Nutrition

Why Antiaging And Nutrition Are The Perfect Match!

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Antiaging nutrition is as close as you’ll get to slowing the aging process down to a trickle. Sure, plastic surgery, skin care and cream products and HGH treatments have been popularised as ways to defy aging but the truth is, mother nature has given us a great weapon in the form of nutrition to keep the wrinkles at bay!

Take Antiaging Nutrition On A Daily Basis

Let’s face it, nutrition is the life blood of our body cells. Our cellular structure is such that without optimal replenishment of antioxidants and minerals on a daily basis, the consequences over a period of time could be dramatic.

Antiaging using good nutrition practices is using mother nature’s defence against aging and degenerative disease. It’s not a cure; you don’t want to get to the stage where you need a cure, but I’m talking sensible preventative practices with good and optimal nutritional intake as the foundation. It’s like developing a safety shield but more importantly, you are giving your cells the food and fuel they need to survive and flourish.

Why Antiaging Antioxidants?

Without replenishing with optimal nutritional intake on a daily basis, our bodies are at the mercy of free radical damage. Apart from premature aging, diseases such as cancer, osteoparosis and diabetes could be the result and while it won’t happen immediately, the chances are increased over time.

Just take a look at the statistics over the last 60 years and the emergence of these lifestyle diseases compared to 100 years ago. Once the human race fought infectious disease, now it’s degenerative disease, so named because it’s caused over time through oxidative stress within our bodies. Without feeding our cells the nutrition they need to stay healthy we are inviting not just these diseases, but an escalation in the aging process.

Choosing The Right Nutrition

This has caused plenty of conjecture in recent years. Taking single nutrients in large doses whether they be vitamin B or C is now a little frowned upon. New age nutritional experts suggest antioxidants and minerals should be taken in optimal amounts covering the entire spectrum.

Finding nutrition in quality form is another major problem. Can you trust the products sitting on the shelves in stores today? Do they do what they say on the label? Basically, antioxidant and minerals should be taken in separate form. Be wary of products claiming to provide both in their entirety. Why? Because you would most likely require a knife and fork to eat them.

One other factor regarding nutrients which is so important is they should be readily absorbed by the body. It may require going a little wider in your search for quality antiaging nutrition such as checking out non-mainstream product lines but it could be well worth it.

Natural Life Extenders And Nutrition For Aging

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Coenzyme Q10 Aids circulation, increases tissue oxygenation, protects the heart and is vital for many bodily functions. 100 milligrams daily.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is an adrenal hormone that enhances immune function. It has been found to help prevent and treat many of the disorders associated with aging. Take as directed on label.

DMG (Dimethylglycine) is a derivative of the amino acid glycine. It improves tissue oxygenation and boosts immune function. Take as directed on label.

Melatonin is a natural hormone that acts as an antioxidant. The body produces an abundant supply early in life, but as we age, production steadily declines. It may also help counteract insomnia, boost immunity and prevent cancer. 1.5 – 5 milligrams daily, taken 2 hours or less before bedtime.

Mushrooms Maitake, morel, reishi and shitake are mushrooms that the ancient Chinese praised as superior medicine that give eternal youth and longevity. They are found fresh as well as in supplement form.

PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid) is one of the B vitamins. It keeps skin healthy and delays wrinkles. Take as directed on label.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) keeps hair healthy with little graying and prevents premature hair loss. It is also important for normal adrenal and immune function. As prescribed by physician.

Helpful Herbs For Old Age

Burdock root and red clover cleanse the bloodstream. They can be used separately or in combination.

Chaparral has antioxidant characteristics.

Echinacea helps to boost the immune system.

Garlic helps immune function and protects the heart.

Ginseng and ginkgo biloba extract are good for giving extra energy, increasing circulation and improving brain function. (Do not use ginseng if you have high blood pressure.)

Gotu Kola is called the “fountain of youth” herb in China and is thought to work with the immune system.

Horsetail, taken in form of tea or extract, is an excellent source of silicon, which is important for maintaining the strength of bones and connective tissue, and possibly the walls of blood vessels.

Ligustrum has immune fighting properties and is used to reverse prematurely graying hair and to retard aging.

Milk thistle promotes good liver function.

Stinging nettle is full of vital minerals, good for prostate, hypoglycemia, allergies, depression and urinary tract disorders, and a host of other problems.

Valerian root is valuable as a sleep aid and tranquilizer.

Wild yam contains natural steroids that have a rejuvenating effect. Steroids are what help exercise to melt off more weight and build muscle.

As with all supplements, herbal supplements should only be used in amounts typically recommended for medicinal purposes and you should always consult with a health professional first, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or taking prescription medications.

Vital nutritional needs for the elderly

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Ancient wisdom says that, you are what you eat, we must then be careful about what we put into our bodies. We cannot cure all illness or stop the hands of time. We cannot protect ourselves from all diseases, but we can certainly be careful. What we can do is treat our bodies well and enjoy the health benefits that result from this conscious effort.

Senior citizens’ nutritional needs vary little from the nutritional needs of other age groups, yet there are some slight differences. Our younger bodies are able to withstand lack of nutrition more than those of the elderly, and hence it becomes more and more important to get proper nutrients as we age. These factors must be taken into consideration by elders as well as those who provide senior care services and act as their caretakers. Here are a few things essential for elderly care through proper diet for senior citizens:

1. Fiber – Fiber serves two purposes. It fills us up more quickly than empty carbohydrates (carbohydrates that lack nutrition) and it aids in digestion. Fiber forms the bulk of our waste, so encourages our intestinal tract to continue functioning properly. Sources of fiber include: Wheat, spouted pulses, green leafy vegetables etc.

2. Protein – As we get older, we need to work harder at keeping our muscle toned. Muscle wasting occurs naturally with age and getting enough protein can help slow this process. Protein is also very important for transporting necessities, such as hormones, to the cells. The belief that vegetarians will have a hard time consuming enough protein is unfounded. Vegetarians can easily meet their protein needs by eating a varied diet. Sources of protein include: Kidney beans, Lentils, apples, almonds etc.

3. Calcium – Calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth. Osteoporosis happens when calcium levels have reached a low level that results in bone cell losses. Because these levels fall more frequently, it is quite important to consumer more calcium to keep bones strong. Sources of calcium include: Dairy products, cabbage etc.

4. Vitamins – From assisting our bodies in sending out nervous signals to keeping our immunity strong, from warding off potential chronic illnesses to helping our hair and nail grow. Vitamins are the cornerstone of the proper functioning of our body. Some essential Vitamins that need to be consumed are Vitamin B, C, D, E and F

5. Omega 3’s – These nutrients have just -come into fashion- and are now being proven in scientific studies to enhance and improve joint health. They contribute significantly to the immunity system are somewhat considered to be the mechanic of the body, helping keeping it in shape.

6. Water – The need for water cannot be overstated. When not enough water has been consumed, dehydration will set in quickly. Dehydration is a frequent cause for hospitalizing in the elderly and can result in mental confusion and exhaustion among other symptoms.

Staying hydrated is as simple as drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day. Getting the rest of the aforementioned nutrients can be as simple as eating a meal full of vegetables, some fruits, nuts (if you are not allergic), seeds, lean meats, eggs, and beans.

Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked

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Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked

1. Sugar Causes Diabetes
The most common nutrition myth is probably that sugar causes diabetes. If you have diabetes, you do need to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake, with the help of your Registered Dietitian, to properly manage your blood sugar level. However, if you do not have diabetes, sugar intake will not cause you to develop the disease. The main risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are a diet high in calories, being overweight, and an inactive lifestyle.

2. All Fats are bad
It’s a long-held nutrition myth that all fats are bad. But the fact is, we all need fat. Fats aid nutrient absorption and nerve transmission, and they help to maintain cell membrane integrity – to name just a few of their useful purposes. However, when consumed in excessive amounts, fats contribute to weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancers.

3.Brown Sugar is better than White Sugar
The brown sugar sold at grocery stores is actually white granulated sugar with added molasses. Yes, brown sugar contains minute amounts of minerals. But unless you eat a gigantic portion of brown sugar every day, the mineral content difference between brown sugar and white sugar is absolutely insignificant. The idea that brown and white sugar have big differences is another common nutrition myth.

4.Brown Eggs are more nutritious than White Eggs
Contrary to a widely believed nutrition myth, eggshell color has nothing to do with the quality, flavor, nutritive value, cooking characteristics, or shell thickness of an egg. The eggshell color only depends upon the breed of the hen.

5. Avoid seafood to lower blood cholesterol
I still can’t believe it, but I heard this nutrition myth from my own doctor! In fact, the dietary cholesterol found in seafood and other meats has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids are the most important factors that raise blood cholesterol.

6.Avoid carbohydrate to lose weight
The key message that many low-carb diets convey is that carbohydrates promote insulin production, which in turn results in weight gain. Therefore by reducing carbohydrate intake, you can lose weight. Unfortunately, this is just another nutrition myth.

7. Avoid nuts as they are fattening
Yes, it’s true that nuts are quite calorically dense. Fifteen cashews, for instance, deliver 180 kilocaleries! On top of that, it is very tough not to overeat these tasty snacks. But if you can restrain yourself from overeating them, nuts can be a part of a healthy diet.

8. Eating for 2 is necessary during pregnancy
Energy requirements vary among individuals. Unfortunately, the idea that pregnancy is an ice cream free-for-all is a nutrition myth. It is generally recommended that pregnant women increase their daily intake by 100 kcal in the first trimester and 300 kcal in the second and third trimesters. An extra snack before bedtime consisting of a fruit, a serving of milk or yogurt, and a few biscuits is often enough.

9. Skipping meals can help lose weight
Many people think that by skipping a meal, they will be eating less food and therefore lose weight. As we now know, this is a nutrition myth. People who think skipping meals means weight loss do not understand how our bodies work.

If you skip a meal, your body will think that you are in starvation mode and therefore slow down the metabolism to compensate. You then tend to overeat at the next meal. Often, skipping a meal and then eating too much at the next one means that you have a higher total caloric intake than if you just ate more frequently throughout the day. A better approach is to eat smaller frequent healthy meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar balanced.

10. Red meat is bad for health
I often hear people saying that they do not eat red meat. When I ask why they don’t, or even what they consider to be red meat, the answers vary dramatically.

It is a nutrition myth, however, that red meat is altogether bad for your health. Instead of excluding red meats, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. For beef, choose eye of round, top round roast, top sirloin and flank; for pork, choose tenderloin and loin chops.

Mma Fight Nutrition And Hydration

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Sports Nutrition for MMA

Fluid Needs for Fighting

Your mom may have told you: drink 8, 8oz. glasses of water per day. Although this advice is considered conventional wisdom, it surely isnt based on any science. If that advice does apply to anyone, it certainly isnt mixed martial artists who spend a good amount of their day jumping, punching, and wrestling in a hot, stuffy gym. Your fluid needs are unique, and as such, need a unique approach. As you likely know, dehydration results in a tremendous reduction in performance capacity. If youre dehydrated, your body and mind will suffer. In the ring, this is a formula for disaster. There are two major reasons why an MMA practitioner has different fluid needs than both your average Joe and other athletes: one is that your activity level is much higher than most other athletes. Because MMA training is unusually intense and usually has a long duration, there is significantly more fluid loss than a steady-state activity like jogging. Secondly, because of the level of conditioning required to be competitive, mixed martial artists tend to have significantly more muscle mass than most. Glycogen, the storage form of carbohydrate, needs a lot of water. The vast majority of glycogen is stored in muscle, so you need to drink more fluid just to keep the glycogen in your muscle hydrated.

How Much Fluid Do I Need?
Simple, everyone is different. Alright, so figuring out exactly how much fluid you need isnt quite so simple. But, with a little bit of work up-front and a commitment to monitoring your progress; you can ensure youre getting the right amount of fluid. Here are some general guidelines that you can use as a baseline:

Hydration Before Training
Drink at least15-20 fl oz. 2 hours before training/competition
Drink 8-10 fl oz. 15-30 minutes before training/competition

Hydration During Training
Drink 8-10 fl oz every 10 minutes
If youre training more than an hour and a half, drink 8-10 fl oz. of electrolyte replacement drink every 30 minutes.

Its possible that what youre already doing closely resembles these guidelines. However, because the variability of ones training varies so much, there is a more accurate way of going about staying hydrated.

Easy Ways for Mixed Martial Artists Assess Hydration
Although following the guidelines above gives you an excellent baseline, there are many variables like altitude, humidity, and clothing that can make generic guidelines inaccurate. One of the most accurate ways to assess hydration is to check out your urine color. If its cloudy and yellow, then you know that youre dehydrated. This is because the toxins that your kidneys filter out arent diluted in a large enough urine volume to be invisible. On the other hand, if its clear, youre likely getting enough fluid. Its normal to have a slight color in your urine, especially first thing in the morning or after taking a multivitamin.

Another fantastic way to monitor your hydration is to weigh yourself before and after your training session. Although you do burn a bit of fat during training, the vast majority of your weight loss is fluid. For example, if you weighted 155lbs. before your training session and weigh in at 153lbs. after your training, which means that, you lost 32oz. of fluid. (1 pound=16 ounces of fluid). A 2-3% loss of bodyweight during training can impair your performance and put added stress on vital organs. You should try to maintain adequate levels of hydration during training and replenish any losses within 1 hour of training. If you weigh more after training than you did before, thats a sign you overdid it and drank too much.

The Hydration Plan Recap:
1.Mom may know best in most cases, but not when it comes to your hydration!
2.Everyones fluid needs are different from yours-so learn what your body needs.
3.Use the hydration guidelines as a starting point. Adjust to your training and body needs.
4.Check the color of your urine. Dark Yellow/Brown=severe dehydration, Yellow=moderate dehydration, Slight Yellow/Clear=Hydrated!
5.Weight yourself. Before and after training to get an idea of how much fluid you have lost and drink according. Sipping works better than chugging.

Train hard, eat smart and stay hydrated!
Daniel M. Solomon, Registered Dietitian (RD)

Reference: (1)Benardot, Dan. Advanced Sports Nutrition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2006. Print.
(2)Clark, Nancy. Nancy Clarks Sports Nutrition Guidebook . 4th. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2008. Print.
(3)Judelson, Daniel. Hydration and Muscular Performance: Does Fluid Balance Affect Strength, Power and High-Intensity Endurance?. Sports Medicine 37(2007): 907-921. Print