How to Beat that Carb Addiction

We love to hate carbohydrates. They are delicious comfort foods, and many people find them addicting.

Are you a Carbohydrate Addict?

Answer these questions to find out:

1. After eating a full breakfast, do you get hungrier before it is lunch time than you would if you had skipped breakfast altogether?

2. Do you get tiered after eating a large meal, or find that you are sluggish and/or hungry in the afternoon?

3. Have you been on diet after diet, only to regain the weight you lost?

4. Does stress, boredom, and tiredness make you want to eat?

5. Do you sometimes feel you aren't satisfied, even though you just finished a meal?

6. Do you find it harder to take off weight- and keep it off- than when you were younger?

If you answered "YES" to 2 of these questions, you are probably mildly carbo-addicted.

If you answered "YES" to 3-4 of these questions, you are likely to be moderately carbo-addicted.

If you answered "YES" to 5-6 of these questions, you probably have a severe carbohydrate addiction that may be greatly affecting your life.

You can manage your carbohydrate addiction so that you can lose weight and be healthy for the rest of your life- without feeling deprived or struggling to manage your eating patterns and your weight.

The following plan is from "The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets" (2005), and worked for 80% of the 1,000 carbohydrate-addicted patients they consulted at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

You can have your CARBS and eat them too, once a day, to prevent the release of excessive amounts of insulin.

Carbo-rich foods include: breads, grains, cereals, ice cream, milk, yogurt, fruit and fruit juices, lunch meats, pasta, noodles, rice, snack foods, sweets, and starchy vegetables(beets, carrots,zucchini, corn, tomatoes, peas and potatoes).

Craving-reducing foods: red meat, poultry, fish, cheese, oils, tofu, fats, dressings, non starchy vegetables (brusselsprouts, green beans, peppers, lettuce, asparagus, broccoli and mushrooms).

The Basic Plan

Eat one balanced "Reward Meal" everyday for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The meal should consist of

• two cups of fresh salad
• one-third craving reducing protein (meat,fish,cheese,eggs,tofu)
• one-third starchy vegetables
• one-third carbohydrate rich foods

*Use good sense, and listen to your body when sizing the portions.

Complete your "Reward Meal" within one hour. Otherwise your body will be hungry all over again.

Eat only craving-reducing foods at all other meals and snacks.

Consult with a doctor before starting any diet or exercise plan. Follow the program for two weeks, you should notice a lessening of your cravings. If you don't, try to adjust the program- for example, you may need to eat between-meal snacks...adjust the servings sizes of your meals, or add nutritional supplements and other dietary supplements to your plan.

Source: "The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets" 2005 Bottom Line Publications (Pg. 343) Print.

Healthy Aging

It seems as if time as flown by, I'm showing signs of aging, and looking back at pictures of myself from only 4 years ago, I am noticeably older.

Instead of dwelling on my flaws, weight gain, acne scars, furrow between my brows, etc. I am going to focus on keeping my self healthy from now on.

It is shown that people are living longer for a number of reasons:

• they remain socially active
• they adapt well to change
• they rebound from bad situations
• they rely less on medication than there less-healthy peers
• they view themselves positively
• they have frequent contact with friends and family

Along with exercise and a well balanced diet, you can help the signs of aging. Sugar ages your skin, so avoid over indulging. Smoking, and alcohol can also make you look older, and make for unhealthy insides.

There are hundreds of anti aging creams in the market, but beware, they won't work! Plastic surgery is really the only way to reverse wrinkles, sun damage, etc. The key is to take care of your skin as early as possible. Use sun screen every day, with a SPF of at least 15. Wear broad rimmed sunglasses that block UVA and UVB (at least 95%), and wear a hat to protect your head.

Live longer and age less tips:

Eat tomatoes and cantaloupe, both contain nutrients that protect the skin from sun damage.

Eat less. America's portion size is way too big. Use a 9-inch plate at meals, instead of the usual 11 or 13-inch.

Eat Fiber.

Drink green tea.

Take a Vitamin C supplement, for best results combine with Vitamin E. (400mg of Vitamin C, 400 IU of Vitamin E)

Laugh more! Laughing reduces stress.

To calculate your real age, take the test here: http://www.realage.com/

source:

The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets 2005 Boardroom Inc. Print.

High Fiber for a Healthy You

Dietary Fiber (sometimes called roughage) is the indigestible portion of plant foods. Fiber is all the rage, and it should be because it keeps you full, and it's great for your digestive system.

Fiber helps to relieve constipation. It makes it easier to go to the bathroom. Food fiber is soluble (fiber that is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_fiber).

A diet high in fiber is not only helpful for your bowels, it also reduces your risk of developing cancer, especially colon cancer.

High fiber foods include grains and bran, fresh fruits with the skin, dried fruits, raw vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Try: Bran cereal, bran muffins, apples (with the skin), broccoli, beans, oatmeal, and fig. How much fiber should you consume? The average is 20 grams. but 40 is ideal.

Try to consume these servings daily:

• 2 to 3 cups of whole grain (breads, brown rice, high fiber cereal, etc.)
• 1 1/2 cups of beans and other legumes
• 4 to 5 cups of fresh vegetables (leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, root veggies and fruits)

Do you have enough bowel movements?

The National Institute for Diabetes, Kidney, and Digestive Diseases says three times a week is normal and healthy for some people. According to Ayurveda, an ancient Indian healing system, once a day is ideal. Other experts advocate once or twice a day, while still others say a person should have a bowel movement within two to three hours of a major meal- -or two to three times a day. So you can see that it really depends on who you talk to. My personal opinion is that you above all want to be regular in your pooping schedule, and that one poop a day is ideal.
(4/11/10 http://ezinearticles.com/?Everybody-Poops---What-Your-Poop-May-Be-Trying-to-Tell-You&id=112905)



sources: Julia Kalish "Everybody Poops - What Your Poop May Be Trying to Tell You" http://ezinearticles.com/?Everybody-Poops---What-Your-Poop-May-Be-Trying-to-Tell-You&id=112905 4/11/10


Jacqueline Krohn MD, and Frances Taylor MA Natural Detoxification A Practical Encyclopedia
WA: Hartley and Marks 2000. Print.



Coming soon: How to Live Longer

Thank you for reading! I welcome any suggestions, click on COMMENT below.

10 Natural Tips for Healthy Physical Intimacy

*Caution: contains adult material. For mature readers only.

These natural tips for healthy physical intimacy will bring you closer to your partner.

"Men should have sex four times a week for optimum health," said Dr Mehmet Oz on the Oprah Winfrey show.

1. Accept your sensuality. Millions of people – both men and women – aren’t comfortable with their libidos, says Dr Marian Dunn of the Center for Human Sexuality. When you’re comfortable with physical intimacy, you can freely admit and explore your full range of desires.


2. Compromise with your partner. If you crave physical intimacy every night and your partner wants it once a month, you’ll need to meet in the middle. Being happy in your relationship involves openly discussing when and how often physical intimacy happens. This natural tip for a healthy love life requires honest discussion about different views on your libido and physical and emotional intimacy.

3. Move your body. The more oxygen, fresh air, and movement you give your body during the day (walking, biking, swimming, chasing after your children), the more sensual you’ll feel overall. Physical and emotional intimacy is connected to how active you are during the day. Exercising does not deplete energy, it increases it!

4. Unwind before you hit the sheets. There’s nothing less sexy than worrying about bills, work, investments, or politics when you’re striving for a healthy sex life. This natural tip for a healthy love life involves de-stressing before you go to bed. Have a bubble bath, snuggle with your partner, or go for a long walk. The less tense you are, the more you’ll enjoy emotional and physical intimacy.

5. Use protection. If you’re with a new partner, make sure you’re protected against HIV or other diseases. Insist on good protection – or a healthy love life won’t be yours.

6. Practice being naked. This natural tip involves your self-esteem and self-confidence. If you feel awkward and embarrassed when you’re naked, you won’t enjoy your partner in bed. Repeat to yourself: “I don’t have to look perfect to enjoy love!” Go to a nude beach or change in the dressing room at the pool, and get used to being around people when you’re nude. This will increase the physical and emotional intimacy in your relationship.

7. Enjoy a healthy diet. Get away from the fast food, soda pop, and processed sugar! Did you see what happened to Morgan in Supersize Me?! Healthy fruits, veggies, grains, beans, and the occasional hunk of meat will make you feel better and more energetic. This natural tip for healthy physical intimacy can help you lose weight, too.

8. Examine your prescriptions. If you have absolutely no appetite for intimacy, look into the medications you’re taking. Some, such as birth control pills or antidepressants, can inhibit your libido. Talk to your doctor about how your prescriptions are affecting your love life. You may not be able to quit taking your prescription, but your doctor may offer additional tips for healthy intimacy that speak to your specific condition.

9. Try new things. To fully enjoy physical and emotional intimacy with your partner, stay away from the routine! New toys, lingerie, places, or even foods can help spice up your love life and increase your desire. Physical intimacy at any age can be enhanced with a little variety.

10. Laugh about it. Sue Johanson of the Sunday Night Sex Show gave George Stroumboulopoulos this advice: Laugh about your sexual escapades with your partner. This natural tip for healthy libidos help reduce the embarrassment or awkwardness you may feel – and laughing with your partner increases feelings of connection.

source: 4/10/10 http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/10_natural_tips_for_healthy_sex
By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

Warning: For mature readers only

Did you know that good sex can boost your immune system and help to maintain a healthy weight.

"Of course, sex is everywhere in the media," says Joy Davidson, PhD, a New York psychologist and sex therapist. "But the idea that we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment. So to really take a look at how our sexuality adds to our life and enhances our life and our health, both physical and psychological, is eye-opening for many people."

1. Sex Burns Calories

Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions. (For Fun: Calories burned estimator, enter your weight and amount of time at the activity http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc)

2. Sex Boosts Immunity

Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Scientists at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., took samples of saliva, which contain IgA, from 112 college students who reported the frequency of sex they had. Those in the "frequent" group -- once or twice a week -- had higher levels of IgA than those in the other three groups -- who reported being abstinent, having sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly.

3. Sex Relieves Stress

A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction, according to researchers from Scotland who reported their findings in the journal Biological Psychology. They studied 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. Then the researchers subjected them to stressful situations -- such as speaking in public and doing verbal arithmetic -- and noted their blood pressure response to stress. Those who had intercourse had better responses to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained.

4. Sex Improves Cardiovascular Health

While some older folks may worry that the efforts expended during sex could cause a stroke, that's not so, according to researchers from England. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, scientists found frequency of sex was not associated with stroke in the 914 men they followed for 20 years. And the heart health benefits of sex don't end there. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

5. Sex Boosts Self-Esteem

Boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex, collected by University of Texas researchers and published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. That finding makes sense to Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and marriage and family therapist in Cambridge, Mass., although she finds that those who already have self-esteem say they sometimes have sex to feel even better. "One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel good about themselves," she tells WebMD. "Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises it. If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it."

6. Sex Improves Intimacy

Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps us bond and build trust. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina evaluated 59 premenopausal women before and after warm contact with their husbands and partners ending with hugs. They found that the more contact, the higher the oxytocin levels. "Oxytocin allows us to feel the urge to nurture and to bond," Britton says. Higher oxytocin has also been linked with a feeling of generosity. So if you're feeling suddenly more generous toward your partner than usual, credit the love hormone.


7. Sex Reduces Pain

As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels. In a study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 48 volunteers who inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had their fingers pricked lowered their pain threshold by more than half.


8. Sex Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk

Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life, Australian researchers reported in the British Journal of Urology International. When they followed men diagnosed with prostate cancer and those without, they found no association of prostate cancer with the number of sexual partners as the men reached their 30s, 40s, and 50s. But they found men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later by a third. Another study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that frequent ejaculations, 21 or more a month, were linked to lower prostate cancer risk in older men, as well, compared with less frequent ejaculations of four to seven monthly.


9. Sex Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles

For women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises known as Kegels during sex offers a couple of benefits. You will enjoy more pleasure, and you'll also strengthen the area and help to minimize the risk of incontinence later in life. To do a basic Kegel exercise, tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor, as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three, then release.


10. Sex Helps You Sleep Better

The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, according to research. And getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure. Something to think about, especially if you've been wondering why your guy can be active one minute and snoring the next.



source: 4/9/10 http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/10-surprising-health-benefits-of-sex "10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex The health benefits of sex extend well beyond the bedroom. Turns out sex is good for you in ways you may never have imagined." By Kathleen Doheny

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