"The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, monitored the prevalence of all types of cancer from stomach and bowel to liver, cervix and brain tumors. They looked at men and women, and took into account other risk factors, such as smoking and lifestyle."

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/miracle-diet-from-the-med-858318.html

Femeile moderne şi informate ştiu că un copil trebuie conceput cu dragoste şi inteligenţă. Bazele unei noi vieţi sănătoase se pun încă din perioada prenatală, când viitoarea mamă trebuie să se îngrijească atât de sănătatea ei,cât şi, implicit, de a copilului.

Mămicile îngrijorate, doresc să creeze condiţiile cele mai potrivite pentru a avea copii inteligenţi şi sănătoşi, care să se dezvolte armonios, îi mângâie, le arată dragoste continuu, ascultă muzică cu ei, râd şi se bucură pentru ei, fac plimbări în aer curat, menţin relaţii simple şi sincere cu rudele şi prietenii, asigurându-le un mediu curat şi binecuvântat. Ele se străduiesc să aleagă din imensitatea de informaţii pe cele care le ghidează pe căi fără riscuri, care pun în practică metode naturale, tradiţionale, îndelung verificate.

Astfel, pot afla că, în ultimul trimestru de sarcină, se definitivează formarea creierului copilului, a retinei şi a sistemului nervos, în componenţa căruia intră acizii graşi Omega-3 (ulei de peşte) în proporţie de peste 60%. Se poate afirma, fără reţinere, că Omega-3 constituie cărămizile de temelie ale formării creierului. Procesul de formare se bazează pe rezervele de Omega-3 ale mămicii. Dacă aceste rezerve sunt sărace, atunci apar carenţe în dezvoltarea copilului, iar epuizarea completă a acestor rezerve poate duce la depresia postpartum a mămicii. În aceste condiţii, devine evidentă necesitatea creşterii aportului de Omega-3, prin suplimente alimentare de calitate superioară, ţinând cont de faptul că, prin fierbere, peştele pierde o mare parte din Omega-3. Lipsa unei cantităţi suficiente de Omega-3 (componenta DHA), în timpul dezvoltării sistemului nervos central, poate determina efecte negative pe termen lung asupra funcţiei vizuale şi a celei cognitive.

De asemenea, unii cercetători consideră că deficienţa de Omega-3, DHA, în timpul acestei perioade de dezvoltare rapidă cauzează daune ireversibile asupra creierului şi sistemului nervos, conducând la disfuncţionalităţi vizuale şi la o dezvoltare mintală şi psihomotorie întârziată.
Adesea, copiii născuţi prematur şi cei cu o dezvoltare intrauterină încetinită au la naştere o cantitate redusă de astfel de acizi graşi Omega-3. Laptele de mamă şi peştii graşi conţin mari cantităţi de Omega-3, DHA, dar uleiul din ficat de cod este deosebit de bogat în acest acid gras polinesaturat.

În multe ţări, copiilor mici li se administra la şcoală, zilnic, ulei din ficat de cod, care cumulează efectele benefice ale vitaminelor A şi D şi ale acizilor graşi Omega-3. Studii ştiinţifice experimentale au arătat că acei copii care au primit un aport suplimentar de Omega-3, DHA, au trecut cu brio testele de inteligenţă, mult mai bine decât cei care au avut un deficit în dieta lor. Şcolarii care au luat ulei de peşte şi-au îmbunătăţit capacitatea de concentrare şi performanţele şcolare. S-au făcut experimente, prin suplimentarea dietei cu ulei de peşte bogat în Omega-3 timp de 6 luni, pe grupuri mari de adolescenţi cu probleme de comportament, la Eaton Hall Special School, în Norwich. Numărul de incidente violente a scăzut simţitor, de la 112 la 36, iar evenimente grave nu sau mai înregistrat.

Suplimentele alimentare cu ulei de peşte, administrate zilnic, impulsionează dezvoltarea creierului la copii în trei luni cât s-ar dezvolta în trei ani - este şi concluzia unui documentar BBC “Child of our time”, realizat de o echipă de cercetători din Marea Britanie.
Cercetătorii de la Imperial College London, care au realizat acest studiu, au fost uimiţi de modificările produse pe creier în urma acestui tratament, care a favorizat dezvoltarea exponenţială a capacităţilor de învăţare şi de concentrare.

Aceleaşi efecte binefăcătoare asupra creierului s-au observat şi la vârste adulte. Diferenţele sunt demonstrate şi cu ajutorul tomografiei computerizate.

Aşadar, copiii noştri sunt mai inteligenţi pentru că au mămici informate, care ştiu să beneficieze de metodele tradiţionale, îndelung verificate, cum ar fi terapia cu ulei de peşte islandez Lysi.

Autor: sagasanatate www.sagasanatate.ro

În întreaga lume s-au efectuat, pe scară largă, cercetări cu privire la efectele terapeutice benefice ale acizilor graşi Omega-3, EPA (acid eicosapentaenoic) şi DHA (acid docosahexaenoic), în cazul unor diverse tipuri de afecţiuni, precum cele cardiovasculare, boli psihice (depresii, sindromul hiperactivităţii şi deficitului de atenţie etc.), reumatism, artrită etc. S-a acordat o deosebită atenţie dizabilităţilor de învăţare şi problemelor de comportament, în cazul cărora administrarea de Omega-3 s-a dovedit a fi foarte benefică.

Dr. Adrew Stoll, de la Brigham and Women’s Hospital din Boston, SUA, a efectuat un studiu experimental pe 30 de voluntari care sufereau de tulburare psihică bipolară, caracterizată de episoade frecvente de manie, alternate cu depresie.

Nu a fost nici o problemă în a găsi voluntari, deoarece tratamentele existente sunt adesea însoţite de efecte secundare neplăcute - de exemplu creşterea în greutate, somnolenţă, acnee etc.,pe când Omega-3 este atractiv, fiind natural. Unii pacienţi primeau unul sau mai mulţi stabilizatori de dispoziţie pentru ameliorarea severităţii tulburării bipolare. S-a folosit sistemul dublu orb, în care jumătate din numărul pacienţilor luau placebo, iar cealaltă jumătate luau ulei de peşte, dar nici pacienţii, nici asistentele, nu ştiau cine ce lua. După patru luni de utilizare a cca 1000 mg ulei de peşte/zi, s-a efectuat o analiză preliminară a rezultatelor pentru cei 30 de pacienţi şi s-a descoperit o discrepanţă semnificativă între grupul de control care luase placebo şi grupul celor cărora li se administrase Omega-3.

Mulţi dintre pacienţii care luaseră ulei de peşte Omega-3 îşi reveniseră în mod spectaculos, iar cei care primeau placebo lâncezeau sau chiar făcuseră o recădere. În urma obţinerii acestor rezultate, s-a decis întreruperea studiului şi administrarea de Omega-3 tuturor celor 30 de pacienţi, considerând că ar fi fost imoral ca aceia din grupul placebo să fie lăsaţi să sufere, când remediul era atât de la îndemână.
Mecanismul prin care uleiul de peşte influenţează procesele cerebrale nu este în totalitate descifrat,dar s-a observat că acizii graşi de tip Omega-3 din uleiul de peşte ajută la reglarea serotoninei, DHA regăsindu-se în 50% din grăsimile membranelor celulare, pe care le face mai flexibile, favorizând activitatea neurotransmiţătorilor.

Analizele arată că pacienţii depresivi au un nivel sanguin de Omega-3 foarte scăzut. De asemenea, uleiul de peşte bogat în Omega-3, prin componentul EPA, ajută la protejarea creierului de inflamaţie, prin limitarea producerii de substanţe puternic inflamatoare. Este cunoscut faptul că uleiul de peşte poate proteja arterele împotriva obturării, inima de boli şi creierul de depresie, astfel putându-se explica de ce depresia precede şi prezice adesea boala de inimă şi de ce ambele atacă de multe ori aceiaşi indivizi. Hipocrat a spus primul: „Hrana bună pentru inimă face bine şi creierului.”

Studii recente arată că, deoarece acidul gras DHA este o parte constitutivă majoră a creierului şi a lipidelor din nervi, el este vital pentru funcţionarea adecvată a acestor ţesuturi, dovedindu-se că DHA joacă un rol decisiv în timpul sarcinii şi al dezvoltării creierului şi oaselor copiilor sugari, precum şi pentru menţinerea sănătăţii creierului la bătrâneţe. Aşadar, pentru a-i satisface necesităţile, trebuie să-i furnizaţi continuu DHA, adevărată hrană pentru creier.

Acizii graşi Omega-3, DHA şi EPA sunt importanţi în toate fazele vieţii şi trebuie să constituie o parte a vieţii noastre zilnice, pentru toată viaţa.
Descoperiţi secretul sănătăţii creierului cu Omega-3 Lysi!

Bibliografie:

1. Factorul Omega-3, Dr. Andrew Stoll
2. Cum să-ţi protejezi sănătatea creierului, Jean Carper

Autor: sagasanatate www.sagasanatate.ro

Lo Mejor de La Naturaleza….

[wp_caption id="attachment_14" align="alignnone" width="269" caption="Nutrientes"][/wp_caption]

[wp_caption id="attachment_15" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Porqué El OMEGA 3"][/wp_caption]

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El papel de los ácidos grasos omega en una buena alimentación

A los omega-3 se les denomina ácidos grasos esenciales (AGE) porque son necesarios para garantizar una buena salud. Nuestro organismo no puede producirlos, así que debemos obtener los omega-3 a partir de los alimentos.

Funciones principales

• Reducen la hipertensión. Diversos estudios de grandes empresas han revelado que el consumo de ácidos grasos omega-3 ayuda a reducir la hipertensión y la presión arterial.
• Mejoran la salud del corazón. Los ácidos grasos omega-3 pueden contribuir a mantener bajos los niveles de colesterol, estabillizando el ritmo cardíaco anormal (arritmia) y reduciendo la tensión arterial.
• Protegen el corazón. En la actualidad, los investigadores apuntan a que el ácido alfa-linolénico (ALA), uno de los omega-3, puede resultar especialmente beneficioso en la prevención de enfermedades cardiovasculares y en la reducción de los niveles de colesterol y triglicéridos.

Alimentos ricos en ácidos grasos omega-3

Los principales ácidos grasos omega-3 son el ácido eicosapentanoico (EPA), el ácido docosahexanoico (DHA) y el ácido alfa-linolénico (ALA). Los EPA y los DHA se encuentran en el pescado graso de agua fría, como el atún, el salmón y la caballa, así como en las algas frescas. Los ALA se encuentran principalmente en las verduras de hoja verde oscuro, el aceite de semilla de lino y en ciertos aceites de origen vegetal.

Consumo

No existe una cantidad diaria recomendada de omega-3, aunque resulta conveniente seguir una dieta sana que contenga cantidades significativas de alimentos ricos en este ácido graso esencial.

No existen riesgos en el consumo de ácidos grasos omega-3. No obstante, la mayoría de los expertos recomienda reducir el consumo de pescado a dos o tres veces por semana, ya que muchos peces pueden contener mercurio u otros contaminantes. Las cápsulas de aceite de pescado no suelen presentar ese riesgo.

Beneficios probados

No se conocen efectos secundarios asociados al aumento del consumo de alimentos ricos en ácidos grasos omega-3, aunque las cápsulas de aceite de pescado de determinadas marcas pueden producir eructos y dejar un sabor a pescado que, aunque inofensivo, puede resultar desagradable.

Disc and spinal cord injuries can benefit from these in the diet. Even pain is lessened.

We already knew about the benefits from other studies. Study author Jane Burns, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston said: “Teens that have the lowest intake of fruits, vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids tended to have lower pulmonary function and reported more respiratory symptoms than those with higher intake.”

Very few of us get enough of either Vitamin C or Omega 3's in our daily food. Do supplements matter? YES, they do!

Researchers said they examined the association of dietary factors (fruit, vegetables, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, retinol, and omega-3 fatty acids) with respiratory health in a cohort of 2,112 12th grade students in 13 communities in the United States and Canada. They asked the teens about their diets, their general health and respiratory symptoms and also tested the adolescents’ lung function.

You've heard about Vitamin C being good for your skin (anti aging diets for younger looking skin.)

The study on diet and wrinkles, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in October 2007, showed that American women aged 40 onwards who had higher amounts of vitamin C in their diet had less wrinkles and age-related dryness of the skin.

The study also found that women who had higher linoleic acid (omega 3 fatty acids) also had less wrinkles, and signs of skin aging.

On the other hand, women who had too much carbohydrates and fats, resulted in increased wrinkles seen in their skin. (The typical American diet, carbohydrates and fats.)

With the vast amount of evidence, why aren't we taking advantage of the most powerful one two punch out there for our health? I can't answer that, but you know what I'll be taking more of...

Remember, you can find tons of info on the site...

_Nerve Cells of a healthy brain_U.S. News

I think everyone knows the necessity of Omega 3's nowadays -- it's all over the "media." Unfortunately, the status quo is still "fish or fish oils." One can get DHA from plant foods which the body will convert to the needed EPA -- that's how the fish get it: they eat sea plants and their bodies convert it to EPA -- and, as Bogie might say, "why doesn't everyone just make their own?" ;) Who wants second-hand nutrients? Not I, said she.   ~Shudder~   Walnuts; Hemp Seeds/Nuts; Flax (in moderation); and, of course that POWER-house seed that contains *the* highest of any food, the CHIA :D (aka "Salba") --All raw, contain lots of DHA, ready to be converted by your incredibly resilient host. Not to mention, all leafy greens; and, if you're getting your greens on (like you should, via Green Smoothies), you're SO golden...or Greenen ;^) --  Purslane, being the highest leafy green source of Omega 3's, with Mache in second place.

However, it has to be noted that oils are NOT good sources, nor are they healthful. Flax oil doesn't convert well, according to the Flax Council of Canada, for example; and I've read elsewhere is only converted anywhere from 2-15%! Dr. Fuhrman is also no fan of oils, especially, flax:

"...I do not recommend the use of flaxseed oil or flaxseed oil supplements. Flaxseed oil is pure fat and virtually devoid of all or most of the nutrients (except for vitamin E) found in ground flaxseed. Also, flaxseed oil is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and there is evidence that extracted PUFA oils may suppress the immune system, and possibly increase the growth rate of certain cancers and/or tumors. If you want the benefit of flaxseed, eat the ground seeds and avoid the oil." _ Disease Proof

And even flax SEEDS should be taken with caution:

"Flax seeds have beneficial health properties in moderate quantity.  Excess omega-3 from flax is linked to increase risk of prostate cancer and flax seeds have a cyanogenic glucoside that blocks iodine uptake.  So they could worsen and iodine deficiency if intake is borderline low."_Dr. Fuhrman quote from his Forum.

Can Flaxseed Oil Cause Prostate Cancer? Disease Proof

"Keep in mind that the scientifically documented benefits from flax seeds come from raw, ground flax seed, not flax seed oil."  _ Exerption, Disease-Proof Your Child

Chugging oil (and flaxoil, Aye...) is not healthful. In fact, even flax SEEDS should be limited 1 Tablespoon per day is enough).

I have given up flax as a daily supplement (if something I make calls for it --  unlikely -- or something I eat has it, I won't protest) and choose Chia seeds, which are superior anyway. (Chias may be eaten as desired; no cautions with those gems!)

Whole food sources are always better, but, again, it's cautionary as to how one would do this. An excess of fat sources -- even good fats like avos, walnuts, etc. -- will become unhealthful amounts at some point. Now, many people have a medical need, or a physical/emotional need for more DHA; as well, a minority just don't convert the DHA well for some reason. Then a good-quality supplement is desirable -- AND, thankfully, veganically available! I'll start with DHA PURITY, which is one of the highest-quality I know (or trust):

"This veggie derived DHA, sourced from microalgae, provides the beneficial omega–3 fatty acid of fish oil without the fish. DHA Purity now comes in an all–new, purified liquid form of very highly concentrated DHA so that it can be digested easier and hidden easily in food..."

With DHA PURITY, you get 175 mg of DHA. This will cost you about $30 for a 60-day supply -- that's a good deal -- about $27 if you're a member.

*****

Next, the V-PURE from Water4Life is also excellent

This is a good product. UK sourced, it's now available in the United States (see links below). At first, I was not trusting, because when I contacted them via email, they could not or would not explain to me HOW it could contain EPA, when that is something that must be converted by a being, whether it's a fish or other animal. They were being curiously evasive in answering directly. What's the big secret? Am I going to run off and steal their "secret formulation"??! Gimme a break! That's the impression I got, though -- that it was some sort of secret . So I was skeptical...however, in my continuous thirst-search for knowledge (), I was reading all I could about Spirulina (which I consume, by the way) and something I was reading about the spirulina struck me and it made sense: [spirulina is a living "being" of sorts (kinda)] That IT actively consumes and converts DHA to EPA, therefore, containing EPA just like fish do. So, a much-less yucky *and clean* pre-converted form of EPA than a fish or other poor soul. So, this is most-likely the source of the Water4Life's EPA, or other algae like phytoplankton or somethin.' Or, perhaps, they've found a way to "feed" DHA to the spirulina so it makes the EPA, etc. Only my guess, of course; but, since they source it as coming from algae, and claim it's EPA, then what other conclusion is there? So I'm on their bandwagon: I've been using it -- and it's actually a higher dosage than I'm used to with DHA Purity -- and it's fabulous! I have gone through 2 bottles. I got it a long time ago because I'm one of those persons who "has to" try stuff! How else to know? ;) Anyway, like I mentioned previously, I don't like to order one thing from a site -- too expensive and a waste -- so I usually wait till I need a few things, then order. I was out of DHA Purity, but didn't want to just order it alone, so decided to finish off my V-Pure (still  had plenty of time according to the expiry), which tasted fresh as when I first received it. Good to know that it's reliable and fresh when refrigerated. Now, one of the things that had me leaning toward this product from the git (even though I was dismayed at their lack of candidness) was the taste -- Never had fish oil, however, it IS notorious for tasty disgusting and that's why it's in capsules. Bad news, those capsules. It's easy to miss if it's stinky-rotten fishy which would mean it's RANCID and TOXIC! So, basically, you're doing yourself more harm than good! There are very few sources from which to get very clean fish oils, and even then, you are not getting the best.                Back to the V-Pure -- I cracked open one of those babies, and, yep, drank its liquor -- Very good, actually.  It had almost no flavor at all, which is great. I like the lemon-grass flavor of DHA Purity, but there are some sensitive people who find this mild flavor too off-putting, and some children don't like it;  So, for them, I'd say go with the V-Pure. It's in a cap so you won't taste it anyway, but rest assured you won't be burping up fish flavors or any flavor, for that matter. And you can always crack open a cap and taste to test. V-Pure provides 89mg of EPA and 270mg of DHA -- that's pretty damn good! It's not inexpensive: For a 30-day supply (90 vegan-capsules) it runs about $30 at this site. (Also available here at the same price).

*****

Not sure about: NuTru's O-Mega-Zen3:

I can't really say it's NOT good -- didn't take it for any length of time to conclusion -- however, the taste was not "clean"; so, while not awful, it wasn't a pleasant or non-issue experience such as with the DHA PURITY and the V-Pure. So, if desperate, I'd take it! With O-Mega Zen3 -- available in liquid or vegan capsules -- you get 300 mg DHA for 1 serving  (liquid); I'm not sure the dosage on the caps, but you get 40 capsules per container. Capsules will cost you about $19; the liquid, about $28. Available online as well as in some stores.

*****

DEVA also offers a vegan DHA; I've not tried it. It's available at various vegan store sites as well as in some markets. A 30-day supply at 1 vegan capsule per day will cost you a mere $14.95 for 200 mg DHA; a 90-day supply, $34.95

*****

Another new-comer -- Chia oil. Now, again, oils are seed extracts, stripped of the majority of their benefits. You also need more of it than algae oil; so you're basically getting a lot of fat, which may or may not be enough or even utilized. So, if I were on a desert island and a chia oil tree grew there, I'd take this over fish or any other source that might be around (while taking full advantage of the leaves, of course :P ). It's flavor is not bad, more neutral, if anything. But I'd not say completely flavorless. In larger doses, it gives off a definite flavor; however, in medicinal amounts, it's negligible.  The link above takes you to a site where excellent chia seeds are offered; and they are now WIDELY available, even in stores. (Read more about chias here). But if for some reason you need chia oil, then it is available at Nature's Emporium or this site has it.

Bottom line --Go with the seeds over their oils; but adding a vegan DHA in addition to the consumption of healthful foods, containing DHA -- seeds, leafy greens, nuts -- for insurance/assurance.

*****

Personally, I'm all about quality over quantity, especially for my health! I don't compromise or shortcut when it comes to nutrition and health; so, I don't mind paying more for Dr. Fuhrman's DHA Purity, or for the Water4Life's, V-Pure --same for organic produce. AND, I faithfully get in LOADS of greens (which are FULL OF EFA's)-- whole leaves, blended AND greens, juiced -- via my Green Juicie, Green Smoothies! Plus good fats every day in the form in whole foods, preferably -- avocado, unsalted, raw, organic olives (FABUlous!!); various nuts and seeds ;) . So, methinks I'm doing a-okay on the Omega front :D. I also know that my mood; concentration; level of anxiety; deliberation; calmness; and contentment (bigtime) -- all improved with the addition of healthy fats, in general, and moreso, DHA, in particular. It is often DHA which is prescribed for depression, as well (usually as fish by unaware M.D.'s) so that makes sense, even if not depressed, as I wasn't! The purity, cleanliness, and lack of mercury, PCG's, dioxins, other toxins and rancidity -- all of which are readily in the majority of fish oils -- make an EPA-DHA plant-based supplement the optimal choice.

We all want a healthy brain:

The Human Brain_National Geographic

SO EAT YOUR GREENS, TAKE YOUR DHA, EXERCISE, SLEEP, REDUCE STRESS, AND CULTIVATE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS!

Whew! I'm thinking Green Juicie Green smoothies need their own page... Will get to it sometime!

_Pox

Now’s a great time to explain to your child how everything that goes into the body has an effect and can be used to great advantage. Nothing works instantly so you can’t just eat something and expect immediate results, but a good diet can go a long way to help kids grow up and supply consistent energy and also, promoting brain function through essential fats and other nutrients.

Here are my 5 tips to keep the kids healthy this summer

1. Go for complex carbohydrates to maintain energy levels

Encourage children to choose things that will actually have a beneficial effect on their levels of energy, rather than foods that diminish them. For example, complex carbohydrates found in wholemeal bread, bananas and rice, release calories slowly and help to keep levels of energy and concentration high. But refined carbohydrates, present in white bread, biscuits and cakes, give only a quick-fix high that will drop sooner rather than later leading to a lack of concentration and lethargy.

2. Kids must have breakfast

Many kids and teens skip breakfast, either because they get up late, are in a hurry or are becoming conscious of their weight. Try to teach them that starting the day with a good breakfast will actually enable them to concentrate for longer – they will have kick-started their systems and won’t be distracted by hunger pangs mid-morning.

3. Make healthy breakfast choices

Wholegrain cereals are a good choice as these are low GI foods, which mean they release their energy slowly. Or go for something like scrambled eggs, a good source of protein and nutrients. You could even buy eggs enriched with extra omega 3 fatty acids, which has been found to help improve concentration and brain function. Add in a slice of wholemeal toast and the combination of protein and carbohydrates is excellent, made even better by giving them an apple and some nuts or seeds mid morning too.

4. Fight the mid-morning hungry pangs

If they do find themselves hungry mid-morning, let them know that grabbing a snack is fine, but they can help themselves by choosing wisely. A diet high in saturated fat – found in treats like ice cream – and trans fats – common in snack choices like biscuits, cakes, and fried foods ¬– is thought to negatively influence brain function by reducing the absorption of those all important good fats (omega 3 for example). Instead, encourage them take the opportunity to refuel by having EFA-rich (great for concentration) or slow-releasing energy food choices in the house. A banana or a handful of nuts and seeds – such as pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts – are good choices.

5. And make healthy lunch choices

For lunch, you could choose something rich in the nutrients vitamin B6 and zinc. These help generate a healthy balance of neurotransmitters. These are brain chemicals, which act as messengers transferring information from one brain cell to another, helping us form and recall memories. B6 is also important in the production of energy. Try baked beans, cheddar cheese or marmite on wholemeal pitta bread, or make a salad with brown pasta or rice, avocado and some lean protein like chicken or fish. Protein is good as it helps keeps kids alert. Do avoid foods that are high in fat, salt, and refined carbohydrates like white bread, cakes, crisps, fatty meats etc, as these will diminish mental alertness and cause energy slumps. If your child is eating these foods for lunch will usually end up tired towards the end of the day.

But some of the fish in your supermarket or fish store is really not good for your health. In fact it can be downright dangerous.
Happy fish

Little did I know that 45 percent of the fish we consume has been farmed. Sounds idyllic – the marine equivalent of green pastures and happy cows. Not really.

Taras Grescoe, the author of "Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood" writes about fish farming in his book.

Do you like shrimp?

For starters, check out the origin of the shrimp in your supermarket. Most of it comes from Thailand and it’s cheap. Grescoe warns "If you are eating cheap shrimp today, it almost certainly comes from a turbid, pesticide-and-antibiotic-filled, virus-ridden pond in the tropical climes of one of the world’s poorest countries."

The grossly overcrowded ponds make the shrimp highly susceptible to disease so the “farmers” pump heavy duty chemicals, pesticides and antibiotics to keep the shrimp alive.

Some farms use borax (which is a fire retardant and insecticide) to keep the shrimps color. Or they burn tiger shrimp with caustic soda to make them pink which is what we expect shrimp to look like.

Stick with shrimp caught in the Atlantic Ocean.

How about some delicious salmon, rich in Omega-3?

Salmon farms in British Columbia kill fungus on the eggs with a formaldehyde-based preservative that the World Health Organization calls a "known human carcinogen."

To kill bacteria and viruses, the eggs are soaked in an iodine-based disinfectant.

The fish pens are coated with anti-fouling paint whose containers bear both a skull and crossbones and a label that says "Toxic to aquatic organisms." This paint flakes off into the water too.

If the salmon are yellow or gray – no problem. Growers artificially color them pink.

If they get sick, growers add antibiotics to their feed.

After analyzing salmon bought in stores from Seattle to Edinburgh, Canada, researchers reported in 2004 that farmed salmon contained as much as ten times more persistent organic pollutants than wild salmon.

Stick with salmon caught in the Pacific Ocean.

Grescoe writes about the chemicals found in fish.

"The chemicals in question, among the most toxic known to man, include the dioxins produced by coal-burning utilities and smelters (the most infamous being Agent Orange) and the polychlorinated biphenyls used in paints, pesticides, and even carbonless copy paper.

"Banned since the 1970s, these contaminants continue to show up in the food we eat. All are suspected carcinogens; most cause behavioral, growth and learning disorders."

OK, I’m grossed out. So now what?

Here’s some good advice from the author about what fish is safe to eat.

For starters, stop eating the top of the food chain, the predators. Instead eat trout, herring, barramundi, sardine, catfish and mackerel.

Eat locally when you can and know your local fish.

Farmed fish isn’t necessarily bad but stay away from carnivorous farmed fish like salmon and shrimp.

Mislabeling is rampant. For example over 50% of wild salmon is in fact farmed. Grouper is not usually grouper. And some of the whitefish from the Midwest is actually zander from Eastern Europe.

And be suspicious if it’s cheap. Fish is getting rarer so it’s getting more expensive.

But don’t give up on fish. Your brain will appreciate it from time to time.

Another thing your brain might appreciate is some time playing mentally challenging games on your PC. You can check out ours at our web site, Brain Games Software.

 Finest Pure Fish Oil is obtained from anchovies and sardines fished from the little polluted Pacific Ocean. It is then molecularly distilled to concentrate the levels of EPA and DHA and remove any residual impurities and contaminants present. The final part of the process involves the addition of pure essential orange oil to provide a finished product which is a highly concentrated fish oil, with a great orange taste, and no detectable levels of heavy metal and PCB contaminants.

Recommended Dosage:

1-5 teaspoons a day with meals or as professionally directed.

Who should take this product:

It has so many benefits it is difficult to get enough omega 3 fish oil. All children over the age of 6 and adults who rarely eat oil fish like herring or sardine would benefit from the high concentrations of DHA and EPA found in Omega Plus Finest Fish Oil in addition to that included in the Four Essentials Pack.

Where do I get it from?

You can either go straight to www.alimentnutrition.co.uk, or purchase directly from Shaun Stafford Training.

The cost is 10gbp per bottle, and taken at the maximum recommended dosage, lasts c.10days

Clown Fish - Certified organic

   Good day, here is your cookie for today. Sounds fishy to me. Have you ever been fishing, or visited a fish market? If you have done either of these things, the chances are great that you have filled your nostrils with the distinct aroma of dead fish. Now the shops don't want to say that, and they market it as, ‘fresh fish,' but that's what it is, dead fish. Most people don't eat live fish unless it was during some some childhood prank or you are related to the creature Golum, from Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien.

   Pretty much everyone knows that we should eat more fish, because it's good for us. Why, because of Omega-3. But for me, I have a real sensitive sense of smell and it is closely aligned to my sense of taste. If I can smell it and it smells ‘fishy,' I ‘m not eating it! What to do?

   My wife and I were in Japan a few years ago. The Japanese are really ‘into' fresh and especially fish. I thought I might starve over there, and at first was so thankful to find a McDonald's close by. Soon, I was eating stuff I never imagined and even stuff one Japanese native was envious of, because he couldn't eat it. Why could I eat the stuff? What changed for me? As an example, in the U.S.A., the truck full of fresh fish just delivering to the store, might have been thrown out in Japan, two weeks prior. When I say the Japanese love, fresh, I mean it. We saw live stuff on little styrofoam containers, sealed with clear plastic wrap, wiggling underneath the film! That's FRESH and in Japan, I ate the stuff, because I could not smell it. I couldn't smell it because it was fresh. I did not however, eat the wiggly stuff! 

   When we think of fresh, we usually associate this with quality. If it has a poor smell, we often think it is spoiled, rancid, not fresh and not of good quality. Perhaps like me, there are many people that do not eat a lot of fish, even though it's good for us. There is a solution. 

    The Flavor of the Day

   Fish oil. Of all the natural substances the FDA has looked into, it is only fish oil or Omega 3 from fish that has come anywhere close to getting approval. There are several sources for Omega-3 like flax seed, walnuts and other plant based substances with nutritional value, but the best and most concentrated sources for Omega-3 is from fish. "But I don't like fish," some may cry out. Not to worry, there are plenty of gelatin-like, encapsulated supplements on the market. That's just a fancy schmancy way of saying soft gel pills filled with fish oil. What's the big deal with fish oil and Omega-3, anyway?

   You can do your own research, but primarily, Omega-3 has been shown to protect our hearts, aid in circulation and many other benefits. Omega-3 is essential to our health, but cannot be manufactured in the body so therefore, we must get it from the food we consume. We all know about good and bad cholesterol. Too much of the bad stuff can cause plaque to develop in our circulatory system, block blood flow and even cause a stroke or a heart attack. Omega-3 (the good stuff), has been shown to help keep our body plumbing free of clogs. My wife believes Omega-3 helps keep her joints flexible and there are many other benefits Omega-3 is known to offer. The point is, it's good for us. The next question is where do we get it?

   There are some pharmaceutical companies making ‘pharmacy grade' fish oil (Omega-3), but it's only available by prescription only, from a physician, for $300-$600.00. Do not ask me who makes it, where to get it, or what you get for 300-600 bucks because, I don't know and I don't want to know. Is their Omega-3 fish oil better than what anyone else makes? Very doubtful! It smells fishy to me. There is a lot of money to be made with pharmaceuticals rather than nutriceuticals (nutritional - super FOODS). Since the high dollar stuff is certainly out of my budget (maybe yours too), and probably not necessary anyway, where else can we get fish oil (Omega-3)?

   Almost every grocery store, health food store and direct marketing, health and wellness company offer Omega-3, all with some type of gel caps. There may be, just as many different prices as there are brands. So which ones are the best ones and offer the best bang for our bucks?

   First, READ the labels or the literature. What we are looking for is the source(s), of the fish oil (Omega-3). Where does it come from, what kind of fish?

   Which is easier to catch, big fish or little fish? The big ones right? Most fish oil come from salmon and other larger fish. Sardines and anchovies are smaller, harder to catch, would probably end up costing more, but they also are a source for Omega-3. Which size of fish (the bigger or smaller), are more likely to live longer? Again, the bigger fish generally live longer than sardines and anchovies. Considering both size and lifespan, which fish (the larger or the smaller), would potentially have less harmful chemicals? It is the sardines and anchovies. Choose Omega-3 fish oil that clearly states it is made from sardines and anchovies!

   Again, reading the label, it should read EPA with a minimum of 900 mg and DHA with a minimum of 600 mg. You will have to research EPA & DHA as to what they are, but the label should read these minimum amounts. It should also contain 100% natural Vitamin E, 25 IU, minimum, which will also read 77% of Daily Value.

   Your last check is a simple one for testing the quality, freshness and purity of the product. If the ingredients listed and in the amounts as I have listed them above are on the label, the quality, freshness and purity is probably there, but this is a real simple way to know for sure. Just as this post was started, use your ‘smell-er.' Take one of the gel caps and carefully cut one open to spill out the oil. Take a whiff. If it smells fishy or like rancid oil, it probably is. If it smells fishy to me, I wouldn't swallow them and I'd throw the bottle away. That's a pretty easy way to determine the freshness, quality and purity of the product, without having to understand all the technical stuff. For the non-fish eaters and those wanting more Omega-3 in their diets, you won't taste the fish. You won't taste the gelatin/glycerin encapsulating the fish. It's just capsules swallowed with water.

     Your cookie for this day, consider fish oil (Omega-3) for your heart and health. If you really need to find a top quality product, reply to this post with your name and E-mail and I will send you some more information and where you can get it.  

   Tomorrow's cookie - ‘Talkin' Dirt'

Baking cookies Just for You,

Dahni the cookie man

Dip Dunk or Don't

Both are beneficial, but the evidence points to the possibility that fish oil may be the best source. If you do buy fish oil, make sure it is not contaminated with mercury or any other heavy metals. To check on a brand, go to this site, sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund:

http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1653
The best brand I've found is Nordic Naturals, though many others are good as well.

If you're vegetarian or simply don't want to take fish oil, try the vegetarian plant oils, best in combination. One excellent brand is Udo's, which is a tasty combination of organic flax, sesame, sunflower, and evening primrose oils.

Both fish and vegetable oils come in either liquid or gel cap form. The fish oil can be quite strong, so the gel caps are your best bet, but the vegetable oil can be taken either way (you can even include it in your salad dressing).

For more reading on the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids, see research by Stoll et al., 1999; Bourre, 2005; Parker et al., 2006; Hu et al., 2002.

Of course, this example is pretty simple, and not the best science (one rat verses another rat -- even if they are siblings, I've met brothers who are very different -- one dumb, one smart, for instance), still it is a nice illustration of a proven, scientific fact: a certain kind of fat (Omega 3, baby!), can make you feel smart and swift (and can help your heart keep beating, according to the NY Times)! Let's watch the video, shall we?

Hey, there are Omega 3s in other greens and meats?! Woot Woot.

I'm not very educated on the matter, but honestly thought that the only real source of Omega 3s are fish. One of the things I don't like eating is fish. Someday, I'll tell the most horrible story of me, a babysitter and a 48 pack of Van de Kamp's fish sticks in 1978 (the last year I ate fish other than tuna). Oh no, I don't eat fish!

Terrifying Fish

Turns out Omega 3s are in other stuff. I'm going to see if I can't speak with Susan Allport (who is referenced at the end of the video) to find out more about "The Queen of Fats" and especially more about other good sources.

I, for one, love fat. It is delicious (when not fish). I also like to feel smart and I like the fact that my heart keeps beating. Hells to the yes I'm going to hunt Omega 3s out in my diet. I'm not super stupid. If given reasonable information (that doesn't contain too much pain), I'll follow suit.

OK, this post covers the good news. The next post, the bad news.

The good news is fish makes us smart.

At least that’s what Taras Grescoe says in his new book, Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood.

“It is likely our seafood-rich diet provided the nutrients that make us the world’s brainiest primate. Without fish, we might still be micro cephalic apes, swinging through the trees."

Fish has a high content of omega-3 acids. Omega-3 is the “good” fat, the stuff that boosts your good cholesterol and reduces the risk of coronary disease, among other things.

Your brain needs Omega-3

Sixty percent of our brain consists of fat, and scientists believe that at least 30% of this fat is Omega-3 fatty acids. These are necessary to develop the cells in our body.

Even though we don’t produce more brain cells after we are two years old, brain cells grow and develop "tendrils" to other cells, which is important for learning.

Electrical signals going through the brain get passed from one brain cell, or neuron, to the next. In the switch, a signal needs to leave one brain cell at a point called the synapse and cross a physical gap before entering the next neuron.

For signals to enter a neuron, they need to pass through brain cell membranes which consist almost entirely of fats. Twenty percent of these fats are Omega-3s.

Embedded in brain cell membranes are structures called ion channels that open to allow the flow of electrical signals into the cell by changing their shape.

Omega-3 makes the cell membrane more elastic, absorb nutrients more easily, and develop. Limited development of these ”tendrils” to the brain cells causes us to become forgetful and have problems learning new things when we become older.

Playing challenging video games on your PC may not have the same benefits of Omega-3 on your brain but they might put some of those cells to work. Check out our games at Brain Games Software.

Alongside the menus and options was the advert pictured below:

This was for the "Sandwich of the Month" which is stated to be enriched with omega three. There is also a note at the bottom on eating five fruit and vegetables a day. Interesting that a "run of the mill" outlet, although linked to one of the bigger chains, offers this kind of product to its consumers in a land where eating and drinking tends to focus on the specialities eg pate de fois gras, confit au canard, saucicon, pastis and red wine wich show little concern for nutrition and healthiness.

Photo by Martin Zurmuehle

PERNAS PERFEITAS:

Pernas bonitas devem ser fortes, com musculatura definida e firme. Além disso, precisam mostrar pele impecável, hidratada e contornos na medida.

EXERCÍCIOS:

O melhor dos treinos para as pernas é barato, pode ser feito a qualquer hora e é muito eficaz: basta trocar o elevador pelas escadas. Acredite, subir três lances de escada por dia (para começar) trabalha vários músculos dos membros inferiores, favorece a circulação sanguínea e estimula a parte cardiorrespiratória. Uau!!! Todas nós podemos fazê-lo.
Se você já faz caminhadas diárias, escolha lugares que alternem áreas planas e inclinadas. O esforço ajuda a definir especialmente a panturrilha. Quem trabalha o dia todo sentada, já sabe: nas últimas horas do dia as pernas estão pesadas, inchadas e, algumas vezes, doloridas. Habitue-se a colocá-las para o alto no final do dia (10 minutinhos antes de dormir). A posição favorece o retorno do sangue e elimina inchaços e dores.

ALIMENTAÇÃO:

Um estudos publicados sobre o papel de alguns alimentos sobre a flacidez da pele e que pode ser interessante para a elasticidade das pernas é de autoria do dermatologista norte-americano Nicholas Perricone. Segundo ele, não podem faltar no cardápio diário de quem se preocupa em manter a pele firme:
• peixes ricos em ômega-3, como salmão, atum e sardinha
• frutas oleaginosas, como nozes, castanhas e amêndoas (duas por dia)
• azeites em geral (moderadamente)
• frutas vermelhas, como amora, framboesa e morango

Isso sem falar nos benefícios da gelatina de preferência sem açúcares para não engordar.

COSMÉTICOS:

A hidratação caprichada é essencial para manter as pernas lisinhas, macias e luminosas. Mas se você for vítima de estrias ou flacidez, pode optar por um produto que, além de hidratar, possua firmadores ou renovadores da pele.

1) Loção Hidratante Aveia e Mel com Colágeno Mariah, Neorly, R$ 5
2) BodyActive Sistema Firmador Corporal e Prevenção de Estrias, O Boticário, R$ 58
3) Wellfeet Lemongrass Cooling Gel, ArtDeco, R$ 84
4) Polpa Hidratante Cacau Pernas e Pés, Natura, R$ 21
5) Soufflè Hidratante Corporal, Racco, R$ 65

BUMBUM LIVRE DA CELULITE:

O bumbum, preferência nacional, tem como inimiga número 1 a celulite. Doença que envolve não só a metabolização errada da gordura como problemas circulatórios, acúmulo de líquidos e toxinas e enrijecimento de fibras de sustentação da pele – ela necessita de ataque em várias frentes para não aparecer.

EXERCÍCIOS:

Qualquer exercício aeróbico feito com regularidade atua na queima de gordura extra, mas ginástica localizada pode acelerar o resultado:
Deitada sobre uma superfície firme, com joelhos flexionados e separados e braços ao longo do corpo, erga o bumbum (contraindo-o ao máximo) poucos centímetros do chão. Mantenha por alguns segundos. Faça três séries de 10, de três a cinco vezes por semana.

ALIMENTAÇÃO:

Evite alimentos com substâncias tóxicas (corantes e conservantes), que retenham líquidos (sal) e que contribuam para o acúmulo de gordura (açúcares, produtos com farinha branca). Um exemplo? Embutidos.
Adote opções que ajudem na eliminação de líquidos e toxinas (frutas e grãos, fontes de fibras). Beba cerca de dois litros de água por dia. É da circulação e eliminação da água que depende o bom funcionamento dos rins na eliminação das toxinas.

ARSENAL COSMÉTICOS:

1) Gel Anti-Capitons Difusion Continue Profil Minceur, Yves Saint Laurent, R$ 264
2) Lipo-metric Retrator Anti-celulite e Volumes Rebeldes, Vichy, R$ 104
3) Plasticity, Dior, R$ 209
4) Phyto Mince Lipo Active Anti-Cellulite Sliming Firming, Anna Pegova, R$ 188
5) Sculpturale, Lancôme, R$ 23

Veja em posts anteriores outros produtos que podem ser usados para o combate à celulite.

22 ways to tackle life's biggest energy zappers.

Every day, 2.2 million Americans complain of being tired. Most of us chalk it up to having too much to do and not enough time to do it in, especially during extra-busy periods. But often the true culprits are our everyday habits: what we eat, how we sleep, and how we cope emotionally. Read on for some simple, recharging changes that can help you tackle all of the energy stealers in your life.

Energize Your Diet

Why is it that filling up on pasta or Chinese food for lunch leaves us snacky and sleepy an hour later? Or that falling short on fluids makes us forgetful and foggy? Fact is, eating habits play a powerful role in how well we function on every level. Below, six top fatigue-fighting nutrition strategies to chew on.

• Have breakfast... even if you don't feel hungry. You'll be a lot perkier: Studies show that people who eat breakfast feel better both mentally and physically than those who skip their morning meal. British researchers at Cardiff University even found that spooning up a bowl of breakfast cereal every morning is associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
• Eat every three to four hours. Having three smallish meals and two snacks throughout the day can keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable all day long, says Roberta Anding, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Note the word "smallish." Supersized meals demand more of your energy to digest, which can leave you feeling lethargic. At each mini-meal, get a mix of carbohydrates (which the body uses for energy), protein (which helps sustain energy if needed), and healthy fats like those found in fish, nuts, and olives -- these fats and protein contribute to meal satisfaction, so you don't go hunting for sweets an hour later and wind up with a short-lived sugar high and subsequent crash. A few meal ideas: a low-fat yogurt parfait with berries and a couple of tablespoons of whole-grain granola; salmon over mixed greens with whole-grain crackers; and beef tenderloin with a baked sweet potato and asparagus.
• Fill up on more fiber. Fiber has a time-releasing effect on carbs, so they enter your bloodstream at a slow and steady pace, giving your energy staying power, says Anding. When choosing your mini-meals (see above), include fiber-filled options that add up to the daily recommended 25 to 30 grams of fiber (the average person gets only between 10 and 15 grams). Some suggestions: a bowl of raisin bran (5 grams of fiber per cup); black beans and cheese wrapped in a multigrain tortilla (beans have 7.5 grams per 1/2 cup; one tortilla has 5 grams); air-popped popcorn (3.6 grams per 3 cups); an apple with the skin (3.3 grams); and whole-wheat spaghetti (6.3 grams per cup).
• Fuel your brain with omega-3s. Found in fatty fish (such as tuna and salmon), walnuts, and canola oil, these essential fatty acids play a role in keeping brain cells healthy and helping you feel mentally alert. Another potential bonus: Omega-3s encourage the body to store carbs as glycogen — the storage form of glucose (blood sugar) and the body's main source of stored fuel — rather than as fat.
• Stay hydrated. Water makes up the majority of your blood and other body fluids, and even mild dehydration can cause blood to thicken, forcing the heart to pump harder to carry blood to your cells and organs and resulting in fatigue. Also, ample fluids keep energy-fueling nutrients flowing throughout the body, says Nancy Clark, R.D., author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook. To gauge your hydration, Clark recommends monitoring how often you urinate. You should be going every two to four hours, and your urine should be clear or pale yellow in color. Tip: Besides drinking more, you can also consume foods that naturally contain water, such as yogurt, broccoli, carrots, and juicy fruits, like watermelons, oranges, and grapefruits.
• Watch caffeine intake after noon. Typically, consuming a moderate amount of caffeine — 200 to 300 mg, the amount found in two to three cups of coffee — can make you more energetic and alert in the hours following, says Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D., a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. But when caffeine is consumed in large quantities — or anytime in the afternoon or evening — the quality of your sleep that night can take a nosedive, leaving you with heavy eyelids the next day. One caution for those who are highly sensitive to caffeine: Although switching to a decaf latte in the afternoon sounds like the answer, researchers at the University of Florida found that out of 22 decaffeinated coffee beverages tested, all but one contained some caffeine.
• We're all familiar with physical exhaustion, but mental strain — sadness, boredom, worry, anger, and general stress (the biggie) — can take an even heavier toll on vitality, completely wearing you out. Life happens, and these difficult emotions will, too. But if you react wisely, your brain and body will rebound — along with your vim and vigor.
• Splash some water on your face or take a shower when you're feeling burned-out. Some 55 percent of study participants reported using these types of "water therapy" to successfully increase their energy, according to findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Apparently, a little H ₂ O refresher can instantly help take the edge off when you're feeling overwhelmed.
• Suit up in a "power" outfit to beat the blahs. Fight the tendency to throw on sweats when you're feeling sluggish. Although it may seem counterintuitive to slip into the skirt you save for special occasions, it helps to look in the mirror and see an energizing image — not a deflating one that confirms and reinforces your internal state, says Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Domar Center for Complementary Healthcare in Waltham, MA. Dressing for success will give you a big mental boost every time you catch sight of your reflection (or receive a compliment) throughout the day.
• Vent your feelings. Keeping fear, anxiety, and stress pent up inside may seem like a grown-up way to deal with these emotions. But discussing negative feelings with another person can ease them far better than keeping them bottled up; by airing them, you reduce their ability to sap your stamina, says Komaroff, who is also the editor-in-chief of the Harvard Health Letter.
• Turn on some tunes. Listening to music is one of the most effective ways to change a bad mood, decrease tension, and increase energy. Consider this: Runners in one study who listened to music while on the treadmill ran faster than those who jogged in silence — no matter how loud the volume or how fast the tempo, according to new findings in the journal Ergonomics. Other research suggests that music effectively distracts you from feeling fatigue. Try burning a CD of your favorite songs and playing it anytime you need a pick-me-up. (If you exercise, so much the better — but the music will move you either way.)
• Let go of grudges. Nursing a grudge prompts your mind and body to react as if they're under chronic stress, increasing your heart rate and blood pressure and potentially resulting in an impaired immune system and exhaustion over time, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science. On the other hand, practicing empathy and forgiveness after you've been wronged makes you feel as if you're back in control, which keeps the body's stress responses in check. The next time you find yourself harboring ill feelings, repeat a stress-relieving mantra to yourself, such as, "Forgiveness makes me a happier and stronger person."
• Take belly breaths. When we're under stress, we're prone to take "chest breaths" — short, shallow ones, says Domar. Chest breathing brings less air into the lungs and reduces the supply of energizing oxygen to the body and brain, leaving you physically and mentally drained. The goal is deep, diaphragmatic breathing — like that of a sleeping infant: When you breathe in, your belly should round and fill like a balloon; on an exhale, your belly should slowly deflate. Of course, remembering to practice deep breathing isn't the first thing on your mind when you're under the gun, so as a visual reminder, try posting a tranquil picture (such as a pool of water or your kids smiling) with the word "breathe" next to your computer, or anywhere you tend to feel on edge.
• De-clutter a corner. Go through that teetering pile of papers or overflowing closet and clear it out. Clutter can make you feel out of control and overwhelmed, especially when you're already feeling stressed or down. Plus, simply accomplishing a goal, no matter how seemingly minor, can be energizing, says Domar.
• Do some good. Acts of altruism can lend a little pep to your step. In fact, one study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that volunteer work can boost your energy in six ways: It enhances happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and mood. Find short- and long-term volunteer opportunities at volunteermatch.org and charityguide.org.

Get a Restorative Rest

When you have a lot to do (um...always), usually the first thing to get squeezed off your agenda is sleep. But miss out on shut-eye and your energy, positivity, productivity, and memory are sure to suffer. And nearly a quarter of American adults aren't getting enough rest, which has led to an epidemic of daytime sleepiness, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation. The key to bucking this trend is to brush up on sleep hygiene. Try these steps for starters.

• Cut back on TV and computer time after 8 p.m. If you're already a night owl (you go to bed late and sleep in on weekends), the bright light emitted from television and computer screens can make falling asleep at a decent hour even harder. The reason: Light suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone secreted at sunset that tells the brain that it's nighttime, explains John Herman, Ph.D., director of the training program in sleep medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. And when melatonin levels are low, your brain is fooled into thinking that it's still daytime — and remains raring to go. Whenever possible, wait until the next morning to tune in and/or log on. If you must use light-emitting technology at night, try to turn it off an hour or two before hitting the sack.
• Hide your alarm clock. Watching the clock to see how long it's taking you to drift off or how much time you have left before your alarm goes off can result in a poor night's sleep, says Kelly A. Carden, M.D., medical director of the Sleep Health Center Affiliated with Hallmark Health at Medford in Medford, MA. This hypervigilance keeps the brain awake and alert and prevents you from slipping into deep, restorative sleep. The easy fix: Set your alarm clock, then either face the numbers away from you or put it on the floor, in a drawer, or across the room.
• Give your pet his own separate sleeping space. At night, pets snore, jiggle their tags, move around a lot, and even hog the covers and bed space. It's no wonder that 53 percent of pet owners who sleep with their pets in the bedroom have some type of disrupted sleep every night, according to a study from the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center in Rochester, MN. Consider relocating your furry friend's sleeping quarters to another area, even if it's just his own bed in your bedroom.
• Lower the thermostat. For a good night's sleep, make sure your room is comfortably cool — enough so that you need a light blanket. This ensures that your environment is in sync with your body's internal temperature, which naturally drops during the night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Studies suggest the ideal sleeping temperature is between 54 and 75 degrees; anything cooler or warmer may cause you to wake up.
• Skip the nightcap. Alcohol depresses the nervous system — the system of cells, tissues, nerves, and organs that controls the body's responses to internal and external stimuli. So while sipping a glass of wine before bed may help you nod off, the sedative effects wear off as your body metabolizes the alcohol, which may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep. Alcohol has also been shown to interfere with the body's natural 24-hour biorhythms, causing blood pressure to rise and heart rate to race at night when it's normally calm and relaxed. You don't have to give up that evening cocktail entirely to achieve sound sleep — just try to avoid alcohol within two to three hours of bedtime.
• Get your exercise. While scientists don't yet understand why, aerobic exercise has been proved to help you fall asleep faster at bedtime, spend more hours in deep sleep, and wake up less often throughout the night, says Komaroff. At the same time, vigorous exercise can act like a stimulant (which is a great daytime energizer), so schedule your workouts in the morning or afternoon, when you need a boost the most.
• Follow the 15-minute rule. If you can't fall asleep, or if you wake up and can't get back to sleep within about 15 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing that will help clear your head, such as reading, meditating, or knitting (but not watching TV or surfing the Web). Then, once you feel sleepy again, go back to bed. If you stay put and fret about being awake, you'll only make yourself more anxious — and less likely to catch the z's you need.
• Write down your worries. During the day, jot down any stressors that are weighing on you, says Carden. Then, do some mental problem-solving before your head hits the pillow — or, if you're falling short on solutions, tuck your list away and resolve to brainstorm ideas during your morning shower or commute to work. Just knowing you've established a plan for tackling your to-do's will make you feel like you've made some progress, allowing you to relax, drift off — and wake up the next morning ready to take on the day.

With milder forms, some things make a difference.  Developing a consistent routine is one.  Go to bed at the same time, and get up at the same time in the morning.  Stay away from illicit drugs (marijuana is the most frequent).  Make your patterns as routine as you can.  Eat 3 meals at the same time each day.  In other words, you reduce the factors that increase the instability of your mood.  It might be certain types of relationships, or certain types of thinking.  There might be unconscious factors that can only be discovered with the help of a trained psychoanalyst.  Or psychologist with some understanding of the unconscious mind.  Take Omega-3 fatty acids (most often fish oil), vitamin B12 (preferably sublingual), and melatonin (it may take 2 or 3 pills) to help normalize sleeping patterns.  The melatonin is to be taken a half an hour before going to sleep.

Some of the best quality supplements can be obtained from http://www.mercola.com.  The Krill oil supplements are the best for Omega 3.  You can read more about this on HealthyPlace.com.  One patient I worked with noted that his mood greatly stabilized, and he became less paranoid, after eating a bunch of catfish.  I had been thinking about suggesting Omega 3 to him, but after I learned that fact, it clenched it for me.  He got on Omega 3, and an exercise and eating pattern designed to help him gain weight and muscular bulk.

Exercise is also an important factor in mood.  Primarily in lifting mood.  Patients often find that they develop more energy, appetite, and motivation with exercise.  The most important thing is to learn from your own patterns.  When you notice a change in your mood, think back about what you have stopped doing.  It might be that you were more social, exercised, or made a change in your diet.  If you figure out what changed was made, start doing those things again.  With each episode, you can learn a little more about yourself.  You can work on reducing the duration and intesity of your episodes.  Over time, you will develop increased control over your mood, because of what you have learned.

Pret: 90 Ron

OmegaKrill

DE 48 DE ORI MAI MULT ANTIOXIDANT DECAT ULEIURI EXTRASE DIN PESTE
ECHILIBRU EMOTIONAL
IRITATII TISULARE
BOGAT IN ASTAXANTINA NATURALA
Mai mnlte studii demonstreaza faptul ca societatea noastra sufera de o carenta alimentara la nivelul acizilor grasi polisaturati (In principal Omega 3). Acestia mentin sanatatea noastra mentala si fizica si se gasesc in principal in peste. Insa odata cu poluarea marilor, capsulele de ulei de peste in forma cea mai concentrata din omega 3 pot contine printre altele bifeniluri policlorurate (BCP).
BCP sunt produse chimice utilizate in procedeele industriale si ocazional pot cauza cancer la oameni.
Pe langa pestii grasi, exista o alta sursa de Omega 3 6 9 de origine marina: krill-ul, o creveta de mici dimensiuni care se hraneste cu fitoplancton. Uleiul de krill este mai concentrat in EPA decal in uleiurile de peste (240 mg/g comparativ cu 180 mg/g) si contine in proportii egale fosfolipide si are proprietati antioxidante exceptionale.
OmegaKrill
Noua generatie de Omega 3 EPA/DHA Cel mai puternic antioxidant marin
KRILL-ul este un termen generic utilizat pentru a desemna ansamblul de 85 de specii marine planctonice de apa rece si profunda din Antarctica. In limba norvegiana krill inseamna ,,hrana de balena". intr-adevar krill-ul, aceasta creveta de mici dimensiuni este hrana celui mai mare mamifer marin, balena. Specia cea mai cunoscuta a acestor mini-crustacee, Euphosa superba. este o creveta de mici dimensiuni cure variaza mtre 0,6 cm si 10 cm. Krill-ul fiind un zooplanclon care se situeaza la inceputul lantului trofic, este din acest motiv extrem de pur si nu contine metale grele - mercur,
PCB, dioxine. substante radioactive, etc., spre deosebire de uleiurile normale extrase din pesti.
Spre deosebire de uleiurile extrase din peste, uleiul de Krill sau uleiul de creveta polara este o lipida de noua generatie exceptionala, una din sursele cele mai complete si asimilabile in Omega 3 EPA si Omega 3 DHA, dar si in Omega 6 si Omega 9, ale caror calitati care contribuie la bunastarea fizica si psihica sunt binecunoscute.
Acesti acizi grasi polisaturati (omega 3 si omega 6) participa la o serie de procese importante, cum ar fi constituirea si integritatea membranelor celulare, functionarea sistemuiui cardiovascular, creierului si sistemului hormonal, cat si reglarea proceselor inflamatorii. Absorbtia acestora declanseaza, cu ajutorul mai multor enzime, o cascada de reactii chimice care permit corpului sa produca substante primordiale pentru buna sa functionare.
Este primul produs din lume care ofera un aport de fosfolipide integrate acizilor grasi Omega 3.
Uleiul de Krill contine o concentratie ridicata de EPA si DHA echilibrat incredibil de bogat in fosfolipide marine, care nu sunt continute in uleiul normal de peste, sau lecitina marina cu o bio-disponibilitate foarte mare, care permite asimilarea de catre creier si membranele celulare.
Fosfolipidele rcprezinta o parte esentiala a tuturor celulelor organismului, .acestea formand si protejand membranele tuturor celulelor impotriva amenintarilor toxice si atacurilor radicaiilor liberi, Accstea sunt esentiale pentru procesele vitale ale celulelor si sunt nutrimente indispensabile functionarii normale a creierului.
Avantajeie Omega 3 din ulei de Krill:
Supletea si fluiditatea membranelor celulare. Celulele sunt suple si mobile si se deplaseaza usor.
Uleiul de Krill contine in mod natural 40% fosfolipide, in timp ce majoritatea uleiurilor extrase din pesle nu contin deloc. Elementele sale Oniega 3 DHA/EPA sunt de asemenea mai bine absorbite. Nu exista reflux sau regurgitari comune uleiurilor extrase din peste. In afara de Omega 3, uleiul de Krill contine cel mai puternic antioxidant cunoscut, un complex de bioflavonoide marine si astaxantina.
Astaxantina: o provitamina A deosebit de activa din familia carolenoidelor. Este un antioxidant puternic si are un efect protectiv impotriva efectelor nocive ale razelor ultraviolete si joaca un rol in procesele antiinflamatorii.
• De 300 de ori mai mult antioxidant decat vitaminele A, C, E
• De 34 de ori mai puternic decat Co Q-10
• de 47 de ori mai puternic decat luteina si licopenul. Flavonoidele au un puternic rol protectiv general in intregul organism.
Un consum frecvent al acestor substante reduce frecventa patologiilor cardiovasculare,
Autorizat de F.D.A. si C.E.E. S-a demonstrat intr-adevar ca uleiul de Krill combate durerile articulare si mentine sanatatea oaselor si articulatiilor. In plus, s-a demonstrat stiintific ca Krill-ul combate simptomele sindromului premenstrual si al menopauzei, fara riscurile asociate hormonoterapiei conventionale.
Uleiul de Krill este hrana creierului.
Acesta conserva toata energia pe care Krill-ul a absorbit-o din fitoplancton si ne-o reda sub forma fortei energetice necesare memoriei, concentrarii si regenerarii facultatilor intelectuale.
Bogatia sa exceptionala in antioxidanti puternici in acizi grasi esentiali face din uleiul de Krill un supliment nutritiv anti-imbatranire exceptional care hraneste pielea in profunzime si confera o frumusete incomparabila.
Binefacerile uleiului de Krill:
-Protejeaza membranele
-Creste energia corpului
-Stimuleaza sistemul imunitar
-Stimuleaza sistemul digestiv
-Ajuta la concentrare / memorie
-Ofera protectie impotriva razelor UV
-Previne bolile cardiovasculare
-Diminueaza colesterolul nociv
-Reduce durerile artritice
-Combate sindromul premenstrual si dismenoreea
-Putere antioxidanta incomparabila
Omega 3,6 si 9 (in echilibru)
-Viaminele A si E
-Sursa de fosfolipide unice
-Sursa de colina
-Teste ORAC
-De 34 ori inai mult antioxidant decat Coenzima Q10
-De 6,5 ori mai eficient decat licopenul
-De 48 de ori mai bogat in omega 3 decal uleiurile extrase din peste
Exista astazi caviarul uleiurilor bogate in OMEGA 3. KRILL-ul din Antarctica. Aceasta creveta de mici dimensiuni abunda si constituie bazele nutritive cele mai bogate dintre marile cetacee.
Concentratia de OMEGA 369 este exceptionala. de 48 de ori mai concentrata decat uleiurile extrase in peste.
Va prezentam mai jos rapoartele ORAC asupra aporturilor. nutritionale ale OMEGA
KRILL.
OMEGA KRILL este recunoscut de PDA si deja a facut obiectul unor numeroase studii
clinice si publicatii stiintifice pe urmatoarele teme. • Inflamatiile cronice si artritele (Journal of the American College of Nutrition, vol. 26, no. 1, 39 - 48 (2007)) publicat de American College of Nutrition
• Evaluarea OMEGAKRILL in cadrul unui studiu clinic asupra hiperlipidemiei (medicament alternativ revizuit in 2004)
• Evaluarea OMEGAKRILL in combaterea sindroamelor premenstruale (medicament alternativ revizuit in 2003; 8(2): 171-179
Prin concentratia sa exceptionala in Omega 369, OMEGA KRILL depaseste toate nivelele de eficacitate ale produselor pe baza de omega din peste.
Actiunea sa este remarcabila atat la nivelul protectiei cardiovasculare, a echilibrului emolional, al memoriei, cat si la nivelul combaterii durerilor articulare.
NU CONTINE NICI UN AGENT CONTAMINANT (de exemplu: pesticide, BPC, mercur, dioxina, etc.)
Recomandari de utilizare: o capsula pe zi in momentul mesei principale acopera
necesitatile cotidiene de fosfolipide si omega 3.
De evitat in caz de alergii la crevete sau tratamente anticoagulante. ]]> http://powerdrinks.wordpress.com/?p=103 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:36:11 +0000 momsclinic http://powerdrinks.wordpress.com/?p=103

This smoothie provides complete array of nutrients and a patented formulation of mental boosters. A breakfast on-the-go for school kids.

1cup ice cold water

1 ripe banana

1scoop high-quality protein powder with mental boosters (Reliv Now Kids)

1scoop milk powder

3 1ce cubes

Blend all ingredients. Serve with a straw. this smoothie especially makes a good breakfast.

HEALTH BITE:

VITAMIN D

Surprisingly, the requirement for vitamin D — 200 IUs or 5 micrograms per day — is the same from birth to age 50. Vitamin D helps the body absorb minerals like calcium and builds strong teeth and bones. It's called the "sunshine vitamin" because the body can make it when the skin is exposed to sunlight. But vitamin D production is prevented by smog, clouds, dark skin, and sunscreen with an SPF of 8 or more, so it's a good idea to make sure your child gets 200 IUs of vitamin D every day from food sources.

FOOD SOURCES:

 
EDITOR'S PICK:

1scoop high quality protein powder (Reliv Now Kids): Vitamin D is 200 IU

no more guesswork, the easiest way to meet kids nutritional requirements.

RELIV NOW KIDS in Vanilla and Rich Chocolate Flavors

Now Kids Proprietary Blend:

• Phosphatidylserine
• Phosphatidylcholine
• Grape seed extract
• Omega 3 Fatty acids
• PABA

Do you know that Reliv Now Kids and Reliv Now (Tall can) contains the same nutrients except for the brain boosters?

The Difference:

Now Kids - contains brain boosters

Reliv Now - contains proprietary herb blend

EDITOR'S Comment:

"three weeks with this smoothie, I noticed that my kids are better behaved, more focused and better able to understand what they're learning"

Learn more about Reliv Now Kids: email ask@momsclinic.com

COOL SITE! Take a SIP!