Organic foods are those that are classified as foods which are grown without the use of any type of chemical interference. That is no pesticides are used while the product is growing and no preservatives are added during the manufacturing process.
The organic farming movement actually dates back to the 1940?s to something known as the Green Revolution. This revolution helped to ease the numbers of people suffering from starvation and introduced new cereals and grains to many nations.
As well as spreading foods the Green Revolution spread technology around the world. Organic farming is now replacing some of the principles used during this revolutionary period. Less or no pesticides are being used to grow the same foods and this has resulted in a higher quality of product being produced.
In countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia organic foods are defined as foods that contain at least 95of their listed ingredients as natural. They must be free from chemicals and synthetic food additives. They may contain pesticides as long as they are also not synthetic.
At one time organic foods could only be purchased from local farmers. Today more organic food is showing up in your local grocery store. In addition many natural food stores are being opened that focus on natural and organic foods. This wider availability makes it much easier to purchase organic foods than ever before.
Benefits of Organic Farming
The largest benefit of organic farming is the reduction of synthetic pesticides and chemicals being released into the soil. This one practice alone has a huge environmental impact.
Organic farming also helps to protect the wildlife, insects and plants in their local areas. Plus organic farmers are actually better equipped to help sustain the ecosystem. They understand their environment and take steps to keep it healthy.
Organic farms have been shown to use less energy in their farming techniques and to produce less waste. This includes things like less packaging and creating waste from using chemical products.
Consumer Safety
The benefits to the consumer are huge in regards to organic foods. The fresh produce is normally shipped locally and arrives in stores quickly. There is less chance of diseases being passed through the foods which makes for everything being healthier to eat straight from the store!
Yes, organic foods do cost a little more but the prices are also dropping. If you look in your produce department you may find that a bag of organic carrots is only 25 ? 50 cents more than regular carrots. That small amount is worth paying to protect your families health isn?t it?
The squat can be an effective exercise when it comes to working the lower part of your body. The great thing about it though is that it is very versatile and allows people to do it at any different skill and strength level. It is one of the most popular exercises that people do. The squat also works many different muscles of the lower part of your body, such as the quadriceps group, the gluteal muscles as well as the lower back. This can help to improve your posture and help to give you lean legs that you can be proud to show off.
How to do the squat
You will want to start off with your legs shoulder width apart and your back straight. You want your toes to be facing straight ahead so that they are perpendicular to your shins.
While holding in your abdomen and keeping your back straight, you will bend your knees as if you were sitting on an imaginary chair
3. Without arching your back you will then stand back up to return to the starting position to start the next repetition
Tips for getting the best results when using the squat
It is very important to remember to breathe while you are doing this exercise. You can exhale while you squat and inhale while you stand back up
There are many ways that you can challenge yourself with this exercise and you can get very creative in what you do for this, though adding dumbbells or wrist weights are a great way to increase the intensity of this workout and can be done while holding them at your side
One way to work your entire body all at once with this exercise is to include some sort of upper body exercise with this. You can do anything from bicep curls or overhead presses (which are actually cool because it is basically the same motion on the top and bottom of your body). The important thing is to make sure that you do not sway while you are doing these exercises and interfere with proper posture as this can cause significant injury to you
Also keep in mind that the lower you sit, the more you will be working all these muscles. This is great for getting beautifully sculpted butts and thighs, but make sure that you do not go past what you can do as this can also cause serious injury
Make sure to take your time while doing the squat in order to get the full effect. Do not try to rush this as it can also damage your muscles.
Another great way to add a little extra to this exercise is to do a jump after you squat and are on your way back up. This is a burst that is made in place and helps to get your heart pumping a little more and incorporate more of your calf muscles into the exercise
Posted in Video on May 16, 2012
Video: A great variation of the deadlift that will work your shoulders and arms. This exercise can be done with a kettle bell or a barbell.
Now after working out your shoulders the next part of the body that needs extra care is your back. Many men would definitely agree to the fact that they hit the gym not just to lose all those extra pounds but to attain that perfect V-shape body. They strive really hard to get that perfect look. After all, bigger shoulders and a lean V-shape body is every man?s dream.
As read above, the key to real bodybuilding is adding muscle mass to your shoulders to make them look bigger than they really are. The broader the shoulder the leaner you look. Now that doesn?t mean that you just work on your shoulder to get the v shape body you always dreamt of. There are certain exercises that need to be practiced to attain the V-shape body you always wanted. One of the exercises that work on the arms, shoulder as well as back muscle is wider grip lat pull down exercise. When you do wide grip lat pull exercise, it exerts pressure on your biceps and middle back, especially the triangular muscles on either side of the back, thereby helping you build a stronger back and also improve your body posture.
Learn how to perform wide grip lat pull down exercise:
Be it beginners or advanced body builders it is always advisable to start with warm up exercises as it helps you loosen your body muscles and prepare yourself for your main exercises. A warm up exercise mainly includes very light aerobic exercise for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once you are done with the warm ups, sit on the cable station above, which will have a long bar attached, suspended from the cable. Make yourself comfortable by taking a steady position using the pads above your knees. This will help you when you apply effort to pull down the bar. Now grab the long bar attached to the cable, while your palms are facing away from you and while your hands are a little more apart than your usual shoulder width. This will be your starting position.
Now from the starting position pull the bar closer to your chest. Let your shoulders remain downward throughout the movement. When you pull the bar, raise your chest and slightly push your elbows a little forward, forming a curl on your back to separate your lats.
As you exhale, bring the bars close to your chest and press your lats.
Now inhale and slowly push the bar upward, leaving it in the former position, while you get back to your starting position.
Repeat this exercise until the sets are completed. Each set should involve a minimum of 10-12 reps
Benefits:
If this exercise is done properly, then it helps you get a stronger and a broader back and also improves your body posture. If you wish to get a perfect V-shape between your shoulders and your waist then this is the best exercise for you. But remember if done incorrectly then it may hit you very badly instead of helping you get the shape.
In the past doctors thought, overweight patients had increased risks of developing heart failure due to complications from diabetes, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure yet new studies show that obesity leads to heart failure without the other medical conditions present. The studies also show that even excess body weight tremendously increases the risks even when the person is not considered obese.
One study was based on 5881 people who volunteered for the case study at the institution. The people were either obese or overweight during the 14-year study. Those people that were considered overweight had a risk of developing heart failure 34greater than the non-overweight individuals. The ones considered obese had a risk factor of 104
The fact that obese individuals, had a higher risk rate, caused alarm for the doctors in the medical field, since this new study brought to light; a new medical condition previously never known. The fact proven by the study showed even healthy people are still at risk for heart disease by decreased amounts. Overweight and obese people, based on the results, began to be counselled to lose weight to lower the risk of possible heart failure.
Obesity leads to heart failure because the problems associated with obesity such as left ventricular hypertrophy known as LVH, which is the thickening of the walls of the left regions of the heart. Over time, LVH can lead to heart failure.
Obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome X that is a metabolic disorder causing the lipid abnormalities. Both LVH and metabolic syndrome lead to heart failure in obese and overweight individuals.
The treatments designed at improving the LVH and metabolic syndrome X can help with stopping heart failure. The theory has been tested in clinical studies, while it is still highly recommended individuals lose the excess weight to lower their risks of the medical conditions. Using a healthy low caloric diet and exercise, many individuals lower their risks as well as reducing the risks of hypertension, lipid abnormalities, metabolic syndrome X, and other heart diseases; they were previously considered at high risk to get.
Doctors used the studies to counsel patients on the importance of weight loss and weight management citing the study results as proof the patient was at high risk. Many patients, required the study as proof they were at risk, since in the past many had been informed differently.
The fact remains that obesity raises the risk levels for heart disease. Heart disease is an extremely serious condition, which must be recognized and taken seriously by both the doctor and the patient; so proper treatments can be used to lower the risks and prolong the life of the patients.
Posted in Recipe on May 13, 2012
Ingredients
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup corn meal
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup egg substitute
Directions
Blend or mix well until smooth. Pour in a number 5 skillet that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray and preheated (be sure it’s very hot). Bake at 400
Posted in Video on May 12, 2012
Video: One arm dumbbell rows will concentrate on the middle of your back. This is the best exercise to do last when working your back out.
Posted in Video on May 11, 2012
Video: This exercise can be performed slow and controlled or fast to get your heart rate up.
It can be really difficult to get your kids to exercise these days. They are so involved with video and computer games as well as their homework, that they don?t seem to think about exercising at all. As a parent you need to come up with some inventive ways of getting your kids outside into the fresh air.
The first tip that I can give you is to make exercise fun and more of a game. This can be done in several ways.
Going for a scenic hike
Playing a game of soccer, volleyball or baseball with your kids
Going for a family bike ride
Going camping for a weekend
Jumping rope
Using an outdoor trampoline
Swimming at the pool or beach
For example if the entire family goes on a camping trip your kids can go looking for firewood, swimming and even fishing. This provides them with exercise and fun at the same time.
Back at home even building a new picnic table or tree fort is exercise. You don?t have to think about running or doing pushups and jumping jacks to get exercise. The more fun and less like a regimented exercise the activity is, the more likelihood your child will enjoy their time and want to do it again.
It really is important to get your children into the habit of exercising regularly. Obesity in children in the Western world is at an all time high. This is mainly due to lack of exercise both at home and because of cutbacks in the education system. Many schools today offer very limited programs when it comes to sports.
Other easy tips to encourage your kids to exercise more are to get them to take the stairs instead of using an elevator. As a family when you visit the mall park your car further away so everyone has to walk further to get to the entrance.
Get into the habit of going for a family walk or go swimming together on the weekends. Depending on where you live you can go ice skating or cross country ski-ing and even skateboarding together. This way you are actually practicing what you preach to your children and this can make a huge difference.
Setting limits for television, video, computer and cell phones is sometimes a necessity in order to get your children active again. As your child becomes more active they will sleep better, have more energy and will probably lose a few pounds in the process too.
Posted in Recipe on May 9, 2012
Ingredients
3 cans tuna in water
1 onion (chopped)
2 tbsp mustard seed
1 egg beaten
2 tbsp minced cilantro
3 gloves garlic
2 tsp olive oil
twist of lemon juice
Preparation
Put the olive oil in a sauce pan and turn on high 2-3 minutes. Mix the egg, tuna and onion first. After mixed by hand add the remaining ingredients in a bowl and form into 2 equal patties. Place patties in sauce pan and sear one side for about a minute. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook for about 5 minutes on each side. When finished, give each patty a twist of lemon juice. Serve and enjoy!
