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what is goji berriesSugar - The Truth!

Let's talk about the not-so-sweet truth about sugar and how it sabotages your health. First of all, did you know that the average American gets 20% of their calories from sugar? It is estimated that the average person eats a whopping 136 pounds of sugar a year! Unfortunately many young people eat an even greater amount. Sugar is an empty calorie food, meaning that you are taking in calories that have no nutritional value to fuel your body.

Have you ever noticed that once you have something sweet it leaves you wanting more and more? You've just hopped on the sugar treadmill. You get the sugar high and then crash, as your blood glucose levels swing wildly up and down. Sugar is the drug of choice for many people and it is not without consequences.

Refined sugar depletes your body of all the B vitamins; it also leaches calcium from your hair, bones, blood and teeth. If that is not enough, sugar also affects your body's digestion. Sugar ferments in your stomach. It stops the secretion of gastric juices and inhibits the stomachs ability to digest. Weight gain, mood swings and irritability are a few more side effects from consuming too much sugar. Sugar plays a major role in altering one's mood. Refined sugar has a chemical reaction on the brain, releasing serotonin, the 'feel good' hormone; this tricks the body into a temporary lift as well as causing a rise in blood glucose levels. This 'feel good' lift is then followed by the crash where you feel tired, irritable and even depressed. So what do you do about it?

Removing sugar, or at least reducing the amount, from your diet can and probably should be done in steps. First of all, make a decision to cut out all added sugar that you use from the sugar bowl. If this sounds impossible, please give it a chance. When you stop adding extra sugar to your foods you can actually taste the food your eating. Give your taste buds a week to adjust and I'll bet you will actually appreciate the flavors of your food more without the sugar. Another step to take is to read your labels. Food manufacturers add high fructose corn syrup to most packaged foods. You can start by cutting out all foods with this dangerous ingredient. This may seem daunting but let's face it; real food does not come in a box anyway. Packaged and processed foods are rarely a wise choice for optimal nutrition. When you get a sugar craving try to satisfy it with a natural sugar source like fresh fruit or dried fruit.

You want to avoid the processed sugars that have become so common place in our society. They are white sugar, brown sugar, blackstrap molasses and corn syrup. There are better choices out there like maple syrup, honey, cane juice, rice syrup and sorghum molasses. Many people use artificial sweeteners to avoid sugar. I'm sorry to say that this is no better. Many artificial sweeteners have been proven to have negative side effects. Studies have also shown that eating an artificially sweetened item will still leave you wanting something sweet just as if you had eaten real sugar.

There is no reason to use artificial sweeteners. The right way to deal with our natural desire for sugars is to get them from whole foods, from starches, vegetables and fruits. So I would like to challenge you to reduce your sugar intake. Give it just one week and you will see that you can do it and that you will feel better and more balanced.

Barry Lovelace is creator of Exercise4 Every Body circuit training DVD's. Co-owner of FitQuest Fitness in Allentown, Pa.. a personal trainer, speaker and all around fitness enthusiast.

Visit Barry's website: http://www.fitquestlv.com Contact Barry: barry@barrylovelace.com

Digestive Disorder Remedy

This three-step digestive disorder remedy strengthens your digestion and improves nutrient absorption. It's also an effective indigestion remedy and preventative. If you're looking for simple, effective, natural remedies for digestive system disorders, and a way to prevent these problems, start incorporating the below methods into your daily routine. You don't need to take any pills or buy anything - this digestive disorder remedy is based on time-tested, traditional Chinese tips and techniques for healthy digestion.

3 Step Digestive Disorder Remedy

Step 1: Before Meals

Do the Ab Lift: This exercise involves using your abdominal muscles to pull your abdomen in, hold it for several seconds, and then gently let it go. It's an excellent way to invigorate your abdominal organs, enhance blood circulation, stimulate your bowels and prepare your digestive organs for food. For full instructions, including color photos and tips, follow the link at the end of the article.

3 Step Digestive Disorder Remedy

Step 2: During Meals

Eat simple, light meals: If you suffer from indigestion, bloating after meals, and other digestive upsets, you may be eating too much heavy, spicy, oily foods. Instead try simpler, blander meals of steamed vegetables, noodles or rice, with small amounts only of a single kind of meat, finely sliced or chopped. Also try eating 4 or 5 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones.

Chew well, eat slowly: Digestion starts in your mouth, so chew food well and eat slowly if you want to prevent indigestion.

Don't overeat: Overeating is a major cause of digestive problems. Be kind to your digestive organs and stop eating at around 75% full.

Don't eat when upset: Eating while highly stressed or emotionally upset is very bad for your digestion. Instead skip the meal and eat when you're more relaxed.

No cold drinks: Cold drinks during meals are also very bad for your digestion. According to Traditional Chinese Dietary Therapy, the digestive process requires warmth to break down food. Dumping cold liquids on top of your food greatly impedes this process. To help digestion drink a cup of warm-hot green tea instead.

Dessert: Eating dessert, including fruit, with or just after meals interferes with the digestion of your main meal. Sweets like cakes and ice cream are best avoided altogether, or eaten on their own if you really must have them.

3 Step Digestive Disorder Remedy

Step 3: After Meals

Rub your abdomen: Rubbing your abdomen after meals is one of the simplest, most effective natural remedies for digestive system problems. It enhances digestion and absorption of nutrients and is a useful indigestion remedy when you eat too much or too quickly. Rub your hands together to warm them up, then place one on top of the other on the right side of your abdomen next to your belly button. Rub in circles around your belly button and entire abdominal area for 2-3 minutes.

Walk: Taking a slow, leisurely walk for 10-15 minutes (or more) after meals is another highly beneficial way to improve digestion. For greater benefits, rub your abdomen (see above tip) while walking.

Don't be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this 3-step digestive disorder remedy. Incorporate this time-tested dietary advice into your daily life and you will notice a positive change in your digestion, bowel movements, energy level and health in general.

Matthew Scott is a professionally trained Chinese medicine practitioner from Australia, living in China since 2000. For illustrated instructions on how to do the Ab Lift for improved digestion, visit his website: http://chinese-holistic-health-exercises.com/abdominal-exercises.html

Independent, The (London) - How to get healthy (and be hip)

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:59:59 PST
February 19, 2008 -- It's time to throw out the Power Plates and goji berries. Lucy Mayhew reveals the latest techniques to fight fat and boost your metabolism Most...

Chef David Lee: To kick off the Year of the Ox, eat like one - Globe and Mail

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:07:20 GMT

Chef David Lee: To kick off the Year of the Ox, eat like one
Globe and Mail, Canada - Jan 21, 2009
In my recipe, I've included red goji berries, which denote good fortune and add a pleasant sweetness to contrast the ginger. This is one of my favourite ...

What the ORAC scale says about acai, goji and noni

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:18:37 EST
Before you decide which juice is best, you need to know a little more about them.

Among the food supplements that thrive on the market, three fruit juices dominate -- acai, goji and noni. ...

Happy BOOST with Goji Wards Off Winter Blues and Sluggishness - The Open Press (press release)

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:53:39 GMT

Happy BOOST with Goji Wards Off Winter Blues and Sluggishness
The Open Press (press release) - Jan 20, 2009
Happy BOOST is made with goji berries harvested from China and Tibet. Goji berries are revered for supporting healthy moods, energy and libido. ...

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Happy BOOST with Goji Wards Off Winter Blues and Sluggishness - The Open Press (press release)

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:53:39 GMT