Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

We all know that food has the power to heal.  Specifically, foods high in micronutrients, high in anti-oxidants , foods that are beneficial to your heart and health.  Everything we feed our bodies has a cumulative effect that over time reveals the state of our health.  Do you lack energy?  Do you have a medical condition?  Is your emotional state effected?

I recently watched a documentary film about a man from Australia who was fat, sick and nearly dead!  100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health.  With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long-term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body's ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days.  What happens is an amazing transformation!

My friends, produce is the most important health care your money can buy!  So eliminate where possible junk and processed foods.  Grow a veggie garden! The choice is what proportion to eat dead food (cooked) and living food.(raw)  The best foods to eat are the healthy, nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. By making these super micronutrient and anti-oxidant foods the major portion of your diet, you can protect yourself against cancer and other serious diseases.

Here are a just a few of the kinds of foods I like to fuel up on. Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Pineapple, Flax Seeds, Green Leafy Vegetables, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Walnuts, Sunflower seeds, Pomegranates, Beets, and Peppers.

Processed foods high in saturated fat and trans fat are consistently associated with high cancer rates and illness. Just ask Joe Cross where he was headed on that kind of diet.  Here are some quick facts about the foods Joe used to regain his health and vitality.

• Apples contain antioxidants that help protect “good” HDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Avocados are densely packed with anti-inflammatory, healthy fats. Well-known for its vitamin E content, an important antioxidant.
• Beets are potent antioxidants with liver-protective properties.
• Blueberries and blackberries are rich in anthocyanins—these phytonutrients have power. They can reduce inflammation, increase detoxifying enzymes in the liver, and stop cancers from creating their own lifeline-blood supply.
• Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that promotes natural detoxification in the liver. It is high in sulfur and iodine.
• Carrots are the richest plant source of vitamin A, good source of potassium.
• Celery is high in organic sodium, magnesium, and iron. Magnesium is important for the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into energy; for muscle relaxation and the prevention of cramps; and for nerve conduction and preventing tooth decay.
• Cilantro provides a rich source of carotenoids.
• Cinnamon has been shown to help keep blood sugar in check.
• Cucumbers contain potassium and phytosterols, which help lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Fennel’s active ingredient, anethole, blocks inflammation in the body and can stop cancer cells from multiplying.
• Ginger root reduces nausea, pain and inflammation, and provides heartburn relief. It also aids digestion.
• Grapefruits provide a rich source of vitamin C, and are a good source of lycopene (a carotene with prostate cancer-protective properties).
• Kale is an especially nutrient-dense vegetable with many potent micronutrients. Rich and abundant in calcium, lutein, iron, and vitamins A, C, and K, kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein, another potent carotene. Kale is part of the cruciferous vegetable family, making it a good source of the phytonutrient indole-3-carbinol. Research shows I3C has many anti-cancer actions, such as promoting estrogen ratios in the blood that are weak, but needed to discourage breast cancer tumor growth. Crucifers are also potent detoxifiers.
• Kiwis offer twice the vitamin C of an orange per serving. They are a good source of vitamin E (a potent antioxidant) and potassium.
• Lemons contain natural anti-nausea and overall digestive-aid properties.
• Mint is rich in plant-based omega-3 fats – an important nutrient for healthy hair, skin, and nails that has powerful anti-inflammatory activity. Omega-3s may also protect against the development of heart disease and certain types of cancers.
• Parsley is a good source of folic acid, which may help lower the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers. It also promotes fresh breath.
• Pineapples are high in the enzyme bromelain, an anti-inflammatory.
• Spinach is high in iron, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. The vitamin C and beta-carotene in spinach are antioxidants, and may help to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Most dark green leafy veggies are rich in lutein – a phytonutrient shown to help delay age-related macular degeneration of the eyes.
• Sweet potatoes (and carrots for that matter) are rich in – a phytonutrient responsible for giving these veggies their rich orange color. Zeaxanthin has anti-cancer activity: it helps encourage cancer cells to commit suicide (apoptosis), and helps prevent tumors from being able to create their own blood supply (anti-angiogenesis).
• Swiss chard tastes sweeter in juices than spinach. It is rich in vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. Foods rich in potassium have been shown to lower blood pressure and heart disease risk.
• Tomatoes are rich in lycopene – a member of the carotene family famous for its potential to prevent prostate cancer.
• Turmeric has been shown to have multiple forms of anti-cancer activity in prostate, ovarian, colon, uterine, and breast cancer cells. The active ingredient responsible, curcumin, is approximately 1,000 times more bioavailable (absorbable) when combined with black pepper. 

Did you know that the average person eats fewer than two servings of produce a day!  I want to encourage you to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet.  I guarantee you'll become healthier, happier and have more vitality.

If you want the straight dope on fueling your body with nutritious food and what to avoid, I'm here to help and it won't cost you a penny for the free advice based on my own experience and what has worked for me.  I hope you'll follow my blog and provide me with some feedback on my posts.  I'll be catering good choices that include both dietary and lifestyle changes.  So if you could use a boost to your engine, buckle up for the ride of your life and let's get started!

No Nonsense Foods

Changing how we eat changes everything! The dietary changes I made in the last several months made a huge impact on my health and quality of life. But this change didn't just happen all on its own. No one handed it to me on a silver platter. No amount of praying or pleading brought any miracle. I had to make a conscious effort and become more informed about food choices. If you fail to plan, then plan on failing.

Almost immediately when I began to make smart healthy choices did my obese body start to respond. What were some of the side effects of no nonsense foods? For starters, I began to shed excess weight. In the first 4 weeks of my plan I reduced 17 pounds of excess fat! In the past 4 and half months 57 pounds of excess fat have been lost!  When you eat more fruit and vegetables in their natural whole state, another side effect manifests itself. I began to experience improved digestion and daily elimination. I won't bore you with the gory details, but suffice it to say that it feels great to live each day without stomach pain, without cramping guts and sitting on the throne waiting, pushing, grunting and cursing.

Within a matter of weeks my body started to have increased energy and stamina. No longer pained by the with drawl symptoms of caffeine and sugar, proper nutrition was now giving me a boost. The usual afternoon sleepiness and lack of energy was virtually gone from my daily routine and replaced with achy and sore muscles I didn't even know I had! It even hurt to sit on the toilet my butt cheeks were so sore! I just knew my body was changing for the better. One of my favorite sayings from Tony Horton, the creator of the P90X training program, is "I hate it, but I love it." Wow can I relate to that! I struggled, but I kept pushing play. The no nonsense foods are such a critical part of the plan that I cannot emphasize strongly enough how committed you need to be in order to maximize your investment in yourself.

There are other benefits that I continue to experience, like a sound sleep. I had been diagnosed two years earlier with sleep apnea. My wife didn't get a good nights rest either due to my horrendous snoring. The doctors monitored my sleep patterns by hooking me up to a couple dozen wires. We tested my lung capacities and did a whole bunch of tests. I was told that I could sleep better if I had a special breathing machine called a C-PAP continuous positive airway pressure). I put it off and tried to ignore the issue. I had such excessive daytime sleepiness that I could literally fall asleep within minutes if given the chance. You could say I was a very irritable person to live with. No nonsense foods combined with my daily P90X training quickly began to reverse this disorder. Proper rest and sleep is critical to your health. The old adage early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise, rings true. I still like to sleep in from time to time.

Another amazing side effect of no nonsense food is how you will start to look and feel  much younger!  If you're looking for the fountain of youth, it really does exist, and it exists in proper eating and exercise.  What and how we eat has such an impact on our quality of life and improving our appearance.  I don't want to live with daily pain, discomfort and unhappiness.  It doesn't have to be that way for anyone.  If you're overweight, you may feel many symptoms.  Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about.

• snoring
• headaches
• unrefreshing sleep
• a dry mouth upon awakening
• high blood pressure
• irritability
• depression
• difficulty concentrating
• heartburn
• reduced libido
• insomnia
• frequent nighttime urination 
• restless sleep

When I learned about healthy choices and decided to act on the information by committing myself to doing what needed to be done, only then did I begin to see positive changes.   This isn't a short term plan.  What I'm driving at is a long lasting lifestyle that works with my individual needs and tastes.  When I fuel my body with nutritious no nonsense foods, I reduce or eliminate what holds me back from looking, feeling and functioning at how nature intended my body to work.

Over the course of the last several months I have learned a few lessons along the way.  In future posts I'll address things like how I planned and prepared meals.  When you go grocery shopping, there's a healthy way.  Understanding food labels goes a long ways in making good choices.  When you're educated on food facts, it's much easier to dispel the myths, so I'll try to share and pass along tips and advice that's helped me and will help you too.  When you discover the truth about something, you'll be amazed at how it can truly set you free!  I guarantee you'll lose weight, you'll reshape your body and gain greater health.  

If you want the straight dope on fueling your body with nutritious food and what to avoid, I'm here to help and it won't cost you a penny for the free advice based on my own experience and what has worked for me.  I hope you'll follow my blog and provide me with some feedback on my posts.  I'll be catering good choices that include both dietary and lifestyle changes.  So if you could use a boost to your engine, buckle up for the ride of your life and let's get started!