Is there a connection between cancer clusters birth defects & other diseases http://bit.ly/fGNKFF Bipartisan legislation introduced to Congress.
One quote from the aforementioned link. Environmental public health expert Dr. Richard Clapp told reporters on the call, "The incidence of childhood cancers has unequivocally been going up for last 20 years, at about a one percent increase per year."
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Omega3 and Omega6, some nutrition facts
Ok first off, what are the Omega fatty acids?
Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids both come from a category known as essential fatty acids, meaning our body needs them but does not produce them on its own. Our body uses both, but a healthy balance of intake is important. Omega6 is found in many commonly consumed foods through the inclusion of oil from corn and sunflower seeds. Thus the more important Omega is usually Omega3.
Increasing your Omega3 intake to balance with the Omega6 that most people are getting from their unhealthy diets provides some very nice health benefits.
These EFA (essential fatty acids) have been shown to help reduce the effects of bad cholesterol(LDL), and reduce blood pressure. They have also been demonstrated to improve brain function, reduce the effects of depression and assist with healthy immune system function.
The recommended ratio of Omega3:Omega6 is 2:1, and should not exceed 3grams per day. Most supplements supply around 1000 mg for the daily dosage.
Due to the risk of contamination in the fish it is suggested that deep ocean harvested fish are more pure and less risky than farmed fish.
references:
http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/alternative/omega3.cfm
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400149/balancing-omega-3-and-omega-6.html
http://www.advance-health.com/efa.html
Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids both come from a category known as essential fatty acids, meaning our body needs them but does not produce them on its own. Our body uses both, but a healthy balance of intake is important. Omega6 is found in many commonly consumed foods through the inclusion of oil from corn and sunflower seeds. Thus the more important Omega is usually Omega3.
Increasing your Omega3 intake to balance with the Omega6 that most people are getting from their unhealthy diets provides some very nice health benefits.
These EFA (essential fatty acids) have been shown to help reduce the effects of bad cholesterol(LDL), and reduce blood pressure. They have also been demonstrated to improve brain function, reduce the effects of depression and assist with healthy immune system function.
The recommended ratio of Omega3:Omega6 is 2:1, and should not exceed 3grams per day. Most supplements supply around 1000 mg for the daily dosage.
Due to the risk of contamination in the fish it is suggested that deep ocean harvested fish are more pure and less risky than farmed fish.
references:
http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/alternative/omega3.cfm
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400149/balancing-omega-3-and-omega-6.html
http://www.advance-health.com/efa.html
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Skin care myths
Its amazing to me how often we just assume that the things we are taught or learn anecdotally are true. There are many examples in all aspects of life, from "don't swim for an hour after eating" to "if you pull a grey hair, 10 more will grow back". These types of saying are often constructed from mere coincidences or from feeble cause/effect chains.
This link explores a few of the common skin care myths. I highly recommend the site this comes from, www.care2.com, as they constantly have good information about the topics I care about. Health, wellness, fitness and nutrition!
7 Myths about Skin Care
Tomorrow, Omega 3 vs Omega 6, what's the difference and do we need both?
This link explores a few of the common skin care myths. I highly recommend the site this comes from, www.care2.com, as they constantly have good information about the topics I care about. Health, wellness, fitness and nutrition!
7 Myths about Skin Care
Tomorrow, Omega 3 vs Omega 6, what's the difference and do we need both?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Proanthocyanidins - What the heck are they?
Proanthocyanidins are one of the classes of flavanols. They are particularly potent antioxidents that are found in a few plants and berries, most notably grapes, cocoa, bilberry, cranberry, etc.
So what does that mean for us? Why do we care about flavanoids, antioxidents, or any of this stuff?
Our body is constantly barraged with free radical activity, some of which is a natural function of the various processes within our body, but largely they are introduced by things like the air quality around us, and the pollution within it. It can also be increased by things like unbound (non-organic) minerals we consume either through red meat or from low quality grocery store multi-vitamin/mineral supplements.
Free radicals have been linked to a wide variety of chronic diseases and systemic problems in the human body. This list includes cancer, Alzheimers, arthritis, diabetes and various aspects of aging.
Antioxidents help the body fight the effects and damage of free radicals throughout the body. The most commonly used antioxidents are Vitamin C and E, but studies have shown that proanthocyanidins are much more potent, 20 to 50 times more powerful than C and E.
What can we do about it?
Well, there are many natural sources of these super-antioxidents, things like red wines from the southern regions of France, several US domestic apple families, and various pine barks. However I don't much care to wander around chewing on pine trees, so I recommend a supplement of grape seed or grape skin extract, preferably one that also contains resveratrol.
Make sure you are familiar with the reputation of the company that produces your supplements. There have been several studies done on various "health food and supplement" products that show the contents often contain less than 50% of the indicated ingredients.
So what does that mean for us? Why do we care about flavanoids, antioxidents, or any of this stuff?
Our body is constantly barraged with free radical activity, some of which is a natural function of the various processes within our body, but largely they are introduced by things like the air quality around us, and the pollution within it. It can also be increased by things like unbound (non-organic) minerals we consume either through red meat or from low quality grocery store multi-vitamin/mineral supplements.
Free radicals have been linked to a wide variety of chronic diseases and systemic problems in the human body. This list includes cancer, Alzheimers, arthritis, diabetes and various aspects of aging.
Antioxidents help the body fight the effects and damage of free radicals throughout the body. The most commonly used antioxidents are Vitamin C and E, but studies have shown that proanthocyanidins are much more potent, 20 to 50 times more powerful than C and E.
What can we do about it?
Well, there are many natural sources of these super-antioxidents, things like red wines from the southern regions of France, several US domestic apple families, and various pine barks. However I don't much care to wander around chewing on pine trees, so I recommend a supplement of grape seed or grape skin extract, preferably one that also contains resveratrol.
Make sure you are familiar with the reputation of the company that produces your supplements. There have been several studies done on various "health food and supplement" products that show the contents often contain less than 50% of the indicated ingredients.
Inception, not the movie
So one must start somewhere.
This space is all about wellness, fitness, health, and nutrition. I have become fascinated by the data I have discovered so far on my journey, and I want to be able to share it with my perspective. Hopefully I can show you a way to be healthier and have wellness in your life just like I have.
This space is all about wellness, fitness, health, and nutrition. I have become fascinated by the data I have discovered so far on my journey, and I want to be able to share it with my perspective. Hopefully I can show you a way to be healthier and have wellness in your life just like I have.
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