Nutrition Frenzy

Hello, my name is Brick ONeil, and I’m the new Nutrition Frenzy Blogger!

I’ve been with 451 Press since March, 2007, blogging on Encouraging Health, and am enjoying my time here immensly.

I’m excited about blogging for Nutrition Frenzy, bringing you information, news and updates about foods, nutrition and exercise and how they impact your life. There is a wealth of information in the world today, sometimes it can be overwhelming. This blog will bring you the information in a clear, logical and concise way for you to mentally ‘digest’ and take from it what you will. It is my hope that you will bring your experience, knowledge and expertise to the table as well. We can only learn if we continue to share information for everyone to learn from.

My experience is a medical/health background. I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, was a Workers’ Compensation Adjuster for six years and have been a Freelance Writer for the past seven years. My work has spanned many fields, such as Health, Fitness, Copywriting, Research, Real Estate, to name a few. I can bring this knowledge to you, so we can all learn the benefits of Nutrition and how it imapcts our lives.

Head on over to Urban Ecoist and say hello to new blogger over there, Lulu McGrew.

Rich? Who’s rich? I love rich!!!

And bleach? Well, honey my hair could tell you a thing or two about that . . . .

Too bad neither enriched nor bleached flour have any redeeming value - kind of like the jerk you went out with last Saturday.

You know, the one who looked really great, and dare I say may even have tasted kinda nice, but who was really only out to use and abuse you – nothing of value there.

ENRICHED MEANS ITS GOT MORE VITAMINS AND STUFF, RIGHT?

No!

The nightmare called Enriched Flour happens when manufacturers strip wheat flour of its bran and germ and then “enrich” it by adding back in some stuff like thiamin, riboflavin and niacin so that they can call it something like “enriched,” which makes us feel good about buying it.

Bleached flour is also a manufactured creation, devoid of the fiber that is vital to keeping our weight in check and our system running properly.

WHY’D THEY DO THAT?

Manufacturers decided that the softer texture enriched and bleached flour lend to products would be more appealing to consumers. Now we are used to it.

Well, get un-used to it – quick.

It’s not a hard switch - hearty, rich breads, chewy muffins, whole wheat pizza crusts, whole wheat spaghetti are all readily available, healthy alternatives.

In fact, for the next 6 hours I will be on a plane to Hawaii. Plenty of time to compile a list of my favorite whole grain products – stayed tuned . . .

A REAL PISSER

I just have to put this sad tale in here to remind you to please read the ENTIRE label, even on 100% Whole Grain products. It seems that some manufacturers just love playing games.

Here’s an example: I was so psyched when I heard Nabisco came out with 100%Whole Grain Fig Newtons. I high-tailed it to the store, all set to dive into some Figgy’s. I took one look at the label and was SO PISSED!

Seems now companies know we are getting smarter, catching on that enriched and white flour suck. So, they are marketing things like Fig Newtons and Chips Ahoy as, “100% Whole Grain”.

But don’t put on your healthy-halo and start cramming these goodies in your mouth just quite yet, one look at the label will tell you that Figgers and Chippies are alsomade with High-Fructose Corn Syrup. Damn.

Check out www.accidentalhedonist.com for a great compilation (it’s a huge list, but sadly far from complete) of products, including many 100% whole wheat/whole grain products that also contain High-Fructose Corn Syrup. You’ll probably be surprised by some of the duds on this list, like 100% Whole Grain Pepperidge Farm bread!
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The big guy has really scored some major points in the humanity department with his new reality show, “Shaq’s Big Challenge.”

The program, which airs Tuesday at 9pm ET/8CT on ABC, showcases the harsh realities that accompany America ’s epidemic of childhood obesity.

This show resonates for one simple reason: It’s one thing to hear statistics about the rise in childhood diabetes, the increased rate of suicide among obese children, and the low-self esteem and taunting that fat kids face, it is quite another to fall in love with a cast of obese kids and become emotionally involved in their struggles.

Shaq’s Big Challenge features an all-star line-up of doctors, fitness experts and nutritionists, hand-picked to help 6 obese Florida middle-schoolers lose weight, gain nutritional knowledge and get control over their lives. In addition to dealing directly with the kids, Shaq documents his struggle to get a mere 20 minutes of physical activity into a Broward County middle school which has no physical education due to budget cuts.

Absolutely Shocking

I was appalled to learn that cut-backs have forced MANY schools to completely abolish physical education programs. Hopefully, Shaq’s pilot program will meet with success in Broward County and eventually be incorporated into curriculums across the country.

The Hurdles

While all the kids express a desire to be thinner, the show makes no bones about showing the true battle that must be waged in order to shed the weight. It’s clear that lifestyle changes don’t come easy, even for children.

Examples: The kids cheat on their diets - one boy tells viewers he eats candy while walking on the treadmill, another boy binges on pizza (which he dips bite by bite in a tub of garlic butter) and yet another professes a desire for ice cream that verges on a mantra.

The Parents

This program proves how incredibly important it is for parents to get educated about basic nutrition. For example, the kid who dips greasy pizza slices in butter? Well, mom was sitting by his side explaining that this behavior was a-ok, since it was his “cheat day”.

A father watches his obese son mow through a bag of Halloween candy. His thinking? He had done his as much as he could by removing some of the candy so that his son couldn’t eat quite so much. Clearly, these folks aren’t bad parents. It’s obvious they love their kids. The problem is they don’t have the skills to deal with the issues their kids face.

Will They Lose It?

I have no idea. While the kids want to lose weight, they struggle mightily with what it takes to do it - intense exercise and eating right. Working in their favor are the talented professionals Shaq has assembled and some primo bribes involving a limo and Miami Heat box seats. At odds with their goal is the fact that losing weight is tough, even when Shaquille O’Neal is on your team.

Good Luck Kiddos!

Shaq, Shaq’s Big Challenge, fit kids, health tips for kids

Trista and Ryan are gonna have a baby!

You remember Trista, the cute little bachelorette who scored the hot fireman (and former football player) Ryan? And you must recall that garish PINK wedding?

Well, it appears that the couple forged on the highly moronic show “The Bachelorette” (of which I missed not a single episode), have managed not only to stay together but to get pregnant! Apparently, Trista spent a few years struggling to conceive. According to an interview in Fertility Times magazine, she actually worked her way through at least a HUNDRED at-home pregnancy tests (and I thought I was the pee–on-a-stick world record holder). Happily, the girl is finally preggers! I bet the baby will be cute. Maybe not so brilliant, but cute.

Good luck Trista and Ryan!

As all my friends and some strangers are now aware (I shamelessly discuss my uterus with any breathing life form), I am deeply involved in the journey towards getting pregnant.

I’ll admit, I am now officially, legitimately obsessed with all things BABY. Yes, I spend hours perusing that adorable children’s wear at Neiman Marcus (Fantasy Baby wears only the finest). And those Bugaboo strollers! And the diaper bags! Oooh, I cannot wait! Yet, even in this state of baby–brain-freeze, I realize that the issue of greatest importance both pre- pregnancy and during pregnancy is proper nutrition.

Imagine just how much is riding on what you eat – what you put in your body is going to shape the life of your child! An exciting and huge responsibility!

You would never knowingly put your little Burberry-clad prince or princess in a room filled with toxins, right? But have you thought about the fact that what you put in YOUR body could be contaminating your baby in the same way? Numerous studies show that blood contaminants pass easily from mother to fetus and that the delicate, developing organs and tissues are extremely susceptible to damage.

A Great Book

Check out “The Complete Organic Pregnancy”, by Dolan and Zissu for additional, more in-depth information on how to make your pregnancy as naturally healthful as possible. For all of you still working on the conceiving the next Rembrandt, America’s Next Top Model, or Michael Jordan, this book is also a great way to start preparing your body for 9 months as a five-star Mommy Hotel.

Here are four of the basic steps Dolan and Zissu offer to get you started:
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Trista and Ryan

Unlock a wealth of health and beauty benefits with Acai (ah-sigh-ee).

This small, deep purple Amazonian berry is being hailed by health and beauty gurus such as Dr. Nicholas Perricone as a premier source of anti-aging antioxidants - more potent than other conventional fruits, such as blueberries and even the mighty pomegranate.

While you won’t find the berry sold at your local grocery store, you can pick up a jar of Sambazon Pure Acai powder at Whole Foods Market.

At only 19 calories a scoop, acai also contains a healthy dose of Omega 3, 6 and 9 plus amino acids and fiber. And, unlike blueberries, grapes or pomegranates, a serving of acai has 0 grams of sugar. Add a scoop to smoothies, oatmeal, or yogurt.

Taste? There really is none to speak of, maybe just a hint of chocolate flavor (never a bad thing).

Or, give Sambazon “pulp packs” a try. In the frozen foods section (again, at the glorious Whole Foods), these individually portioned packs are perfect for slipping into a blender. Add milk, and some protein powder, hit blend and voila, a perfect breakfast or post-workout delight.

Do beware that lurking in close vicinity to the 100% acai pulpy packs are Sambazon and other acai products that have been blended with other juices. While these products still contain antioxidants, they have a higher sugar content and less of the coveted acai.

If you are among the truly nutritionally lazy (no shame, no shame) go for Sambazon’s Powercapsule. Your daily dose of the Amazon in an easy to swallow capsule.

People, there is a reason those Brazilians look so damn good in those teeny bikinis. Acai??? Maybe . . . But what I do know, is that Acai can help you look and feel your best, and that makes it one supplement that is truly hot.

Acai, Nicholas Perricone, anti-aging, antioxidants, Sambazon

Think you you really need meat to look and feel your best? If so, take a look at Ms. Carrie Underwood, who was recently voted World’s Sexiest Vegetarian.

Regardless of whether you’re ready to join Ms. Underwood on the vegetarian bandwagon, all of us could use more vegetables in our diets. Jam-packed with anti-oxidants and a great source of fiber, vegetables are a primo diet and weight loss tool.

But there are two major stumbling blocks to eating 5-9 daily servings:

First problem is not so many of us live on an organic farm. Ideally, we could just skip out back, collect a variety of salad greens in our apron and make a fresh salad for lunch and again for dinner. But most days, the best any of us can manage is grabbing a drive-through salad of iceburg lettuce speckled with a few wet tomato lips.

Obstacle deux is that you may think vegetables taste like Ka Ka. Take my husband, the Neanderthal - left to his own revolting eating habits the only vegetable he’d consume would be the corn in his taco shells. Lucky for him, I have a vested interest in his vigor and vitality. This would be the fact that I look forward to retiring on the Cote d’Azur with a Black Amex Card.

Because he abhors the green guys, I have become something of a culinary deviant. My success, however, has been limited.

Like me, I am sure you have read countless magazine articles suggesting simple ways to sneak in those villainous veggies. Have you seen the ones that get really excited about adding spinach to pizza toppings? It goes like this, “Stringy, nasty spinach is completely camouflaged by cheese and pepperoni, they’ll never know its in there!” Ok, well, he knew.

My man rooted out that spinach every damn time. I’m sure if you have little kids you’ve found the same dissect and remove techniques go on at your dinner table.
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anti-oxidants, vegetables, diet, weight loss

Just a sprinkle of flaxseed, a nutty-tasting nutritional powerhouse, can make a huge impact on your life!

Why’s Flax So Fab?

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Flax is known as the richest source of essentials fatty acids such as Omega 6 and Omega 3 which are essential to cell membrane formation, active brain tissues and in controlling cholesterol. These fatty acids MUST be consumed through diet, our bodies have no way of producing them.

Fight Cholesterol: As part of a daily diet, flax has been shown to reduce total cholesterol by reducing LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

Defeat Diabetes: Eat flax daily to help lower blood sugar levels. In a recent study by the University of Toronto , test subjects who ate bread made with flax seed had blood sugar levels 28% lower than their counterparts who ate whole wheat flour bread.

Cream Cancer: Flax has a high lignan content (up to 800% more than any other tested plant food), alpha-linoleic acid and fiber which combine to provides natural cancer-protective compounds. Flax is an especially potent fighter of breast and colon cancer.

Combat Constipation: Firing cannon balls into the potty? Or just straining to fire off anything at all? Flax to the rescue! High in both soluble and insoluble fiber, one ounce of flax provides 32% of the USDA’S recommendation for daily fiber intake.

Address Arthritis: Do you suffer from an inflammatory disorder including rheumatoid arthritis? Push too hard in your workout? Flax can help. The bounty of Omega 3’s in flax eases joint pain and stiffness .
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Nutrition and weight loss are closely connected.

Let’s start the week by getting back to basics. Even if you’re working out seven days a week, you’re still going to look like crap if you eat like crap. Whether you’re a novice or a health, fitness and nutrition freak like me, it’s always good to get refocus on the fundamentals of nutrition.

Here are seven great nutrition tips and principles to help you achieve your weight loss goals:

1. Prepare Meals In Advance

2. Eat About Every Three Hours

3. Do Not Eat To Get Full

4. Eat Lean Protein With Each Meal

5. Eat Natural Foods

6. Do Not Drink Beverages That Contain Calories

7. Have Only One Cheat Meal Per Week

More on these seven nutrition tips here:

More great health, fitness and nutrition tips from DrClay.com.

nutrition tips, weight loss

It’s the weekend, so I thought we’d have a little fun with one of my favorite music artists - Keith Urban.

Now, what does Keith Urban have to do with nutrition and fitness? Well, other than his rock’n body, not much. At least that’s what I thought.

Then I came across a group of (mostly women it seems) who apparently are motivated to achieve their health, fitness, and nutrition goals by, you guessed it, Keith Urban. Not sure whether it’s his amped up music, his bad boy looks, or his tight buns, but, I say use whatever motivates you!

Here’s a couple motivational videos for all of us to try. Let me know what you think!

“You’re My Better Half”

“You’ll Think of Me”

So, what do you think? Feeling motivated?

health, fitness, and nutrition

Sage is what they use in smudging ceremonies. To clear the aura of a space of negative energy. It is said to bring prosperity to your crops if planted in your garden.
Clinical studies have shown sage to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Sage is good for sore throats and canker sores. Mix sage tea with apple cider vinegar for a mouth and throat gargle. Sage oil can improve memory function and protect the brain tissue. I don’t suggest collecting your own sage from the wild and making a tea out of it, unless you are familiar with the different species. Some kinds of sage are poisonous. Clary sage is a safe culinary herb.
I like to put fresh chopped sage with dried cherries in a creamy chicken risotto.

When planting garlic, make sure you don’t plant anything near it. Give it about 5 feet of space. Just like you wouldn’t put it near other foods in the fridge. It has a dominating energy and can suck all the nutrients out of the soil. Fortunately those nutrients go into the garlic. Garlic can drive away the evil spirits but it might drive away the good ones too.  Other than warding off vampires, garlic’s magical properties are said to give you speed, courage, strength, and endurance. Soldiers throughout history would use garlic before going into battle.

Allicin is one of the most important healing agents in garlic and unfortunately many of the garlic supplements don’t have any at all. Acillin is a good antibiotic, blood sugar regulator, ear ache soother (mixed with olive oil and dropped into the ear with a dropper), and fights off worms and other parasites.

Here is a picture I found of the plant.……

Mint is very easy to grow. It tastes great just plain to chew on. My little ones are always breaking off leaves to eat. It’s great in ice-cream and spicy meat dishes. I went to a restaurant in Colorado once where they gave a sprig of mint instead of an after dinner mint candy.

It aides digestion, helps with PMS, stomach cramps, gas, and nausea. If you’ve eaten to much at a holiday gathering or at a restaurant sip on some mint tea before bed. Peppermint can reduce a fever, although for children, peppermint can be too strong, and spearmint can be a good substitute. It is recommended that a child be at least 2 years old before using the essential oil. Mint can also be added to shampoo and facial washes.
Mint is used as a healing charm, calming before meditation, and sprinkled around the house after an argument. Place the leaves in a pillowcase for prophetic dreaming. Some carry a few leaves in their wallet to attract money.

Cilantro and parsley belong to the same family. Cilantro is strong in flavor and people either love it or hate it. The leaves are called cilantro and the seeds are called coriander. They have quite a different flavor from one another. Both the seeds and the leaves have a component called dodecenal which has been shown in laboratory tests to be twice as effective as the common antibiotic, gentamicin, at killing Salmonella. Coriander tea is used as a stomach tonic for gas.

In ancient times it has been used as an aphrodisiac. Coriander can be hung in the corners of the house to ward off unwanted guests. Coriander also has been associated with immortality.
Cilantro can be added to soups and salsas. I like to use coriander seed in my squash casserole. You put cubed zucchini and summer squash in a buttered baking dish. You pour ½ cup of cream and ½ cup of grated cheese and mix it in. Top with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and S&P. Bake for 30 minutes. You can add corn to this if you want and top with cilantro leaves after it is done baking.

You know how restaurants use parsley as a garnish on the side of a plate? We should do that at home too. It’s not just to look at, it’s actually meant as a breath freshener at the end of the meal. I saw a supplement at the Wal-Mart checkout for bad breath. I read the ingredients and the capsules were mainly parsley. The reason why it works as a breath freshener is because it cleans out your digestive system as well as the blood. It has a large amount of chlorophyll giving the blood oxygen.

Parsley is a vitamin and mineral powerhouse! It is a heavy metal detoxifier. It has been used for kidney stones, bladder infection, and liver disorders. The roots are even more medicinal. You can buy parsley in tea bags at the health food store. The tea doesn’t taste all that great so I usually steep it with another bag of chamomile or vanilla. You can use cooled wet tea bags as a beauty treatment by putting them on your eyes for 10 minutes in the morning.
The energy of parsley is associated with communicating with other planes, reincarnation, meditation, rituals for the dead, psychic communication, and divination.

Thyme is a Greek name for “courage”. In ancient times people would carry thyme on their person for courage. Both magically and medicinally thyme is used for purification. It is thought to banish evil and drive away fear. It can purify bad energy and renew the spirit.
Medicinally it is used to purify the skin, and the body from fungus, parasites, bacteria, mucus, etc. It is also used to treat epilepsy, melancholy, gastrointestinal problems, lung and bronchial congestion, and skin parasites. The essential oil is very powerful and should always be used sparingly with a carrier oil such as olive oil. It can be diffused to purify the air and increase mental clarity. Another name for the oil is thymol.
I like to put thyme with rosemary on pizza. Brush olive oil onto the dough instead of sauce. Add sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese and then sprinkle the herbs on top. Finish with some freshly cracked black pepper and you have a nice herbal pizza.