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The "Suggestions For Good Health" Thread

Burgundy Burner

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There are some health threads, but it is time for a thread that offers good advice about healthy living. Feel free to offer suggestions and credible links/stories for the benefit of all members. I'll get it started.

http://www.dailywealth.com/preview/1950

Top 12 Ways to Improve Your Health in 2012
By Dr. David Eifrig, editor
Saturday, January 7, 2012


Every year, I provide readers of my Retirement advisory one of the most valuable lists in the world.

Before compiling the list, I spend time researching and thinking about the most important handful of things readers could do to improve the longevity and quality of their lives into retirement.

None of the stuff is hard to do. All of it is based on scientific evidence, as well as my personal experience. The list changes from year to year, but the "big themes" remain the same.

I encourage you to take your time with the 12 items on this year's list... These ideas will change your life for the better. Try one a month, or one a week. (I've heard some readers post the list on their refrigerators.) I hope you enjoy reading the list as much as I've enjoyed putting it together...

1. Sleep: Try to sleep at least eight hours a day (include naps in the total). This has been No. 1 on my list for seven-straight years. Poor sleep is linked to heart disease, obesity, colds, and even cancer. Without enough sleep, the immune system doesn't work right.

Getting good sleep is hard to do in December and January. The pressure of parties, socializing, traveling, eating sweets, and drinking alcohol all lead to poor sleep.

Most people who struggle with sleep fail to focus on good "sleep hygiene."

Here's what I do: I darken the room as much as I can. I remove TVs, radios, electronics, and cell phones from the bedroom. Electronic gear and the transformers used to run them emit electromagnetic radiation that disturbs sleep cycles.

Make your bed a place of relaxation, sleep, and sex. And never argue or fight in the bedroom.

Turn the temperature down in your bedroom. When your legs and arms are cooling down, it triggers chemicals to your brain telling it that it's time to sleep. 60 degrees is the ideal sleeping temperature.

Also, maintain a set time of day to either wake up or go to bed. I try to set my bed time... when I'm fully rested I'll wake up seven to eight hours later. If I'm not rested, I'll sleep until I am. But if I feel a cold coming on... or everyone else around me is getting sick... off to bed I go for some extra sleep.

2. Movement: It's critical to move at least 20 minutes a day. Moving is a sign that you're alive. It triggers the body to produce chemicals and hormones that improve mood and increase bone density. Weight-bearing exercises, like walking, increase your bone density the best and even improve your immune system.

But if you're lazy or it's cold outside, the cheapest and easiest movement to do is stretching – you can do it in your pajamas. And you don't need any other equipment... not even shoes. The benefits are nearly equal to walking.

One more thing about movement is that it improves your mood. Exercises like tai chi and yoga have been shown to effectively combat depression.

Do what I do... Lie down on a soft floor and stretch several times a week.

On other days, try to jog or walk. When traveling, getting out for 15 minutes in the neighborhood is a great way to learn more about the area and the people you're visiting. I'll occasionally seek out a yoga studio and do a beginner class.

If you don't know how to stretch or what's possible, the best book on the topic is Stretching by Bob Anderson.

3. Meditate: Meditation – the act of sitting quietly and focusing on your breath, a sound, or a word – is the physiologic equivalent of a good workout. Scientists have studied the meditation state, and it's probably as good as the best aerobic workout for short and long-term health benefits.

Meditation brings lower blood pressure, less heart disease, and more VO2max – a fancy physiologic measurement of fitness using your body's ability to consume oxygen.

You probably suspect it, but meditation and long sessions of prayer have very similar effects on the body. The only difference for meditation is you don't need to be religious to do it and capture the benefits. It's easy, too.

Do what I do... Sit quietly in a chair or bed for 15-20 minutes. Concentrate on a word, noise, or sound... and your breathing. Let your mind go where it wants, but slowly try to bring it back to your original point of focus. I meditate two or three times a week, usually in the morning.

After five or six times, you'll easily appreciate the feeling of relaxation and peace... Some people I've turned on to meditation report a benefit in just the first session.

If you want to know more about the science behind meditation and a couple other methods to induce the physiological response, read a book called The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson.

4. Sun: Getting regular sun on your skin is critical in the production of vitamin D – a key component for proper immune system functioning (and fighting everything from cancer to colds). Vitamin D also regulates sleep and even mood.

One challenge is to avoid getting burned. Burned skin leads to skin cancers and leathery skin. So avoid going out during prime burning times of 11 a.m. through 2 p.m. in the summer. If I have to go out midday, do what I do... Wear a long-sleeved shirt and a hat. Also, slowly adapt your time in the sun if you're not going out regularly.

And stay away from sunscreens. They contain known carcinogens. Several of the chemicals are known to slow sperm and reduce the count. I rarely put on anything stronger than SPF4. Anything stronger and you're poisoning yourself.

During the winter, it's harder to get enough sun at northern latitudes. Many researchers and clinicians are starting to recommend supplementation with pills. I'm not convinced yet. There's documented danger in all fat soluble vitamins– so be careful.

Do what I do... Try to get out for 30-45 minutes in the sun during the winter on a long walk and kill two birds with one stone (exercise and sun). If I can't get out for a few days, for whatever reason, I'll take no more than 600-1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 every other day or so.

5. Massage: Massage gets rid of aches and pains and modulates the immune system. That means less inflammation. Swedish-style massage is my preferred choice as it moves toxins out of the muscles and body tissues, while assisting the immune system in its functions.

Massage is a great way to relieve pain, too. Most people with regular headaches could be cured with massage because the muscles surrounding the neck often lead to headaches.

This is one of the more expensive health tips on my list, but well worth it. Instead of spending money on dining out or cable TV, save some money up and try a couple of massages this year.

And you can always get a free massage by exchanging them with a partner. You can practice and try with hands or feet and lotion or massage oils. Try it the next time you're sitting together watching TV.

6. Clean Air: Up from No. 10 last year to No. 6 is clean air. Research keeps showing how important clean air is to health. Research even suggests the increase in heart attacks on Christmas day (the No. 1 day for heart attacks) is due to smoke from fireplaces and grilling.

Whatever you can do to breathe clean air will help your health. Dirt, dust, and smoke in the air lead to acute and chronic inflammation in the body.

That means more cancer, colds, and pain.

For decades, I've kept my bedroom air clean with an air filter. We spend one-third of our life in bed, so it makes sense to keep the air there clean. Also, change your other air filters regularly.

One great secret is to remove your shoes when you enter your house. This lowers the amount of particulate matter by 50%-60%. Keep a pair of house slippers right there to switch into, or do what I do... Simply walk around in socks. This strategy results in less sweeping and vacuuming, as well.

Finally, avoid breathing manmade chemicals around the house whenever you can (compared to the natural oils I mention in the next section). This includes spray cans of oil, paint, hairspray, disinfectants, and cleaning chemicals. A report this year from the National Academy of Science showed that detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets are full of harmful chemicals.

7. Stimulate Your Sense of Smell with Aromatherapy: Natural smells can be uplifting and health-giving. Roses, lilacs, vanilla, and cinnamon all invoke memories and chemical change in our bodies. The fond memories flood the body with chemicals that keep you healthy.

Different scents have different effects – I use air fresheners of lavender for relaxation and orange for invigoration... I spray pine for cleanliness on the bathroom rug... And I sprinkle bergamot or patchouli on the living room rug to lift my spirits.

Aromatherapy is easy to do. I usually go to a nearby Whole Foods or any health food store and ask for the essential oils. These are the concentrated oils and liquids from the material. It takes 100 bergamot oranges to make three ounces of bergamot oil. The salesperson in the area can help with the scent that's meant to serve your purpose.

Buy one small bottle and start sprinkling a drop or two near you on a rug or in a small dish and enjoy. (One of my favorite books about humans and smell is A Natural History of the Senses.)

8. Don't Share Food or Drink: This time of year, colds and flu abound. One of the fastest ways to guarantee you get sick is to share cups or food with others. I just violated this rule last week, and... voila... the whole group I was sampling Ecuadorean food with has colds.

I used to share food and drink with family and friends all the time: "Here Dave, try this X or Y, it's really good." But I've followed this "do not share" rule for years now. And I've avoided the usual colds, sore throat, and GI distress... until last week.

So next time someone says, "May I try it?" just get them a clean glass, fork, or spoon. And only let them come in once for a taste – no double-dipping on their food, either.

9. Alcohol Beer, Wine, or Hard Liquor: In past years, I've focused on wine, but the literature is pretty clear... A moderate amount of alcohol regularly puts you squarely in the healthier camp versus teetotalers and fall-down drunks.

Men should drink about two glasses a day and women about one a day to maximize the benefits. I regularly drink one four-ounce glass of wine each day. My French friends have a small glass at lunch and a small glass at dinner... It's meant to relax the mind and improve moods.

Wine also improves digestion and decreases the risk of diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and even Alzheimer's disease. I prefer red wine because it contains more of the colorful antioxidants from the dark grape skins. These are suspected of even greater benefit than just the alcohol effects.

The important thing is to drink responsibly – and that means never driving after more than two drinks of any kind.

And remember the classic German proverb... "There are more old German wine drinkers than there are old German doctors."

10. Salt – Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium: This is new to the list this year. (It kicks music off the list.)

Most doctors don't have a clue about what they're saying when it comes to salt. They keep parroting the nonsense of how "salt" is bad for you. Regulators in some cities, like New York City, are considering restricting salt. That's nonsense and dangerous.

The salt they're talking about is sodium. (Chloride is the other half of the molecule and is found in many other salts.) The best research shows a U-shaped effect from sodium chloride. If you have too much or too little, you're ripe for strokes and high blood pressure. The key is consuming the right amount.

Many medical groups are pushing for less than two grams a day. But it's based on short-term studies with small numbers of people. On the other hand, a recent study showed that up to 6.5 grams a day of sodium isn't any different than two grams a day. And this study was done on 49,000 people with hypertension and diabetics.

If it doesn't affect those already sick, it's hard to imagine how it would be harmful to others. I'd always suspected this was the case from my first day of medical school, but now there's good research to back it up.

The gem to take from the study was that another salt – potassium – was protective. People consuming more potassium had lower mortality and morbidity (other disease problems).

Potassium is found in many foods lacking in our modern day, on-the-go diets. Do what I do... Focus on eating high-potassium foods regularly: avocados, potatoes, beans, bananas, fish, raisins, apricots, dates, and cocoa powder (think chocolate). Occasionally, I'll take a little bit of potassium bicarbonate.

Finally, more research is coming out about a third chemical element – magnesium. Evidence shows the modern-day diet is also low on the stuff. Magnesium helps muscles relax (counters the effects of calcium) and is critical in most enzymes in the body. I've seen people take magnesium supplements and within days feel like the cloud hanging over them all their life has gone away. There is good evidence magnesium helps with mood, energy, and mental stability.

It's a powerful salt found in many healthy foods, including seeds, brans (wheat, rice, and oat), spinach, and cocoa. Any leafy greens have a high amount of magnesium because the center of the chlorophyll molecule is magnesium.

Stop worrying about sodium... and concentrate on increasing your potassium and magnesium from healthy foods.

11. Aspirin: This drug is perhaps the most powerful drug known to man... and it's made the Top 12 since my first list. As I've said before, the drug has so many effects (good and bad), that it would likely never get through the FDA approval process today.

But that doesn't stop me from taking about one 325-milligram aspirin every week. The chemistry of aspirin affects the body's platelets for about 10 days.

Aspirin is originally from the bark of the willow tree and has been used for centuries by healers. Aristotle used it as a tea for pain, and others since have applied its magic. Today, it relieves pain, lowers fever, and reduces overall inflammation.

Even in small doses, aspirin has some amazing effects. Just one baby aspirin (81 milligrams) a day reduces the rate of colon and lung cancer and second heart attacks. Recently, aspirin was found to increase the rate of survival FROM colon cancer.

For people older than 50, the benefits of one baby aspirin a day probably outweigh the risks. The main risk of aspirin is gastrointestinal bleeding. I take aspirin with an enteric coating that keeps it from sitting in my stomach as the drug is released. This helps me avoid that minor side effect...

I also take one 325-mg aspirin when traveling, as there are studies showing it lowers the risk of getting a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – an uncommon but life threatening problem where blood clots in your legs from sitting too long.

12. Fruit: Last but not least... fruit. I almost kicked it off this year in favor of music. But when you recognize how many fruits have potassium and magnesium, it makes sense to keep it in the Top 12.

The benefits are many. The micronutrients found in fruits, especially those with darker colors, are powerful antioxidants. The fiber from whole fruit appears to lower risks of colon cancer. And mounting evidence shows fruit blocks cancers, lowers blood pressure, and reduces joint pain.

This year, a study showed women who ate one cup of apples (roughly a fist-sized apple) per day for six months lowered their LDL ("bad" cholesterol) 26%. They also raised their HDL "good" cholesterol and even lost weight.

Apples were also shown to reduce plaque and inflammation in the heart's artery walls. This gives new impetus to the old saying about an apple a day keeping the doctor away. The skin of the apple contains pectin, which makes bowel movements more pleasant. And the older we get, the more important this becomes.

I've written about berries for years... and can recommend eating blue and blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries as well.

Berries lower bad cholesterol, fight cancer, and improve your immune system because they're packed with vitamin C. The high amounts of potassium and salicylate (an ingredient in aspirin) helps protect against high blood pressure. Blueberries lowered it by 10% in a recent study.

Strawberries are unique in that they're thought to help relieve rheumatoid arthritis – and other forms of pain – although the mechanism isn't clear.

So what's the downside? Well, as long as you stick to whole and dried fruits, you're probably OK. The danger is when you start taking in juices of all kinds. You may have read about the arsenic problems with apple and grape juices this summer – confirmed recently by several independent researchers. Arsenic and other heavy metals, like lead, easily concentrate in juices through their water sources.

Also, there's a real concern that orange juice (and maybe other juices) gets the blood sugar so high so fast that it leads to elevated triglycerides (TGLs). These fat molecules are super-inflammatory and lead to an increased risk of heart disease.

Do what I do... If you "juice," do the whole fruit (preferably organic), pulp and all, and don't have more than one or two whole fruits worth of juice at any sitting. It's especially good to drink juice before a workout, as the body will use up the sugars quickly and not convert to the fatty TGLs.

Here's to our health.
 
Sleep.

I have no problem going to sleep. When I sleep, I do so, soundly.

But I think I'm one of the estimated 5% of so-called short sleepers.

When I was younger, it was 4 hrs. Didn't matter when I went to bed, if I was plastered drunk, or under the influence of some other, um, stuff.
4hrs later the eyes open. And once they're open, I'm up. That is still the case today.

Now that I'm, um, better seasoned, it's 4-6 hrs. With the happy median of 5 being the most usual. I still have to stay up until at least 10:00.
11:00 is even better, as when I fall asleep at 10, or before, I wake up before the alarm goes off.

Sleeping during the day is just short of impossible. Though my, better seasoning has allowed me to catch an occasional power nap. The trade off is, daytime power naps usually mean midnight, or later, before I can get to sleep.

Now then, on the occasions where I'm up partying/dancing/gambling, and don't get to bed until 5 or 6 in the morning, I'll sleep for 1.5 - 3hrs before the "can't sleep during the daytime" kicks in.

Sleep is a waste of time. Shame that it's also a necessity.
 
If you work a typical 9-5 in an office, one tip I like is every time you have to use the restroom, take the stairs and use the one up 1 or 2 floors. If you can do the same every time you have to use the copier, fax machine, etc, even better.

Some others:

Park as far away as possible from your office. I park on the 3rd floor of our parking deck and take the stairs every day.

Work standing up. I personally haven't tried this one, but a bunch of people at my old office did and really liked it. They just built removable shelves they could put on their desks to raise their computer, etc. They didn't stand for the whole day, usually sat when they were reading or something like that.

Never miss breakfast! Keep oatmeal and a microwaveable bowl + spoon at your desk in case you can't whip something up before you leave the house. I find it also helps to take a week's worth of fresh snacks (apples or whatever) on Monday so I don't have to worry about packing them every day.
 
Excellent suggestions Ren and Ax. :)

http://www.thedailycrux.com/content/9918/Doc_Eifrig

Doc Eifrig: A super-healthy food you should eat everyday
Friday, February 17, 2012

If you've ever opened a yogurt container and been tempted to pour off the liquid swishing around on top, don't. That liquid is swimming with millions of bacteria that provide yogurt's key benefit.

The bacteria are called "probiotics" – literally "good bugs." Probiotics have mean sounding names like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Bifobacterium bifidum, but basically, they work to improve digestion and enhance your immune system. Eating yogurt regularly helps to moderate your immune systems responses – almost like the tune up of a car. Some research shows yogurt reduces allergies and autoimmune diseases. Yogurt also lowers the risk of certain cancers like bladder cancer.

One other benefit I've discovered is saving money on toilet paper. Yogurt improves the quality of stool formed and makes bowel movements much easier.

You can choose from several kinds of yogurt – plain (which can be organic or not), "Greek," or one of the specialty kinds, like Activia. The specialty brands claim to have an extra probiotic called Bifidobacterium animalis. (Each brand has a different name for it. It's intestinal bacteria commonly found in pigs.) It's just another type of probiotic that helps your digestive system. While it certainly doesn't hurt anything, the added benefit is unclear.

When shopping, there is a definite cost disparity between different types of yogurt. You can get 32 ounces of Stonyfield plain organic yogurt for $3.69. If you were to buy the same amount in Activia, you'd need to pay 30% more... or you could buy Yoplait's Greek yogurt and pay 60% more (and you can't actually buy Activia or Yoplait's Greek yogurt in 32 ounce containers).

For the money, I prefer to buy (and even make) good, old plain yogurt. Plain yogurt is lower in calories than Greek yogurt (though it has less protein). Best of all, plain yogurt is the cheapest. Specifically, I like Dannon and Stonyfield Farms plain yogurt.

I avoid all the flavored "fruit on the bottom" or "blended" yogurts. They're loaded with sweeteners I don't need. Instead, I swirl in a few blueberries for a sweet, healthy snack.
 
Sleep is huge. If you exercise regularly, that's when your body rebuilds the muscle that you break down during your workouts. Getting enough sleep also lowers blood pressure, and obviously, makes you feel better.

I'm looking to get into meditation, so I appreciate that being in the OP. I'm an adult-ADD sufferer, and though I manage it OK, my mind is very "noisy." I want to learn to quiet and focus it, do some visualization, and harness those benefits. Unfortunately, in my case, it's been very difficult to get started.
 
Sex is not on the list!
 
http://boingboing.net/2011/10/26/triticum-fever-by-dr-william-davis-author-of-wheat-belly.html

Triticum Fever, by Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly

By William Davis

Quick: Name a common food, consumed every day by most people, that:

• Increases overall calorie consumption by 400 calories per day
• Affects the human brain in much the same way as morphine
• Has a greater impact on blood sugar levels than a candy bar
• Is consumed at the rate of 133 pounds per person per year
• Has been associated with increased Type 1 Diabetes
• Increases both insulin resistance and leptin resistance, conditions that lead to obesity
• Is the only common food with its own mortality rate

If you guessed sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, you're on the right track, but, no, that's not the correct answer.

The true culprit: Triticum aestivum, or modern wheat.

Note that I said "modern" wheat, because I would argue that what we are being sold today in the form of whole grain bread, raisin bagels, blueberry muffins, pizza, ciabatta, bruschetta, and so on is not the same grain our grandparents grew up on. It's not even close.

Modern wheat is the altered offspring of thousands of genetic manipulations, crude and sometimes bizarre techniques that pre-date the age of genetic modification. The result: a high-yield, 2-foot tall "semi-dwarf" plant that no more resembles the wheat consumed by our ancestors than a chimpanzee (which shares 99% of the same genes that we do) resembles a human. I trust that you can tell the difference that 1% makes.

The obvious outward differences are accompanied by biochemical differences. The gluten proteins in modern wheat, for instance, differ from the gluten proteins found in wheat as recently as 1960. This likely explains why the incidence of celiac disease, the devastating intestinal condition caused by gluten, has quadrupled in the past 40 years. Furthermore, a whole range of inflammatory diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease, are also on the rise. Humans haven't changed -- but the wheat we consume has changed considerably.

You've heard of "beer bellies," the protuberant, sagging abdomen of someone who drinks beer to excess. That distinctive look is often attributed to alcohol consumption when in fact it's just as likely to be caused by the pretzels -- not just the beer -- you're downing after work. A wheat belly is a protuberant, sagging abdomen that develops when you overindulge in wheat products like crackers, breads, waffles, pancakes, breakfast cereals and pasta. Dimpled or smooth, hairy or hairless, tense or flaccid, wheat bellies come in as many shapes, colors, and sizes as there are humans. But millions of Americans have a wheat belly, and the underlying metabolic reasons for having one are all the same. Wheat contains a type of sugar called amylopectin A that raises blood sugar in an extravagant fashion. Eating just two slices of whole wheat bread, can raise blood sugar more than two tablespoons of pure sugar. This leads to the accumulation of visceral fat on the body, the deep fat encircling organs that is a hotbed of inflammatory activity. Inflammation, in turn, leads to hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and other conditions.

Wheat-consuming people are fatter than those who don't eat wheat. Why? Among the changes introduced into this plant is a re-engineered form of the gliadin protein unique to wheat. Gliadin has been increased in quantity and changed in structure, such that it serves as a powerful appetite stimulant. When you eat wheat, you want more wheat and in fact want more of everything else -- to the tune of 400 more calories per day. That's the equivalent of 41.7 pounds per year, an overwhelming potential weight gain that accumulates inexorably despite people's efforts to exercise longer and curtail other foods -- all the while blaming themselves for their lack of discipline and watching the scale climb higher and higher, and their bellies growing bigger and bigger.

All of which leads me to conclude that over-enthusiastic wheat consumption is not only one cause of obesity in this country, it is the leading cause of the obesity and diabetes crisis in the United States. It's a big part of the reason that reality shows like the Biggest Loser are never at a loss for contestants. It explains why modern athletes, like baseball players and golfers, are fatter than ever. Blame wheat when you are being crushed in your 2 x 2 airline seat by the 280-pound man occupying the seat next to yours.

Sure, sugary soft drinks and sedentary lifestyles add to the problem. But for the great majority of health conscious people who don't indulge in these obvious poor choices, the principal trigger for weight gain is wheat.

And wheat consumption is about more than just weight. There are also components of modern wheat that lead to diabetes, heart disease, neurologic impairment -- including dementia and incontinence -- and myriad skin conditions that range from acne to gangrene -- all buried in that innocent-looking bagel you had for breakfast.

Despite the potential downside of a diet so laden with wheat products, we continually bombarded with messages to eat more of this grain. The Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA, for instance, through their Dietary Guidelines for Americans, advocate a diet dominated by grains (the widest part of the Food Pyramid, the largest portion of the Food Plate). The American Dietetic Association, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, along with the Grain Foods Foundation, the Whole Grains Council, and assorted other agriculture and food industry trade groups all agree: Everyone should eat more healthy whole grains. This includes our children, who are being told to do such things as replace fast food with grains. These agencies were originally sidetracked by the "cut your fat and cholesterol" movement, which led to a wholesale embrace of all things carbohydrate, but especially "healthy whole grains." Unwittingly, they were advising increased consumption of this two-foot tall creation of the geneticists, high-yield semi-dwarf wheat.

This message to eat more "healthy whole grains" has, I believe, crippled Americans, triggering a helpless cycle of satiety and hunger, stimulating appetite by 400 calories per day and substantially contributing to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. And, oh yes, adding to the double-digit-per-year revenue growth of the diabetes drug industry, not to mention increased revenues for drugs for hypertension, cholesterol, and arthritis.

It is therefore my contention that eliminating all wheat from the diet is a good idea not just for people with gluten sensitivity; it's a smart decision for everybody. I have experience in my heart disease prevention practice, as well as my online program for heart disease prevention and reversal, with several thousand people who have done just that and the results are nothing short of astounding. Weight loss of 30, 50, even 70 pounds or more within the first six months; reversal of diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions; relief from edema, sinus congestion, and asthma; disappearance of acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms; increased energy, happier mood, better sleep. People feel better, look better, eat fewer calories, feel less hungry, are able to discontinue use of many medications -- just by eliminating one food from their diet -- ironically a food that they've been told to eat more of.

It is imperative that we break our reliance on wheat. It will require nothing less than an overthrow of conventional nutritional dogma. There will be battles fought to preserve the status quo; the wheat industry and its supporters will scream, yell, and claw to maintain their position, much as the tobacco industry and its lobbyists fought to maintain their hold on consumers.

If the health benefits of a wheat-free diet sound hard to believe, why not conduct your own little experiment and see for yourself: simply eliminate all things made of wheat for four weeks -- no bread, bagels, pizza, pretzels, rolls, donuts, breakfast cereals, pancakes, waffles, pasta, noodles, or processed foods containing wheat (and do be careful to read labels, as food manufacturers love to slip a little wheat gliadin into your food every chance they get to stimulate your appetite). That's a lot to cut out, true, but there's still plenty of real, nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruit, nuts, cheese and dairy products, meat, fish, soy foods, legumes, oils like olive oil, avocados, even dark chocolate that you can eat in their place. If after that 4-week period you discover new mental clarity, better sleep, relief from joint pain, happier intestines, and a looser waistband, you will have your answer.
 
One word BB, Monsanto...
 
The best way to not get fat is to figure out how many calories per day your body needs to consume in order to function properly, and then eat that (or less) each day.

It's not that complicated. :)
 
Every day I eat a salad of kale, romaine, tomatoes, and peppers. I think that does a body good :) Also training for a half marathon. Feeling so great these days!!!
 

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