All About SUGAR!!!

Human bodies are designed to run on carbohydrates, which is the source of our energy. We fulfill this need by consuming complex carbohydrates from whole foods like whole grains, vegetables, beans or lentils; or simpler carbohydrates such as from fruits.

However, with technology, man has extracted sweetness but leaving behind the nutrients. Refined sugar is lethal for human consumption because it has been depleted of its life forces, vitamins and minerals, rendering it “empty”.

Concentrated sugar—in the forms of white sugar, brown sugar, glucose, honey and syrup—releases sugar fast, causing a rapid increase in our blood sugar levels when consumed.

If this sugar is not required by the body, it is deposited in "storage" as fats. These concentrated sugars are almost totally devoid of useful nutrients.

When the blood sugar level rises, the pancreas releases insulin into the blood stream. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate the level of blood sugar.

When we consume food that releases sugar fast (high glycemic index), our body over-reacts to the increase in blood glucose by producing more insulin than necessary.

As a result, blood glucose falls too much within a short time, causing you to feel hungry again. When you respond to that hunger by eating another high glycemic meal, it sets off another cycle of swing in the insulin level.

Over time, these exaggerated increases and falls in the insulin level will lead to a reduction in the body's ability to respond to insulin, the development of a condition called insulin resistance.

When this happens, the glucose level in the blood system remains constantly high. The pancreas respond by producing more and more insulin to try to maintain the sugar blood level, until it can no longer keep up anymore.

This condition is directly damaging to the cells and can cause very severe long-term damage to the body.

Some of the common health problems known that are related to this condition are insomnia, obesity, type-II diabetes, polycystic ovary disease, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and hormone related cancers.

Do not be deceived and use artificial sweetener. They mostly contain aspartame that are even deadlier than your table sugar. A plant-based sugar called stevia is a much healthier alternative.


Source: juicing-for-health.com

The Importance of Achilles Stretches

So what are some of the things you can do to help prevent Achilles Tendonitis?

1. Warm Up properly

A good warm up is essential in getting the body ready for any activity. A well structured warm up will prepare your heart, lungs, muscles, joints and your mind for strenuous activity.

2. Plyometric Training

Plyometric drills include jumping, skipping, bounding, and hopping type activities. These explosive types of exercises help to condition and prepare the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the lower leg and ankle joint.

3. Balancing Exercises

Any activity that challenges your ability to balance, and keep your balance, will help what's called proprioception: - your body's ability to know where it's limbs are at any given time.

4. Stretch and Strengthen

I'll cover these in a lot more detail a little later on when I discuss rehabilitation and conditioning exercises.

5. Footwear

Be aware of the importance of good footwear. A good pair of shoes will help to keep your ankles stable, provide adequate cushioning, and support your foot and lower leg during the running or walking motion.




Source: The Stretching Institute

Hip, Groin & Buttock Stretches

Source: The Stretching Institute

Lose Weight Quickly – Manage Your Stress

When one decides to lose weight we want to lose weight quickly. It is hard enough to commit to changing your life so you definitely want to see results to keep your motivation up. Typically we choose to do some form of exercise in combination with a nutritious diet. These are the obvious steps we need to take. What may not be so obvious is managing your stress. Stress will affect your hormone production, your ability to relax, and even sleep. These effects of stress will make it harder for your body to lose weight. So if you want to lose weight you not only have to have a healthy body but you also need to have a healthy mind. Remember your looks are only a reflection of your health. If you focus on feeling better the great body will follow.

When we are stressed we release cortisol among other hormones. Cortisol causes the body to store fat, in particular around the waistline. It also can negatively affect your immune system. As many people who have dealt with stress know, the ability to relax and sleep well can be challenging if our mind is racing on stressful situations that come from a myriad of areas in our lives. Work, family, and friends can all be sources of stress at times.

The inability to sleep well will reduce your ability to produce growth hormone (GH) which not only aids in the recovery of your workouts but helps keep the body from storing fat. So stress has a double whammy of high cortisol and low GH sabotaging your plans to lean down.

Many of us dismiss the stress in our lives. People drink or take recreational drugs to deal with stress. Others distract themselves in other ways. Many of us do not tackle stress head on. Working out helps to negate the affects of stress. Certain exercises though are particularly helpful.

When we are stressed it reflects itself as tension that we hold in our bodies. Most notably people get tight shoulders but it is not limited to one particular area of the body. By releasing the tension in our bodies we are directly tackling the symptoms of stress. So stretching, yoga, and massage are great ways to tackle stress.

We also need to learn to clear our minds of the thoughts that cause stress. Meditation is a great way to clear the mind. Remember though that just like any new skill; it takes time to become good at meditation. In other words it takes practice to be able to block out all the random thoughts that stress you out on a regular basis. But if you keep trying you will notice your ability to remain calm when you are not meditating will also improve.

So when you decide to start living a healthy lifestyle and you want to lose weight quickly make sure you address all the facets of health. Eat a nutritious diet, work out regularly, and make de-stressing part of your fitness plan.


Source: www.impactfitnessinc.com

Healthy Vegan Spaghetti Recipe

Source: HealthyVeganRecipes.net

Championship Core Training #1 - The Basics

Source: fasterswimmer.com

Spicy Curried Tofu & Kale Stir Fry

Takes 5 minutes to make, costs less than $6.00 and packed full of protein, vitamins and minerals, omega-3, and taste! Perfect meal to whip up during your detox, or any time really.

Ingredients

100g's Non-GM Organic Firm Tofu
1/2 Bunch of Kale
Handful of Walnuts
1 Tsp of Coconut Oil

Spices to taste
Curry
Cayenne
Sea Salt
Cracked Black Pepper

Directions

1. Dice tofu into cubes and pat dry with towel
2. Heat oil in skillet to medium heat
3. Add cubes and spices
4. Cook for 3 minutes stirring occasionally
5. Toss in walnuts (crushed)
6. Cut kale into bite sized pieces removing stems, wash and pat dry
7. Toss over top of tofu and cook lightly until tofu turns a bright dark green colour - Do Not Over Cook

Serve immediately and enjoy!


Source: theholisticpantry.blogspot.com