Friday, May 20, 2011 by: Neev M. Arnell
(NaturalNews) Phytonutrients, the chemicals that help plants defend against environmental challenges, such as damage from pests or ultraviolet light, appear to provide humans with protection as well. Mounting research shows their effectiveness in preventing and treating a range of conditions including everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes and high blood pressure. But current law dictates that if anyone advertises health benefits without FDA approval, it is automatically considered an illegal health claim, even for everyday foods, such as walnuts.
Phytochemicals are thought to be responsible for much of the disease protection granted by diets high in fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, and plant-based beverages such as tea and wine, according to a University of California, Davis report (http://chnr.ucdavis.edu/content/Fac...).
Although it has become widely accepted that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses, scientists have only recently begun researching the effects of the different phytonutrients those foods contain.
Previous evidence has come from observations of cultures that eat plant-based diets and have lower rates of certain types of cancer and heart disease. The relatively low rates of breast and endometrial cancers in some Asian cultures, for example, are credited partly to dietary habits. These cancers are much more common in the United States, possibly because the typical American diet is higher in fat and lower in fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, according to American Cancer Society.
Many experts suggest that people can reduce their risk of cancer significantly by eating the foods that contain phytonutrients, according to American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/Tre...). Evidence shows that they may work by helping to prevent the formation of potential carcinogens, blocking the action of carcinogens on their target organs or tissue, or acting on cells to suppress cancer development.
Research suggests that flavonoids, the most diverse group of phytochemicals, may be a key phytochemical group that contributes to the reduced mortality rates observed in people consuming high levels of plant-based foods, according to the UC Davis report. In the Zutphen Elderly Study, myocardial infarction was found to decrease as falvonoid intake increased. Similarly, the Seven Countries Study, which compared the diets of men living in various Western countries including the U.S., suggested that consumption of flavonoids was responsible for 25 percent of the observed difference in mortality rates in the different countries.
University of Minnesota Hormel Institute researchers say phytonutrients could be used in effective cancer prevention therapy, so much so that they eventually aim to develop phytochemical-derived anticancer drugs, Dr. Sigang Dong told The Austin Daily Herald (http://www.austindailyherald.com/20...).
"In the future, personalized prevention methods using photochemical could have a crucial role in cancer prevention, especially in high-risk populations," Dong said. "We will continue our rigorous research in identifying molecular targets and aim for conducting human studies with phytocehemicals - this would provide the path for an enhanced approach to personalized cancer prevention."
To read more research on whole food supplementation full of phytonutrients and to place your order go to -
www.livingwithmotionandjuiceplus.com
Monday, May 23, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
I broke free of the 150s!!!!
I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. My size 8 jeans are a little loose on me. I am celebrating tonight by going out to Shadowbox Live (sketch comedy and rock n roll). And, since I weighed in at 148.4 this morning, I don’t even want those nachos anymore. Okay, so I do want them a little. But as of this coming Monday I only have two more weeks of drops left. Yes there are three more low calorie days after I finish the drops, but that means I will be officially done with this super restrictive diet on Wednesday, 2.5 weeks from now. I know I can do this.
Honestly I am shocked by how easy it really is. Especially when I have the support of my family. My husband doesn’t know about the drops, but he knows I am dieting hardcore. He has been great about buying me the healthy foods I ask for and not buying me the sugars and starches I ask for- jokingly of course. He is not the kind of guy to bring up weight, and he says he is happy with me no matter what I weigh. That kind of stuff is just not important to him. I have thanked him for how he has handled me in my crankier days.
I am still feeling a little faint at times, particularly when I jump up from a seated position and go on a mission. I still think it has to do with that time of the month for me (yes i am still on it- it lasts at least two weeks, sometimes more for me) I just think I am still losing too much iron that is not being made up for by anything else. I generally do get very tired, very easily. Right now I am not tired, I just have to stand up slow… right? Yesterday, I had the whole afternoon to myself to lie around and read a book. I could have easily taken a nap but I wasn’t tired enough to fall asleep. I still think my energy stores are doing quite well.
I have a new favorite food: asparagus. I love it grilled on myGeorge Foreman grill with salt and cajun seasoning (which has been carefully reveiwed and is clear of any sugar). It was crunchy and delicious. I also found a soda made with stevia. it is wonderful in the evening when everyone else is snacking on chips and stuff that I can still have something a little sweet. I am probably drinking too much coffee, but I have always loved coffee and so I am okay with that. Because I tend to go for warmer drinks, I am not sure I am getting enough water, though I am putting forth an effort to refill my water cup everytime I get coffee and rotate the drinks.
I am very excited at the prospect of breaking free of the 140s within two weeks. I know if I stick with the protocol it will be no problem. I’ll keeo you posted.
Check out Shell's entire blog for the Finally Fit HCG Diet through Living with Motion Chiropractic. http://shellbella.blog.com/
Honestly I am shocked by how easy it really is. Especially when I have the support of my family. My husband doesn’t know about the drops, but he knows I am dieting hardcore. He has been great about buying me the healthy foods I ask for and not buying me the sugars and starches I ask for- jokingly of course. He is not the kind of guy to bring up weight, and he says he is happy with me no matter what I weigh. That kind of stuff is just not important to him. I have thanked him for how he has handled me in my crankier days.
I am still feeling a little faint at times, particularly when I jump up from a seated position and go on a mission. I still think it has to do with that time of the month for me (yes i am still on it- it lasts at least two weeks, sometimes more for me) I just think I am still losing too much iron that is not being made up for by anything else. I generally do get very tired, very easily. Right now I am not tired, I just have to stand up slow… right? Yesterday, I had the whole afternoon to myself to lie around and read a book. I could have easily taken a nap but I wasn’t tired enough to fall asleep. I still think my energy stores are doing quite well.
I have a new favorite food: asparagus. I love it grilled on myGeorge Foreman grill with salt and cajun seasoning (which has been carefully reveiwed and is clear of any sugar). It was crunchy and delicious. I also found a soda made with stevia. it is wonderful in the evening when everyone else is snacking on chips and stuff that I can still have something a little sweet. I am probably drinking too much coffee, but I have always loved coffee and so I am okay with that. Because I tend to go for warmer drinks, I am not sure I am getting enough water, though I am putting forth an effort to refill my water cup everytime I get coffee and rotate the drinks.
I am very excited at the prospect of breaking free of the 140s within two weeks. I know if I stick with the protocol it will be no problem. I’ll keeo you posted.
Check out Shell's entire blog for the Finally Fit HCG Diet through Living with Motion Chiropractic. http://shellbella.blog.com/
Monday, May 9, 2011
Nearing the end of hCG week 2
It has been a few days. I did suffera mild plateau after eating birthday cake on Monday. It was fascinating to see the immediate result that one peice of cake had on my weight. I went up to 156-157 and stayed there for three days. By Thursday morning the scale started dropping again and today, Friday, I weighed in at 155 even. This is a half pound below my weight on Monday morning. Let me tell you that certainly helped me avoid those cookies at the seminar yesterday. They looked absolutely delicious, but I realized that I wasn’t willing to go through another three days plateau brought on by my own lack of willpower.
I am still not hungry, and I feel better every day. I honestly think my body is loving that everything it gets right now is easy to digest and good for it. I used to be tired and want a nap around 3-4 in the afternoon. Right now I could lie back and cuddle in a quilt, but I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep if I tried. I have more energy the longer I stick with it and I am noticing that I am getting more done. I no longer need to sit and relax when I get home from work, instead, I am motivated to get dinner on the table and clean the kitchen. In my mind I am thinking that if I do that stuff first I will be able to enjoy my relaxation time even more.
As far as mental focus and clarity, I am not noticing any down sides. I have noticed that I have been a little more cranky than usual, but this only occurs when I am late in getting my lunch or dinner. I don’t feel hungry at any point, but I do notice that if I don’t have lunch prepared by 12:30 and dinner prepared by 6:30, things stress me out a little more. Of course, I have been stressed lately due to work issues so that also could account for some of it.
This week I have been feeling a little bloated. I am wondering if this is because of all the vegetables. I rarely eat veggies normally so I think my body is still getting used to roughage. I am not having consistent BMs, but that is probably because I am not eating much that I am not using.
As time goes on my cravings are shifting. I know that phase 3 of the diet allows me to add in fats and all kinds of fun stuff that I can’t have now. I really want cheese. I started this diet wanting cereal, swiss cake rolls, and macaroni and cheese… now I would just kill for one slice of American on top of my chicken.
I am finding more and more information and support groups on the web. On Sparkpeople.com there are a few private groups for hCG users and they are incredibly helpful. I even found a huge recipe book for this phase of my diet. What I am allowed to eat is very limited, but a chef who is succeeding on this diet realized that combining foods in different ways would help keep us hCG believers happy and motivated. I am going to find a few recipes to make for next week.
My favorite recipe this week has been a sweet and sour cabbage soup. OMG it is delicious. All that’s in it is chicken broth, cabbage, apple cider vinegar, and stevia. It has a tang to it but it is sweet as well. This is one recipe that will probably follow me even after the diet is over since it is such a great way to get in a serving of veggies, acv and a little extra protein. I just had that for lunch along with some cajun tilapia. That is another new favorite thing; I found a cajun seasoning with no sugar in it and it has been spicing up all of my food lately. The extra spice makes my meal feel a little more special so I really look forward to it rather than wishing I had that darned American cheese.
My finger nails and hair are looking beautiful right now, this hormone must be responsible for making your hair and nails grow during pregnancy.
I have told a couple of people about my diet plan and all of them seem very skeptical, or think I am crazy for eating so little. I have opted to tell most of them that my main reason is to regulate my thyroid. That is partially true since this diet has been known to have that effect, but my real reason is that I do want to be happy in my own skin. I am not entirely comfortable in my body right now and this is a fast, effective, and as far as I can tell, healthy method of reaching that goal. I have decided I will not talk about the diet in person anymore, but I am directing people who have questions to this blog. I will be happy to answer any questions, but I think many people immediately assume it is unhealthy to eat as little as I do, or that I am taking some radical drug that can’t be healthy. I mentioned before that I was ashamed of this diet. I am certain I will feel better about it when I have reached my 40th day and my goal weight, but until then I am pretending I am just trying to eat healthy, or that I had a big breakfast.
It is amazing how much of life revolves around food really. For my birthday a coworker wanted to take me to lunch, and my boss bought me a cake. At the conference yesterday, the first thing they tried to do was hand me a sugar cookie slathered with icing. People look at you funny when you say no thanks to something like that. Everyone loves cookies right? Well sure I do, I love cookies but I also love my size 8 jeans… and I would like to stay in them please. It’s no wonder people get overweight and can’t keep it off when there is so much pressure to eat rich foods.
Anyway, I am nearing the end of week two, which means only four more weeks of this. It is far easier than I ever thought it would be. I would say I am impressed with my will power, but it’s not will power. I want those foods I can’t have, sure, but I feel no motivation to grab them and put them in my mouth. I feed my girls whole eggs and toast, or peanut butter sandwiches all the time. I want one, I do, but my hand never even starts to bring it toward my mouth. I don’t know how to describe this mental disconnect. I am not controlling it, I am just doing it. Maybe that’s what Dr. Simeon meant when he said we are resetting the hypothalmus. Maybe he meant that food just wouldn’t be as important anymore. I’ve got this; I’ll keep you posted.
Related Post
Shell Bella's Full HCG Diet Blog
I am still not hungry, and I feel better every day. I honestly think my body is loving that everything it gets right now is easy to digest and good for it. I used to be tired and want a nap around 3-4 in the afternoon. Right now I could lie back and cuddle in a quilt, but I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep if I tried. I have more energy the longer I stick with it and I am noticing that I am getting more done. I no longer need to sit and relax when I get home from work, instead, I am motivated to get dinner on the table and clean the kitchen. In my mind I am thinking that if I do that stuff first I will be able to enjoy my relaxation time even more.
As far as mental focus and clarity, I am not noticing any down sides. I have noticed that I have been a little more cranky than usual, but this only occurs when I am late in getting my lunch or dinner. I don’t feel hungry at any point, but I do notice that if I don’t have lunch prepared by 12:30 and dinner prepared by 6:30, things stress me out a little more. Of course, I have been stressed lately due to work issues so that also could account for some of it.
This week I have been feeling a little bloated. I am wondering if this is because of all the vegetables. I rarely eat veggies normally so I think my body is still getting used to roughage. I am not having consistent BMs, but that is probably because I am not eating much that I am not using.
As time goes on my cravings are shifting. I know that phase 3 of the diet allows me to add in fats and all kinds of fun stuff that I can’t have now. I really want cheese. I started this diet wanting cereal, swiss cake rolls, and macaroni and cheese… now I would just kill for one slice of American on top of my chicken.
I am finding more and more information and support groups on the web. On Sparkpeople.com there are a few private groups for hCG users and they are incredibly helpful. I even found a huge recipe book for this phase of my diet. What I am allowed to eat is very limited, but a chef who is succeeding on this diet realized that combining foods in different ways would help keep us hCG believers happy and motivated. I am going to find a few recipes to make for next week.
My favorite recipe this week has been a sweet and sour cabbage soup. OMG it is delicious. All that’s in it is chicken broth, cabbage, apple cider vinegar, and stevia. It has a tang to it but it is sweet as well. This is one recipe that will probably follow me even after the diet is over since it is such a great way to get in a serving of veggies, acv and a little extra protein. I just had that for lunch along with some cajun tilapia. That is another new favorite thing; I found a cajun seasoning with no sugar in it and it has been spicing up all of my food lately. The extra spice makes my meal feel a little more special so I really look forward to it rather than wishing I had that darned American cheese.
My finger nails and hair are looking beautiful right now, this hormone must be responsible for making your hair and nails grow during pregnancy.
I have told a couple of people about my diet plan and all of them seem very skeptical, or think I am crazy for eating so little. I have opted to tell most of them that my main reason is to regulate my thyroid. That is partially true since this diet has been known to have that effect, but my real reason is that I do want to be happy in my own skin. I am not entirely comfortable in my body right now and this is a fast, effective, and as far as I can tell, healthy method of reaching that goal. I have decided I will not talk about the diet in person anymore, but I am directing people who have questions to this blog. I will be happy to answer any questions, but I think many people immediately assume it is unhealthy to eat as little as I do, or that I am taking some radical drug that can’t be healthy. I mentioned before that I was ashamed of this diet. I am certain I will feel better about it when I have reached my 40th day and my goal weight, but until then I am pretending I am just trying to eat healthy, or that I had a big breakfast.
It is amazing how much of life revolves around food really. For my birthday a coworker wanted to take me to lunch, and my boss bought me a cake. At the conference yesterday, the first thing they tried to do was hand me a sugar cookie slathered with icing. People look at you funny when you say no thanks to something like that. Everyone loves cookies right? Well sure I do, I love cookies but I also love my size 8 jeans… and I would like to stay in them please. It’s no wonder people get overweight and can’t keep it off when there is so much pressure to eat rich foods.
Anyway, I am nearing the end of week two, which means only four more weeks of this. It is far easier than I ever thought it would be. I would say I am impressed with my will power, but it’s not will power. I want those foods I can’t have, sure, but I feel no motivation to grab them and put them in my mouth. I feed my girls whole eggs and toast, or peanut butter sandwiches all the time. I want one, I do, but my hand never even starts to bring it toward my mouth. I don’t know how to describe this mental disconnect. I am not controlling it, I am just doing it. Maybe that’s what Dr. Simeon meant when he said we are resetting the hypothalmus. Maybe he meant that food just wouldn’t be as important anymore. I’ve got this; I’ll keep you posted.
Related Post
Shell Bella's Full HCG Diet Blog
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