Why you need a Healthy Breakfast

When you wake up in the morning after going 10 - 12 hours without food, your energy reserves are low and your body and brain need fuel. Besides, your body has spent 1 liter of water during the night through breathing, sweating and morning visit to the bathroom.
So your body wakes up “empty” in the morning and on behalf of 100 trillion cells begs you, “Hey, give me back all the nutrients, energy and water I spent in the last 24 hours”. What you choose to eat for breakfast can affect your mood, physical and mental performance, weight and your general and long-term health.
Now here is the big question: What did you give your body this morning?
Remember - all our bodies wake up in the morning 'empty' with normal sugar levels. What we decide to eat for breakfast will determine what will happen to our blood sugar level for the rest of the day.
Carbs-Based Breakfast:
In the morning, simple carbohydrates (sugary refined cereals, white breads, toasts, etc.) cause an immediate surge of blood sugar level which results in the body over compensating for the extra sugar load - the excess is converted and stored as fat. The result - a decreased level of blood sugar and a craving for more carbs. This cycle then repeats itself 2-3 more times during the day.
Skipping Breakfast:
When you skip breakfast your blood sugar drops below the normal level. You experience cravings for food and a drop in energy. You are again tempted to revert to simple carbohydrates to achieve a quick surge of energy. Simple carbohydrates will cause an immediate surge of blood sugar level followed by the body compensating for the extra sugar load. Excess sugar turns into fat. Then this cycle repeats itself 2-3 more times during the day again.
These vicious cycles constitutes one of the reasons for the development of other major health challenges and extra weight.
So...Would you like to know what a good breakfast is supposed to be?

The Balanced Breakfast:
Your first meal in the morning should meet these four main criteria:
• Replace the energy (from proteins, carbohydrates & good fats) that was consumed yesterday, when you were active.
• Provide the body with all the nutrients (building blocks - proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals) used during the night.
• Replenish the water stock.
• Maintain the blood sugar level within the normal range preventing you going into craving for "something" to eat!
There are great ideas in numerous publications for a healthy breakfast BUT in today's fast paced world it's not easy to prepare a balanced breakfast that meets the four major criteria for a healthy breakfast if you don't have much time in the morning.

Our suggestion:


1. Hydration with aloe drink to replenish our water stock and to assist the body in self – cleansing action
2. Energy with a delicious instant tea with the antioxidant and thermogenic benefits of green tea and fast-acting botanicals
3. Nutrition with a fabulous milk – shake which is a healthy meal with up to 19 essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients in six delicious flavors: vanilla , chocolate , strawberry , tropical fruits , cappuccino and cream & cookies!!

Herbalife Dispels Five Myths about Metabolism

Thursday January 15, 12:37 pm ET

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--We often blame ‘slow metabolism’ for our inability to keep our weight under control. But what is metabolism, exactly? And, is there anything we can do to change our metabolic rate?
“Metabolism refers to all the chemical processes that take place in the body in order to sustain life – processes that allow you to breathe, pump blood, keep your brain functioning and extract energy from your food,” says Susan Bowerman, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D. and a consultant to Herbalife. “Your basal metabolic rate refers to the number of calories your body uses each day, at rest, just to keep all your vital organs functioning.”

The metabolic rate is directly related to your body composition. Every pound of body fat you have burns only about 2 calories a day. But the rest of you – your lean body mass – burns about 14 calories per pound each day. A big portion of your lean body mass is made up of muscle, so one of the best things you can do to boost your metabolic rate is to build up muscle through strength training. And, make sure to take in adequate protein from the diet, which helps to build and maintain lean muscle, too.

Here are the facts surround five myths about metabolism:

Myth: Aging slows your metabolism.

Truth: People do tend to put on weight as they get older – but it’s typically because they tend to exercise less, or less vigorously, than they used to - and that means fewer calories burned per day. As a result, loss of muscle mass can occur which reduces the body’s lean body mass – which results in a slower metabolic rate. Cardiovascular exercise to burn calories and strength training to preserve or build up muscle are great defenses against age-related weight gain.

Myth: You’re stuck with the metabolism you have and you can’t change it.

Truth: While it may appear that there are people who eat all the time and never seem to gain, chances are they make healthy, relatively low calorie selections naturally. Many of these “lucky” people also burn more calories simply because they move more - they might fidget more, or get up from their desks frequently during the day to stretch, or walk down the hall to talk to a colleague instead of e-mailing. So, once you’ve made the commitment to boost your metabolism by building more muscle, use those muscles more by moving around frequently throughout the day.

Myth: You burn more calories digesting ice-cold foods and beverages than foods that are room temperature or warmer.

Truth: In a laboratory, very slight increases in calorie burn have been measured in people who drink very cold beverages. But the change is too small (amounting to about 10 more calories burned per day) to have any meaningful impact on weight loss.

Myth: If you cut calories, your metabolic rate will slow down, so what’s the point?

Truth: It is true that your metabolic rate can slow a bit when you cut calories - your body’s natural inclination is to try to conserve calories as best it can. But, these decreases are relatively small, and if you become more active as you lose weight, you can offset these small changes. With a combination of diet AND exercise, you can help to preserve the rate at which your body burns calories.

Myth: If you stop eating at night, when your metabolism is slower, you’ll lose more weight.

Truth: When people lose weight because they stop eating after a certain time of day, it’s only because they’ve cut their overall calorie consumption - not because they are eating their calories earlier in the day. Consuming all your calories before the sun goes down won’t speed up your weight loss unless you also eat fewer calories than you need.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/090115/20090115005872.html?.v=1

10 Tips to Maintain, Dont Gain Weight This Holiday Season

10 Tips to Maintain, Dont Gain Weight This Holiday Season
Thursday December 4, 2:01 pm ET

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trying to lose weight around the holidays is tough, but maintaining your weight doesn’t have to be. It is possible to fit even traditional holiday treats into a healthy eating plan. The secret is moderation and balance.

Here are some tips to keep you on track from Luigi Gratton, M.D., vice president of medical affairs at Herbalife, a global nutrition and direct-selling company:

1. Activity compensates for extra calories – Give yourself the gift of 30 minutes of exercise a day. In addition to burning calories, exercise also helps to relieve tension – so you are less likely to eat to control holiday stress.
2. H20, H20, H20 – A little water goes a long way – small sips throughout the day are a smart way to keep well hydrated. It acts as a shock absorber and joint lubricant, helps to transport nutrients and eliminate waste, and works in regulating body temperature. Even better, water has no fat, no calories and no cholesterol.
3. Be a food snob – Don’t waste precious calories on everyday chips or crackers. Be selective and choose only the foods you really love, or that you associate with the season.
4. Bundle flavors – Variety might be the spice of life, but it is also a recipe for overeating. Bundle together similar flavors. For instance, put only salty (or meaty) foods on your plate at once. You will grow tired of that specific flavor more quickly and end up feeling satisfied on fewer calories.
5. Pare down those portions – Try to keep your portions small and make only one visit to the buffet. Choose the smallest plate possible. Pile greens and other tasty veggies on your plate first, leaving just a little room for those high-calorie treats like sweets and cheeses. Eat small, lower-calorie meals during the day so you can enjoy a special treat later – just make sure you do not starve yourself for the party and overeat later.
6. Step away from the table – If you don’t put your choices on a plate, you have no idea how much you are really eating. The worst thing you can do at a party is stand around the table dipping into the bowl.
7. Drink slimmer – Alcohol is a double whammy during the holidays. It tends to weaken your resistance when it comes to eating, and the calories in drinks add up quickly. Sip on a glass of water between cocktails.
8. “I paid for it, so I’m going to eat it” – Don’t feel as if you need to clean your plate just because you paid for it. Put part of your meal right away into a take-home container. Portion sizes in restaurants can be two to three times the amount you need. Instead of the usual starch and vegetable sides, skip the starch and double the veggies instead. Stop eating as soon as you begin to feel full.
9. Zen Yourself – Holidays can be stressful. Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Organize your time and make a list and prioritize the important activities. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. And don’t forget to schedule some down time to relax.
10. Slip, don’t slide – If you eat three helpings of mashed potatoes and half a pumpkin pie, all is not lost. Rather than polishing off the rest, learn from your slip-up. Next time, eat a salad first, start a conversation, and park yourself far from the danger zone. The next time starts today.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/081204/20081204006030.html?.v=1

Τα παχύσαρκα παιδιά «έχουν αρτηρίες μεσήλικα»

Νέα Ορλεάνη
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Ακόμα και από την ηλικία των 10 ετών, τα παχύσαρκα παιδιά έχουν τις αρτηρίες 45χρονων και παρουσιάζουν καρδιακές ανωμαλίες ιδιαίτερα δυσοίωνες για την ενήλικη ζωή τους, δείχνει σειρά ερευνών στις ΗΠΑ.

Ακόμα και σήμερα πολλοί γονείς εφησυχάζουν για το βάρος των παιδιών τους έχοντας την εντύπωση ότι το λίπος απλώς «θα γίνει μπόι» και θα εξαφανιστεί. Στην πραγματικότητα όμως η παχυσαρκία δεν είναι ποτέ καλοήθης στα παιδιά και τους έφηβους, προειδοποιούν οι γιατροί.

Σε μια από τις τρεις έρευνες που παρουσιάστηκαν στο συνέδριο της Αμερικανικής Εταιρείας Καρδιολογίας στη Νέα Ορλεάνη, ερευνητές του Νοσοκομείου Παίδων του Κάνσας μέτρησαν με υπερηχογράφημα το πάχος του τοιχώματος της καρωτιδικής αρτηρίας σε 70 παιδιά 10 έως 16 ετών. Σχεδόν όλα έπασχαν από υπερχοληστεριναιμία και πολλά ήταν παχύσαρκα.

Δεδομένου ότι κανείς δεν γνωρίζει ποιο πρέπει να είναι το πάχος των αρτηριών στα παιδιά, τα οποία συνήθως δεν εξετάζονται για αγγειακά νοσήματα, οι ερευνητές συνέκριναν τα αποτελέσματα με τα διαθέσιμα στοιχεία για τους ενήλικες.

Η «αγγειακή ηλικία» των παιδιών της μελέτης ήταν περίπου 30 χρόνια μεγαλύτερη από την πραγματική τους ηλικία. «Όπως λέει το παλιό ρητό, έχουμε την ηλικία των αρτηριών μας» σχολίασε η Δρ Γκίτα Ράγκχουβιρ, επικεφαλής της μελέτης.

Μια άλλη μελέτη που παρουσιάστηκε στο συνέδριο συνδέει την παιδική παχυσαρκία με δομικές ανωμαλίες της καρδιάς. Σε δείγμα 991 φαινομενικά υγιών παιδιών, οι ερευνητές του Νοσοκομείου Royal Prince Alfred στο Σίδνεϊ διαπίστωσαν ότι η αύξηση του σωματικού βάρους συνοδεύεται από διόγκωση του αριστερού κόλπου.

Σε μια τρίτη μελέτη, που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Εθνικό Πανεπιστήμιο της Αυστραλίας στη Μελβούρνη σε δείγμα 150 παιδιών, οι υπέρηχοι έδειξαν ότι στα παχύσαρκα παιδιά το μυοκάρδιο δεν χαλαρώνει πλήρως ανάμεσα στους χτύπους.

Τα συμπεράσματα αυτά έρχονται να προστεθούν στα αποτελέσματα προηγούμενων μελετών οι οποίες εντόπιζαν ενδείξεις αρτηριοσκλήρυνσης σε ανήλικους υπερβολικού σωματικού βάρους.

Οι διαπιστώσεις των ερευνητών κάνουν προφανή την ανάγκη βελτιώσεων στο διαιτολόγιο των νέων. «Αν έχει δει κανείς τι περιλαμβάνει το μενού στα περισσότερα σχολικά γεύματα, τα ευρήματα αυτά δεν προκαλούν έκπληξη» δήλωσε ο Μάικλ Σλος, ειδικός στην πρόληψη των καρδιαγγειακών παθήσεων στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Νέας Υόρκης.

Newsroom ΔΟΛ, με πληροφορίες από Associated Press

Eating Healthy in an Unhealthy Economy

Tuesday October 28, 2:14 pm ET
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In these uncertain financial times, we’re all watching how much we spend on food a little more closely, and it may seem that it’s nearly impossible to eat a healthy diet on a tight budget. There’s no question that many of the least expensive foods – like starchy foods, sugars, and fats – are also the ones that provide less nutrition than the more expensive items like fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of protein. But eating well and saving money can go hand-in-hand. Here are some tips to get you started from nutrition experts at Herbalife:
• Go vegetarian once a week. Combining grains, like rice or corn, with beans, split peas, or lentils, is an inexpensive way to include good quality protein in the diet. Use seasoning to enhance the flavour in dishes like curried lentils with brown rice or spicy black bean soup with cornbread or corn tortillas. Round out the menu with a salad or some fruit in season, and you’ve got a nutrition-packed meal for pennies per person.
• Skip the drive-through. A protein-packed meal replacement shake like Herbalife® Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix, mixed in the blender with milk (or soy milk) and fresh or frozen fruit, can provide more healthy nutrition for a lot less money than fast food choices–while still delivering convenience and nutritional value.
• Freeze the season. Frozen fruits and vegetables are as nutritionally valuable as fresh—in fact, in some cases freezing may preserve more nutrients because the foods are processed so quickly after harvest. Shop the farmer’s markets, buy what’s in season, and freeze it. Frozen pre-made side dishes and vegetables with sauces on them cost more, too. It’s less expensive and better for you to purchase plain vegetables and season them yourself.
• Frozen meals are convenient, but they can be pricey. And, these meals often don’t feel complete unless you add a salad, vegetable or fruit to them, which drives up the total cost of the meal. Instead, cook in bulk some one-dish meals, such as soups, stews, or pasta dishes, and freeze individual portions for workday lunches.
Don’t let a thinner wallet lead to a thicker waistline. With a little planning, you can watch your budget and still eat well.
www.yahoo.com , www.herbalife.com

ONE BIG TRUTH:White House to banks: Start lending now

Tuesday October 28, 7:18 pm ET
By Jennifer Loven, AP White House Correspondent
White House tells banks getting federal aid to quit hoarding money and start lending it

What we're trying to do is get banks to do what they are supposed to do,
which is support the system that we have in America.
And banks exist to lend money," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.
While there are limits to Washington's power to affect banks' behavior,
the White House decided it was time to use its bully pulpit.

The way that banks make money is by lending money," Perino said.
"And so they have every incentive to move forward and start using this money."

"As these banks and institutions are reinforced and supported with taxpayer funds,
they must meet their responsibility to lend, and support the American people and
the U.S. economy,"
Ryan told the annual meeting of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
"It is in a strengthened institution's best financial interest to increase
lending once it has received government funding."

4 Surprising signs you'll live a long time

We all know the obvious ways to add years to your life: Don't smoke, eat your veggies, wear a seat belt (even in the backseat). But there are other, lesser-known habits and attributes that can help you live to a ripe old age.

YOU SKIP SODA (EVEN DIET)
I finally kicked my diet cola habit in my 20s, a good thing too, because scientists in Boston recently found that drinking one or more regular or diet sodas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome-- combination of conditions that increase your chances of heart disease and diabetes. The exact culprit isn't completely understood, but it could be the caramel color added to colas and other dark sodas, which increased the risk for metabolic syndrome in animals. Experts also speculate that exposing your tastebuds to the sweet fizzy flavor of soda conditions you to crave sugary foods, which can lead to weight gain. Whatever the reason, it's an easy enough habit to quit. Club soda (sodium free, of course) with a splash of juice satisfies the fizz craving with just enough sweetness. For a good alternative, try Sassy Water.

YOUR LEGS ARE STRONG
Lower-body strength means you also have good balance, flexibility, and endurance. While you probably care more about how your legs look in a mini and a pair of knee-high boots right now, as you get older those attributes reduce your risk of falls, injuries, and hip fractures, all of which are associated with declining health in older folks. So do some squats, lunges, and stair climbing to look good now-- and be strong and healthy later. It's win-win! Get up to 10 pounds lighter and take 10 years off your body with this workout.

YOUR MOM HAD YOU YOUNG
If she was under age 25, you're twice as likely to live to age 100 as someone born to an older mom, according to University of Chicago scientists. The reason, they suspect, is that younger moms' best eggs go first to fertilization, which may mean healthier offspring.

YOU EAT AND DRINK PURPLE THINGS
Red wine, concord grapes, blueberries (okay, not quite purple, but close enough) all get that deep rich color from polyphenols- compounds that reduce heart disease risk and may even protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. So crack open a bottle of Pinot (don't overdo it), snack on some grapes, or make a blueberry pie and ponder all the years that lie ahead. Talk about happy and healthy!


by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief, PREVENTION, on Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:57am PDT
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/4-surprising-signs-you-ll-live-a-long-time-290919/