Ten common Nutrition Mistakes

There are some very simple nutrition mistakes, that can be corrected for free, that would take care of a lot of people’s diet difficulties. Yet millions of dollars are spent every year in helping people supposedly eat their way to health, through hundreds of various diets and allegedly new health trends. The number one enemy for losing that extra weight is sugar. “You have to be careful of the word `nonfat,’ because that usually implies more sugar,” says Larry Krug, chief executive officer of the online nutritional-consulting firm Eatwize.com. In the majority of instances ‘fat-free’ simply means the product is full of calories, because of the added sugar. Consuming lots of fruit juice is not the answer either. Laura J. Kruskall, Ph.D., R.D., an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas says “People assume that juice is healthier than cola, so they’ll go ahead and drink a heap of it. Yet your average half a cup of juice equals about 60 calories”.When orange juice is consumed it converts directly to sugar Many people eat whole grain products in the wrong assumption that they are ‘eating healthy’. In fact whole grain pasta, whole wheat bread, health cereals and whole grain crackers all convert to sugar when they are consumed. The number two enemy in the battle of of the bulge is consuming processed foods. They contain loads of sugar and a wide variety of harmful chemicals, which prevent the liver from working to optimum. Conola oil, vegetable butter, fake margarine, hydrogenated oils, substitute butter, artificial sweeteners, as well as processed soy products, all assist in the retention of bad fat. Real butter, coconut oil, whole eggs, avocados, bacon, raw nuts and olive oil are all aids when it comes to burning up bad fat. Carbohydrates are vital to good health, so consuming plenty of fruit and vegetables will assist in regulating the blood sugar level and help burn up unwanted fat. Going without food is another wrong conception when it comes to losing weight. Starving the body only causes it to store what fat it already has. In order to keep blood sugar and insulin levels even, it is better to eat healthy food, small and often. Correct hydration is another important key to losing weight. This entails drinking non-caffeinated fluids before they are required, as the body often fails to sense its own thirst, until after the fact. Drinking plenty of liquids burns fat and notifies your body to lose that layer of muscle-camouflaging water it likes to hold between your skin and muscles. Susan Kundrat, M.S., R.D., of Nutrition on the Move says. “I recommend a minimum of 12 eight-ounce glasses of noncaffeinated fluids per day, plus an additional six ounces for every 15 minutes of training you engage in.” Several authorities claim that once you start to eat healthily, you will throw your body onto auto-pilot, so that it will continuously discard that unwanted fat. Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO’s and founders of YouMe Support Foundation, providing high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check out the Sponsor a Student program at (http://youmesupport.org). It will change the life of some really needy kids in the South Pacific. Feel free to contact Wendy on

Honeydew Fun Facts & Nutrition

Honeydew is a variety of muskmelon, considered the sweetest of all melons. They’re also called winter melons because they’re harvested late in the season, peaking during late summer, fall and winter, though honeydew is available almost the whole year round. Most of our U.S. honeydews come from Arizona, Texas or California with imported melons from Mexico taking up the slack during winter months.

Where did Honeydew originally come from?

No one is exactly sure the origin of honeydew but Persia is named the likely humble beginnings for this succulent melon. Columbus carried honeydew seeds to America and now it’s one of our favorite melons behind watermelon and cantaloupe.

How To Pick A Honeydew Melon:

Things you want to look for when picking out a perfectly ripe melon are no bruises, soft areas or cracks. Don’t bother shaking or hitting it, that won’t tell you anything. Sniff the stem end (which should be somewhat smooth): if you can smell it, then it’s ripe. Also, a ripe melon should be somewhat firm, if it’s a little soft that’s ok but if it’s very soft, put it back, it’s overripe.

Honeydew Nutrition:

Like other melons, honeydews contain a large amount of water and are happily quite low in calories. Additionally, they’re fat-free and cholesterol free. They’re also a great source of Vitamin C and potassium.

How To Store Honeydew Melon:

You can refrigerate cut honeydew in a covered container for up to three days. Make sure to keep it covered though, as the smell can mix with other foods thanks to its wonderful aromatic properties.

Want to keep that sweet taste of summer with you all year? No problem, you can easily freeze honeydew. Just slice it up, freeze it on a cookie sheet and place in freezer baggies. You can also add syrup or sugar if you like.

Some Honeydew Serving Suggestions:

Before cutting into it, it’s best to wash your melon with soap and water because honeydew is grown on the ground and can make contact with fertilizer and other contaminants you don’t want to ingest.

Serve it barely chilled. If it’s been stored in the refrigerator, remove it from the fridge 15-20 minutes before serving. You can put it in a fruit salad, whip it up into a frothy cool summer drink or drizzle lemon on top to add tang to the melon’s natural sweetness. A clever serving idea is to use a half-cut melon as a serving bowl, perfect for yogurt, cottage cheese or even ice cream if you’re feeling mildly decadent.

The Consequences Of Poor Nutrition

A person’s weight is not the only way to assess poor nutrition. The more dangerous indications are not those that can be seen physically. There are numerous health-related and social issues resulting from a person with poor nutrition. Well naturally, poor nutrition leads to poor health. But is it the only consequence?

Poor nutrition can be risk factors of many dreaded diseases. Heart Disease is one major health risk resulting from poor nutrition. Eating foods high in fiber but low in saturated fat, coupled with exercise may eventually lessen the risk. High Blood Pressure and Strokes are very much related. Over time, high blood pressure may lead to the building up of clots on the walls of the arteries which lead to stroke. Proper diet and physical activity should be regularly practiced to lower the risks. One out of three cases of Cancer is due to poor nutrition. Diabetes is also a result of an improper eating pattern and sedentary lifestyle.

A good nutrition is composed of the following: carbohydrates, fat, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. A lack on any of these or too much of one of the components may result to a deteriorating health and other complications as well. Scientific research has gathered that poor nutrition early on in a child’s life brings about social problems. The child develops an antisocial and aggressive behavior which he will have to live with till the end of his adolescent years. An equally shocking result of the research pointed out that poor nutrition influences the brain development. A deficiency in the nutrients associated with brain development has been said to lead to low IQ which later on brings about the antisocial and violent behavior.

Some experts have linked poor nutrition to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An opposing party has argues that there are no scientific proofs that confirmed the association of poor nutrition to ADHD. However, the social aspect of a person has been known to have been influenced by poor nutrition. An antisocial and aggressive temperament caused by malnutrition may not exactly be ADHD but let’s not wait and become the proofs that ADHD is indeed a result of nutrition deficiencies.

Let’s spare our children all the complications caused by improper nutritional practices. While there are a lot of things that are beyond our control, our eating habits are within our power. Let us not modify our eating patterns simply to look good. What our body tells us is far more important than what people say about our looks. Let us take control. Changing what was once a poor nutrition practice can actually make us look and feel good inside and out.

What’s Different About Metagenics Supplements

An important feature of healthy eating involves getting the essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to help nourish your body. However, often you may not get the right amount of nourishments from your diet because of either eating a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables or too much processed foods. A good way to help boost your dietary needs is by taking nutritional supplements. The metagenics supplements, produced by Metagenics, Inc., is a superior brand that stands apart from other products because of the companys philosophy of using the best quality resources, standards, processes, facilities and staff to formulate nutritional food items.

With so many different types of nutritional supplements available on the market, finding the right ones that actually work for your health situation is not always easy. The metagenics supplements brand offers high quality nutritional products for many health issues and is an industry leader with the use of cutting-edge expertise. The nutritional supplements and formulas are developed using the nutrigenomics technology, which examines the relationship between genetics and nutrition for a healthier body. The supplements also referred to as netraceuticals, target specific health concerns to help reverse some diseases and illness. These may include conditions relating to joint health, cardiovascular health, gastrointestinal health, musculoskeletal and neurological health, mens and womens health and blood sugar stability.

The difference with metagenics supplements may be summed up in the five quality principles, which are used. These include:

1. Certification by three independent quality assessors as a good manufacturing practice (GMP) company that offers high standard products,

2. Use of ingredients that are thoroughly researched, tested and reviewed for safety and efficacy in producing formulas for nutritional supplements,

3. Multiple layers of purity and safety testing of ingredients and raw materials beyond the federal agency requirements to ensure high quality products,

4. Dedicated and qualified scientific staff to oversee the innovation and processing of the nutritional supplements as well as the use of cutting-edge labs and facilities for research and production,

5. Conducting clinical trials with people at the companys owned research center to evaluate the effectiveness of the supplements on actual patients.

With the patients and end users as the primary focus for the metagenics supplements, the company is constantly improving its products to add value. Other factors that make metagenics supplements to be different from the competition are as follows:

High absorbency rate of the nutrients,
Proper dosage amounts for effective and safe use of the supplements,
A variety of flavors used,
The availability of all forms of delivery, including liquid, capsule, chewable, tablet, soft gels or powder to ensure the correct use of ingredients and to meet the needs of patients,
Tablets designed to provide the best performance and absorbency levels,
Ongoing research and testing of final formulas to maintain high product standards.

The overall goal of metagenics supplements is to enhance the lives of people to lead and enjoy a happier and healthier life. With its patient-focused approach, Metagenics, Inc. provides various information channels to empower patients. Healthcare professionals and providers are also equipped with research and educational programs to help meet the demands and needs of patients and their health concerns. The difference with metagenics supplements is the quality products and the important role that genes and nutrition play in your overall health and wellbeing.

Nutrition Facts- What You Need to Know About Labels

To say that nutrition is important for your body would be an understatement. In fact, nutrients are the core elements that allow a person to grow, avoid illnesses, and live longer. Therefore, a good diet is crucial because it provides the needed nutrients to your body. Many foodstuffs today are packaged and labeled. As consumers, we frequently and generously consume different types of packaged food. More often than not, the food package states its nutrition facts. This nutrition guide intends to show you how to read a label effectively and as well as understand the roles of different nutrients in keeping you healthy.

The information displayed on label may seem complicated at times. All you want is to use the given information easily and effectively. How can you do so? Firstly, you should understand that product-specific information (i.e. serving size, nutrient information, and calories) is usually placed on the back-top section of the packaging. Standardized serving size allows you to compare prices of the chosen item with other products. Next, how many servings do you consume? The serving size correlates with the nutrition guide provided, which in turn tells you your necessary daily value of nutrient intake. Next, look into calories. Calories are directly translated into energy and they are the major contributor to that fluctuation in your weight. Calorie is associated with obesity. In the calorie scale (based on 2000 calorie), 400 is considered high, 100 – moderate, and 40 – low.

Also, beware if the item lists saturated fat in the label description. Try to reduce or avoid consuming products with high levels of saturated fat. The nutrition facts label not only helps you to identify the elements that you want to reduce (i.e. sugar, salt, and fat), it also tells you the nutrients that you should be consuming more of (i.e. vitamins and minerals). Therefore, the nutrition facts label serves great importance as it is a nutritional guide for consumers in many of their food purchase decisions.