Health Benefits of Reduced Meat Consumption

Meat consumption in the U.S. is down. Are you eating less meat at your house? If so here are some of the benefits that you may experience:[1]

• Reduced Cancer Risk
• Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
• Reduced Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes
• Prevention of Long-term Weight Gain and Obesity
• Increased Longevity
• Improved Nutrition including:
• higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium
• lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat

Learn More:

Meatless Monday

Beef Consumption at 50 Year Low

Environmental Benefits of Reduced Meat Consumption

Source:

[1] http://www.meatlessmonday.com/why-meatless/

Diet Soda Linked to Poor Health

Pass it on: A new study links the consumption of diet soda to poorer health

I've never been much soda drinker and especially not diet soda except for an occasional Fresca.  Over the years, I've watched clients time and time again drink calorie free soft drinks and struggle to lose or maintain weight as much as they would as much as if they were gulping down regular sugary drinks.  I never knew why it worked like this or really had any science to back it up. I just figured soda is full of unnatural chemicals so you can't expect your body to react in a natural way to something that is unnatural.

Two new studies on the topic of diet cola were presented June 25th 2011 at the meeting of the American Diabetes Association. Both studies have linked drinking diet soda to poorer health compared with those who don't drink the beverage. People who said they drank two or more diet sodas a day experienced waist size increases that were six times greater than those of people who didn't drink diet soda, according to researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

A second study that found the sweetener aspartame raised blood sugar levels in diabetes-prone mice."Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised," said study researcher Helen P. Hazuda, professor and at the university's school of medicine. "They may be free of calories, but not of consequences."

The human study was based on data from 474 participants in a larger, ongoing study called the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. In that study, the participants were followed for nearly 10 years. Diet soft drink drinkers, as a group, experienced 70 percent greater increases in waist circumference compared with those who don't drink diet soda. Abdominal fat is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic conditions, the researchers said.

In the mouse study, researchers fed aspartame, a calorie-free sweetener used in some diet sodas, to diabetes-prone mice. One group of mice ate chow to which both aspartame and corn oil were added; another other group ate chow with only corn oil added.

After three months, the mice that ate aspartame showed elevated blood sugar levels.
"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans," said study researcher Gabriel Fernandes, professor of rheumatology and clinical immunology at the university.


 Source: My Health News Daily

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Meatless Monday -- Starts Tomorrow!

For a while I've been planning to start a Meatless Monday series on my blog, and finally tomorrow I am going to do it!  Since every Monday is meatless at my house (I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years.), I have lots of experience going meatless and lots of great recipes to share. I hope you'll join me tomorrow and every Monday!

Why Meatless? Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.      http://www.meatlessmonday.com/why-meatless/

Why Monday?  Monday is the start of the week.  It's the day to start fresh.  Most diet and/or exercise plans are started or restarted on Monday.  Monday is the call to action built in to every calendar each week. And if this Monday passes you by, next week is another chance to go meatless!  

http://www.meatlessmonday.com/why-monday/

 I challenge you to try Meatless Monday at your house!  

Soda is not your friend . . .

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Tip #4 -- Don't Take Bad Advice!

When it comes to weight loss, nutrition and exercise, there is an unlimited supply of bad advice and conflicting information out there. Only take the advice from people who look strong and healthy themselves, and whom you know to be knowledgeable about health & fitness! This year, Americans spent an estimated $60 billion on diets and diet-related products, with much of that money being completely wasted. Studies have shown that 95% of all dieters regain their lost weight plus some within one to five years. That’s $57 billion dollars wasted! There is no miracle plan, pill, or machine to help you lose the weight. If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Some Scary Numbers:
Overweight People Versus Dollars Spent on Weight Loss
Obese People Versus Dollars Spent on Obesity-Related Diseases