HyperStrike

Track3 Iphone App Useful for Diabetics and Healthy Eaters

Track3, a new iPhone app released by Coheso logs insulin intake, glucose levels, daily medication, exercise and corresponding times. This allows users to manage their sugar levels throughout the day, avoiding deadly hypoglycemic attacks.

The application also holds medical data, and all information logged in the application can be easily printed out for doctors.

Another nifty feature is the database of nutrition information of over 75,000 food products, and foods from over 250 restaurants and fast food brands.

Check out:

http://www.iphonecarbcounter.com/track3-diabetes

Your Fitness is Strongest Link To Mortality Rates.....

Fitness and mortality

Posted using ShareThis
Exerpt:

In the midst of an obesity epidemic, most Americans – not surprisingly - believe that weight is a pretty reliable measure of mortality. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your fitness level is the most critical factor, according to Steven Blair, P.E.D., professor of exercise science at Arnold School of Public Health (http://www.sph.sc.edu/) and former director of research at The Cooper Institute in Dallas.

In a speech at the University of Georgia last year (http://talkuga.blogspot.com/2008/04/dr-steven-blair-speaks-on-high-risk-of.html), Blair, said, “Most people think that you can tell if someone's fit, active and healthy just by looking at them. It's not true! Fit, healthy people come in all sizes and shapes. The same is true of unhealthy people. I know several thin people who are unfit and have serious health problems. Weight isn't everything.”

Shocking Real Reasons to Go Easy on the Soda

Did you know certain preservatives in soft drinks can actually mess with and alter your DNA, leading to lethal health problems such as cancer, Parkinson's and cirrhosis? 

Did you know that there is a correlation between bone fractures and soda consumption in young girls? 

Or that the spikes of energy caused by soda consumption force your body to release large amounts of insulin to control blood sugar levels, overworking your pancreas and eventually leading to diabetes?

If your soda consumption leads to heartburn or acid reflux, this increases your chances of esophageal cancer.

Most popular brands of carbonated sodas containing high fructose corn syrup also contain carbonyls, which is a reactive compound which is believed to cause tissue damage. People with diabetes have higher levels of carbonyls, and a can of soda can have up to five times the amount than in the blood of a diabetic.

I know this is uncommon for people to consume so much soda, but drinking between two to nine liters of soda a day can lead to hypokalemia, a condition where muscles become inhibited from potassium loss. Other participants in the study suffered from symptoms including persistent vomiting, fatigue, appetite loss and muscle weakness. After the study soda consumption was slowly eliminated and the symptoms disappeared.

Other health risks of consuming too much soda include elevated blood pressure, obesity, high LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, diabetes, heart problems, gout, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis, kidney stones and tooth decay.

For more information and links to soda studies, check out: http://dentalassistingschool.org/15-truly-shocking-facts-about-soft-drinks/

Bring back Arrested Development Please!

If you could bring back a canceled tv series, which would you choose?
Submitted by The Good Girl Gone Blog.

Does this Tomato Taste Fishy to You?

"The way we eat has changed more in the past 50 years, than in the past 10,000." That's the main phrase of the new documentary Food, Inc which examines the food industry and it's business practices.

Most foods in American supermarkets come from a small group of multinational corporations. It does not come from some family farmer in overalls who owns his own land, which is what advertising and marketing by those corporations wishes you to believe. The film follows the products from the supermarket, up the supply chain to the factories that produce them. Hidden-camera footage of slaughterhouses and mechanized food factories shows the condition and treatment of the animals that ultimately end up on our plates.

Other practices are highlighted as well. Tomatoes are grown half way around the world and are gassed to ripen and turn red any time of the year. Did you know that up to 70-75% of processed foods on supermarket shelves contain genetically modified ingredients? Genes and DNA are swapped between organisms to create foods that have unnaturally long shelf lives or for bigger, faster growing livestock.  There are tomatoes with genes from flounder fish, fish with cattle genes for growth, and pigs with human growth genes as well.

The FDA does not require labeling of genetically modified foods, even though we do not know about the dangers of consuming them. According to The Center for Food Safety, "A number of studies over the past decade have revealed that genetically engineered foods can pose serious risks to humans, domesticated animals, wildlife and the environment. Human health effects can include higher risks of toxicity, allergenicity, antibiotic resistance, immune-suppression and cancer."

Among some of these issues are the struggle between small farmers and these corporations. There are instances where those large corporations have used lawsuits to sue the farmers into bankruptcy and out of competition.

Anything you put into your body affects your overall health and fitness, and this movie is about what impacts all of us every day, food.

Movie website: http://www.foodincmovie.com/
The Center for Food Safety, genetically modified foods: http://centerforfoodsafety.org/geneticall7.cfm

Simple Steps

Our fantastic summer Intern David Ly put this post together. Thanks for all your hard work David!

Staying healthy and fit doesn't necessarily mean HUGE sacrifices, there are many little things you can do each day to improve your health and quality of life.

First things first, start your day off with breakfast. This will get your metabolism going and switch your body into energy burning mode. If you skip breakfast your body will stay in starvation mode where it will try to conserve every calorie it has because it doesn't know when it'll get more food. Eating breakfast can be simple, oatmeal, fruits, cereal with whole oats and grains, granola, yogurt... you can toss any of these things together and it'll taste good and is good for you as well.

Stay away from empty white carbohydrates such as refined sugar, white flour, cookies, rice, and pasta.  Consuming these foods will lead your body to burn the sugar in these products instead of fat.  It will also lead to unstable levels of energy where you'll be alert and energized one moment and slumping over in your chair the next.  Instead, get your energy from whole grain breads, pastas and rice. You can get your sweets in the form of apples, pineapples, berries, or other fruits. If you really can't let go of white bread, try whole grain white bread, which has the same appearance and texture of regular white bread, but has much more fiber.

Add some spice to your life. Black pepper, jalapenos, red chilies and various spicy foods taste great and have been reported to boost your metabolism and temporarily raise your body temperature. Eating spicy foods will also lower hunger levels and help you to eat less per meal.

Don't stop munching. Go ahead and snack throughout the day, but be smart about what you're snacking on. Have some unsalted nuts such as almonds, seeds, cashews, or walnuts.  They pack a good amount of protein and contain lots of healthy fatty acids that are good for your metabolism and have other health benefits as well. Fruits like apples or pears, simple snacks like celery and peanut butter are great tasting and good for you.

Drink your Green. Tea that is. Studies of green tea drinkers show that green tea regulates blood sugar by reducing the amount of insulin the body produces. This keeps your appetite under control. There is also a compound in green tea called EGCG which helps you boost your body's ability to metabolize fat.

Drink plenty of water. Half an ounce per pound is recommended for most people. Three-quarters of an ounce is recommended for athletes and highly active people. Without proper water intake the body cannot metabolize fat properly.

Walk hard. 30 minutes of walking each day will prevent weight gain and stave off fat. This is without adding any type of dietary changes. Walking harder, or at a higher intensity or even jogging if you feel like it will burn even more fat, concerted with some of the tips above you'll be fit as a fox and protecting yourself from a whole range of preventable diseases as well.

A Commitment To Health and Fitness

We made a personal commitment to our health and fitness this year in the Greeves' Household.  We have spent the last 3 years working too much, sitting at our computers, eating the wrong foods and it has shown in our bodies and health.  We decided that we needed to be the proper ambassadors of our own product and software.  We decided we weren't happy with the way we were living and the priorities that we were putting ahead of our health. 

We started exercising (both running and lifting weights with our HyperStrike program and 24 Hour Fitness Memberships), eating whole foods, resting more and taking healthy supplements.  We've been on the right path now for 6 months and it is really paying off.  Michael has lost 25 pounds and Shelley has lost 10.  We both have more energy, look better, feel better and sleep better.  We are getting back to ourselves - literally!
We share this with you because we know how life can be.  Work is calling, friends are calling, family is calliing, responsibility is calling.  Everything comes first but our health.  We decided that our health (poor health) was starting to take over - high blood sugar, excess body fat, sluggish metabolism, feeling tired all of the time, clothes not fitting, high blood pressure - the list goes on.  We made a conscious decision to schedule in our health and fitness as the first priority each day.  We knew it was going to be hard.  We knew that work would pile up, laundry and cleaning would be a bit behind but we also knew it would pay off.  We decided that health and fitness would come in ahead of social priorities, personal time and even work on occasion.  Its been a huge blessing.  We work out together, we talk, we connect, we improve.

We would like to challenge everyone out there to make health and fitness your first priority.  Make a pact with yourself.  Start somewhere - cancel a dinner out, clear off your early morning calendar, take a hike instead of go to the movies, hit the gym instead of the Fast Food joint. You can do it.  We know you can -
Life is happier.  If you don't take care of your health - you won't be here to take care of anything.
Keep Moving'
Yours in health,
Michael and Shelley Greeves

Healthy Summer Grilling Ideas

Healthy grilling ideas for summer

By Manny Moreno

Get ready for a fun summer season with some quick and easy grilling ideas. Grilling is a great way to eat healthy, save time and cut calories.  Follow these easy tips for some flavorful and healthy meals.

How to prepare healthy low-fat meals

There are a few options for creating delicious healthy meals on your grill. For example, you can marinade your food, use different spices to create great tasting rubs, or use skewers for shish Kebabs. Not only is this a healthy way to eat, it only requires a minimal amount of effort to prepare.

Marinades – use marinades to add flavor to lean meats, poultry and fish. Below is an all-purpose marinade.

Ingredients

• 3 cloves crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup olive oil (to cut calories, use less oil)
• 1/2 cup water

 

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine the garlic, soy sauce, olive oil and water; mix well. Marinate meat of your choice for at least 8 hours.

 

Rubs – use rubs on lean meats and chicken. Use this rub recipe to add flavor to your next grilled meal.

Ingredients

• 1/4  cup  chili powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1/4  teaspoon  dry mustard
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  dried oregano
• 2  teaspoons  kosher salt

 

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cinnamon, oregano, and salt. Add a small amount of olive oil to make a paste and rub over raw meat, over chicken, or on seafood.

 

Shish kebabs – For another way to eat healthy; create grilled recipes that include veggies. FYI – pre-soak the wooden skewers for 30 minutes to avoid burning, or use metal skewers if you have them available. Use any combination of veggies such as green or red peppers, onions, tomato, or fruit such as pineapple. Or you can use a combination of veggies and lean meats, chicken or seafood such as shrimp; alternate between veggies and meats/seafood on your skewers.  Shish kebabs are easy to prepare, and are a great way to add some variety to your grilled dishes.

Marinades, rubs and shish kebabs will add variety to your healthy cuisine. There you have it, three quick and easy ideas for healthy grilling. Enjoy your summer and your meals too!

 

Change It Up

Staying fit and following exercise routines can get a little boring, but it doesn't have to be all about repeating the same exercises in the same location. There are many different activities we can incorporate into our routines that build up our bodies and are also lots of fun.

When you hit a fitness plateu, adding new challenges your body hasn't experienced before will help get you to the next level.

Why stick to the same routine when you can incorporate a little variety and still reach your goals? Why not learn some new skills, make some new friends and get some new experiences while getting that exercise?

Anywhere you are, there are fun activities to do. From picking up that martial art you always wanted to learn, to dancing, swimming or rock climbing.

Get your friends involved or make some new friends with the same interests. The internet is a great resource for finding local groups and clubs focused on specific activities. There are clubs for all types of activities. Ski clubs, mountain biking, salsa dancing, kayaking, surfing, hiking, triathalons and marathons.

Whatever you're interested in, go ahead and check it out. Maybe you might just like it.

Sneaky Easy Ways to Eat Healthier

We've been working very hard in the Greeves' household to eat healthier this year and to follow our meal plans on our site. We have a 2.5 year old daughter, Stella, who has been a bit of a challenge in this department.  She loves her "gummy bears" (really fruit juice snacks) and her frosted flakes.  What is a parent to do to get the entire family eating healthier? What are we to do when its simply "easier" to grab the processed foods rather than something healthier?

We love the Harvard Food Pyramid.  Its about time someone got it right.  We all do best by making fitness our foundation and then eating mostly plants.  Its really that simple and that hard especially when our society bombards us with McDonalds, convenience foods, and the soda pop machine at work and school!

Here are a few simple ideas to sneak in more plants in your diet.
1.  Carrots, Celery and Nut Butter - Oh My!  This is a great and tasty simple snack.  There's even soy butter now for those who are allergic to nuts.
2. Fruit Smoothies packed with protein. My favorite from our site is the Blueberry, Banana Flax smoothie with Rice Protein.  Its delish!  The flax is super healthy in Omega EFA's and fiber.  My daughter calls this her favorite dessert shake.
3. Stirfry Quinoa with peppers, onions, green beans, nuts and some chili oil. This dish is vegan and only takes me 10 minutes to prepare.  The quinoa gets really toasty and crunchy.  The whole family will love this high fiber, high protein dish.
4.  Make a veggie tray with fat free greek yogurt dip.  I love to mix in some dill or french onion powder.  No one will know its low fat!
5.  Keep some popcorn handy.  Air pop it and top with some chili powder.
6. Enjoy frozen fruit as a dessert.  You can mix non fat Greek yogurt (FAGE)_with some cinnamon and honey to dip it in. Divine.

How do you get your friends and family eating healthier?