Archive for October 13, 2011

Detox Me Baby!

Posted: October 13, 2011 by williampower in Behavior Modification, Myth Busting, Nutrition
Tags: , ,
0

I’m sure by now you’ve all seen at least one advertisement for programs that offer “natural” techniques for detoxifying your body. Well quite frankly this is not a requirement for 99% of the people who purchase them. Believe it or not, your body is quite adroit at filtering itself. Along with the liver, the body already has multiple detoxification systems in place (the kidneys, the entire gastrointestinal tract, etc.) that do an efficacious job of eliminating toxins from the body within hours of intake. For the most part, many nutritionists and doctors agree that several of the detoxes offered to the public outside medical guidance are pointless and usually dangerous. Most detoxes are kin to fad diets; they promote weight loss based on doo doo science that has no relation to how the body actually works. No detoxification program has yet to produce evidence to show that it augments the body’s natural ability to filter itself.

Due to the fact that generally no side effects are reported post detox, detox diets are gaining popularity faster than celebrity sex tapes. But don’t be fooled, instead of working on a detox, work on fixing your lifestyle. If your dietary intake is so bad that you feel you need to be detoxed then your first step should be to correct the inadequacies in your diet. Eat a proper diet and let your body do the rest. If your body is having a reaction that it can’t fix on its own once your diet is corrected, chances are whatever you have isn’t going to be cured by any detox. For those of you who detox as a sort of mental springboard to get you on track, there are a few healthy ways to aid the body in its detoxification process, ways that will help you physically without hurting you financially.

Increase water intake:
Water is the most reliable source that can help you to get rid of multiple skin and health issues without taking any extra tablets or programs. Intake the proper amount of water on daily basis (8-12 cups) and this method will help you to release all of your bad toxins in your blood via urine.

Make fiber your friend:
Diets rich in fiber are also a great way to get rid of inner body problems. Fiber is good for your immune and digestive system and it helps your liver to generate blood effectively. Fruits, veggies, and whole grains are the best sources of fiber.

Avoid junk food:
That’s it.

Does Omega 6 Have An Unfair Advantage?

Posted: October 13, 2011 by williampower in Behavior Modification, Myth Busting, Nutrition
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Upon studying evidence of the past, studies show that our ancestors consumed a diet where the omega-6/omega-3 ratio was 1:1. Omega-3’s and omega-6’s are both essential fatty acids needed by the body for hormone production and healthy heart function. Over the years, our dietary habits have changed based on our geographic location, food availability and the technology utilized to produce food on a grand scale. The problem that has arrived from this natural progression is now in the western diet the ratio of omega-6’s to omega-3’s has jumped exponentially to 15:1!

Contemporary western diets have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids as compared to the diet on which human beings evolved and their genetic patterns were derived. It is this imbalance that helps promote so much heart disease today. Excessive amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a very high omega-6/omega-3 ratio, as is found in today’s Western diets, promote the origination and escalation of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. A lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio would exert a suppressive effect.

Omega-3’s exist in three forms. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is found in vegetable sources such as…

• flax seed oil
• soybean oil
• canola oil

Less potent sources are…
• walnuts
• dairy products
• beans
• broccoli

Omega-3’s are also found in two marine forms. They are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). They are found primarily in cold-water fatty fish such as…

• salmon
• mackerel
• lake trout
• herring
• sardines
• albacore tuna

Omega-6’s also exists in several forms. The first is LA (linoleic acid), which is found in…

• corn oil
• safflower oil
• soybean oil
• sunflower oil
• cottonseed oil

Two other forms of omega-6 are GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid). GLA is also found in plant-based oils. ARA is found in many animal based foods.

The World Health Organization suggests you consume an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 1:1 as being optimal.

The first step in achieving a healthy balance is to minimize the use of oils rich in omega-6 fatty acids. Oils such as…
• corn
• sunflower
• safflower
• cottonseed

…are high in omega-6. Many margarines, salad dressings and mayonnaise are made from these omega-6 rich oils. Also, many processed foods contain these and similar oils. Pay attention to the labels.

The next step is to increase consumption of omega-3 rich foods. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is found in many vegetable sources. Also, high consumption of fish oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been shown innumerable times to reduce the risk of many heart conditions. So it is recommended to consume more cold-water fatty fish (listed above, beware of the mercury content of these fish). The third step is to add fish oil supplements to your daily diet.