Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein Which Is Best For You?

The debate on whey protein vs soy protein lives on in the mind of those who want to use protein supplements.

Protein supplements are popular among bodybuilders, strength trainers, and other athletes. This is also useful for those who simply want to put their bodies in better shape and lose fat. Protein supplements like plant protein powder provide an efficient means of replenishing the body with much needed nutrients and facilitating faster muscle buildup.

There are two main options of choice: whey protein and soy protein.

A lot of talk is going on between the two, and there is no sign that arguments are going to end soon. To help users decide the better option, it is necessary to know the difference between the two.

The Basic Difference Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein

Soy protein is derived from the soybean plant, while whey protein is derived from dairy products.

Looking at the source provides much of the clues about the disadvantages and advantages of each option, as they share these with other products that come from animal and plant sources. It can ultimately help the user decide the better choice between whey protein vs soy protein.

Advantages and Limitations of Soy Protein | Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein

Soybean is the only vegetable known to have all the essential amino acids and this makes it a good alternative to meat products, considering that it is very low in cholesterol and fats.

The soy protein products available in the market are isolated after removing the hull and fat from the beans. They are then processed into the different commercial products we see today—-soy flour, concentrates and isolates.

Aside from being a good source of protein, they also have a rich content of minerals like iron, zinc and B vitamins. Compared to whey proteins, soy is a better source of glutamine and arginine. They offer the additional benefits of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower cholesterol levels. They are even believed to help fight or lower the risk of developing cancer.It is also cheaper than whey protein.

Soy protein, however, is subject to some doubts due to its phytoestrogen content, which is believed to eventually inhibit the development of muscle mass. Isoflavins are also found in this source, which may cause hormonal imbalance. Soy protein is also blamed for hyperthyroidism in extreme cases. Though some more recent studies yielded results to the contrary, the popularity of soy protein remains affected as users want to play it safe.

Three Product Types of Soy Proteins

Soy Protein Isolates – On a dry basis, a soy protein isolate contains up to 90% of protein. This gives the most protein for every consumption and least unwanted impurities.
Soy Protein Concentrates – In terms of refinement and purity, comes next to isolates, with 70% of its total weight coming from proteins. What it lacks in purity, it gains with the more attractive price.
Soy Flours – This has a protein content of about 50%. It may contain some amount of fat but remains a good source of protein.

Advantages and Limitations of Whey Protein | Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein

Compared to soy, the overall balance of amino acids in whey protein is better.It also boasts of being more easily broken down and used by the body, allowing for a more rapid rate of muscle development. That being said, whey protein is considered a better option for replenishment of nutrients after a long, rigorous workout.

For many reasons, whey protein is more widely used by body builders. It is clearly winning the popularity contest of whey protein vs soy protein and that is why it comes at a more expensive price.

Three Types of Whey Protein

There are three main types of whey protein supplements available in the market: isolate, concentrate and blend.

Whey Protein Isolate – This is the purest form of whey protein available, which also makes it the most expensive. However, there are a lot of athletes who prefer this form as it is zero in fat, carbohydrates and lactose. This makes it ideal for body building and shedding off the fat
Whey Protein Concentrate – Although not as pure as the isolate form, whey protein concentrate remains an excellent source of protein. The additional carbohydrates actually does not matter, and may even help if someone is trying to gain weight aside from just building muscles. Compared to protein isolate, this is considerably easier on the wallet.
Whey Protein Blends – This is somewhere in between the other two forms, and is the most widely used. Since not all whey protein blends are created equal, it is better to check the labels and ask for advice from reliable sources to get optimum results. This source of whey protein offers great value for money and provides a balanced profile of proteins at the same time.

In the battle between whey protein vs soy protein, whey protein is currently having an advantage and it remains to be seen if it can keep that lead for long.

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P90X by Tony Banawa

Author: Tony Banawa

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How Much Protein Should I Eat Daily For Best Muscle Gains

Everyone is aware of the fact that protein is required for muscle-building. The only question that haunts people is “How much protein should I eat daily for best muscle gains?”In order to answer this question, let’s first go through a few basics about protein.

What does the body do with protein? As a part of digestion, the protein is broken down into individual amino acids and are funneled into the blood. There, the amino acids are available for various functions. Endogenous protein is built by the degradation of the individual amino acids.

How Much Protein Should I Eat Daily?

The building process of this tissue is called anabolic metabolism and is responsible for muscle gain in the body.The amount of protein to be consumed and its maximum limit is decided based on the rate of absorption of amino acids from the food proteins by our digestive system and the ability of the liver to reject excess nitrogen producing urea present in those proteins.

How much protein is needed at all? The protein requirement of the body of the athletes and bodybuilders is generally overestimated. Let us assume, a bodybuilder would like to build around 22 lbs of muscle mass in a year. In order to build this 22 lbs of pure muscle mass he would require 9,979 grams of pure protein in a year.

This results in a daily protein requirement of only 27.22 grams to build that extra mass. However, one must take into account that proteins in the human body also perform other important functions. Proteins include components of skin, organs, enzymes and the immune system. They build new tissue to repair damaged structures and provide for the transport of nutrients. In other words, proteins are essential for life.

How Much Protein Should I eat Daily Based On My Weight

The best answer to a frequently asked question,”How Much Protein Should I eat Daily For best muscle gains?” can be found in the succeeding paragraph.

The official recommendation of .78 grams per body lb/day of protein is based on the structural needs and does not take into account the use of protein for energy metabolism. Therefore, sports nutritionists recommend that 1.4 to 1.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight should be consumed daily for muscle gain.

This means that a 175 lbs athlete would need to consume up to 318 grams of protein per day. To meet such a huge requirement in the natural protein diet, our 175 lbs athlete would almost have to consume approximately 3.3 lbs turkey meat, 50 chicken eggs or about 10 liters of milk daily. One cannot even imagine to eat so much in a day.

In addition to the amount, the timing of protein intake for muscle gain is also relevant. Studies have shown that about 29.5 grams of protein per meal shall suffice. An increase in the amount of protein has therefore brought no further positive effect in muscle-building. Ideally, each meal must contain a small portion of protein. This ensures that your body is supplied with amino acids evenly throughout the day.

Taking quickly utilizable proteins immediately after training is particularly crucial for rapid mass construction. At this point, a substitution i.e. using protein powder is a good idea.

Is Too Much Protein Unhealthy? How Much Protein Should I Eat Daily?

One of the most common misconceptions in bodybuilding programs is that you must dramatically increase your protein intake in order to build muscles. Some people even go to the extreme, such that their diet becomes entirely of protein. Contrary to the common belief, excess protein intake can harm your kidneys. Excess protein, that is, when it exceeds 35% of energy intake, may also have adverse effects such as excessive stress, nausea, diarrhea and even the risk of a stroke or a heart attack causing death.

Excessive protein can lead to weight gain too! Nevertheless, there are still bodybuilders who take up to 1.8 grams of protein daily per pound of body weight. Subtracting the basic needs of 1.67 grams/day, around 1.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight still remains in excess.

The human body cannot completely convert this much amount of protein into muscles and therefore it can lead to enormous weight gain over a period of time.This would indeed result in a theoretical weight gain of nearly 200 lbs a year. Though this is practically impossible, just imagine what will happen even if you gain 20% of 200 lbs. That’s 40 lbs!

An important thing to remember is that you will not be able to gain muscle simply by increasing your protein intake. It is also imperative that you increase your total calorie intake. Good bodybuilding programs consist of a balance of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in the diet and also a strict routine of daily exercising.

Remember that to be able to build muscle mass, it is essential to keep your body healthy and functioning efficiently.Equipped with all the knowledge that you have gained reading this article about protein intake for muscle building, you will never again need to ask the question, ” How Much Protein Should I eat Dailyfor best muscle gains?”. Would you?

P90X by Tony Banawa

Author: Tony Banawa

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How To Detox Your Body Start Over From Scratch

You’ve been eating healthier, trying to lose weight. Maybe you pick up some weights here or go for a run every now and then to hopefully start to see the numbers on the scale drop so you can feel accomplished from your hard work. At the end of the day, no matter what you eat, how much you exercise, you are still not losing the weight or feeling any better? Why? You might need to learn how to detox your body.

Do you really want to know what our bodies are today? They are toxic dumps. Is it shocking? Yes, it is shocking, but true. The world today is not the same as it was a couple of centuries before. The water we drink is polluted with industrial waste, the air we breathe is polluted with smoke and exhausts from vehicles, the food we eat is polluted with pesticides, and the clothes we wear contain a lot of chemicals.

To make matters worse, we follow wrong lifestyle habits like smoking, consumption of alcohol and bad nutrition. What is the ultimate result? More and more toxins keep on collecting in your body, and majority of people never do a thing about it. If you’re looking for help to avoid alcohol and make positive changes, I recommend you hop over at this website for valuable guidance and support.

How do these toxins affect your body? How to Detox Your Body

Toxins affect the immune system, the body’s natural defense system. When the immunity of your body is weakened, you may experience a lot of health issues like insomnia, fatigue, loss of stamina, allergies, frequent colds, and other infections like cold sores, irritability, hair loss, and more. Here are the allergy symptoms in the fall and how you can manage them.

Toxins increase the levels of cholesterol in your body. You may also experience other symptoms like constipation, bad breath, headaches, bloated stomach, and cravings for sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and fat that help lead to obesity. It’s important to note that toxins can also indirectly affect our judgment and coordination, making accidents more likely, particularly when combined with alcohol consumption. For more information on the effects of toxins and alcohol, you can see Source.

A very important thing to know is that you may not lose weight in spite of a strict diet and regular exercise routine because your body is toxic and can’t absorb the nutrients. You can shop on Shoppok to discover trendy clothing and accessories from local sellers.

4 Ways Toxins Effect Weight Loss?

Toxins affect one’s metabolism. Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns fat and converts it into energy. The lower the metabolism, the lower is the amount of calories burned. The lower the calories burned, the lower your chances of weight loss.
Leptin is the hormones present in your body that gives signals that you are full. Toxins block the effects of leptin. So you feel that you are hungry and tend to eat more than what is necessary.
The human body has many co-enzymes to burn fat. Toxins weaken these co-enzymes.
Toxins affect the functioning of liver and the digestive system in general. Poor digestion does not help in the absorption of all nutrients. This reduces the energy levels of the body, therefore promoting weight gain.

With all that toxins can do to one’s system, it’s clear that you cannot achieve your weight loss goals if you have excessive toxins present in your body. Less toxins in your body, better your chances of muscular development, weight loss, energy, and more.

So should you learn how to detox your body? Absolutely, if you’re serious about results.

Why should you detox your body?

Detoxifying your body is not only essential for weight loss, it is also essential to clean all your organs, blood stream and glands.
You will feel energetic
Your skin will glow
Your hair will grow
Your confidence will improve.

How to detox your body?
There are many natural detox methods like regular exercise, avoiding processed foods, eating fiber rich diet, drinking plenty of water, avoiding exposure to chemicals, including organic foods in diet, taking steam baths and many more.

If you really want to get the best cleanse and rid of all that has been piling up inside your system over the years, you need to get serious and step it up.

There are a lot of cleanses out there that are unsafe. Detox programs that are colon blasters, starvation diets, and more. I prefer the all natural, comprehensive approach.

Why? Well, who wants to be parked by the restroom? I don’t. Time is ticking and in this busy world, you need to keep moving.
I also don’t recommend starving your self because that does nothing but put you in a bad mood and doesn’t do any good for your health. The one I recommend to do is the Ultimate Reset Cleanse by Beachbody.

What is Beachbody Ultimate Reset?
It is an all natural comprehensive approach detox program that helps you to reset your body in just 3 weeks. Imagine being able to press the reset button like a computer and setting your system back to it’s more pure stage, like when you were an early teenager.

It is a three-stage program to get rid of the toxins of your body. It contains the following.

1. Six essential supplements needed for resetting your body.

Detox
Alkalinize
Oxygenize
Mineralize
Optimize
Revitalize

2. Two DVD’s:

How To Reset – to guide you on how to start the program.
Beachbody Ultimate Reset Cooking Class – Shows you a simple way to prepare healthy delicious “Reset” recipes that taste good

3. Guide book with lots of useful tips like cooking tips, shopping tips and many more.

4. Travel pouch to carry the supplements wherever you go.

5. Bracelet to remind you that you should follow the program with dedication.

6. Online support from the coach and the team for 24 hours all the 7 days in a week.

How To Detox Your Body With Beachbody Ultimate Reset?

The program works in three phases:

Reclaim
Release
Restore

Reclaim Natural Balance
The first phase is balancing the body chemistry. All you need to do is to use four out of the six health supplements provided. This will improve the functioning of the systems of your body and help in reclaiming the natural balance of the body. Reclaiming natural balance is essential for the prevention of craving for sugar and dependency on caffeine, etc.

Release The Toxins Removing of the harmful materials stored in your body is the second phase of this program. You need a diet modification to reverse the effects of the harmful effects of the unhealthy foods you ingested.

Restoring The Metabolism
The final phase restores the metabolism of your body and rejuvenates your health. You will follow a healthy diet which includes easily digestible foods with plenty of nutrition and foods to increase the healthy bacteria in your digestive system.

Why I Prefer The Beachbody Ultimate Reset It is true that there are many detox programs, products and supplements available in the weight loss market. The question that arises in the minds of many people is,’why is Beachbody Ultimate Reset preferable to the other programs?’

The reasons are:

It is different from all other programs in that it doesn’t include any severe fasting, liquid diets, starvation diets and harsh laxatives.
It has six supplements that help in alkalizing, optimizing, oxygenizing, mineralizing, detoxifying and revitalizing your body.
You can find the difference in just 21 days
You can get a better sleep
Your cravings for sugar and caffeine will decrease
You can get a glowing skin
You can get rid of your high cholesterol levels
Your digestion is improved
Your energy levels are increased
Your concentration levels are boosted.

In a nutshell, people who have completed the Beachbody Ultimate Reset say they became a new person enjoying the best physical, mental, and emotional health. They felt it was one of the best ways they found how to detox your body.

One last thing. I forgot to mention that I bought my 68-year-old mother the Beachbody Ultimate Reset for Mother’s Day this year. She had phenomenal results:

Lost 12 lbs
Doctor took her off her cholesterol and diabetes pills after 7 years

For your convenience, Here is a link with pictures of her Beachbody Ultimate Reset dishes she prepared to get her results.

Her doctor told her how he wishes all his clients did what she did instead of relying on pills and medication hoping for a miracle. I can honestly say that speaking for my mother, she made her miracle happen. She is now running and exercising daily, she has a renewed soul and happiness to life. Now, my father is going to soon follow in her footsteps.

The program is offered with a 30-day money back guarantee. You have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

Beachbody Ultimate Reset is certainly worth a try. When someone asks you how to detox your body, mention the Ultimate Reset Cleanse as an option to consider. If you aren’t satisfied, you don’t pay.

P90X by Tony Banawa

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How Many Calories Should I Eat Daily To Lose Weight?

“How many calories should I eat to lose weight?” This is a question that many people ask.If you can determine how many calories you should eat to lose weight, it is important to determine first how many calories you need on daily basis. The USDA estimates that the caloric intake is 2000 to 3000 calories per day for men and 1600 to 2400 calories per day for women

However, it should be noted that the number of calories you need to lose weight depend on more factors that just one’s gender. Your current weight, your gender, as well as activity levels are some of the factors that determine the many calories that you ought to take. As such, the caloric estimates by USDA are merely average gender-based forecasts that do not have any personal applicability.

How Many Calories Should I Eat To Lose Weight?

The human body needs to get enough calories for it to function. The body’s basic functions are fundamental and there is a certain amount of calories that go into supporting them. Even people who are sedentary need a great number of calories for rudimentary body functions. Though calories are often perceived as an enemy of those that are pursuing weight loss goals, the truth is that calories are what you need while pursuing your weight loss goals.

By shunning calories in your pursuit for weight loss, you may find that you are consuming too little for your body functions to be executed normally. The body needs to have at least 1200 calories for women and 1800 calories a day for men in order for the body to function. This is the absolute minimum and it’s suggested to stay 200 to 400 calories above that if you want to feel energized for daily activities.

However, the best way to lose weight is to figure out your basal metabolic rate so that you know exactly the amount of calories you need to lose weight. Taking too little calories, you are compromising your body’s health. On the other hand, if you take excess amounts of calories, you may find yourself gaining unwanted weight instead of shedding the fat.

BMR | How Many Calories Should I Eat To Lose Weight?

As stated earlier, there are many factors that determine the quantity of calories that you should take. The chief among these factors is the basal metabolic rate or BMR of your body. Other factors that determine how much calories you should consume is the thermal effect of the food you take.

The activity of your body is also among the factors that determine the quantity of calories that you should consume every day. The basal metabolic rate is the quantity of calories you need when your body is at rest. The functions that the body performs while at rest include pumping the blood and breathing. You should always avoid consuming calories that are below your BMR.

TYPES OF CALORIES | How Many Calories Should I Eat To Lose Weight?

Calories that come from foods are mainly from fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. These are known as macronutrients. A gram of carbohydrates or proteins is equal to 4 calories. On the other hand, a gram of fats is tantamount to 9 calories. Any quantity of calories you take on daily basis ought to include all the three categories.

It is important to make sure that you always consume a balanced diet in your nutrition plan. This is very helpful since you are consuming 4-6 moderately portioned meals per day. As such, eating a balanced diet while dieting ensures that your body gets all the nutrients it needs despite the fact that the amounts of food you are consuming on daily basis are minimal.

Shakeology review — All Natural Meal Replacement - 140 Calories Per Serving

The USDA food guide holds that you should ensure that you eat about 45 to 65 per cent of your calories come from carbohydrates, about 20 to 35 per cent from fats and about 10 to 35 per cent come from proteins. However, this percentages are adjusted when you take on intense fitness transformation programs such as P90X and Insanity. These programs will have a complete nutrition guide for you all layed out within the 60-90 day program to make sure your body is consuming the proper amounts of foods while you burn excessive calories with these workouts.

WHEN YOU EAT

Another factor that you ought to think seriously about when you are losing weight is when to eat. Despite the quantity of calories you consume on daily basis, the time of the day you consume your calories determines how much you succeed in your weight loss endeavor.

How often you eat is as important as what you eat. Again, to maximize your weight loss efforts, it is advisable to take about four to six meals every day. Breakfast and lunch ought to be the greatest meals of your day. You should consume much of your fats in the morning to avoid storing them in your body.

It is important to pay close attention to anything you eat. Many people set out on the journey to losing weight while monitoring anything that they eat everyday but lose track along the way. The best way to daily watch what you eat is keeping a journal. Remember, everything you put in your mouth counts.

KEEP A JOURNAL

You should also include in your daily journal the fat-burning activities in which you engage in every day. You should have an eye for the hidden calories found in drinks, snacks, and extra servings; a point that should be noted by those still asking “how many calories should I eat to lose weight?”

P90X by Tony Banawa

Author: Tony Banawa

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Tips To Encourage Your Children To Enjoy Healthy Meals

Sometimes getting your children to eat healthily can seem like an uphill battle. It doesn’t help that there seems to be a fast food restaurant on every corner – but healthy food often doesn’t seem as appealing to kids as a pizza or a burger.

The thing is though, we all remember being that age, and enjoying a happy meal more than anything else in the entire universe! But believe it or not, swaying your children towards to healthier eating and encouraging them to eat healthy (without moaning) is actually easier than you’d expect.

Get them involved in shopping – Taking your children along to the super market with you is a great way of getting them excited about healthy meals. Ask for their input on food choices, plan recipes together and plan the meals together as you walk around the aisles. Encourage their choices too – if your children only like strawberries – then think of fun recipes that involve strawberries and another fruit, as a way of compromising.
Get a healthy food game – Award points to your kids for every time they hit their 5-a-day. Make the reward something worthwhile too (definitely don’t reward them with junk food – otherwise your efforts will be wasted). Try rewarding them with a special day out, or a new DVD or something.
Get them involved with cooking – Getting your kids involved in the cooking is a sure-fire way to get them absolutely excited to eat healthily. Kids love eating their own concoctions – so if they’ve helped you cook and prepare the meal then you’ll notice how much more willing they’ll be to actually eat it too. You could even have a family score chart – where you can score each other’s cooking! Of course, be sure to always score your child’s efforts high! Otherwise they might be put off trying again!
Get app savvy – Download some fun apps that actively encourage and promote healthy eating. It sounds silly – but if your child’s favorite character off TV says healthy eating is fun – just watch how quickly their minds will change. There are some great apps for kids out there that do just this – some have the basic nutrition information, some have recipe lists. Whichever you choose – make sure your child has access to it when they want.
Don’t throw them in at the deep end – If healthy eating is a new venture that your family are taking – try not to throw them in at the deep end, as you’ll just scare them off. Start off with adding a small salad to each meal – and then gradually replace the chips, etc with a salad instead. After that build to adding entire healthy meals to their plates. By not shocking them and jumping in at the deep end – they’ll gradually adjust!

About GFTL’s Guest Author: Elle works for Global Knives , who promote safe kitchen tools and equipment. You can find their range at Chefs Knives online.

Knowing “What Are Processed Foods?” Is Only The Beginning

What are processed foods? Processed foods seem to rule the food world today. Are they healthy? Why are they popular these days? Are they better than natural foods? What are the dangers of processed foods? What are the processed foods that are to be avoided? Are you interested in knowing the answers for all these questions? If so, read further.

What are processed foods?

Processed foods or package foods are foods that undergo various processes to increase their shelf life. The processes undertaken include canning, freezing, pasteurizing, refrigerating, dehydrating, asceptic processing, heating, coloring, bleaching, sweetening, emulsifying and adding preservatives and flavors etc. Most of the processed foods are available in packages.

Given below is a list of 15 widely used processed foods:

Potato chips
White Bread
Pasta
Processed meat
Fruit juices
Boxed cereals
Frozen vegetables
Frozen fish sticks
All soy products like soy milk, soy cheese and tofu etc.
Powdered milk
Refined vegetable oils
Refined sugar
Jams
Pickles
Soda drinks

Pros and Cons of Processed Foods

It’s not enough just to know the answer to, “what are processed foods?” You should know the pros and cons of them. There are pros and cons for everything and processed foods are no exception. The general assumption is that processed foods are not good for your health. It is true that most of the processed foods cause dangers, but there are a few foods that are healthier because of processing.

Here are 3 benefits of processed foods | What Are Processed Foods?

Gone are the days when vegetables and fruits were plucked from your garden and eaten. Today vegetables and fruits have to be transported to long distances. The freshness and the nutritive content are lost in transit. Freezing vegetables help in preserving their nutritive content.
Some processed foods are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals. This makes them healthier.
Pasteurizing and homogenizing of milk kills the bacteria and removes the fat content.

Although processed foods have some advantages, the list of dangers is very long. Most of the processed foods contain harmful ingredients.

Bakery products like muffins and crackers contain trans fatty acids that has been proved to be twice as dangerous as saturated fat. Partially hydrogenated foods are severe threats to your heart.
Foods like chips and cheese balls have high sodium content. Sodium is added in many forms like salt, baking soda and sodium bicarbonate etc. It is added to increase the shelf life and the taste. Too much of sodium intake causes many health problems.
Sulphites are added in processed meat, many dried fruits and french fries etc. Sulphites are one of the triggers of asthma. Moreover, it depletes the vitamin B1 content in the body.
Sugary juices contain excessive sugar and extra calories.
Powdered milk contains high amounts of oxidized cholesterol or oxysterols.
MSG added in processed foods may cause side effects like burning sensation, nausea and increased heart beat etc.
The artificial colors in the foods make kids hyperactive and distracted. This has been proved in a study conducted by University of Southampton. They increase the risk of allergies and asthma. Do you know the source of food colors? Coal tar and petrochemicals are the main sources. They may cause many types of tumors.

Processed Foods Increase The Risk of Following Diseases | What Are Processed Foods?

Obesity – All high calorie and low quality processed foods increase the risk of obesity.
Diabetes – The excessive starch and sugar content enhance the chances of diabetes.
Heart problems – As seen earlier, foods that are processed contain trans fatty acids that increase the risk of heart diseases like heart attacks and stroke. A study conducted by American Heart Association says that trans fatty acids raises LDL and lowers HDL. The salt content is also a severe blow to your heart.
Cancer – A research conducted by the University of Hawaii concludes that people who took processed meat like hot dogs and sausages frequently were 67% more at the risk of pancreatic cancer. It not only increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, but also other cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer etc.
Digestive problems – They have very low fiber content. High fiber is needed for digestion.

Why are the grocery stores stocked with processed foods?

It is clear that processed foods pose a lot of health threats. Many people know the answers to the question, ‘what are processed foods’ and ‘what are their dangers’, but still they seem to be very popular. Why is it so?

Convenience – It is more convenient to use processed foods. The world today is fast and competitive. People have no time to cook food at home. It is easier to buy and cook processed foods.
Taste – Color, flavor, sugar, salt and other additives are added to increase the taste.
Increased life – Processed foods can be stored for a longer period of time.
The commercial ads make them highly appealing.

Processed foods VS Natural foods

You need no proofs to prove the fact that natural foods are better than processed foods. However, many studies have been conducted and they all prove that natural foods are healthier. Studies conducted by American journal of nutrition have proved that people eating whole grain foods had reduced risk of many cancers and heart diseases. Study conducted by WHO concludes that processed foods is the main cause for the alarming increase in obesity and diabetes.

I know we as humans aren’t perfect and sometimes even the healthiest people seem to make their way to consuming processed foods. Some call it a “Free Day”. My recommendation is to limit the amount you consume and never plan to make it part of your fitness nutrition permanently if you are looking to transform you health. Now that you know the answer to “What are processed foods?” in detail, it is wise to limit them to avoid the long term side effects of over consumption, & stay healthy.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Author: Tony Banawa

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Sucralose And The Dangers To The Human Body

When sucralose hit the market, it was touted as an alternative to sugar, suitable for reduced calorie diets and diabetics because it has a zero calorie effect on the body, does not spike insulin, and does not cause weight gain. Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar, so you can use smaller amounts of it, but there are certain sucralose dangers that are not openly advertised by the manufacturers.

I’ll be honest with you. In the past, before my fitness days, I used to put Splenda, and other artificial sweeteners in my Sweet Iced

Tea because out here in Las Vegas, they didn’t serve Sweet Tea before 2009. I was so uneducated in everything I putting into my body. That’s what I think is going on with too many people these days. The lack of knowing what is harmful to your body is keeping them from being healthy. Knowing what the side effects are of certain ingredients is the start of a healthier you.

Sucralose Dangers | Case Studies

Sucralose was tested by the FDA in its early stages, but only on a small group of 36 people, and the study lasted only a few short days. What the FDA was looking for was possible tooth decay or other such effects. What they completely missed out on was long term sucralose dangers, such as the product being a carcinogen. This product has also been tested on lab rats who eventually refused to eat foods that contained the product.

Sucralose Dangers Multiply when consumed in large quantities

For dieters, sucralose can seem like a miracle product. They can now eat unlimited amounts of certain foods without the weight gain from calories. The problem is that the more of the substance that is consumed, the more the unpleasant side effects start to manifest.
Some examples of side effects include:

Flushing of the skin and rashes
Diarrhea
Agitation and panic attacks
Muscle aches and headaches
Cramping in the intestines
Bladder issues
Swelling and bloating
Pains and cramps in the stomach

If you have ever eaten a large amount of something that contains sucralose, then you may be painfully aware of some of these side effects. Eating a large amount of something because it is “zero calorie” but contains sucralose can leave one running for the bathroom and spending a great deal of time there. Often many of the symptoms are confused with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and people suffer needlessly with cramping, gas and diarrhea when they simply could stop consuming products that contain this sugar substitute.

Mood Swings Can Be One Of Many Sucralose Dangers

A person who is unaware of the effect that sucralose has on their body can ingest many products (especially if they are concerned about weight gain) and then have a reaction that people around them may not like so much. Most of us simply assume that a person who is on a diet will be moody because they are hungry, but it could be that they are consuming too much of the artificial sweetener, sucralose.

If you consume a lot of products that contain sucralose, you may not be aware of some of the hidden side effects. Do you often feel fatigued and sleepy after you consume something containing sucralose? Chronic fatigue has been reported by people who have had sucralose as well as the inability to concentrate.

Some more serious sucralose dangers include kidney disorders and enlarged livers. Much of these issues stem from the fact that sucralose is a manufactured compound that contains things that are toxic to the body, including chlorine. It has been stated that since sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar, it can actually cause increased cravings for sugary foods.

When you consider that most studies into this food additive were not carried out for very long on humans to show any real side effects, the science is not very reliable. In fact, we have no idea if one of the sucralose dangers is ultimately cancer.

The best way to determine how this product affects you personally is to be extremely diligent and remove it from your diet as much as you can. Once it is fully eliminated, try eating something that has sucralose in it and see how you feel afterwards. We can all do without this sugar substitute. In fact, there are much better alternatives that are completely natural and better for your body, such as raw honey.

Summary:

Side effects occur when artificial sweeteners are taken in large amounts consistently. But how do you know how much is a large amount for you? I prefer to just stay away from it especially if you have an obvious choice in front of you sitting at the restaurant table to add it in your drink or not. Yes, it’s easy to just rip open a pack of Splenda and pour it in, but try thinking about what you are actually doing to your body.

Also think about your kids consumption of these dangerous ingredients. If you start them young by not educating them about artificial sweeteners and where it can be found, you think health problems are bad these days? The future will expose things we have never thought of if we don’t teach our kids what’s being sold on the market these days. Teach them about health, and teach them about making the right choices and how making the wrong choices can effect their health and performance in sports and academics.

Lastly, sports supplements aren’t always healthy. Many are manufactured to do justice such as muscle recovery, a meal replacement, & build muscle mass. But if you’re looking to stay on the healthy side during the journey of developing a strong healthy body, there are products out there that focus on being all natural and safer for your health without the sucralose dangers or any other artificial killers.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Author: Tony Banawa

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Muscle Building Foods For Your Intense Workouts

Its a well known fact that building muscle mass can’t be done without muscle building foods and sweat inducing workouts. However, most of us fail to strike a right chord between the two and fail in our mission more often than not.

Having muscle building foods and maintaining proper diet is critical to you gaining muscles in the long run. This article will deal with some of the best foods that can help with muscle gains.

Some Of The Top Muscle Building Foods

Egg whites – They are probably your best bet in building muscle. Egg whites are cheap to buy, low in fat, and rich in amino acids that are very useful in muscle recovery after a heavy workout. However, it is essential to cook them right to make the perfect use of them.

While overcooking will render them useless, consuming them raw will risk you with contacting Salmonella. It is not a bad idea to keep the cooking temperature below 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

White meat – Lean chicken meat or white meat is an excellent source of protein. Always consume the breast portion as they are rich in protein. They can help you build damaged muscles in a quick time. What’s more, you can take them along with some veggies to make it delicious.

Salmon – Salmon is rich in protein and essential amino acids and can easily help you in stimulating metabolism. Since Salmon consists of a higher calorie amount per serving, it is a very good protein for those who are looking to gain weight with muscle building foods and workouts to reach that higher calorie intake per day.

Salmon is also an excellent source of omega-3 fats. They in turn can help you prevent heart related ailments, fight inflammation and regulates insulin levels.

Muscle Building Foods For Vegetarians

Beans – They are probably the most underutilized foods for muscle building purposes. Nonetheless, they are an excellent source of fiber and proteins. The fiber in beans helps to regulate the levels of insulin which in turn is useful for muscular growth. Black beans are most preferred but pinto, green, navy, kidney, and garbanzo beans are good as well. When you mix rice and beans together according to Brazil Butt Lift creator Leandro Carvalho, it makes for a great protein as well.

Milk – The protein rich milk is essentially a combination of 20% whey, a fast digesting protein, and 80% casein, a slow digesting protein. The former can be easily broken down into amino acids and thus renders the milk a perfect drink after a session of heavy workout. The latter however takes time to get digested completely. It however supplies the body with regular dosage of proteins in smaller amounts at regular intervals. Drinking at least 3-5 glasses of milk a day reduces the chances of strokes and heart attacks considerably. This has also been proved medically.

Quinoa – For vegetarians who need to find a plant-based protein, quinoa provides about 8 grams of protein per serving.

Other Foods Helpful In Building Muscle

Foods rich in slow-burning carbohydrates:

Pasta
Sweet potatoes
Rice
Barley
Once again, Quinoa

These are good options. Carbs present in the muscles are chiefly responsible for providing energy to the body during workouts. Quinoa is one of my favorite carbs to eat because it is also a complete protein source as I mentioned above. With rice and pasta, you would need a protein to balance out the macronutrient requirements in your meal. With quinoa, you can just eat it by itself and it counts as both. In the absence of carbs, the muscles get weakened and can easily affect your workouts.

Water, which comprises about 80% of muscle in our bodies, is obviously a necessity in building muscles.

According to MensHealth.com, In 1997, a German study found that protein synthesis happens at an increased rate with hydrated muscles verus dehydrated muscles. Another case study shows that researchers at Loma Linda University, found that men who drank 5 or more 8oz glasses of water per day were 54% less likely to have a heart attack versus those who drank 2 or less per day.

Regular intake of water will enable transportation of nutrients and minerals all through the body. They help your muscles look toned and ‘fuller’. They also help in flushing out unwanted toxins from the body and thus keep the body in good health.

Summary:
When building muscle, you must gain some weight along the journey. The carbs are needed for energy and the protein for muscle gains. There are many foods to meet your needs no matter if you are vegetarian or not. Building muscle mass means you have to eat. So take these muscle building foods with your workouts and create your own delicious recipes around them.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Author: Tony Banawa

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Choice Of Carbs – Simple Vs Complex

Carbohydrates are a common feature in many peoples diet. We consume them through a variety of different foods, such as pasta, white rice, bread, sweets, pastries and so much more, but should we all be eating so many?

Studies have shown that carbohydrates do in fact provide us with the fuel needed for physical activity,
as well as being essential for organ function and overall good health. However there are some
carbohydrates that are better than others, and many people often consume far more than their body
needs on a daily basis.

complex carbs — Complex Carbs Gives you the energy, minerals, vitamins, and fiber

Too many carbs comes with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes, which is often
over looked by the majority of people. If you look at your daily diet, I bet there are opportunities where
you can cut down on the carbs consumed, or swap good carbs for bad ones.

White foods dominate our supermarket shelves; white bread, white rice and white potatoes. These refined ‘white’ foods are the
staple of many families all over the world, but many people neglect the healthier alternative which usually come in the form of whole grains.

Carbohydrates come in two forms;

Simple – include many sugary foods such as sweets, pastries, doughnuts
Complex – include such things as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes

When the question is often asked “Does my diet contain too many carbs?’ I think the key is asking yourself whether or not you consume too many simple carbs each day.

Simple carbohydrates are also often full of saturated fats. These ‘bad’ fats are associated with a whole
heap of health problems and should be avoided where possible, instead replacing them with un-saturated
fats.

simple vs complex carbs — Simple Carbs - Not All Unhealthy

Eating carbohydrates causes our body to produce insulin. This insulin can make us feel hungry, which in turn causes us to eat more because we think we need food. This extra food leads to additional weight gain due to excess calories and therefore contributes to other health problems. By limiting our carb intake to the right portions according to our fitness routine recommendations, not just by quantity but also by ensuring we get the right type of carbohydrates, we can move closer to our goal of a healthier lifestyle.

Just remember our body does need some carbohydrates to function properly, so cutting them out
completely is not recommend. Carbohydrate consumption done correctly can have positive health benefits to your
body and way of life.

Today’s GetFitToLive’s Guest Blogger: Tanya is a writer for http://www.golower.co.uk.

Latest Chocolate Shakeology Superfood Formula Review

The latest change in the shakeology formula requires another shakeology review in my book. The new superfood formula came out this month, and anytime their is change, you know there will be both positive and negative feedback.

With the original chocolate flavor that I previously got each month for me and my wife, we liked nothing better than to wake up and have an early morning shake that just kick started our day. We had our recipes engraved in stone and that’s what excited us to wake up every morning. Knowing that I was going to have my Reese’s peanut butter shakeology, and get that energy boost to start my day was what popped me out of bed.

Well, we got our new shipment in this month and the label on the front said, “New Superfood Formula”. The moment we opened the bag, we knew something was different. Both the smell and the color was off. So like anybody would do, I mixed up the same original ingredients such as all natural PB, coconut oil, and water into the blender. I put the same amount of ice and added the shakeology powder and I was dissappointed. It didn’t taste the same or as good.

So I went online to figure out what has changed for this flavor, and what I found out was amazing. Before I go about telling you the difference, you must know that I was in total shock. I felt like the best part of my nutrition plan was taken away from me.

It’s the way we as humans are when “change” hits our daily routine isn’t it. But what do we have to do? Find a way to adapt to the change and make it work cause no matter what we do, change is the only thing that remains constant in life. Isn’t change what brought us all these fancy gadgets we have today?

Upgraded Health Benefits – New Shakeology Formula Review

After reading up on every shakeology review I could find through the company website, here is what I found out about the upgraded health benefits:

Less Fructose – Even though that fructose in shakeology is a natural substance, it’s still sugar. Don’t confuse this with “High Fructose Corn Syrup”. It’s not the same thing! Too much fructose entering the liver can make the human body hard to process it as sugar. So fat is developed and sends them to the bloodstream as triglycerides.

The reduced fructose has been replaced with sweet “superfoods” such as Coconut Flower Nectar and Luo Han Guo. What will this result in? Appetite-regulating hormones are more likely to be triggered, therefore feeling satisfied versus selling yourself short on the appetite satisfaction signaling system.

More Fiber – Increasing the fiber from 3g to 6g per serving by putting in the flavor-neutral vegan source, pea protein. Fiber is good for digestion and helps with your cholesterol. In addition, adding more fiber to the formula will help you feel full longer and reduce your food cravings even more than before.

4 New Superfoods – New Shakeology Formula Review

1. Moringa – Also known in America as benzolive tree, and West Indian Ben. There are many benefits including boosting your immune system, improving athletic performance, promote energy, weight loss, and vitality with it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Moringa is highlyknown for it’s vitamin C &A, protein, iron, calcium, and potassium. It contains four times more Vitamin A or beta-carotene than carrots. Moringa is commonly found in Africa, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Sri Lanka.

2. Coconut Flower Nectar– Natural source of B vitamins and contains 17 amino acids. It’s also high in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. This component helps add more quality sweetness after reducing the previous fructose element

3. Luo Han Guo – an antioxidant that has been used as a remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for over a millenium. This ingredient in said to have helped with high temperatures, heat stroke fever, and congestion of the lungs, according to it’s first recordings in America in 1938.

4. Himalayan Salt – Healthy salt containing about 70 trace minerals. Human body needs salt and can’t live without it. However, you need to stay away from table conventional salt. Himalayan salt keeps your body’s blood sugar, water, and PH levels in check, as well as promotes respiratory and vascular health.

Other recent improvements is that they have taken out both suma root & blue-green algae. One reason is so that pro athletes can now take shakeology without the fear of failing illegal substance policy tests. Not that the Suma Root was illegal, but today’s tests for illegal substances in pro sports aren’t advanced enough yet to tell the difference between this natural Brazilian ingredient and harmful steroids.

Grass juice powders. These grasses are first pressed into juices allowing the nutrients to concentrate more, and then dried to a powder for use in shakeology for a better use of probiotics. Probiotics help prevent infections in the digestive tract and can kill bacteria that usually causes sickness.

My Final Thoughts On the New Formula – Shakeology Review

After reading up on why they actually changed the formula that I loved previously already, I learned that it is for the better. Reducing the amount of fructose is key. Although it was natural, too much sugar no matter what type it is links to type 2 diabetes and other health problems. So it is clear to me that Beachbody wanted to improve on that aspect of the product.

Adding some of the best superfood ingredients today like Moringa, or “Malunggay” as it is known in my country of the Philippines, is absolutely amazing. You can read more about Moringa superfood here.

So what about the new shakeology chocolate formula taste? I know that this is what you’ve probably been waiting for. After recognizing the improved benefits, I knew there had to be a way that I could be drawn to all it’s added new benefits. So I mixed up a few modifications for a new recipe and found one that I like.

I now mix my new chocolate superfood formula with:

4oz of dark chocolate almond milk
5 oz of water
2 tbsp all natural Peanut butter
2 tbsp Extra virgin coconut oil
with 5-7 pieces of ice

The added dark chocolate almond milk instead of previously adding “all” water really made a world of difference.

Tip from my wife:
Blend all the ingredients “MINUS” the shakeology powder to a smooth liquid, then add shakeology briefly to the blend just to mix it all together.

For more recipes, visit my recipe board on Pinterest (Opens in new window).

This will eliminate any thickness or over frothing and create a perfect blend if you don’t want your shakes too thick.

I must say that this recipe has got to be better than the previous original. Which makes this new superfood formula a win for me. If you are new to the shake, you won’t have a problem. Many of the negative comments about the new formula was from people who had to convert from the old formula, which was spectacular too, but not superior to the new and improved shakeology formula today.

However, Beachbody always listens to it’s coaches and customers feedback and have put together a censory panel. This was done to help improve anything that needs to be better for the customers and coaches who are committed to their health. Due to this, you can bet that anything in the future that can improve the formula will be done to always make sure that you have access to the best ingredients in one shake possible.

See the New Chocolate Superfood Formula nutrition label. My suggestion is that you compare it “full label to full label” with other brands if you are in the market for a meal replacement and tell me what you think below in the comment section. Although most meal replacements don’t disclose 100% of it’s contents, Beachbody makes sure that you know everything you are putting into your body by including 100% of it’s contents onto the label.

Change is good, but not always welcomed at first. As you get to know the benefits of the new shakeology superfood formula and find a recipe that you like, it’s all sunshine and smiles from there, and in my experience, you won’t want to look back even though i wanted to at first. I hope this shakeology review was helpful to you in knowing the new shakeology superfood formula and it’s benefits.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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