Food, Dieting and Health

By Lance D’Aoust

Here is my OPINION and Experience about Food, Dieting and Health

The way you look at food and eating is important because going on a special diet is the reason you will not lose weight and keep it off. If you want to be healthy and stay healthy you cannot go on and off diets. The way you think is the solution.

  • Food is not entertainment. Even though it can be so much fun!
  • Boredom is not the time to eat. Your mouth wants it, not your body.
  • Food is for survival. Your acceptance of this concept is critical.

Hunger is a Complex Mechanism that is Simple to Understand:

  • When your stomach is low on food it sends a signal to the brain.
    • This signal is mistakenly accepted by people as the signal to eat. It isn’t. It is the signal to hunt or gather your next meal before it’s too late.
      • Because you don’t live in a cave you have the luxury of doing nothing all the way up until you actually need to eat. Or you can go eat something right now. But because you don’t actually need it yet, you are only going to be collecting mass rather than sustaining yourself.
        • TIP: Flavor in the mouth will trick the brain into thinking food is on it’s way, and the stomach relaxes the signals back to the brain. This is a good use of gum to help you last until you actually need to eat. Choose a gum that doesn’t use fake sugars because those are chemical-based, and that’s worse than eating at this stage.
  • When your stomach is Empty it sends a much stronger signal to the brain.
    • The brain then MOTIVATES you to eat something. Usually something specific, and often with a sense of urgency.
      • Flavor in the mouth MIGHT trick the brain into thinking food is on it’s way temporarily. This might work, depending on how empty you are + how much activity you’re doing.
  • The size of your stomach (not your visible belly) determines when this signal is sent to the brain. A larger stomach will send this signal more frequently – not because you need more food, but because it can hold more so it expects to be holding more.
    • You can increase and decrease your actual stomach by decisive eating. I habitually eat portions the size of my fist with my hand over it. Restaurants all serve huge plates that would be the size of both my feet. If you eat a large portion, you will stretch your stomach, and thus increase your capacity to eat larger portions at each sitting.
    • If you already have a large stomach from your current eating habits, then eat less at each meal. You will go through the hunger experience mentioned above, but you will not actually be hungry. Your stomach is only telling your brain that it’s not as full as it usually is. This is where you need self control and the understanding that you will live – just wait until the next scheduled meal time.

Pay Attention to your Eating Schedule

Sometimes, you can be on empty and not realize it because you’re not doing much to burn energy. And then the moment you’re active your body starts demanding energy, which it doesn’t have a fresh supply of. This is where you experience panic and hunger at the same time, or the sensation of seeing stars or even vertigo. That’s how you know you’ve been playing Wii too long.

Eating and Resting

When you eat, and then sleep, your body doesn’t burn what you’ve just eaten at the same pace as if you were active. Instead it stores most of it.

When you eat and feel tired right away, that’s because your body is working really hard at processing it. Sometimes it’s the result of over eating, or eating something that is hard to break down – like steak.

The Starvation Diet

When you DO NOT EAT – the starvation diet – your body goes on the defensive and stores as much as it can get, and burns up what it already has available. This conservation mode results in muscle loss and fat gain. Fat is stored energy. You might look thinner but you’re going to be soft, weak, have wrong skin color and a poor immune system and a cough or cold a lot of the time.

Understanding is Key

So for managing a stable body I recommend an understanding of your body and eating only when you actually need it – not any other time. Obviously you have to consider WHAT you eat. Feeding sugar (processed or not) to an empty belly is not going to produce positive results. Stick to as much non-processed foods as you can, and that includes eating free range animal products that are free of added hormones and antibiotics.

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Journalism, News, Entertainment and Critical Thinking

Get Chitika eMiniMalls

By Lance D’Aoust

Almost daily I read the World, Political, Health, Social and Tech news from various news feeds. Often I will read the entire article, watch the linked video and then share it with friends, or, just post it to facebook. I have made several observations while traveling along this path. It is as though these news sources are all coming from completely different societies, and the people I share them with are largely silent about what they’re seeing.

In The News

World: talks a lot about why global governance is important.
Political: abstractly talks about which party is better.
Health: talks about fitness fads.
Social: talks about the latest apps and games and staying connected.
Tech: talks about the millions in investments to startups and iPhone vs the Android.

There’s no substance to it any of it. The news is very, very, obviously for entertainment purposes, not actual information distribution. What is there to gain from these talking points? They are just that – points to talk about. There is a very strong emphasis on being entertained as opposed to being educated and informed. Evidence of this point is ample – you may have noticed I left out the category of Entertainment, which takes precedence over all other ‘news’ categories. There is a greater desire to learn about celeb drama than there is about real world issues such as the Gulf.

And don’t bullshit me as say that there is nothing you can do as an individual about the Gulf (or any other large issue). As much as that might be true it is then equally true about any bit of celeb news too. The difference between the two is the fundamental shift in the way people view the news and information, and ultimately human evolution:

a.) If the news is short, entertaining and accepting of what the reader is currently doing or is interested in, then the reader becomes a consumer of it. This is a lot like social drinking or social smoking. It is simple, and the group’s acceptance of it makes it easier to justify partaking in it. Not much thought or effort required.

b.) But if the news is long, is text rather than video, or not in line with the reader’s predefined paradigms, interests or habits, then the reader is already disinterested. A lot of the time they reveal themselves to be an opponent of the idea AND the source. “Hey, did you read that article I sent to you?” “No, it was too long, I didn’t have time.” and/or, “You’re a fool for believing shit like that. Are you one of those conspiracy guys?

c.) However, if the reader has the attention span/interest to commit to something with substance (usually controversial and rarely part of the mainstream), and the reader is a proponent of it (in agreement), the reader usually will not make their agreement public. That creates the risk of them being categorized as conspiracy theorist. Good old peer pressure in action.

Question: Where are all of the critical thinkers? Where are those people who are not afraid to hold an idea that is contrary to popular belief? It is that kind of thinking, it is that kind of person, who leads society forward. You don’t even have to be right – you just have to be honest with yourself and have the guts to say, “I can think for myself, and Mel Gibson doesn’t matter! I don’t need to be told what to eat, buy, wear, think or feel.

Anyone with children wants the best for their children, however no one seems to look at that idea in reverse: If it is not good enough for children, then why is it good enough for You?

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Here’s a Quick Read About Your Child and Vaccinations

You get to draw your own conclusions – but only after you’ve read it all. Otherwise that would not be an informed conclusion.

Vaccination Schedule for Your Children (which you do not have to follow)

2 Months: 6 Vaccinations
-TOTAL: 6

4 Months: 6 Vaccinations (same as at 2 months)
-TOTAL: 12

6 Months: 6 Vaccinations (same as at 2 & 4 months)
-TOTAL: 18

12 Months: 4 Vaccinations
-TOTAL: 22

15 Months: 2 – 3 Vaccinations (one is interchangeable with 12yrs)
-TOTAL: 24

18 Months: 8 Vaccinations (some same as 15 months)
-TOTAL: 32

4 – 6 Years: 4 Vaccinations (some same as 18 months)
-TOTAL: 36

12 Years: 1 – 2 Vaccinations (one is interchangeable with 15 months)
-TOTAL: 37

14 – 16 Years: 3 Vaccinations (same as 4 years, 18, 6, 4 & 2 months)
-TOTAL: 40

Every Fall: 1 (for Influenza)

Grand Total, by age 16: (if the recommendations are followed)
41 vaccines + 16 seasonal = 57 vaccines

*This does not include the HPV vaccine recommended for girls.

Important To Know:

1. Vaccines are supposed to trigger your immune system to produce antibodies that fight diseases and infections, however the injection contains additional chemicals and DNA/RNA that suppress immune response, which then does not return to normal for a period of months.
2. The human immune system is not fully developed at birth.
3. The human immune system is strongest in the respiratory and digestive systems, but vaccines are injected into the blood stream where the immune system is weaker.
4. The life cycle of micro organisms is short – in some cases an organism will be ‘born,’ live, eat, reproduce and die in 6 hours. Therefore, the evolutionary process (the organism’s ability to adapt/change) is extremely rapid. This results in a great variety of organisms to vaccinate against each season, however the vaccines available could not possible respond to such diversity in species. In other words, you do not know if the vaccine available inoculates against the strain in circulation.
5. Nutrition is the only way to improve your immune system. So, if you are not eating well you will not be well.
6. Germs are pleiomorphic, meaning that they can change with their environment; rods become cocci, and vice-versa. Thinking that germs cause disease means that we are not accepting responsibility for our own health, and that we are placing that responsibility into the hands of someone else (who has the means to kill these germs with toxic chemicals (drugs), even if those drugs/vaccines harm our body).

Now that you have read it all we assume you are going to look at the referenced links below, and read them too. When you’re done, everyone wants to read what you think. Post your comments.

Sources:

http://www.toronto.ca/health/immunization_children/immunization_schedule.htm

http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/immune_suppression.htm

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20 Activities to do With Your Kids Other Than Watch TV

Almost half of kids spend at least two hours a day watching TV. While this may sound harmless enough, numerous studies have come out showing that TV is definitely taking its toll on American children.

For instance, a study in the April 2004 journal Pediatrics found that every added hour of watching TV increased a child’s odds of having attention problems at age 7 by about 10 percent. Those who watched for three hours a day between the ages of 1 and 3 were 30 percent more likely to have attention trouble at age 7 than those viewing no TV.

The notion that kids watch far too much TV is a no-brainer, literally. My strong recommendation is to minimize TV watching to no more than a few hours per WEEK, as a short attention span is only the beginning of the problem with TV. Here are some of the other negatives of kids watching TV:

Although you may be accustomed to turning on the TV to entertain your kids (or yourself), there are many other options out there. Here are 20 to get you started.

  • Take a walk
  • Read a book
  • Cook a meal
  • Do a jigsaw puzzle
  • Play a board game
  • Talk about your day
  • Play some sports
  • Color, draw or paint a picture
  • Play outside
  • Invite a friend over
  • Put on some music and dance
  • Go on a ‘treasure hunt’ around the house or neighborhood
  • Play catch or Frisbee
  • Make a “fort” out of blankets and pillows
  • Ride bikes or roller blade
  • Write a letter to a friend or relative
  • Do a crossword puzzle or word search
  • Write a story
  • Run relay races with friends
  • Play charades
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Exercise for Kids – Tips for Parents

Dr. Mercola’s Comments

Exercise is just as important for kids as it is for adults, but unfortunately many children are emulating their parents and getting far less physical activity than they need to stay healthy.

Less than one-third of kids aged 6 to 17 get at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise a day, and the 2010 Shape of the Nation Report from the American Heart Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education actually recommends one hour of exercise a day for Americans of all ages.

Kids are clearly falling way short of this goal. The report states:

“The reality, of course, is that children and adolescents in the United States are primarily sedentary. Most kids under age 18 spend the majority of their day sitting in classrooms, and a big part of their free time outside of school watching television, playing video games or surfing the Internet.”

Why is Physical Activity So Important for Kids?

Too much sedentary time is one of the forces driving the child obesity epidemic. About one-third of U.S. children aged 2-19 years are now overweight or obese, and childhood diabetes has increased 10-fold in the last 20 years. Read the rest of this entry »

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9 Worst Places for Your Health

Some surprisingly bad locations for your health, and the best places to optimize it:

  1. Worst place to keep your toothbrush — the bathroom sink

    There are 3.2 million microbes per square inch in the average toilet bowl, and all of those germs are propelled out every time you flush, settling on the floor and the sink. Keep your toothbrush behind closed doors in the medicine cabinet or a nearby cupboard.

  2. toothbrush, bathroom sinkWorst place to stash sneakers and flip-flops — the bedroom closet

    Shoes track in allergens and contaminants. Leave your shoes by the front door.

  3. Worst place to fall asleep — under piles of blankets

    Being overheated can keep you from sleeping. Let your feet stick out from under your blankets.

  4. Worst place to cool leftovers — in the refrigerator

    Placing hot leftovers directly in the fridge can cause uneven cooling and possibly food poisoning. Leave food to cool on the counter for up to an hour after cooking, or divide it into smaller containers that can cool faster before refrigerating.

  5. Worst place to sit on an airplane — the rear

    The tail of the plane is where you’ll get the bumpiest ride. Sit as close to the wing as you can.

  6. Worst place to set your handbag — the kitchen counter

    Tests have showed up to 10,000 bacteria per square inch on purse bottoms. Put your bag anywhere except where food is prepared or eaten.

  7. Worst place to use a public bathroom — the stall in the middleThe center stall has more bacteria. Pick a stall all the way left or right.
  8. Worst place to keep medicine — the medicine cabinetThe temperature in a bathroom can get well above the recommended storage temperatures for many common drugs. Keep medicine somewhere cool and dry, such as the pantry.
  9. Worst place to use headphones — on an airplane, train, or subway

    You’re probably turning the volume up too high if you’re listening to headphones in a noisy environment. Listen wherever you don’t have to blast your music to enjoy it, or consider using noise-canceling headphones.

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Tip: Responding is Better Than Reacting!

One day recently, I was driving in Atlanta traffic when suddenly it came to a stop.  Everywhere I looked, traffic was at a stand-still.  It just so happened that I was sitting on an overpass above the interstate, so I had a birds-eye view of what was happening.  I noticed that one side of Interstate 285 was being closed down.  From where I sat, I could see that it was because of a funeral procession for a police officer.  The first part of the procession included several hundred motorcycle policemen.  They were followed by a long line of police cars.  After that were several fire trucks, ambulances and other medical vehicles.  Finally, five helicopters flew overhead.  With such a large procession, it completely shut down Interstate 285 for a long time.  It was one of the most powerful things I had ever seen!

The last time I remember actually seeing that much authority and power in one place, was several years ago when I was in traffic and the Vice President of the United States came to town.  It really was amazing to watch the respect that was shown to the fallen police officer.  He had been killed in the line of duty.  Everyone who was able to observe what was taking place was very respectful.  People stopped, got out of their cars, took off their hats, stood at attention, and paid their respects.  It was a very moving moment.

Again, because I was stopped on an overpass, I had a front-row seat to everything that was taking place around me, and I noticed that something else was happening.  From my vantage point, I noticed that there were some drivers who were full of rage and anger because someone slowed down their progress.  They were unaware of the reason for the delay, so they were angry.  Someone actually had the audacity to get their spot on a piece of the pavement right in the middle of a funeral!  I thought to myself, “If they only knew what was taking place, they would not react that way.”  Had they known that the traffic jam was because of a funeral for a fallen police office, they would have certainly changed their attitude.  And, that is when it dawned on me that they were not responding to the situation, they were reacting to it. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tip: Be Responsive!

As a teenager, I had a summer job.  I was a lifeguard at our local Elk’s Club swimming pool.  It was a country-club atmosphere and most of the people of our small town of Griffin, Georgia, were members.  Everyone knew each other and during the summer, we all had a great time at the club pool.

Because I was so young and it was one of my first jobs, I really didn’t know much about what I was supposed to be doing.  I thought my main job was to get a good tan and look good in front of all the girls.  Occasionally I would walk around the pool and pick up a piece of trash, if I happened to see it.

I also had the responsibility of cleaning out the baby pool every morning.  Sometimes that could be a real challenge!  On a few occasions I saw things floating in the baby pool that were questionable.  I always used the pool “scooper” to pick up items I was afraid to touch! Read the rest of this entry »

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Diet Tricks That Really Work

According to Live Science, these diet tricks will actually help you keep off the pounds:

Avoid corn syrup

diet tricksScience shows that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is bad news. One study showed that rats who drank HFCS-sweetened beverages gained significantly more weight than rats consuming the same amount of calories in sugar.

Keep away from junk food — It’s Addictive

Junk food can affect your brain in ways similar to drug abuse.

Structure meal times

Long stretches without food make people crave energy-dense snacks, which can make healthy choices difficult.

Satisfy your body — especially at breakfast

A protein-rich breakfast leaves you Read the rest of this entry »

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Should Pregnant Women Avoid All Vaccines?

It’s been many months since the CDC and ACIP put children and pregnant women at the top of their priority list for getting the H1N1 vaccine in the U.S.

pregnant womanThe vaccine was released with very little clinical testing done on it, and absolutely none on pregnant women. Then, in a shoot first, ask questions later move, the National Institutes of Health and vaccine manufacturers began seeking pregnant volunteers for several H1N1 vaccine safety trials.

Meanwhile, women who believe that this vaccine caused them to lose their babies are forming support groups and blogs to record their experiences, with the intent of warning others not to get the vaccine.

But in reality, pregnant women should not be getting any vaccines. Read the rest of this entry »

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