Saving food, Eating fresh and healthy

We don't want to throw away foods. We can save them. Here are some video tips for keeping foods longer, safer, and healthier:

Calories aren't created equal: Nutrition is crucial

When we make healthy food choices, we look at calories and read nutrition labels. But there are other factors to consider. Nutrients contained in those foods are important.
Vitamins and minerals, such as C and potassium, are examples of micronutrients that are essential to our bodies. We need micronutrients for our bodies to function properly.

Good News: What we know about nutrition- foods that are nutritious (high in vitamins and minerals) tend to be lower in calories!

Lesley Jane Seymour, of More magazine, share some important tips for eating healthier in this brief interview:


The easiest way to know what to eat, and make the healthiest eating choices, is to KNOW what you're eating!
Eating fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) and lean proteins (fish and foul) are simple ways to eat healthy, without needing to figure out what those labels mean.

Healthy, nutritious foods for cheaper

Eating healthy does not have to mean spending alot on groceries. Nutritionist Frances Largeman-Roth explains in this video how eating nutritious foods can save you money:



Note: some nutritionists would argue that fresh fruits and vegetables are much more nutritious (than frozen) because they have live enzymes that are killed in the freezing process.

We can't believe she didn't mention ...BEANS! You can buy beans in bulk at your local health-food grocery store. They are one of the healthiest foods on Earth! Fiber, protein, iron. You just can't beat a bean. Buying in bulk saves you money, if you don't buy more than you can eat. Bring your own bags and containers and buy cheaper!

Canned vegetables are also a nutritious but cheap alternative to eating fresh vegetables.

Eating fish: healthy or garbage?

Is the fish you're eating healthy, safe and fished from a plastic-free zone? We haven't given this much thought, but now biologists and marine explorers are discovering that what we feed on depends on what they feed on, and that's not so healthy anymore.

Watch this video to uncover the whole truth:



What can we do to avoid ingesting chemicals, plastics, and other household garbage?

1st- We must all reduce the amount of non-biodegradable trash we create. We can't turn a blind eye and think it all just "goes away". It's crucial that each individual does their part to reduce household waste.

2nd- Reduce consumption in the first place. Take all kinds of reuseable bags to the stores. Think about all of the containers, bags and packaging that we buy with every grocery market visit. Bring plenty of your own bags. Buy in bulk. Choose products with less packaging and biodegradable wrappers. Eat less.

3rd- If you are concerned about the quality of your fish, then eat less fish. To replace some of its nutrients, take fish-oil supplements. Do Not eat more red meat if you reduce fish consumption: instead, eat more beans, legumes, nuts and other healthy sources of protein.

Losing Weight with Chocolate: weight loss gets yummy

Can dark chocolate help weight loss? More research indicates chocolate contributes to eating less, losing weight, and other health benefits. Nutritionist Cynthia Sass surprises Dr. Jacques Moritz with the latest news in this video:



Other studies have shown dark chocolate's health-protecting qualities, such as:
> protecting and relaxing arteries, lowering blood pressure
> relieving hunger, inducing satiety
> effects of high antioxidants and mono-unsaturated fatty acids
> insulin control and reduction

Look Out! Don't accept impostors! Go for pure dark chocolate. Foods that contain dark chocolate, or are made with dark chocolate flavoring, will not be as healthy for you. And milk chocolate has not been proven to have the same health benefits.

Food for thought: what about research that ties the caffeine in pure cocoa to stimulating effects and weight loss? Let's look for that...

Eating healthy while saving money

If your budget is tight, you can eat healthy and save money. Watch this video to see how one couple survived on $1/day for food:



Here are some tips for eating more nutritious foods, and staying healthy, while still eating cheaply:
1) Take a multivitamin every day or every other day
2) Eat fruits and vegetables. You need them to stay healthy. To save money, buy fresh produce in bulk and immediately freeze or can what you won't eat in the first few days.
3) Drink shakes. Buy a large container of a protein shake with vitamins and minerals. Avoid "diet shakes" (their #1 ingredient is usually sugar). Instead, go for shakes aimed at muscle-building or vitamin-loading. Substitute a solid meal for a shake occasionally. They are affordable, nutritious, convenient, and yummy.
4) Trade services with a local farmer. Sometimes, you can get healthy, fresh, locally-grown food with a little sweat equity.
Offer to help in the gardens and take home some (free!) fresh vegetables. Or clean out the hen-house and enjoy (free!) fresh eggs. Spend a few hours in the sunshine picking fruit off the trees, and nibble some sweet cherries or peaches while you work.
Plus, you get deep satisfaction when you contribute to the growing of your community's food.
5) Go fishing. Catch your own food. Fishing can be calming and peaceful. And fish is healthy eating.

Video Game health hazards: is your child at risk?

Parents, is your child's obsession with video games hurting their health?
Watch this video to see what happened to a child whose gaming habit hurt him:



Even if your kid is on vacation, even if you can see any justifiable reason to let them have a video game binge, consider making your child agree to a few health rules before they settle in to their games:
** They must agree to get outside to play for an hour or more before they play indoors
** For every two hours of indoor games, they must spend at least 30 minutes outdoors
* They must sip water during their gaming (this is better than soda or other extra-calorie drinks, plus it makes them move because they must need to go to the bathroom)
* They must maintain their schedule of healthy meals with their family
* They cannot snack on chips or candy while they play video games
* They must obey their regular sleep schedule
* Reading should accompany regular gaming: at least one hour of reading per hour of gaming is recommended

Of course, these guidelines apply to vacation times or weekends. During the school-week and in the evenings, gaming time should be minimized. Outdoor play, sports, homework, time with friends and family, meals, sleep, reading, and cultural arts should be their top priorities, which...don't leave time for video games.

Chronic Pain- Eating pain into your life

If you have chronic pain, healthy eating is important. You could be eating foods that actually increase pain and inflammation. In his new book, Dr. Neal Barnard reveals which foods fight pain and which foods cause pain.

If you have arthritis or joint pain, migraines or headaches, chest pain, kidney problems, knee pain, and even cancer, it's vital to know what's in your foods.



Some foods trigger pain only if you are allergic to them, like dairy or night-shade vegetables. How can you tell? Systematically eliminate certain foods from your diet and feel if your pain decreases. For example, if you consume yogurt alot because you think it's a "healthier dairy product", you might be lactose-intolerant.

Eating foods like soda and chips, and processed meats, cause other health problems, in addition to pain and inflammatory diseases. (Note: if you have a condition that's an "-itis", that means inflammation is affecting your body)

For more information on pain relief, healthy eating, and disease prevention, Go to http://www.SupportandCoaching.com . Subscribe to their Ageless Living newsletter today!

Food and eating: holidays skew consumption

Food is everywhere. During the holidays, everyone overeats. And rich, decadent, fattening food is abundant. Gluttony is acceptable and encouraged.

There are many reasons why people gain weight during the holidays: too many to discuss in this one blog post. But one look into the psychology of holiday eating reveals abundance, sharing, and social stigmas.

One English man is eating differently. Instead of drowning in the glutton of abundance, his approach is to appreciate the abundance by living more simply.

Mark Boyle is working on his own consumption awareness. Here is a peak into his story:


So, how can we learn from him and eat more wisely?
First, we need to look at our own personal values. How important is food to me?
Second, look at your social eating behaviors. Do I eat more around family to "please" them? How do I eat in social settings? Do I eat differently at home than in restaurants?
Third, realize that change can take a long time. Patience and perserverance are crucial. Suppose you examine your beliefs and decide to consume less and eat healthier. The new awareness is one step. Then you need a daily plan. What new behaviors will replace the old ones? This process may bring incredible new meaning to your life, but it can take a long time to change old ways. Be good to yourself and don't get discouraged by setbacks.

Perhaps you enjoy holiday food AND you like the idea of reducing consumption. Take just a few moments before each meal, party or social setting to think about the food you might eat. Is it important to eat chips and soda, or other non-holiday junk food? Instead of devouring a whole plate of truffles or mini-tarts, take time to meet the cook and learn how they cook them. (Then, spend time later making an equally-delicious, but healthier, version).

Think. Eat. Learn. Nourish. Thrive.

Prevent colds and flu with cleaning

Yes, washing hands and washing surfaces is still the best way to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. If you want to avoid getting sick with a cold or flu, it is important that you keep your hands clean.

This is especially important to keep in mind when you are in a public place. Sick people, in public, are spreading their germs like wildfire.

If you use hand sanitizers like purse-size gels, make sure you read the directions. Most of them are not effective unless you wipe your hands together rigorously for one minute or more!

Watch this video to understand how germs stay on surfaces and then get spread:


Do not rely on your anti-bacterial soaps to keep you healthy and disease-free! A healthy lifestyle, full of regular exercise and eating nutritious foods, is the key to a strong immune system!

Local, nutritious, sustainable foods in the city

When it comes to growing nutritious, local foods in a sustainable setting, this Milwaukee farmer is raising the bar high for cities. His sustainable farm makes the most of its resources and its limited city space.

Watch how he does it:



This is the type of farming that teaches people, and whole communities, about their food supply. They learn efficient ways to grow healthy and nutritious foods. Let's think, observe and learn from this family's farm!

Portion Out-of-Control: how restaurants make us fat

Americans are being overfed. The typical consumer may be offered twice the amount of calories that their body needs. So, we have been adding calories and gaining weight whenever we eat out.

This interview with Tanya Zuckerbrot describes some of this phenomenon:



What are some answers? How do we avoid gaining weight when we eat out?
Here are some tips:
*Make food choices based on portion size offered
*Ask for a leftover bag immediately when you order, or ask the wait-staff to automatically put 1/2 your meal into a leftover package (if you know you are ordering a large dish)
*Avoid drinking alcohol at the start of your meal. This will cause you to lose sense of satiety and overeat.
*Drink water as soon as you sit down if you are famished.
*Never order appetizers.
*If you must order one, split a dessert.
*Order the most vegetable-laden dish on the menu. Let the fiber fill you up.
*Avoid excess white bread. Ask the waiter Not to bring you rolls, for example.

In this overly-consuming society, we need to understand what we are eating. And we need to know our own bodies' caloric needs. Tune in and stop gaining weight!

Women's roles

This study looked at women't roles amongst married couples. What's interesting is to find how each spouse is happy, or at least, comfortable, with their roles. If women are cooking more often, are they more likely to be responsible for nutrition and healthy eating? Hmmm...

Back to the video topic...
What does a women's role include in the house?



Okay, so the clicker is shared- this is good. But what about other roles? Who makes the household healthy?
Exercise, sleep, nutrition and healthy eating- who is the more pro-active parent? Who sets the rules for a healthy household? How does a couple stay healthy?

These are big questions that aging researchers will slowly uncover.

Coffee isn't as unhealthy as some say

Coffee has been enjoyed by people of most cultures around the world. But some myths have turned people away from drinking coffee.

Learn as this medical expert clarifies the truth about coffee consumption and debunks some of the rumors about its less-healthy qualities:


Note: she was describing coffee-drinking, but not talking about drinking the 800-calorie frappuccino with extra syrup. Be careful when you order specialty coffee drinks: some beverages can contain huge amounts of calories, sugar, and even artifical/chemical sweeteners. Watch out for those hidden ingredients that destroy the healthier qualities of your cup o' joe!

Not-so-nutritious foods: do you know what you're eating?

What's really in your food? Nutrition counselors reveal the shocking facts and numbers about foods that sound nutritious but aren't.



How many calories in a meal? Enhanced kool-aid? Learn what's in your food before you eat it!

Exercise, Diet, Yoga reverse Cancer in Dr. Dean Ornish study

It is no secret that regular exercise, nutritious eating, meditation and yoga are great for your health. But this study shows that they are powerful enough to reverse the course of cancer!

As Dr. Dean Ornish says, the body is more dynamic than we thought. Watch this video for more (then read on, below):



And what I find amazing about the results of the study was that the program suggested a mere 30 minutes of exercise daily! 30 minutes!

How many Americans who are facing death by cancer can't find 30 minutes for exercise every day?

Dr. Ornish describes how you can genetically alter your body to reverse cancer. He studied men with prostate cancer. He says these same tactics can be helpful in reversing other forms of cancer, too, such as breast cancer.

In the past, we have seen research studies that demonstrate how an exercising group were less likely to get cancer than non-exercising groups. And how research participants who ate healthy low-fat, vegetarian diets were less likely to get cancer than their study counterparts who ate less healthy foods.
But Dr. Dean Ornish's study is very different...
He studies men who already had been diagnosed with cancer. This study takes exercise from prevention to treatment status. This is significant, and of vital importance to anyone recently diagnosed with cancer!

This study is amazing, and it shows how, truly, Exercise is Medicine!