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MiO: The New, Healthier Flavoring for Water?
I'm not a big fan of water flavoring packets that contain a list of artificial sweeteners, additives and other chemicals. Basically you’re pouring processed ingredients into your pure, clear, unadulterated water, then into your body…all for the sake of saying, “I drank the recommended amount of water today!”
But, could new MiO liquid water enhancer be a healthier alternative to the powdered enhancers? Let's find out!
What's in It?
- Water: This is how they get the sweetener to be a liquid sweetener.
- Citric Acid: Naturally occurring in the body & is naturally found in all citrus fruits.
- Propylene Glycol: Used in a lot of non-food items as well like your shampoo, or as a non-toxic version of antifreeze. Technically, it could be toxic is we ingested extreme quantities. Overall, it is considered safe though.
- Malic Acid: Natural additive that helps give a sour flavor.
- Sucralose: Another name for Splenda.
- Acesulfame K: Another artificial sweetener also known as Sunett or Sweet One.
- Potassium Citrate: Salt of citrate that helps to maintain the proper pH of MiO.
- Polysorbate 60: An emulsifier.
- Red 40 and Blue 1: Food dyes.
- Potassium Sorbate: One of the safer preservatives out there.
Is MiO Good for my Body?
MiO claims that it does not cause an insulin response, and is therefore safe for diabetics.
There are zero calories, and zero everything else, according to the label, for one serving. Some of the ingredients are artificial sweeteners and additives…some may not like this aspect of the MiO enhancers.
A positive for MiO is that you can use however much you like of the product. A recommended serving is 1/24 of the bottle, or ½ a teaspoon. But, it is still pretty hard to know how much that really is. Mio water enhancers come in a variety of flavors.
The Verdict?
MiO Water Enhancer does not use aspartame (bonus), and the ingredients are considered to be the safest versions of all the additives found in artificial drinks.
Also, it is a good alternative for someone who is trying to decrease their intake of sweetened beverages like sodas…so drink up and enjoy!!! Here’s to your health!
Portion Distortion…Visual Comparisons Help
Controlling food portions can prove to be difficult with unlimited buffets and super-sized menu items. But nutrition experts say that managing the amount of food on a plate goes a long way to leading a healthier lifestyle.Portion control during meals can lead to weight loss through less caloric intake. Other benefits of portion control can be less risk of diabetes and lower blood pressure and glucose. Here are some reasonable ideas to assist with portion control:
■Use a “healthy plate” when placing meals on plates. Basically you divide your dinner plate into half. Half of the plate is filled with veggies like broccoli, green beans or cauliflower. For the other half of the plate — a quarter is the meat serving for the meal and the other quarter is for starchy foods like potato or pasta.
■Restaurant portions can be double or even triple the necessary amount of food, experts say. The sizes often misrepresent individual servings. When the food arrives at your table while eating out, right away and ask for a doggy bag and fill it with half the food on your plate and place it out of sight. Then eat the other half that's left on your plate, so you won’t be tempted to overeat.
■Fruits high in water content and high-fiber vegetables help manage weight — giving a person the feeling of being full without eating too much. Food labels can also provide important information on serving size, servings per container and nutrient data for people monitoring their food intake.
Four Components of the Fountain of Youth
No it’s not a magic elixir or a special pill, but rather a consistent set of conscientious lifestyle choices made day in and day out over a period of time. But, I got your attention didn’t I? So maybe you should read some more…
Researchers from the CDC found, a low-risk lifestyle, with an emphasis on healthy eating and being active, has a "powerful and beneficial" effect on mortality.
To keep it basic and simple for those who will only read to the end of this paragraph and who could care less about footnotes and statistics…people who practice these four low-risk behaviors live longer:
To keep it basic and simple for those who will only read to the end of this paragraph and who could care less about footnotes and statistics…people who practice these four low-risk behaviors live longer:
(1) not smoking
(2) eating healthy
(3) getting enough exercise
(4) drinking alcohol moderately
People practicing these behaviors are 63% less likely to die within the 18-year study period than those who kept none of those practices.
Okay, so now I’m including the specific statistical information, so for those of you who have gotten all you want out of this blog…you can quit reading now. All the previously mentioned information is according to Earl Ford, PhD, of the CDC in Atlanta
Ford and colleagues found that keeping these four low-risk behaviors also reduced the risk of major chronic illness, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Added bonus for healthy living right?!!
Overall, they found that all four low-risk behaviors were individually associated with a reduction in death, and that the higher number of behaviors practiced, the lower the risk of death.
"Our results add to the evidence base regarding the favorable effect of healthy living on mortality," they wrote. "The estimates of mortality that can be postponed underscore the need for improving the overall level of healthy living in the United States
Four relatively simple changes we can all make in our lifestyle choices…can really extend our lives and keep us younger and more active longer. For now, this is as close as we get to the Fountain of Youth!
10 Common Dietary Supplements Explained
Discover which of these vitamins you need to be taking—and which you don’t.
The use of supplements in the United States
B Vitamins
There are several B vitamins, from B1 to B12, and they're all incredibly important to our body's functioning. But a commonly deficient one is B12, a nutrient that helps keep the body's nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA and produces energy for the body. Every multivitamin should have a spectrum of B vitamins.
Calcium
Due to the growing focus on osteoporosis and bone health, calcium supplementation rose from 28% in 1994 to 61% in 2006 among women 60 and over. "If you eat a fair amount of green leafy vegetables, dairy and meat, you're getting plenty of calcium. 500 mg a day is enough as a supplement—again 'supplement,' not 'replacement,'" says John Pan , MD.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may not be a vitamin you've heard much about before, but it's an important one, especially for people taking certain medications for high cholesterol. "Statins (a medication millions of people around the world take) are used to lower cholesterol, but they also block the formation of CoQ10, an essential ingredient [used by] the mitochondria to make energy," says Dr. Maroon. "This can lead to muscle cramps, memory impairment and a whole lot of other complications."
Fish Oil
An important supplement for just about everyone is fish oil, which contains an omega-3 fatty acid that can help with everything from cardiovascular health and brain functioning to arthritis and inflammation. "Science is saying you need 500 mg and is encouraging people to eat cold water fatty fish (like salmon, sardines, herring, anchovies, trout and mackerel) twice a week," says Duffy MacKay, ND.
Folic Acid
From 2003 to 2006, only 34% of women aged 20 to 39 used a dietary supplement containing folic acid. Folic acid is very important for women, especially during their childbearing years, because it helps prevent neural defects in fetuses and is beneficial during the early stages of development. Folic acid is found naturally in leafy greens, citrus fruits, beans and whole grains.
Iron
Iron is an important part of overall health, as it is an integral part of many of the body’s proteins and enzymes. Because it helps with the transportation of oxygen in the blood cells, iron deficiency can cause fatigue, poor work performance and decreased immunity. "Iron is so important and it can be hard to get with specific diets, like vegetarians, who aren’t exposed to a lot of iron. But it's one you shouldn't be supplementing unless you need to," says Dr. MacKay.
Melatonin
Sleep disorders affect between 50 and 70 million Americans—that's nearly 20% of the population, according to the NIH. While melatonin is not a sleep aide, it can help balance a person's wake-sleep cycle. "It's a hormone produced in the pineal gland that regulates your circadian rhythm," says Langhurst. "Each person is different, but when the lights are off, your body produces it. If you are exposed to too much light, it can throw that off."
Multivitamins
According to the CDC, 40% of U.S.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, a nutrient found in foods, like citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables, and fortified products, like juice, acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage by free radicals, which are "compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy," according to the NIH.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, a nutrient found in fatty fish, meat, dairy and fortified soy beverages, helps build and maintain strong bones by helping in the absorption of calcium, according to the NIH. It also helps muscle, nerve and immunity functions. While the use of dietary supplements containing vitamin D has increased for both men and women since 1988, it hasn't been enough, according to Dr. Maroon. "Vitamin D is either low or deficient in 50% to 60% of people in the United States
COMING SOON!!!
Visit our website in the near future for more Wellness information about all these vitamins, supplements and much more!
Fit4Me Supplements COMING SOON to BHC Clinic and to our SOON TO OPEN online Store!!
When you lose weight, where does the lost body fat go?
Body fat breaks down during a series of complex metabolic processes.
When you burn more calories than you consume, your body uses fat (triglycerides) for energy. This causes your fat cells to shrink. In turn, triglycerides are broken down into two different substances — glycerol and fatty acids — which are absorbed into your liver, kidneys and muscle tissue. From there, the glycerol and fatty acids are further broken down by chemical processes that ultimately produce energy for your body.
These activities generate heat, which helps maintain your body temperature. The resulting waste products — water and carbon dioxide — are excreted in urine and sweat or exhaled from your lungs.
Even though this whole process sounds really gross—end result is a leaner, healthier, happier YOU!
25 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned WAY Sooner
1. 1 out of 4 people that you meet won’t like you. That’s really OK.
2. Life isn’t fair. Most of the time it’s not fair in your favor, so don’t whine about life not being fair.
3. Save your money!
4. No one knows what you’re thinking unless you tell them.
5. Perfectionism will kill you.
6. You’re stronger than you think you are.
7. You think that sexism and racism were in the olden days. They’re not.
8. Comparing yourself to others is never a good idea.
9. When someone shows you who they are, believe them. People are consistent.
10. Develop critical thinking skills and use them.
11. Never hide your intelligence from anyone.
12. Trust your instincts.
14. Spend less time worrying about the shape of your body & more time on your health.
15. Stay away from credit cards.
16. Women, there are lots of men who will be nice to you. Accept nothing less.
17. Be nicer to yourself too.
18. For the most part, it doesn’t matter what people think. Follow your own truth.
19. No education is wasted. Drink in as many new experiences as you can.
20. Pay your dues. Work hard.
21. Networking is critical.
22. Letting go of control is liberating. Try it.
23. Don’t treat anyone badly. You’ll be surprised when they’ll pop up again in your life.
24. Do what you love, not what you think you’re supposed to do.
25. Don’t forget to enjoy your journey!
6 Pains You Should Never Ignore
Usually a headache is just a headache, and heartburn is nothing more than a sign that your last meal didn’t agree with you. Except when they’re not.
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t quite right. More often than not, you have some idea of what’s behind it. But when it comes on suddenly, lingers longer than usual, or just seems different, it calls for medical attention—and the sooner, the better.
1. Chest Pain
3. A Throbbing Tooth
It’s likely that the tooth’s nerve has become damaged, probably because the surrounding pearly white enamel is cracked or rotting away. Unless you get it patched up quickly, bacteria in your mouth can invade the nerve. Then travel into your body. Not only is this very painful, but can be very costly dental repair.
4. Sharp Pain in Your Side
This would be more than a strained muscle. If you feel as if you’re being skewered in your right side, and you’re also nauseated and running a fever, you could have appendicitis. For women, another possibility is an ovarian cyst. You should contact your doctor immediately or go to the ER.
5. Back Pain with Tingling Toes
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t quite right. More often than not, you have some idea of what’s behind it. But when it comes on suddenly, lingers longer than usual, or just seems different, it calls for medical attention—and the sooner, the better.
1. Chest Pain
With the wide range of heart attack symptoms, there are three good indicators that something isn’t right, and they can occur in either gender. They are chest pain that doesn’t go away, varied shortness of breath, and any upper body pain that hasn’t occurred before. If you experience any of these symptoms you should call your doctor or 911 immediately.
2. Severe Head Pain
Typically it’s a headache or migraine, but if it isn’t accompanied by other migraine symptoms (such as a visual aura); sudden, severe head pain can signal a brain aneurysm. “A burst aneurysm can cause brain damage within minutes, so you need to call 911 immediately. If not an emergency you should contact your doctor.
3. A Throbbing Tooth
It’s likely that the tooth’s nerve has become damaged, probably because the surrounding pearly white enamel is cracked or rotting away. Unless you get it patched up quickly, bacteria in your mouth can invade the nerve. Then travel into your body. Not only is this very painful, but can be very costly dental repair.
This would be more than a strained muscle. If you feel as if you’re being skewered in your right side, and you’re also nauseated and running a fever, you could have appendicitis. For women, another possibility is an ovarian cyst. You should contact your doctor immediately or go to the ER.
If you’ve just helped your cousin move into her new fourth-floor apartment and hurt your back, anti-inflammatories should banish the pain. But if they don’t work, hobble to your doctor immediately.
6. Leg Pain with Swelling
Your calf is extremely tender in one location, noticeably swollen, and red or warm to the touch. You might have deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), commonly known as a blood clot. Resist the urge to massage the area or to try walking off the pain. If the clot breaks free, it can travel through your veins up to your lungs and cut off your oxygen supply. Instead, see your doctor right away.
We all have those occasional aches and pains that come and go with daily life. Rule of thumb, my Mother told me years ago…an ache or pain that should NOT be ignored will not go away and will not get better!!! Learn to listen to your body and trust your Primary Care Physician.
Lose The Spare Tire With Just Two Exercises
How can you lose fat with just two exercises? Well, think about this. Running is just one exercise, but no one questions that when it comes to burning fat. According to an article done online for Men’s Health earlier this week, the following two exercises, called The Countdown Workout, will indeed take care of your spare tire!
Here's how it works:
You do 15 repetitions of the kettlebell swing (you can also use a dumbbell for this), followed immediately by 15 reps of the squat thrust. (See below for descriptions of both exercises.) Without resting, do 14 reps of the swing and then 14 reps of the squat thrust. Continue this pattern until you complete only one rep of each exercise.
Sure, that's just two exercises, but do the math: If you complete the entire routine -- from 15 down to 1 -- you'll do 120 repetitions of each exercise. That's 240 repetitions. And these aren't just any exercises: They're movements that challenge your entire body.
They're also done at a fast pace. On average, it'll only take you about three seconds per rep. So you'll do those 240 reps in just 12 minutes or so. That'll light your muscles on fire, and have you gasping for air (in a good way).
If you think that sounds too easy or too fast, I suggest you try it. You may find you can't even finish. But that's okay -- you can just start with a lower number, like 8, and work your way up as you improve your fitness. (In fact, I recommend this strategy.) What's more, if you want an even greater challenge, you can always take a breather and repeat the routine.
Kettlebell (or Dumbbell) Swing
Bend at your hips and hold a kettlebell (or dumbbbell) with both hands at arm’s length in front of you. Now rock back slightly and “hike” kettlebell between your legs. Then squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward forcefully, and swing the weight to shoulder height. Allow momentum to swing the weight—you're not trying to actively lift it with your arms. Reverse the movement, so that you swing the kettlebell between your legs again. Make sure you don't round your lower back at any time; it should stay naturally arched when you bend at your hips. Continue to swing back and forth. Watch the video below to see fitness expert David Jack show you how to do the kettlebell swing with perfect form.
Bend at your hips and hold a kettlebell (or dumbbbell) with both hands at arm’s length in front of you. Now rock back slightly and “hike” kettlebell between your legs. Then squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward forcefully, and swing the weight to shoulder height. Allow momentum to swing the weight—you're not trying to actively lift it with your arms. Reverse the movement, so that you swing the kettlebell between your legs again. Make sure you don't round your lower back at any time; it should stay naturally arched when you bend at your hips. Continue to swing back and forth. Watch the video below to see fitness expert David Jack show you how to do the kettlebell swing with perfect form.
Squat Thrust
Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Bending at your hips and knees, squat down and lower your body until you can place your hands on the floor. Kick your legs backward—into a pushup position—and then immediately reverse the move and quickly stand up from the squat. That's 1 rep. To make the exercise even more challenging, you can jump up from the squat instead of simply standing up quickly. Watch the video below to see strength coach David Jack do the squat thrust.
Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Bending at your hips and knees, squat down and lower your body until you can place your hands on the floor. Kick your legs backward—into a pushup position—and then immediately reverse the move and quickly stand up from the squat. That's 1 rep. To make the exercise even more challenging, you can jump up from the squat instead of simply standing up quickly. Watch the video below to see strength coach David Jack do the squat thrust.
An important note: This isn't a complete workout program, but it is a great routine that you can do almost anywhere, anytime. And it's a fantastic substitute for 15 minutes on the treadmill.
The Twister’s – Buff getting “Buff” with Medical hCG
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| "Buff" Before Medical hCG |
Obesity is one of the biggest health problems we face not only within the United States, but globally. As of March 2011, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity around the globe has more than doubled since 1980. Therefore we have more overweight people nowadays, and it is not making our lives any easier. 65% of people all over the world die of obesity rather than malnutrition, because obesity is accompanied by a series of illnesses that disable a person from enjoying activities and everyday life.
There are many diseases accompanied with obesity such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, including sleep apnea (skipping of breathing during sleeping). Everyday life is interrupted due to the heavy weight we are carrying. When we lose weight, we can be involved in fun activities and there is no need to miss out on life with family and friends. Sickness is prevented and once the extra weight is off, you will feel light, you can do more work and above all, there will be a peaceful sleep. Losing weight means living a longer and healthier life. We are not only doing this for ourselves, but also for our loved ones.
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| "Buff" 35 Days Later 39 Pounds Lighter!!! |
These are many of the reasons why radio personality, Craig B, known as “Buff” from 101.9 -The Twister came to Barreto Health Care for Medical hCG on May 31, 2011 . With his family’s support and the Doctor’s supervision Craig has dropped 39 pounds as of July 18, 2011 (35 days) and feels great!!! He is still following the Medical hCG protocol to date and continues losing weight to reach his goal. We will post more pictures and update followers when Buff reaches his healthy goal weight.
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| A Happy Buff Getting "Buff" & Healthy!!! |
Props to you Buff for working hard to get healthy and “Buff” for yourself and your family!!!!
Is Eating Fruit Making You Fat?
If you've read the most popular diet books for the past decade, then the answer is a resounding YES!
But is there scientific rationale for the demonization of something we've been told to eat daily?
Popular Diets' Fruit Philosophies
- The ever-popular Dukan diet shuns them - too high in carbs, says the good doctor.
- And no surprise that the darling of low carb, Gary Taubes recommends eschewing fruits.
- Ditto for Tim Ferris, author of "The 4-hour Body" who includes the avoidance of fruit as one of his "slow carb" diets 5 rules.
- And another new kid on the diet book block, "The 17-Day Diet", recommends not eating any fruit after , Eastern Standard Time (or something equally ridiculous).
- And let's not forget the scads of books based on the glycemic index scale - with a variety of fruits higher in glycemic index strictly verboten - the equivalent of drinking a blended snickers bar.
Does Research Agree?
Before looking at the data, we must apply context. Any category of food can be "fattening" in high enough amounts. Gorging on mangos, bananas and apples all day long will hinder any fat loss goal.
Also, having said fruit in the form of juice adds copious amounts of sugar and calories to the diet without yielding much in the way of nutrition - even though they count as "servings" of fruit.
While studies that examine strictly fruit intake and body composition are hard to come by, you know what's impossible to come by? Studies that show fruit consumption CAUSES weight gain.
Here's a study that showed a net fat loss with 3 apples or pears per day.
Add that to the multitude of studies showing vegetable and fruit consumption boosts health in many ways and you'd be hard-pressed to convince me to ditch my daily apple.
And if these authors are trying to play the "fruit-drives-insulin-and-insulin-makes-you-fat" card - wrong again! Doesn't happen when calories are kept in check and protein is adequate. Moderation is the key. Good old logic always helps.
Eating a variety of fruits will give you a broad range of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that serve to lower disease risk. There is absolutely no need to eliminate them from your diet, not eat them after during a crescent moon when the dew point reaches 2.780, or in any other situation. Just don't go overboard!!!! Remember as with everything in your diet…everything in moderation.
What’s Causing Your Back Pain? Myth vs. Fact
The Truth About Back Pain
It might be a sharp stab. It might be a dull ache. Sooner or later, eight out of 10 of us will have back pain. Back pain is common -- and so are back pain myths. See if you can tell the myths from the facts.
Myth: Always sit up straight to prevent back pain.
Okay, slouching is bad for your back. But sitting up too straight too still for too long can be a strain on the back. If you sit a lot, try this a few times a day: Lean back in your chair with your feet on the floor and a slight curve in your back. Even better: Try standing for part of the day, while on the phone or while reading work materials.
Myth: Lifting heavy objects hurts your back.
It's not necessarily how much you lift, it's how you lift. Of course you shouldn't lift anything that might be too heavy for you. When you lift, squat close to the object with your back straight and head up. Stand, using your legs to lift the load. Do not twist or bend your body while lifting. It can really hurt your back to twist while bending and lifting with your feet on the floor -- as you might do when reaching down from a chair to lift a dropped pencil.
Myth: Stay in bed until back pain goes away.
Yes, resting can help an acute injury or strain that causes back pain. But it's a myth that you should stay in bed. A day or two in bed can make your back pain worse.
th: Back pain is always caused by an injury.
Fact: Overweight people suffer more back pain.
Staying fit helps prevent back pain. Back pain is most common among people who are out of shape, especially weekend warriors who engage in vigorous activity after sitting around all week. And as you might guess, obesity stresses the back.
Myth: Skinny people don't get back pain.
Anyone can get back pain. In fact, people who are too thin, such as those suffering from anorexia, an eating disorder, may suffer bone loss resulting in fractured or crushed vertebrae.
Myth: Exercise is bad for your back pain.
A big myth. Regular exercise prevents back pain. And for people suffering an acute injury resulting in lower back pain, doctors may recommend an exercise program that begins with gentle exercises and gradually increases in intensity. Once the acute pain subsides, an exercise regimen may help prevent future recurrence of back pain.
Fact: Chiropractic adjustments can help back pain.
The American College
Fact: Acupuncture can help back pain.
According to guidelines from the American College
Myth: A super-firm mattress is best for your back.
A Spanish study of people with longstanding, non-specific back pain showed that those who slept on a medium-firm mattress -- rated 5.6 on a 10-point hard-to-soft scale -- had less back pain and disability than those who slept on a firm mattress (2.3 on the scale) mattress. However, depending on their sleep habits and the cause of their back pain, different people may need different mattresses.
If you are suffering from back pain...don't self medicate...and don't continue to suffer! There is relief! Start with your Primary Care Physician...who can get you started on the road to a healthier and happier life...with no back pain!!!
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