After researching somewhat seriously the fine print,   the conclusion was, I was consuming  a bundle of sugar a day, just by the number of sodas that I had drank. The typical  soda drink for lunch,  perhaps one for dinner, and maybe one later on in the evening.

I seem to always get plenty of exercise, but I was slowly growing around the waistline. something that I have heard from a lot of my readers.                                                                                                                             One day, I decided to see how much gain and I was shocked to find that I had ballooned into obesity big time, weighing 245 lbs. Now the advantaged that I have , I can hide it more easily since I am 6″1″ tall. I could stretch it out a bit, nevertheless I was heavier than I had ever been. Now the truth was, carrying all those extra pounds around, was making my legs and feet ache by the end of the day, and I was just plain wore out.

Now if I were to listen to my own advice, thinking that I was consuming  about 135 grams ( 3 sodas x45 grams)  a day in sugar, just with this one unhealthy habit, what would happen if I just quit drinking the sodas and replaced it with water. Seem like a place to start.

Soda Confession

Since January of 2010 I have broken down and had a couple of sodas but you could count them on your fingers. I have  increased the intake of water,  close to the 8 glasses of water. On hot days. I have passed that. With further research by some of of my articles on Trehalose I find  adding a couple teaspoons to a gallon of water, was refreshing, more energy, and drank less.

Upon drinking the more water, ending the soda routine, and the continued exercise I already was getting, I have slowly dropped several pounds each month since. I have probably eaten more sensibly since I am now known, as the sugar monitor in the family.

I have lost 35 pounds.

Now, I am certainly no nutritionist and do not proclaim to be one, but if just those simple changes can help myself, how many others might be able to do the same. I am thinking positive here, but I think a lot might find this to be an easy step to becoming healthier.

Pick your biggest advocate of weight gain

Now mind just happened to be sweets, the sodas, cookies, ice cream, and pies. I can not really help it, they were all on the dinner table every meal. My Mom and my Wife love to cook. ( MY ADDICTION)

Todays Health Comments…

Sugar has become many folks addiction, being that their intake is overwelming. Like myself I decided to pick on one at a time. Moderation has become my attitude, not saying that I will go cold turkey, but I have chosen to read the fine print on labels now, seeing that sugar or its supplements are in the majority of foods and drinks we eat. Less sugar equals a healthier

 From the  beginning , history has indicated our desire for sweets. Are we really addicted? Does all mankind have  a sweet tooth?

Our Past Desires for Just Sweet…

  We found  this sweetness in a variety of natural foods, such as fruits, berries, honey,and  finding of sugar cane , centuries ago. For hundreds of years civilization excepted what mother nature provided, and each generation pushed on to include a little of the sweet stuff in this food and that until we as a whole world population, excepted the fact that all things just tasted better with the sweet stuff. Sweeter was better and varieties of drinks became more popular as the population demanded the need for more of them, thus pushing aside the old standbys of water, milk, lemonade, or good ole ice tea. ( Remember when your mom used say ” Not too much sugar”, I wonder what she would say today.

Sweeter Than Sweet

If a little is good, than more is better, Right!  That became the marketing scheme for almost all aspects of the food and drink  industry. The problem was , that we all bought into the marketing scheme,  no questions asked.     Major  food manufactures continued placing more and more sugar into their products, and the result was “Mikey not only liked them,  good ole oatmeal went by the wayside. Now you probably saying…” OK I get it!” sugar is in every thing, and plenty of it. OK enough of those  sweeter examples , for those were for my older readers.

Sickening Sweet

Alright by now about 50 years have past by and now we no longer no what sugar, sweetener, or sugar supplement we are now eating or drinking because the demand has become in epidemic proportions.We are  now reading the fine print once and while, because 64% of the population in the USA are overweight.  Cancer is becoming a house hold word because of the many things we eat and drink. But sickening sweet has gone way beyond  ones limitation. The only way to get this  in perspective is some visualization.

Visualize How Sweet is Sickening Sweet

There are articles that visualize a Sunkist Orange Soda to six Breyers Oreo Ice Cream Sandwichs …http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/20-worst-drinks-america-2010 The easiest way I found is this, remember that old square cube of table sugar, its contents equivalent is 4.17 grams of sugar. So an example what used to be my favorite  drink ( not mentioning  name for embarrassing reasons), contains 45 grams of sugar. You would then divide that by the 4.17 grams= Nearly11cubes of sugar for one drink. Another formula… 1 teaspoon sugar = 1 sugar cube = 1 sugar packet …
 Is this healthy… or have we gone one step too far. Just think people are drinking several of those a day!

Today’s Health Comments

Sweet, Sweeter, and Sickening Sweet has become the normal today. We  have let this just completely get out of hand and now the results are becoming known to us. How are eating the sweet stuff is affecting our health. How sweets are linked to obesity, obesity linked to diabetes, linked to several illnesses…and cancer related as well. Though there are indications that the epidemic proportions are slowing down, regarding our sugar intake, we are far, far from being good. For the first time in American History of Lifes Mortality our children’s life expectancy may be shorten due to our eating habits. We all need to start  looking at our own eating habits if we are expecting to lead a healthier life.

We have examined several diets on this site, everything from…  some off the wall, to some that have become now fads, to actual diets that have been recognized as very practical. We had taken on the position that its our Mindset that allows us to become successful with weight loss, proper diet, and of course the needed exercise to become successful with fight against obesity. We know now that many sites including Todays Health Site have taken on the task of informing, supporting. and providing the necessary info, to lead or direct  those who seriously  need to loose weight can do so.

We do not propose to replace your Physician or professional help, but to bring the issues before for examination and questioning, for many people now days are using the internet for resources for their own personal health.

After reviewing the several articles that have been posted through out almost our first year, I personally learned that I had missed several key points…so I urge you to take the time and go back through the many articles if you have not read all of them.

I also found that through out the year that some of the predictions of new sugar supplements are now reality, though their names may not be highly recognized. These supplements  will become more well known as time passes, for those who are seeking to get away from the processed sweetners that are becoming targeted for adverse health conditions.

We also examined some of the more healthy drinks, my favorite, Milk, which I love to this day, perhaps growing up on a dairy farm had something to do with that. The liquid we consume is very important to our health matters. How much we drink, and what we drink.

We also found out that our foods contain so many fillers now days, sugars, and all those presevatives, It is Highly important to read the Fine Print on all those foods we choose to eat. By examining the foods we eat, you may actually bcome much, much more aware of what we are eating. Then take those ingredient names, the ones you can not pronounce, look them up and see if they are linked to advers health effects. Energy drinks… not all, but some… provide little if any health benefits, other than the buzz.

I am taking this time to thank you for all the visits, comments, and critics for the success of this first year. Thank you and look forward to another year.

Todays Health

After several articles, we have put together three articles covering some of our  healthy beverages, healthy fruits and nuts, and healthy foods that perhaps have stood out for their health benefits.

If you search through this site and my blogroll sites, you will find some of these foods and drinks covered in more detail.

This first segment is going to list… “Drinks Good For You”

WATER

MILK

CHOCOLATE MILK

GREEN TEA

MINT TEA

 TOMATO JUICE

 ORANGE JUICE

Most people think of  “WATER” as the most needed for a healthy body. Water is crucial for survival — it’s the foundation for your body fluids such as your  blood and digestive juices.

Water helps nutrients get absorbed and be transported, and it helps eliminate waste. If you should lose as little as 1 percent to 2 percent of your body weight, it can seriously impact your body’s ability to function. It’s commonly said that you should drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day to stay healthy. This is just a common rule, as so many factors can affect how much water your body needs.

CAUTION: not all water is EQUAL, or even good for you.  Some Tap water can be potentially contaminated with chemicals, pesticides or even pharmaceutical drugs.

 And bottled water, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has weaker regulations than the Environmental Protection Agency requires for tap water.Purifing your water through various processes, sometimes the need to boiling your water, or filtration of water may provide a healthier water.

This comes down to reading the fine print.

Milk curbs food cravings, helps protect against osteoporosis, stabilizes blood sugar,  is the ideal source of calcium,  it contains vitamin D, which is needed for maximum calcium absorption. ‘The calcium causes your body’s cells to burn the fat,allowing  those who are seeking to loose weight, to  choose this drink.   See also our Past article on Chocalate Milk.

Mint Tea eases cramps and helps ward off indigestion. “Mint is an antispasmodic, so it can relax muscles, which combats stiffness and aches.

Soy Milk lowers risk of heart disease, contains soluble fiber and soy protein, which lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglycerides, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, but Soy contains phytoestrogens, which may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. 

 Tomato Juice may protect against several cancers. Tomato products are the richest source of the antioxidant lycopene, reducing the risk of lung and stomach cancer, as well as pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral, breast and cervical cancers. Lycopene also appears to protect the lungs and heart against oxidative damage.

Cranberry Juice helps prevent gum disease. Research suggests that the same anti-bacterial properties present in cranberry juice that fight off urinary tract infections may also protect against periodontal disease. Experts theorize that a component of the juice called nondialysable material (NDM) inhibits bacteria from sticking to the gums.

Orange Juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, may also ward off cataracts, cancers and birth defects. It can boost your immunity.  Orange juice is also a potent antioxidant that may protect you against a variety of diseases. Vitamin C  improves immune-cell functioning, enabling your body to fight off infections more efficiently. It’s a good source of folate, which protects against neural-tube defects in fetuses. 

There are many nutritionists who continue to debate whether  fruit juices, because of their sugar content, are really healthy. Most would agree that eating whole fruit is always better for you than drinking their juice.You may want to limit your intake to no more than one glass (six to eight ounces) daily. “Make sure the label says 100 percent juice, not ‘juice drink’ or ‘cocktail.”‘

However drinking fruit juice, certain types of juice do have their benefits.

A Study by the University of California, Los Angeles, ranked 10 beverages according to their levels of disease-fighting antioxidants. The conclusion was that the 10 best antioxidant-rich beverages  were mostly fruit juices.

1. Pomegranate juice

2. Red wine

3. Concord grape juice

4. Blueberry juice

5. Black cherry juice

6. Açaí juice

7. Cranberry juice

8. Orange juice

9. Tea

10. Apple juice

Todays Health Suggests… if you choose to drink juice, to do so so in moderation. Further, ”Read the Fine Print”, as there are major differences in juice quality out there.

Always remember, if you get dehydrated, it will make you feel sluggish and can lead to a host of health problems. So be sure to drink up and drink healthy! ]]> http://todayshealthsite.com/todays-health-shares-healthy-choices.html/feed 27 http://todayshealthsite.com/milks-secrets.html http://todayshealthsite.com/milks-secrets.html#comments Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:34:45 +0000 d68452s http://todayshealthsite.com/?p=375  ”Something to Moo about… or Who cares”!

Now I would be the last person to give up my addiction for a  cold glass of milk. I enjoy my glass of milk several times a day,  my habit was formed by having access to the white stuff, all of my early years, growing up on Grade A Dairy. Today, Milk, has been my most favorite drink. Now knowing that, and my interest  for  the fine print written on  my gallon of Milk, here is something that may surprise you.

Milk has been well known and established for its health benefits… endorsed by medical professionals, and studies have proclaimed their statements. It  has been commercialized,  milk for strong bodies, strong bones, strong teeth, because of the calcium that is found in milk.  Perhaps why growing up, I never had any broken bones, and took some serious kickings from some  of those not so happy cows.

Why, does man always seek out, new and improved versions, it seems sometimes we can not leave mother natures products alone. Some one comes along with this idea or  study and says we need to have this Vitamin A Palmitate, and Vitamin D3. Why because we  are lacking in these, due to our eating habits, milk became a candidate for these vitamins, so our children as well as us adults would remain healthier.

                                            Ok, that’s great … but we still can not leave well enough alone, but now:

                                                      We need more PRODUCTION of MILK,  from the SAME COWS! 

  What was thought to be the Answer … Growth Hormone…Rbst. Cows treated with this, produce more milk.

It has become controversial, some countries have banned the products having this chemical, and many  like ourselves put this on our milk containers so small I could hardly see the small print

“According to the FDA, No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbst treated and non-rbst treated cows” 

Now this is not New News , even old perhaps, but the facts are gathering around milk and its outcome may very well effect our todays health:

Breast cancer is the lowest among countries that consume the lowest amount of milk.

Finland having the highest consumption of milk, has the highest rate of insulin dependent diabetes.

Prostrate cancer linked to countries where males consumes high volume dairy products.

Breast milk verses cows milk for babies becoming a hot topic.

                                                       NOW… LOOK CAREFULLY,  YOU CAN FIND… MILK labeled:

                                              “This milk comes from cows NOT Treated with growth Hormone rbst”.

However, dairies where this milk comes from, may be up for legal problems…because the company who created the growth hormone is taking legal action against those speaking out.

For healthier choices, again reading  the fine print. asking questions, and seeking out what is right for you.

“Health drinks and Reading the Fine Print”, got me  going.

After I had recently purchased a fruit juice for my breakfast drink, to find out it had pear juice and apple juice as fillers of which I thought I had purchased as it stated, 100% cranberry fruit concentrates… take notice, the fruit concentrates.

Now I know I am not the only person being misled when we walk down the beverage aisle or buy at the fast food place, local watering hole, or where ever you might find the drinks I am about to talk about.

You may just find out that some of these favorite drinks are  only healthy to your waistline….guaranteed to do so. What did I just say…what you may be drinking, if your one who states ” I don’t eat that much and I am still not losing weight”,  it may be due to what you drink.

Americans, I think have a drinking problem, anything that taste good, they drink . Ok, here is some truth to swallow literally,  82 grams of added sugar, according to the FDA, every day. How much is that, 20 teaspoons.

Now if you just looking  to drop a few pounds, you have traded in your soda for diet, whole milk drinks for lowfat, and  rarely touch the hard stuff, you still may be taking in roughly 20% just from beverages
But do not miss this… You may be consuming one of these liquid disasters and be drinking up a couple days’ worth of calories in a few moments. 

I hope you are paying ATTENTION!

Not to sound like I am picking on any particular brand…I will not disclose , but look at this Vitamin water (any flavor; 20 oz bottle) 130 calories 33 grams sugar. Check yours out!

Now you already heard about my juice…but check this one out,  a real imposter (23.5 oz can) 360 calories ,84 g of sugar  (5 percent juice, 95 percent sugar water) and is sold at gas stations and convenience stores al across America .

Now that its approaching summer and your tempted by a Smoothie…
This ? Smoothie (30 oz) 1,170 calories, 169 g sugars, 30 g fat 

For Todays Health ask for the ingredients list or read the fine print before you drink up.
 
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                                                                                    ”Reading the Fine Print”

Are you a health-conscious person looking for an alternative to the normal drinks?

  I have been, in need of replacing my intake of…  the favorite soda, which is high in carbs and sugar, for a healthier drink.

I  had already come to my conclusion long before I had completed this article, but I will save that for the end.

Now if you are like most of us… If it tastes good, we drink it. Naturally, it becomes a habit. Now beyond that, we may from time to time wonder why we feel the way we do, or why we have added a few more pounds,  sleeping has becoming a problem, or some of the other health  problems are now occuring.  Is it related to what we drink?

This article is to help all those who seek to become healthier by what we drink ,  to become more aware of the fine print and some of the terminology is being used within the industry.

I could start  a hot  arguement, right here, for the sake of  awareness. Do they, the producers of soda drinks, energy drinks, water products, now alcholic energy drinks, is it their purpose to deceive the general public by their marketing campaigns, or is it OUR responsiblity to seek out the TRUTH.

You always hear of this company and that company being discipline for their marketing concepts, but has it really moved , NOW into what we drink as well.

How much is really going on, that we just do not take the time  to care… How much of the fine print do we really read. Well I guess not much. So we are really are ill informed and perhaps beause of it, our health matters, and no room here today to quote on the rising health problems  today,  but we are as a Nation suffering.

So here is a few examples, not disclosing the names of the products… I can not handle that much heat nor threatening comments.

I sought out replacing my soda intake with something I considered a safe place to start out with,  WATER. Now after I walked down the endless aisle of the local super market, I found that I could read for several hours and still not know what was best. Some were this and that , what I mean by that, is some made claims, some had essentally all the vitamins you could think of. So no wonder people do not read the fine print… It is like all the marketing people of all the brands got together and said this is what we are going to tell the public… So my answer, being overwhemed, and to think I use to drink it out of the well for Free, I updated  my purification filter on my refrigerator, Now I could not tell any difference,  Now i know some people are going to swear by  their brand of water, but read the fine print and you will find that some( water) are just over glorified filtered water. Now that should get some comments.

Now, I growing up on a farm, was surrounded by fruit trees and have always enjoyed fruit juices. While writing this article,I  found myself  strolling up and down the aisles again and Like you do I grab a couple of those ALL natural fruit juices. Now while I had never read the FINE Print before….Why not, and to my surprise, my all natural had several different fruit juices, concentrates, vegetable juices, and loaded with carbs, sodium, and other things I could not even pronounce. So now that they are in the refrigerator and I now know what is actually in them, I was really a littlle upset. I had purchased what I thought was something healthy, when it was furthest from the truth.

The lesson here  is to read the fine print… the ingredients.

The last example and this is a good one, proclaiming there is no sugar in  a particular drink!

They are absolutely correct, when one reds the ingredients  on the nutritional label, it does not say SUGAR anywhere.

This MISLEADING  position given  by these Companys, and Distributors are guiding your friends and relatives down  a unsure path. Perhaps your close friend is a diabetic, trusting and believing in you, but even if he didn’t, the drink says no Sugar. But going further read the label Carefully, you will find the ingredient called Crystalline Fructose.

This ingredient, High Fructose Corn Syrup,  has been allowed to crystallize,  then is crushed into a powder. 

Now, this is a ” SUGAR”,  and you will also note,  if you read on this label, there are 15 carb grams per drink.  So No matter how you  define the  word “SUGAR”, the carb content is what everyone should see !   Now compared to what most people are drinking, the product is still a lot better.  Is it “SUGAR FREE”? Absolutely NOT!

Now here it is, the conclusion, not to put down the  available drinks we choose to intake, for we are all responsible for that, but if you are seeking to maintain a healthier life,  perhaps reading the fine print,  using a dictionary, the internet, and seeking the family doctor could now become the resources necesssary to understand what the fine print actually means.

This is such a vast topic…

This site will continually be dedicated to

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