Posts Tagged ‘nutrition

Take this with a grain of salt

- November 28th, 2011

(Note: The following post is courtesy Bruce Krahn of www.ebodi.com.)

picture-7Hi, Bruce here from www.ebodi.com.

The other day I was sitting down to eat with a friend and she questioned the amount of salt I was sprinkling on my food and wondered why I wasn’t concerned about the potential ill effects of including salt in my diet. She seemed surprised when I told her the reasons for my salty habit:

1. Sea salt (not modern day table salt) is actually good for you. While modern salt is highly processed with little to no nutritional value, sea salt in its original form is rich in minerals your body needs.

2. My body handles the sodium very well. I don’t have any skin problems such as acne (which can worsen with salt intake) and I don’t have osteoporosis.

3. Salt is beneficial for people who are under stress and suffering from adrenal fatigue (is this you?)

4. I eat a lot of protein and the more protein you eat the more salt your body needs.

5. Salt is good for digestion as it helps to activate enzymes in your intestines.

6. I work out quite a bit and lose a fair degree of salt through perspiration. This is one of the reasons why I recommend drinking lemon water with a pinch of sea salt. Not any salt will do. All salts are not created equal. Stay away from regular table salts. Instead, look for sea salts that are pink, red, grey or beige in color. This colour indicates a high content of iodine and valuable trace minerals. Some good sea salts to try include Celtic Sea Salt and Red Sea Salt.

Be sure to pick this up the next time you go shopping. If you want more health info like this, be sure to watch the video found at www.ebodi.com.

Have a healthy week,

Bruce

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Hulkster launching HoganNutrition.com next month

- September 25th, 2011

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It’s hard to believe it took this long for Hulk Hogan to come out with his own line of nutritional products.

Afterall, the Hulkster began telling Hulkamaniacs to “train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins” back in the 1980s.

Decades later, we learn that the wrestling icon will finally be peddling vitamins … and other supplements.

It has just been announced that HoganNutrition.com will launch next month.

Here’s the press release:

WRESTLING GIANT, TERRY BOLLEA, AKA HULK HOGAN INKS DEAL WITH SPORTS NUTRITIONAL INNOVATIONS, INC.

DELRAY BEACH, Florida — Hulk Hogan, known worldwide as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, has teamed up with Sports Nutritional Innovations, Inc., to bring consumers a new online nutrition store “HoganNutrition.com.”

The site will feature thousands of products and top major brands, making it a one-stop shop where “Hulkamaniacs” can fulfill all their nutritional needs. With the venture, Hogan has partnered with Mitch Gould, CEO of Sports Nutritional Innovations Inc. (SNI).

HoganNutrition.com will offer the best nutritional supplements in the world at affordable prices,” said Gould.

“I am extremely excited to partner with SNI to help people get the nutritional products and supplements they need to get in shape and build muscle,” Hogan said. “It will not only help people take their vitamins everyday, but give them an easy and affordable way to do so.”

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, gained popularity in the mid-1980s as a star of the World Wrestling Federation, which is now the WWE. His persona of an all-American athlete was a hit with fans, and he later starred in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the New World Order (nWo). He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hogan has been involved in a number of successful business ventures, including video games, restaurants, energy drinks and more. HoganNutrition.com is built on both his athletic and business expertise, providing users with the nutritional products they need to reach their physical fitness goals. Catch Hogan on Thursday’s iMPACT on SpikeTV at 9/8c.

“We were thrilled to recruit Mr. Hogan for this venture due to his fame and notoriety,” Gould said. “This is a great opportunity and we look forward to working together on this business venture.”

Gould is a nutritional products marketer with over 25 years of experience in distribution and branding. He has sold products to every major retailer in the U.S. and has worked with the likes of Steven Seagal, Chuck Liddell, Ronnie Coleman and many other professional athletes and celebrities.

HoganNutrition.com is set to launch in October 2011.

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Healthy eating is full steam ahead with luxurious oven

- July 4th, 2011

Wow, steam cooking sure has come a long way since the advent of the now-primitive bamboo steamer.

Introducing the Thermador Steam and Convection Oven.

Unfortunately, at roughly $4,000, this steaming hunk of kitchen machinery isn’t quite in my budget.

But hey, nobody ever said good nutrition was cheap!

Read the following press release for all the nitty-gritty:

image002To be in tip-top shape, healthy eating is not just about choosing the right food to eat but also how you prepare it. Steam cooking is one of the healthiest, most nutritious methods to prepare a healthy meal. When you cook in a steam oven the food never comes into contact with the water, so vital nutrients are not lost in the cooking process. Vegetables cooked with a food steamer keep most of their flavonoids and vitamin content, so other than eating them raw, steaming vegetables is the next best way of cooking them.

Preparing nutritious meals and maintaining your healthy lifestyle is now hotter, faster and better with the latest innovation from Thermador — the Steam and Convection Oven. The revolutionary oven is the luxury-appliance industry’s first pre-programmed appliance to combine three distinct cooking options — steam, true convection and a combination of the two. Cooks can shine in the kitchen impressing family and friends while realizing restaurant-caliber results in food taste, appearance, texture and crispness. Steamed food stays moist on the inside and perfectly finished on the outside, and multiple dishes can be cooked at the same time without the risk of flavour transfer or the need for temperature or time adjustment.

The oven’s 1.4-cubic-foot capacity is large enough for a 14-pound turkey, which takes only 90 minutes to cook in combination mode and results in a succulent, moist inside and a perfect crust outside. The steam and convection oven also cooks risotto to perfection without stirring and can steam fish, keeping it moist without unnecessary oils. In fact, steam cooking can eliminate the need for cooking with butter or fat at all, preserving many of the vitamins, minerals, nutrients and micronutrients typically lost through traditional cooking methods — resulting in a tastier and healthier meal.

The Thermador Steam and Convection Oven (MSRP range of $3,899 to $3,999) comes equipped with 40 automatic food programs, nine advanced cooking modes and a series of advanced features that are geared toward the true cooking enthusiast.

Visit www.thermador.com/cooking for more information.

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Moderation, food order important to Transformers star

- July 4th, 2011

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Transformers 3 star Josh Duhamel goes to extremes in the just-released third installment of the popular trilogy.

But when it comes to his diet, the North Dakota-born heartthrob practices moderation.

“I’m not opposed to eating a cheeseburger. I’m not opposed to eating pizza or whatever, either,” Duhamel tells me. “But I’ve always maintained a moderate diet.”

Besides practicing dietary moderation, the 38-year-old movie star is also keenly aware of some of the tenets of good digestion.

“One thing I’ve been learning about recently is the importance of digestion and the order in which you put foods into your body affects the way the body digests it,” he explains.

“Certain foods take longer to digest. And if you put that in your body early in the day, it’s going to take everything else behind it that much longer, which causes a slowing down of metabolism and things like that, which is pretty interesting.”

Hmmn, food for thought.

Thanks, Josh.

* * *

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Former Mr. O launches nutrition store

- June 2nd, 2011

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You read it here first:

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA — Ronnie Coleman, eight-time winner of the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition, has announced the launch of his latest venture, RonnieColemanNutrition.com.

The website, an online sport nutrition store, will feature over 170 major name brands and thousands of products. It will officially launch June 25, 2011, with a VIP ribbon cutting at Il Baccio Restaurant & Lounge in Delray Beach, Florida.

“With RonnieColemanNutrition.com, we are providing people across the globe the opportunity to find the best supplements to help them reach their fitness goals,” Coleman said. “It will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the sports nutrition industry for a long time to come.”

train1161The website is part of Ronnie Coleman Enterprises, a company that specializes in the marketing and distribution of the best and most effective nutritional supplements in the world. The company was formed based on Coleman’s years of success in bodybuilding, including his eight consecutive Mr. O titles, his Guinness World Record 26 wins as an International Federation of Body Building (IFBB) professional and his work in marketing and promoting a broad range of nutritional products.

With Ronnie Coleman Enterprises, he has partnered with Mitch Gould, a nutritional products marketer with over 25 years of experience in distribution and branding. Gould has sold products to every major retailer in the U.S. and has worked with the likes of Steven Seagal, Hulk Hogan, Chuck Liddell and many other professional athletes. He currently serves as president of the company.

“There is no bigger authority on sports nutrition right now than Ronnie Coleman,” said Gould. “RonnieColemanNutrition.com is the place anyone can turn to in order to find the best nutritional supplements for their needs.”

The invitation-only launch party will begin with a ribbon cutting at 7:30 p.m., with the main even starting at 8:00 p.m. The event is presented by InHealth Media (http://www.inhealthmedia.com) the media agency of record for Ronnie Coleman Enterprises.

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Courses for fitness pros

- March 25th, 2011

andrea

Attention, fitness professionals!

Check out these four canfitpro continuing education credit workshops offered in April with Alberta-based fitness guru Andrea Thatcher:

• Nutrition Counselling for Personal Trainers

April 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Talisman Centre in Calgary

Receive 4.0 PTS/NWS CECs

As personal trainers, we are NOT nutritionists. This workshop will provide you with the knowledge you need to offer the nutrition counseling services your clients are asking for, while allowing you to remain within your scope of practice. Join Andrea as she reviews how you can gather and interpret information, and make suggestions for positive change with nutrition choices. Andrea is a holistic practitioner believing in Mother Nature and natural nutrition. You will receive worksheets for you to use while working with clients, and will leave confident knowing how to market, price and sell this service.

• Functional Training

April 3 from noon to 5 p.m. at CC Fitness in Okotoks

Receive 2.0 PTS/FIS CECs

Register early for this one as it always sells out!!

This workshop teaches the functional approach to training and proper progressions to work with all levels of fitness from beginner to athlete while considering structural tolerance and recovery. You will gain hands on practical experience as you work with various equipment including TRX, tubing, ball, and NO EQUIPMENT at all, using just your body weight. No machines will be used during this workshop.

• Exercise Fundamentals

April 6 from 6-9:30 p.m. at Talisman Centre in Calgary

Receive 2.0 PTS/FIS CECs

This workshop allows you to expand your knowledge beyond the course and manual and add to your exercise library. You will review exercises, variations and progressions from beginner to advanced for exercises using only gym equipment. Gain confidence in knowing how to use all gym equipment including all cardio equipment, cables and machines. You will also have the opportunity to practice and review your teaching, cueing and spotting skills.

• Eating Disorders and Body Image in the Fitness Industry

April 11 from 6-9:30om at Talisman Centre in Calgary

Receive 2.0 PTS/FIS/NWS CECs

Visit www.andreathatcher.com for more info on courses.

About Andrea

Andrea Thatcher has worked many years in a hospital setting as the fitness expert on an eating disorders treatment program, working with a psychologist and RD. She brings you her years of experience during this workshop. You will have an overview and greater understanding of the prevalence of eating disorders and body image distortion in the fitness industry, and learn to see the signs, and how to promote a healthy body image for both yourself and your participants. Review self talk, body image and self image and receive worksheets for you and your clients.

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Battling ‘Beer Belly Blues’

- March 22nd, 2011

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Hey man, are you worried about prostate problems, low libido, hair loss, increased belly fat and the dreaded erectile dysfunction?

Well, you may be suffering from the Beer Belly Blues.

Here’s a press release about nutrition guru Brad King’s aptly named book:

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Unfortunately, it is a fact that the aging process actually starts to take place in our 30s and although it may be years before the damage is visible, it is nonetheless happening – albeit slowly. It’s always the same story – as women approach middle age they fret over weight gain and wrinkles; men, on the other hand, seem to fret more about prostate problems, low libido and hair loss – or the unmentionable – erectile dysfunction!

authorIn Beer Belly Blues by best-selling author Brad King, he cleverly blends hilarious stories with concise layman’s prose as a way to explain the complex underlying cause of age-related changes in men and even offers life-changing information on how to safely recapture the energy, and yes, even the body, of our youth once we have the right knowledge and strategy on our side.

Men actually lose approximately 10% of their testosterone levels each decade after age 30; however, by the time they hit age 60 they are typically producing 60% less testosterone than they did at age 20! It gets worse – at the same time they are losing testosterone they suffer a rise in the female hormone estrogen – the culprit that contributes to ‘moobs’ (man boobs)! Another alarming fact for men to worry about is that mortality rates are 88% higher in men with low testosterone compared with men who have normal testosterone levels.

Brad’s depth of knowledge and sense of humor make him a popular interview and he has been featured on thousands of television and radio programs as well as both magazine and newspaper articles throughout North America as a leading health expert. Some of these interviews consist of ABC, CBS and NBC including being a noted guest on The Today Show.

He is an award-winning author of 10 books, including the international best seller, Fat Wars, and is the founder of AwakenYourBody.com.

Visit awakenyourbody.com/about-brad-king for more info.

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Got an excuse? Celeb coach has a solution

- March 10th, 2011

Valérie+Orsoni-20081016-172608

Check out these tips from celebrity weight-loss coach Valerie Orsoni:

For the person who loves carbs — ditch the wheat and go for buckwheat. Same fibre but zero gluten and a ton of antioxidants. You can even make your own buckwheat pancake in two minutes for breakfast.

For the person who is a night owl — eat at 5 p.m. and then again at 11 p.m. (don’t listen to those telling you to not eat at night!). By deciding when you eat you will considerably limit the hunger pangs at 3 a.m. Since you will skip breakfast and start your day at lunch time, don’t eat breakfast and go for water with a freshly squeezed lemon when you wake up to cleanse your system and erase a little bit of the short night.

For the person who is a couch potato — go for five-minute MetaBoosts at least four times a day. Add a muppet move each time you are sitting down:

1. Stand straight with your legs shoulder-width apart.

2. Lift up your arms in front of you, and bend your elbows to create a perfect 90-degree angle with your upper arms and forearms.

3. Beginning with your palms facing each other, rotate your hands inwards so that they are now facing your body. If you look at your upper arms, you should see your tricep muscles in action :) .

4. Hold this position for 50 seconds. You can relax your arms momentarily at 10-second intervals, if necessary.

For the person who gets constantly invited to parties — eat an egg before going to reduce your appetite in front of the yummy buffet by 25% and wear a ribbon under your clothes at waist level to stay tuned to your body and “feel” it when you are starting to go overboard food-wise

For the person who is allergic to dairy — avoid soy-based products and go for coconut-milk equivalents. New studies have shown that coconut fat, though high in saturated fat has been linked to a higher weight loss than with its red-meat equivalent. More studies are necessary to explain this … until then, indulge with coconuts!

For the smoker and the reformed smoker — to regain your glow have raw breakfast exclusively (sprouted almonds + 1 banana + seasonal berries as much as you want) and stay away from eggplants (they contain a component that’s close to nicotine and can wreck havoc on your quitting efforts)

• For the double-chin fighter How can I reduce the fat under my chin? Of course, the key to burning stored fat (including the fat under your chin) is cardio, cardio, and more cardio! However, believe it or not, I do have a little secret exercise for toning the “double chin” :)

1. Sit (or stand) straight, with your back upright.

2. Straighten your spine and imagine there is a string attached to the top of your head, keeping you centered.

3. Keeping your mouth closed, press your tongue about an inch below the inner gums of your bottom teeth, then release.

4. Do about 15 reps.

5. If you place your hand under your chin, you can actually feel the movement ;)

• For the hot-blooded — If you are like me and can get angry at life once in awhile, channel your aggressiveness and do the Vendetta Hammer move.

(This exercise enables you to:

– Eliminate all stress; all you have to do is visualize whatever it is that is causing you stress or ruining your life and pound it out. It really works!

– Tone your abs, and what we call your “core,” namely the abdominal strap and lower back.

– Strengthen the muscles of your upper body: arms (anterior deltoids)… and I’ll leave you with that and let you discover where you feel the after-effects of the workout most on the following day.)

1. Do this exercise outside so as not to hit anything, or in a room where you have enough space around yourself.

2. Take a heavy weight; personally, a 20-pound weight (about 10 kg) is enough for me for this exercise.

3. Standing with your legs shoulder-width apart, feet and toes pointing forward, knees slightly bent, back straight and abs contracted (yes, you can do it!), you will “launch” the weight above your head, maintaining control throughout. Don’t throw the weight, rather send it up in a controlled movement.

4. Hold on to the weight tightly so that it doesn’t slip out of your hands. It is also very important that your back and abs are nice and tight when you do this exercise, because if not, you can actually cause damage to your back.

5. Repeat the movement 25 times (you should feel the burn).

6. Relax for 15 seconds and then do another 25.

7. Do this exercise 3 times a week.

Visit LeBootCamp.com for more info on what Orsoni has to offer.

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Top 5 nutrition myths

- February 12th, 2011
uche

Uche and Kary Odiatu

More myths passed along from fitness gurus Uche and Kary Odiatu.

This timeless five-pack relates to nutrition.

Myth No. 1: You should eat three square meals per day.

Fact: Eating five or six nutritious meals a day is the best way.

Myth No. 2: You have to count every calorie that you eat.

Fact: You should count portions, not calories.

Myth No. 3: If you eat right, then you do not need to take supplements.

Fact: Studies have shown that most of us do need to take supplements.

Myth No. 4: You need to drink water only when you are thirsty.

Fact: Your body needs more water than it’s telling you.

Myth No. 5: You have to eat perfectly all the time.

Fact: There is no such thing as eating perfectly!

— Source: Body For Life, by Bill Phillips and Michael D’Orso (1999)

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Nutrition tips for successful Ramadan

- August 22nd, 2010
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Fasting for Ramadan? Then read on for some timely advice from celebrity weight-loss coach extraordinaire Valerie Orsoni …

With this year’s Ramadan well underway, many observers of the Islamic month of fasting have the same question on their lips: “If I’m eating but one meal a day, why the sudden weight gain during this annual holiday?”

Indeed, although Ramadan observers traditionally refrain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, statistics show that more often than not, participants pack on a whopping 10 to 20 lbs during this 30-day period!

So from where do those excess pounds sneak up on us?

Here’s how it works: not eating or drinking all day naturally weakens our system, which means we don’t exercise – a state of being which is not problematic, as an equilibrium is still maintained. However, at the end of the day, of course, we catch up on our lack of food, and often more than make up for it by eating extra, hence, the extra weight. It’s a simple equation: weight gain is dependent on how many calories you eat per day vs. how many calories you expend!

Have no fear; the solution is not to run a marathon every day of Ramadan! In fact, I urge fasters not to exercise heavily at all; a slow-paced walk is okay, but nothing more intense. The key to avoiding weight gain during Ramadan lies in how you eat when the sun goes down.

So follow my tried and tested tips for a truly successful holiday:

1. Break your fast with freshly squeezed lemon juice in room temperature water. This will alkalinize your body and help eliminate toxin build-up that naturally occurs when you are more sedentary. Don’t eat just yet – go for a cup of green tea next – without sugar, of course. If you need a bit of sweetener, add Stevia!

2. Start your meal with pure protein, such as fish or chicken; if you are vegan, opt for tofu, lentils or hummus (chickpeas). Why? Physiologically, your body is constantly protecting your two major organs: your brain and your heart. In order to function properly, your brain needs healthy fat, and your heart needs protein. If your body receives carbohydrates first, a “message” about a potential lack of fat and protein is sent to your digestive system, and you will store more “fat” for use later. Hence, the easiest way to prevent weight gain and to promote weight loss is to start your meal with pure protein, or foods which have a low impact on your blood sugar levels.

3. After your protein starter, enjoy the rest of your nutritionally-balanced meal, mindfully. Take it SLOW, and remember portion control. Socialize in between bites in order to give your brain the time it needs to gauge your true hunger; if you listen to your body, you’ll be surprised to discover that you are satisfied long before you thought you’d be. Don’t gorge yourself until midnight!

4. A sweet treat for dessert is okay, but don’t go overboard; choose one, and savour each bite.

5. Drink more than usual before going to bed, and if you are up before sunrise, hydrate again. This helps eliminate toxins from your body and will facilitate your fast during the day!

Make this Ramadan a true success for both your soul and body!

Visit LeBootCamp.com for more info on what Orsoni has to offer.

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