With growing numbers of youngsters working for long hours in shifts at BPO and KPO, several health problems, unusual for their age, have cropped up. Erratic work hours, altered circadian rhythms, social activities and lifestyle patterns have not only added stress but also changed the body function.

Circadian is a latin word meaning “around a day”. Circadian rhythms are regular mental and physical changes that occur in course of a day. The most well-known circadian rhythm is the human sleep cycle. Disturbed circadian rhythms adversely affect body temperature, blood pressure, hormones(cortisol, growth hormone, insulin, melatonin, leptin), leading to weight problems, increased risk to cardiovascular diseases, gestro intestinal disturbances, compromised immunity, lowered mental alertness, concentration, sexual behaviour, skin and hair health to name a few.

Coupled with altered circadian rhythms, consuming high calories, oil laden, high salt and sugar and dangerous trans fats from vending machines or cafeterias, long gaps between meals, going over the top partying, drinking, smoking, stress and no time to exercise makes it a lethal cocktail. The fallout of this lifestyle can range from minor complaints like increased infections, flus, sleeping and menstrual disorders, fatigue, heart burn, constipation, IBS(irritable bowel syndrome), bloating, flatulence to serious ones like obesity, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, infertility and many more.

Certainly, this is a population “at risk” and timely intervention programmes are needed to save these people, the organization and the nation from the huge burden of disease, disability and loss of productivity. Considering that employees spend better part of his/her day at work, workplace represents a logical place to ensure proper nutrition through healthy meal provision. It is also an ideal setting for teaching employees about proper nutrition and hygiene-the effect percolating to families and entire population at little cost.

WHO has reported that intervention programs to reduce the risk of diseases through diet are largely cost effective. Also it was reported that adequate nourishment could raise national productivity by 20 per cent. Initiatives where companies have provided healthy food choices with fruit and vegetable breaks and
access to physical activity, employees have reported a change in their eating preferences, many have lost weight and now look forward to healthier meals.

Workplace is the most essential and the beat to make a start. From multinationals to small scale enterprises, everyone can benefits from improved attention to food at work. Improvements whether through improved cafeterias or mess halls, or introduction of healthy meal options, provision of safe and hygienic food and drinking water are well within the reach of any business, even the smallest. Good nutrition is good business and a sound investment!

He has an affiliate marketing experience of two years. Read more:http://www.articlescart.com

One of the best ways I’m aware of to get your kids interested in eating healthy, balanced meals is to get them involved in cooking them. Kids of any age can help or even cook entire meals. The key is to start as early as possible getting them involved and to keep them active in the kitchen. The reason this works so well is that for one you get your kids exposed to all kinds of different foods and secondly, you are getting them to prepare the food and the pride they take in making something will get them to eat healthy foods they normally wouldn’t touch.

Toddlers and preschoolers are great at stirring dry ingredients and helping you measure things. If you can’t find anything for them to do, keep some play cooking utensils around and have them “cook” alongside you. School aged kids can prepare almost anything that doesn’t involve a lot of heat or splashing oil. Encourage them to make their own sandwiches using a blunt knife. Ask them to peel eggs, toast bread or chop softer ingredients with a blunt knife. Put them in charge of washing the salad, setting the table and the likes. With some adult supervision they can even cook simple meals like spaghetti or scrambled eggs.

As your kids get older and more comfortable around the kitchen, encourage them to plan a healthy meal for the family and do the majority of the cooking once a week. Even kids who usually don’t care much for healthy foods like steamed vegetables or baked salmon, will gladly eat it when they made it.

When it comes to snacks, keep your fridge and pantry stocked with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and encourage your kids to come up with fun snack ideas including those. You can have them create fancy peanut butter sandwiches with whole wheat bread, natural peanut butter and plenty of dry and fresh fruit that they can use to make sandwich faces or just come up with a gourmet sandwich topping.

Keep some yogurt on hand and have the kids mix it with a bit of mayonnaise or sour cream and some dip mix to make a fancy (and relatively healthy) dip they can enjoy with some raw veggies like celery, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

Give it a try and have your kids help with meal preparation, have them make suggestions on what to cook and let them pick their favorite healthy snacks. Before you know it everyone in the family will enjoy healthy and balanced meals and all the whining about having to eat broccoli or fish will stop. Best of all, you can feel good about providing them with the healthy, nutritious foods their growing bodies need.

Start getting your kids to eat healthier today by having them help around the kitchen and don’t forget to get them outside for a game of tag or some other exercise as well. If your child isn’t eating very healthy right now, start by offering some bananas or apple slices with peanut butter. Getting kids to eat fruit is usually easier than vegetables.

Omega 3 fats are vital for health: from newborn babies, indeed even during the fetus stage, up until old age.

One of the functions of omega 3 fatty acids is the healthy development and maintenance of brain and heart health. Fetuses and babies in the first few years of life require a tremendous amount of DHA and EPA omega 3 fats; older people whose cognition is in decline also require omega 3 to keep their brain as sharp as possible.

Omega 3 fatty acids also play crucial roles for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Essential fatty acids help our skin and hair stay strong, and give it a healthy sheen.

Other important functions of omega 3 fatty acids are its capacity as a natural anti-inflammatory and, as such, may be helpful with autoimmune disorders and other diseases that are characterized by inflammation. Some examples of such conditions include: crohn’s disease; diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and more.

The science behind omega 3 fatty acids can be quite complicated and most lay people may not be interested to hear how they work on a cellular level.

The important thing to remember is that omega 3 fats are important for good health and are severely lacking in today’s Modern diet. The majority of people in the Western world are believed to be deficient in these fats, especially as more and more of us consume less and less of naturally rich sources, like fatty fish, and grass-fed game.

However, a comeback is happening: omega 3 enriched eggs and being sold at most supermarkets now, and savvy consumers are beginning to realize that using a daily omega 3 fatty acids supplement is an excellent and cheap way of incorporating these essentials fats into our diets.

Dan Ho is editor of http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com . Visit us today for more on how to choose a quality omega 3 fatty acids supplement for optimal health.

When most people think about a “fitness program” or “physical fitness”, they tend to think of the word “exercise”. They may go so far as to think the words “health” or “healthy” but they usually don’t tend to really examine the concept of fitness much beyond thinking about the sweating and discomfort and getting the “exercise” over with.

I am sure that many who read this have heard or read this analogy before but it fits, so let’s use it one more time.

Let’s say you were to purchase an expensive, high-performance car. Let’s also say, just for the sake of argument, that you went heavily into debt for it. So heavily, that it will be years before you can even think of purchasing another car.

As you drive your new car, you begin to feel important, powerful, attractive. People turn and look as you drive by, vacations are comfortable events in your high-end vehicle, your gas and maintenance bills go way down because the car is such a high tech marvel, your boss begins to treat you like an equal or even someone he or she envies or looks up to. You realize that it’s happening because of the car, but after a while, it begins to feel like it’s all for you, and you think that life’s great. Everything seems to be coming your way at last.

Then one day, the car sputters a little. You notice that the fuel economy isn’t as good as it was. The mechanic tells you it’s going to cost a bundle to fix the problem. There’s going to have to be major work done, several parts changed out, some reboring of cylinders, and a new set of tires as well.

You’re in shock! You might not be able to come up with that much money! How did it get so expensive? The car was such a beauty and ran so well.

The mechanic enlightens you.

He has seen that you have been neglecting regular maintenance and running on cheap, low-octane fuel. Cylinders have become scored and pitted, fuel lines are clogged so badly they may have to be replaced, the oil that’s in there is now sludge and barely keeping the parts lubricated. The tires that you let run down are wreaking havoc with the suspension and steering, which is also contributing to the poorer fuel economy you have been experiencing.

Even worse, your car doesn’t shine like it did. Instead of purring, it rasps, coughs, and sputters. Its environmentally friendly engine is now belching clouds of black smoke. Its smooth whisper is now a collection of clanks and clunks.

Heads still turn when you drive by, but not for the same reasons as before.

You feel bad all the time…not just from the situation with your car, but because now you are having to breathe in the pollution it is emitting and endure the bone jarring ride as the suspension system gives way.

Now you realize that had you run the proper grade of gas in the engine, had regular oil changes, and brought it in for regular maintenance checks, not to mention washing it from time to time, it would still be the sweet little jewel it was when you first saw it on the showroom floor.

Okay, you know where this is going. What if instead of a car we’ve been talking about your body? No matter how fine tuned it is, it will eventually begin to suffer the effects of time. That cannot be helped, but the manner in which it occurs can be affected by several things such as exercise, rest, and nutrition.

The decision to become physically fit is not simply a decision to exercise. Going out and exercising, especially at higher levels, can actually produce poor or even negative results if you do not support your fitness program, and the overall health of your body through proper nutrition. When you exercise, you are actually damaging certain portions of your body and asking it to repair and remodel. In order to do this, your body needs not only the building blocks and materials necessary for the building, but it also needs the mortar and glue which holds the system together as well as the energy required for the building and for daily activities as well.

My goal here is simply to raise your awareness of the need for proper nutrition as part of life in general, and a fitness program in particular. The nutritional information you will need is a wider topic than this small article has room for.

However, good basic nutrition is not hard. You should select foods from a wide variety of dishes. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, avoid sugar, and make sure you get some protein from meat, fish, or dairy products daily. Think before you select desserts, and avoid those made with sugar, or opt for a smaller portion. Avoid candy, and anything sweetened with sugar or corn syrup. Drink plenty of water every day.

True, this small list raises its own questions, such as: How much water? How much meat? What kind of meat? Which vegetables are better? These questions do not even begin to address the needs of those with special conditions.

That is why I say that an in-depth discussion of nutrition is beyond the range of a small article such as this. However, even such a broad topic does not need to be daunting. Begin with your physician. He or she will have nutritional charts and information to guide you. Check out a book or two from the library or do a little research on the internet.

Avoid fad diets and diet supplements, although a daily multivitamin might be in order. Some good places to search for real information online are:

The Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com
The USDA: www.usda.gov
Web MD: www.webmd.com

You can let the magnificent vehicle you were given become run down and dilapidated due to neglect, or you can provide it with the lubricants and fuels it needs for optimum performance.

Look at it this way. You can sit in the garage and rust, or you can, as the song says,

“Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way!”

Get some high octane fuel and get back out on the road.

Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. In his career, he has held many managerial and supervisory positions. However, his main pleasures have long been writing, nature, health, and fitness. In the last few years, he has been able to combine these pleasures by writing poetry and articles on subjects such as health, fitness, href="http://yoga-4-the-health-of-it.com/">yoga, weight loss, the environment, global warming, happiness, self improvement, and life. He has a collection of articles on href="http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/">health, fitness, diet, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/ .

The majority of the human body is comprised of water and human beings can live only a very short time without water.

Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. It covers 71% of Earth’s surface. It is found in the oceans (saltwater) and polar ice caps, but it is also present as clouds, rain water, rivers, freshwater aquifers, lakes, airborne vapor and sea ice.

Water in these bodies perpetually moves through a cycle of evaporation, precipitation, and runoff to the sea. Clean water is essential to human life. In many parts of the world, it is in short supply. (Source: Wikipedia)

Of all the water in the world, only about 3% is drinkable by human beings. Of this small percentage, the majority is either wholly or partially polluted by natural or man made contaminants. The body requires H2O to survive but not the contaminants found in most drinking water.

What Are Your Choices For Drinking Water?

Most people in the United States face limited choices of drinking water. They can either drink tap water provided by the municipalities they live in or well water on their own land. Neither of these choices provides pure drinking water.

What Are the Different Types of Drinking Water?

Generally speaking there are three choices for drinking water available to the consumer:

- Tap Water (provided by local municipal water suppliers)
- Well Water (found in more rural areas of the country)
- Bottled Water (sold commercially throughout the country)

Tap Water:

Tap water comes from local rivers and streams and very often plants that recycle raw sewerage and other waste water. Because many rivers, streams and other groundwater sources are polluted by natural runoff and man made contaminants, and all waste water and raw sewerage contain high levels of bacteria, increasing levels of chlorine are required to kill bacterial and other harmful organisms.

Tap water is regulated by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an agency of the Federal Government but EPA regulations in no way require the elimination of contaminants. The EPA only sets minimum levels of contaminants (including chlorine) and the long term effects of these poisons on the human body are largely unknown. In addition chlorine adds unpleasant odors and taste to tap water.

Well Water:

Well water is subject to the same types of natural and man made pollution as tap water but it is unregulated. The Commonwealth of Virginia, for example, strongly recommends chlorination and dechlorination of owner’s individual wells but mandatory compliance is not required. Well water is particularly subject to ground bacteria pollution through the wellhead itself. The use of chlorine adds unpleasant odors and taste to the well supplied drinking water.

Bottled Water:

Repackaged bottled water:

There are many types of bottled drinking water on the market today with the result that some are good, some are bad and some are useless when it comes to providing pure drinking water.

Some unethical suppliers merely take tap water and bottle the water in small packages. These bottlers are able to charge a premium for tap water but the levels of contaminants are the same as in tap water.

Spring water:

The source of some bottled water is spring water and this term implies a fresh mountain spring of wholesome drinking water. Springs however, are subject to the same types and levels of natural and man made contaminants as tap and well water and the consumer does not get the benefit of pure water.

Purified water:

Purified water is the only water that that one should drink for their health and the health of their family. There are two processes used in order to purify water: distillation and reverse osmosis.

Distillation is a process whereby water is turned to steam and condensed leaving behind all contaminants and bacteria. Many countries without natural source water and the Department of Defense use distillation to provide pure drinking water.

Reverse osmosis is a process where by water is filtered through a very small filter and contaminants are removed but bacteria and trace elements are left in the water.

Distillation removes the water from the contaminants while reverse osmosis merely filters the water without removing all bacteria and other material.

Many experts believe that distillation is the best way to create pure water.

Conclusion:

If you are an individual interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle or a parent that is concerned about the health of your family, you should consider adding purified water to your diet.

No other water source provides the purity your body needs.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O an Ultra Pure bottled water company located in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to the Element H2O website.

Food intolerance has become a major health issue today, dividing conventional and alternative medicine.

1. Are we a bunch of hypochondriacs?

“An astonishing 45% of us believe we are allergic to basic foodstuffs such as wheat and dairy - causing anything from headaches to bloating and insomnia.” (1)
So how do we get to a stage of leaky gut?

It is believed that through one of the most common digestive problems the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) arise.

It is believed by many health practitioners Leaky gut is associated with one of the most common digestive problems; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. Definitions

Food allergy - Is a genetic condition that affects about 2% of the population. The reaction to the food can range from a rash to something very severe including anaphylactic shock. The RAST test confirms this by detecting the antibody (like IgE). Common foods associated with a genetic inherited allergy are: cows milk, soy, tree nuts, eggs, strawberries, bananas, chocolate, wheat, peanuts, fish, shell fish, beans and oranges.
Those with a true food allergy if ever exposed to that food more than once will know about it. (2)

Food intolerance/sensitivity - Involves any adverse reaction to foods, but whereby the immune system’s roll is uncertain because the standard tests appear negative. There are other tests including the ones outlined in the Daily Mail but the validity of many is questionable. (2)

So where does this leave the 45% who experience real problems like abdominal bloating, gas, diarrhoea after eating a particular food? Furthermore, according to the Allergy Clinic scientific studies have suggested that intolerance may trigger or worsen the symptoms of a range of common conditions including asthma, joint and muscle pains, headaches, migraines, sinusitis, hyperactivity, ADHD, chronic fatigue, and Crohn’s Disease. (3)

Possible sources of food intolerance

There is a strong suggestion that the increased permeability of the gut wall, known as leaky gut syndrome (LGS), is behind food intolerance. The basic premise behind LGS is that large molecules pass through the weak (leaky) gut wall and enter into the bloodstream. This results in calling to arms the body’s defensive mechanisms like white blood cells that produce antibodies to destroy the invaders.

So how do we get to a stage of leaky gut?

It is believed that through one of the most common digestive problems the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) arise.

According to Dr. Dan Rutherford, GP, IBS is the commonest condition seen by doctors and some estimates suggest that as many as one in five of the adult population in the UK suffer from it at any one time. (4)

So what is the source of IBS?

Experts give a range of probable causes including:

- Poor diet (including eating foods our bodies are not accustomed to)
- Toxins
- Lack of stomach acid or digestive enzymes
- Drugs (antibiotics, cortisone)
- Dysbiosis (leading to a bad bug overgrowth, e.g. Candida)
- Stress
- Inadequate chewing

As you can see this is a controversial topic because of the lack of hard evidence.

The Daily Mail (Tuesday, March 7th, 2006) contained an article called “The Allergy Fraud” from the reporter Charlotte Dovey. After receiving a RAST test (a blood test indicating an allergy) from a Harley Street doctor she was told she suffered from no food allergies. Then Ms Dovey compared the RAST result with other various methods of allergy detection from alternate medicine practitioners. Or as the reporter put it: entered the “wacky world of food intolerance testing”.

Now Ms Dovey, who was told by various alternate practitioners that she was intolerant to a range of foods like wheat, dairy and citrus (when the RAST test showed no allergies) concludes: “if I took this advice, my diet could be dangerous. Basics such as wheat, gluten, sugar and lactose are staples”. (However this I believe is an incorrect statement as I have personally seen amazing transformations from people giving up two commonly considered intolerances; wheat and dairy.)

What is interesting to note is the health columnist for the Daily Mail is Dr. John Briffa, author of Bodywise. Dr. Briffa is widely regarded as one of Britain’s foremost experts in the field of natural health. His book is an excellent source on the various causes of excess weight including food intolerance.

Dr. John Briffa has come up with a 10 question test as a guide to whether food intolerance may be a problem for you.

The following questionnaire is designed to help you ascertain whether food sensitivity is a problem for you. Score each question as indicated, and then add up your total score.

1. Do you feel lethargic soon after eating?

No 0 points

Occasional or mild problems 2 points

Frequent or severe problems

4 points

2. Do you often feel better if you don’t eat?

No 0 points

Marginally better 2 points

Much better

4 points

3. Did you have problems such as colic, glue ear, ear infections,

eczema, asthma or recurrent tonsillitis as a child?

No 0 points

Yes, occasional problems 3 points

Yes, frequent and/or severe problems

5 points

4. Do you have recurrent, unexplained symptons?

No 0 points

Occasional or mild problems 2 points

Frequent or severe problems 4 points

5. Do you suffer from excess mucus or catarrh formation in the

throat, nose or sinuses?

No 0 points

Occasional or mild problems 2 points

Frequent or severe problems

4 points

6. Do you feel particularly drawn to certain foods such as bread

or cheese?

No 0 points

Occasionally 2 points

Frequently

4 points

7. Do you have dark circles under your eyes?

No 0 points

Yes 2 points

Frequent or severe problems

4 points

8. Do you suffer from fluid retention? (Tight rings, puffy face or

ankles and a weight which fluctuates by two or more pounds

from day to day are classic signs.)

No 0 points

Occasional or mild problems 2 points

Frequent or severe problems

4 points

9. Do you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome?

No 0 points

Occasional or mild problems 1 points

Frequent or severe problems

2 points

10. Do you suffer from eczema, hives (urticaria) or undiagnosed

rash?

No 0 points

Occasional or mild problems 2 points

Frequent or severe problems

4 points

Interpreting your score

0-9:food sensitivity is unlikely10-20:food sensitivity should be considered as a possibility and testing is recommended21 and above:food sensitivity is very likely and testing is highly recommendedSo what are the options if you have food sensitivity?
Apart from the various tests conducted by allergy clinics a food elimination diet is one of the most common methods practitioners use.

Your 3d Coach

Craig Burton

References

1. The Allergy Fraud, Charlotte Dovey, Daily Mail, March 7th, 2006
2. Nutrition and lifestyle coach manual, Level 2, Chek Institute, 2002
3. www.allergyclinic.co.uk
4. www.netdoctor.co.uk
5. Bodywise, Dr. John Briffa, CIMA books, 2000

About the Author:

Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach with more than 15 years experience. Craig is a Sports Science graduate of Edith Cowan University and has postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy. He is the author of “The 21 Day Roadmap to Health” available at http://www.3dpts.com

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to forward it to others, make it available from your site or post it on forums for others to read. Just make sure that this paragraph and URL are included. For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles

To join the FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and to find out more about your current health status with our FREE questionnaire go to http://www.3dpts.com

The topic of grain consumption is a hot one. There is a school that says we should eliminate them completely and another that says they should make up the backbone of our diet.

The no-grain school say’s that our bodies have not the machinery to process them as our bodies are still similar to Fred Flintstones, and their diets mainly consisted of meat and vegetables. What they fail to address is that wild grains and seeds have been found to have been consumed by early man (Nourishing Traditions, page 474).

But grains were not consumed to the extent we do today nor prepared the same as today. In our desire to produce grains as quickly as possible we failed to address their shortcoming as our ancestors did. Grains are known to contain anti-nutrients, which if not neutralised leech the body of essential nutrients from the bones and muscles.

How did our ancestors solve this problem?

They allowed the grains to sprout - soaking them overnight destroys many of the harmful anti-nutrients that cause havoc to the digestive system.
This is the same as with legumes, which is still actually practised quite regularly for similar reasons.

One of the other problems with some grains is gluten.

Gluten and casein (milk protein) are two of the most difficult to digest.

How many people are affected with gluten or casein intolerance? According to the Journal of Paediatrics (January 2000, 136:86-90) previous studies have shown that about 1 in 250 people in Europe had the condition.

But a later study screened 1200 children aged 6 months to 20 years with blood tests and, in some cases, small intestinal biopsy.

The researchers reported that the prevalence of celiac disease in these patients ranged from 1 in 57 to 1 in 33.

Dr Joseph Mercola (Editor of the worlds most read natural health newsletter mercola.com) believes through his experience the number is closer to 1 in 10 people, and he goes on to say that the majority of people do not benefit from having wheat (mercola.com, issue no 143), as it contains other harmful indigestible substances like gliaden.

The best test is a self test by removing all grains except wild rice, millet, buckwheat and quinoa for 2 weeks.

If you feel a noticeable difference then you are probably gluten-intolerant.

If you are (I am- so welcome to the club), don’t get too worried as there are plenty of alternatives around these days, including gluten-free breads, mueslis etc.

If you are not intolerant than I recommend you choose whole or even better sprouted grain products over the commercially processed grain products.

Your 3d Coach

Craig Burton

About the Author:

Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach with more than 15 years experience. Craig is a Sports Science graduate of Edith Cowan University and has postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy. He is the author of “The 21 Day Roadmap to Health” available at http://www.3dpts.com

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to forward it to others, make it available from your site or post it on forums for others to read. Just make sure that this paragraph and URL are included. For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles

To join the FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and to find out more about your current health status with our FREE questionnaire go to http://www.3dpts.com

One of the most heavily promoted and “coolest” products around are soft drinks. Millions are spent on superstars advertising coke, pepsi and the like. We know they are not healthy but how damaging is that innocent - and many would say satisfying - can of coke to our health?

In the following article I will outline:
1. The current soft drink epidemic
2. The ingredients
3. The physical cost from soft drink ingredients

1. The current soft drink epidemic
In the U.K. in 2004 nearly 14 billion litres of soft drink were consumed. The 2004 total soft drinks figure represents an increase of 47% over the past ten years. (1)

In Australia soft drink consumption increased by over 30% in the 10 years to 1999. 50% of 16-18 year olds consumed soft drinks every day. (2)

These popular beverages account for more than a quarter of all drinks consumed in the United States. More than 56.9 billion liters were sold in 2000 - that works out to at least one can per day for every man, woman and child. Soft drink consumption among children and adolescents rose 41% between 1989-1991 and 1994-1995, mostly displacing milk and juice, the leading sources of many vitamins and minerals in the American diet. (3)

2. The ingredients
One can of soft drink has about:
- 10-13 teaspoons of sugar
- 30 to 55 mg of caffeine
- And additionally it is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites

3. Physical costs from soft drink ingredients
- Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, premature aging and numerous other negative side effects including associated tooth disease problems.

- Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks cause many nervous system reactions including the jitters and insomnia. High caffeine use is associated with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion that potentially leads to disease.

- Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. Further, when aspartame is stored for long periods of time or kept in warm areas it changes to methanol, an alcohol that converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, which are known carcinogens. Please see February and March Peak Performance editions to read more on this deadly product.

- Phosphoric Acid: May interfere with the body’s ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients. (4)

- Benzene: Recent random government testing of soft drinks found five of them contaminated with levels of benzene (which is a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia) that exceeded federal standards set for benzene in drinking water. Benzene is able to form in beverages that contain vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the preservatives sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. Exposure to heat and light can trigger the formation. (5)

Looking at the consumption statistics and related health consequences I have no doubt soft drinks are one of the main reasons from a nutritionally perspective why many people suffer health problems. Aside from the negative effects of the soda itself, drinking a lot of it is likely to leave you with little appetite for whole foods that your body needs to function at its best.

Your 3d Coach

Craig Burton

References
(1) http://www.researchandmarkets.com/ reportinfo.asp? report_id=302947.
(2) http://www.nutritionaustralia.com.au/SNAC/
soft-drink-final-paper.pdf
(3) Squires, S, The Amazing Statistics and Dangers of Soda Pop, 2001 http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/10/ soda_pop_dangers.htm
(4) Mercola, J, The Real Dangers of Soda to You and Your Children, mercola.com, 2003 http://www.mercola.com/2003/jul/9/soda_dangers.htm
(5) Soft Drinks: Disease in a can, bloomberg.com, May 20, 2006

About the Author:

Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach with more than 15 years experience. Craig is a Sports Science graduate of Edith Cowan University and has postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy. He is the author of “The 21 Day Roadmap to Health” available at http://www.3dpts.com

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to forward it to others, make it available from your site or post it on forums for others to read. Just make sure that this paragraph and URL are included. For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles

To join the FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and to find out more about your current health status with our FREE questionnaire go to http://www.3dpts.com

Here is an alternative approach to using statins according to the Price-Pottenger foundation.

“If statins work, in preventing heart disease they do so by
reducing inflammation, not because they lower cholesterol.” (1)

Statins block the production of mevalonate leading to inhibition of platelet clumping and reduction of inflammation in the artery walls.

However, simple changes in the diet can achieve the same effect without also cutting off the body’s vital supply of cholesterol:

- Avoid trans fats, known to contribute to inflammation

- Avoid refined sugars, especially fructose, known to stimulate clumping of the blood platelets

- Eat plenty of saturated fats, which encourage the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

- Eat coconut oil and coconut products; coconut oil protects against bacteria and viruses that can lead to inflammation in the artery wall

- Eat foods high in copper, especially liver; copper deficiency is associated with clot formation and inflammation in the arteries

- Avoid reduced-fat milks and powdered milk products (such as powdered whey); they contain oxidized cholesterol, shown to cause irritation of the artery wall

- Take cod liver oil, an excellent dietary source of anti-inflammatory vitamin A, vitamin D and EPA

- Take evening primrose, borage or black currant oil, sources of GLA which the body uses to make anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

Your 3d Coach

Craig Burton

Reference:

(1) Fallon, S and Enig, M PhD., “Dangers of statin drugs: what you haven’t been told about popular cholesterol-lowering medicines”, available at http://www.westonaprice.org

About the Author:

Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach with more than 15 years experience. Craig is a Sports Science graduate of Edith Cowan University and has postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy. He is the author of “The 21 Day Roadmap to Health” available at http://www.3dpts.com

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Choose vegetable oils and margarines with liquid vegetable oil as the first listed ingredient and no more than 2 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. Examples include:

–Canola
–Corn
–Olive
–Safflower
–Sesame
–Soybean
–Sunflower oil

Choose liquid or tube margarines low in saturated fat and trans fat. Choose reduced-fat and no-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise with no more than 1 gram of saturated fat per tablespoon.

Preparation tips include:

–Use fats and oils lowest in saturated fat and cholesterol for cooking, baking and in spreads sparingly.
–Use reduced-fat or no-fat salad dressings with salads and dips.
–Coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil have no cholesterol; however, they are high in saturated fat.

Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish, particularly fatty fish, at least two times per week. Good choices include:

–Mackerel
–Lake trout
–Herring
–Sardines
–Albacore tuna
–Salmon

Other good sources of omega-3 Fatty acids include:

–Soybeans
–Canola
–Walnut and flaxseed and their oils

The American Heart Association does not recommend widespread use of folic acid and B vitamin supplements to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Instead, they advise a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Good sources of Folic Acid include:

–Citrus fruits
–Tomatoes
–Vegetables and grain products
–Wheat flour fortified with folic acid

There is a lack of evidence for the benefit of lowering homocysteine levels; however, patients at high risk should be advised to be sure to get enough folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12 in their diet. Sources of these vitamins include:

–Fruits and green, leafy vegetables eaten daily.

Potassium

Potassium is necessary for the body’s growth and maintenance. It plays an important role in the response of nerves to stimulation and in the contraction of muscles. Good sources of foods high in potassium include:

–Bananas
–Cantaloupe
–Grapefruit
–Oranges
–Tomato or prune juice
–Honeydew melons
–Prunes
–Molasses
–Potatoes

If you need to keep your weight under control eat lower calorie potassium containing foods such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

Food labels are a major accomplishment for the American Heart Association who participated actively in the legislation and regulatory process that has made nutrition labeling more useful to consumers. It is now easier for consumers to choose foods low in saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and sodium as well as foods that contain potassium, calcium and other nutrients.

I rarely purchase an item these days without first reading the nutritional label. Remember to read nutritional labels when provided on foods. Nutritional food labels are a tremendous asset for everyone.

Source: American Heart Association

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 4-2007.

Author: Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative. Visit http://nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for a weekly nutrition and health tip. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visit http://www.healthylife27.com to purchase an array of superior quality, safe and effective products inspired by nature, informed by science and created to improve the health of people, pets and the planet.