Autumn Antioxidant Health

Well, that didn’t take long, did it? Autumn arrived full blast, and you can bet there will be some caught with their immunities down! Don’t be one of them! Keep your immunities up with healthy foods, and heart warming dishes and good wishes! Awe, that sounds so sweet!
It is really, and so it should be in these colder, cloudier months, we tend to get a bit on the blue side, and that can really drop your resistance to illness and fatigue. What we can do is keep our spirits high, and our menu bright as well! How? Add a bit more of the yellow , orange and red foods for vitamins we need for resistance to illness. Beta carotene, vitamins C, A, carotenoids for cellular health and protection from cellular damage. These antioxidants provide essential health properties we need for optimal health.
And who would have guessed the colors of sunshine would be the colors of the foods we need to stay healthy in the colder season. Here are some great fruits and vegetables to keep us bright in the bluer months!
Squash, pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, sweet peppers-yellow, orange or red- for a sweet snack that is great in salad, too! Keep that orange juice handy, (buy low acid if you have tummy issues), or try cranberry, blueberry, and for a brilliant antioxidant boos, pomegranate juice! It’s antioxidant value is above and beyond! And it is a nice holiday garnish on a yogurt or ice cream treat if you like. Blend it in a smoothie for a good blast with protein powder. The Acai berry of Brazil is most definitely something to get your hands on if you can! Try the health food store, Genesis brand, or try Amazon Thunder, an online company that will deliver the most amount of the berry in freeze dried form. All the berries you like, and as often as possible.
Hit the local market for seasonal foods, and keep them in use as much as possible. Don’t depend on foods that are not normally in season from main supermarkets, as you can bet there is a lot of Genetically Modified products on those produce shelves. If getting there and keeping up with all that is too much, try an antioxidant blend, like Antioxidant Science with five servings of fruits and vegetables per serving. Sometimes it is great help when you can’t keep up with the produce cost or demand in the house. There is also a coupon code:SAVE35 for saving 35% off the entire order.
There is a great little fall soup recipe that keeps me warm, in case you’d like a change.
Autumn Barley Bowl
1 large pot of water
½ box low sodium vegetable broth
1 ½ cups of barley
2 carrots chopped
1 celery stalk chopped well
2 potatoes peeled and chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves chopped garlic (more if you like- I like!)
1 small chopped turnip (rutabaga)
1/4 cup dried wakame
1/8 tsp. Ground ginger
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons Italian or mixed Provincial herbs
1 can organic squash
*1 secret weapon ingredient!
Heat water, add vegetable broth, and the can of squash. Add all other ingredients, and stir.
* Now your secret weapon ingredient is something with a kick, that you like! It can be curry, mustard powder, or my favorite...Pick-a-peppa Jamaican Sauce. Oh, yes! It is quite a great little kicker, and I usually toss in a good 3 tablespoons or so, to taste. Many don’t like the pick-a-peppa, let alone the healthy soup, so that is why it is a"pick your own". Try a good chipotle sauce or use your imagination. Spicey foods act as a thermogenic, making your body burn 25% more calories than you would without the spice up! It’s also great for anti-inflammatory purposes and keeps us warm in the cold months! I hope you enjoy, if you brave the Barley Bowl!

Misleading Food Labels

The Dangers of Misleading Ad Campaigns for Unhealthy "Healthy" Food
The fact of the matter is, most of the junk foods out there that are tooting that they really aren't "that bad" after all....still are! They are trying to mislead the public with their "healthy ingredients", and their slick labeling tricks. So, the next time you think it's alright to get a pack of the typical junk foods because they seem to be redeeming themselves....look again. The difference is usually a better ad campaign, a new marketing twist, and a better way to fool those who don't know better, and may be too busy, or too trusting , to find out the truth for themselves. So for the health of your kids, read the article on what they'd rather you didn't find out.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/10thingsthefoodindustrydoesntwantyoutoknow
It is really a great way to realize that they have little, or no concern about your health, or the health of you family. They are concerned with making sales goals for that next quarter, or the bonuses that go along with it. I am sure that because of their knowledge of the real ingredients and the adverse effects it really does have on a person's health, they are eating the best quality organic fruits and vegetables, and getting enough exercise and necessary rest when needed. Please take the time to read the ingredients and the nutritional value of these products. Keep in mind that you need to be mindful of what you eat, and what you are putting on the table at your house. People may depend on you for good nutrition for health and wellbeing. Don't let convevience let the junk food companies win.
Look for more articles on nutrition and general health , and let good health and happiness be your way of life! Quality of life is dictated by diet and exercise, and how you feel is a result of both. Enjoy life, and pass it on!!
Be happy and healthy! Always!

Antioxidants for Autumn

Along with multiviatamins and a good diet, antioxidants must be a part of defense against the cold and flu season. Regardless of how well we try to eat in the winter months, sometimes we need a little help keeping the antioxidants working for our health. We have enough trouble getting all the fruits and vegetables we need , and a bit of help is most welcomed, and very good indeed!
Fighting the FREE RADICALS that harm the cells in the body,(Free radicals cause disease and other aging effects on the body and brain),is what antioxidants do, and they are extremely important to our health and wellbeing. It is important to have a diet that has a wide variety of colors of fruits and vegetables for optimal health . When we have trouble accomplishing that, we need a bit of healthy antioxidant help good for the whole family. We can always step up the menu a bit with some pumpkin bread and squash soups, for vitamin A. Add some walnuts, and a few dark chocolate chips for a great tasting added boost to heart health! Don't forget the tea, preferably green, and once in a while a bit of hot chocolate for a warm boost. Just ask for fat free milk , or a low fat soy if that's more your speed. For more information on the positive effects of soy, and Antioxidants, refer to the clinical studies at http://classicnutrition.net .
The site is full of all kinds of free information, and helpful advice!
Antioxidant Clinical Studies are available when you click on the photos to the left of the page, or at the site library. Be healthy and happy!!

Quality Whey Protein

The importance of protein after a workout is extremely important. Most people just grab the most popular whey protein with the best advertising backing it. However, the body does prefer food to a protein shake.
Whole foods are the best way to feed the body, as it easily recognized and absorbed, especially organic fruits and vegetables, with lean meats and fat free dairy.
What do you do if you don’t have "whole food products"
as a protein source right after a workout? What if the easiest and less expensive way is to give yourself a protein shake after each workout? What brand do you use?
Most protein shakes out there are made with lower grade whey protein, and there is no guarantee that the cows it came from aren’t those injected with the hormones and antibiotics, that we humans really do not need! They are also usually sweetened with artificial sweeteners like sucrose, or sucralose, or some other popular chemical that is not accepted by the body. Seriously, this stuff has been proven (in several studies) to be more of a problem than a help!
There is a great whey protein available, with plenty of Branch Chain Amino Acids, natural flavors, sweetened with Stevia, (an all natural sweetener that doesn’t affect blood sugar), and 18 grams of hormone/ chemical free protein per serving. And it is extremely affordable.
You can check out all the ingredients and nutritional information to see for yourself. The website is listed below.
Remember to have your recovery protein immediately following your workout. The longer you wait, even 20 minutes, the more muscle you risk losing! Immediate intake prevents the body from refueling on muscle, so get that protein!
Be happy and healthy!http://classicnutrition.net

Being Green

It isn’t easy being green, but it sure is healthier! Green living, green veggies, and green tea are all knowingly better for us but why should we take advantage of them?
Green living should be adhered for many reasons that some people still can’t see. The chemicals from everyday products that our skin absorbs that cause cancer, or affects our liver, nervous system and the skin itself. How frightening. Using earth friendly biodegradable products is a necessity in today’s day and age. Also, try more natural soaps and grooming products for a healthier lifestyle.
As for the vegetables, you know you have to eat them. It’s not something your mom said just to mess with you. Green veggies provide a multitude of nutrients like calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin K , and others depending on what green vegetable you are having! The more greens the better! Our bodies need the enzymes and roughage in fruits and vegetables to help digest our foods. Introduce them into your diet slowly if you don’t have them now. Your body will thank you.
As for green tea, that is an amazing antioxidant, fat burner, and nerve calming agent all rolled into one. And I don’t mean the green tea drinks filled with everything else like sugar, etc. I mean a cup or glass of green tea, without a lot of artificial stuff added in for flavor. Drinking 3 cups a day ( or 3 cold glasses) will raise your metabolism, calm your nerves with the amino acid L-Theanine, and it’s high antioxidant levels will help neutralize the free radicals in your body! What a great drink! It helps with so many things! So the next time you are thinking of how to help yourself with great beneficial nutrients, please consider the green tea. It is a main ingredient in many skin care products, as those antioxidants can help fight skin cancer even when applied with topical products like soap or lotions. It’s amazing stuff! So brew a cup, or add a bit of honey or stevia to a container of warm tea and chill it for a cool drink, and try a natural skin product that may have that as an ingredient, and you are doing your body a favor.
It may not be easy being green in the beginning, but when you make it the norm, you’ll wonder why you ever chose any other way!
Be happy and healthy!
http://classicnutrition.net

Itchy eyes, throat, and puffy face. Sinus trouble that is just so humiliating as you sniffle your way from one spot to another, and try to convince people you are not crying or horribly contagious. You smile as you blink your blood-shot eyes and say, with that slight giggle that says " Really, pay no attention-it’s just my allergies." Like that helps, truly. Would you feel comfortable on the other end of that handshake from the person that is having trouble controlling that sinus flow, and using every last portion humanly possible of that facial tissue?
Even if they justify that it is allergies; and not some mutated virus they got from a friend at work who happened to touch the door handle at the store, right after that business guy who just got back from overseas. He doesn’t eat that healthy or use supplements, or exercise, and picked up a little viral souvenir from some little restaurant he enjoyed before departing. You ever get that look? Seems long and drawn out, but I know there are you out there that know exactly what I mean. And allergies really don’t defend much against that.
Why? Because your allergies are a sign that your immune system itself is compromised. Why would telling someone you have allergies make them feel any better ? That just really makes it concrete that you are an even greater risk factor in the grand scheme of germ invasion in their lives.
What can you do? Do your best to defend yourself! Sure, you may have tried all the over the counter drugs, and even the prescriptions you got from the doctor, but there is only so much the body can take.
The chemicals that go into the pills to start with are a strain on the liver, and the other organs that are trying to protect the body from overload of all things unnatural.
True, even natural overload is unhealthy, and thus should be taken with consideration. Synthetic drugs are all actually derived from natural sources, to "mimic" what the natural herb is supposed to do. They make billions off them , and give you the side effects free of charge. Until there is something that has happened via chain reaction, and now you have a little something extra that you need even more meds for. And what’s in those pills? Hmm?
The key is to understand what to take and when. It’s truly not that hard. If you give your body what it needs to be healthy to begin with, you don’t need "extra". Extra would imply that you are supplementing an already nutritious diet. Not so fast.
Regardless of how healthy you eat, and even on that "organic" level, (which I highly recommend) the soil is so depleted of vitamins and minerals that we really do need the help from the supplements we take. Consider the fact that most of the country is in a vitamin B deficiency, and a calcium deficiency, and the list does go on. Most store bought vitamins have a slight fraction of what the body really needs. Especially if you do more than sit on a couch all day. If you are active at all, the chances are that synthetic vitamin (that is the subject of great marketing to the public, and available at your local supermarket, that your body really can’t absorb anyway) is not doing you any good.
An active person needs much more than they make available in the mainstream publicized brands. Check out classicnutrition.net , and look in the "library " section for articles on what you really need. It’s free to roam, and you will definitely appreciate the information. I know I do. I am a personal trainer, specializing my studies in performance nutrition, and was truly elated to find this site. I was frustrated with the lack of good supplements out there. And good luck finding something organic, and without the artificial sweeteners. This is the good stuff. The articles are there, the clinical studies are actually put in terms the layman can understand, and the vitamins are a two month supply, instead of one.
Oh, and if allergies are a real problem with you like they are for me, they have a natural aid to assist with that, too. It’s called Homosystine , and it is an extra dose of some B12, and B6 to help the body handle stress better, keeping that immune system going. The adaptogenic herbal blend is a real plus, and a huge improvement. It is a great help even during the cold and flu season, boosting the immune system of those who don’t suffer allergies at all! Make sure you have no allergies to these herbal ingredients, and take advantage of the help it can give. Take only as long as you need. As we know, too much of a good thing can be bad too. Everything in moderation! Eat a colorful diet, get plenty of ample rest, keep hydrated, and enjoy your life!
Be happy and healthy!
http://classicnutriton.net/
http://classicfitness.net

Rest Your Brain

Turn off the T.V. , the computer, or the texting before going to bed, and you will sleep better. There are better ways to prepare for sleep are to keep your eyes spared from the bright lights and electrical impulses from your television or computer, be it hand held or not.
When you are trying to wind down, the lights from the electrical devices we just can’t seem to do without, keep the brain alert for some time after we turn them off.
Your best bet is to get a magazine you like, or a good book and just settle into bed for the last stretch of the evening. Reading positive subject matter is a great way to prepare the brain for a restful night. You are more likely to sleep better, and have more pleasant dreams.
The better you rest. The less strain there is on the heart, and you’ll have more energy for the next day, and any workouts you may have ahead of you
It’s all about the images you give your brain, so make them good ones!
Be happy and healthy!

http://classicfitness.net
http://classicnutrition.net

Active Rest

Active rest is very important, even if you have worked out all week. If you have goals to reach, especially in the weight loss category, you need to put a little more step in your week. It will speed up your progress most definitely.
I had a client who started strong, and was doing an hour of cardio after each resistance training workout, as well as 2 or 3 more days a week. Then she would only do cardio the 3 days she did the resistance training. Then she would try to fit in the cardio, period. She wondered why she was getting slower results.
She could’ve kept the results going, even without the intense cardio at the gym, if she had out more effort into her "active rest". She asked why that would help, and I reminded her that when she started out strong, she was burning more calories with all the cardio. Sometimes people get a little burned out on being in the gym everyday. It just gets to them, and becomes a chore, rather than a pleasure.
When that happens people may let their progress slow, or may even be in danger of stopping all together. At least delaying workouts for a while. That will slow your progress, and frustrate you at the same time.
The remedy? More "active rest". You don’t have to be in the gym, or on a sporting team, just do something you like that will help you burn more calories. An evening walk after dinner, a game of frisbee, walking the dog, tossing a ball around with the kids, bike riding, swimming around for the afternoon, ( or morning) , kicking the ball in the yard, or a nice modern game of Wii !!! Whatever gets you moving around, and your heart rate up for ½ an hour or so, can make all the difference in the world. So don’t quit the gym, and stop your fitness program, just try to spice it up, or add a bit of outside fun! Keep it fresh, and stay on track.
Be happy and healthy!!

http://classicnutrition.net

http://classicfitness.net

Heads Up!

That's right! Just like your mom used to say, sit up straight! Keeping good posture, and your spine well aligned is essential to good health in many ways. Pinched nerves anywhere in the body are extremely painful, and debilitating. Bad posture really seems to be an epidemic in itself.
There are exercises that can be done to help improve or protect your posture. One simple thing to do is sit up straight, do not arch your back, and pinch your shoulder blades towards your spine. Hold that position for the count of 5, and release. Repeat 10 to 15 times, initiating the upper trapezius and rhomboids, which will train you to have better posture.
You should do this a few times a day, especially when you are sitting in front of the computer for a long time, or you notice yourself slouching at any point. Musicians may find this especially helpful, as they have to sit for very long periods for practice. When anyone is sitting for long periods for any reason, they should get up and walk around every hour to prevent blood clots from forming in the legs, and traveling into the heart causing heart attack or stroke. I mention that because it seems to be a big problem with people who sit for long periods of time, including frequent travelers.
So keep your head high, your shoulders back, and show the world your good posture! You'll save yourself spinal problems, and it will actually help your self image. And that is always a great thing!
Be happy and healthy!
http://classicnutrition.net
http://classicfitness.net