END OF THE YEAR SALE: DALE'S RAW FOODS

The only protein bars I'll eat!  Why?  They're raw, non-gmo, vegan & 100% natural!  This is a great time to stock up!  

Click on the picture below for your special savings!  

Day 2 30 Videos in 30 Days: Weight Loss, BLAH, I'll wait till 2015

Day 2 of my 30 Videos in 30 Days! So you think you've blown your "diet," so you want to wait till 2015--WRONG! Watch to find out why you shouldn't wait, but start TODAY! 
REMEMBER TO LIKE & SHARE THIS VIDEO to help your family & friends stay on track this holiday season!

December's Project: 30 Videos in 30 Days

I'd love your help with some ideas on what to cover in my 30 Videos in 30 Days!

Thanks so much for your help!

In your health!
Jeannie

Thanksgiving: What the day REALLY look like?

Every year, Americans gather on Thanksgiving for an all-you-can-eat feast. Many hit the gym the next day thinking they can run a mile or two or do a few push-ups and sit-ups to undo the damage. What they don't know is that they're actually only burning a small fraction of the thousands of calories they've probably consumed. Before you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, check out the infographic below to see what it will take to burn off your favorite Turkey Day foods. 

So, will you be staying on track with your health & fitness over the holidays?  Are you needing help to stay on track? I'm here to help as your online personal trainer & coach! Message me & let me help me NOT gain weight this holiday season!  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stamourjs
Website: www.anywherefitnesspt.com
jeannie@anywherefitnesspt.com

Greens: The Powerhouse of Nutrition

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Here are some of my favorite greens-I tend to add one or two different ones every week to add variety to my diet.  Try to buy organic whenever possible!!  

Power Greens: Spinach, Kale, Chard, Carrots

a) Spinach: Spinach is a dark leafy green vegetable and one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! Because it’s high in fiber and very low in calories, spinach can help you manage type 2 diabetes and is a terrific addition to any weight loss plan. It's also packed with nutrients — it's a good source of antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help maintain healthy eyes, hair, and skin. Spinach contains very high amounts of potassium and vitamin K, two nutrients that may help preserve bone health. The iron and B vitamins in spinach help maintain strong, healthy hair and a healthy circulatory system.

b) Kale: Kale is a cruciferous and leafy green vegetable from the cabbage family, similar to collard greens. Because it’s a high-quality carb and very low in calories, kale can help you manage type 2 diabetes and is a terrific addition to any weight-loss plan. It's also packed with nutrients: It's a good source of antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help maintain healthy eyes, hair, and skin. The calcium and potassium in kale help keep your bones and teeth strong and may prevent PMS symptoms. Kale is also high in the anti-inflammatory antioxidant quercetin, which protects against arthritis and memory loss, as well as riboflavin, a B vitamin that may protect against migraines. In addition, it is a very good source of vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures.

c) Chard: Swiss chard is a leafy green vegetable that tastes somewhat similar to spinach and can be prepared the same way. It is a good source of antioxidants, including vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help prevent arthritis and maintain healthy eyes, hair, and skin. Swiss chard also contains magnesium and potassium, minerals involved in managing blood pressure and preventing osteoporosis. In addition, magnesium is also helpful for individuals who experience migraines or PMS. Vitamin K in Swiss chard may prevent bone fractures.

d) Carrots (ok, not a green, but it's in my mix, so I'll share their benefits too) Carrot is one of the most healing foods that provides the finest and highest quality in nutrients, especially from its juice. It is an excellent source of pro-vitamin A, vitamins C, D, E, K, B1 and B6.  It is rich with biotin, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, organic sodium and some trace minerals. Carrot greens/tops CAN be eaten. It is very rich with potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K and protein. Potassium is a key mineral in our body, thus high consumption of it keeps all the organs in our body in tip-top condition. The known phytonutrients in carrots are lutein, lycopene, anti-oxidants alpha, beta and gamma carotenes, zeaxanthin and xanthophyll. You don’t need to remember these fancy names, but just remember that phytonutrients are nature’s marvelous provision for healing of various diseases.

Watercress:

Watercress is a leafy green vegetable with a peppery flavor and is often added to salads or used on top of sandwiches. It is a good source of beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that may prevent and manage arthritis, cataracts, and macular degeneration, as well as maintain healthy hair and skin. Watercress is also a good source of vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures.

Dandalion: Folk medicine claims the dandelion plant is a powerful healer, used to purify the blood, settle digestion and prevent piles and gall stones, among other maladies. The fact is the greens of the humble dandelion provide 535 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin K, which may be the most important source of any other plant-based food to strengthen bones, but may also play a role in fighting Alzheimer's disease by limiting neuron damage in the brain. Dandelion greens also give the body 112 percent of the daily minimum requirement of vitamin A as an antioxidant carotenoid, which is particularly good for the skin, mucus membranes and vision. A flavonoid called zeaxanthin protects the retina from UV rays, while others, primarily carotene, lutein, and cryptoxanthin, protect the body from lung and mouth cancers.  Dandelion greens are high in fiber, which helps your body shed waste. These greens also contain vitamins C and B6, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, iron (crucial for generating red blood cells), potassium (to help regulate heart rate and blood pressure), and manganese. Other nutrients present in dandelion greens include folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper.

Other Favorites:

• Arugula: Arugula (also known as rucola and rocket) is a cruciferous and leafy green vegetable with a peppery taste and is often used in salads. It is a good source of potassium, a mineral involved in managing blood pressure and preventing osteoporosis. Arugula may help boost memory due to phytochemicals — antioxidants found in all cruciferous vegetables. Like other salad greens, arugula is very low in calories, which makes it a great addition to any weight-loss plan.

• Collard Greens: Collard greens are a cruciferous and leafy green vegetable from the cabbage family, similar to kale. They are a good source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant precursor to vitamin A that can help prevent and manage arthritis, cataracts, and macular degeneration, as well as maintain healthy hair and skin. Collard greens are also a very good source of vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures. In addition, collard greens contain lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that may prevent macular degeneration.

• Endive: Endive is a bitter leafy vegetable that is often used in salads or eaten as a side dish. There are multiple varieties of endive, including Belgian endive, escarole, and curly endive (frisée). Like other greens, endive is very low in calories, which makes it a great addition to any weight-loss plan. Endive is a good source of potassium, a mineral involved in managing blood pressure and preventing osteoporosis. It is also a potent source of vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures.

• Escarole: Escarole is a leafy green vegetable that can be used in salads or eaten as a side dish. Like other salad greens, escarole is very low in calories, which makes it a great addition to any weight-loss plan. Escarole is a good source of potassium, a mineral involved in managing blood pressure and preventing osteoporosis. It is also a very good source of vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures. 

• Lettuce: There are various types of lettuce, but all of them are leafy green vegetables and are low in calories, making them a terrific addition to any weight-loss plan. Some types of lettuce, such as romaine, green leaf, red leaf, bibb, and butterhead, are good sources of antioxidants, including beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and quercetin, which help prevent arthritis, cataracts, and macular degeneration, as well as maintain healthy hair and skin. Lettuce is also a good source of potassium, a mineral involved in managing blood pressure and preventing osteoporosis. In addition, all lettuce varieties contain vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures.

• Mustard Greens: Mustard Greens are a leafy green vegetable that come from the mustard plant and have a pungent, peppery flavor. They are a good source of antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help prevent arthritis and maintain healthy eyes, hair, and skin. Mustard greens also contain folate, a B vitamin that may help reduce the risk of heart disease, enhance memory, and improve mood, as well as vitamin K, which may prevent bone fractures.

• Radicchio: Radicchio is a leafy vegetable with a bitter taste. It is often added to salads or braised like cabbage for a side dish. It is a good source of potassium, a mineral involved in managing blood pressure and preventing osteoporosis. Radicchio also contains vitamin E and lutein, antioxidants that help maintain healthy eyes and skin.

• Turnip Greens: Turnip greens are a leafy green vegetable that come from the tops of turnip bulbs and can be added to salads or sautéed and served as a side dish. They are a good source of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help prevent arthritis and maintain healthy eyes, hair, and skin. Turnip greens also contain folate, a B vitamin that may help reduce the risk of heart disease, enhance memory, and improve mood.

How Stevia May Help Lower Your Blood Sugar

Stevia is an all-natural herb from South America that’s used as a healthier sweetener. Unlike refined sugar and other natural sweeteners, stevia does not raise blood sugar and does not contain any calories. (1)

Pure stevia in its natural form also contains no chemicals or artificial ingredients like other artificial sweeteners. The leaves of the stevia plants are 200-300 times sweeter than sugar (depending on how it’s processed into a sweetener) and contain no sugar alcohols unlike other alternative sweeteners such as xylitol or erythritol.

But is stevia all it’s cracked up to be? Apparently so, according to various research studies that shows the herb isn’t just incredibly useful for sweetening coffee and tea. It’s also pretty helpful for lowering your blood sugar levels. (1)

How Stevia May Help Lower Your Blood Sugar

A research study in Brazil found that after taking pure stevia extract every six hours for three days, individuals showed a remarkable reduction in blood glucose levels. (2)

Another study detailed by Metabolism Journal showed that individuals who took stevia after a meal had 18% lower blood glucose levels than those consuming a sweetener from corn. The authors of the study states, “Stevioside reduces postprandial blood glucose levels in type-2 diabetic patients, indicating beneficial effects on the glucose metabolism.” (1,3)

This is good news for those with diabetes looking for a better alternative than artificial sweeteners that contain harmful chemicals. Glucose intolerance is a risky health issue for anyone whether they have diabetes or not. It can lead to metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypoglycemia, and/or diabetes. (4)

The benefits of stevia for blood sugar come from the herb’s natural compounds known as steviosides. Stevia has even been found helpful to lower blood pressure and as well as better digestion. (1)

What’s the Best Stevia to Buy?

It’s important to know that not all stevia products are the same. Many include fillers such as maltodextrin, dextrose, sucrose (sugar), or insulin, a pre-biotic fiber used as an inexpensive sweetener. You can use stevia for baking, add it to beverages and dishes of all kinds, or use it in anything you would use with another type of sweetener. It is sold in liquid form, powdered form, and in dried leaf form. (5)

Though it’s generally considered safe, not enough research has been performed on stevia to determine its long-term benefits of side effects. (5)

Sources for this article include:

(1) authoritynutrition.com
(2) www.diabetes.co.uk
(3) www.metabolismjournal.com
(4) www.diabetes.co.uk
(5) www.huffingtonpost.com 

Fitness Equals Better Academics in Children

Evidence is mounting that fit kids perform better than their unfit peers on a variety of learning tasks.

In a study conducted recently at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, researchers evaluated children as they performed reading and language comprehension exercises while wearing electrode caps. Fitness levels varied among the children, and these devices allowed the scientists to evaluate brain activity.

“Children who are physically fit have faster and more robust neuro-electrical brain responses during reading than their less-fit peers,” the researchers concluded.

Study author Charles Hillman, PhD, professor in the department of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, said in a university news release, “Our study shows that the brain function of higher fit kids is different, in the sense that they appear to be able to better allocate resources in the brain towards aspects of cognition that support reading comprehension.” He added, “Now, whether that difference is caused by fitness or maybe some third variable that affects both fitness and language processing, we don’t know yet.”

More research is recommended to determine the underlying mechanisms for the links between fitness and healthy brain function.

The study appeared in Brain and Cognition (2014; 87, 140-52).

Repost from IDEA FIT

Your Liver: Fat Burning & Overall Health

REPOST FROM BUTTERNUTRITION:
http://butternutrition.com/the-liver-your-most-important-fat-burning-organ/

Proper liver function is critical for a healthy body. The liver performs over 400 functions, but the most important job being to filter toxins and waste from the blood. After the liver filters the blood, it transforms the toxins into substances to be excreted out of the body via the kidneys (urine) or dumps them in the bile duct to flow into the digestive system and out the body in feces (in a healthy liver with good bile flow).

If our liver does not have the nutrients to do its job of filtering the blood, and transforming toxins into safe substances to send out of the body, it gets backed up and sluggish. Toxins are NOT able to leave the body, and are stored in adipose tissue (fat tissue) where they will stay until liver function improves, and they can be released safely! Another common problem is sluggish/stagnant bile flow. The liver dumps toxins into the bile (bile duct is a river for toxins to move out of the body) and when it gets too thick, the toxic matter can’t flow out of the body quick enough (leading to fatigue, low energy, constipation, PMS, toxicity & disease)!

So how is your liver functioning supporting your body’s fat burning abilities? If you suffer from any of the following, your liver & gallbladder might be trying to tell you something!

• History of alcohol/drug use or hepatitis
• Long term prescription drug use
• Sensitive to chemicals (tobacco smoke, fumes, perfume, cleaning agents, etc.)
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Stomach upset by greasy foods
• Greasy or shiny stools
• History of nausea, motion sickness, or morning sickness
• Light or pale colored stools
• Headache over the eyes
• Gallbladder attacks
• Bitter taste in the mouth (especially after meals)
• Become sick or easily intoxicated if drinking wine
• Easily hung over
• Pain under right side of rib cage
• Hemorrhoids or varicose veins
• NutraSweet (aspartame) consumption
• Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
  ***Most often liver stress is a result of a protein deficiency, poor digestion, low nutrient diet, that allows an increased toxic burden to build up.

Fat burning is not a priority for a liver under stress. Strengthen your liver to support your body’s fat burning abilities through proper nutrition of whole, unprocessed foods! 

ANOTHER OPTION TO HELP: The 3 Day Refresh

References:
Liver Clipart: Altered and used with permission from Microsoft.
Weatherby,  Dicken. “Liver and Gallbladder.” Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Nutritional Therapy Association, 2004. Print.

High Fiber Foods: Secret to Weight Loss

Weight loss is one of the most popular topics today in the health food world and it’s also on many people’s annual to-do lists. Food companies know this and market unhealthy foods as ‘health foods’ or ‘weight-loss friendly foods’ in order to lure consumers into buying them.

However studies have shown that the most beneficial nutrient for losing weight isn’t found in a pill or a box of low-calorie granola bars.  It’s merely natural fiber from plants that seems to have the most long-term and healthiest weight loss results of all. (1)

How Fiber Helps You Lose The Most Weight

Fiber fills you up very fast, which leads to an increase in satiety much quicker than sugar and processed foods. (2)

Fiber from fruits and vegetables specifically satisfy you on fewer calories than from other sources as well. Fiber contains no digestible calories, so any amounts of carbohydrates derived from fiber will not be stored as excess calories. Instead, it will be excreted from the body. This not only aids in digestion but also boosts metabolism because the body burns calories when excreting the fiber out of the body. (3)

Scientific American documented a study conducted by Harvard Health, which showed those who consumed the most fiber from whole plant-based foods lost more weight and kept it off than those who ate processed sources of fiber. Researchers said that more studies still need to be done, but consuming more plant-based foods is a good idea for all measures of good health. (4)

What Are the Highest Sources of Fiber?

The fiber all stars are plant-based which includes apples, pears, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, chia seeds, hemp seeds, artichokes, asparagus, flax seeds, oats, beans, and legumes. (5,6) Fruits and vegetables are lower in calories than whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes; however, all natural plant-based sources of fiber make a good choice and are better than processed options! (4)

How Much Is Enough?

Generally, most people should be eating 20-30 grams of fiber per day to get the daily-recommended amounts, however, up to 40 grams or higher may be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. Fiber may cause some additional digestive activity; therefore, it’s best to introduce it slowly into your diet and adjusts the amounts over time. Fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, and low blood sugar. (7)

Sources for this article include: 

(1) www.hsph.harvard.edu 
(2) authoritynutrition.com
(3) www.womenshealthmag.com
(4) www.scientificamerican.com
(5) www.eatingwell.com
(6) greatist.com
(7) www.fitnesssmagazine.com

9 Ways That Eating Processed Food Made the World Sick and Fat

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I have long stated that if you want to be optimally healthy, you should spend 90 percent of your food budget on whole foods, and only 10 percent on processed foods. Unfortunately, most Americans currently do the opposite, and their health suffers as a result.

With most foods, the closer they are to nature, the better. It's possible to have some processed foods that are still healthy; for instance, frozen green beans have been "processed" as has butter, grass-fed ground beef, or freshly prepared almond butter.

In most cases, however, the term "processed food" refers to those that are chemically processed and made from heavily refined ingredients and artificial additives. Such processed foods are the bane of Western civilizations' diets. 

Processed Foods Are To Blame...

It's not a stretch to blame processed foods for the rising rates of chronic disease and weight gain around the developed world. Why? Let me count the ways…

1. Processed Foods Are High in Sugar and/or High Fructose Corn Syrup

This isn't only a matter of "empty calories" causing you to gain weight without getting proper nutrition. Excess sugar consumption is linked to insulin resistance, high triglycerides, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Refined fructose, typically in some form of corn syrup, is now found in virtually every processed food you can think of, and fructose actually "programs" your body to consume more calories and store fat.

Fructose is primarily metabolized by your liver, because your liver is the only organ that has the transporter for it. Since all fructose gets shuttled to your liver, and, if you eat a typical Western-style diet, you consume high amounts of it, fructose ends up taxing and damaging your liver in the same way alcohol and other toxins do.

And just like alcohol, fructose is metabolized directly into fat – it gets stored in your fat cells, which can lead to mitochondrial malfunction, obesity, and obesity-related diseases, especially if you are insulin or leptin resistant.

The more fructose or HFCS a food contains, and the more total fructose you consume, the worse it is for your health. As a standard recommendation, I advise keeping your TOTAL fructose consumption below 25 grams per day.

For most people, it would also be wise to limit your fructose from fruit to 15 grams or less, as you're virtually guaranteed to consume "hidden" sources of fructose if you drink beverages other than water and eat processed food.

It's important to realize that added sugar (typically in the form of high fructose corn syrup) is not confined to junky snack foods or sweets; it's also common in savory processed foods.

For example, most of Prego's spaghetti sauces have one common feature and that is sugar — it's the second largest ingredient, right after tomatoes. A half-cup of Prego Traditional contains the equivalent of more than two teaspoons of sugar!

2. Processed Foods Are Designed to Make You Overeat

Your body is designed to naturally regulate how much you eat and the energy you burn. But food manufacturers have figured out how to over-ride these intrinsic regulators, designing processed foods that are engineered to by "hyper-rewarding."

According to the "food reward hypothesis of obesity," processed foods stimulate such a strong reward response in our brains that it becomes very easy to overeat. One of the guiding principles for the processed food industry is known as "sensory-specific satiety."

Investigative reporter Michael Moss describes this as "the tendency for big, distinct flavors to overwhelm your brain."2 The greatest successes, whether beverages or foods, owe their "craveability" to complex formulas that pique your taste buds just enough, without overwhelming them, thereby overriding your brain's inclination to say "enough."

In all, potato chips are among the most addictive junk foods on the market, containing all three bliss-inducing ingredients: sugar (from the potato), salt, and fat.

3. Processed Foods Contain Artificial Ingredients

Processed foods may contain dozens of artificial chemicals that are in no way real "food." These include:

• Preservatives
• Artificial colors
• Artificial flavors (the term artificial flavor on a label may include 10 or more chemicals)
• Texturants (chemicals that add a texture to food)

Food manufacturers typically claim that artificial food additives are safe, but research says otherwise. Preservatives, for example, have been linked to health problems such as cancer, allergic reactions, and more.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT) are preservatives that affect the neurological system of your brain, alter behavior, and have the potential to cause cancer. Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a chemical preservative so deadly that just five grams can kill you.

Or take artificial colors. Nine of the food dyes currently approved for use in the US are linked to health issues ranging from cancer and hyperactivity to allergy-like reactions -- and these results were from studies conducted by the chemical industry itself.3 Artificial flavors aren't much better.

The artificial flavoring called diacetyl, which is often used as a butter flavoring in microwave popcorn, has several concerning properties for brain health and may trigger Alzheimer's disease. Genetically engineered flavor enhancers can also be listed under the artificial flavor (or natural flavor) label.

4. You Can Become Addicted to Processed Foods

Addicted to junk food? Yes, this is a real phenomenon that's backed up by science. Processing modifies or removes important components of food, like fiber, water, and nutrients, changing the way they are digested and assimilated in your body.

Unlike whole foods, which contain a mix of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fiber, and water to help you feel satisfied, processed foods stimulate dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, making you feel good even though the food lacks nutrients and fiber. This artificial dopamine stimulation can lead to excessive food cravings and, ultimately, food addiction.

Last year, Oreo cookies were found to be just as addictive as cocaine or morphine, with Oreos activating more neurons in the pleasure centers of rat brains than exposure to illicit drugs did. Potato chips, however, are among the most addictive junk foods on the market, containing three bliss-inducing ingredients: sugar (from the potato), salt, and fat. According to Moss:4

"The coating of salt, the fat content that rewards the brain with instant feelings of pleasure, the sugar that exists not as an additive but in the starch of the potato itself — all of this combines to make it the perfect addictive food."

5. Processed Foods Are Typically High in Refined Carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates like breakfast cereals, bagels, waffles, pretzels, and most other processed foods quickly break down to sugar in your body. This increases your insulin and leptin levels, and contributes to insulin resistance, which is the primary underlying factor of nearly every chronic disease and condition known to man, including weight gain. As Business Insider reported:5

"One of the main problems is that refined, 'simple' carbohydrates are quickly broken down in the digestive tract, leading to rapid spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. This can lead to carb cravings a few hours later when blood sugar levels go down again. This phenomenon is also called the 'blood sugar roller coaster' – which many people who have been on a high-carb diet can relate to. Not surprisingly, eating a lot of refined carbohydrates is associated with negative health effects and many chronic diseases.

Do NOT be fooled by labels like 'whole grains' that are often plastered on processed food packages, including breakfast cereals. These are usually whole grains that have been pulverized into very fine flour and are just as harmful as their refined counterparts."

6. Most Processed Foods Are Low in Nutrients

Processed foods often have the real nutrition processed right out, then sometimes added back in in the form of synthetic vitamins and minerals. These synthetics do not fool your body, however, and will not provide the whole, synergistic nutrition that eating whole food will.

Further, there's no way that a lab can "add back in" all of the thousands of phytochemicals and trace nutrients found in whole foods. Science hasn't even begun to uncover all of them. The best way to ensure your body gets the benefits of all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more that nature has to offer is to eat whole, unprocessed foods.

7. Processed Foods Are Typically Low in Fiber

Public health guidelines from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advise Americans to eat between 20 and 30 grams of fiber a day, but most adults don't even eat half that much. This isn't surprising, since fiber refers to the indigestible portion of plant foods, and in the largely refined standard American diet, healthful fibers are often processed right out. Unless you regularly eat whole fruits and vegetables, nuts, and seeds, you may be missing out on the healthiest forms of fiber available.

8. It Requires Less Energy and Time to Digest Processed Foods

"Vanishing calorie density" is a term used to describe processed foods that melt in your mouth, which has the effect of making your brain think it doesn't contain any calories. End result — you keep eating. Cheetos is one such example.

Not only can you eat these processed foods faster (think of the difference between chewing a potato chip or a piece of broccoli), but it also takes less energy to digest them. In one study, it took volunteers twice as many calories to digest an unprocessed meal compared to a processed one.6 Those who regularly eat processed food may reduce the amount of calories they burn throughout the day because of this.

9. Processed Foods Are Often High in Trans Fats and Processed Vegetable Oils

Synthetic trans fats are common in foods that contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as crackers, chips, most store-bought baked goods, and any fried foods, just to name a few examples. Synthetic trans fats are known to promote inflammation, which is a hallmark of most chronic and/or serious diseases.

Most also contain high amounts of omega-6 fats in the form of processed vegetable oils. These polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) tend to stimulate inflammatory processes in your body, and they are very chemically unstable and prone to oxidation. Consuming these oxidized fats in excess has been linked to all sorts of health problems, such as atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Cancer-Causing Acrylamide Is Another Major Processed Food Risk

If you're looking for motivation to stop eating processed foods, remember that this is about more than eating empty calories or even too much sugar. Processed foods contain many substances that are contrary to health, and acrylamide is one of them. Acrylamide can form in many foods cooked or processed at temperatures above 212°F (100°C), but carbohydrate-rich foods are the most vulnerable to this heat-induced byproduct. As a general rule, the chemical is formed when food is heated enough to produce a fairly dry and "browned" surface. Hence, it can be found in high amounts in many processed foods, especially:

• Potatoes: chips, French fries, and other roasted or fried potato foods
• Grains: bread crust, toast, crisp bread, roasted breakfast cereals, and various processed snacks

Animal studies have shown that exposure to acrylamide increases the risk of several types of cancer, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer considers acrylamide a "probable human carcinogen." Potato chips in particular are notoriously high in this dangerous chemical. So high, in fact, that in 2005 the state of California actually sued potato chip makers for failing to warn California consumers about the health risks of acrylamide in their products. A settlement was reached in 20087 when Frito-Lay and several other potato chip makers agreed to reduce the acrylamide levels in their chips to 275 parts per billion (ppb) by 2011, which is low enough to avoid needing a cancer warning label.

The Secret to Better Health: Eat Real Food

The solution to improving your health and losing weight is often as simple as swapping processed foods for real food.Business Insider reported:8"When we replace real, traditional foods like butter, meat and vegetables with crappy, processed junk foods, we get fat and sick. Real food is the key to good health, processed food is not. Period."

People have thrived on vegetables, meats, eggs, fruits, and other whole foods for centuries, while processed foods were only recently invented. Many of the top executives and scientists at leading processed food companies actually avoid their own foods for a variety of health reasons!

Ditching processed foods requires that you plan your meals in advance, but if you take it step-by-step as described in my nutrition plan, it's quite possible, and manageable, to painlessly remove processed foods from your diet. You can try scouting out your local farmer's markets for in-season produce that is priced to sell, and planning your meals accordingly, but you can also use this same premise with supermarket sales.

You can generally plan a week of meals at a time, making sure you have all ingredients necessary on hand, and then do any prep work you can ahead of time so that dinner is easy to prepare if you're short on time in the evenings (and you can use leftovers for lunches the next day).

Want more health, fitness & nutritional advice? Connect with my LIKE page on Facebook or visit my website!  

BY DR. MERCOLA  

The Importance of Body Image Happiness…!

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Dove asked mothers and daughters to write down what they liked and disliked about their bodies.  The similarities between the two lists were both eye-opening and shocking.  Who knew that all this is ingrained in our children?

Many women have a negative body image.  In some ways it seems like it just goes with the territory of being a woman.  We are always criticizing ourselves and picking out our flaws, instead of celebrating the things we love about ourselves.  The big problem with this behavior is that we are passing it all down to our children.  Without us even realizing it, our children are taking the same negative views of their own bodies that we have of ours.  This is an important lesson in learning to love ourselves, so that we can begin to foster a positive self image in our children, as opposed to teaching them at such an early age to only focus on imperfections.  Thanks, Dove, for helping to spread this important lesson!

About:  This video was originally seen on the dove United States YouTube channel.   The purpose of this channel is to encourage positive self-esteem in women.  Dove has wonderful products for both men and women, including shampoo, deodorant and soaps.