I like to keep most of my writing pretty positive and inspiring but this information on functional foods is just itching to come out. So here goes!

Wonder bread with DHA.

Yogurts with “patented” strains of probiotic bacteria.

Orange juice with omega-3s.

The list goes on and on.

These are example of functional foods.

According to Wikipedia…

“Functional food is any healthy or fictional food claimed to have a health-promoting or disease-preventing property beyond the basic function of supplying nutrients. The general category of functional foods includes processed food or foods fortified with health-promoting additives, like “vitamin-enriched” products. Fermented foods with live cultures are considered as functional foods with probiotic benefits.”

The irony is that functional foods are not really functional.

Unlike functional exercise, which trains your body according to everyday (or sporting) demands placed upon it – a good thing – functional food, more than anything, plays on the naivete of most consumers.

You would think that the addition of a healthy additive would enhance the quality of a particular food but the reality is that anytime you play “chemist” with a whole food, you inherently make it less than it already was.

But most people, even the big food conglomerates, know that you can’t really make a natural food better than it already is. Plus, there’s no money in produce.

However, manufactured foods like white bread and other man-made foods, which are bad enough to begin with, have greater profit potential…if only more people would eat them.

And that’s where food manufacturers have jumped on the health bandwagon making believe that adding ONE healthy element to such foods will wipe the slate clean.

Nice try!

The tricky part is that functional food products typically include health claims on their label touting their benefits. For example:

“Cereal is a significant source of fiber. Studies have shown that an increased amount of fiber in one’s diet can decrease the risk of certain types of cancer in individuals.”

Such a statement can make you associate the “product” with the desired benefit.

Very clever indeed.

Some countries, such as Canada, Sweden, and the United States, have specific laws concerning the labeling of such products. In the United States, the kinds of claims that are allowed are overseen and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, some claims will fall outside of the purview of the FDA and be accompanied by the disclaimer:

“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

Such a disclaimer typically accompanies supplements rather than foods, but since the definition of functional food is still evolving and somewhat amorphous, a functional food may find itself bearing the warning.

***

Check out Yuri Elkaim’s Eating for Energy ebook here.

Most of us have experienced acne during our teens and even into our adult years. Most of us have not had the benefit of seeing a doctor about our acne simply because it comes and goes, and we seldom really care about it anyway.

Here we would like to answer your basic acne questions in the simplest way possible so that you will easily understand what acne is all about.

But if you have questions about acne that are not covered in this article, Clear Skin Magic by Audrey Roberts is a great book that extensively answers all the possible questions on acne.

1. What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition wherein the skin pores are blocked with oil and dead skin cells resulting in skin blemishes such as pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.

2. What can cause acne?

Acne is basically caused by a combination of these factors:

** Oil glands become overactive at puberty because of hormonal changes and during times of stress when androgens are produced, which stimulate the production of excess oil.

** Blocked skin pores. Dead skin cells tend to block the skin pores and trap the oils produced by the oil glands.

** Skin bacteria. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which is a bacteria normally found on the skin, reacts with the trapped oil and dead skin cells blocking the pores. This irritates the skin and causes inflammation.

** Swelling or soreness occurs as a result of the body’s immune system’s action to get rid of foreign substances such as the combination of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells that are blocking the skin pores.

3. Can stress cause acne?

We cannot explicitly say that stress can cause acne. That’s because stress is a physiological condition that can be caused by severe acne conditions. Stress may theoretically cause acne when it triggers hormonal changes that may lead to acne in a person.

4. Do the food we eat cause acne?

There is no scientific evidence that the foods we eat can cause acne. Not even going through a fruit and vegetable diet will guarantee a clear, blemish-free skin. Although there are foods that might worsen your acne, this happens on a case-to-case basis. For example, people who might be affected could have prior allergies or sensitivity to these foods.

5. Are pimples, blackheads and whiteheads the same as acne?

Pimples, blackheads and whiteheads are all types or kinds of acne that differ only on how they look on the skin and on the severity of the condition. 

Pimples are another term for acne and are characterized by skin protrusions that contain pus. Blackheads are open acne that are not inflamed and are located near the surface of the skin. Whiteheads are located deeper in the skin pore.

6. Is acne hereditary?

Yes, heredity can predispose you to acne-prone skin. Statistically, people whose parents have acne during their teen or adult years are also likely to have acne.

7. Who is prone to acne?

Everybody is prone to acne whether male or female. However, adolescents or teens are more prone to acne because of the high hormonal changes that occur at puberty. People who have oily skin are also more prone to acne.

8. Can acne affect other parts of the body?

Yes. Aside from the face, acne can also proliferate on the neck, back and chest. There are also rare cases where acne is found in the reproductive organs of both males and females.

9. Is acne contagious?

No, acne is not contagious, nor is it an infectious disease. It can’t be passed on from one person to another like colds and flu.

10. Can acne scar my face?

Yes, acne can leave scars on your face when it is not treated early enough and properly.

The assault by the FDA on your supplements has turned into an all-out war.

In a letter from both the FDA and FTC, Dr. Andrew Weil was threatened with criminal prosecution.

I’m not making this stuff up. Look at what the letter actually said:

“If your firm fails to take corrective action immediately, FDA may take enforcement action, such as seizure or injunction for violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act without further notice.”

What did Dr. Weil do to risk “possible criminal prosecution for violations of the FFDC Act”?

He made true statements about his immune-boosting formula containing Astragalus.

On his website, he said “During the flu season, I suggest taking a daily antioxidant, multi-vitamin-mineral supplement, as well as astragalus, a well-known immune-boosting herb that can help ward off colds and flu.”

How does something like this happen? How can the FDA interpret this as a violation warranting “criminal prosecution”?

Because the FDA has a strong and direct conflict of interest.

They make money from drug companies.

In 1992, Congress passed the landmark Prescription Drug User Fee Act, effectively putting the FDA on the pharmaceutical industry’s payroll.

To speed up the approval of drugs, the law authorized drug companies to pay user fees to the FDA, making it dependent on the very industry it regulates.

Today, industry-paid FDA employees constitute more than half of the agency’s staff involved in approving drugs.

Since the law was enacted, 13 prescription drugs causing hundreds of deaths have had to be withdrawn from the market.¹

This war is nothing more than a censorship racket designed to protect big pharma and big government profits.

So, just how dangerous are supplements and natural remedies that has the FDA declaring war on your right to purchase natural alternatives?

You’re not going to believe this one.

There was not one death caused by dietary supplements in 2008. Not one.

A recent report in the journal Clinical Toxicology shows that there was not one death caused by any vitamin including A, B, C, D, and E.²

What’s more, there wasn’t one death caused by amino acids, herbals, homeopathics, or mineral supplements.

Not a single man, woman, or child died from nutritional supplements.

Yet nearly 125,000 people die each year from FDA-approved prescription drugs. That’s twice the number of casualties we suffered during the Vietnam War.

That’s a tragedy. And it’s a war that is happening every year.

In addition, prescription drugs cause 2.2 million adverse reactions each year.³

That’s not all.

Nearly five percent of all hospital admissions – more than 1 million per year – are due to drug side effects.

What’s worse, the FDA and corporate America have a history of suppressing safe alternatives that work. CoQ10 is a good example of this.

Back in 1990, Merck knew that statins deplete CoQ10. They knew that this could contribute to heart disease. In that year, Merck was granted a patent by the FDA for Mevacor and other statin drugs containing CoQ10.

These statin drugs with CoQ10 help prevent congestive heart failure.

However, Merck has not brought these drugs to market. Nor have they educated physicians on the importance of supplementing CoQ10 to offset the dangers of these drugs.

They patented it and let it sit there simply to keep it off the market.

But because they hold the patent, other drug companies are prevented from coming out with a statin/CoQ10 product that could save lives.

The bottom line here is that you need to stay informed and not be misled by those who don’t have your best health interests at heart.

The good news is you’re already being proactive by reading this e-letter.

You can also tell your congressman about your views on restricting your access to natural supplements. The Alliance for Natural Health is a nonprofit organization that makes it easy for you. They have letters already written, which you just sign and send straight to your congressman via the Internet. You can check out their latest campaigns and action alerts here.

***

Dr. Al Sears owns and operates an integrative medicine and anti-aging clinic in Wellington, Fla., with more than 20,000 patients. His therapies and reputation for solving some of the most difficult-to-diagnose cases attract patients from around the world. You will find his website here.

***

Sources

1 The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It by Marcia Angell M.D., published by Random House, 304 pp.
2 Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2008 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 26th Annual Report. Clinical Toxicology (2009). 47, 911-1084.
3 Schardt, David. “Are Your Supplements Safe?” Nutrition Action Healthletter 2003; 30(9): 3-7.

You sit down to a fine meal. A couple of hours later you develop heartburn, and you reach for an antacid. One doesn’t work. So you take another. You’re bloated, gassy, and miserable. Nothing helps, so you try to go to sleep. Then at 3 a.m., you wake up with the worst burning pain you can imagine.

Clearly, antacids are not the answer.

Here’s some good news: Sometimes heartburn and other digestive problems are solved by digestive enzymes.

Digestive enzymes speed up your digestion so food moves quickly through the stomach to avoid indigestion. When you don’t have enough digestive enzymes, food stays in your stomach, and acid pushes up through the esophagus and burns. That’s why they call it acid reflux.

You get enzymes two ways. Your body makes them, and they’re in the food you eat.

Your pancreas and other organs make about 22 digestive enzymes. Each one has a specific role in the digestion of protein, carbohydrate, sugar, and fat. For example:

• Protease digests protein.
• Amylase digests carbohydrates.
• Lipase digests fat.
• Cellulase digests fiber.

When we’re born, we have more than we need. But once we’re in our 20s, our ability to produce enzymes drops off about 13% every 10 years.1 This means you need to find another way to get them if you want to maintain good digestion.

Lucky for us, you can also get enzymes from food. Raw foods contain millions of enzymes. Plant enzymes strengthen your digestion by taking the place of those you lose as you age.

Nature is designed to give you all the enzymes you need, simply by eating food. Our ancestors ate meat within minutes of hunting, and it was rarely cooked. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, and berries were plucked from the trees and ground and devoured on the spot. Food was so chock full of enzymes that ancient man more than likely never suffered from heartburn. 

Unfortunately today, we rarely pull an apple from the tree and munch on it. Instead, food is commercially farmed on enzyme-depleted soils. Then we process, cook, and microwave food, which destroys enzymes even more. 

To help your digestion, try to increase the amount of enzymes every chance you get:

1. Eat a variety of raw fruits and vegetables every day. If an organic farmer’s market is available, visit it once a week so your food is as fresh as possible.

2. Make sure you don’t overcook foods, and eat raw vegetables and fruits with each meal.

3. Try to eliminate freezing and reheating. Make just enough for the meal.

If you’re not able to get enough fresh, raw food with nature’s enzymes into your diet, the next best option is to get some digestive help from supplements. They’re available at your local vitamin store. Make sure you ask for “plant enzymes.” They’re well worth it. 

For most people, I recommend looking for a supplement that contains protease for protein, amylase for carbohydrates, and lipase for fats. If you have a problem with dairy, you may also want to add lactase. You should take any enzyme supplement with a meal.

***

Dr. Al Sears owns and operates an integrative medicine and anti-aging clinic in Wellington, Fla., with more than 20,000 patients. His therapies and reputation for solving some of the most difficult-to-diagnose cases attract patients from around the world. You will find his website here.

***
References
1 M., Kanbak, G., Sunal, E. “Antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde levels related to aging.” Clinica Chimica Acta. 2001; 305(1-2):75-80.

Have you heard about this “Eco-Atkins Diet” that a bunch of researchers dreamed up to please vegetarians?

Dr. Atkins must be rolling over in his grave.

These veggie-wackos want a diet that offers “Atkins without animal fat.” They call it, “Eco-Atkins.”

Holy cow!

The Atkins Diet is all about eating animal protein. So how do you eat a high-protein diet without animal fat? Turns out we’re supposed to bulk up on soy burgers and wake up to the smell of vegetarian bacon – whatever that is!

Don’t be deceived. This crazy veggie-plan is in no way eco-friendly, sustainable, or healthier. The diet is based on multiple allergens such as soy, gluten, and dairy. They use processed foods like veggie bacon, deli slices, and breakfast links.

What’s worse:

Up to 30 times the maximum level allowed for a toxic chemical called melamine has been found in soy products. Melamine is a hazardous air pollutant that affects the brain. It’s banned from organic food, yet it’s finding its way into soy.¹

Commercial soy farmers in South America are taking over and driving peasant farmers off their land.²

Soy is grown on stripped and deforested lands in the Amazon rainforest.³

Inferior and contaminated soy is quietly being imported from China.⁴

This concept is disconnected from our past, and it screams of ignorance.

For millions of years, our ancestors were part of an ecological system that had a perfect balance in nature. They relied on fresh-caught meat and food gathered from the ground, bushes, and trees. Their diet was high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate. Diseases of modern day were nonexistent.

Vegetarians want to replace this with processed, low-fat starch products that can ruin your health.

Where’s the Beef?

The study they’ve based their conclusions on has nothing to do with Atkins’ diet plan. Atkins’ diet is based on beef. In the study, one group ate a vegetarian diet, and the other a vegan diet. The diets are hard to follow for most people, and the products aren’t readily available. But what’s more important, vital nutrients are missing.

Meat eaters are more likely than vegetarians to get 100% of the protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins they need.

This veggie Atkins imitator is a far cry from the natural and healthy diet handed down through millions of years of evolution. Eco-Atkins goes against our own biology and history.

***

Beef Is the Best Source of These Essential Nutrients:⁴

Protein: Meat is a complete protein. Vegetables are not. Vegetarians have to combine foods to make a complete protein. They’re also lower in protein content than meat sources. For instance, 3 ounces of beef contain 50 grams of protein compared to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, which contains 16 grams.

B12: Animal products are the primary source of B12. This is a serious problem for vegetarians, especially vegans. Lack of B12 causes anemia and can cause nerve damage leading to irreversible conditions like blindness.^5,6

Iron: Vegetarians not only get less iron, the type of iron from a vegetarian diet is different. The type of iron from a vegetarian diet is absorbed 70% less than a meat diet.⁷ This is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. Children develop behavior problems and delays in their development. Pregnant women deliver pre-term.^8,9

Zinc: Beef is the number one source for zinc, and all animal products are good sources. Vegetarians not only get less zinc to begin with, they absorb up to 35% less of it.¹⁰ A zinc deficiency affects your immunity, and can stunt your growth and the way your brain functions.

CLA: Almost 98% of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) comes from meat. CLA has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer.¹¹ It also helps with fat loss.

CoQ10: Beef is the best source of Coenzyme Q10. There is next to none in fruits and vegetables. CoQ10 is in every cell of our body. It creates energy. CoQ10 improves heart function and diabetes, and helps prevent autoimmune disease.¹²

***

Ancient Is Eco-Friendly

Step back in time with me for a moment.

A stone-age diet is similar to the original Atkins plan. Primitive man hunted animals that fed on wild grasses. Meat was pure, fresh, and full of nutrients. They supplemented with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. They drank fresh water. Very little was based on grains, gluten, or soy. Their diet certainly was not based on processed, pre-packaged veggie links.

Our bodies were designed to digest meat, yet vegetarians still think it’s bad for you. They don’t understand that eating grass-fed beef is healthy, low-fat, and contains essential nutrients they’re missing from their diet. Our ancestors’ diet allowed prehistoric man to have a stored energy source for times of famine. Today, it gives us a great backup fuel system for our bodies.

By eating like our ancestors, we naturally lower our intake of carbohydrates. With fewer carbohydrates, our bodies switch to using fat as fuel. We are fully satisfied and lose body fat. Our blood sugar levels out. Our LDL and HDL cholesterol levels improve, along with triglycerides.

There’s more.

Natural sources of animal protein:

** Have higher nutritional value. Grass-fed beef is low-fat with fewer calories than grain-fed. It also has more omega-3s, B vitamins, CoQ10, zinc, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.

** Avoid common allergic triggers such as milk, soy, egg, and wheat.

** Offer important nutrients that fuel the brain and stabilize mood.

** Satisfy the appetite. They keep hunger away longer, making dieting easier.

Dr. Atkins was a visionary. He taught people to eat like our primitive ancestors. But there is one area where he went wrong.

You’ve got to watch out for trans-fat and eliminate it from your diet. Trans-fat comes from partially hydrogenated oils. You find it in processed and fast foods. Trans-fat raises bad cholesterol (LDL) while lowering good cholesterol (HDL).

You also need to watch the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. We get too few 3’s and too many 6’s. When you cut down on processed and fast foods, you decrease 6’s. Another way is by switching to grass-fed beef.

A high-protein, low-carb diet is good for you, as long as you’re getting the right fats.

Here’s how to get back to the basics:

** Make protein the main course of every meal. Base your diet on grass-fed beef, buffalo, wild game, and eggs. For variety, add an occasional wild-caught, coldwater fish.

** Eat quality, low-glycemic carbohydrates. Stick to above-ground vegetables, fruits, and berries.

** Eat high-quality fat and increase omega-3’s. Throw in a handful of nuts, avocados, and some healthful oils.

** Avoid packaged and processed foods.

***

Dr. Al Sears owns and operates an integrative medicine and anti-aging clinic in Wellington, Fla., with more than 20,000 patients. Check out his website Here.

***

References

1 “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry,” http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf (p. 18) Accessed 02 2010.
2 “Paraguay may limit soy farming in land reform,” Interview 12 Sep 2008 16:59:39 GMT: Reuters. By Mariel Cristaldo.
3 “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry,” http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf (p. 18) Accessed 02 2010.
4 “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry,” http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf (p. 18) Accessed 02 2010.
5 Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1998.
6 Milea, D. “Blindness in a strict vegan.” N. Engl. J. Med. 342: 897- 898; 2000.
7 Hunt, J.R.; Roughead, Z.K. “Nonheme-iron absorption, fecal ferritin excretion, and blood indexes of iron status in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian diets for 8 weeks.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 69: 944-952; 1999.
8 Lozoff, B.; Jimenez, E.; Hagen, J.; Mollen, E.; Wolf, A.W. “Poorer behavioral and developmental outcome more than 10 years after treatment for iron deficiency in infancy.” Pediatrics 105: e51; 2000.
9 Allen, L.H. “Anemia and iron deficiency: effects on pregnancy outcome.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71(suppl): 1280s-1284s; 2000.
10 Hunt, J.R.; Matthys, L.A.; Johnson, L.K. “Zinc absorption, mineral balance, and blood lipids in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian and omnivorous diets for 8 weeks.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 67: 421- 430; 1998.
11 Kelley NS, Hubbard NE, Erickson KL. (2007). “Conjugated linoleic acid isomers and cancer.” J Nutr (UC Davis, Ca, USA) 137 (12): 2599-607.
12 Linus Pauling Institute. “Micronutrient Information Center.” Accessed 02 2010.
13 Robinson, J. Pasture Perfect: The Far Reaching Benefits of Choosing Meat, Eggs, and Dairy Products From Grass-Fed Animals. Vashon Island Press. 2004.
14 Rule D.C. (2002). “Comparison of muscle fatty acid profiles and cholesterol concentrations of bison, beef cattle, elk, and chicken.” Journal of Animal Science, 80: 1202-1211.
15 “Scientific Research.” http://www.eatwild.com. Accessed 02 2010.
16 Dhiman, T.R., G.R. Anand, L.D. Satter, and M.W. Pariza. (1999). “Conjugated Linolenic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets.” J Dairy Sci. 82, (10): 2146-56.
17 Smith, G.C. “Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin E to Cattle to Improve Shelf-Life and Case-Life for Domestic and International Markets.” Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences. www.dsm.com/en_US/downloads/dnpus/PNW_02_1.pdf. Accessed 02 2010.
18 Prache, S., A. Priolo, et al. (2003). “Persistence of carotenoid pigments in the blood of concentrate-finished grazing sheep: its significance for the traceability of grass-feeding.” J Anim Sci 81(2): 360-7.

It’s interesting to note; the single most important factor to not just getting the weight off, but keeping it off, is between our ears. That is, how people approach the issue, psychologically speaking, is an essential component of success. And yet, 8 zillion weight loss books and programs out there, and at best, this aspect of weight loss gets lip service only.

Many diet programs out there don’t address the psychological aspect of why people fail to be successful with long-term weight loss. However, quite a few studies exist that have looked at just that. In many respects, the psychological aspect is the most important for long-term weight loss, and probably the most underappreciated component.

Studies that compare the psychological characteristics of people who have successfully kept the weight off to people who have regained the weight, see clear differences between these two groups.

For example, one study that looked at 28 obese women who had lost weight but regained the weight that they had lost, compared with 28 formerly obese women who had lost weight and maintained their weight for at least one year and 20 women with a stable weight in the healthy range, found the women who regained the weight:

• Had a tendency to evaluate self-worth in terms of weight and shape.

• Had a lack of vigilance with regard to weight control.

• Had a dichotomous (black-and-white) thinking style.

• Had the tendency to use eating to regulate mood.

The researchers concluded:

“The results suggest that psychological factors may provide some explanation as to why many people with obesity regain weight following successful weight loss.”

This particular study was done on women, so it reflects some of the specific psychological issues women have. But make no mistake here, men also have their own psychological issues that can sabotage their long-term weight loss efforts.

Additional studies on men and women find psychological characteristics such as “having unrealistic weight goals, poor coping or problem-solving skills and low self-efficacy” often predict failure with long term weight loss.

On the other hand, psychological traits common to people who experienced successful long term weight loss include “…an internal motivation to lose weight, social support, better coping strategies and ability to handle life stress, self-efficacy, autonomy, assuming responsibility in life, and overall more psychological strength and stability.”

The main point of this article is to illustrate that psychology plays a major role in determining if people are successful with long-term weight loss. If it’s not addressed as part of the overall plan, it can be the factor that makes or breaks your success. This, however, is not an area most nutrition programs can adequately tackle and should not be expected to. However, the better programs do generally attempt to help with motivation, goal setting, and support. Lack of support is one important issue I identified early, having personally trained so many people, and getting feedback from my articles, etc.

If you see yourself in the above lists from the groups that failed to maintain their weight long term, then know you will need to address those issues via counseling, support groups, etc. Don’t expect any weight loss program to cover this topic adequately but do look for programs that attempt to offer support, goal setting, and resources that will keep you on track.

Note: The above is a modified section from a longer article called “The Big Picture of Permanent Weight Loss.” More information on the topic of successful long-term weight loss, the citations from the studies mentioned above, etc., can be found in that article.

***

Will Brink is a weight loss and fitness expert and the author of Fat Loss Revealed. You can check his website here.

It’s something you absolutely need to be successful in the art of fitness for life.

Notice I didn’t just say “fitness” – anyone can get fit for a few weeks or a few months.

How about a few years?

A few decades?

Does that interest you – decades of health, energy and fitness?

The decades begin right now.

Absolute, Mind-Numbing, Earth-Shattering BELIEF

Maybe you’ve heard of the controversial movie, “The Secret.”

Have you?

A lot of people love this movie. I talk about two of the fundamental principles in the film as fact.

But is it true?

Although I think “The Secret” is a great eye-opener, it leaves a bit to be desired.

For example, inspired action.

(It’s in the movie, but most people only hear, “You can think yourself to success.”)

Another thing: Compassion.

But when it comes to the core of “The Secret,” which is an emotionally-charged, deep belief, the facts are clear.

And here are the facts:

** Will beats “skill” in 89% of the cases profiled by elite-level coaches in all major sports.

** You can believe in something that’s not ideal and succeed massively; however, you can have little faith in the ideal plan and fail miserably.

Most people are where they are today by force of belief, not genetics or luck. You can actually “generate” your own internal belief, no kidding. Yes, you!

If you fail to believe, you simply fail.

Now, I personally do not believe in failure. How’s that for practicing what I preach? But you most certainly will “fail” to see the results you desire without a firm, almost dogmatic belief in what you’re doing.

I go back to my second point of what you and everyone needs to succeed, and that’s role modeling. Role modeling is the fastest way to achieve belief.

Why is that? Simple, it’s much more difficult for your mind to say, “I cannot do that,” when you are looking at someone who is identical in dozens of ways to yourself who has.

The History of Belief

The mind craves honesty. That may be hard to believe at times (no pun intended), but it’s true. It’s hard-wired into our DNA. Without honesty, we would die.

Think about it:  our ancestors didn’t habitually deceive themselves into believing they could defeat saber tooth tigers with nothing more than a primitive spoon.

You wouldn’t be here if they did.

It’s in our natures to seek truth. Truth leads to belief, and erodes stubbornness and even pessimism over time.

I’ve often said that “cynicism is the beginning of the death of the soul.”

Are you cynical? Are you seeking truth in order to push forward?

Role modeling is my favorite way to remove doubt and cynicism, and prove to my mind that I can push through and accomplish anything I believe in. You can, too.

The Power of Belief

While I could list hundreds of examples that  would blow your mind, just one will suffice:

The Ipecac Experiment.

A New York hospital. The date, 1950. The “fear no legal team” researcher: Dr. Stewart Wolf, a highly respected physician of the day.

Here’s an excerpt of the story:

“Dr. Wolf treated women who suffered severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Wolf informed the pregnant women that he was going to alleviate nausea and vomiting and that he would give them a drug to do this.

“He emphasized and assured them that after taking this drug, their nausea and vomiting would disappear.

“Wolf gave the women syrup of ipecac, a well-known drug used in the medical profession to induce vomiting. (Note from Jon: Wikipedia defines ipecac as, “perhaps the most well known emetic,” or agent that induces the reaction of vomiting.)

“The patients faithfully followed his instructions and took the medication. In some patients this resulted in a disappearance of their nausea and vomiting!”

The researchers concluded that the women’s belief in the drug’s powers and belief and faith in what Wolf told them were so strong, their bodies literally reacted in the exact opposite of the drug’s design.

Can you imagine?

Now, if belief can do this, imagine what true belief in your fitness and nutrition plan can do for your success rate?

I’ll tell you what, it can skyrocket it through the roof!

Again, the three keys are:

** Momentum
** Role modeling
** Belief

***

Jon Benson is the creator and co-author of Fit Over 40. In his book he shares his own experiences with the Law of Attraction and how he uses it in a more “practical” way. He calls his way “core leveraging,” which he says “makes more sense and is less mysterious” than the Law of Attraction. Learn more about it here.

By Yuri Elkaim

Why is it that we are encouraged to drink milk?

Because of its calcium, right?

Well, where do cows get their food?

Grass. Grass (hay) contains huge amounts of calcium, as well as other alkalizing minerals.

We have been brainwashed into believing that cow’s milk and dairy are essential for us to grow big and strong. I don’t think that is right, especially when you consider the following:

Cow’s milk provides 118 mg of calcium/100 g. The daily recommended intake (depending on the authority) is from 800 to 1,200 mg of calcium/day.

Therefore, to meet daily requirements, and assuming that dairy is a balanced source of calcium (which it is not), you would need to consume a minimum of 0.88 to 1.22 liters of 2% milk per day (considering 1 g of 2% milk = 1.1 ml). That’s four to five 250 ml cups of milk per day. That’s insane!

Dairy is the most common food allergen in the world. After the age of 2, our body no longer produces the enzyme lactase to break down lactose (sugar in dairy). This leads to myriad problems, including bloating, gas, indigestion, skin problems (such as eczema), and excess mucus production.

There is an alternative to dairy, however (and it’s not soy milk).

***

Yuri Elkaim is a fitness, nutrition, and weight loss expert. He is a registered holistic nutritionist and the creator of Eating for Energy, where you will find out more about the alternative to dairy.

By Dr. Al Sears

Back pain is part of the human condition – sooner or later you’re going to get it.

And if you’ve ever taken over-the-counter painkillers, beware. They can do far more harm than good.

Regular use of aspirin, Advil, Aleve, or Tylenol can lead to:

** Gastrointestinal bleeding

** Liver damage

** Increased risk of cardiovascular disease

In fact, just last year the FDA made some serious changes to make consumers aware of the dangers these drugs pose. They now require each of these drugs to come with a clear warning that explains the potential side effects.

The good news is you can ditch the painkillers. I’ve got a simple technique that’ll rid you of back pain in as little as two minutes a day.¹

First it’s important to understand why you get that back pain in the first place.

Tendons attach your muscles to your bones. Ligaments attach bones to bones. As you get older, your flexibility decreases. Plus, your posture and how you sit and stand contribute. Certain muscles shorten, and your joints lose their range of motion, meaning your ligaments get weaker. This can trigger a number of back problems.

Healthy stretching works by lengthening those ligaments and strengthening your tendons. Problem is most average stretching exercises put stress on your ligature. Not exactly helpful.

The key factor that most folks don’t know – including a lot of yoga teachers and personal trainers – is that you don’t want loose joints. The tighter they are, the more stable and stronger they are. The stronger they are, the less likely you are to sustain an injury in the first place.

So what you want are long and relaxed muscles that can lengthen on demand without resistance.

I’ve found an easy way to do this. As long as you follow these techniques closely, they’ll ease your back pain instead of making it worse (like a lot of wrongheaded stretches).

The two parts of your body you want to stretch daily to avoid back pain are the front of your shoulders and the front of your hips.

Shoulder Stretch: You need to stretch and develop these muscles, because they are very susceptible to injury. And tight shoulder muscles contribute to back and neck pain, especially if your head and shoulders droop forward.

How to Perform This Stretch: Stand in an open doorway. Raising your arm to a 90-degree angle with palm facing out, press your hand and shoulder against the wall and doorjamb. You should feel the wall against your armpit. Slowly increase the tension as you push forward. Hold for a 10 count. Then repeat with the other arm.

Hip Flexors: You need to do this stretch, particularly if you sit all day at work. Sitting all day tightens and shortens the hip flexor muscles. This is a major cause of lower back pain, as it pulls the pelvis downward in the front and creates an excessive curvature in the lower spine. Stretching your hip flexor muscles daily will prevent this kind of lower back pain.

How to Perform This Stretch: Stand in a modified runner stance, with right foot forward and left foot back, feet flat on floor. Put your hands on your hips (or put one hand on a chair for support) and keep your back and hips in straight alignment. Push forward with your hips, while maintaining your erect posture. Slowly, push your hips forward only until you feel a comfortable level of tension. Hold for a 10 count. Switch sides by reversing your leg stance and repeat,

Give these a try. They work for me. Do them every day. Consistency’s the key.

***

Dr. Al Sears owns and operates an integrative medicine and anti-aging clinic in Wellington, Fla., with more than 20,000 patients. His therapies and reputation for solving some of the most difficult-to-diagnose cases attract patients from around the world. To learn more, check out his website here.

By Jon Benson

You may be wasting your time in the gym or at home if you are trying to shape your body or get rid of body fat.

Most people are. That is, when it comes to exercise for getting rid of belly fat and getting into better shape.

I was in the gym today (nothing new ; ) and I saw all 4 of these exercises being performed by various gym members (again, nothing new).

And they are useless for 99 percent of the people on the planet.

Here they are:

USELESS EXERCISE 1: Walking Dumbbell Lunges

Okay ladies, this one is for you, although I see guys do this exercise as well.

This is where you take a pair of dumbbells and kneel with one leg, then the other, and so-on, walking around the gym as you go.

The idea behind this exercise is to work the butt, and to some extent the thighs, but it’s a joke. It’s something invented by trainers who should know better.

If you want to build and tone your butt, exercise one leg at a time. Lunges are a great exercise for this, but save your energy. Do them on a Smith Machine or with a barbell. Work one leg at a time, too. Do not alternate legs. This just wears you out aerobically before it has a chance to get to your glutes.

Here’s how I perform lunges: On a Smith Machine, with pretty heavy weights, one leg at a time. I will do 2-3 sets, or do them in my 7 Minute Body-style workout fashion. I will finish one leg (and one butt cheek) before moving to the other leg.

Why? Again, to focus on the muscle more intensely and to avoid turning a leg/butt workout into a cardio session.

I cover exactly how to work the butt area for the best results in 7 Minute Body and 7 Minute Muscle, found right here:

Click.here —– > http://www.7minutemuscle.com/go/seniorstud

USELESS EXERCISE 2: The Sit-up

I’m shocked that people still think sit-ups done the old-fashioned way actually work the abs. Even worse, most people have been fooled into believing this actually helps get rid of belly fat.

Nonsense. Belly fat is burned off when you have a good nutrition plan and through general exercise, not using exercises for the abs. Ab exercises are fine, but guess what?

I never train my abs more than 3-5 minutes. Today my ab workout took 3 minutes and 12 seconds to complete. And my abs are sore!

But without the nutrition plan, forget it. I’d never see my abs at all. I’d just have a nice wall of muscle with a bunch of flab covering it up.

The best nutrition plan for abs is The Every Other Day Diet Plan, found here:

Click.here —– > http://www.everyotherdaydiet.com/go/seniorstud

The best exercises to do for the actual ab muscles are hanging leg raises, done slowly, crunches (if you do them right), and that’s really all you need.

USELESS EXERCISE 3: The Bench Press

I’m going to get a lot of flak from the guys out there who love to bench, but I’m here to tell you that this exercise for body shaping is all but worthless.

Why? Because most people are not built right body-wise to bench press on a flat bench with a barbell. I am not, that’s for sure.

Bench presses work if you have short arms, a relatively short torso, and your shoulders are genetically strong.

Protect your shoulders and really work your chest by doing incline dumbbell presses with your palms facing out, not in toward your head. This protects the rotator cuff, a part of the shoulder that is often injured using barbell bench presses.

Combine this with a good cable fly or press movement and you’re set. Again, you only need about 7-14 minutes of chest work tops to get the job done.

USELESS EXERCISE 4: Most Cardio Exercises

Yep, saved the best for last.

Here’s a fact: Most cardio (bike, treadmill, glider, whatever) is a waste of time, unless you do it at the right time with the right nutrition plan.

The calories you burn from cardio will be easily negated simply by eating a bagel! Hardly effective for getting rid of body fat. Weight training and/or resistance training at home or with your body weight, as covered in 7 Minute Muscle, is your best bet for exercise that burns-off mega-calories and keeps on burning long after the exercise session is over.

Here’s how to use traditional cardio wisely:

1. Do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

2. Keep your heart rate down to 75 percent of your max (220 minus your age x .75 will give you this number, at least approximately).

3. “Burst” for 2-3 minutes in your session up to 85-90% of your max heart rate.

4. OR, do cardio right after weight or resistance training when your heart rate is already elevated and your blood sugar is lower. Your body burns blood sugar first during exercise.

Cardio for most people only needs to be performed 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes. The only time I break this rule is when I want to get my body fat below 10 percent. Then I will do more, but only using the rules above.

Hope this saves you a ton of time with your workouts.

P.S. You can get both books, The Every Other Day Diet Plan and 7 Minute Body, for a big-time discount by going here and watching this presentation:

Click.here —– > http://www.everyotherdaydiet.com/go/seniorstud/video

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Jon Benson is a leading weight loss and fitness author and instructor. Visit his website by going here.