This post is devoted to fiber, a topic few people would like to spend time talking about, but one that is nonetheless extremely important to your overall health and well-being. So sit back, relax, and enjoy getting a quick course of what fiber is, why it is important and how you can get enough of it in your diet to help you achieve optimal health. (more…)
Ironically enough, many people consume a diet that puts a considerable amount of stress on their bodies, in essence creating a chronic stress response. Dieting itself can put a strain on the adrenal glands because it leads to low blood sugar. Americans love to diet; it’s been estimated that 56% of the US population is dieting at any given time and that the average dieter makes four attempts at dieting every year. This can result in wild fluctuations in cortisol levels as the adrenals attempt to regulate your blood sugar. This is very inefficient and sets the stage for chronically low blood sugar, and often, excessive crankiness! (more…)
Need an excuse to start a garden this spring? A study conducted by the University of Utah found that people who garden in community gardens weigh less than their non-gardening neighbors. (more…)
Check out this infographic from Health Central about what sleep deprivation can do to your health. Get 8 hours tonight! (more…)
Low Fat, fat free and diet food and beverage products do not have a very good track record at helping people lose weight or keep it off. At Optimal Body Balance, we know this. We believe that healthy fat must be part of a well-balanced diet. You have to eat fat to lose fat. You also have to eat fat for your brain to function effectively, to create necessary hormones, to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and to be a happy person. Fat free dairy is a huge thing in our society. Almost any doctor or dietitian you talk to will say that fat free dairy is the way to go — never buy the full fat version. Recently though, there have been a few interesting studies about fat free milk vs whole milk and weight gain in children (more…)
Last week, federal health officials reported that only 11% of the 79 million Americans who have pre-diabetes know that they are at increased risk. At Optimal Body Balance, we talk about diabetes and insulin resistance all the time, and we know that everyone has some degree of insulin resistance. In fact, our entire eating plan is designed to balance blood sugar and prevent insulin resistance. (more…)
Give the gift of health!
