Viral Defense

This is the time of year for colds and viruses of all kinds. How many times have you gone to the doctor only to hear,"It is a virus. I can't do anything for you and antibiotics won't touch it. Just let it run it's course." Well in the world of working for a living and trying to keep healthy, I know that there are some things you can do to boost that immune system from a viral attack.

First, keep the fruits and veggies in full swing! Have your OJ and take your whole foods multivitamin in the morning with breakfast. Keep breakfast healthy and make sure you have breakfast! Keep the body healthy by giving it nutritious fuel, and not causing it extra stress!

Keep dairy at a minimum. That is correct...little to no dairy so that the system is less acidic and the mucus doesn't have a chance to increase. Drink lots of water and keep those sinus cavities clear. Niel-Med makes a great nasal rinse complete with bottle and pH balanced saline mixture packets (appx. 50 of them!) to help make it easy to combat the sinus infection via cold, virus or allergy. It is awesome, and nobody needs to know you actually do it if you are sensitive about it. But it beats weeks of sinus pressure and pain and keeps you healthy.

Keep your foods fresh and organic when possible. Better nutrients ARE in there. Keep active to keep that immune system up, and wear the activity and weather appropriate clothing to protect yourself from the elements. Stay dry in wet weather, and drink plenty of water in all weather. Drink some tea-green is the best, and a bit of hot chocolate is a great treat and immune helper, too! It doesn't have to be dairy...so don't worry about that.

Keep foods higher in vitamins A and C in the diet rather than taking a pill. Beta Carotene is absorbed in the body best from the food sources and is very good for your kidneys, too. Sweet Potatoes, pumpkin, squash, yams, carrots, yellow peppers, oranges, tomatoes, kiwis, and berries are a great way to keep your system in good shape. Throw in lots of greens too!

A little boost with some Acai Berry, spirulina, and chlorella for a great defense...as long as you are not prone to allergies to specific molds that spirulina and chlorella may belong to. Always keep food allergies in check!! Check with your physician for all allergies and any specifics in your diet that may inhibit these things from benefiting you.

At last, a huge factor in viral defense is Elderberry Syrup. This wonder extract works wonders in keeping virus cells at bay by destroying them when the body has enough nutrients to give it the help it needs. If you can support the body through nutrition, fitness, and the little extras like Elderberry Syrup, you stand a very good chance of keeping illness at bay through this season of colds, flus and viruses. You don't have to take my word for it, just try it yourself. Stop at your local health food store and ask for Elderberry Syrup extract. You can take it and drink liquids with it, as it will still work. Amazon Thunder is my choice for Acai Berry products.

Elderberry Article....

Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 inf...[Phytochemistry. 2009] - PubMed Result

Amazon Thunder...

http://www.amazonthunder.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&ref=5782&products_id=6&affiliate_banner_id=1

Check out this article if you would like to read up on the benefits of Elderberry! Stay healthy, and have a great Holiday Season! Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and many Blessings to those celebrating their own holiday of choice.

May the Force Be With You

When food seems to want to take over your brain in the mid afternoon or even mid morning...be wary of your surroundings and the the machines that offer quick fixes. This is the time to work on your skills with food choices. Are you really that easy to give up or give in to your food addictions? This is where you could actually say it isn't such a bad idea to keep the belly a bit on the empty side if all you have is a craving. Are you really hungry, or do you just wish for a joyful comfort food fix? A dopamine release that will give you the euphoric feeling that you have just done the right thing for your nervous system...or a trap like Darth Vader and the Death Star! It is more the food trap than the hunger relief!

If you are going to be active, then have some complex carbs, and make them uber healthy...oatmeal and fruit or whole grain bread in that 1/2 sandwich with salad. If you are just looking for a time filler until the next meal...choose wisely young Jedi! Be healthy, you must...right choices must you make! These are the things that will serve you in your battle for healthy living. Not foods being processed and added chemicals from the ones that care not for you and your family.

Sorry, I like the way Yoda puts it, and it can be looked at that way if you have trouble putting it into perspective for yourself. Look at the complex carbs and the whole natural foods as the Alliance in your Galaxy, and the processed foods with all it's fats, processed sugars and chemicals as the Empire! When Yoda is trying to train you and get you ready for your battle from becoming Jabba the Hut - you have a whole bunch of adversaries throwing things at you left and right. Sand People with cream filled cakes, and Jawas with chocolate bars! Boba Fett will show up and tempt you with something from the coffee shop or some other fast food. Sure, it is subtle and everywhere. Storm Troopers loaded with sugary items every where you go.

It is hard to seek out those that would help you. Fear not, if you look hard enough you will come across a droid or two to help you find your way in this confusing Galaxy of wrong choices and easy distractions. Just read the labels and when you see the chemicals, fats, and high sugar content, you will know that these are not the foods you seek. These are other foods, that do not serve your purpose.

Somewhere there is a Wookie with an apple and a Han Solo to help you steer towards the salad bar or the whole grain cereals. Fill your tummy with water throughout the day to keep the force strong with you. This can help curb your appetite and sway misleading pangs that may be the body requesting water rather than food. Keep hydrated and stay focused. Do not strike at the object closest to you...feel your way to the foods that will make you stronger. Search them out, and find them you will! The produce section at a grocery store, or bring your own fruits from your home planet...I mean your house. Keep a small container of nuts on hand-but indulge only a small handful at a time. Moderation and tight control in high fatty foods is a must. Nuts are just that. Keep the focus on the goal, and do not let those around you sway you from your path. Yours is a path of health and wellness, and this you must stick to for strength and a good example to young ones. The dark side is subtle and tempting...but you CAN overcome it! Stay focused, and listen to the force that guides you in your quest for healthy choices. This you must do. Go. Be healthy, choose wisely, and may the force be with you.

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

Workout Fuel

If you have ever wondered why you run out of energy while working out , I just want you to think about what you ate before hitting the gym. As a personal trainer, I find a lot of people think they can show up in the gym and workout on either an empty stomach, or on the wrong kind of foods. As long as you have no health issues or allergies to these foods, this is what I use, and would suggest.
The body uses glycogen for fuel, which is best taken from COMPLEX CARBS before a workout-45 minutes to an hour before, but no more. You have to have the glycogen available for the body, or you will have no energy to workout. Have a bit of oatmeal, a cliff bar, a granola bar with good ingredients-not a lot os simple sugars, or whole grain cereal. It is important to fuel the body, and not eat too little, or your body will turn to amino acids for fuel, and guess where that is...YOUR MUSCLES!! If you work out, and don't have enough fuel, your body will attack the muscle! That's what you don't want! Spare the muscle, build the muscle, but don't burn the muscle! Immediately after the workout, eat lean protein, and at least 15 to 25 grams. Turkey, fish, chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, or a pretein shake of good protein is essential . Add a small piece of fruit in that mix, and you will have great results. The fruit restores the simple sugars, and the enzymes thus help the protein absorb into the body better! So fuel up, BEFORE AND AFTER- and don't wait too long! The body needs the fuel, and use the good stuff-no junk food!
Be happy and healthy!
http://classicfitness.net/