We have an obesity epidemic in the U.S, in all age groups. Obesity is generally caused by a combination of poor dietary and exercise habits. Dietary habits are developed via cultural introduction and availability of food resources. Our diverse culture presents a significant variety of foods. However, our media promotes style, and our entertainment venues regularly offer menus that are frequently not in our best health interests. . . . .

Most persons with a sense of quality, contemporary health, nutrition and fitness have a reasonable understanding of good dietary and exercise practices. Moreover, the battle is generally that of taking action versus accepting the fallback mantra of “be satisfied with who you are.” The latter is acceptable only if you have acknowledged that where you are is not where you want/need to be, and the satisfaction is based upon your efforts in transition. If you need a new strategy, you may wish follow these seven free steps to guaranteed weight loss.

If you are not yet convinced, consider the following. The media is still promoting H1N1 vaccination (we have to get rid of the overstock), but the real epidemic in the U.S. is obesity. Affecting more than sixty percent of the population, it will cause far more morbidity and mortality than the flu. It affects all age groups. Moreover, its high prevalence is a measure of our self-deception. If you don’t believe that you are deceiving yourself, then be your own fitness spy.

Get a small notebook and record the following:

1. The time of day you eat and drink anything with calories.

2. Your hunger level (1-10 scale) at the time of your intake.

3. What and how much did you eat and/or drink?

4. Did you apply gravies, toppings, dressings, etc., and what volume?

5. Your mood when you eat and/or drink.

6. Your reason for eating and/or drinking.

7. Describe your exercise for the day.

After recording your consumption activity for approximately three weeks, review it against what you know to be good practices. Make some decisions and develop some strategies to address your findings (mistakes) and start again. Enjoy being a “fitness spy”, and the next thing you’ll be recording is your successful steps to weight loss, guaranteed.

Permanent degradation is not a foregone conclusion when you notice problems with memory. Health, nutrition and fitness habits should be evaluated when memory appears to be flagging. Consider the following possible contributors:

1. Poor sleeping habits it the most common cause of occasional slips in memory. Make time for healthy rest.

2. Acute infection frequently clouds thinking. Chronic illness of any type often precipitates excessive mood changes, which has an untoward effect on memory. Take care of your health in general.

3. Emotional distress often adversely affects memory. A calm mind is a healthier mind.

4. Pharmaceutical agents such as sleep agents, opiates, anxiolytics and some blood pressure medications and a good memory often conflicting objectives. Talk to your doctor about any side effects of medications.

5. Alcohol overuse may both effect your cerebral tissues permanently and have numerous short term adverse effects, including affecting memory. Moderate alcohol use significantly. Moreover, there are much healthier sources of anti-oxidants than red wine.

6. Poor circulation is can be circumferential, effecting your body and mind. Exercise regularly.

Eat well (including vitamin supplementation as needed, e.g., B-12), sleep well and exercise regularly. Take care of your health, nutrition and fitness for the good of your memory.

Some of us have the misperception that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is there to protect us (the people) and the environments in which we live. However, governmental organizations such as this are constantly compromising in favor of economic forces. The Swiss herbicide, Atrazine, is applied to an estimated seventy-five percent of cornfields in the US.

In spite of mounting data suggesting adverse affects on male wildlife, the EPA has defended its application for the past five years. Potomac River male fish and frogs have been demonstrated to become feminized, that latter even functioning sexually as females. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated development of female characteristics in birds, rats, fish and frogs.

The EPA is finally starting to acknowledge work by researchers in the US, most recently from a team led by Dr. Tyrone Hayes at UC Berkeley, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Meanwhile, to protect your developing male children and your adult virility, consider the risk associated with consuming non-organic corn. The EPA sure isn’t watching out for you.

Overuse of antibiotics leads to development of resistant strains of bacteria and an increased diversity of infections in the general population. Even though our immune systems are generally very effective at fighting off infection, prudent holistic remedies and home supplementation can help fight common infections, naturally.

1. Nasal Sinusitis (stuffy, runny, sneezing nose) - mix table salt and baking soda (1/2 teaspoon each) into approximately 5 ounces of boiled water. Allow the solution to cool to room temperature. Irrigate nasal passages alternately via small squirt bottle, twice daily.

2. Sore Throat - Mix 3 drops of “bitter orange” with salt water and gargle three times a day.

3. Cough - (a) 10 drops of liquid Allicin placed into a home nebulizer, twice daily, during the course of your recovery. Or (b) lungwort tincture, the dose dependent upon the product concentration (see bottle), used 2 - 3 times per day for three days. Or (c) Reishi, 3,000 mg, three times per day during the course of your recovery.

4. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) - most commonly viral in origin, try warm moist compresses made with Chamomille tea, applied for 15 minutes, three times per day.

5. Urinary tract inflammation - drink eight ounces of an acidic juice (e.g., cranberry, lemon, lime) twice daily.

Help your immune system fight common infections, naturally.

Everyone is looking for the natural fountains of youth. Antioxidants are the free radical fighters that help get the job done for you. The following are your top five antioxidant sources.

1. Popcorn (just take it easy on the butter and salt)
2. Red beans
3. Blueberries
4. Pinto beans
5. Cranberries

Live long and prosper.

1. Flavanoids. Add a ¼ of dark chocolate bar per week or 1 cup of green tea per day.
2. Carbohydrates. Limit intake of low quality carbohydrates such as white rice and bread, regular sodas, refined sugar based cookies and candies, replacing them with fruits/vegetables, grains and increasing amounts of protein (legumes, chicken, turkey, and fish).
3. Lipoic acid. Vegetables such as peas, spinach, broccoli are full of this antioxidant that supports memory. You may also stop by the drugstore and pick a supplement, 600 mg per day.
4. Gluten. Consider paring back on this dietary element.
5. Tumeric powder. In Indian spice, this has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties (works synergistically, even more effectively, combined with ground black pepper) and interferes with development of “amyloid plaques” that are a hallmark of cerebral neurodegeneration. Consider adding it to a variety of foods.
6. Testosterone. Older men and sometimes women should check.
7. Do you snore or have sleep apnea? Poor breathing habits at night may cause poor brain oxygenation and increased fatigue with poor cognitive function during waking hours. See your doctor.

Sushi rolls and Sashimi can bring zesty flavors to your diet and contribute healthy omega-3 oils to your consumption habits. Its all tasty, but be careful.

1. Freezing may retard bacterial growth, but may not kill the bacteria. As such, raw, contaminated, frozen or fresh product can all be problematic. As always, visit only very clean appearing restaurants and order only as much as you can consume in a single sitting.
2. Raw fish sometimes contains parasites such as tapeworms or nematodes. Freezing fish essentially eliminates such risk. The FDA requires restaurants to freeze fish before preparation in these dishes, but enforcement is challenging. So, at always ask if the fish was frozen prior to its use when you order these products.
3. To limit mercury consumption avoid products made from larger fish. The higher on the food chain, the greater the bioaccumulation.

If your bigotry extends to your diet then maybe you will observethat you have very bland, tan, white, brown or other monochromatic tendencies to your eating habits.

In general, green, red, yellow, purple, white and orange fruits and vegetables contain a variety of vitamins and antioxidants, making for a very healthy diet.  Diversity in your diet, with numerous regular servings of fruits, vegetables, grains is a healthy foundation of a great lifestyle.  So, don’t be a dietary bigot, pursue variety, pursue diversity.

Addtionally, there is a lot of variety for those of you who like milk with your cookies. For those who cannot consume cows’ milk, there is also goat’s milk, soymilk, almond and hazel nut milk, oat milk, hemp milk, and rice milk. Milk does a body good. Viva diversity!

The brain is a dense tangle of interconnections. This thicket (bush) can grow or lose new branches daily. Mental activity builds synapses in a manner similar to physical activity building muscles. However, as muscular fitness is a multifaceted process including nutrition, resistance exercise, stretching, oxygenation, and adequate rest, care for your brain is very similar.

Brain care includes regular engagement in mentally challenging activities, physical exercise to encourage circulation, avoidance of recreational, medicinal and environmental toxicants, as you are able, consumption of foods high in B complex vitamins and antioxidants, and low in fats to lessen cerebral atherosclerosis.