Healthiest Fast Food Items Last Resort On The Go

So I decided to write about the healthiest fast food items because we live in this thing called life. Usually these days, people are very busy and there will come a time when we absolutely are running late or need to adjust our schedule and run out of time. When this happens, sometimes we skip a meal because we are so busy. This is when specific fast food items come in handy.

Now before we move on, I want to let you know that I don’t recommend eating at fast food joints as a resource for a healthy lifestyle. However, at times when you’re back is against the wall with “time”, it is better to eat and feed your body than to starve it. These foods listed will also make you gain weight if you don’t exercise. Exercise is key in putting together the best solution to reach your fitness goals in life.

The reason I don’t recommend fast food as healthy nutrition is because the ingredients they are made out of. Not necessarily the calories or the fat content, but more the things in them and what they are cooked in that can create diseases in the long run. Let’s be honest. Our nation has become bigger than ever. If we can be more selective on what we eat and how often we eat fast food, there could be a huge change in our nation’s health and tax payers money.

Finding the healthiest fast food is very difficult. Especially since most restaurants don’t always care about revealing nutritional information on the menu or on the food boxes. Not only that, but when you’re shown steak sandwiches, big greasy hamburgers with bacon and cheese, and those crispy salty fries, sometimes it is hard to resist temptation. Especially if you are in a rush to get dinner or lunch, have a hangover, or even when you are out traveling. Just remember, bigger is not always better.

So when you stop at all these restaurants for lunch or dinner, even breakfast what do you choose? Remember portions are a critical matter here. If you over eat any of these items, you could be towering over 1000 calories in just one meal with over 80 grams of carbohydrates.

Healthiest Fast Food Items From Major Chains

Believe it or not, some of the fast food chains do have food on their menus with a much less amount of fats and calories. The sodium still might be high, but I would rather face that evil than the other two.
McDonalds:
McDonald’s is known for its salty and greasy fries and its Big Mac hamburger. As wonderful and tasty as it may be for those who love fast food, it’s horrible for your body and your figure. So what foods can you eat at McDonald’s that is low-calorie and somewhat healthy as a last resort?

Regular cheeseburger (300, total fat 12, sodium 690, protein 15)
Regular hamburger ( 250 calories, total fat 9, sodium 490, protein 12)
Fruit/Granola Yogurt Parfait (150 calories, total fat 8, sodium 105, protein 4)
Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap ( 270 calories, total fat 19, sodium 670, protein 14)

Taco Bell
Taco Bell has become even more popular throughout the years with their new and funky ideas to change the taco, burritos, and even nachos into something new and delicious. Not to mention that they have now “gourmet” food created by real chefs. So what are the best choices when at Taco Bell?

Beef Soft Taco ( 200 calories, total fat 9, sodium 510, protein 10)
Chicken Soft Taco (170 calories, total fat 6, sodium 460, protein 12)
Tostada (250 calories, total fat 10, sodium 530, protein 10)

KFC
Fried chicken is a food loved by many as well as hated by many due to the massive amounts of salt and fat that each piece of crispy chicken holds. But believe it or not, there are foods on KFC’s menu that are still somewhat healthy so you get the best of both worlds.

Original Recipe Bites (10 piece) (330 calories, total fat 15, sodium 1100, protein 37)
Snack Size Bowl ( 260 calories, total fat 4, sodium 760, protein 12)
Grilled Drumstick Value Box (380 calories, total fat 19, sodium 1090, protein 15)
Chicken Little (sans sauce) (230 calories, total fat 6, sodium 540, protein 14)
House Side Salad without dressing (15 calories, total fat 0, sodium 15, protein 1)

Subway
Subway is popular for the fact you can mix and max making your own sub sandwiches or buying a creation on the menu not to mention the old commercials where Jared held up his fat pants. This is one of the better fast food chains to eat at if possible. These items are shown when served with italian or wheat bread, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and pickles. Here are some of the nutrition facts on select items.

6 inch Black forest ham sans cheese (290 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 830, protein 18)
6 inch Veggie Delite (230 calories, total fat 2.5, sodium 310, protein 8)
Double Chicken Salad (220 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 490, protein 36)
Black Forest Ham Salad (110 calories, total fat 3, sodium 600, protein 12)
Veggie Delite Salad w/o dressing (60 calories, total fat 1, sodium 75, protein 3)
6 inch Turkey Breast (280 calories, total fat3.5, sodium 810, protein 18, carb 46)

Healthiest Fast Food Items In “Sit Down” Restaurants

Sit down restaurants are nicer restaurants to sit down and enjoy a meal with the family or even a date. But some restaurants that we consider “sit down” are actually fast food restaurant.
Applebees
Applebee’s is now considered by many a nicer sit down restaurant when it is still fast food. Though it is better quality than some other fast food restaurants, a good number of its dishes tends to be high in calories sodium and fat that will go straight to our thighs and stomachs. So when you want a sit down meal, what can you choose that is healthy to make sure your pants fit right later down the road?

Bowl of tomato basil soup (280 calories, total fat 16, sodium 1490, protein 6)
Bowl of chicken noodle soup (170 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 1200, protein 14)
House salad (230 calories, total fat 15, sodium 400, protein 12)
Zesty Roma chicken & shrimp (calories 410, total fat 11, sodium 2090, protein 56)
Roasted garlic sirloin (450 calories, total fat 18, sodium 1870, protein 42)

Pizza Hut
Pizza is one of those foods almost everyone loves. It has cheese, sauce, seasoning, lots of meats or vegetables and can fit anyone’s tastes. It is also a great meal when you don’t feel like cooking to sit down too or order. Believe it or not pizza is somewhat good for a breakfast food because you burn all the carbohydrates throughout the day and you are getting vegetables and meats. But, for dinner or lunch it doesn’t work the same, so what are the healthy fast food choices at Pizza Hut?

1 slice cheese Thin -n- Crispy pizza (190 calories, total fat 8, sodium 550, protein 9, carbs 22)
1 slice Veggie Lovers Thin -n- Crispy pizza (180 calories, total fat 6, sodium 530, protein 8, carbs 23)
Pasta “1/2 pan” of Spaghetti w/ Marinara (450 calories, total fat 20, sodium 1100, protein 22, carbs 44)

Healthiest Fast Food Drinks

Many of us worry about the foods we eat, how many calories we consume, fats we intake, and try to cut sodium. Though that is good, while we are picking apart every bite we take, we tend to forget about our drinks. When ordering a drink you could be ordering something full of fat, carbohydrates, sodium or carbonate which will pack on the pounds in a hurry. So what can you drink?

Smart Water is the best. Keep it simple
Green Tea
Espresso
Jamba Juice Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blend
Iced Tea no sugar (0 calories, total fat 0, sodium 30, protein 0)
McDonald’s Small non fat latte

Fast food doesn’t have to be your full-time enemy. It can actually help carry you over if you absolutely must feed yourself and there are no other better options available. There have been many of women and men who have lost weight eating low-calorie meals from fast food restaurants when needed. This said, you must discipline yourself and know when enough is enough. Eating a balanced diet with all natural ingredients combined with daily exercise is in my opinion the best way to a healthy lifestyle.

There comes a time when you must either choose a meal replacement, or get better at preparing meals to take with you. It’s your choice to be healthy. But when you are absolutely on your last resort choice of needing to make that quick stop at your nearest fast food joint, all you have to do is pick the healthiest fast food choice on the menu from the items listed above.

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P90X by Tony Banawa

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Body Hacks For A Longer Life | Healthy Lifestyle Tips

I don’t know about you, but any time I can get some factual healthy lifestyle tips, my ears are always open. When I started this blog in 2011, my goal was to provide tips that helped me turn my life around from being a person who ate whatever, never exercised on a consistent basis, went out after work and had cocktails to wind down before bed, to someone who exercises on a daily basis, quit drinking, and is really aware of what I put into my body.

My idea has turned into a passion in just about 12 months where I can help people with healthy lifestyle tips to live a better life and set a good example to our youth who is already in higher danger of reaching obesity then the baby boomers and early generation X.

Scientists have yet to discover an elixir of immortality, but years of research have revealed how to prolong the natural human lifespan and maximize health. I’ve asked BestHealthDegrees.com to provide their latest infograph which complies this research into an easy-to-read chart teaching you how to keep your body happy and working for decades to come.

Five key areas are explored to teach you how to experience mental and physical well-being. Small steps are included to help anyone begin a journey of health, and numerous studies are cited to allow geeks to fully explore the issues. Plenty of pictures, tips and statistics keep the infograph interesting and fun to look at while the detailed text explains the science behind the advice.

Society will probably never find Ponce De Leon’s Fountain of Youth, but BestHealthDegrees.com has provided the info you need to get started on your path with healthy lifestyle tips. You can start following these quick, simple tips today.

Source: BestHealthDegrees.com

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Who is David Wolfe? I Love This Guy!

Living healthy is important and David Wolfe makes it easy for people to choose the right foods by identifying common nutrition myths and informing people about the truth.

Just a while ago, In came across one of the best food documentaries I have ever seen in “Food Matters”. Why? It was all about how this world was created with all the ingredients needed to be healthy. Foods that were so powerful, they could heal sickness and prevent diseases. It went as far as saying how the world has been driven to rely on pills and medication for help instead of the natural ingredients this earth provides.

There was a man named David Wolfe in this film and since then, I have been so impressed with his journey to health through superfoods and eating raw nutrition.

About David Wolfe

Wolfe is an expert on human nutrition and he advocates for the use of raw foods. He introduced a healthy living program that outlines various diet programs. He has a living nutrition degree which contributes to his expertise. He runs a company known as SunFood which deals in selling things related to raw food and is also an author.

Some of the books by David Wolfe include Superfoods, Naked Chocolate, Eating for Beauty and the SunFood Diet. He is the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation’s president, a foundation that seeks to plant 18 billion fruit trees all over the world. Both of his parents were doctors and this is where he traces his desire for good health.

David Wolfe has more than sixteen years of understanding and experience regarding the body’s inner workings. This has made him a highly sought after health and motivational speaker. He has made more than two thousand live lecture speeches within the last sixteen years. He shares the stage today with famous motivational speakers like Anthony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Buzz Aldrin and Deepak Chopra.

David Wolfe – Believers Vs Non-Believers

In the raw food community, people are split by half regarding whether the teachings of David Wolfe are genuine or not. People who believe that his nutrition claims are true consider him to be a trustworthy and well-educated leader in raw food health and nutrition. Those who do not believe in his teachings state that David Wolfe is just a salesman who is just after making profits from people who are seeking a happier, healthier lifestyle.

Most people who claim that his teachings are not genuine do so because of the manner in which Wolfe talks up his foods using buzzwords like “cacao healthiest food” and “super foods”. However, it is not appropriate to dismiss his teachings. You should listen to his lectures to educate yourself and then make an informed decision as to whether his teachings are genuine or not.

David Wolfe recommends that people should take a raw vegan diet. He states that it is the natural food for mankind and when people abide by it, they can achieve amazing wellness and health. When taking a raw vegan diet, it is essential to ensure that it is not deficient in minerals and vitamins like Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, which are not found in raw vegan foods. Wolfe advocates healthy living in his books, which are based on promoting healthy lifestyles that lead to natural healing and improved health.

You can visit his affiliation community for superfoods, superherbs, raw foods, and more at LongevityWarehouse.com

The Common Nutrition Myths That David Wolfe Speaks About

When thinking about the foods that boost health, it is essential to settle for scientific facts. This will ensure that you include foods that contain the nutrients your body needs in your diet. David Wolfe speaks about the common nutritional myths that people have and clarifies the issues surrounding them in order to educate people about the foods that benefit human health.

They include the following:

1. The role that calcium plays in increasing bone density.

Most of us believe that by drinking milk, we increase calcium supply in the body and this strengthens our bones. Many people also accept the idea that supplements that contain calcium play an important role in preventing osteoporosis. However, Wolfe argues that calcium is not the major mineral that causes an increase in bone density. Calcium only causes a one to two percent increase in bone density but this is not adequate in improving bone strength. He states that there are other alternatives that build stronger bones.
Wolfe states that magnesium and silicon are two alternatives to calcium in strengthening bones. These minerals are known to treat bone defects effectively. David Wolfe states that cacao is a very good source of magnesium, which also helps to strengthen teeth. Good sources of silicon according to David Wolfe are horse tail, nettle, alfalfa and oat straw.

2. The belief that chocolate is not good for the teeth.

David Wolfe argues that this is true to an extent but since chocolate is made from cacao beans, it is very beneficial for the teeth. As stated earlier, cacao is a good source of magnesium, which strengthens teeth and bones. Wolfe emphasizes that eating organic chocolate is good for the teeth.

3. The belief that the vitamin C that is sold in supplement form is good for your health.

Wolf states that you should steer away from synthetic vitamin C supplements and opt for natural sources of this important vitamin. All in all, the teachings of David Wolfe are beneficial for they focus on how people get important nutrition by eating natural foods.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Quick Vitamin D Benefits Overview

As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of Natural News and follow them closely. I came across a great photo on their facebook page on vitamin D benefits and thought I would share.

One thing that really sticks out to me is that vitamin D is more effective than flu shots. Opinion or not, it makes me curious how many people would choose flu shots over a consistent dose of Vitamin D. My guess is most would probably go with the shots. Why? Less discipline needed and more convenient.

My family don’t take flu shots cause of the fact that we believe most sicknesses and diseases can be prevented by taking care of yourself with superfoods, vitamins, and other natural resources the world provides.

We get most of our vitamins and superfoods through shakeology, a meal replacement by Beachbody, the maker’s of P90X, Insanity, and other top in home fitness programs. There are also other ways you can get superfoods and other natural resources for better living at Longevity Warehouse. This is a website by David Wolfe. It has foods that you can’t get anywhere else without spending hours on the internet to find them.

So whether or not you are looking for a way to get your vitamin d benefits, I hope this brief post helps you and gives you the resources you need to get what you need in this area.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Boost Your Immune System | Benefits Of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that promotes the production of collagen in the body; a fibrous structural protein that helps in the development of healthy body tissues. Besides this, there are other numerous benefits of Vitamin C that make it an important ‘vital-amine’ nutrient. It can obtained from fresh fruits and green vegetables though you can also obtain it from vitamin C tablets.

David Wolfe On The Benefits Of Vitamin C

David Wolfe, who is a health, eco, nutrition, and natural beauty expert who was able to cure his chronic disease by doing yoga and proper nutrition says that although synthetic Vitamin C is still effective, getting it from powdered and really high plants and botanicals that are high in Vitamin C such as acerola cherry, rosehip, or camu berry is recommended.

Top 5 Health Benefits of Vitamin C

1. Immunity
Ascorbic acid is not only a component of the body immune system but it also promotes the strength and proper functioning of the system. During the winter season, the body is prone to attacks from viruses, bacteria and infections that can lead to afflictions such as common cold, influenza, pneumonia and gastroenteritis.

To combat the attacks, the antihistamine characteristic of Vitamin C and the fact that it boosts the immune system, help your body to combat these winter diseases and other disorders such as asthma, bronchitis and urinary tract infections.

2. Antioxidant

Vitamin C is also a natural antioxidant that can protect your body from free radicals that often lead to oxidative stress. Free radicals can damage body cells leading to life threatening diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart attack. A slice of apple turns brown when exposed to air due to oxidation, but when the slice is dipped into lemon juice, it takes longer to turn brown. This demonstrates the powerful effect of Vitamin C in slowing down the rate of oxidation.

3. Formation of Collagen
As a fore mentioned, Vitamin C is responsible for the formation of collagen in the body. The abnormal functioning of collagen or its absence in the body can lead to the development of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid fever and muscle pain. A healthy dose of L-ascorbic acid can promote the production of collagen and thus help the body to prevent and combat these maladies. Furthermore, the production of collagen helps to alienate dermal disorders, reduce wrinkles and lines and thus promote a bright and flawless skin.

4. Lead Toxicity
Vitamin C can reduce the blood lead level to a great extent. This is very important especially to children who live in urban areas. Study reveals that lead toxicity increases the chances of behavioral and growth abnormalities that are characterized by difficulties in learning and low IQ. On the other hand, adults with high blood lead levels are prone to high blood pressure and kidney damage.

5. Hypertension
Vitamin C promotes a healthy cardiovascular system which helps lower blood pressure, reducing the chances of hypertension and other heart disorders. It also ensures proper dilation of the blood vessels thus prevents diseases such as angina pectoris, high cholesterol, congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis.

How To Take Advantage of The Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C can also prevent scurvy, cataracts and promote dental health. However, this nutrient should be taken in adequate quantities and in case of deficiency. Mr Wolfe recommends starting your dosage slowly and working your way up to 3000 mg per day.

I know that growing up, people have made claims that taking such amounts of vitamins in a day is dangerous. Did you know that there hasn’t been one confirmed death of vitamin overdose in the history of this world?

Check out this documentary. It will make you wonder why people have made you think about dangers in taking certain amounts of vitamins, and failed to really tell you about the truths and the benefits of taking greater amounts of vitamin C than what most were told as kids.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Why Are Vitamin Isolates Missing On The New Shakeology Labels?

A few days ago I had an interesting question about the vitamin isolates on the Shakeology label. The question was “I noticed that the new label does not include the vitamin isolates. This would be a plus if it were true. Isolates aren’t good in the long run. Isolates are much less effective when taken out of the food. Why are the vitamin isolates (which were on the old label) not included on the new label??”

Got Some Answers – Shakeology Label Nutrition Facts

This is a great question and one that I dove into directly to the Shakeology masters themselves to get answers. They really took their time and made sure to really give me an in depth explanation. I sent them some Q&A to get the best reply to this reader who asked the question and I was really impressed with how they handled educating myself about the reason of the nutrition labeling for the vitamin isolates in Shakeology.

First, I should let you know that the shakeology label for the the non vegan have the vitamin isolates. Vitamin isolates are the vitamin A, C, D listed on food items that list the amount per serving and the % daily value.

Here is what Shakeology said:

“All four formulas have vitamins and minerals that come from whole foods. Chocolate and Greenberry are fortified with added vitamins and minerals, which are listed on the left side of the label. Also, there are a multitude of vitamins and minerals in our Vegan formulations. But because they are derived exclusively from whole foods, and not fortified with controlled levels of vitamin and mineral isolates, these amounts of vitamins and minerals will vary naturally. Think of it like this; four oranges from the same tree will have different levels of vitamin C. For this reason, we are not able to specify vitamin and mineral amounts on the Vegan Shakeology labels.

One is not better than the other. Some people favor vitamins and minerals coming only from whole foods, while others believe that their bodies need extra vitamin & mineral fortification. It’s really up to you and what you feel your body needs. Many consumers find that a whole food source of nutrition is preferable to isolated vitamins and minerals, but Beachbody simply cannot legally make a potency claim on the label since levels vary from bag to bag, batch to batch. You’ll know the nutritional value by how you feel and how your health improves.

Shakeology is dietary supplement in a food form, and since our vegan formulas are not fortified, the levels of any one nutrient should not be an issue for anyone or for a pregnant woman. Pregnant women need to careful about levels of Vitamin A (10,000 IU is the upper limit), but the amounts we have at unfortified levels are similar to those found in unfortified foods and in fruits and vegetables. Accordingly, pregnant women should consider their intake of vegan Shakeology as part of their normal diet, but should not rely solely on Shakeology to meet the needs of pregnancy for nutrients like, iron, folate, Vitamin A, or calcium.”

What a great explanation. To be totally honest with you, this subject really didn’t even hit me until one of my reader’s posted this in my comment section of one of my articles. Another reason why I love comments. It really brings our community deeper in understanding different aspects of nutrition that we wouldn’t have thought of ourselves.

Four Different Formulas – Shakeology Label Nutrition Facts

Currently, there are four formulas of Shakeology:

Chocolate Superfood Formula (Include Vitamin Isolates Labeling)
Greenberry (Include Vitamin Isolates Labeling)
Chocolate Vegan (No Vitamin Isolates Labeling)
Tropical Strawberry Vegan (No Vitamin Isolates Labeling)

So basically, the vegan bags don’t have the vitamin isolates listed because it’s not fortified like the non vegan formulas are. Shakeology is nature in a bag. It’s an all natural supplement that gives a consumer the convenience of taking advantage of a variety of vitamins and minerals from the finest super foods gathered from around the world with the highest standards.

Summary – Shakeology Nutrition Label Facts For Vitamin Isolates

As stated above, the levels of each fruit for example on the same tree won’t have the same levels of vitamins in them. It’s just natural. This is why the vegan shakeology label doesn’t specify the exact levels of vitamin isolates such as the non vegan bags. They come straight from whole foods the way they are and not fortified, meaning in this case “adding vitamins” to foods which can set them at a desired level of vitamin isolates.

Each flavor is formulated differently than the other. I hope that this has cleared up any questions about the vitamin isolates on the shakeology nutrition facts label.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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The Serious Implications of Obesity in America

This week I am in a serious mission to attack the problem of obesity in america. I wake up every morning ready to jump out of bed because I want to get more information out to this world about how we have become bigger and how we can overcome this preventable disease. America needs help. It needs to be educated right now!

The more I look around, people are looking for weight loss surgery or crash diets. This is not the solution they need. People who have become overweight and obese need to know how to help themselves and not depend on someone else. They need to know how they got there, so they can prevent it when they solve it, and help others in the future.

Last year when I was tipping the scales at 186, at only 5’7″, I felt horrible and even at that weight, I felt pains in my chest, slower on a daily basis, and I literally felt depressed and went to food for comfort at times. This is what happens to everyone.

My family came into my life and helped me realize the dead-end road I was traveling. I realized that it wasn’t me suffering if my life ended earlier than it should due to being overweight, but it would be my family to suffer for the rest of their lives, losing someone they care deeply for. That’s family, that’s friendship.

Here are some important things we all need to know about obesity in America.

Obesity in America has dramatically risen throughout the years. Two thirds of America’s population is overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third (35.7%) of American adults are obese.

Approximately 12.5 million (17%) of children and teens ages 2 to 19 years old have been accounted as obese based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. This is three times more than obesity prevalence since 1980. The impact of obesity in the American economy is one of the nation’s well-tracked chronicles.

The list below is only a sample of how obesity has affected the country.

Hospitals are now investing on plus-size medical supplies and equipment such as larger wheel chairs and mini-cranes to support obese patients. Those who want to get better at home should find out the role of hospital beds in palliative care at home.
The Federal Transit Administration is now considering having bus brakes and steering tests with consideration to heavier commuters.
The Citi Field and new Yankee Stadium increased their seats’ width by 1 to 2 inches.
Even gasoline consumption of cars with obese passengers is nearly in the billions. To be more exact, 938 million gallons yearly.

America’s health care reform of 2010 gives employers permission to charge 30% to 50% more in health insurances for obese employees who decline participating in wellness programs. This law also encourages Medicaid and Medicare owners to seek physicians’ help to lose weight as well as fund community driven demonstrations for weight loss programs.

Statistics of Obesity in America: What You Should Know

The numbers involved in obesity rates is a little overwhelming. The information below makes it a whole lot more difficult to merely disregard.

Obesity is in the number 2 spot on the roster of preventable death causes in America. That’s approximately in the range of 100,000 to 400,000 obesity caused deaths per year
Medical costs for obese people are at an average of $1,400 more than normal weight ones. To be more precise, an obese male spends $1,152 more on annual health care expenses while a female’s average is at $3,613
At this continuing rate, health costs for obesity-related diseases will balloon to $300 billion dollars in 2018. That’s double the 2008’s cost which was reported at $147 billion
In a more recent article by Cornell University’s Chronicle Online, obesity is now accounted to be responsible for 20.6% of health care costs in America
A person who has diabetes spends an average of $6,600 more in a year than one who doesn’t have the disease
Leading on the 7th spot of top U.S. death causes is diabetes
The economic impact of obesity has caused America more than 117 billion worth of US dollars ranging from health care to work-related expenditures including absenteeism and future earning loss due to early death. That’s more than health care costs from people who smoke or have drinking problems.
A more recent and controversial article released by Reuters shows an estimated $190 billion breakdown of medical costs, increased insurance rates and dropped productivity of obese U.S. employees.
According to John Cawley, a Cornel University economist, with the average US citizen earning $669 a week, $76 is weekly obesity tax.
Based on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Trust for America’s Health report, more than half of the population will be obese by 2030. Each state will have more than 44% of its adult population obese.

Medical Facts of Obesity in America

In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that more than 57 million adults, 20 and older, were pre-diabetic. Furthermore, out of the 23.6 million diabetic, between 90 to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes. These men and women end up being more prone to complications brought about by the disease.

According to the director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Dr. William Dietz, 33% of children born in 2000 will most likely develop diabetes in their lifetime at the current rate the country is heading to.

Five out of the top 10 causes of death have been linked to obesity as one of its contributing factors.

These following diseases are:

Heart disease
Cancer
Stroke
Diabetes
Kidney disease

Pregnancy and childbirth is also complicated by obesity. The likelihood of newborn babies from obese women to die within a month of birth or to be stillborn is three times and almost twice, respectively. This is in comparison to babies born to normal weight women.

The Roots of Obesity in America

The assumption that sugar has been the main perpetrator of obesity in Americans may no longer hold true. More recently, the consumption of high carb diets that aren’t burned by the body due to inactivity seemed to been an underlying culprit. Changing the way we eat and knowing what healthy food is and isn’t, is the start. Exercising will complete your transition along with a healthy eating lifestyle.

Restaurant and fast food joint portion sizes have also increased up to 60% throughout the past two decades. Most people have not noticed this, which is why nothing much was said about it. For instance, the bagel’s average size doubled from three inches to six inches from 1983 to 2003. Genetically modified foods may have saved a lot of nations from starving, however, the effects of the over consumption is considered unhealthy.

The lack of physical education and activities in low-income schools due to fund shortage has also increased children and adolescent obesity. Fortunately, more states are rectifying this problem by removing all sugar-sweetened drinks and fryers in schools as well as providing free breakfast for students. Such are the implementations of Philadelphia.

Now that you know the facts, it is important for us to take action as individuals to promote a healthy lifestyle. Let us work together to prevent future casualties of obesity in America.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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The Health Crisis Changes With You

It’s obvious we’re living in a time of a major health crisis. How often do we live our lives and see people who are overweight and obese and still following the same old eating habits that got them there? Most of them.

How many times have you gone to eat somewhere only to see someone who is overweight still drinking soda after soda in one sitting and ordering fried food and dessert? Many.

How many times do we go to the gym only to see someone afterwards, eating an unhealthy meal? What’s the point?

A Random Statistic By Gold’s Gym | Health Crisis

According to recent studies 67% of people who get gym memberships never use them. I think most people can say they have been a victim of this study. I have. People are getting health conscious but don’t know how to take action and move forward towards their goals. The results? They just quit until an event comes into their life that gives them no choice.

Did you know that Golds Gym did a consensus in 2010 and discovered that in 2000, only 1 state existed with an obesity rate of over 25%. In 2008, there were 32. What does this mean?

It could mean:

More people are using food as a comfort avenue to release stress, while others are enjoying card games on websites like เล่นและชนะรางวัลใหญ่ที่ UFABET.group to relax and unwind.
People are busier than ever trying to make ends meet for their families in this down economy that they are neglecting their own health in the process
It’s easier to get a meal on the go, versus prepare a healthy snack to take with you to work
People are uneducated on healthy living.

The latter is a huge interest to me because when I am out and about, I really pay attention to what people are eating around me, what consumers load in their grocery carts, and what they order when their at a restaurant. Don’t get me wrong, I think going out to eat is a privilege, not everyone is blessed to be able to eat out and those that do, most of the time get
carried away.

I understand the importance of spending quality time with family, friends, and work associates, but I am more concerned about the unhealthy eating habits that people tend to indulge in at fast food restaurants. It’s alarming to see people ordering supersized meals loaded with sauces and washing them down with a huge soda. This kind of behavior can have serious consequences on their health in the long run. What if there was a walk-in clinic Auburndale where people could go and learn about the impact of their food choices on their bodies? It could serve as a comfortable environment for them to understand how their daily decisions affect their health, and perhaps encourage them to make healthier choices that can prevent many of the health problems that we see today.

Education Is A Good Start To Being Healthy | Health Crisis

I want to jump out of my skin and help them get educated on what’s actually on that plate. What if you could lessen all those extras and reduce your calorie intake by hundreds each meal. What would that do to your health at the end of the year? The difference would be huge.

Imagine if people ate less portions and made wiser decisions on their food intake. We as consumers would be paying lesser taxes, it would minimize corporate loss productivity, and our youth would live a longer and healthier life.

Another health study done by Gold’s Gym was that since 2000, the average fat that an american consumes has increased by 180 grams. That is like eating 2 full sticks of butter each week. This study concluded that it’s equivalent to an extra 20 lbs of fat gained per year for americans. Over time, this leads to being overweight and obese. With this, leads to diabetes, stroke, and heart attacks to say the least. Along with trying to help yourself when this happens means hundreds of dollars per month in medication.

What do these americans really need? Proper education on healthy living. Healthy eating and fueling your body with the right foods can prevent most diseases that happens to many americans daily. Eliminating the grease, the unhealthy fats, the sugar overloads. All this can be a great start in living a healthy and fulfilling life. It start with you. Knowing where you are heading if you don’t make some changes and making the decision to commit.

We have a choice don’t we? We have a choice whether to spend our money on medicine for the rest of our lives, or change the way we eat, and become stronger, healthier, more active and functional in life. Pills won’t cure what makes people obese. Why? Cause it doesn’t teach us anything. We all need to be taught and given the proper solution to avoid us making the same mistakes again. On top of that, our bodies register pills that go into our body as a toxin.

Medical vs Nutrition | Health Crisis

There are a lot of websites out there that promote medical pills for weight loss instead of proper nutrition. My question is, why can’t they spend all that money and time doing research on educating people on nutrition? This is where the problem is.

Medication won’t do anything but temporarily ease some pain if that. If people don’t learn what certain foods do to their health, this obesity problem will never improve. Once again, it’s not medication that’s needed, its proper nutrition and exercise that we should be investing our time and money in.

When it comes to addressing the obesity epidemic, focusing on proper nutrition and education is undeniably the key. Amidst the sea of weight loss solutions, genuine knowledge about balanced diets and healthy eating often gets overshadowed. Reading reviews on where you can get your perfect and favorite diet meal plans can be a game-changer in this regard. Real-life experiences shared by others can guide individuals toward nutritious choices and sustainable lifestyles. By understanding what works for different people, individuals can tailor their diets to suit their preferences and health needs. Investing time in exploring these reviews not only empowers individuals with practical insights but also encourages a collective shift from quick fixes to holistic, long-term solutions rooted in proper nutrition and exercise.

If you ever ask your doctor for advice, I will bet you most of the time it will be about a medical solution. That is what they are. They are medical professionals, not nutrition professionals. There is more money in the medical field. Can you imagine if the nutrition field took over and all the medical companies went out of business? The economy would take a major hit and people would lose huge money from the stock market.

If you want to make a better life for yourself, first you have to make a decision. A decision to change and actually care about yourself and all that you do on a daily basis. It does matter what you eat for breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner. There is not one meal that doesn’t matter. That’s the whole point. You are what you eat, and you will become it inside and out.

Respect yourself by feeding your system what it needs to be healthy. Are you worth it? Is your life worth minimizing the sugars, bad fats, and extra calories that we sometimes tend to have?

No one’s perfect and I’m far from it. I’ll be the first to tell you that. I don’t eat 100% perfectly every second of my life and I can bet that no one does. What I do though, is earn every right for any treat every now and then by exercising on a normal basis and committing to a healthy lifestyle daily.

Yes, you deserve a birthday cake, a cocktail, or something sweet and salty in life. But being disciplined and earning it, versus making it an every meal every day thing are two different things and will produce 2 different results.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Healthy Grocery List Guidelines For A Healthier Home

A healthy grocery list is the first step to eating healthy and getting rid of those junk food issues. It can help you to manage your weight, increase your nutrition intake, and reduce the risk of many health conditions.

Healthy Grocery List Tips To Take With You

Generally, a grocery list should include fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, whole grains, fish, and nuts. A grocery list that includes more raw foods and low fat foods than processed, sugary foods can not only keep you fit and healthy, but also saves you plenty of money.

Your grocery list should contain the following:

1. Healthy Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. They are vital to maintain energy throughout the day, and essential for many body functions. However, choosing healthy carbohydrates is very important to keep your energy stable and keep your body running as it should. The healthiest carbohydrates found in nature include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans and lentils.

Fruits

Healthy Grocery List — Fruits are an important part of a healthy grocery list

Fruits contain healthy carbohydrate and include vitamins, minerals, fibers, and different antioxidants than those found in vegetables. They are nutrient-dense snack food and should be included in your grocery shopping list.

Healthy fruits choices include:

Tree fruits like apples, peaches, plums, and pears
Summer fruits like grapes, melon, and berries
Citrus fruits like limes, oranges, grapes, and lemons
Tropical fruits like kiwi, mango, pineapple, and bananas

Vegetables

They are the healthiest carbohydrates for several reasons. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants. Vegetables are known to fight against cancer as well as various other diseases.

Healthy vegetables include:

Green vegetables such as cucumber, eggplant, muchrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, snow peas, green beans, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, chard, bok choy, cabbage, collards, chard, kale, and sprouts
Fresh herbs and spices such as mint, garlic, cilantro, ginger, basil, and parsley
Starchy vegetables like potatoes, carrot, radish, beets, sweet potato, ritabaga, squash, and celery root
Onions like red onion, sweet onions, green onions, yellow onions, chives and leeks.

Whole Grains

Whole grain products should the first ingredient on your healthy grocery list. It contains all of the parts of the original grain without being processed. It provides you with valuable fiber and is a long-lasting source of energy. Consuming a diet rich in fiber, minimizes the risk of getting heart diseases and lowers bad cholesterol levels in the body.

Healthy whole grains include:

Quinoa, amaranth, millet
Toasted or untoasted buckwheat
Whole grain pasta: quinoa, corn, brown rice, buckwheat, kamut
Puffed cereals (kamut, rice etc.), rice cakes
Short or long grain brown rice
Rolled or steel cut oats
Wheat berries, barley
Pitas or wraps: rice paper, corn, sprouted grain, whole wheat

Beans and Lentils

healthy brocery list — One of my favorite stores to get groceries

Beans and lentils contain plenty of fibers, complex carbohydrates, and minerals and is considered the healthiest carbohydrate you can eat. They can be easily added to soups and are low in fat too.

Healthy beans and lentils include:

Canned or dried beans: kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, black eyed beans, chickpeas
Legumes: split peas, lentils (red, brown, green)
Fermented soy (Tempeh)

2. Lean proteins

Adding lean protein to your grocery list can help you increase your protein intake. Protein is an important nutrient for maintaining healthy cells and muscles. They are simple and quick to prepare.

List of food rich in protein to include in your grocery list includes:

Chicken breast (boneless and skinless), ground turkey, beef tenderloin, lean meat
Fish (halibut, salmon, sea bass, herring, trout), tuna, shrimp
Eggs or egg whites

3. Healthy Fats

Fats are needed for good health. However, consuming more fat may lead to obesity and other health problems. Certain foods contain healthy fats that are essential for heart health and brain health, in addition to maintaining your immune system. While consuming fats, it is necessary to keep your portion sizes reasonable to prevent eating too many calories.

Healthy fats include:

Oils like safflower oil, olive oil, corn oil, canola oil
Nuts like almonds, peanut, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts
Seeds like flax seed, sunflower seed
Natural style peanut butter or almond butter

4. Low Fat Dairy

Let’s say you aren’t vegetarian or vegan. A healthy grocery list should include dairy products, because adults and children need calcium to grow and maintain strong bones. However, dairy products can be high in fat and cholesterol. Selecting low-fat or fat-free dairy products not only give the required nutrition but are also low in fat and cholesterol.

Low fat dairy includes:

Low or no-fat milk
Low-fat cottage cheese
Low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt
Greek yogurt which is naturally fat-free and lactose-free
Low-fat or part-skim cheese

If you don’t do dairy, then another option to get your calcium is to use almond milk which is what I use in my shakeology. It contains 50% more calcium than dairy milk, has no cholesterol or saturated fat like milk, and contains antioxidant vitamin E, while milk has none.

Grocery Store Tips To Prevent Unhealthy Temptation | Healthy Grocery List

Do not visit the grocery store without a list, otherwise your basket may fill up with unnecessary and impulsive items
Compile your list of items needed after collecting some favorite health recipes to cook for the week
Separate items by type, so that getting in and out of the shop is easier. This way you can avoid temptations, such as chips and candy
Have a healthy snack or meal before grocery shopping. Being hungry will put you in trouble, and you will be tempted to but what you don’t need
Fresh and unprocessed food items are always the best
Get acquainted with ingredient labels and nutrition for better informed decisions
When shopping for beverages, prefer diet sodas to avoid extra sugars

Foods To Avoid When Preparing Your Healthy Grocery List

Certain foods are to be avoided while preparing your healthy grocery list. They include:

Sugars: Foods with concentrated sugars like pastries, soda, and candy should be avoided in the grocery list. Sugars are nothing but empty calories that can end up making you crave for more food by the time it is over. Not only that, sugar is addictive because of its short energy bursts. Apart from this, sugars can cause oral health issues, and weight gain leading to diabetes.
Simple carbohydrates: Simple carbohydrates are nothing but 3 units of sugar linked together. They are digested quickly and converted immediately into glucose in the body. This leads to a quick rise in blood sugar levels in the body and end up making you crave for more food by the time it is over. So, it is best to avoid simple carbohydrates like White potatoes and refined grains such as white rice, white bread, and enriched pasta.
Deep-fried, breaded fast foods should also be avoided as they are high in sodium and fat

Conclusion:
It is important to have a healthy diet in order to become fit and healthy. Healthy nutrition requires preparation before you head out to the store. For people, who find it difficult to prepare a list that is healthy and nutritious, the above tips can help them make their healthy grocery list in just a few minutes.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Ways To Cure The Halloween Hangover

Good Morning. If you’re feeling anything short of fantastic this morning, maybe it’s because you loaded yourself up a bit with some sugar last night for Halloween. Maybe you had a costume party to attend or some neighbors family gathering to get the kids together for trick or treating.

If you fell off the healthy nutrition wagon last night and overloaded yourself with Sweet Tarts, Laffy Taffy’s, and Snickers Bars, or cake, I have a few things you can do today if you’re feeling a little tired, or your heart is racing and your mind is running out of your skull. This feeling of disappointment can last a few hours for some and up to a few days for others.

Here are some quick things you can do to help cure the sugar hangover:

Drink Tons of Water – This will help in flushing out the toxins from your body and helping you to feel better sooner rather than later.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast – A healthy protein meal at this time is important to get your body balanced with all the sugar you ate. Greek Yogurt is a great choice for this, or some nuts.
Take in Some Coconut Oil – I use this ingredient in my shakes every morning. This is a healthy fat and will help your pancreas and rid of bad fungus and bacteria that is accumulated in your system when you consume a lot of sugar.
Stay Away from Starchy Foods – Eating more carbs will turn into sugar and that’s what you are trying to cure. So protein instead of starch during this sugar hangover. You don’t necessarily have to avoid carbs altogether, but if you do, eating fruits and vegetables would be a wise choice.
Last but not Least, Exercise – This will help you to feel energized. Don’t skip your workout for the day. No excuses. You had your fun, now it’s time to get that body back that you’ve been working so hard for. What can be more rewarding than that?

Eating a ton of sugar can lead to diseases and obesity in the long run. Also can effect your moods and your performance at work and in life in general. Make sure you keep a balanced diet daily and always shoot for living a healthy lifestyle. Special occasions happen and we can and should celebrate, but make sure that you stay disciplined and know how to get back on track after a good night of laughs and memories.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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