5 Nutritional Tips to Burn Fat

5 Nutritional Tips to Burn Fat
By Ben Greenfield

Im going to give you 5 practical tips to turn your body into a fat-burning machine information that you can take with you and implement on a daily basis, both in and out of the gym or workout environment. Rather than quantify specific amounts, Ill be giving you some simple ideas. Lets get right to it:

Eat Fiber
A high-fiber diet decreases fat and cholesterol absorption in your intestine (preventing fat storage), slows glucose absorption in the bloodstream (meaning more sugar gets burnt as energy, less gets stored as fat), stabilizes insulin levels and delays stomach emptying (both of which decrease your appetite), and makes you full faster (so you eat less). Research has shown that a low-fat, high-fiber diet results in nearly three times more weight loss than a low-fat, low-fiber diet. So how do you get your fiber? Heres how I get mine: 1 fully loaded salad, 1 bowl of oatmeal, and 2-3 raw fruits every day (fruit bonus: vitamin C in citrus fruit can also help burn fat).

Eat Calcium
Research shows that three or four daily servings of low-fat dairy products can help reduce body fat. Higher levels of calcium stored in the fat cells may help enhance fat breakdown, as well as induce an increase in thermogenesis (the bodys core temperature). The best calcium should come from dairy products like low-fat milk, yogurt and cottage cheese (and not from a calcium supplement). Other good sources, especially for those who are lactose intolerant, include dark leafy vegetables, salmon, almonds, and oats (notice the extra fiber bonus).

Eat Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies have shown that people who include a large and healthy breakfast in their diet lose significantly greater amounts of fat than those who avoid breakfast. Skipping breakfast will not help you shed extra pounds, but may instead result in muscle loss and metabolism decreases, both of which hinder your fat-burning ability. A great breakfast example is a large glass of water with a bowl of oatmeal, fresh fruit and nuts. Just remember: breakfast can also work against you if its not healthyfried meats, sweet muffins and croissants, sugar loaded cereals, or processed packages do not count as a healthy breakfast!

Eat Frequently
Youve heard it a million times before: 5-6 small meals a day is better than 3 large meals. Id like to step that up a bit: as high as 10 times a day or more may be necessary, depending on your energy consumption and needs. Heres an example (from my personal nutrition log): 1) banana 7am; 2) oatmeal w/ raisins 9am; 3) handful almonds 10:30am; 4) three turkey slices 12pm; 5) one yogurt 1 pm; 6) apple 2pm; 7) large salad 4:30pm; 8) one protein bar 7:00pm; 9) handful raisins 8:15pm; 10) 1 scramble egg with spinach 9pm (bed at 11pm). The philosophy behind eating frequently is that the physical act of digestion has a metabolic cost, and by continually feeding, you are maintaining a higher metabolic rate. As long as your grazing is healthy, this results in more calories burnt throughout the day. On the flipside, eating too infrequently causes your body go into starvation mode and conserve energy, which results in increased fat storage and lower digestive and overall metabolism.

Eat Water
Your body constantly uses water to create energy, build muscle, and burn fat, and without adequate water, studies have shown that the muscles are less active, the metabolism drops, and your body burns fat less efficiently. This slight decrease in metabolism can add up to over 10 pounds of fat a year! Water also assists in suppressing the appetite and giving you a full feeling. So drink several glasses of water each day, drink a glass of water at least 30 minutes before your workout, sip water regularly at the gym, and drink a glass of water after your workout (speeds up recovery too!). Many naturally occurring foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are also high in water content (as well as fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, etc.), so this is another great way to get your H2O.

If you have more questions about nutrition, or simply want to see how your diet measures up, you may be interested in a dietary analysis. After you sign-up for personal training with Pacific Elite Fitness at www.pacificfit.net, you receive a complete dietary analysis, complete with grocery list and food substitution suggestions, and monthly tools to track your progress, caloric intake, and macronutrient percentage. At pacificfit.net, you can also sign-up for a weekly newsletter jam packed with helpful tips and articles.

Head trainer Ben Greenfield runs the online training website Pacific Elite Fitness, and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sport Science and Exercise Physiology, as well as certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA-CPT & CSCS). For over 6 years, Ben has coached and trained professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, and helped hundreds of individuals achieve their personal fitness goals. For more information on online personal training and fitness, contact Ben at elite@pacificfit.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=BenGreenfield
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Nutritional-Tips-to-Burn-Fat&id=112591

Top Tips for Good Nutrition This Thanksgiving

Top Tips for Good Nutrition This Thanksgiving
By Dave Saunders

To many, good nutrition and thanksgiving dinner seem to cancel each other out. However it should be possible and even easy to make a nutritious meal that is a pleasure to share with friends and family. Here are a few tips to help you make your holiday meals healthy ones too.

Prepare a wide variety of foods. Traditional thanksgiving stories tell us of meals that contained wide varieties of dishes reflecting the backgrounds of the many people who came together for these meals and to give thanks. The nutritional benefit of eating from a wide variety of foods is you gain a wider variety of nutrients. Also, you are less likely to overload on a single type of food. If you dont have time to prepare a large number of dishes, many grocery stores sell prepared dishes that you can add to the variety of dishes youre cooking yourself. Gourmet grocery stores often prepare these dishes on site.

Try some simple recipes. Instead of making the obligatory green bean casserole with mushroom soup and fried onions, how about a simple green bean dish with a dash of sea salt? Substitute yams, cooked in butter with marshmallows and brown sugar, with a more simple preparation of yams. You may be surprised at how much people enjoy the taste of the original ingredients.

Be careful of portion sizes. An ideal meal is derived from all of the food groups and should include a wide variety of individual foods. Instead of loading up your plate with mashed potatoes, start with smaller portions of everything that has been prepared. If you would like a second helping, follow the same procedure. By eating from a wider variety of foods you will be providing your body with a more complex array of nutrients and youll be able to enjoy the many flavors as well.

Pace yourself. Unless youre on call for surgery, you probably have a little time. Instead of jumping right into your second helping, consider a short intermission and burn some calories by helping out with the dishes. By eating more slowly, your body will give you signals when you are full. If there are leftovers you can always eat them later.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all of the things that we have. It is a time for us to remember and reflect on the things that are important in our lives that we so often take for granted. The sharing of a meal with friends and family is a wonderful event and is cherished by nearly all cultures. So take pleasure in the eating and the sharing of food but also consider the nourishment that food gives you and be thankful and give honor to the abundance which you have to share.

Dave Saunders is a professional lecturer, and certified nutritional educator.

This article can be found, with an audio edition, at http://www.glycoboy.com/nutrition-articles/111/top-tips-for-good-nutrition-this-thanksgiving/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DaveSaunders
http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-Tips-for-Good-Nutrition-This-Thanksgiving&id=99979

Bodybuilding Nutrition Take It Seriously

Bodybuilding Nutrition - Take It Seriously
By Faseegh Salie

When you first begin weight training, your view and understanding of the bodybuilding process is entirely different from those that have been around for a while.

I frequently get asked for training advice and what should be done when starting out. Well, the first thing I do is turn the question around. Instead, I inquire about what they already know about building muscle. The first thing to come up is obviously weight training and secondly they mention eating chicken and pasta or something.

While weight training is a fundamental aspect of bodybuilding, it by no means completes the equation. The unfortunate thing is, if they had a better understanding of the importance of nutrition, results would come soonerand the success rate would be higher.

Most of us, myself included, only learn this after months or even years of training.

You know that statistic that says nutrition counts for approximately 70 to 80 percent of bodybuilding success. Well, this is so true. In fact it is as true as two and two are four.

Nutrition absolutely governs the type of results you'll experience. What you put in you get out.

Now back to the issue as to why so many young people who start out with the intention of building muscle do not succeed.It basically comes down to the fact that they do not have a firm grasp of what it takes to succeed.Unfortunately this learning process takes time and requires consistency.

If you are new to the muscle building process, keeping the above two things in mind can assist you tremendously.

My advice is, train hard and eat right. If that does not work, come back and do it better next time.

Faseegh is a 24 year old guy who is passionate about building muscle. He has a website where he shares his views on nutrition and training. Visit http://www.basic-bodybuilding-workouts.com/bodybuilding-nutrition.html for more information on nutrition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=FaseeghSalie
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bodybuilding-Nutrition---Take-It-Seriously&id=102814

Phosphorus and the Importance in Nutrition

Phosphorus and the Importance in Nutrition
By Grata Young

It combines with calcium to create the calcium-phorphorus balance necessary for the growth of bones and teeth and in the formation of nerve cells. This mineral is also essential for the assimilation of carbohydrates and fats. It is a stimulant to the nerves and brain.

Phosphorous is found in abundance in cereals, pulses, nuts, egg yolk, fruit juices, milk andlegumes. Usually about one gram of phosphorous is considered necessary in the daily diet.

A phosphorous deficiency may bring about loss of weight, retarded growth, reduced sexualpowers and general weakness. It may result in poor mineralisation of bones, deficient nerve andbrain function.

While taking calcium in therapeutic doses for calcium deficiency conditions or for treatingailments, it is advisable to take the calcium supplement in which phosphorous has been addedin the correct proportions. This is necessary as calcium cannot achieve its objectives unlessphosphorous is present in a proper balance.

To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:

Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure
Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally
Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=GrataYoung
http://EzineArticles.com/?Phosphorus-and-the-Importance-in-Nutrition&id=114153

Protein Carp Bait Ingredients and Accurate 'Biological Nutritional Values'

Protein Carp Bait Ingredients and Accurate 'Biological Nutritional Values'
By Tim F. Richardson

From the past to the present time, there are many anglers quoting 'biological nutritional values' for carp baits and their ingredients. But are they 'correct?' or have we really been mislead for years?!

This is not the simple subject that it appears to be: This is based on the supposed conversion of carp baits and how they are digested and assimilated in carp to become of biological value to carp; to be used in useful bodily processes, syntheses, growth, repair, release or storage of energy, etc.

Some anglers are even offering computer programs to give you approximate 'biological nutritional values' of any particular bait mix you may be making from any of perhaps 30 ingredients in their list that they have analyzed.

I find this incredible, firstly because all bait ingredients from different sources and supplier can differ differ, not only in their quality, but age before packing and consignment, stated 'best before' dates, methods of extraction, storage times, storage containers, storage temperatures, quality control methods, and methods of contents analysis.

Not only does this render such a programme obsolete, for the above reasons; but for example the 'same labeled' fish meal you use in the UK, may be extremely different to that obtained in the States, or Europe, but it's beneficial effects at eating by carp will differ too! And this variable is multiplied as you combine various other different ingredients into your bait.

But the BIGGEST MISTAKE being made is that, the old measure of the 'biological nutritional value,' or the more recent and accurate 'fixed dietary protein percentage score' are only scientific results of tests on HUMANS NOT CARP! Even analysis values for fish rearing feeds pellets and powders for trout, salmon and trout are those designed for the specific scientifically proven dietary requirements for those specific individual fish and as such may differ from carp requirements so much, that used in quantities over log periods of time, these could even be harmful, causing vitamin deficiencies, or liver damage for example!

Now I don't know about your scientific expertise, but unless you happen to be a PhD marine biologist whose history is testing carp bait biological nutritional values in carp of differing stages of maturity, you definitely will not know the best answer to the following example of such a problem:

In the UK it has become very fashionable for most of the popular fishing paper to recommend using the now extremely popular 'halibut rearing pellets.' These contain an exceptionally high oils content and are formulated for maximising biological 'mass' gains in halibut rearing. These may be good for young halibut, but are they 'ideal' for mature carp to ingest in kilograms on a daily basis because they are thrown into carp waters by the majority of carp anglers who do tend to copy each other, and follow whatever the bait 'fashion' happens to be?

In carp bait design, there is a big problem that only a tiny percentage of bait makers ever hear about, and presents a real challenge! There is the small but very significant matter of 'first limiting amino acids.'

These will affect things biological terms, in carp baits, by limiting the proteins that carp can actually assimilate and use before wasting them. Adding to your problem, is that fish in different waters, and even within the same waters, can have different most deficient individual amino acids in their own personal diets and bodies at any time; and this obviously affects their dietary requirements and very likely;bait preferences too!

In bait making, you effectively need to know which amino acids each ingredient is most deficient in, and its very handy to know which amino acids each ingredient is highest in too! Maybe then, you can design a bait with a nutritional food content; with the correct ratios of fats, carbohydrates and proteins etc, including a 'balanced amino acid profile,' where all 'standard' carp amino acids requirements are met in sufficient quantities to meet dietary requirements.

Have you ever tried to make a bait that is proven to do this; where each of your ingredients cancel-out the 'limiting amino acid effects' of all the other ingredients?

This is part of the reason that the very high protein carp baits of the past do not produce MORE carp than baits with a 'balanced food profile' like the ones being used today. I.e. owing to the effect of 'limiting amino acids' in these high protein ingredients baits, very little of the protein in the bait was being utilized by the carp, and so was wasted and excreted! Even top body-builders do not eat a diet that is 90% protein; they recognise that the correct nutritional balance, energy and foods ratios are essential for optimum gains achieved!

So, back to making carp baits; there is a new American measurement, for the biological nutritional value of food. Its name is:

'The Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score.

The name of the old method most often used for making carp baits is the biological nutritional value or the BNV.

The new, more refined method is the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score or the PDCAAS.

For example, wheat germ protein has a PDCAAS value of about 0.4 to 0.5, and is limited by lysine. It has more than a carps requirement for methionine.

Haricot bean protein has a PDCAAS of around 0.6 to 0.7 and is limited by methionine. It has more than the carps requirement for lysine.

Consumed together in equal amounts they provide a PDCAAS value of 1. Number 1 denotes the highest protein value in human dietary terms.

Each protein food is balanced by the other. Carp can receive the full dietary requirement of both of each first limiting amino acid in each food bait ingredient, such as white fish meal, or fish protein concentrate.

There are many nutritional ingredients that produce this effect when combined together in bait. Fishing bait suppliers offer the most commonly known ones, although are not necessarily the most effective on many waters today.

Below is an ingredients list of aquaculture carp feed stuffs, ideal for carp bait and boilie making. Used in combination, these can also maximize carp health and growth by combining the negative digestive effects of their individual first limiting amino acids. (Indicated):

Whole egg: the first limiting amino acid is threonine. (Egg is an excellent whole food ingredient and bait binder.)

Whey: first limiting amino acids are methionine / cystine.

Whole milk: methionine / cystine.

Fish muscle: methionine / phenylalanine.

Fish meal (Herring): threonine.

White fish meal: threonine / phenylalanine.

Fish silage: tryptophan.

Fish protein concentrate: cystine.

Whole shrimp meal: histidine.

Soya bean meal: methionine.

Blood meal: isoleucine.

Meat and bone meal: methionine.

Liver meal: lysine.

Beef meal: methionine / cystine.

Poultry (chicken and turkey) by-product meals: tyrosine.

Hydrolyzed feather meal: methionine.

Spirulina maxima: cystine.

Groundnut meal: methionine.

Whole wheat meal: lysine.

Maize meal: lysine / tryptophan.

Potato protein concentrate: methionine.

Worm meal: cystine.

Leaf protein concentrate: cystine.

Coconut: lysine.

Sesame: lysine.

Linseed / flaxseed: lysine.

Sunflower: lysine.

Cottonseed: lysine.

Palm Kernel: lysine / methionine.

Safflower: lysine.

Crambe: lysine.

Rapeseed: cystine.

Chick pea: methionine.

Cow pea: methionine.

Mung bean: cystine.

Haricot bean: methionine.

Yellow (sweet) lupin: methionine.

Most pulses: methionine.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae: (bakers and brewers yeast): methionine.

Torulopsis utilis: (yeast): methionine.

M. methylotrophus: (bacterium): cystine.

Most animal, pet and commercial bait companies will supply an analysis of each product. These list for example, protein content, added amino acids, minerals, trace elements and vitamin, salt supplement content, type of oils or fat content, dietary fiber, any ash (for potassium) content.

Researching the PDCAAS value of your carp bait ingredients, is an excellent way to ensure you are balancing the wasteful limiting nutritional effects, of the first limiting essential amino acids in your bait. This ensures carps maximum utilization of your bait proteins for maximum bait attraction and available nutrition.

In a way, you balanced profile baits can become habit forming to carp you introduce more and they eat more of it over time. They will sense your baits superior energy efficient nutritional benefits and attraction. As a consequence, with good angling skills, your catches will grow, and the numbers of bigger fish you hook will improve.

The oily fish group, is ideal as a bait bulk protein provider. For example: meals made from anchovies, herring, mackerel, mullet, sardines, salmon, trout, tuna, and others like smelts and capellin. Most types of shellfish are ideal sources of protein for carp too, and have repeatedly produced excellent catches.

Plant sources like beans, pulses, grains, nuts, seeds, for example; soybean products, buckwheat, and millet, are also good sources of proteins. These also need combining with other protein sources for the best amino profile and balance, as they are often deficient in some important amino acids.

It is recommended to combine plant and animal proteins to best exploit the effects and benefits of each other.

Earlier biological measurement tests had in built faults and unknown variables. These popularly used evaluations were called the Protein efficiency ratio or PER and the biological nutritional value or BNV.

Of cause, the validity of any nutritional biological value, and its accuracy, only holds true to carp, if tested using carp nutritional values!

In the past, many anglers have attempted to apply the old BNV evaluation measurement to carp bait ingredients. These have been used produce a total figure for a high nutritional value bait, but were not accurate at all.

These were human nutrition values for foods and food group constituents, and not carp tested evaluations!

However, they can give us comparative guide to values for carp. The highest PDCAAS value is 1, (for humans,) with 0 as the lowest score. Examples of some PDCAAS values for carp bait ingredients are:

Soya: 1.

Egg white: 1.

Casein: 1.

Whey: 1.

Milk: 1.

Beef: 0.98.

Kidney beans: 0.68.

Lentils: 0.52.

Peanuts: 0.52.

Wheat: 0.25.

Although the PDCAAS is more accurate than the PER or BV, the following are important facts relating to bait design, which can be misleading to any evaluation:

A.The scores were results from nutritional humans testing only.

B.The BV measures nitrogen absorption, but ignores important variables affecting digestion.

C.The PDCAAS adjusts for proteins digested but lost from the body unused, or to bacterial digestion in the gut. Proteins are assumed to have been available when a food was digested, but were actually unavailable because of digestive inhibitors like soy tannins.

D.It is misleading because a diet very rarely consists of just one food source

E.Probably the most important flaw is related to amino acids, and this also is a big point to remember in designing your bait! Calculating the biological digestibility value of food constituents of human diet, purely based on the more accurate PDCAAS measure, is presently impossible to complete accurately. The same applies to carp bait too!)

A single ingredient in the diet could supply very many of a large profile of amino acids, which another ingredient is lacking in.

The PDCAAS evaluation result would show a higher value than any of the individual ingredients. This is totally inaccurate as all the individual amino acids would have to be analyzed, individually assessed and calculated!

All we can do is use human nutritional values in the design of carp baits, until science catches up with our needs. If any carp fisherman knows of a flawless evaluation method that provides true carp bait nutritional values, please let everyone know!

Obviously, using fish meal does have the added advantage of containing all the essential amino acids fish require, but there is also the 'biological digestibility factor; is it better to go for whey protein isolates, or predigested caseins, or predigested shellfish extracts? It seems that cost of ingredients is a factor most fishermen regard more highly than if their baits will provide amazing results more consistently than the 'average' angler's baits!

The author has many more fishing and bait edges up his sleeve. Every single one can have a huge impact on catches. (Warning: This article is protected by copyright.)

By Tim Richardson. The thinking mans fishing author and expert bait making guru.

*** FOR MORE EXPERT FISHING IMPROVEMENT INFORMATION AND EXPERT BAIT MAKING BOOKS SEE: http://www.baitbigfish.com

Tim Richardson is a leading big fish angler with many incredible catches to his name. He is also a nationally recognised carp and catfish bait guru in the UK. His best selling bait making and bait enhancing books / ebooks help beginners and experienced anglers alike to improve and enhance their baits achieving far greater catches of big fish. *His books are even used by members of the elite British Carp Study Group for expert reference. * If you feel your catches could gain from more expert bait experience, insights and fishing information and techniques, take a look at Tims dedicated website.

Tim Richardson:

'The thinking angler's fishing author and expert bait making guru.'

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=TimF.Richardson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Protein-Carp-Bait-Ingredients-and-Accurate-Biological-Nutritional-Values&id=405932

Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition

Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition
By Grata Young

The term 'minerals' refers to elements in their simple inorganic form. In nutrition they are commonly referred to as mineral elements or inorganic nutrients.

Minerals are vital to health. Like vitamins and amino acids, minerals are essential for regulatingand building the trillions of living cells which make up the body. Body cells receive the essentialfood elements through the blood stream. They must, therefore, be properly nourished with anadequate supply of all the essential minerals for the efficient functioning of the body.

Minerals help maintain the volume of water necessary to life processes in the body. They helpdraw chemical substances into and out of the cells and they keep the blood and tissue fluid frombecoming either too acidic or too alkaline. The importance of minerals, like vitamins, is illustratedby the fact that there are over 50,000 enzymes in the body which direct growth and energy andeach enzyme has minerals and vitamins associated with it. Each of the essential food mineralsdoes a specific job in the body and some of them do extra work, in teams, to keep body cellshealthy.

The mineral elements which are needed by the body in substantial amounts arecalcium, phosphorous, iron, sulphur, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chlorine. In additionthe body needs minute (trace) amounts of iodine, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, seleminum,silicon, flourine and some others.

To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:

Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure
Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally
Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=GrataYoung
http://EzineArticles.com/?Minerals-and-Their-Importance-in-Nutrition&id=114149

Quality Fish Food What Ingredients Are Needed For Proper Fish Nutrition Growth And Health

Quality Fish Food; What Ingredients Are Needed For Proper Fish Nutrition, Growth And Health
By Carl Strohmeyer

INTRODUCTION:

There is a lot of confusion about what constitutes a quality flake food (or pellet). The aquarist needs to understand that there are similarities and differences between fish and other animals. For example; Fish get most of their energy needs from fat, but in humans carbohydrates are a better source. Another point is amino acids (the building blocks of proteins); almost all animals have different amino acid needs. For example; Cats need Taurine in there diet or they can suffer heart problems.

Then there is the speed of digestion, some fish such as goldfish tend to have slower digestive tracts (I like to compare it to a horse, but there are major differences such as the stomach). But the similarity is that if too high a protein or the wrong protein diet is fed, the horse may colic, and in goldfish they will build up intestinal gas and infections including swim bladder or dropsy will ensue. The wrong amino acids in any fish will lead to aquarium pollution (extra ammonia) and renal failure.

Another note about fish food is what carnivores need. Carnivorous fish often consume whole animals including intestinal contents, which often include plant material. A quality fish food for carnivores must include vegetable matter such as spirulina.

HERE ARE A FEW BUILDING BLOCK INGREDIENTS:

AMINO ACIDS:

An amino acid is any molecule that contains both amines (organic compounds that contain nitrogen as the key atom. Structurally amines resemble ammonia) and Carboxylic acids (organic acids characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group). Amino acids are used as the basic components of proteins.

The net protein utilization is profoundly affected by the limiting amino acid content or protein quality (the essential amino acid found in the smallest quantity in the foodstuff), and somewhat affected by salvage of essential amino acids in the body. It is therefore a good idea to mix foodstuffs that have different weaknesses in their essential amino acid distributions. This limits the loss of nitrogen through deamination and increases overall net protein utilization. Eggs (whether fish or even chicken) have the highest protein quality of any source. Which makes hard boiled egg crumbles an excellent food source for fry.

DL-methionine is an essential amino acid for producing the Lionhead feature in goldfish. High levels of methionine can be found in the vegetable proteins of spinach, green peas, and garlic. DL-methionine can also be found in fish meal.

Bottom line; Not all protein sources are equal. An analogy used at a pet food seminar I attended was this: You can achieve the protein analysis on many pet foods with a used pair of leather shoes, but leather shoes contain little usable proteins.

FATS:

Molecular compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. Fats are important for insulating body organs against shock, maintaining body temperature, and promoting healthy cell function. They also serve as energy stores for the body. Fats are broken down in the body to release glycerol and free fatty acids. The glycerol can be converted to glucose by the liver and thus used as a source of energy. The fatty acids are the main source of energy in fish, especially for many tissues, such as heart and skeletal muscle. Another important function for fats are for vitamin absorption. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble, meaning they can only be digested, absorbed, and transported in conjunction with fats.

CARBOHYDRATES:

Molecular substances which include the sugars, starches, gums and celluloses. The common attributes of carbohydrates are that they contain only the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and that their combustion will yield carbon dioxide plus one or more molecules of Water.Most of the carbohydrates that enter the diet of fish are of plant origin. Carnivorous fish such as groupers, therefore, deal with little carbohydrate. Indeed, experiments have shown that these species are ill-equipped to handle significant quantities of raw carbohydrate, in their diets. The ability of fish to digest carbohydrates depends on their ability to elaborate amylase. All species of fish have been shown to secrete at least some amylase. It has also been demonstrated that activity of this enzyme was greatest in herbivores.

Carbohydrates are not a superior energy source for fish over protein or fat although digestible carbohydrates do spare protein for tissue building. Also, unlike in mammals, glycogen is not a significant storage depot of energy in fish. The more efficient metabolism of amino acids over carbohydrates (glucose) for energy could be due to the ability of fish to excrete nitrogenous waste as ammonia from their gills without the high cost of energy in converting the waste to urea.

FISH FOOD SOURCES:

FISH MEAL:

Fish meal has been widely used as a protein source for many years for fish. Two basic types of fish meal are produced; (1) produced from fishery waste (salmon, tuna, etc.) that are associated with the processing of various edible human fishery products and (2) When specific fish (herring, menhaden, pollack, etc.) are harvested just for the purpose to produce fish meal. The fish can be dried directly drying or cooking prior to drying and oil extracted. In addition to being a by-product of human fish production it is also a by-product associated with fish oil production, which is where most commercial fish food obtain fish meal from.

Fish meal can be classified as two basic types; (1) fishery waste associated with the processing of fish for human consumption, again the primary source. (2) Fish that are only used for the production of fish meal. This is the best source, listed on ingredients as Whole Fish Meal or White Fish Meal.

SHRIMP MEAL:

Shrimp meal can be made from either cull shrimp that are being processed before freezing or from whole shrimp that is not of suitable quality for human consumption. The material to be made into shrimp meal is dried (sun or using a dryer) and then ground. Shrimp meal has been used in trout and salmon diets as a source of pigments to impart the desirable color in the tissues.Shrimp meal has been found to be an acceptable supplemental protein source for fish, but inferior to whole fish meal.

SQUID MEAL:

Squid Meal is made from squid viscera portions from cannery plants including egg and testis.Squid Meal is high digestibility of protein source, which provides a full range of amino acids for fish. It provides various kinds of vitamins and minerals and also 1.0-1.5% of cholesterol that is suitable for fish fry and young fish.

BRINE SHRIMP:

Just over a centimeter in size, the adult brine shrimp (Artemia) is a common food source for fish. They can be purchased at many Pet Store as adults, Freeze dried or even eggs. The eggs look like a powdery brown substance but in reality the substance is thousands of cystseggs surrounded by protective cases. When added to water, these cysts will hatch into shrimp nauplii within a few hours.

As a food source brine shrimp are relatively limited (mostly because of their high water content). They are a good source of carotene for color and act as a natural laxative in fish digestive systems. The proteins them do supply are of high quality. Depending on the source they also can supply vegetable matter due to their consumption of algae.

SOYBEAN MEAL:

Use of soybean products in the aquaculture industry have become the focus of protein substitution in fish food around the world. The high protein level makes it a key ingredient for aquaculture feeds. Soybean meal is considerably less expensive than traditionally used marine animal meals. The limiting amino acid content of soybean meal is high, but not on the level of Whole fish meal and especially egg.

SPIRULINA:

Spirulina is a blue-green plant plankton rich in raw protein and seven major vitamins: A1, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. It naturally contains beta-carotene, color enhancing pigments, and whole range of minerals. In addition, it contains all essential fatty acids and eight amino acids required for complete nutrition. Spirulina is different from other algae and is similar to bacteria in many ways, occupying a niche between plants and bacteria. Spirulina is similar to cyanobacteria in structure (spiral shape, unlike true plant plankton), which can be toxic. Spirulina Blue- Green algae are recognized by the body (fish in particular) as a bacterium, causing an increase in antibodies, which in turn increases disease resistance. Spirulina is also high in usable or digestible amino acids. Spirulina is probably one of the best fish food ingredients available, including for carnivores.

WHOLE WHEAT:

Carbohydrates as explained earlier are not the best source of energy in fish, but still can be useful, especially when whole wheat is used. One reason is for roughage, especially in goldfish and koi, but also for other fish for the wheat-germ found in whole wheat is a natural source of vitamin E, an important vitamin to promote healthy growth and fish color.

SUMMARY:

Compare TetraMin to some of the facts I have explained, then compare foods such as HBH Tropical and Marine Flake; Spirulina One Flake; Hikari and Sanyu Foods, such as Sanyu Betta Gold.The difference is quite clear for long term growth and health.

By Carl Strohmeyer

americanaquariumproducts.com/QualityFishFood.html

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CarlStrohmeyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Quality-Fish-Food;-What-Ingredients-Are-Needed-For-Proper-Fish-Nutrition,-Growth-And-Health&id=358634

Treating Crohn's Disease With Nutritional Change

Treating Crohn's Disease With Nutritional Change
By Sarah Jenkins

It should be understood that Crohns Disease can not be cured or treated with nutritional change. Food intake or allergies also do not cause Crohns Disease. However, after the disease is present, certain foods may aggravate the effects of Crohns and may be eliminated to reduce side effects.

There is no special diet Crohns sufferers should follow. For the most part, you should monitor your diet and the results of such on your body. One way of doing this is by utilizing a food diary in which you log such information. This way, you can keep track of any negative effects certain foods may have. Furthermore, the part of your intestine that is affected by Crohns may determine how your body reacts to certain foods and these results may change as time goes by.

Certain diets are being advertised as being effective in treating Crohns disease, such as The Specific Carbohydrate Diet. However, diets that make such claims are only supported by testimonials and have no scientific support. This should be considered in the validity of the diet. However, certain claims of the diet may be accurate, such as reducing gas and bloating by eliminating hard to digest foods. It should be understood that while certain side effects of the disease may be reduced, it does not actually lessen inflammation or cure the disease.

However, there are certain factors that should be kept in mind in regards to Crohns Disease and nutrition. One of which is malnutrition. Due to inadequate food intake, poor absorption, and a combination of diarrhea and vomiting, sufferers often do not have proper nutrient levels in their body. Therefore, special care should be taken to either take supplements or to maintain a proper diet. Also, dehydration is a very serious concern. Excessive diarrhea, as a result of the emptying of the intestines and inadequate absorption of liquids in the large intestines, may lead to dehydration which, in turn, can cause dysfunction of the kidneys or excessive weakness.

A possible treatment to aid in proper vitamin and mineral intake, nutritional support may be utilized. This is the use of a feeding tube through the stomach or small bowel to assure adequate nutrition.

New research is being done in the area of nutritional therapy. The use of fish or flaxseed oils has been shown to decrease inflammation in the digestive tract. The use of probiotics, or good bacteria, has also shown promise in restoring balance to the intestine.

Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Crohns Disease.

For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now.Click here now and read more of her articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SarahJenkins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Treating-Crohns-Disease-With-Nutritional-Change&id=130292

5 Nutritional Myths That Can Change Your Life

5 Nutritional Myths That Can Change Your Life
By Ben Greenfield

We are constantly bombarbed by cutting-edge research that often causes dietary confusion. Several years ago, eggs were ad, but now they're good; diet soda was a great way to lose weight, but now is correlated with obesity; chicken was considered a lean protein source, but now might be laced with unhealthy hormones. Often it's enough to make your head spin. In this article, I'd like to dispel 7 nutritional myths that may help clear some confusion and put you one step closer to achieving perfection in your weight loss or fitness routine.

Myth #1: Fat-free yogurt is a great tool in a weight loss diet.

Much of the yogurt at the grocery store is basically a sugar smoothie. Key lime pie, kiwi-raspberry, strawberry-banana - you name the flavor or the fruit, and usually it means that heavy doses of sugar were added to generate that particular flavor. Often, the actual fruit-at-the-bottom is a low-quality fruit that was too damaged or over-ripe to sell for raw produce. Your body's reaction is a hormonal response that induces fat storage and an increased appetite! Instead, use plain, no-sugar added, fat-free yogurt, and add your own fresh fruits, berries, or nuts. Never feel pressured to finish the whole container - that's what the lid is for! Often, a small container of this healthy yogurt can extend to 2 or 3 separate snacks.

Myth #2: Cholesterol in eggs is bad for your body.

Cholesterol is an essential component of our cells, as well as a crucial element of the anti-inflammatory response, which we know is high in the presence of stress, alcohol, injury, and even exercise. Natural sources of cholesterol actually *contribute* to your body's overall health! A good egg contains enough of a compound called lecithin to help breakdown most of the cholesterol present in the egg itself. Unfortunately, an egg is often accompanied by a huge slice of frying butter, a couple strips of bacon or sausage, or even an evil breakfast pastry. Instead, try this for breakfast - fry an egg in just a few drops of olive oil, and eat over a bowl of oatmeal - you'll elevate levels of good cholesterol, increase fiber intake, and start the day with a great surge of protein. And if you're on a lower fat percentage diet, ditch the yolk, and eat the egg white only.

Myth #3: Saturated fat is the primary contributor to heart disease.

Actually, saturated fat in the form of animal meat was around long before the surge of heart disease in modern man. During the time that heart disease has become prevalent in America, consumption of saturated fat from animal sources actually decreased, while consumption of trans-fatty acids and hydrogenated fats in the form of margarine, shortening, and refined oils increased! This pattern, accompanied by a sharp rise in sugar intake and a gradual decrease in exercise levels, is the real culprit for the modern day heart disease epidemic.

Myth #4: Drinking diet soda and using artificial sweeteners helps to control weight.

Artificial sweeteners still stimulate your digestive system receptors, causing the brain to go into eating mode. However, with no food present, the body is not satisfied and the appetite powerfully craves real calories. Not only do artificial sweeteners actually *increase* your appetite in this manner after consumption, but they often are accompanied by many of the acids and chemicals in soda that can cause intestinal distress, and even brain and nervous system damage. Instead of using artificial sweeteners or consuming diet compounds, try using honey (preferably natural), herb sweeteners, fruit, or natural, raw sugar to sweeten your food. But regardless of what you choose for sweetener, remember that the hormonal response to any sweet compound switches your body into fat storage, appetite-increasing mode, so everything in moderation!

Myth #5: You should never eat before bed.

Some individuals rapidly burn carbohydrates, and if they are following the don't-eat-2-hours-before-bed rule, they often become hypoglycemic during the night, which can disrupt sleep patterns, growth hormones, and the immune system, causing them to wake up grumpy, hungry, starved, and in maximum fat-storage mode! Test yourself - if you don't eat 2 hours before bed, do you lie awake hungry at night, or tossing and turning as your appetite plows full speed ahead? Are you ravenous upon waking? If so, try a light meal before bed that mixes protein and fat. This will slow carbohydrate metabolism and leave you satisfied for a longer period of time. I recommend a small handful of almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds, or if you're allergic to nuts, try a few avocado slices, olives, or lean turkey breast or chicken.

Remember, everyone has a different body, and there are very few ules that are directly applicable to the entire population. Don't be afraid to experiment with your diet to find out what is best for your particular system. If you find that you need more direction, a personal trainer can perform a complete dietary analysis, and provide you with tips and tricks that are more specific to your body type and eating habits. All you have to do is keep track of exactly what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat for 5-7 days. Pacific Elite Fitness, an online personal training system, provides clients with useful dietary logs to make this an easy process. You can e-mail me for more information at elite@pacificfit.net.

Personal trainer and fitness coach Ben Greenfield runs the online training website Pacific Elite Fitness, and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sport Science and Exercise Physiology, as well as certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA-CPT & CSCS). For over 6 years, Ben has coached and trained professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, and helped hundreds of individuals achieve their personal fitness goals. For more information on online personal training and fitness, contact Ben at elite@pacificfit.net or visit http://www.pacificfit.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=BenGreenfield
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Nutritional-Myths-That-Can-Change-Your-Life&id=119989

Right Nutrition For Your Dog

Right Nutrition For Your Dog
By Sanggaya Lanny

You should pay attention to nutrition balance of your dog food. In some cases, obesity has become serious problem. This is caused by imbalance nutrition consumption and less exercises. You can combine fresh food rather than canned food for daily consumption.

Obesity can short your dogs live. Anybody wants his dog live longer 9 13 years, but right handling to take care of dog is a must. Normally, dog body weight increases after puppy delivery, but sometime obesity relates to the metabolism problem. You can see dog responses if you take for exercises: slow responses and lazy, even dog is breathing hard.

Nutrition composition is very important. Protein is useful to form cells and body tissues, metabolism, body essential and immunity. Dogs ability to digest protein is about 50 90%. Lowest food digest is beans and the highest is milk and egg. Lack of protein consumption can influence dog growth and other problems such, easily get sick and dull hair.

Nutrition composition are as follows:
Carbohydrate is a component that need to be suited to dog age. Inside the dogs body, carbohydrate is changed as glucose. Glucose is a ready source of energy, used to support daily activity, exercise for instance, or otherwise it can cause obesity.

Calorie to each dog will not be same, depend on dog sizes, weather or other certain conditions. Sometimes your dog wants more food even though you add 30 - 50% more portion than his normal portion, but remember that too much food can result negative impact to dog growth.

Fat is a source of energy too, it is cheap and easy to digest up to 90%. Besides, fat is good for skin health, hormone for metabolism. For sure, fat plays an important rule to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. Balance food should contain minimum 20% fat, but this depends on your dog activity.

You can see vitamin and mineral composition on canned dog food, these should be balance in order to avoid deficiency effects and able to cure body cells function.

C vitamin will protect your dog from diseases and optimize health, strengthen immunity system and as an antioxide. Veterinarian suggests to have 25-500 mg/day of C vitamin, but if your dog in stressful condition, you can increase the dose, but please consult with your veterinarian. C vitamin is safe for consumption and easily absorb by the body.

A vitamin is useful for optimizing dog growth, eyes and skin problem.

D vitamin is very important for puppies to support the optimum growth and strong bones. Lack of D vitamin can cause cracking and broken teeth.

E vitamin is much needed for female dog for fertility and body immune

B2 vitamin is useful for leg muscles and skin, such skin problems are reddish, dry and cracking

Less calcium and phosphorus can cause cripple and stiff muscle

Potassium is useful for body balance and motion reflex

Dogs optimum growth needs sufficient magnesium and avoid stiff muscle

Less sodium consumption can cause loss body weight and hair falls

Iron is to avoid anemia

Now we understand and be more alert that food is not just a food, there are important factors we need to look at and how important these vitamins and minerals for dogs health and his optimum growth.

Other interesting tips and information about dog and other pets, please visit our website at www.all-for-pets.com

Lanny Sanggaya

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SanggayaLanny
http://EzineArticles.com/?Right-Nutrition-For-Your-Dog&id=281524

Vitamins Nutrition Supplements Are They Really Needed?

Vitamins Nutrition Supplements - Are They Really Needed?
By Olinda Rola

Are vitamins nutrition supplements really needed? Vitamins nutrition supplements can be defined as nutritional substances that provide important health benefits. Ideally, these benefits will have been proven by clinical studies.

What we consume each day is important, and eating a balanced diet makes sense. Assuming that happens on a regular basis, one problem has become that the nutrient value of foods has been declining for decades due to soil depletion. And as for what we eat, for example, the USDA food pyramid recommends consuming 2-1/2 cups of vegetables a day for women and 3 cups a day for men. In reality, most adults just do not consume these minimum amounts, and thus the need for high-quality vitamins nutrition supplements for optimum health..

Quality nutrition supplements are much more than just vitamins and minerals. The bodies of both women and men need and will use a wide array of anti-aging natural supplements such as amino acids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients and specialized substances such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-Carnitine. Vitamins nutrition supplements products that support the health of the heart, eyes, brain, immune system, joints and so on are being proven by studies on an ongoing basis.

Today, we live longer, and we want those extra years to be active ones full of energy and health. The basis for good health is a lifestyle that includes a sensible diet with vitamins nutrition supplements, sufficient quality sleep, moderate exercise and weight management. High-quality, anti-aging nutrition supplements help fill in the gaps everyone will have in their diet. The essential nutrients that the body needs are extensive and complex. Vitamins and minerals are just the beginning. Other nutrients that provide significant anti-aging benefits are the key to improved energy, better health and freedom from disease.

The best vitamins nutrition supplements cannot be the one-a-day type and the reason is simple. One tablet cannot hold all that's needed in necessary quantities as it would be way too large to swallow. One-a-day vitamins are probably a waste of money as studies have shown. When trying to design your own supplement plan, however, it's easy to end up with a dozen or more individual substances to take daily, which is both a hassle and costly.

And women really need a different vitamin formula than men. Women's vitamins nutrition supplements should contain nutrients proven to support the balancing of female hormones for women in their 30's and beyond. Men's vitamin supplements should contain ingredients that support male prostate health.

Fortunately, there are manufacturers that provide quality vitamins nutrition supplements at reasonable prices. One manufacturer even has the individual ingredients linked to the relevant clinical studies. Before spending your money, be as informed as you can about the nutrient products you'll be taking every day.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about the best vitamins for women and best vitamins for men. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles and sources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=OlindaRola
http://EzineArticles.com/?Vitamins-Nutrition-Supplements---Are-They-Really-Needed?&id=125997

Vitamins: Nutritional Essentials

Vitamins: Nutritional Essentials
By Chris Robertson

Although the U.S. has the most plentiful food supply in the world, it's sometimes difficult to get all of the nutrition our bodies need. Our hectic lifestyles cause us to eat out more and buy more prepared foods to eat at home. We eat fewer fresh fruits and vegetables and a greater quantity of nutritionally deficient snack and fast foods than did our parents' generation.

To ensure that we're consuming all of the nutrition our bodies need, it's often wise to take a vitamin supplement. Vitamins can fill in the nutritional gaps and shore up our immune systems and stamina. Some vitamins and minerals even act as weight loss pills, by stimulating the body's fat-burning mechanism.

Although it's ideal to consume vitamins through the foods you eat, vitamin supplements can serve to bridge the gap and provide a safety net for those times when you have to grab a bite on the run.

According to the National Institutes of Health, thirteen vitamins are essential for our bodies to function: A, C, D, E, K and the eight B vitamins. Here's the lowdown on eleven of the essentials:

Vitamin A is important for vision, reproductive function, and normal cell reproduction. Beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, helps to fight disease-causing free radicals. Vitamin A is found in milk products, organ meats, and fish oils. Beta-carotene is found in colorful vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin B-1 (thiamin) processes carbohydrates into energy and is necessary for nerve cell function. Breads and cereals are often fortified with thiamin, though it is also found in whole grains, fish, lean meats, and dried beans.

Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) helps the production of red blood cells and is important for growth.

Vitamin B-3 (niacin) helps control cholesterol, processes alcohol, maintains healthy skin, and converts carbohydrates to energy.

Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) serves several bodily functions, such as converting fats to energy and synthesizing cholesterol.

Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) is important in the production of hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin, as well as for processing amino acids.

Vitamin B-12 is a crucial component of DNA replication and nerve cell regulation. It is found in milk products, poultry, meat, and shellfish.

Vitamin C is important in wound healing and acts as an antioxidant. It also helps the body absorb iron. It's found in citrus fruits, potatoes, and greens.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which creates healthy bones and teeth. The body can synthesize Vitamin D after exposure to sunshine, but it can also be found in fortified milk products and cereals, as well as in fish.

Vitamin E helps to combat free radicals, which can damage our cells. It's found in nuts and seeds, green leafy vegetables, corn, asparagus, and wheat germ.

Vitamin K is what makes the blot clot. While our bodies produce some Vitamin K, it can also be found in vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.Visit this Health and Beauty Website and Majon's Health and Beauty directory.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=ChrisRobertson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Vitamins:-Nutritional-Essentials&id=124093

5 More Nutritional Tips to Burn Fat

5 More Nutritional Tips to Burn Fat
By Ben Greenfield

This article will give you 5 more tips to turn your body into a lean muscle-building, fat-burning machine. In case you didn't read the last 5 tips, the basic overview was to increase fiber intake, frequently drink water, eat a complex and healthy breakfast, increase calcium intake, and eat several small meals per day (as high as 8-10). Ready for more? Good! Keep reading...

#6: Eat carbs early in the day

Meals that contain larger amounts of carbohydrates should be eaten earlier in the day. This means that much of your whole grain and fruit consumption should occur before noon. The body's metabolism is highest earlier in the day, so this is a great time to be supplying your muscles with energy in the form of glycogen (carbohydrates), while also ensuring that many of the carbohydrates you consume will be burned for fuel, rather than deposited as fat stores. Many families tend to have the biggest meal of the day in the evening, ironically at the time when the body is least in need of energy and the metabolism is lowest. The practical application would be to make breakfast bigger and dinner smaller. So try it out - prioritize eating carbohydrates early in the day, and focus on decreasing carbohydrate portion size as afternoon and evening approaches.

#7: Eat the right kind of carbsWhile carbohydrates are important for providing energy and giving your body the ability to burn fat, you must choose the right carbs. Simple carbs like sugar and processed flour tend to be rapidly absorbed by the digestive system, which causes a release of the hormone that encourages fat deposit - insulin. Furthermore, the quick energy release that is followed by a rapid decrease in sugar levels will cause you to crave more food, which is why many people on a typical American diet are *always* hungry! So no matter what percentage of your diet is made up of carbohydrates, you must choose complex carbs that are slowly absorbed and digested, thus producing a long term source of energy that keeps you fuller for a longer period of time. Whole grain flours, vegetables, oats, and unprocessed grains, such as brown or wild rice are great choices, and also include many other compounds important in maintaining a high metabolism and proper digestive function.

#8 Eat fatFor the past several decades, mainstream Americans have been shifting to low or no fat diets, with the general result being an *increase* in obesity and chronic disease, and a decrease in health and fitness. In the meantime, world populations such as Eskimos, that consume as much as 70% of their diet from fat calories in whale blubber and fish, have one of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world. While this may seem ironic, there are some very good reasons. Typically, to replace calories that are not provided by dietary fat, carbohydrate consumption increases. Increased carb consumption leads to a faster burning energy source, which tends to contribute to cycling blood sugar levels, use of muscle tissue as fuel, low energy, and decreased metabolism and hormone production. In addition, many Americans will replace saturated fat, such as butter, with a trans fat, such as margarine. Trans fats are *much* worse for the body than saturated fat. So it is important to choose the right kinds of fat. Most animal fats, and many vegetable oils, are high in cholesterol, which contributes to heart disease. However, mono-unsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, nuts, fish oil, and various seed oils, can help lower cholesterol, reduce risk of heart disease, and enhance your body's ability to burn fat as a fuel source. So try to eat fish several times a week (or supplement with fish oil), cook with olive oil, and try to eat at least a handful of a healthy nut (like almonds or walnuts) once per day.

#9 Avoid sugar substitutes

Artifical sweeteners, such as Aspartame, still taste sweet (that's why they're sugar replacements!). When the taste receptors on your tongue taste this sweet substance, your digestive systems begins to produce compounds that prepare your body to use the food that your brain thinks you are consuming. The hormones produced in the digestive process are still present once this fake food enters your small intestine, but no actually energy release or satiety occurs, which leaves you with a gut full of digestive hormones that need food to break down and make the brain crave even more food, this time the real stuff. This is why studies have shown that consumption of diet soda products are associated with obesity! If you're really serious about burnign fat, ditch any sugar substitute foods or diet drinks that you currently consume. I guarantee that once you overcome the initial addiction withdrawal, you'll feel a hundred times better.

#10 Eat like a car

Your body runs on fuel. If you put too much fuel into the gas tank, an overflow occurs, and in the body's case, this means fat deposition. I realize that the idea of limiting calories is very simple, but sometimes the approach is wrong. Never give yourself a certain umber of calories per day. You'd never take your car to the gas station and fill up if you didn't plan on driving it, and the same goes for your body. If you have a light day of activity (low mileage) or a sedentary day (sitting in the garage), you should sometimes not even be consuming 50% of the calories you'd normally consume, because your body doesn't need them. For instance, on a typical day, I consume 5000-6000 calories (based on my metabolism and amount of activity), but on a weekend of travel, where I am either sitting in a car or airplane, I often consume as little as 1000 calories per day! If your body doesn't need the fuel, there's not a necessity to put it in your mouth. On the other hand, there will be some days where I consume up to 8000 calories, simply because that is how many I actually burn through with my activities! So if you're on a set diet of, say, 2000 calories per day, don't be afraid to vary as needed.

I'd like to finish by encouraging you to keep at it. Switching to a healthy diet can be unbearable at times, but the longer you stick with it, the easier it gets. It's just like exercise - you can bring yourself to a maintenance phase where moderate to high physical activity becomes easier, but the initial work is pretty difficult. If you'd like to more information about diet and nutrition, or exercise, you can e-mail me at elite@pacificfit.net to ask questions.

Head trainer Ben Greenfield runs the online training website Pacific Elite Fitness, and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sport Science and Exercise Physiology, as well as certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA-CPT & CSCS). For over 6 years, Ben has coached and trained professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, and helped hundreds of individuals achieve their personal fitness goals. For more information on online personal training and fitness, contact Ben at elite@pacificfit.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=BenGreenfield
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-More-Nutritional-Tips-to-Burn-Fat&id=112586

The Key To Reducing Stress Is Based On Your Nutritional Intake

The Key To Reducing Stress Is Based On Your Nutritional Intake
By Tim Gorman

As I'm sure you well know, stress somehow manages to affect all of us to some degree and for good reason. On a daily basis our lives are filled with situations that create tension. Many of these tense moments come from obligations to our family, friends, job and the many things that keep us busy throughout a normal day in out lives. As you can imagine, this buildup of stress can be harmful to your health unless you find a way to relieve it. Doing so will allow you to lead a more relaxed and healthier lifestyle full of vigor and energy. One way to accomplish this and reduce your stress levels is through the use of nutrition, such as vitamins and minerals.

One of the easiest ways to get the nutrition you need to help lower your stress levels is through the food you consume. The key to success here is to eat a variety of meals that subscribe to a well balanced diet. Not only will this help to reduce your stress levels but it will also have you felling better. You can also expand upon this stress relief and feeling better diet by throwing in some daily exercise. It has been proven that exercising daily while consuming a well balanced diet high in nutrition will help to reduce stress in your busy life.

A nutritious diet that is formulated to combat stress needs to consist of whole grains, which are high in vitamin B. This will have the effect of slowing the sugar substances that run throughout your blood. You will want to combine this with a diet consisting of fewer carbohydrates and saturated fats as they contain an above average amount of energy and sugar levels.

As many bodybuilders already know a diet high in protein can be very beneficial in meeting your nutritional needs in order to reduce stress. Protein can be found in abundance in food such as yogurt and fish. Throw in some fruit and salad and your body will start to appreciate the food it's consuming and you will practically start to feel your stress levels decrease and ultimately vanish.

Although many people associate snacks with overweight conditions the truth is they provide an additional way to help lower your stress. A nutritious snack will provide the energy boost needed throughout the day allowing you to focus on the problems at hand and thereby eliminate any stress before it gets out of control. Snacks have also been reported to promote a calming effect to take place that allows your body to effectively handle any stress that appears as a result of your busy day. The main point to remember here is that your snacks consist of healthy foods full of nutrition, vitamins and minerals.

As you can see taking the time to plan a proper diet that is full nutritious meals will provide your body with the necessary nutrients needed to function at a higher level. Adding the proper nutrition to your diet will allow you to live a healthier life and empower you with the necessary energy levels to handle stress and in many cases actually lower or even eliminate any stress that you may have been feeling.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of VitaminSupplementsGuide.com. He provides more information on nutrition, vitamins and information on reducing stress with nutrition that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=TimGorman
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Key-To-Reducing-Stress-Is-Based-On-Your-Nutritional-Intake&id=184148

ADHD Nutrition

ADHD Nutrition
By Dennis Driscoll

A Specialized ADHD Nutrition Plan Could Help Patients Focus

Currently one of the most widely accepted theories about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is that it is caused by nutritional problems. This theory really only applies to childhood ADHD and does not even account for all of the childhood ADHD cases, but when some dietary studies were conducted on ADHD nutrition plans for those with the disorder, there were some beneficial results. The whole nutrition and ADHD correlation emerged in nineteen ninety when an English researcher found out that certain artificial food colorings found in some foods could actually deplete the amounts of zinc in an ADHD patients body. Later, scientists also found that those children suffering from ADHD also had lower levels of required sulfate molecules throughout the body. Studies which attempt to prove that ADHD and diet are not related at all, citing that only five percent of all ADHD patients have something wrong with their normal dietary intake. Whatever the case, putting your child on an ADHD nutrition plan may be one possible way to help alleviate the hyperactivity associated with such a disorder.

There are several key aspects to an ADHD nutrition plan that any parent should keep in mind. The first and possibly most obvious of any diet is to make sure that your hyperactive child does not receive any sugary sweets or any candy. This should also include sodas and any other products which are high in sugar. By cutting sugars out of the ADHD nutrition plan, your child will not exhibit the hyperactive energy associated with ADHD. Also, make sure your child avoids caffeine, as caffeine has the same stimulating effect on the body as sugar. If you find that neither of these two ADHD nutrition changes affects your child, try taking any and all wheat products out of their diet. Some kids have an undiagnosed wheat allergy which can contribute to hyperactivity. Instead of the wheat products, switch to oats and rye. Finally, and this goes for any child (not just those with ADHD), make sure your child gets plenty of vegetables and fruits in their diet along with fish at least once a week.

An alternative to just cutting out sugars and caffeine from an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients diet was created by Dr. Benjamin Feingold. Aptly named the Feingold diet, this ADHD nutrition plan focused on the research which linked artificial colors and flavors to the loss of zinc in certain childrens bodies. This diet has been the source of much debate over its effectiveness, but for those looking for a dietary way to combat the problems associated with ADHD, the Feingold diet may be a good method to check out.

The Feingold ADHD nutrition plan is currently a two step program with the first step requiring the elimination of all artificial colors and flavors from the childs food. The second step of the Feingold program requires that all aspirin containing products and natural salicylate containing foods should also be removed from the childs diet. While this method of ADHD nutrition may prove to be useful, there are actually certain claims which Feingold makes that are totally incorrect. Most importantly, certain nutritional experts have shown that in the Feingold diet cookbook many of the recommended foods are actually high in salicylates; a chemical which Feingold says can cause your child to be hyperactive.

http://www.parental-advise.marketingnewsworld.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DennisDriscoll
http://EzineArticles.com/?ADHD-Nutrition&id=164939

5 Common Nutritional Errors That Could Be Making Your Back Pain Worse!

5 Common Nutritional Errors That Could Be Making Your Back Pain Worse!
By Sam Visnic

Uh-oh! There it goes again! Your nagging back pain is back. What did I do this time?, you ask yourself. Ice packs, heat, massage, nothing seems to get rid of it.

Guess what? Maybe it came from what you ate! In my years as a Corrective Exercise Specialist and Neuromuscular Therapist, I have found that poor eating habits can contribute heavily to the backaches and pains that many of my clients experience. Here are the top 5 errors.

1. Not eating for your individual metabolism. Just as you are a unique person in comparison to others, your body has a unique biochemistry and processes nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats differently. Generally speaking, there are three major categories that people will fall into. They include: Protein Type, Carbo Type, or Mixed Type. If you are a Protein Type (your body performs best on a diet based primarily on proteins and fats), and you are currently eating like a Carbo Type (a diet focused on high carbohydrates and low fat), your body will be stressed due to hormonal imbalance. There are many symptoms you may experience from eating the wrong fuel mix, and back pain can be one of them. Eating the right fuel mix for your body will decrease gut stress, which has been shown to reflex pain to the lower back.

2. Eating foods that you are allergic or intolerant to. Exercise expert Paul Chek says When pain impulses come from the small intestine, bowel or any organ of digestion, there may be some level of inhibition (weakness) and possibly pain in the corresponding region of the abdominal wall. It is important to remember food allergies and intolerance commonly causes inflammation of the gut. The higher the level of inflammation you have the less likely that you have abdominal muscles that work. Since the abdominal muscles stabilize your lower back, it is very important to keep them working. There are two ways to take action against food allergies and intolerance. Blood tests can be helpful at detecting allergies. The second way is to follow a rotation diet. This means that you dont eat foods from the same genetic family more than once every four days. For example, if you eat chicken on Monday, then you would not eat it again until Friday.

3. Not drinking enough water. The main function of water is to maintain a stable environment in cells throughout the body. It also aids in the removal of waste products in cells. Drinking enough water is important to hydrate the discs in your spine and keep them healthy. I recommend drinking half of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day.

4. Not enough omega-3 fats in your day. Your body needs omega-3 (linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linoleic acid), two essential fatty acids. They are called essential because your body cannot make them. They must be supplied by the foods you eat. Most people find it easier to get omega-6 than omega-3 in their diet. In fact, some people eat as much as 25 times more omega-6 than omega-3. But with that 25-to-1 ratio, you are just asking for pain. That is because omega-6 promotes inflammation and pain, while omega-3 does just the opposite. For people suffering from inflammation, the amount of essential fatty acids in the diet may not be as important as the ratio of the two. If you are fighting inflammation, a 2-to-1 to 4-to-1 ratio may best. The best source of omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, however most fish today are highly toxic with chemicals and heavy metals such as mercury. I suggest using a high quality cod liver oil or fish oil supplement instead.

5. Eating processed foods. It is not uncommon to look at food labels today and not be able to pronounce even half of the ingredients! The majority of these words listed on the label are the various substances used to color, flavor, stabilize, bleach, texture, preserve, or sweeten the food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists about 2,800 international food additives and 3,000 chemicals that are added to your food supply every year! Many of these food additives and chemicals are known to be mucous membrane irritants, central nervous system depressants, and cause major stress in your gut. This can all lead to inflammation in the body and make your back pain worse! Avoid packaged or processed foods. Spend your time shopping around the perimeter of your local store and pick fresh foods.

There you have it! If you avoid these 5 common nutritional mistakes you will find yourself with less back pain and you will feel significantly better. Less stress to your body in general will allow it to heal any areas that may be causing you pain. If you give your body the right environment to thrive in, it can and will heal itself!

Sam Visnic is a C.H.E.K. Practitioner, Nutrition Coach, and certified NLP Practitioner who specializes in providing safe and effective corrective exercise solutions for back pain sufferers. For his free special reports, articles, and newsletter, visit http://www.EndMyBackPain.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SamVisnic
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Common-Nutritional-Errors-That-Could-Be-Making-Your-Back-Pain-Worse!&id=139833

10 Nutritional Tips to Develop a Lean Body

10 Nutritional Tips to Develop a Lean Body
By Andrew Townsend

Did you know that the human body is in a constant process of regeneration? Yes, this is true!

New cells will eventually replace every cell that makes up your body today. Your body requires fuel for this regeneration process and the substances you consume on a daily basis provide the fuel. This is just one of many reasons why your nutritional habits play such an important role when you are trying to develop a lean body and midsection. Follow these top ten nutritional tips and you will be well on your way to achieving your goal of developing a lean body and abs.

1. Eat six small balanced meals per day. Every three hours you should eat a small balanced meal that leaves you feeling satisfied but not full. Each meal should consist of a protein source, quality carbohydrates, and good fats. Eating small meals every three hours will boost your metabolism, which in turn will help your body burn more calories and avoid fat build-up. You will also consume fewer total calories per day than if you were to eat three large 'traditional' meals per day. Cravings for food between meals will be far less likely to occur and you will also be less likely to over eat during your meals.

2. Minimize your consumption of sugars and other simple carbohydrates. Sugars and simple carbohydrates are often referred to as providing 'empty calories' which means that they contain calories but little or no nutritional value. These foods can also spike your blood sugar level and make your energy level fluctuate throughout the day affecting your level of alertness and productivity.

3. Consume quality carbohydrates with your meals. Examples include brown rice, cooked oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, baked potato, and yams.

4. Avoid 'bad fats' and consume 'good fats' instead. Examples of 'good fats' that our bodies need are essential fatty acid's (EFA's). EFA's must be obtained through diet by consuming foods such as fish, nuts, flax seed and sunflower seeds. Minimizing your consumption of saturated and trans fats are also very important and will help you achieve your health and fitness goal.

5. Consume protein as part of your balanced meals. Protein will provide your body with a supply of amino acids into the bloodstream and help repair muscle tissue damaged during strenuous exercise.

6. Consume fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are an important source of essential nutrients that your body needs. Examples include broccoli, carrot, cucumber, asparagus, corn, and cabbage.

7. Drink four to six litres of water per day.

8. Make sure your diet includes a wide variety of quality carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats.

9. Consume a higher percentage of your daily caloric intake during the first half of the day. The reason for this is because your body needs more calories during the day (when you are active) and fewer calories when you are sleeping.

10. Avoid 'diets' and adopt a permanent healthy eating lifestyle instead.

Now that you have read and understood what is necessary to achieve that lean midsection you have always wanted the next step is to take the time and dedicate yourself to following through with the nutritional advice. If you would like an exercise program that compliments your new healthy eating lifestyle please visit www.1000exercises.com and follow one of our free exercise programs.

Visit http://www.1000exercises.com for free information that will help you achieve your current health and fitness goal. 1000exercises.com is a free and easy-to-use personal fitness website for anyone at any fitness level. Free exercise programs are available and updated frequently along with photos of many stretches and exercises.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=AndrewTownsend
http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Nutritional-Tips-to-Develop-a--Lean-Body&id=152902

Nutrition Basics: Part I

Nutrition Basics: Part I
By Stephanie Meyer

Heres an interesting question. Why do we eat? If it were up to me, I wouldn't deal with the hassle of cooking then cleaning up the meal, washing the dishes and whatnot. Add on top of that having kids, taking care of them and all they want to eat, plus they make even more messes! Why do we have to eat food?

1. We eat for energy.

2. We eat because our bodies need food to heal and repair itself.

3. If we don't eat, we would starve from lack of nutrients.

Nutrient. The base word for nutrition. Did you know that Nutrition is actually a science? Nutrition focuses on the interactions between living organisms (such as humans) and their food. Nutrition includes the study of the biological processes used in consuming food and our bodys ability to use the nutrients contained in that food.

To break things down for you, there are six classes of nutrients that each have a role within the body:

1. Water water is found in all tissues of the body and makes up 55-60% of the body. Your body can go 8 weeks without food, but only days without water.
2. Protein proteins are amino acids, which provide the body enzymes, antibodies, hemoglobin and hormones.
3. Fats fats compose 15% of the body, it is the energy source, the building blocks for cell membranes. Fats are required for the absorption of many vitamins and for the absorption of food for proper energy regulation. Some good fats to include in your diet are fish oils, flax oil, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and real butter.
4. Carbohydrates 2% of our body is carbohydrate based. Carbs provide fuel for the brain, a quick source of energy, regulates protein and fat metabolism and is a good source of fiber.
5. Vitamins vitamins compose 1% of our body and function as helpers that are essential for growth vitality and health. They also help with digestion, elimination and resistance to disease. A depletion of vitamins in the body can lead to a variety of disorders and general health problems.
6. Minerals 4% of our body is composed of minerals. These are what remains of the body in ash, when tissues are burned. Out of 103 known minerals, at least 18 are essential for good health.

When you eat your meals through out the day, you want to make sure you have the proper balance of nutrients. You can do this at each meal or look over your whole day to determine your balance.

Heres a Basic Nutrition Eating Guide:

-40% Carbohydrates- mostly veggies, some grains and fruit
-30% Proteins meats, poultry, fish and dairy
-30% Fats real butter, coconut oil, olive oil, flax oil, supplement with Omega 3s and Fish oils.

What does all this mean to you? What do these percentages mean? Basically these percentages are based on your caloric intakes each day. But who counts calories? From my experience, only people who want to lose weight or gain weight! As you are reading this, grab a piece of paper and draw a circle on the paper. This will help you get a visual of what Im talking about. Think about this circle representing a plate, a plate that you eat your food on. Now draw two lines that meet in the middle, two lines that take up 40% of your circle. Now on the side of your circle that you have left, draw another line from the middle of the circle, dividing what is left of the circle in half. This makes two 30% sections.

The majority of your carb intake should be vegetables that are raw or slightly steamed. Include 2-3 fresh whole fruits (not juice) per day. Occasionally include starchy carbs like whole grain breads, brown rice, etc. Whenever possible select organic products, because they are always the best for our bodies. Especially choosing items with thin skins like apples, grapes and strawberries. Avoid all processed and refined carbohydrates, this includes all sugar/white flour products. So, in your circle, in the large section, put vegetables into portion, those are your carbs.

Incorporate good source of proteins into your diet, like:

-grass-fed beef
-free-range poultry
-whole, raw or cultured dairy products
-organic free-range eggs
-Low-toxicity seafood

Avoid:

-Soy
-Farmed Seafood
-Pasteurized and homogenized milk

Incorporate fats into your diet by:
-Eating nuts and seeds
-Raw, cold-processed oils from nuts & seeds (these are in dark bottles and containers, not clear)
-Cold-processed, extra virgin olive oil
-Saturated fats from healthy sources
-Butter & other raw dairy fats
-Raw, organic coconut oils

Avoid:

-Hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats
-Highly processed vegetable oils
-Trans fatty acids
-Fried foods

Stephanie Meyer is a Certified Nutritional Therapist. She has been working from home and helping people find hope through good nutrition since 1997 after struggling with her own health issues and finding out that she could be healthy again. Visit her home on the web at http://www.CrossOverToHealth.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=StephanieMeyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Nutrition-Basics:-Part-I&id=144697

Nutrition Basics Feeding Your Dog in the Wake of the Pet Food Recall

Nutrition Basics - Feeding Your Dog in the Wake of the Pet Food Recall
By Laurie Coger, DVM

More than ever before, owners are paying more attention to what goes in their dogs food bowls. The question of how and what a dog should be fed is often heatedly debated premium kibble versus look-alike brands from wholesale clubs versus grocery store brands, raw, home-cooked, and fresh frozen. Should supplements be used, or is the food complete and balanced, as the labels state? Should grains be fed? Should bones be whole or ground? What about herbal supplements, joint supplements, vitamins, and probiotics? What about the special needs of the dog with health problems, older dog, or growing puppy?

Whatever feeding plan is used, it must fit in the daily routine of the owner. The food chosen must be readily available. The food must meet the nutritional needs of the individual dog, and be fed in a way to not provide excessive or deficient amounts of key nutrients. All foods should be clean and fresh, especially kibble that is naturally preserved with tocopherols and or citric acid. Naturally preserved food that is stored too long may become rancid or moldy, as well as losing its nutritional value. Always check expiration dates.

The vast majority of dogs in this country, whether family companions or competitive/working dogs, are fed some type of commercial food. For the purposes of this article, commercial food will be divided into three categories: standard or grocery store foods, premium or pet store foods, and super-premium foods. The best way to understand the differences in these foods is to review the ingredients of a representative of each food category. (Food examples were chosen based on nationwide advertising and availability.)

Standard Food: Kibbles 'N Bits. Corn, Soybean meal, Ground wheat, Beef & bone meal, Animal fat*

Premium Food: Nutro Max Adult. Chicken Meal, Wheat Flour, Ground Whole Wheat, Rice Bran, Poultry Fat**

Super-Premium Food: Timberwolf Organics Lamb, & Barley, & Apples. Lamb, Salmon Meal, Lamb Meal, Salmon, Whole Ground Oats

*BHA and citric acid used as preservatives **Preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E

Figure 1. Top 5 ingredients of common dog foods.

As you can see from these examples, the proportion of meat in the top 5 ingredients (listed in order of amount, i.e. the first ingredient is present in the largest amount) is small in the standard grocery store food. The meat source, beef and bone meal, is defined as a rendered product made from beef parts which are not suitable for human consumption. Rendering is the process by which waste products are broken down to be used in, among other things, dog food. Rendering companies typically collect waste from slaughterhouses, dead livestock, restaurant and grocery store wastes, and in some areas, euthanized animals (livestock and in some areas, pets). The collected animals and waste are then sprayed or injected with carbolic acid or similar chemicals to break down the proteins. This is followed by grinding and cooking. Fat is separated out, and the remaining material is dried to produce meal.

The premium quality food lists chicken meal as the first ingredient. While it is a more specific type of meal, and likely of higher quality, it is still a rendered product. Also, two varieties of wheat are listed, a technique known as splitting in labeling jargon. It cannot be determined from the label whether the food contains more chicken meal or wheat. A big advantage the premium food offers is the use of tocopherols for preservation, rather than the suspected carcinogen BHA.

In contrast, the super-premium food protein source is whole, unrendered meat, meaning muscle with or without organ meat and associated structures. The first four ingredients are proteins, with the fifth being a more digestible grain than is used in cheaper foods. According to the manufacturer, this food contains ten pounds of lamb and fish meal for every twenty pounds of dog food.

After learning what is really in commercial dog foods, you may be wondering what you have been putting in your best friends bowl! You thought you were getting the best food possible when you paid for an expensive brand, only to find out it is mostly grains. You are probably wondering if you have used a food that contains rendered euthanized animals, including dogs and cats. Two studies performed by the US Food & Drug Administration demonstrated the presence of the euthanasia drug sodium pentobarbital in many commercial dog foods, including premium brands. You may be considering the possibility that some of your dogs health issues could be food related. Most of all, you are probably wondering what commercial foods can meet your dogs nutritional needs in a wholesome way.

Fortunately, as more people learn about commercial foods, the demand for super-premium quality dog foods has increased, and more options are available today than ever before. It is now possible to find non-meal protein sources, grain free foods, and foods that use all human grade ingredients. With some research and careful label reading, you can find foods you can be comfortable feeding. With some companies offering delivery to your home, getting the highest quality food available has become easier, regardless of your location.

In response to learning what may be contained in dog food, many owners have turned to home-prepared diets. Feeding so-called natural diets is becoming commonplace. Advocates of natural diets are often very enthusiastic about the merits of feeding real food to their dogs. Commonly cited benefits of a natural diet include reduction of allergies, better coats, stronger immune systems, and fewer gastrointestinal problems.

There are many feeding plans that fall under the general description of a natural diet. Perhaps the best known is the Bones And Raw Food diet designed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. The core of this plan is the raw meaty bone, most commonly poultry necks, backs, and wings. Other pioneers of natural feeding such as Wendy Volhard and Dr. Kerry Brown advocate use of raw meats and vegetables, as well as a grain/cereal meal. Their feeding plan is one of the few that has been shown to meet or exceed the minimum daily requirement of all known nutrients, and was tested on dogs in all life stages for 12 years before being published. Many other feeding plans exist, and incorporate concepts from the Volhard and Billinghurst diets. Several companies are producing premixes and meats designed for inclusion in these plans, eliminating some of the work involved in feeding a natural diet. Finding recipes for feeding plans has never been easier, as there are many books, seminars, and internet resources available.

Although it is becoming easier to feed a natural diet, it can still be time consuming and require extra work. It requires an investment of time to become educated about your dogs nutritional needs. You must find a source for clean and fresh meats and other ingredients, and have the freezer space to store them. Depending on the diet plan you choose, you may need to grind or blanch vegetables or prepare cereal meals. You will also need to monitor your dogs health with regular veterinary check-ups and blood testing. It is imperative that you use appropriate supplements, as a poorply designed natural diet can result in nutrient deficiencies or excesses.

Many veterinarians and owners object to a natural diet. They are concerned that the raw meat may be contaminated with bacteria and cause infection, and that raw bones may perforate the digestive tract. They are worried that the diet is not completely balanced, as a kibble meal would be. Since the advent of commercial dog foods, we have been lectured about the evils of giving our dogs human food, as that would unbalance the diet. How can we possibly consider feeding a dog a completely human food diet?

Raw meats inevitably contain a large bacterial load. These bacteria can be dangerous to humans, so practicing good food hygiene is important, whether preparing your dinner or your dogs. However, a dogs digestive system is designed to handle bacteria that would be life threatening to a person. Bacteria are everywhere. If he couldnt handle large bacterial loads, your dog would surely die from chewing on sticks, licking his feet after walking in dirty areas, or scavenging discarded foods from the trashcan.

The risk that raw bones may perforate the digestive tract is small, but theoretically possible. Cooked bones are far more likely to splinter, and do pose a real risk. Appropriately sized raw bones, especially non-weight bearing bones, can be thoroughly chewed by most dogs and tend to be crushed by chewing. Of course all dogs should be supervised while chewing meaty bones.

The dog food industry has fostered the belief that each meal we feed our dogs must be completely balanced. Meeting your dogs nutritional needs for the basic nutrients protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is the very definition of a complete diet. However, the body possesses the ability to store nutrients, a buffer, making it unnecessary to eat a 24-hour supply of these nutrients every day. In fact, the Volhard diet is fed in 7 days cycles, taking advantage of the bodys ability to store some nutrients and allowing the digestive system to rest one day of the cycle.

Deciding what to feed your dog is a not a simple decision. The more you learn about commercial foods, the more selective you will become. Fortunately, more high quality kibble foods, which approach the quality of natural diets, are readily available. Premixes that make feeding and traveling with a natural diet easier are also available. Feeding a natural diet is becoming more common and accepted, as owners strive to do the best for their dogs. Whether you choose to feed your dog fresh or kibbled food, you have several excellent feeding plans to choose from.

Resources: Additional information and links can be found at http://www.TheWholisticVet.com

Dr. Laurie S. Coger is an honors graduate of Cornell University, majoring in Animal Science, with a special interest in nutrition. She received her DVM degree from Cornells College of Veterinary Medicine.

She has successfully competed in conformation, obedience, and herding events, achieving many titles with her dogs. She provides on-site veterinary care at dog competitions, with the combined perspective of a competitor and a veterinarian. She is a frequent speaker at animal interest events, & is a section editor for an award winning magazine, the Australian Shepherd Journal.

Dr. Coger is certified by the International Association of Veterinary Chiropractitioners, the largest animal adjusting organization in the world. This alternative technique has helped a number of animals whose conditions were thought to be beyond help, as well as canine athletes in competition. By combining adjustments with nutritional therapy, other complementary medical means, and conventional medicine, Dr. Cogers unique approach to health care has contributed to the health & well being of many pets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=LaurieCoger,DVM
http://EzineArticles.com/?Nutrition-Basics---Feeding-Your-Dog-in-the-Wake-of-the-Pet-Food-Recall&id=647151

What Are Nutritional Supplements?

What Are Nutritional Supplements?
By Greg Mauro

Nutritional Supplement is a broad term for pills, tablets, capsules, bars and liquids which can contain wide range of substances including: vitamins, minerals, enzymes and metabolites.

Many people take nutritional supplements for a certain cause as there are supplements out there that will address just about any health concern one may have. A certain supplement, for example, may help lower blood pressure or relieve arthritis pain. Most consumers of nutritional supplements see these pills as an effective way to stay healthy and lower medical costs.

Most supplements cause few side effects and can be taken safely. However, these supplements should not be used to replace a normal, healthy diet. They should be used in partnership to increase certain nutritional gaps in your diet. Be wary of any packaging that claims these pills can replace your standard diet, as they are in violation of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Nutritional supplements do not need to meet the approval of the FDA before going to marketing, but if the manufacturer knowingly provides false information, or sells an unsafe product, the FDA will take action.

There are some risks with taking nutritional supplements. You can put your health at risk, and it is even possible to overdose. Always read labels carefully and for potential risks and side effects, especially if you are pregnant. Always talk to your doctor about any supplements you may be taking, especially if you are also taking medication.

Greg Mauro is a staff author at http://www.nutritionhealthnews.com Nutrition Health News as well as Help For Health and its conglomerate sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=GregMauro
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-Nutritional-Supplements?&id=159076