We have been asked on numerous occasions, “What is XYZ supplement, and does it work?” The answer to the first question is usually we have not tried it yet or we have and it does nothing for you. However, we have heard of Plexus several times by different people and since it focuses on overall gut health. We figured let’s give it a try.

This review will be one of many we have planned for different types of supplements. If you have one you would like us to try, leave a comment below.

Read the rest of this Plexus review to learn just how well Plexus worked and why it might work well for you.

AN EXPLANATION OF THE EXPERIMENT

I want to start out by telling you about a recent experiment that one of our employees took part in. To show if Plexus products are effective, Dawn began taking their Triplex product line, for one month while changing absolutely nothing else about her daily routine. She ate the same foods, exercised the same amount, and lived her life like nothing else had changed.

At the beginning of the month, we measured her weight, body fat, chest, arms, waist, hips, and thighs with the promise that we would do the same at the end of the month. Like I mentioned before, nothing else changed.

THE RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT

Now that you know what the experiment entailed, let me tell you a little bit about the results. Of course, I will talk about the empirical results, the results that you can read about and see in the numbers. But we all know that health is more than just numbers, so part of what we will share is the personal testimony of Dawn herself.

First of all, by simply taking Plexus products, Dawn lost 4 pounds in one month . Let me state that again just so you understand what I just said. Spending a month not trying to lose weight, but living her life as she always had, Dawn lost 4 pounds in thirty days.

This information alone is sufficient to see the positive impact of the Triplex products, but there is more data as well. She lost 1% body fat, 0.5 inches from her hips, and 1.5 inches from her thighs while her arms, waist, and chest remained the exact same. To rephrase, Dawn lost inches where we want to lose and she stayed the same everywhere else.

The data is impressive and telling…Plexus seems to help. How else could you explain the FACT that Dawn lost weight, lost body fat, and lost inches without doing anything differently than she had her entire life? It is impossible to argue with data, and Dawn’s results show how well Plexus worked for her.

There is, however, a lot more to the results than the numbers. Dawn could feel a clear change in the way she felt and only Dawn herself could explain these results. If you have ever started a weight loss or exercise plan before, you know exactly what I am talking about.

The first thing Dawn described is that she felt more clear and more alert. While the numbers showed us how much Plexus affected Dawn’s physical health, this testimony shows the effect that Plexus had on her mental health. She was able to think more clearly and remain alert during the day and while working. On top of the mental clarity, Dawn also described that she slept better and had more energy for the month that she took the products.

If I stopped the Plexus review now, it is clear that the products worked well for Dawn. She remarked that she felt a marked decrease in appetite, felt full longer and had a decrease in sugar and carb cravings.  She also noted how for Mothers Day she had gotten her favorite treat, Reese’s peanut butter cups but had no interest in eating them. For many of us, our appetite and our willpower around certain foods is the most dangerous thing in our fight for good health and it is good to know that Plexus can even help us here.

Finally, besides the positive aspects of the products, Dawn reported no negative side effects associated with Plexus. Many people have heard that bloating accompanies the Plexus products, but Dawn and many others have found no evidence of that being true.

WHY WILL PLEXUS WORK FOR YOU?

The short answer to this question is try it. It worked for Dawn, it has worked for thousands of others, and it could work for you.

Please comment below about your experience with Plexus products.

Are you trying to build and maintain a healthy body? Do you use protein powders to achieve your goals? If so, you may need a gluten free protein powder? Yes, I know you’ve heard the stories of how gluten free protein powders can give you gas, but don’t worry. There are gluten free protein powders that don’t have that affect on the body. The best gluten free protein powders include the brands Xendurance, Pure Whey, Onnit Hemp Force Chocomaca Drink and NutriBiotic Rice Protein Powder.

The One Drawback of Using Protein Powders

Protein powders tend to be high in volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). This is the substance which causes the vile smell when you pass gas. It is naturally present in most amino acids compounds. Amino acids, especially those derived from animals have a foul odor when passed through the body. This can be true of gluten free products as well as traditionally composed protein powders.

Protein Powder for Weight Loss

The ideal use of protein powder is to supplement the diet to eliminate the need to consume more calories at meals. Instead, have a protein shake choked with nutrients and far fewer calories. You’ll have a full feeling for several hours until your next meal. Substitute one to two meals per day with protein shakes and watch the pounds shed.

Protein Powder for Building Muscle

You can successfully add muscle by eating right and lifting weights, but to get and keep healthy muscles add protein shakes to your diet. Most protein powders contain peptides that increase blood flow to the muscles. This is why it is recommended that protein powders be consumed immediately after pumping iron and other muscle building exercises. Protein powder taken before and after the workout is the most effective.

Gluten Free Protein Powder

Xendurance Protein Recovery Drink is a gluten free product available in chocolate flavor. It comes in 30 serving sized packages and is fortified with vitamins B6, B12, D and 18 gluten free amino acids. These nutrients along with the electrolytes in the product help support muscle recovery and the development of new lean muscle.

Grass Fed and Gluten Free

Pure Whey is a protein powder sourced from grass fed cows. This grass fed protein powder has zero added sugar and is hormone free, gluten free and rBGH, soy and GMO free. This product is made without a flavor. The user can add fruit to create a flavor profile. Each serving is packed with 24 grams of protein. It is sold in two and five pound containers.

Organic and Gluten Free

Onnit Hemp Force Chocomaca Drink is a vegan protein powder that is made from organic products. Organic hemp, brown rice and peas create the formula that is delivered to the customer free of GMO’s, gluten, soy and dairy. It is balanced with added micronutrients and 16 grams of protein. Mix one scoop of protein powder with 12 ounces of fruit juice to make a revitalizing drink to restore your muscles after a workout.

Gluten Free and Vegan

NutriBiotic Rice Protein Powder comes in raw vegan in a plain flavor. This product is made from organic vegetables. Organic plant enzymes are used in a proprietary fashion and the fiber and carbohydrates are separated from the protein in the whole grain brown rice. The amino acids are not denatured because low temperatures are used during the processing. This product tends to cause the least negative reaction. It causes less foul smelling gas than any of the other gluten free protein powders and each serving provides 12 grams of protein.

When you need a gluten free protein powder, the choices are plentiful, but the best powder is the one which delivers the best results and has the least negative effects. NutriBiotic Rice Protein Powder wins that title by a long shot. It causes less gas and delivers all the benefits expected from a protein powder. It provides 12 grams of protein and only adds 60 calories per serving. Use it as a meal replacement for weight loss one to two times a day and as a supplement to enhance muscle growth. The benefit of using a protein powder is that it can help you achieve your health goals, weight loss or muscle building with a whole lot less effort than most meal plans.

The quality of food we as a nation eat has steadily decreased since the 1950s when most foods were minimally processed, so the diet of the average person has fewer nutrients, vitamins, and minerals than ever before. There is more junk food, fast food, preservatives, and chemicals in our diet, and they add no benefits to the body, they detract. The best way to ensure proper digestion and the recovery of vital nutrients from what you consume is with good probiotics.

Probiotics is a word used in health care that refers to the living microorganisms living naturally in the small and large intestines. This living bacteria is found naturally in the body, but because our food sources have deteriorated and the number of medicines our culture uses daily has increased, healthy bacteria has decreased.

Where are Probiotics Found?

Good probiotics are found in several foods such as plain yogurt, Kefir, and Kombucha drinks. They promote the growth of the microflora and bacteria that is necessary for a healthy digestive system. Most people do not get enough of these few foods, though, so probiotics are successfully produced in a variety of over-the-counter supplements.

Probiotics perform the essential processes at the cellular level, so they are vital in supporting good health and wellness, whether in food or in a variety of natural supplements, including pill, capsule, and liquid forms.

When probiotics are used successfully, and the microorganisms are balanced, they promote a healthy digestive system, strengthen the immune system, skin and hair, and prevent more serious health problems from occurring. But there are a few “rules” to follow or else you are wasting your money on the supplement.

Helpful Hints for Taking Probiotics

First, notice that different brands of probiotics offer differing numbers of CFUs, or the unit, which is used to measure the strength of the probiotic. The majority of brands contain 1-15 billion CFU per dose, which differs for individual requirements. If someone was taking antibiotics or a similar drug every day, this would kill bacteria, so they would need 10-15 billion CFUs in order to replenish the microflora.

For those who have minor gastrointestinal problems or unusual bowel movements, 8 to 10 billion CFUs a day would be sufficient and for those with no health problems, 1 billion CFUs would be enough. But, more important than the quantity is the best time to take probiotics and the best way to take probiotics. These are extremely important to the effectiveness of your supplement.

Tips For Getting the Best Results From Your Supplement

It is a myth that the best time to take probiotics is on an empty stomach before you go to bed or when you wake up. These living cultures need to be fed and watered like all living organisms, so they should be taken just before or after a meal for the best results. They will continue to work throughout your stomach and intestines, and this is key.

Eighty percent of those who are taking probiotics, aren’t taking them correctly. Purchasing cheap probiotics is a waste of good money because they do not have the quality ingredients to promote the essential live cultures. Another requirement is that the probiotics should be refrigerated no matter what brand you choose. By adhering to these recommendations, you will have success.

More Information on Probiotics

There are 18 strains of bacteria that are the most beneficial for your gut. The most common is Lactobacillus Acidophilus or L. Acidophilus, which would be on your yogurt container. All of these long terms don’t mean much to the average person, but what is important is that the probiotics you purchase consist of a variety of bacteria. By balancing the bacteria mix, you guarantee that you’re getting proper digestion.

The medical community acknowledges positive results to the immune system and digestion at any age, and in addition, it’s no mystery that antibiotics are as harmful to our body as they are helpful. They eradicate bad bacteria as well as destroy many different colonies of beneficial bacteria.

Probiotics help restore the depleted system and are essential for maintenance and prevention. In short, having and taking your supplement with a healthy meal provides the best way to use probiotics for a healthy gut and better lifestyle.

Hashimoto’s disease, otherwise known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is a thyroid disease characterized by severe inflammation of the thyroid gland. This autoimmune disorder reduces the normal function of the gland. The state of reduced thyroid function is referred to as hypothyroidism. Oftentimes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is associated with lethargy, weight gain and insufficient growth in children.

Statistics about Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

In the United States alone, Hashimoto’s disease affects about 14 million people. This makes the disease the most common thyroid ailment in the U.S. Women are seven times more susceptible to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis than men. People suffering from this thyroid disorder are at a greater risk of developing autoimmune disorders such as pernicious anemia, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, and vitiligo.

The disease often occurs in young or adolescent women. However, it also appears between the age of 30 and 50 years. This autoimmune disorder tends to be genetic. According to various researchers, the gene that causes Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can be passed to future generations.

What are the best foods for people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Iodine is a vital mineral to the thyroid gland. But it may have harmful side effects on people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Eating foods that contain a lot of iodine may result in hypothyroidism. So, it’s important to be careful when including iodine in a Hashimoto’s disease diet plan.

Treating Hashimoto’s thyroiditis includes making the following dietary changes:

If you have the disease, it’s advisable to go gluten-free first. This may not be easy, but it will help you a lot. I recommend that you go gluten-free for about 90 days.

Gluten is among the biggest autoimmune triggers. Nonetheless, it’s not the only culprit. Be sure to find out foods that may cause gut inflammation. Some of these foods include regular grains and pasteurized dairy products.

Steer clear of added sugar and fast foods. Too much sugar in your diet might cause inflammation of the gut. It may also contribute to other symptoms like nervousness, weight gain, and blood sugar fluctuations. Fast foods contain refined oils that are very low in nutrients. What’s more, the refined oils may cause gut inflammation.

A good diet plan should also include supplements. Supplements can help patients to regulate immune system activities and handle stress better. These include Ashwagandha, vitamin D, selenium, and probiotics.

Medical research has shown that Ashwagandha helps balance T4, which is a vital a thyroid hormone. Probiotics help boost immunity as well as support gut health. Vitamin D acts as a hormone and regulates your immune system.

Before creating a diet plan, it’s important to consult your doctor. A physician will help you understand foods that can interfere with the function of your thyroid glands.

What can cause flare-ups?

Some people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis complain of sudden weight gains. Flare-ups of the disease may come in different forms. You may experience problems sleeping, heart palpitations, anxiety and panic attacks.

An increase in stress can cause autoimmune flare-ups. Surges of insulin also promote these flare-ups. Other causes of flare-ups in people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis include missing meals, ignoring brain health, eating foods containing gluten, taking immune enhancing supplements and passive attitude towards treatment.

What are the symptoms?

When you have the disease, you might not have any symptoms at first. The thyroid enlarges as the disease progresses slowly. This may cause your neck’s front side to appear swollen. An enlarged thyroid is referred to as a goiter. It may bring about a feeling of fullness around the throat.

Most people with an enlarged thyroid don’t experience any form of pain. The disease damages the thyroid over time. Not all people with this disease develop hypothyroidism.

The symptoms of the disease include cold intolerance, weight gain, fatigue, constipation, muscle and joint pain, thinning hair, memory issues, depression, a slowed heart rate, difficulty conceiving and irregular or heavy menstrual problems.

How we can help people

With our custom Hashimoto’s disease diet plan, you can recover from the damages of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The plan is well developed with the patients in mind. It’s easy to follow, and we can always help you adjust the plan to suit your needs.

Famous people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

There are some celebrities with the disease. These include:

Supermodel Kim Alexis

Actress Kim Cantrell

Oprah Winfrey

Singer Linda Ronstadt

The Hidrate Spark 2.0 Smart Bluetooth water bottle is a tech tool to take your hydration and fitness to the next level. The Hidrate Spark Smart water bottle syncs with your smartphone hydration apps, your Apple Watch or your Fitbit app. This might seem like a little bit of overkill, but the reality is that once you start using it you’ll see how much fun it can make reaching your fitness goals and staying hydrated.

How Can it Help Me?

The Hidrate Spark 2.0 doesn’t just let your hydration and fitness apps know how much water you’ve had to drink that day; the bottle also has a selection of lighting options that glow to let you know when you need to keep drinking to meet your goals. This idea of turning your goals into a fun system is called gamification, and it can completely transform your productivity. If you’re a person who is motivated by tech, then this is a gadget for you.

Does it Work?

If your goal is to track your water intake accurately and drink more water, then the answer is yes. The constant reminders were a real game changer when it came to helping me remember to drink more water. Plus, the glowing light is very visually appealing. Looking over and seeing the bottle glowing is a great reminder to not only drink water but also a reminder to take a moment and center yourself. I found it to be a great reminder just to relax and take a quick second for myself during the workday.

The glowing reminders do work well to help you spread out your fluid intake over the day. This will prevent you from getting three-quarters of the way through your day and realizing that you’ve only had a few sips of water, yet you have a hard workout planned for later in the day. This, of course, leads to you chugging water and getting a bloated, sloshy stomach, which is never enjoyable during a workout.

What are the Pros?

I received this as a Father’s Day gift. At first, I thought it was a little bit over the top. I mean, a Bluetooth water bottle? That seemed like overkill, even for a tech guy like me. However, my family knew that drinking more water was an important part of my fitness goals, so I started using it. Overall, I love it and would recommend purchasing it. It syncs easily with various devices, and it’s especially good for Fitbit users as it syncs directly with the app.

It seems to be relatively accurate, although I’ve not tested it for accuracy. I also found the bottle easy to clean. As someone who is constantly trying to drink more water both at work and at the gym, I can tell you that a bottle that is easy to clean is worth mentioning. The shape and size of the opening of some bottles make them so hard to clean they’re barely worth using.

What are the Cons?

Now to the cons portion of the Hidrate Spark review. There aren’t many cons, but one of them is very annoying; leaving the light feature activated can drain the battery pretty fast. This means if you want the bottle to do its job, you’ll have to batteries available. It use3s watch or garage door opener type batteries. I also found the instructions slightly confusing to set it up, even though I’m a relatively techy guy, so this could be a problem for someone with no tech savvy. Sadly, the rubber band that was attached to the lid has already broken.

The price point might be a little much for some people. However, this is a product for people who are heavily invested in their wearable and tracking technology, yet still, need a reminder to drink more water. If this is you, then you probably know it! At $54.95 on their website, it’s expensive enough that you’ll be pretty mad if you lose it, or your kids break it, so keep an eye on it.

Overall, yes, I would purchase this bottle myself. If drinking more water is a goal of yours, then I’d recommend that you purchase it, too.

The FDA nutrition labels have needed an overhaul for a long time. This is because new scientific information has been found. I believe that the changes will likely be for the better because the new labels will be significantly more specific.

What Do the New Label Designs Include?

Many of the changes are simply cosmetic. The visuals are changed because it allows the government to highlight important information. The number of calories that are listed on the package is now in bold font.

This information is important because the number of calories that you consume is typically what determines whether you will gain or lose fat. The caloric amount will now be the largest sized font on the label.

Manufacturers will now have to tell consumers the amounts of specific nutrients that are in food. The current labels simply list a percentage of the daily value. This isn’t an ideal measurement because different people may want to consume smaller amounts of these nutrients.

The new label also highlights the serving size. You already that you can find out the total amount of calories in a package by multiplying the caloric amount and the number of servings. People shopping in the grocery store will likely be able to read the important details a lot easier now.

Nutrition Information Gets an Overhaul

The information on the food label is obviously more important than the label’s visual design. Daily values for some nutrients like sodium are being updated. The new research regarding sodium intake has been heavily debated by scientists.

The listing of the number of calories that come from fat is being removed completely. This is because new research indicates that this information is generally irrelevant to most people.

The most important change to the new labels is the listing of added sugars. The labels now list added sugars alongside the natural sugars. This will hopefully encourage consumers to choose sources of food that only contain naturally occurring sugar.

How is This New Label Better?

All of the aforementioned reasons that are listed will help consumers make more informed health decisions. It is certainly not going to stop most people from eating ice cream and chocolate bars. Those that are looking to make healthier choices will find that the information on the new nutrition label is much easier to read.

You’ll still need to do your own independent research to determine how many calories, carbohydrates and nutrients you personally need. The nutrition facts are simply there to provide hard data on the ingredients. The science on healthy eating is continually being improved and updated.

The most interesting change may be that the serving size must now be based on the amounts of food that people typically consume in one meal. This will make it more clear that potato chips and similar snacks are full of empty calories.

The old label may break up a 6,000 calorie box of cookies into bite-sized servings. These listings may stop food suppliers from tricking consumers into thinking that they are consuming lower calories because the serving sizes are so tiny.

The Storied History of the Nutrition Facts Label

America’s nutrition labels are based on a 1968 study that determined the recommended daily amount of various foods. The nutrition label was mandated to appear on almost all foods during a controversial decision by the FDA commissioner in 1990. Meat and poultry now had to have their nutrition information listed alongside eggs, cheese, and butter.

I believe that the FDA should require all foods to contain nutrition facts. I believe this should also be a requirement for alcohol. Some people absolutely need to count calories and measure nutrients to ensure that they do not become sick.

The new labels should help you achieve your dietary goals in a much more efficient manner. I believe that the labels should continue to change based on consumer health needs and scientific data.

Let’s say you have an impromptu trip or event coming up and you only have 4 weeks to get your booty and core in shape. Try this 4 day a week for 4 weeks booty and core home based workout. Best of all, no gym membership or fitness equipment required. Just you and your time.

A couple key points to remember before you get started on this 4-week program.

1. 6-pack abs start in the kitchen, NOT the gym. You need to lower your overall body fat in order to see them. You can do core everyday for 6 months, but without lowering your body fat, you won’t see any results.

2. The gluteus maximus aka your booty is the largest muscle in the human body. So if you want a nice round booty. You need to treat it like your doing any other isolated exercise. It is just like working the biceps, calves or chest. You need to focus on that muscle to see results.

WEEK 1 & 2
3 minute light cardio warm up: Walk, Bike or Jog

Workout #1(Monday) & #3(Thursday);

Push Up Ladder – Start at 10 reps, then 20-second break, then 9 reps / 20 sec break, 8 reps / 20- second break, till you get to 1 rep.

Single Leg Hip Thrusts – 3 x 10 (Each Leg) 3 = sets, 10 = reps

Core: #AbCity
4 core exercises, each one for 30 seconds for a total of 2 minutes.
4 Rounds.
1. Bicycle
2. Long Arm Crunch
3. Sprinter Up
4. Penguin

Workout #2(Tuesday) & #4(Friday);
3 minute light cardio warm up: Walk, Bike or Jog

Body Squat Ladder – Start at 10 reps, then 20-second break, then 9 reps / 20-second break, 8 reps / 20-second break and so on till you get to 1.
Make sure you squeeze your booty at the top.

Elbow Plank With a Single Leg lift – 3 x 10 (Each Leg) 3 = sets, 10 = reps

Core: #AbCity
4 core exercises, Each one for 30 seconds for a total of 2 minutes.
4 Rounds.
1. Straight Leg Lift
2. Bicycle
3. Alternate V-Ups
4. Hollow Body Hold

Finish each workout with a 2 minute light cardio cool down: Walk, Bike or Jog

WEEK 3 & 4
3 minute light cardio warm up: Walk, Bike or Jog

Workout #1(Monday) & #3(Thursday);

Reverse Push Up Ladder – Start at 1 reps, then 10-second break, 2 reps / 10-second break, 3 reps / 10-second  break and so on till you get to 10.

Single Leg Hip Thrusts – 3 x 15 (Each Leg)

Core: #PlankBeach
3 plank exercises, Each one for 30 seconds for a total of 1:30 minutes. 3 Rounds.
1. High Plank
2. Elbow Plank
3. Plank Up Down

Workout #2(Tuesday) & #4(Friday);
3 minute light cardio warm up: Walk, Bike or Jog

Jump Squat Ladder – Start at 10 reps, then 20-second break, 9 reps / 20-second break, 8 reps / 20-second break and so on till you get to 1.

Elbow Plank Up Down – 3 x 12

Core: #AbCity
4 core exercises, Each one for 30 seconds for a total of 2 minutes. 4 Rounds.
1. Sprinter Up
2. Penguin
3. Flutter Kicks
4. Alternate V-Ups

Finish each workout with a 2 minute light cardio cool down: Walk, Bike or Jog

Diets can be confusing, but knowing what you need in your diet and why can help unscramble some of that confusion. Fats are one of the confusing things. Everyone wants a “fat-free” diet. What they may not know is that some fats are essential in your diet and can even help your diet be more successful.

How do you know what fats are good and what fats are bad?

You have unsaturated fat and saturated fat. Unsaturated fat is good kind that is liquid at room temperature. They help reduce heart disease and can even lower your cholesterol level.Saturated fat is found in your fast food and baked treats. It is bad because it is known to increase your cholesterol level as well as increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. This fat is a solid at room temperature.

What about trans fat?

Trans fat has been put on a time limit to be removed from the food making process by the year 2018. The reason is because it is a cause of cancer, heart disease, and obesity in Americans. Any label that includes high fructose corn syrup has this fat in it. Its purpose is to extend the shelf life of products and make it look more appealing to consumers.

So where can you find good fats?

Good fats are found in non-processed foods. A small list of healthy fat foods include avocados,omega-3 foods, coconut oil, and real butter. These foods also come with extra benefits!

Avocados are able to raise your good cholesterol while taking down the bad. They also are packed with protein and vitamin E. They can be used in many recipes or just as a healthy snack!

Omega-3 is a good fat found in many different places, but most popularly found in fish like salmon. If you aren’t a fan of fish, you can also find it in some nuts such as walnuts or seeds such as flack seed. It is important to make sure you consume enough omega-3 rich food since our bodies don’t produce it on its own. Omega-3 also helps reduce your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Coconut oil has recently become a big deal for its many benefits such as making hair look good and improving brain function. With coconut oil, it is recommended to purchase the extra virgin instead of refined or processed because those kinds have eliminated some of the health benefits.

Real butter contains omega-3 as well as omega-6 which help make your skin look healthy and keep your brain functioning properly. Another benefit to real butter is vitamin K2 that helps keep your bones strong and in good shape. Be sure to get the organic or grass-fed product to get the best benefits.

Is it possible to consume too much good fat?

Just like everything else in life, moderation is key. You will want to know your caloric intake and go from that. It will also depend on how you are getting your good fats because it can be easy to eat too much of one thing and not enough of another to get a wide spectrum of benefits. If you are on a diet you may want to consume less, if you are doing an intense workout program you may want to consume more.

How can I start getting away from bad fats and getting more good fats?

The obvious is to eat less processed foods such as fast food and box dinners. Find lean meats to prepare for your dinners and avoid processed meat like sausage and salami.

Another tip is to switch out your spreads, dressings, and oils to ones that use canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, or other nut oils.

Switching your snacking options is an easy change too. Potato chips and regular chocolate can be switched to almonds, walnuts, or dark chocolate with at least 70% coco if you have a sweet tooth.

While not recommended for children under 2 years old, switching to reduced fat dairy products is a good way to reduce some unnecessary fat intake. Young kids need it to grow strong bones and maintain energy during growing periods but the older you get the less you rely on high-fat dairy. Low-fat yogurt, cheese, and milk are good alternatives.

See? It’s not hard to get away from bad fat for your health!

Little changes to your lifestyle can make a big impact. Just switching out a couple of items a week and watching your intake can reduce your chance of heart disease, obesity, and other health risks associated with eating too much-processed fat. Make sure you are getting your healthy fats from a wide variety of sources so you can get other healthy benefits as well while enjoying unprocessed, good quality food. Your body will thank you in the long run!

If you’re like many party-goers who like to raise a glass, or two, or three, or more during that special occasion, then you know it can quickly get out of hand, resulting in the dreaded morning after effects followed by the “faithful” promise to never drink again. And we believe you, but just in case your friend wants to know, we would like to offer the following hangover cure to help.

What Happens in the Body When You are Hungover

Researchers and scientists are uncertain as to the exact cause of a hangover; however, what they do know is that it has to do with the way our bodies metabolize alcohol and that it affects people differently ranging from slight discomfort to more severe symptoms.

According to scientists (1), there is an enzyme in alcohol called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) that metabolizes ethanol, the type of alcohol in liquor, into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound. Shortly upon consuming a drink, the liver, the body’s major player in the metabolism of alcohol, produces two enzymes in addition to the antioxidant glutathione to break down acetaldehyde.

The problem is, there is only a certain amount of glutathione available in the liver, and it takes time for the liver to generate more, so the toxic acetaldehyde can be stuck lingering in your body for a while, which can cause a variety of symptoms including headache, nausea, drowsiness, increased hyper-excitability, facial flushing, lower blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, concentration problems, dry mouth, anxiety, and more. Symptoms of excessive acetaldehyde can begin as soon as a few hours after drinking but tend to be more pronounced the next day.

In addition, alcohol is a diuretic, which means it can drain your body of fluids, which can leave you dehydrated in the morning.

Hang over symptoms are not always a sign of heavy drinking; sometimes certain beverages can contribute to your symptoms. Alcohol contains chemicals called congeners, which are produced during fermentation and give color and taste to liquor. Darker drinks, such as bourbon, wine, brandy, and whiskey are generally higher in congeners than lighter drinks, such as vodka and white wine, which can cause symptoms in sensitive individuals.

How Vitamin B can Help

Because alcohol is a diuretic, it depletes your body of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins B, which maintains cell health, helps regulate the nervous system, boosts mood, keeps you energized, and more, and vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and protects against damage caused by free radicals, pollutants, toxic chemicals, and more.

According to reports, people who took a vitamin B complex, which included B1, B6, B2, B12, and folic acid, while suffering the effects of heavy drinking, swore by its effectiveness, especially B12, which contributes to a proper nervous system and brain function.

Another popular remedy in the U.S. is to take an effervescent vitamin supplement, such as Emergen-C, that packs a vitamin-induced boost.

Fans of these methods suggest taking one vitamin complex before drinking and then another one the next day with food.

Are There Other Natural Remedies That Work as Well?

If excessive drinking has left you dehydrated, vomiting, or with diarrhea, many people suggest using Pedialyte as needed. Pedialyte is specially formulated to restore moisture and fluids in children who suffer from extreme dehydration. Gatorade and coconut water, which also contain electrolytes, may also help with dehydration.

Some people swear by drinking lots of water to both prevent and cure the effects of binge drinking. Since alcohol dehydrates the body of fluids, the more water your drink, the better you feel. The key is to alternate a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks, then down one or more glasses of water before bed, and then continue to flush your system with water throughout the next day to feel better.

3 Tips to Remember Before and After You Drink

• Drink slowly to allow your liver time to metabolize the alcohol and produce more antioxidants. Typically, your liver can only detoxify one drink per hour.
• Exercise speeds up the metabolism, which helps you sweat out toxins. To help cure the blahs the next day, try exercising to release your body of excess toxins.
• Avoid acetaminophen! If you must reach for the painkillers after a big night out, doctors warn, opt for ibuprofen as opposed to acetaminophen, or Tylenol, which when used in combination with alcohol, can cause kidney and liver damage.

If you find yourself hung over, searching for the perfect cure, you should know that you are not alone. In fact, since the beginning of time people have been on a quest to find the perfect cure, eventually coming to rely on such interesting ingredients like pickled sheep eyes, owls eggs, and fried canary. So if all else fails, just the thought of knowing you don’t have to rely upon ancient remedies should be enough to make you feel better.

Reference

(1). Minnick, F. (March 2014). Scientific American. In search of a Cure for the Dreaded Hang over: Can science help the physical after effects of drinking too much alcohol-if not the regrets?  Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-search-of-a-cure-for-the-dreaded-hangover/

Vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals and they are very low in calories. Most nutritionists recommend that each day, you have between 2 ½ and 6 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables each day. If you are on a diet or if you are trying to eat right, you should start adding more vegetables to your diet. You can add vegetables to every meal. You can put them in your omelet in the morning for breakfast, you can have a salad for lunch, and you can add vegetables as a side dish to your dinner. There are plenty of ways that vegetables can be incorporated into every meal of the day. The way to eat your vegetables where you don’t lose any of the vitamins and minerals is by eating them raw, however, if you want to cook your vegetables, you should know how. The two most common methods of preparing vegetables are boiling and steaming. If you are going to start adding more vegetables to your diet, you should know which method is the healthiest and also, the pros and cons of each.

Boiling Vegetables
Boiling vegetables is the most common method of cooking them. People often boil vegetables because it is simple. You prepare your vegetables by peeling them and cutting them and put them in a pot of water. You would turn the burner on high and boil the vegetables until they are tender. As the vegetable boil, you can lose some of the vitamins and the nutrients in the cooking water. The longer you allow the vegetables to boil, the more nutrients will escape. If you are making a stew or a soup, the nutrients won’t be lost as quickly as if you were just boiling the vegetables in water. If you overcook your vegetables, you can dull the color of the vegetable as well as the flavor.

Steaming Vegetables
When it comes to steaming your vegetables, there are a few ways that you can do it. The most common are with a vegetable steamer. If you don’t have a steamer, you can use a pot as long as it has a lid that fits on properly. Fill the pot with just enough water so that it is covering the bottom of the pan only. Next, add the vegetable and put the lid on. Cook your vegetables on high. After you hear the water boiling, you should remove the pan from the burner. When the water starts to boil, it will create steam which will cook the vegetables. You can also steam your vegetables in the microwave. Pour enough water in a microwave safe bowl and add the vegetables. Put the lid on and cook for about 3 minutes. This will steam your vegetables completely. When you steam your vegetables they won’t be in boiling water. This will allow them to keep most of the nutrients. You can also purchase frozen vegetables that can be steamed right in the bag. Unfortunately, any method that you use to cook your vegetables lose a little bit of the nutrients, but not as much. Steaming the vegetables also keeps them crispier and more flavorful.

Which Nutrients are Lost and Gained While Cooking Vegetables?
If you are going to be cooking your vegetables, there are certain nutrients that are released, so that when you eat them, you get more than if you were eating them raw. These include antioxidants such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid. If you want to load up on antioxidants, you should either steam or boil your vegetables. While you can gain some nutrients when you cook your vegetables you can lose some. The nutrients that are most commonly lost while cooking vegetables are vitamin B and vitamin C.

If you want to know the best way to cook veggies and you are debating steamed vs boiled, steamed is the healthier alternative. Steaming the vegetable will also make them taste better and they will look more appetizing. If you are eating carrots, broccoli, and pepper, for example, you want the to keep the bright and vibrant color. Steaming will help you to keep these colors in your vegetables, bringing color and life to your plate.