Portrait on the Mantel

Raw food dieters have finally got support for their way of eating, as studies show considerable benefits with a raw food diet.

Raw food dieters typically consume 75% of their diets in uncooked  or otherwise unprocess plant foods, including but not limited to fruits, veggies, nuts grains and seeds.  The key is not to heat the food above 115 degrees to preserve the nutrient enzymes associated with digestion and absorption.  Followers of this way of eating make claims as to increased energy, weight loss and overall better health.

Research now suggest raw foods can lower risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol and tryglycerides. Dr. Fontana of the study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that raw food dieters had a lower BMI, high Vitamin D levels, low levels of C-reactive protiens and lower levels of IGF-1.

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End the battle of bulge by watching your consumption of liquids in your diet.  It seems that many of us are more in tuned to counting solid food calories than counting liquid calories.  A recent study published by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who restrict their liquid caloric intake are more successful at shedding unwanted pounds than those who only count solid food calories. Most important in this study is the calories from sugar drinks, reducing your consumption of sugar drinks could be the equivalent of 2 lbs of weight lost.

Drinks sighted to reduce weight gain in this study are water, milk, 100% fruit and vegetable juices and tea.  Drinks to avoid fruit drinks that have a lot of sugar added (any fruit drinks with less than 100% juice) and sodas. Some studies have found that diet sodas have also been linked to weight gain and an increase risk of metabolic syndrome like diabetes.  Also be aware of high calorie smoothies which can pack on weight.

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Sitting for extended periods increases your chances of suffering a heart attack or diabetes and dying prematurely, whether or not you exercise regularly according to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

More than 80% of diabetics die of heart disease and diabetes can be caused by repeated high rises in blood sugar and fat after meals.  When blood sugar rises too high, sugar sticks to the surface of cell membranes.  Once there, sugar can never detach and is eventually converted by a series of chemical reactions to sorbitol which destroys the cell to cause blindness, deafness, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure impotence and all the horrible side effects of diabetes.  The most efficient way to prevent these high rises in blood sugar is to contract your muscles.  Contracting muscles draw sugar so rapidly from the bloodstream that they can prevent this high rise in blood sugar.  This effect last during active exercise is maximal for up to a half hour after you stop exercising and then gradually tapers off in about 17 hours.

The key is to never stop moving, even if you’re not involved in a regular exercise program, get up from your desk or chair frequently and walk around. 

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According to a groundbreaking new study, 1/3 of heart attacks worldwide may be attributable to diets high in fat, salt, eggs and meat.

A western dietary pattern was high in fried foods, eggs, meat and salt.  The prudent pattern was high in fruits and veggies.  Researchers, adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors such as age, BMI, exercise, geographical location, sex and smoking status.

Those who eat a predominate western diet has a 35% higher risk for heart attack, than those who eat less meat, eggs and fried foods.  As compared to those who eat the prudent diet had a 30% lower risk of heart attacks.  The prudent diet proved beneficial for people around the world; men and women, young and old.

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For years we’ve been told to eat more fiber to prevent constipation and reduce colon cancer.  Scientist at the Medical College of Georgia has discovered that fiber works with bacteria in the colon to activate a receptor in the body that can kill cancer.

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