IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!

Today's Blog post is an effort on my part to better clarify what is really the truth in the things that are actually good for you and give you a better idea of what the greatest modern minds in scientific research have to offer us in enlightening ourselves.

It has become a jungle of information, misinformation overload for the average person as to specifically what kinds of things we should ingest, avoid, embrace, in our never ending quest to take better care of ourselves.

Lane, a good friend of mine, often sends me emails or tells me of the various media news reported studies that inform us of the things that are good for us to eat, do, get, and live "better". Her response to answer the questions I have about many of these "studies" and the accuracy of the reports are always answered by her telling me "because it's good for you".

For sure everybody knows that certain things are “good for you.” In fact, I am usually amazed at the lists that people can spout off in just a moment or two without really thinking about it. Like my quick list:

• Don’t smoke
• Wear a seatbelt 
• Floss daily
• Eat veggies
• Get eight hours of sleep
• Wear a clean pair of underwear daily 

I decided to conduct my own further research into the land of things that are good and bad for you. Some of my findings will surprise you, others will confirm what you suspected all along as a plot to deny your sweet tooth its cravings, while some will completely defy rational thought.

EATING DESSERT FOR BREAKFAST CAN MAKE YOU SKINNY  AND IS GOOD FOR YOU.

I always suspected that having desert for breakfast is good for you and now science has confirmed it to be true.Your mother, doctors and life lied to you. According to scientists, combining a low-calorie diet that includes dessert for breakfast will help you lose weight. Sweets, cookies, creme brulee, cake. 

ALL OF IT will help you lose weight if you start your day off like that. I love breakfast now.This is amazing people! 

ACCORDING TO THE STUDY scientists put 144 obese people on a low carb, low calorie diet (1,400 calories for women, 1,600 calories for men) that were exactly identical except that one of the diets included "a high-carbohydrate, protein-enriched breakfast with a choice of cookies, chocolate, cake or ice cream for dessert."
 
What's interesting is that during the first 16-week period, the average weight loss was the same, both groups lost 32 pounds on average. Where it got very interesting was the 16 week followup, people with the dessert for breakfast diet lost 13 more pounds while the other group gained back all but 3.5 pounds of the weight they lost. 

Every day we're inundated with lists of things to improve our lives. Most of these lists spell out obvious solutions to our everyday problems: Eat less, exercise more, spend less money, don't kill your children. 

To begin, I don't want to tell you what you already know, so I have created a list of five bad things you never knew were potentially good  for you:

1. Smoking Crack –If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you're just not motivated enough. That hunger for your next hit of crack will not only get you out of bed, but it'll make you do things you never thought you could do. Smoking crack can also lead to weight loss and increased income streams from theft and prostitution.
2. Breaded Bacon and Cheese Sticks Fried in Coconut Oil – Some people call them "fat sticks" or "heart stoppers", but experts agree that if you die of a heart attack at sixty-seven you won't have to save as much for retirement. Double up your intake of these "grease nails" and you might not have to save for retirement at all. With that kind of cash flow improvement you could get that boat you've always wanted.
3. Ebola – Nothing says more than having your fifteen minutes of fame like being the first person in the US to contract the Ebola virus. You'll guarantee yourself a spot in the annals of medical history.
4. Losing Fingers to a Circular Saw – Admit it, you've always wanted to be able to write left handed. Now you can. With no thumb on your right hand, what else are you going to do? Your ability to make others feel sorry for you went up a notch as well. Also, micro particles of iron from the blade can enter directly into the bloodstream giving added protection from anemia.
5. Dying – Who among us wouldn't give their life for a stress-free non-existence? Dying is highly underrated as a means to relieve stress. No stupid boss with impossible deadlines. No bills to pay. Absolutely no worries. Ever hear a dead person complain about being dead? I didn't think so.

 THIS IS REALLY BAD FOR YOU!

1. Artery Crust

Judging by the label, Marie Callender’s (16.5 oz) Chicken Pot Pie has "only" 520 calories, 11 grams of saturated fat, and 800 mg of sodium. But look again. Those numbers are for only half a pie. Eat the entire pie, as most people probably do, and you’re talking 1,040 calories, 22 grams of saturated fat (more than a day’s worth), and 1,600 mg of sodium (an entire day’s worth).

2. Triple Bypass

Can’t decide what to pick from a restaurant menu? No worries. Now you can order not just one entrée, but two or three, all at once. Olive Garden’s Tour of Italy consists of Homemade Lasagna, Lightly Breaded Chicken Parmigiana, and Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo. All of this totals 1,450 calories, 33 grams of saturated fat, and 3,830 milligrams of sodium. Add a bread stick (150 calories and 400 mg of sodium) and a plate of Garden-Fresh Salad with dressing (350 calories and 1,930 mg of sodium) and you’ll consume almost 2,000 calories (an entire day’s worth) and 6,160 mg.

3. Salt's On!

On average, a cup of Campbell’s condensed soup has 760 mg of sodium. That’s half a day’s worth, assuming you eat only one of the 2½ servings that the label says the can makes. Campbell’s Healthy Request and Select Harvest, Progresso Reduced Sodium, and Healthy Choice slash the sodium to the 400s.

4. Tortilla Terror

Interested in a Chipotle Chicken Burrito (tortilla, rice, pinto beans, cheese, chicken, sour cream, and salsa)? Think of its 970 calories, and 18 grams of saturated fat as three 6-inch Subway BLT Classic Subs! Skipping the cheese or sour cream cuts the saturated fat to 6 grams, but you still end up with 750 calories and more than a day’s worth of sodium. Yikes!

5. Factory Reject

People don’t expect light desserts at The Cheesecake Factory. But the Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake kicks things up a notch. If it weren’t served on its side, this one would stand over six inches tall. And upright or not, the slab of cake still weighs in at three-quarters of a pound. What do you get for all that? Just 1,760 calories and 2½ days’ worth of saturated fat (50 grams), mostly from chocolate, sugar, cream, white flour, and butter.

6. Burial Grands

No one thinks of cinnamon rolls as health food. But each Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Roll with icing has 310 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat plus 2½ grams of trans fat (more than a day’s worth) and 5 teaspoons of sugar. Companies are dumping their partially hydrogenated oils left and right, yet Pillsbury still makes most of its rolls and biscuits with the stuff.

7. Transgression
“Excellent source of ALA Omega 3,” declares the Land O’Lakes Margarine box. Who knew that Land O’Lakes stick margarine was so heart healthy? It isn’t. Each tablespoon of the spread has 2½ grams of trans fat (more than an entire day’s limit) and 2 grams of saturated fat. And beware of other trans-filled sticks by Blue Bonnet, Parkay, Country Crock, and Fleischmann’s. At least those brands don’t imply that a bit of ALA outweighs the harm caused by the margarine’s trans and saturated fat.

8. Starbucks on Steroids

 The Starbucks Venti (20 oz) White Chocolate Mocha with 2% milk and whipped cream is more than a mere cup of coffee. It’s worse than a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Few people have room in their diets for the 580 calories and 15 grams of saturated fat that this hefty beverage supplies. But you can lose 130 calories and almost two-thirds of the bad fat if you order it with nonfat milk and no whipped cream.

9. Extreme Ice Cream

 An average halfcup serving of Häagen-Dazs ice cream squeezes half-a-day’s saturated fat and a third-of-a-day’s cholesterol into your artery walls and makes a nearly 300-calorie down payment on your next set of fat cells, if you can stop at a petite half-cup! 

10. Stone Cold

Cold Stone Creamery’s Oh Fudge! shake (chocolate ice cream, milk, and fudge syrup) starts at 1,250 calories for the “Like It” (16 oz) size. That’s more than a large (32 oz) McDonald’s McCafe Chocolate Triple Thick Shake. The “Love It” (20 oz) has 1,660 calories and the “Gotta Have It” (24 oz) reaches 1,920 calories (just about an entire day's worth) and 69 grams of saturated fat (3½ days’ worth). That's the saturated fat content of two 16 oz T-bone steaks plus a buttered baked potato, all blended into a handy 24 oz cup.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR YOU-REALLY!

1. Quinoa 

Quinoa is an ancient food, originally grown 5000 years ago in South America by the Incas in South America.
But its flavor is only part of why quinoa is such an amazing "supergrain."Some of the nutrients in quinoa include:

• Complete protein. Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body as building blocks for muscles.
• Magnesium helps relax your muscles and blood vessels and effects blood pressure. Quinoa contains high levels of this vital nutrient.
• Fiber. Quinoa is a wonderful way to ensure that you consume valuable fiber that eases elimination and tones your colon.
• Manganese and copper. Quinoa is a good source of these minerals that act as antioxidants in your body to get rid of dangerous cancer and disease-causing substances. Quinoa provides more amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients than most other grains!

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a grain; it is actually a seed and related to the spinach family.Quinoa is close to one of the most complete foods in nature because it contains amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

2. Sweet Potatoes
A nutritional All-Star — one of the best vegetables you can eat. They're loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Bake and then mix in some unsweetened applesauce or crushed pineapple for extra moisture and sweetness.

3. Mangoes

Just one cup of mango supplies 100% of a day’s vitamin C, one-third of a day’s vitamin A, a decent dose of blood-pressure-lowering potassium, and 3 grams of fiber. Bonus: mango is one of the fruits least likely to have pesticide residues.

4. Unsweetened Greek Yogurt

Non-fat, plain Greek yogurt has a pleasant tartness that’s a perfect foil for the natural sweetness of berries, bananas, or your favorite breakfast cereal. It’s strained, so even the fat-free versions are thick and creamy. And the lost liquid means that the yogurt that’s left has twice the protein of ordinary yogurt – about 17 grams in 6 ounces of plain Greek yogurt.

5. Broccoli

It has lots of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin K and folic acid. Steam it just enough so that it's still firm and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and a spritz of lemon juice.


6. Wild Salmon
The omega-3 fats in fatty fish like salmon can help reduce the risk of sudden-death heart attacks. And wild-caught salmon has less PCB contaminants than farmed salmon.

7. Crispbreads

Whole-grain rye crackers, like Wasa, Kavli, and Ryvita, usually called crispbreads are loaded with fiber and often fat-free. Add a little honey and sprinkle with cinnamon to satisfy your sweet tooth.

8. Garbanzo Beans

All beans are good beans. They’re rich in protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. But garbanzos stand out because they’re so versatile. Just drain, rinse, and toss a handful on your green salad; throw them into vegetable stews, curries, and soups; mix them with brown rice, whole wheat couscous, bulgur, or other whole grains.  


9. Watermelon
Watermelon is a heavyweight in the nutrient department. A standard serving (about 2 cups) has one-third of a day’s vitamins A and C, a nice shot of potassium, and a healthy dose of lycopene for only 80 fat-free, salt-free calories. And when they’re in season, watermelons are often locally grown, which means they may have a smaller carbon footprint than some other fruits.

10. Butternut Squash
Steam a sliced squash or buy peeled, diced butternut squash at the supermarket that’s ready to go into the oven, a stir-fry, or a soup. It’s an easy way to get lots of vitamins A and C and fiber.

11. Leafy Greens

Don’t miss out on powerhouse greens like kale, collards, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, and Swiss chard. These stand-out leafy greens are jam-packed with vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, lutein, and fiber. Serve with a splash of lemon juice or red wine vinegar.


12. Ice Cream Is Good for You!

Creamy pistachio nut is my flavor with the magic healing powers of the pistachio nuts. Ice cream is made of cream, milk, eggs, sugar, and flavorings. Ice cream provides nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and B vitamins. Recently researchers found that when eaten as part of a healthy diet, ice cream can aid weight loss, as long as you don't overdo it with calories. It may be due to two factors: ice cream contains calcium, which is needed for fat metabolism, and ice cream satisfies food cravings better than most foods, which could reduce binging.

13.You probably didn’t even know cinnamon was good
 for you! 
It turns out that cinnamon has some surprising potential health benefits:

Preliminary results from studies have indicated that cinnamon has antifungal, antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. Cinnamon has been found to be effective in fighting vaginal yeast infections, oral yeast infections, stomach ulcers and head lice. (Source)


Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties. (Source) Many of us eat lots of fried, fatty and processed foods, and these foods cause inflammation of our internal tissues and organs, and this inflammation has been linked to one of the most life-threatening diseases of our time – heart disease. Andrew Weil, M.D. writes on the topic of anti-inflammatory diets as a means of reducing our chances of suffering heart attacks, strokes and heart disease. This is from his book Natural Health, Natural Medicine:

“A growing consensus among cardiologists pinpoints abnormal inflammation in artery walls as a root cause of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.”

Cinnamon may actually help people with Type 2 diabetes control blood sugar levels, and may significantly lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood).

Cinnamon is an excellent source of manganese, dietary fiber, iron and calcium. The combination of calcium and fiber can help to remove bile, which prevents damage to colon cells, which helps prevent colon cancer. Fiber also can help with the relief of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. (Source)

If that’s not enough for you, doctors have performed studies that show that just smelling cinnamon improves our memory and performance of certain tasks. (Source)

14. GARLIC IS GOOD FOR YOU 

 

Nature has gifted us lots of things to keep our self healthy. One of those gifts is Garlic. There are lots of  proverbs about Garlic which reflects its importance such as Garlic is as good as 10 mothers ;  

Moreover, it is regarded as a miracle by naturopaths and herbalists. Various researches have proved that Garlic is good for health and is beneficial in curing various health problems.

The garlic clove contains various nutrients as water soluble nutrients include vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and natural sugars; oil soluble nutrients includes sulphur compounds originating from an amino acid named alliin which is converted to a pungent compound called allicin which has natural antibiotic properties. Presence of sulphur in garlic is the cause of its pungent smell. However, the quality of Garlic cannot be hidden due to this smell. In several scientific studies it has been found that:
 

Garlic Medicinal Uses

• Garlic acts as an antiseptic; helps in curing the wounds very quickly.
• One of the health benefits of garlic is that it helps in fighting against various infection; acts against inflammation and infection, including colds, coughs by adding a freshly cut raw clove to food three times a day or take kyolic garlic capsules but raw is always best.
• In certain studies in China it has been shown that it contains chemicals that prevent cancer. They suggest that eating garlic on regular basis provides some protection against cancer.
• Fresh or cooked garlic or 500 mg garlic capsules twice daily helps in lowers down the blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. It increases the levels of high density lipoproteins, reduces harmful cholesterol in the blood; keeps arteries and heart healthy.
• It thins the blood, reduces clotting and helps in controlling blood pressure and poor circulation.
• Garlic stimulates the immune system of body & helps in fighting against various diseases.
• Prevents and relieves chronic bronchitis, respiratory problems, and catarrh.
• It acts as a nasal decongestant; expectorant.
• It is also helpful for asthma, hysteria, dropsy; scurvy.
• Garlic works as a cleanser of the digestive system, helps in curing flatulence, kills internal parasites and is an excellent internal antiseptic.
• Researcher recommends daily dose of fresh garlic of about 4 gm, equivalent to one or two small cloves for  every person who wants to keep himself healthy.

Red Wine

Past research has shown that red wine may help boost our heart health, when taken in moderation.

Coffee

A multitude of studies have examined the health effects of coffee, and many of them have come out showing it's good for you.

Chocolate

We've all heard that a piece of dark chocolate can be good for us, 
eating chocolate regularly could 
lower your stroke risk.

Beer is good for you.

A study shows that people who drink 
beer moderately have a 31% decreased 
risk of heart disease.  

Walking can add minutes to your life.This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $4,000 per month .

My grandpa started walking
five miles a day when he was 60.

Now he's 97 years old &
we have no idea where the hell he is.

I have to walk early in the morning, 
before my brain figures out 
what I'm doing.

The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, he looks good doesn't he.'

We all get heavier as we get older,
because there's a lot more information 
in our heads.

 
You could walk this over to your friends
But just e-mail it to them instead!

It will save you the walk!
IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!