assure the highest care and quality goes into every product made by their staff.

The Kidneys

Why Should you Cleanse your Kidneys?

1. Supports Whole Body Detoxification

Each system in your body requires special attention. Just as the importance of liver cleansing is well known, kidney cleansing is mandatory for enhancing total body cleansing.

2. Promotes Normal Kidney Function

The primary responsibilities of the kidneys are to filter impurities from your body. If they're not performing at normal efficiency, a buildup of toxins may result..

3. Detoxifies the Kidneys and Intestines

Your body's waste management system has multiple departments. Renaltrex™ is effective at flushing impurities from the kidneys, Oxy-Powder® facilitates detoxification of the intestines and colon. After the waste is removed, Latero-Flora™ encourages healthy intestinal flora.

4. Boosts Your Well Being

When you're functioning normally on the inside, you feel great on the outside. Internal cleansing is one of the most effective measures for boosting your energy levels and making you feel better.


Shocking Information on Kidney Health

 One of the most common reasons for emergency room visits, kidney stones are a common urinary tract disorder.

• 10% of Americans can expect to develop kidney stones.
• 1 in 3 Americans are at risk of developing kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
• Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two primary causes of kidney disease.
• Kidney disease kills more Americans annually than breast and prostate cancer combined.
• Dialysis or a transplant are the only options for non-functioning kidneys.
• 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant.
• Thousands die every year waiting for a kidney transplant.
• Medicare spent $29 billion in 2009 treating kidney failure!

There is so much more information about Kidneys found on the Global Healing Web Site. Here is the link to the Kidney Cleanse and many more facts on kidneys please take the time to read the information. Remember if you don't have your health nothing else will really matter. It's time to take charge of your health and be PROACTIVE instead of waiting  and being reactive after you've already hit a health crisis.

Link to the Kidney Cleanse..... http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/kidney-cleanse-kit.html