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Fitness By Marilyn
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Fitness By Marilyn's Discussions
What are your thoughts on global warming?
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Fitness By Marilyn Jun. 3, 2008.
Fitness By Marilyn Blogspot
What Are The 7 Super Foods of the Bible?
See Deuteronomy 8:8…..
“a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey.”
1. wheat
2. barley
3. grapes
4. figs
5. pomegranates
6. olives
7. honey
There is much food for thought here and what better source than the manual for our body and lives……
Socrates
Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you hear or are about to repeat a rumor.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who ran up to him excitedly and said,
"Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students...?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."
"Test of Three?"
"That's correct," Socrates continued.
"Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are
about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man replied, "actually I just heard about it.""All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued, "You may still pass though because there is a third test - the filter of Usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed and said no more.
How Much Is Too Much
Are You Eating Too Much Sugar?
Cutting sugar from your diet is quite trendy these days. Many dieters even go so far as to proudly proclaim that they have "stopped eating sugar" all together. Well, in reality that probably isn't even possible. They naively think that cutting out cake, cookies and candy means that they are no longer eating sugar.
But, sugar is practically everywhere. Do you know how much you are consuming? If you are a typical American, you may be eating 156 pounds per year! That's how much the USDA says Americans consume each year on a per capita basis. Sure, some of that comes from standard junk food but much of it comes from more "hidden" sources.
To significantly reduce your sugar intake, it's mandatory that you read labels and know where your sugar intake truly comes from. Here are some places where you may be ingesting loads of sugar without even realizing it.
Yogurt: Generally, this is a food that people consider "healthy". However, unless you choose the Plain flavor, you'll be getting a lot of sugar. Check the label and you'll find on average about 20 to 25 grams of sugar in a measly 6 ounces.
Salad Dressings: Salads have always been considered good dieting choices. But, not only can they be laden with fats, but even the healthiest, veggie-packed salads can pack a sugar punch from the dressings that accompany them.
Soft Drinks: Here's where a huge portion of consumer sugar intake is found. Studies show that soft drinks account for as much as 33% of all added sugars consumed. And if you think switching to sugar-free diet drinks is the answer, hold on. The risk of obesity appears to be higher among diet cola drinkers.
Cereal: Here's a food that someone can easily overeat. A serving is often only ¾ cup which means most people tend to have at least two servings at breakfast. Plus, cereal is often eaten as a snack as well, and a few handfuls can quickly add up. Many cereals that tout themselves as being healthy have more sugar in them then a candy bar.
Protein Bars: These small little morsels disguise themselves as being packed with protein and all natural ingredients. However, the huge sugar content diminishes their nutritional value. In some cases, you might actually be better off grabbing a chocolate candy bar.
Low Fat and Fat Free Foods: When fat is eliminated from a food often the flavorful taste disappears too. To prevent a low fat food from being too bland, manufacturers regularly add extra sugar to ensure a good taste. So while the fat grams may be low, there are plenty of calories because of the extra sugar.
Why do you need to watch your sugar intake? Most experts agree that sugar in its pure form is not inherently "bad" for you. The problem with sugar is that it packs a lot of calories per serving. Plus, since foods with sugar in them taste good to most people then we eat larger portions of those foods. Therefore, we consume more calories when we eat high sugar foods.
In 2003, the World Health Organization released guidelines indicating sugar should account for only about 10% of our daily calories, which is roughly only eight teaspoons. Most labels refer to sugar in grams -- eight teaspoons is about 37 grams. What does that mean to you? Well, one six ounce yogurt and one cup of many brands of cereal will quickly put you over that recommended limit.
As with most diet recommendations, the key is to keep your consumption in check. Do this by reading labels. If sugar is the first ingredient listed on a food, you probably should consider putting it back on the shelf. And remember that there are many different terms used for sugar. It also is referred to as high fructose corn syrup, glucose, sucrose and other names. Pay extra attention to the foods mentioned in the hidden sugars list above. And, if eating high sugar foods, limit your portion.
About the author: Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You, which provides affordable online exercise programs that are custom designed for each individual. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for tips, sample workouts and more. Fitness professionals, learn how to support your clients online, visit: http://www.trainerforce.com
What’s Up
Well it has been a while since I have posted. I am still here but barely. I am just recovering from some kind of bug that won’t let go. This included a trip to the ER a month later than the infection. They couldn’t find anything in their tests but at least I found out what I didn’t have. I visited my doctor the next day and is puzzled too. I still have a bad cough. Well we now have an appointment for a Cat Scan. I hope that things will be better soon so I can get back to work or play that it is for me.
Exercise Saves Aging Brains
Everyone knows exercise keeps bodies young, and now a new study confirms it keeps brains young, too. The study, carried out with mice, demonstrated that exercise reverses age-related decline in the creation of neural stem cells by restoring an essential brain chemical.
The focus of the study, which was performed by the National Cheng Kung University Medical College in Taiwan, was the hippocampus. Mammals, including both humans and mice, have a hippocampus on each side of the brain. When fewer new stem cells are produced in the hippocampus, which plays a major role in short term memory and spatial navigation, the result is an impairment of memory functions and of the capacity to learn. In Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus is one of the first areas of the brain to suffer damage.
The researchers knew from prior studies with mice that the production of stem cells in the hippocampus declined dramatically in middleaged mice, and also that exercise seemed to slow the decline. The new study aimed to trace the progression of the decline and to attempt to find out what causes it.
The study used mice that had been trained to exercise on a treadmill for an hour a day. Mice varying in age from young (aged 3 months) to old (24 months) were tested, with special attention given to mice aged 13 months, which for them is middleaged.
The study soon focused on a brain chemical known as “brain-derived neurotrophic factor” or BDNF. This chemical promotes “neurogenesis,” or the growth of new neurons, and supports the survival of existing ones.
As the researchers expected, the study showed that in the normal course of events, neurogenesis fell sharply in middleaged mice, with these mice having only about five percent of the number of neural stem cells of young mice.
Importantly, the researchers discovered that exercise slows down the loss of new nerve cells in the middleaged group while actually improving neural stem cell production by 200 percent over middleaged mice that did not exercise. Further, new nerve cell survival was up by 170 percent over the non-exercising group. Exercise also benefited young mice, producing an even stronger effect than in the older mice.
The researchers concluded that at least in mice, exercise—by stimulating the production of BDNF—promotes the development and survival of new brain cells.
Fitness By Marilyn's Page
Profile Information
- Relationship Status:
- In a Relationship
- About Me:
- I am a retired Texas real estate broker. I enjoy travel, dining, dancing, fishing, reading, movies (drama, mystery, and light comedy) also music (classical to country), quiet evenings at home, walking, driving, gardening, and preparing GOOD food. Interested in Nature and the Environment, Genealogy, Computers, Pilates, Yoga and meeting people. Down To Earth Person, Cat Person, Native Texan.
My Goals:
1. Connect with great people,
2. Bring positive change,
3. Spread Joy Across the Universe,
4. Help people achieve better health,
5. Leave a subtle but important footprint,
6. Make a positive impact on the earth,
7. Be myself while helping others
- Website:
- http://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com
Could This Be The Tree Of Life?
by Diana Serbe
What is this contradiction called a pomegranate? The pomegranate is sweet, but the pomegranate is tart. The pomegranate is tough and wrinkled, but when cut open it glistens with ruby-like seeds.In the Greek myth of Persephone, the pomegranate is called the fruit of the underworld, yet in the Muslim Qu'uran it is called the fruit of paradise.
The inner beauty of the pomegranate has inspired design since Biblical times, and there are some who believe it may be the fruit on the tree of life.
History of the Pomegranate:
As befits a fruit with many seeds, the pomegranate is the traditional representation of fertility, and seems to have its origins everywhere. We see it in the Middle East and India. The pomegranate was cultivated in Egypt before the time of Moses. It was found in the Indus valley so early that there is a word in Sanskrit for pomegranate. Indian royalty began their banquets with pomegranate, grape, and jujube. Arab caravans, many emanating from the lush oasis that was ancient Baghdad, probably spread its use.
The pomegranate is significant in Jewish custom. Tradition holds that a pomegranate has 613 seeds to represent the 613 commandments in the Torah. The design of the pomegranate was woven into the high priest's robes, and brass representations were part of the Temple's pillars. It is mentioned six times inch Song of Solomon.We see the pomegranate again in ancient Greece and Rome. In the verses of the Odyssey, Homer mentions it as part of the gardens of Alcinous (probably in Sicily). The Romans imported their pomegranates from African Libya, and Pliny the Elder gave instructions for its storage. Lest the pomegranate be neglected in the East, it appears in China during the Han and Sung dynasties.The derivation of the word pomegranate comes from the Middle French pome garnete (seeded apple), but Europeans were slow to adopt the pomegranate. The pomegranate was probably introduced from Sicily, however Europeans, then under Norman influence, distrusted fruits and vegetables, preferring a meat-based diet. It is mentioned in the 14th century Ménagier de Paris which offered some recipes, and as we see in the quote from Romeo and Juliet it was known in England in Elizabethan times. The enthusiasm for pomegranate as a food was limited, but it was widely used as a decoration.
The Spanish Conquistadores brought the pomegranate to America. Jesuit missionaries carried it north to their missions in California. They were found growing wild in Georgia in 1772.
Using Pomegranate:
Though the ancients used pomegranate skin and bark for medicinal purposes, only the seeds are edible.Fresh pomegranate is available from September until January. When refrigerated in a plastic bag, pomegranates will keep for up to 2 months. The seeds are a brilliantly colorful addition when tossed on a salad.
A syrup made fro the pomegranate is widely used in the Middle East.
Variously named pomegranate molasses, concentrated pomegranate juice, or pomegranate essence, the syrupy extract of pomegranate is tart and piquant, brightening many dishes. It is available in Middle Eastern markets, gourmet food stores, and some health-food stores.
Grenadine, a light syrup added to alcoholic drinks or soft drinks, used to be made from pomegranate juice, though now it is made with food coloring. There are concentrated forms of pomegranate juice available, however.
To seed: Slice off the top and the tail of the pomegranate. Score as you would to peel an orange. Submerge pomegranate in bowl of cold water and peel away rind. Break into sections, and pull seeds from the pith with your fingers. Drain seeds in a sieve and throw away the pith. Be sure to drain well.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate:
The pomegranate has been used in folk medicine for centuries in the Middle East, India, and Iran. The health giving properties of the pomegranate are celebrated in a Jewish fairy tale, and it takes its place in Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
The pomegranate provides a substantial amount of potassium, is high in fiber, and contains vitamin C and niacin.
Research conducted by Michael Aviramof the Lipid Research Laboratory at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology has revealed the antioxidant properties of the fruit.
Preliminary studies indicate that the juice may possess almost three times the total antioxidant ability of green tea or red wine.
Visit Diana Serbe at http://www.inmamaskitchen.com
Fitness By Marilyn's Blog
Have A "Pamper Your Inner Child Day"
"I published this list of ideas on how to be good to yourself back in February when I celebrated "Pamper Your Inner Child Day." But I thought it was appropriate to revisit some of these ideas that come from Beliefnet's holistic editor, Valerie Reiss, or to encourage you to make u… Continue
Posted on June 6, 2008 at 5:00am —
How to Plant Your Garden
First, you Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses....
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling… Continue
Posted on June 1, 2008 at 9:46am —
Spice It Up For Extra Protection
Healing With Dr. Andrew Weil
Use these seasonings to make meals tasty and reap the added health benefits.
Andrew Weil, MD
RE: I'd like to cook with herbs and spices that have extra health benefits. Which ones should I try?
Making your herbs and spices perform double duty is smart. Not only do they add zest to your meals, but many can ease a variety of health woes.
… ContinuePosted on December 3, 2007 at 11:18am —
What is Pilates?
Pilates is designed to work the core (abs) section. I really think this is the best use of one's time for general health and fitness much less it strenghtens and tones your body. If someone would combine this with some other exercise routines such as walking, stair and hill climbing along with careful food selections of fruit and vegetables, lean meats, low fat milk and yogurt, chesses and nuts (or a supplement of selenium), and a glass of wine (small) daily if desired, one cou
… ContinuePosted on December 3, 2007 at 10:09am —
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What are your thoughts on global warming? 4 Replies
Started by Fitness By Marilyn. Last reply by Fitness By Marilyn Jun. 3, 2008.
A Celebration!
My First Great Grandchild
October 15, 2007
9 lbs. 6 oz.
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Kindly,
Jim
I am currently enrolled in a college course for Health Care Administration. My goal is to become a nutrition councilor. I want to help those who do not have the money to get help from a nutritionist for their health. Keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully within the next 2 years I'll be able to open a free clinic on nutrition!!!
See you around.
Kindly,
- Jim
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Your friend,
Rudy
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