Jul 19th 11
Posted by in Prosperity and responsibility
Processed foods have made quite the negative impact on public health. With high levels of salt causing high blood-pressure, and some preservatives linked with cancer, people are trying to find ways around their conventional diets.
However, not all processed foods are as bad as some would report. You’ll have to remember that a multivitamin falls under the same idea as an instant pizza, it’s just what’s in the two that make the difference. Plenty of companies are seeking to develop safer preservatives, and healthier varieties of processed foods.
Processed foods were developed after WWII as companies found that food that was processed for soldiers was profitable on the consumer market. These foods were easy to store, ship, and convenient to purchase. And they can be loaded with nutrients that consumers wouldn’t be able to get elsewhere. These foods were safe (no need to worry about salmonella or E. coli in pasteurized foods) and easily out-compete fresh foods in price–fresh foods tend to go bad, and so have to be kept in a constant supply.
So don’t bash on processed foods entirely. They bring affordable food to billions of people who would otherwise starve in this harsh world economy. Do be careful about your salt intake, and which preservatives you ingest, but be grateful for this “easy food”.
Jul 13th 11
Posted by in Good Food Choices
Unfortunately, our country is suffering from an epidemic of obesity, which has lead to outbreaks of several other health issues including type II diabetes and heart disease. Dozens and
dozens of companies see this as an opportunity make it big and have flooded the internet with
secret health foods, diet pills and miracle weight-loss supplements. Unfortunately, these products are usually bogus, and are simply crafty marketers taking advantage of the desperate. Here are a few things to look for to not get scammed, or at least sucked in:
Studies
The first thing you can do is find conclusive studies on the product. And I don’t mean go to the product’s website and take their study’s word for it: find studies by universities or un-invested organizations. These are more likely to have an unbiased opinion, and will perform the survey for the sake of information, not money.
Testimonials
Testimonials usually can’t be trusted either: any company can invent testimonials by paying an actor. And all testimonials related to the site will be positive besides, not giving a clear cut idea about the product. Look for a forum thread that has talked about it; these will have real conversations of concerned though maybe biased, individuals.
Wikipedia
Sure many authorities doubt its legitimacy, but it has always worked as an unbiased source for me. You might not be able to find a particular product, but you can look up its ingredients. This way you can find any studies that have gone into the ingredients, their effectiveness, and any potential side effects.
Time will Tell
In the end, it’s the time proven methods that will help you lose weight. Has a product only been around for a month, a year or a decade? These diet ideas haven’t withstood the test of time yet. Studies and testimonies cannot compare to age-old truths. They can’t know the long term effects of something until they’ve been around for the long term.
As for our healthy ancestors, we should always be grateful for the centuries of experience that has gone into modern medicine. If your doctor prescribes something for your health, don’t get “age-old truths” get confused with “old-wives tales”.
Jul 6th 11
Posted by in Good Food Choices
There is an old myth that chocolate causes acne. This is quite unfortunate, because it will do quite the opposite. Acne is usually caused by stress and hormonal imbalances, both of which chocolate work to reduce.
Fight Stress with Chocolate
Chocolate is chock-full of calming chemicals, endorphins, that work to calm the body. This lowers blood pressure (reducing stress in the skin) and generally promotes relaxation. Chocolate is also thought to be an aphrodisiac, which healthy sexual activity is proven to relieve stress.
Stay Calm
Chocolate’s calming and aphrodisiac properties also help moderate hormones. This means when the body is chemically balanced, it won’t produce acne.
A Word of Caution
While chocolate is great for your skin, low quality chocolates have too much added sugar and fats. This means they have a higher glycemic index than cocoa itself, which can lead to breakouts.
Enjoy!
Chocolate is not only good for your skin, but has a plethora of health benefits.
