Vitamin C For A Better See

Aside from improving resistance against diseases and cell repair, studies show Vitamin C is also an important nutrient for our eyes.

As one of the most popular vitamins, Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most studied nutrients. While usually associated with improving resistance to infections such as cold and flu as well as preventing scurvy, there are more and more studies showing the increasing benefits of this vitamin.

Many scholars were fascinated by Vitamin C to a point that they elevated it to a super-vitamin status. Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Linus Pauling, even promoted taking large doses of ascorbic acid to prevent and treat heart ailments and cancer. Although many doctors are currently debating on whether Pauling's megavitamin therapy of Vitamin C is a quackery or a key ingredient to “overcome the major killers in the industrialised world”, still all of them advise a daily intake of ascorbic acid in right dosages for better health.

One of the understated benefits of Vitamin C is its contribution to the health of our eyes. Aside from Vitamin A, studies show that an adequate daily dosage of ascorbic acid can also improve our eyesight. In fact, the American Optometric Association (AOA) website stated the many benefits of vitamin C to our organs for seeing. 

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1. Reduces the possibility of visual impairment

The body needs vitamin C for repairing and nourishing our cells, including those of the eyes. Likewise, ascorbic acid supports the health of blood vessels in our eyes that supplies essential nutrients for better vision.

2. Lowers the risk of developing cataracts.

A study showed that women who take in Vitamin C for ten years or more experienced reduced their risk of developing nuclear cataracts by 64 percent. Another research found out that women who use 364 mg of vitamin C daily lowered their risk of certain types of cataracts by 57 percent.

3. Slows down the progress of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

In the West, AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people of 55 years and older. Experts believe AMD cases will triple by 2025. A daily 500-mg intake of Vitamin C, together with beta-carotene, vitamin E, and zinc, slows the advancement of AMD by about 25 percent, according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). The study also revealed that Vitamin C also delays visual acuity loss by 19 percent.

Taking care of your eyes will enable you to "see a brighter future." We need an ample dose of Vitamin C for this. Sadly, with the worsening pollution and the dominance of unhealthy food in our diet, we need more Vitamin C from our diet. Fortunately, there are available quality supplements for better visual health. 

Stride Away From Triglycerides: 5 Foods You Should Avoid

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You may be keeping your eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but there is another thing you should monitor. Triglycerides are fats or lipids in the food you eat that are carried into your blood that can increase your risk of heart problems. You should maintain less than 150 mg of triglyceride per deciliter of blood to be in the safe range.

Here are five foods and beverage you should avoid to reduce your risk of having a high level of triglyceride:

1. Trans and Saturated Fats

If possible, turn away from all sorts of trans fats, and products with hydrogenated fat or oil on the label. A high amount of trans fat can be found in processed foods so you better go for natural and home cooked meals. Always check the nutrition facts label when you buy food products just to be sure.

This type of fat can also be found in the following:

• burgers
• bacon
• sausage
• fried chicken
• turkey skin
• luncheon meats
• hotdogs
• organ meat
• fish canned in oil
• high-fat dairy products

Saturated fats include fats and oil in butter, lard, bacon drippings, gravy, cream sauces, palm oil, and coconut oil. Use olive, canola, walnut, and flaxseed oils instead.

2. Simple Sugars

The body makes triglycerides from excess calories, especially from simple carbohydrates found in sugar-rich foods. Simple sugars include most sweets such as cakes, pastries, doughnuts, ice cream, and desserts.

Simple sugars can also be found on products with corn syrup, fructose, glucose, honey, maltose, molasses, and sucrose.

3. Refined Grain Products

Refined grain products are quickly metabolized to simple sugars after being eaten, and may lead to an increase in the triglyceride levels and lower good cholesterol. Start replacing your white products with whole-grain products instead.

Stay away from white bread, white pasta, white rice, and processed and high-sugar cereals.

4. Starchy Vegetables

It’s healthy to choose vegetables over other types of foods, but starchy vegetables should be avoided if you are watching your triglyceride levels. After consumption, starchy vegetables quickly turn to simple sugars.

Starchy vegetables include corn, beans, dried peas, lima beans, and potatoes. You can replace these starchy veggies with other options such as cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, and many other non-starchy vegetables.

5. Alcohol

Sugars are natural parts of alcohol, may it be beer, wine, or any type of liquor. Too much intake of alcohol equals to sugar, and sugar can drive up your triglyceride levels. The resulting glucose from alcohol is then converted to triglycerides.

Choose what you eat wisely. You should maintain a low triglyceride level than obtain high risks of different health problems that can be caused by too high triglyceride levels.

Stride away from triglycerides and make your best effort to avoid the foods and drinks listed above!

7 Fit-spirational Quotes To Inspire You To Live Healthy

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Staying fit and healthy has always been the collective dream of a majority of people. But, how can you start your fitness and weight loss journey? 

A car needs fuel to keep moving. A kite needs the wind to keep flying. A dreamer needs a dream to keep doing their thing. A person needs inspiration to keep going.

Here are 7 fit-spirational quotes to get your health and fitness journey rolling:

#1 Stop wishing. Start doing.

No one ever gets fit or healthy by merely wishing it. Your dreams will happen if you’ll actually start doing something about them. Stop living in your daydreams and start acting on your dreams. You don’t have to start big; you just have to start, period. You don’t have to do insane workouts; you can start with exercises that you’re comfortable with. From there, level up your workout’s intensity little by little.

#2 Be stronger than your strongest excuse.

Excuses won’t bring you anywhere. They won’t even burn your calories. When excuses start to barge in, fight it head on with your dream goals and motivation. The voice in your head that says you can’t do things is a liar. Don’t let your excuses dictate the way you live. Look at your goals more than your excuses.

#3 Every day is a chance to get better.

You are given 365 chances per year to be better every day. Why not make use of these days to do something worthwhile than just lay on the couch and watch movies the whole day? Challenge yourself daily. Each day is a new day to start achieving your goals.

#4 What you eat in private, you wear in public.

Be accountable for yourself. What you do in private will eventually be revealed in public. Start replacing your usual food with healthier choices. Don’t deprive yourself of food; instead, choose foods that are good for you and your body. Say goodbye to junk so you won’t look like one.

#5 It’s not about having time; it’s about making time.

You may be busy with work, school, or other responsibilities, but if you really love your body, you’ll make time for it. You are given 24 hours a day to do every single thing you need to do. An hour a day or even thirty minutes of exercising will bring big changes in your body over time.

#6 Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret.

A tiny piece of gold takes long hours to produce. Your dream body won’t also come off as easy as 1, 2, 3. It takes discipline and hard work to achieve your fitness dreams. It’s better to suffer the pain of discipline than suffer the pain of regret right? Achieving a healthy body is never easy; but if you don’t stop, you’ll get better day by day. Look at your finish line and keep going.

#7 The best project you’ll ever work on is you.

When you eat healthily and exercise regularly, it’s you who’ll benefit. You are not doing these things for other people. Be motivated by your love for your own body. Your journey will never be easy, but it’s for your own good. Start working on your biggest project now – you.

It’s better to feel sore today than be sorry tomorrow. Carry these fitspirational tips with you always, and keep that health and fitness journey going!

If you want a professional to help you attain your fitness goals, click here.

Go Loco with Avocado: 10 Reasons Why It’s Good for You

Go loco with avocado now!
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Avocado is more than just a fruit, it’s a super fruit. Numerous studies show the many health benefits eating an avocado can do for you and your body. Avocados are like convenience stores—they’ve got it all for you. 

Here are 10 of the many reasons why you should add avocados to your diet now:

#1 Avocados are impressively nutritious.

Given its incredible health properties, avocado is often termed as a superfood. An avocado contains a wide variety of more than 25 essential nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, copper, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains several beneficial phytochemicals such as beta-sitosterol, glutathione, and lutein.

#2 Avocados help maintain a healthy heart.

The vitamin B6 and folic acid content of avocados help regulate homocysteine levels—levels associated with increased risks of heart diseases. Avocado is also a high-fat food. No, it’s not the kind of fat that you imagine. Avocados are rich in a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid. Oleic acid is a “heart-healthy” fatty acid, which is also found in olive oil.

#3 Avocados can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol, a compound proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. Numerous studies have also proven that consuming avocados can regulate LDL and HDL cholesterol, and even blood triglycerides.

#4 Avocados regulate blood sugar levels.

The monounsaturated fats in avocados aren’t only good for the heart, they can also reverse insulin resistance to help regulate blood sugar levels. Avocados are also loaded with a rich amount of fiber. The soluble fiber in avocados doesn’t only contribute to weight loss, it also reduces blood sugar spikes.

#5 Avocados have anti-aging properties.

Avocados contain glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that combats free radicals and toxins in the body. Glutathione supplements are commonly used now by a majority of people to have beautiful, glowing skin. An avocado, aside from being natural, does more than that, it also defies symptoms of aging.

The avocado oil is also even added in many cosmetics because of its skin nourishing ability. An avocado a day may help you grow old, without making you look like it.

#6 Avocados may help prevent cancer risk.

The oleic acid in avocados does more than just keeping your heart healthy. Many studies have shown that it is also effective in preventing certain types of cancers such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. It can also help reduce the downsides of chemotherapy.

#7 Avocados can cure bad breath.

What you take in contributes to the smell of your breath. Avocados cleanse the intestine to rid you of coated tongue and bad breath. This fruit is considered as one of the best natural mouthwash and bad breath remedy.

#8 Avocados increase nutrient absorption.

Taking in nutrients isn’t enough. Our body needs to absorb them as well. Avocados can do the absorption trick for you. Some nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, and carotenoids are fat soluble—meaning they need to be combined with fat in order to be utilized by the body. A study showed that adding avocado or avocado oil to your meal can increase antioxidant absorption by 2.6 to 15-fold. Add an avocado whenever you eat vegetables to make sure the nutrients are absorbed in the body—not put to waste.

#9 Avocados promote eye health.

Avocados aren’t only good for antioxidant absorption; they are rich in antioxidants as well. Two of the antioxidants present in avocados, carotenoid lutein, and zeaxanthin are essential for maintaining healthy eyes. These nutrients even reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration in aging men and women.

#10 People who eat avocados are proven to be healthier.

A survey in the U.S. has shown that avocado consumers were found to be healthier than those who didn’t eat avocados. People who incorporated avocados in their regular diet weighed less, had a lower BMI, and less belly fat than non-avocado eaters.

Aren’t you convinced yet? More than these incredible benefits, avocados are delicious and easy to incorporate into every meal. Avocados are weight loss friendly, heart healthy, eye healthy, et cetera while being incredibly tasty! What more can you ask for in a fruit? Go loco with avocado now!

For more information on how to support your weight loss and nutrition success, click here.

6 Food Hacks for A Sexier You

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Have you always envied your friend who eats tons of food yet never gets big nor fat? Have you always wished you had a fast metabolism like hers?

Take note that your genes play a big part in your body’s metabolism, but you have the power to tweak your metabolic rate.

There are three different body types:

• Mesomorphs - those with athletic builds
• Endomorphs - those with bigger builds
• Ectomorphs - those with very thin builds 

Whether you are born an endomorph, you can still hack your way to a faster metabolism. Here are food choices that could rev up your metabolism naturally:

Kiwi

Kiwis are packed with a rich amount of Vitamin C. Adding 500 mg of this vitamin to your diet can help you burn up to 39% more fat when you exercise. Though, overdosing Vitamin C and reaching the 2,000 mg mark can make you experience unfavorable effects like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Whole grains

Whole grains, like oats, barley, and brown rice, are rich in fiber and take longer to digest. These foods help your body to burn more fat because of the extra effort it needs to break them down than processed grains.

Capsaicin

Spice up your meals with capsaicin rich foods like chili peppers. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that has the ability to rev up your metabolism fast. More than that, capsaicin stimulates certain proteins known to break down fat.

Lean meat and protein

Lean meat like skinless chicken, turkey, and red meat are rich in iron. Iron deficiencies can slow your metabolism. To add, foods rich in protein, like chicken or eggs, can prevent overeating by making you feel fuller for a longer period of time.

Green Tea

Drinking several cups of green tea per day is a natural way to raise your metabolic rate naturally. Research suggests that its EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate content can also contribute to a rise in fat and calorie burn.

Water

Not having enough water or being mildly dehydrated, can cause your metabolism to slow down. Water is needed by the body to food processing and conversion of calories into usable energy. Another tip is to drink cold water, cold water forces your body to use more calories in order to warm it up.

No matter what type of body you’re born with, simple dietary modifications and healthy exercise habits can make a big difference in how fast your metabolism can be. Try eating more of these foods and speed up your way to weight loss!

If you’re looking for a nutrition program specifically designed to fit your needs, click here.

How to Say Goodbye to Binge Eating

Have you experienced overeating fatty, salty, and sugary foods, especially when stressed or depressed? Do you feel like your problems will only be relieved by eating? Do you turn to food for comfort? Are you desperate to lose weight yet feel powerless to stop eating? Do you feel helpless to say no to food, even when you want to?

If so, you might be suffering from B.E.D. or Binge Eating Disorder. 

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

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You might tend to overeat occasionally especially in eat-all-you-can restaurants or during birthday parties, but binge eating is more than that. Binge eaters overeat uncontrollably and regularly. They tend to eat even when they have just finished their meal or when they’re not even hungry.

Binge eating often leads to significant weight gain, obesity, digestive problems, breathlessness, and emotional and psychological symptoms of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem.

What leads to binge eating?

Binge eating is driven by at least three emotions: depression, anger, and anxiety. Do you remember that time when you were so heartbroken that you finished half a gallon of ice cream? You’re not alone. I experienced that as well!

More than being an eating disorder, binge eating is a psychological disaster. Feelings of depression, anxiousness, and anger lead you to binge. Then you feel depressed, uneasy, and angry about your bingeing, so you binge even more. Binge eating is stuffing feelings down with overeating to shoo away feelings of depression, anger, and anxiety. It is using food as an escape to these negative feelings.

How to say goodbye to binge eating?

Have hope because B.E.D. is a treatable eating disorder, especially with appropriate help, motivation, and support. Here are simple tips to start with:

·        Have control over your emotions. Don’t be a slave of your emotions. Find ways to handle stress and other overwhelming emotions without using food. Overwhelming emotions and stress raise your levels of cortisol prodding you to crave for high-sugar and high-carb foods. Take a break and relax. Engage in meditation and exercises to keep your emotions stable.

·          Don’t skip meals. Stick to small frequent healthy snacks a day. Never skip. Skipping meals often lead to starvation that leads to binge eating later in the day. It raises your hunger hormone ghrelin, making you say yes to every food you see.

·         Stay active. Keep yourself busy with fun activities to distract you from the call of overeating. Stay away from being idle. Read a book. Walk your dog. Exercise. Find a new hobby to be busy with. Staying active counterattacks the call of unnecessary food cravings that leads to binge eating.

·           Don’t keep problems to yourself. When you feel like a surge of overwhelming emotions is coming, talk to someone instead of diving to your refrigerator for food. Turn to family or friends for comfort. It may not be easy for you to open up your feelings at first, but you’ll eventually get used to it. Talking to someone close will lessen the heaviness you feel while overeating will just make you heavy, both literally and figuratively.

·         Get help and support. Have someone accountable for you. Find a solid support network. Lean on your family and friends for support. You can also ask for expert help from therapists or professionals. Saying goodbye to binge eating can’t happen overnight, but having people who’ll constantly walk with you in your pursuit will make it easier.

·          Love yourself and your body. Don’t be hard on yourself. When you binge again, forgive yourself and try and try and try again.

Binge eating is more than an eating disorder, it starts in the mind. To say goodbye to binge eating is to welcome positivity in your life. Take charge of your emotions before they start taking charge of your life and appetite!

How to Reboot Hormones for Weight Loss

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Losing weight has been a constant struggle for a majority of people. At present, two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese – and the numbers continue to increase.

Have you been one of those trying numerous diets and exercises yet still far away from losing weight? The problem may be in your hormones. Hormones hold the key to effective weight loss. 

Reboot and balance your weight loss hormones with these simple tips:

Log off from stress.

Have you ever wondered why you are binge-eating every time you are stressed? That’s the result of the adrenal glands’ release of the stress hormone cortisol. When you’re stressed, your high level of cortisol also prods you to crave for high-sugar and high-carb foods. Furthermore, cortisol causes you to accumulate more abdominal fat.

To balance out the fat-storing cortisol, log yourself off from stress. Reduce stress by doing things you love and having some me-time or simply taking a break to relax your mind and body. Keep calm – and you’ll lose weight better.

Shut down and sleep.

More than the ugly eye bags, not having enough sleep can also give you unwanted flab. Lack of sleep lowers weight loss sidekick leptin and increases hunger hormone ghrelin, urging you to eat more food the following day. Leptin is your appetite suppressor, telling you when you should stop eating.

Be sure to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day to raise your levels of leptin and avoid leptin resistance. You can also add darker curtains in your bedroom for better sleep.

Restart your exercise.

Get off your couch and start moving. Regular exercise relieves stress and promotes better slumber. Exercise doesn’t only help you burn fat and build muscles, it also counterattacks unnecessary food cravings and binge-eating.

Just get moving regularly through a variety of exercises you can choose from. You can walk or ride a bike to work, walk your dog, dance with friends, or play your favorite sports.

Start eating right.

Have you practiced skipping breakfast with the belief that it will shave you off some calories? That’s a big no-no! Skipping meals raise your hunger hormone ghrelin, making you say yes to every food item you see. Ghrelin is high in the morning after sleeping all night, so it’s necessary to eat breakfast to keep its balance.

In order to keep ghrelin low, you need to eat small food portions every 3-4 hours. It is also recommended to avoid very-low-calorie diets. Eating properly and frequently helps avoid the surges of ghrelin that triggers uncontrollable hunger.

To sum it all up, weight loss literally and figuratively starts from within you. Reboot your weight loss hormones and flaunt your dream body that’s worth an Instagram post!

Intro-juicing Anti-Aging Juicing Recipes

Experiencing aging is like riding a seesaw in life’s playground. It has its own set of ups and downs. With aging comes beautiful memories you wouldn’t want to leave and detestable side effects that wouldn’t want to leave you.

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Though you can’t escape aging, you can befriend it. Through making wise choices in your life, exercise, and diet, you can triumph over aging’s side effects. One healthy and natural way to do that is through juicing. You are just a kitchen away from feeling younger, healthier, and looking more beautiful even with age.

Here are anti-aging juicing recipes you can try to achieve your healthy glow: 

Eggplant Carrot Juice

• 1 eggplant
• 3 carrots
• 2 apples
• 1 celery stalk

Vegetables that are dark in color, like eggplants, are rich in antioxidants that help slow down your aging process. This fruity-veggie mix also provides antivirus benefits, improves your blood flow, lowers your cholesterol levels, protects your cell walls, and reduce your risks of cancer.

Parsley Energy Explosion

• 1 large bunch of parsley
• 2 carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 celery stalk

Parsley doesn’t only boost up your energy, it can also oxygenate your blood with its high levels of chlorophyll. This energy explosion also helps you avoid that “old man’s breath” as it serves as a breath freshener. It also helps you look and feel young with its detoxification and energizing benefits.

Red Pepper Beauty Juice

• 2 red peppers
• 2 carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 broccoli spear

The high amount of carotenoids present in red peppers can improve the look of your skin even as you age while preventing symptoms of arthritis. This beauty concoction also protects your cardiovascular system and reduces your bad cholesterol enabling you to do more in your daily activities.

Parsnip Carrot Juice

• 3 parsnips
• 3 carrots
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 apple

Parsnips are like carrots but are much sweeter. It is also a good source of Vitamins C, folate, and manganese. This powerful rejuvenation combo alkalizes your blood, benefits your weakening eyesight, soothes your nervous system, and prevents you from having skin cancer or melanoma which is most common in women.

Your fountain of youth hides within just a cup of mixed fruits and vegetables. Try adding these anti-aging juicing recipes to your diet for at least 30 days and feel the anti-aging difference!

When Age is Just A Number: Tips on How to Age with Grace

Aging is an inescapable stage in everyone’s lives. Every birthday celebration is a step closer to aging. We see our children having their own families and realize how time has flown so fast. We experience different changes in our bodies that start to hinder our usual activities. We can’t avoid aging, but we can face it head on!

Here are some tips on how to age with grace:

Resolve to live a healthy lifestyle.

The choices of food we intake in our younger years will surely affect our body’s condition in our later years. If we eat too much junk, our bodies will age faster and also feel like junk. We are what we eat and what we do with our bodies.

Replace junk food with healthier snacks such as fresh fruits and yogurt. Instead of unhealthy processed foods, start buying different whole foods as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meat.

Get some exercise and keep your body moving regularly. According to Mayo Clinic, exercise has a lot of benefits to our bodies. It controls weight, combats health condition and disease, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep, and help you enjoy physical intimacy better.

Say goodbye to vices.

It’s better to bid farewell to all your vices early on than to say goodbye to the world early in life. Alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction, and other unhealthy habits rob us of a graceful aging process.

Before you light another cigarette, keep in mind that every stick sends 7,000 chemicals inside the body that harm nearly every organ in it.

Excessive alcohol intake will offer you liver cirrhosis, cancer, irregular heartbeats, and more unwanted effects.

It’s not easy to say goodbye to vices instantly, but you have to consider that it’s worth your life and your future.

Consider medical help.

For a more personal program in choosing to age gracefully, it’s always best to ask for professional help. Genemedics Health Institute is one for the list. They offer nutrition consultation and personally designs nutrition plans for different kinds of individuals.

A personalized nutrition program is like a perfectly tailored suit or gown that could make you look your best -- even in the aging process.

According to Charles S. Swindoll, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Aging is just 10% of our later lives. The 90% is dependent on how we choose to react to aging. Start changing the way you think and live. Choose to age with grace!