http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/food/can-meat-be-a-health-hazard.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/can-meat-be-a-health-hazard.html Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Picture this: you are standing at the shelf of your local supermarket looking at the chickens and thinking “which one shall I buy?”. Does it really make a difference? You could buy two of those normal chickens for the same price as that free range organic one? In the following article I wish to outline some reasons as to why I recommend paying extra for a higher quality and ethical product.

Commercial Meat – a health hazard

Not all meat you buy is the same. Commercial meat production has sadly through greed and corruption turned a healthy product into a health hazard. Not to mention an animal welfare disgrace. This is far from an exaggeration. Commercial animals are kept in confined, cramped pens, given growth hormones to speed their delivery to the abattoir, antibiotics to stop the spread of disease from their conditions, and even fed products like genetically modified soy (mostly grown in Brazil at the expense of the Amazon rainforest) that given to humans in light of current research is very dangerous to health!

Antibiotics everywhere

Each year, in the U.S. alone farmers dump over 9 million pounds of antibiotics into the food and water supply of farm animals. This however is not intended to primarily fight or prevent disease but to fatten up livestock, which is sadly a side effect of the antibiotics (1). Grains (often contaminated with fungus or fungicides) are also used to fatten up livestock at the expense of the traditional and healthy grass feed.

Processed meats and cancer

A recent report from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on the dangers of eating processed meats (including bacon, sausage, hot dogs, salami, ham, and smoked or cured meat) concluded that by adding 1 ounce of processed meat to your daily diet elevates your stomach cancer risks by as much as 38 %. The review looked at 40 years worth of studies on the relationship between these meats and stomach cancer (cited in www.mercola.com)

What about those dangerous saturated fats you ask?

Here are some “interesting” facts:
- Between 1910 and 1970: animal fat consumption decreased from 83% to 62%
- Butter consumption decreased from 18 pounds to 4 pounds per year
- Margarine, shortening and refined oils consumption increased 400%
- Today, CHD (Coronary Heart Disease) causes at least 40% of all U.S. deaths (2)
- The fatty acids found in arterial clogs are mostly unsaturated (74%) of which 41% are polyunsaturated (3)

Could nature has designed a product like breast milk with so many saturated fats like butyric, caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic and stearic acids? Breast milk is the source of nourishment to ensure the growth, development and survival of children. Do you see the discrepancy in that? Unfortunately all the studies that point to saturated fat as the culprit put deadly man-made trans fatty acids in the mix.

To learn more on the truth of saturated fats and the real killer trans fatty acids I recommend you read my previous article “Fat facts: good guys or bad guys”. (2)

I hope this article has given you a strong enough reason to believe that paying extra as often as possible for a healthy, ethical, free range, hormone free and unprocessed meat product is really worth it.

Finally check out this short cartoon parody based on the Matrix Movies to see the truth behind commercial meat production: www.meatrix.com.

Your 3D Coach
Craig Burton

References
1 Wolcott, W. The metabolic typing diet, 2000, Broadway books.
2 Burton , C., Fat Facts – Good Guys or Bad Guys?, www.3dpts.com
3 Lancet, 1994, 344:1195

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Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/3d-training-the-essence-of-functional-training.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/3d-training-the-essence-of-functional-training.html Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The essence of ‘TRUE’ functional training is 3 dimensional (3D) and it does not require balls (however they can be useful) or funny fancy equipment including those machines that are 1 dimensional. It is a concept of how to move your body and in the following article I will show you how to apply this to your exercise program to increase your ability to perform.

What does it mean 3D?

Our body moves in three planes
- Forwards and backwards called the sagital plane (this is the way most machines operate)
- Side to side called the coronial or frontal plane
- Rotational called the transverse plane (considered by many experts including the father of function Gary Gray, as the most important plane

Diagram: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_position

Overusing one plane and forgetting about the others can compromise your ability to perform – we are not just talking athletically - but everyday activities! That is why it is vital to train your body in 3 dimensions.

Functional training redefined So the essence of functional training is the body moving in three planes here is an expansion of that definition from the National Academy of Sports Medicine:

“All functional movement patterns involve deceleration, stabilisation and acceleration, which occur at every joint in the kinetic chain and in all three planes of motion.” (1)

Confused?

Let’s break this definition down, as I believe it is important to know what is at the heart of functional training – as it is not just a case of doing exercises on balls or on one leg, for the sake of it.

Since most of us drive I will use driving as an analogy for functional movement.

There are muscles that are the brakes, while others are the accelerators, and both are supported by the clutch that helps dictate how fast or slow we will go. The core muscles often take on the role of the clutch as they are where the movement begins. As you know when you are driving a “real” car: to get it moving you need to first push the clutch to put it in first or reverse. (That’s why I don’t enjoy driving automatics like using machine weights – boring and it requires no skill or control). The clutch often sits in the background as it supports the movement, but your effectiveness with it is a big factor in how good a driver you are.

The kinetic chain is merely the link between all the parts if one of the links is broken (e.g. the battery), then you are in trouble and not going anywhere fast.

Three planes of motion is the steering wheel. We can drive backwards and forwards (sagital plane), swerve side to side (frontal plane) and make those circles round the roundabout (transverse plane).

To help you differentiate better, below is a list of terms Gary Gray has designed that describes whether our efforts are functional or non-functional. (1)

Non-Functional - Functional
Isolated - Integrated
Rigid - Flexible
Limited - Unlimited
Artificial - Physiological
Fake - Real
Link action - Chain reaction
Gravity confused - Gravity user
Lab-like - Life-like
Mechanical - Biomechanical
Deceptive - Proprioceptive
1 Dimensional - 3 Dimensional

Here are two of these terms explained:

Isolated vs. Integrated
The body only knows movements as it relates to function.
Isolation training gets results in terms of increasing muscle mass and strength because it allows you to fatigue individual muscles, but this often comes at the expense of physical freedom. Have you seen how some body builders walk around stiff and rigid – this is often the result of a lot of isolated exercises based on training individual muscle groups like a bicep curl. Athletes on the other hand may use isolated training, but will then use integrated training to achieve more effective movement patterns.

Real vs. Fake
Let’s look at that machine in the gym that you lie on and then bring your feet to your bum – the hamstring curl. Where in the real world do you see this movement? However everyday we use some form or a lunge or squat to pick things up.

Now to specific functional vs. non functional exercises:
Non-Functional - 3D Functional
Bench press - Cable push
Lat pull down - Cable pull
Leg extension - Lunge matrix
Leg press - Squat matrix

Description of exercises
- Cable push – using the cable machine or bands. Standing in a fighting position with one foot forward one back. The action is like punching and requires the body to move 3D. You can place the cable or bands in various positions to be punching more up or down – variation of the movement pattern is important.
- Cable pull – again using a cable machine or bands. The action is like starting a lawnmower which again is 3D. Use varying starting positions pulling from high or low.
- Lunge matrix – Lunge forward, lunge to the side and lunge to the back 45 degrees to emphasize rotation. You can do this while holding dumbbells or hand weights (though keep them light) and reaching to various positions like the ground or pressing up.
- Squat matrix – this is a variation from the standard feet shoulder width facing forward squat. Here you put the feet in various positions and at various widths. E.g. Feet together, feet wide apart, toes in, toes out, one foot forward one back- you can complete these while holding hand weights and pressing them up above you. Each of these variations promotes freedom through the 3 dimensions.

So I hope this article has brought you awareness in two ways:

-Training with machines leads decreases your bodies ability to perform
- Functional training is not just about using balls and funny equipment but the body’s ability to move 3D!

Your 3D Coach
Craig Burton

Reference
1. What is functional resistance training, by Craig Burton, 2007
http://www.3dpts.com/ArchiveArticles/BodyArticle/2007-03-Bodyarticle.htm

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Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/food/tools-and-techniques-to-improve-the-eyes-naturally.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/tools-and-techniques-to-improve-the-eyes-naturally.html Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Exercises First a word on exercises from the personal trainer

A classic among eye-exercises is what is called the push-up. Here you focus your eyes on point close (e.g. holding a pencil near your nose) then look out at a specific point some distance away (like 20 feet).

However this may not help!

But isn’t exercise good for me, wouldn’t it help those lazy eyes?

The jury doesn’t seem to be out among natural vision therapists as many believe that eye problems originate from straining and overuse rather than under use. Like a person who does too much strenuous exercise in the gym without balancing it with stretching and relaxation activities like yoga or Chi Gung, leading to injury and an unbalanced body, so too can the eyes be affected be overstressed.

So when it comes to exercising the eyes try not to do anything that strains or requires a lot of effort. Try to keep relaxed and curious looking at a many of ranges at different focuses.

Relaxation and positive habits

1. Palming

One of the most effective techniques considered by Bates practitioners is palming.

"Palming" was originally a yoga technique. Bates "borrowed" it and incorporated it into his system of vision improvement after he noticed its beneficial effects on the visual system. Palming can be practised as often as possible – especially when your eyes feel tired after looking at a computer screen or straining the eyes. (1)

Benefits:

Relieves eye strain
Promote visual imagery – for example, visualise your day ahead, making the images as vivid as possible. This activates your right-hemisphere and may increase creativity and promote imagination.
Technique:

Start by being in a comfortable position with good posture (tall, but relaxed). Place your palms over your closed eyes blocking out as much light as possible. Cup your palms, but do not press on the eyeballs. This will put pressure on the blood vessels and reduce circulation of blood and nutrients.
Finally just relax in this position and visualise. (1)

2. Sunning

The Sun is important for our health, including enabling us to manufacture Vitamin D. Eyes (like the skin) that have been deprived of adequate sunshine are weakened. Obviously we can get too much of a good thing and we need to protect our eyes from the sun as with our skin from overexposure. However sunglasses can prevent our eyes from getting adequate sunlight and lead to light sensitivity. The more we wear them, the more we are sensitive to light. Hence a vicious cycle develops. (1)

Benefits of sunning

Dr. Bates recommends that we sun our eyes. We can reduce our sensitivity to light and sharpen our eyesight. Many people have reported that their vision improves after sunning. I do recommend though following these guidelines:

Only do sunning in the morning or evening, never during the hot afternoon sun.
Do a low amount for each session.

How to do

Close your eyes and face the sun directly. Slowly move your head left and right to let the sunshine reach every part of your retina. Notice the sun moving in the opposite direction. Breathe deeply and slowly. Do this for around 30 seconds then move on to palming for about 2 minutes. (1) 3. 10-10-10 rule A common rule used for the office environment in the 10-10-10 rule. Anytime you are focussing on a something close range for around 10 minutes (e.g. Computer screen), take your gaze away and focus on something around 10 feet away for about 10 seconds. This will help relieve some of the near-point stress.

4. Stop staring Heard that before – this time it is to help relieve the strain on the eyes. Bates believed that the rigidity of staring was bad for the eyes. One technique devised by Bates to train the eyes not to stare is swinging. To do this exercise, the patient should focus on a fixed object, then swing the head or the entire body from side to side while keeping the object in view by moving the head instead of the eyes. Alternatively next time you catch yourself staring, shake off that stare, move your head and eyes, take a deep breath in, and return to regular relaxed blinking.

Nutrition Here is a list of foods recommended to improve eyesight (2):

Fish or Krill Oil: A fat found in fish called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help protect and promote healthy retinal function. DHA is concentrated in the eye's retina and has been found to be particularly useful in preventing macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness.
Green Vegetables: Green vegetables are a vital ingredient to health. They are believed to help the eyes in numerous ways including: Vegetables contain lutein a carotenoid commonly thought to promote vision. However always consume with an oil. It is important to note that lutein is an oil-soluble nutrient, and if you merely consume the vegetables without some oil (olive, fish, flax, coconut) or butter you can't absorb the lutein. Green vegetables also contain Vitamin B2 - Vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 is also known as Riboflavin. It is needed for growth and for healthy skin and eyes. (Vitamin B2 can also be found in the following foods poultry, fish, liver)
Eat Dark Coloured Berries: The European blueberry, bilberry, is known to prevent and even reverse macular degeneration, and bioflavonoids from other dark-colored berries including blueberries, cranberries and others will also be beneficial. One food to Avoid: Trans Fat

A diet high in trans fats appears to contribute to macular degeneration. Trans fat may interfere with omega-3 fats in your body, which are extremely important for your eye health.

Trans fat is found in many processed foods and baked goods, including margarine, shortening, fried foods like french fries, fried chicken and doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers (2).

To find out more about these deadly fats follow the following link:

http://www.3dpts.com/ArchiveArticles/MindArticle/2005-10-Mindarticle.htm Resources Here are a few websites that include articles on improving eyesight plus exercises, strategies and tips:
http://www.central-fixation.com Contains eye charts to download
http://www.visionworksusa.com US site with many links
http://www.natural-vision.co.uk/index.htm UK leading natural vision site with many links
http://www.naturalvisioncenter.com Website of leading natural eyesight practitioner and author Tom Quackenbush
http://www.healingtheeye.com Website of Dr. Ed Kondrot, Ophthalmologist specializing in eye disease.
http://www.rebuildyourvision.com Includes a series on eye exercises

So I hope this list and suggestions help those of you seeking a natural method towards improving your eyesight.

Your 3D Coach
Craig Burton

References
(1) Perfect Sight Without Glasses, William Horatio Bates, http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Perfect_Sight_Without_Glasses
(2) Four Tips to Protect Your Eyesight as You Age, Dr. Joseph Mercola with Rachael Droeg,

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Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/what-is-functional-resistance-training.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/what-is-functional-resistance-training.html Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Here is a definition of functional training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine:

“All functional movement patterns involve deceleration, stabilisation and acceleration, which occur at every joint in the kinetic chain and in all three planes of motion.” (1)

Confused?

Let’s break this definition down, as I believe it is important to know what is at the heart of functional training – as it is not just a case of doing exercises on balls or on one leg, for the sake of it.

Since most of us drive I will use driving as an analogy for functional movement.

There are muscles that are the brakes, while others are the accelerators, and both are supported by the clutch that helps dictate how fast or slow we will go. The core muscles often take on the role of the clutch as they are where the movement begins. As you know when you are driving a “real” car: to get it moving you need to first push the clutch to put it in first or reverse. (That’s why I don’t enjoy driving automatics like using machine weights – boring and it requires no skill or control). The clutch often sits in the background as it supports the movement, but your effectiveness with it is a big factor in how good a driver you are.

The kinetic chain is merely the link between all the parts if one of the links is broken (e.g. the battery), then you are in trouble and not going anywhere fast.

Three planes of motion is the steering wheel. We can drive backwards and forwards (sagital plane), swerve side to side (frontal plane) and make those circles round the roundabout (transverse plane).

To help you differentiate better, below is a list of terms Gary Gray has designed that describes whether our efforts are functional or non-functional. (2)

Non-Functional - Functional

Isolated - Integrated

Rigid - Flexible

Limited - Unlimited

Artificial - Physiological

Fake - Real

Link action - Chain reaction

Gravity confused - Gravity user

Lab-like - Life-like

Mechanical - Biomechanical

Deceptive - Proprioceptive

1 dimensional - Multi-dimensional


Here are two of these terms explained:

Isolated vs. Integrated

The body only knows movements as it relates to function.

Isolation training gets results in terms of increasing muscle mass and strength because it allows you to fatigue individual muscles, but this often comes at the expense of physical freedom. Have you seen how some body builders walk around stiff and rigid – this is often the result of a lot of isolated exercises based on training individual muscle groups like a bicep curl. Athletes on the other hand may use isolated training, but will then use integrated training to achieve more effective movement patterns.

Real vs. Fake

Let’s look at that machine in the gym that you lie on and then bring your feet to your bum – the hamstring curl. Where in the real world do you see this movement? However everyday we use some form or a lunge or squat to pick things up.

A helpful way to see functional exercises in action is through what Paul Chek describes as “Primal Patterns”. Chek calls them Primal as they were the functional movement patterns we used to survive as early man. (3)

Including:

Push
Pull
Twist
Lunge
Squat
Bend

Now to specific functional vs. non functional exercises:

Non-Functional - Functional

Bench press - Push up

Lat pull down - Pull up

Seated triceps extension - Dip

Leg extension - Lunge

Leg press - Squat

Non-functional exercises have characteristics including being performed seated, on machines, involving single muscles in isolation, and not requiring the core muscles to stabilise. You should notice that one of the characteristics of functional exercises is that they involve using your body weight as a resistance. This ability is called relative strength. For example how many chin ups, push ups, squats, lunges, dips you can perform is an indication of your relative strength.

Summary on the benefits of functional training:

Everyday life gains – integrated training helps you develop your muscles to work together synergistically as a team, resulting in an overall increase in strength, balance, co-ordination, and power
Stronger core muscles – e.g. a push up will require your chest, arms, shoulders, and those important stabilising core muscles to work. While a seated chest press will allow the core muscles to sleep. Weak core muscles are one of the big reasons for our bad back epidemic.
More muscles used equals more calories/energy burned J
Time saved by working several muscles at once – one of the biggest reasons I often hear for not exercising is lack of time
Money saved – you do not need fancy expensive equipment (or even a gym membership), just some basics including your body and a small space

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

References
(1) PES online manual, Optimum performance training for the performance enhancement specialist, National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2001
(2) Functional video Digest series, Gray, G., available at www.functionaldesignsystems.com
(3) Chek, P., How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy, Chek Institute, 2004

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Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/food/soy-panacea-or-poison.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/soy-panacea-or-poison.html Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500
“Soy foods can stimulate the growth of oestrogen-dependent tumours and cause thyroid problems.” (7)

“Boosting your Soy intake could reduce your risk of breast cancer.” (5)

“A British Government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.” (8)

Confused?

This article on soy will examine the following:
- History of the humble soy bean
- It’s role in the Asian diet
- It’s role in the Western diet - where is it lurking
- Critical questions regarding its safety
- The guinea pigs

Soy Beginnings The soy plant was initially used as ‘green manure’ or a cover crop plowed under to enrich the soil, and it became known to the Chinese as ‘the yellow jewel’. Soy did not become human food till late in the Chou Dynasty (1134-246 BC), after the Chinese developed a process of fermentation to make it into soy paste, called miso, with the run-off liquid called soy sauce. Tofu came after miso and in Japan, and China it was rarely served as a main course except in monasteries where it was eaten with miso or fish stock. Around 1000 A.D fermented soy foods, natto and tempeh entered the food supply. Modern soy products such as soy-protein isolate and concentrate made using highly processed methods were unknown in Asia till after World War II. Furthermore neither soy milk nor infant formula is traditional in Asia. The first person to manufacture soy milk was actually an American missionary and physician Harry Miller. “Claims that soybeans have been a major part of the Asian diet for more than 3,000 years, or ‘time immemorial’ are simply not true.” (6)

Soy in the Asian diet According to a spokesman for Cancer Research UK “There’s a lot of research that countries with a high intake of soy in their diet, such as Japan, tend to have lower rates of prostate cancer and some other types, with the active ingredients in soy thought to be isoflavones.” (1). Sounds very compelling, however let’s elaborate how much soy is actually in the Japanese and Asian diet. According to the soy industry’s own figures Asians eat very little soy; around 9.3 to 36grams per day in China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Taiwan. In comparison a cup of Tofu is 252grams, or soy milk 240 grams (6). More importantly the quality is hardly comparable, with the Asian countries generally eating their soy already fermented like miso soup, not as tofu, sausages or meat replacement foods. According to Sally Fallon from Weston A Price foundation (leading independent health group) approximately 65% of Japanese calories come from fish while in China the same percentage from Pork. So it is far from the backbone of their diet (8).

Soy in the Western diet Apart from the obvious where else is soy lurking? Research estimates that soy is present in 70% of all supermarket products and widely used in Fast Food chains. Soy is used to bulk out and bind many processed foods such as sausages, lasagne, beef burgers and chicken nuggets (food firms can then put a higher protein value on them). Even the husk is used for fibre in breads, cereals, and snacks. The big one is in vegetable oil- soy is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world and is used in margarines, salad dressings and cooking oils. Food labels simply list soy oil as vegetable oil As well as that 90% of the 200 million tonnes of soy produced annually is used to feed animals (3).

Soy and the Thyroid According to Mary Shomon editor of http://www.thyroid-info.com (9) “Soy products increase the risk of thyroid disease. And this danger is particularly great for infants on soy formula…More than 70 years of human, animal and laboratory studies show that soybeans put the thyroid at risk.” Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick, an environmental scientist and phytoestrogen researcher who has conducted in-depth studies on soy, particularly the use of soy formulas published in the New Zealand Medical journal. Dr. Fitzpatrick makes it clear that soy products can have a detrimental affect on both adults and infants. In particular, he firmly believes that soy formula manufacturers should remove the isoflavones -- that part of the soy products that act as anti-thyroid agents -- from their products (2) How do researchers induce thyroid cancers in laboratory animals? They use thyroid-inhibiting foods like soy in combination with thyroid boosting drugs like Synthroid. (6) How much soy can impair thyroid problems? Perhaps as little as 30 mg or less than a glass of soy milk. (4)

Soy and reproduction Here is an interesting fact. Tofu is consumed by Buddhist monks to reduce libido. Humans and animals appear to be the most vulnerable to the effects of soy estrogens prenatally, during infancy and puberty, during pregnancy and lactation – all the major phases of hormonal shifts with growth and development. How powerful can soy be to the hormone system? One landmark study showed “that as little as 45mg of isoflavines could alter the length of a premenopausal woman’s menstrual cycle.” (4) Obviously it’s harder to find a cause and effect relationship as there are many potentially triggers to hormonal imbalances and reproductive problems. However in animals this has been more thoroughly tested. According to Dr Mary Enig (world renowned lipid and hormone specialist) female pigs can only ingest it in amounts no greater than 1% during lactation phase or face developmental problems in the piglets (8).

Soy and the environment Soy was previously considered a good source of protein which attracted vegetarians looking for meat alternatives. But it’s a double whammy for environmental and health conscious vegetarians as the effect of soy farming on the environment is dramatic. It is predicted that 10,000 hectares of forest every year in Argentina (20 football fields an hour). If this continues at this rate in fives years time the country’s native forests will have disappeared. Similar scenarios are being played out in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia all thanks to companies like the genetic engineering giant Monsanto. The World Wide Fund for Nature published a report recently calculating that 22 million hectares of forests and savannah in South America (an area the size of Great Britain) will be wiped out by 2020. Crops have also triggered soil erosion, and the widespread use of pesticides and chemicals are destroying some of the world’s most delicate habitats. (3).

Soy Business Soy is traded as an international commodity, like oil and gold. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry. "The reason there’s so much soy in America is because they [the soy industry] started to plant soy to extract the oil from it and soy oil became a very large industry. Once they had as much oil as they did in the food supply they had a lot of soy protein residue left over, and since they can’t feed it to animals, except in small amounts, they had to find another market." (2)

Conclusion So Soy’s reputation as a health panacea is now badly blemished. It still has some supporters, but it is important to examine their background to ensure they are not just PR mouthpieces for a very powerful Soy industry. Big Soy, like big pharmaceutical, has been a powerful force shaping an attitude to nutrition and health. Given the mounting evidence that does not support Soy as a health food I believe we need to be very nervous about accepting big Soy spin as nutritional gospel.

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

References
1. BBC News 2004, Soy stops cancer and Baldness, 14/11/2004
2. http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/21/soy.htm, Soy: Is it healthy or is it harmful
3. Anthony Barnett, The Observer, They hailed it a wonder food, 7/11/2004
4. http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/articles/Shadow.htm, Sean Carson, The shadow of Soy or, How I stopped loving and learned to worry about the bean
5. www.thehealthierlife.co.uk, Soy Health benefits: why boosting your intake of soy could reduce your risk of breast cancer
6. www.thewholesoystory.com, Whole soy story: The dark side of America’s favorite health food. Daniel, K, T
7. New Zealand Medical Journal (vol 113 Feb 11 2000) Soy Formulas and the effects of isoflavones on the thyroid.
8. www.westonaprice.org, Myths and Truths about soy food
9. http://www.thyroid-info.com, Mary Shomon editor.

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Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/training-barefoot-is-freeing-your-feet-the-healthier-way.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/training-barefoot-is-freeing-your-feet-the-healthier-way.html Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500
In this article I will outline the 1. Potential shoe dangers 2. A functional trainer's perspective to barefoot training 3. Tips to consider before going barefoot 4. Are barefoot shoes an option?

1. Potential shoe dangers

Wearing the wrong shoe can directly cause or aggravated the following:
- Arch pain
- Arthritis of the foot
- Bunions
- Calluses
- Corns
- Foot numbness
- Hammer toe
- Heel fissures
- Heel pain
- Heel spurs
- Mallet toe
- Overlapping toes

Adding to that list is the indirect effect of wearing shoes (especially improperly fitted ones) which includes especially ankle, knee, and hip dysfunction. The other major side effect indicated especially with poorly fitted shoes is back pain. Beauty/fashion has seduced many people into cramming their feet into narrow shoes. I am constantly reminding female clients of the dangers of high heel shoes. Yes ladies, they may look good, but they are a sure fire way to encourage future problems (particularly in the back) due to progressively shortening and tightening of the calf muscles (which has a chain reaction effect to other areas like the back) and restricting the foot.

2. A functional trainer's perspective to barefoot training

Functional training expert Ian O'Dwyer from Fitness Personally on the Gold Coast in Australia gives four reasons why he trains his clients in bare feet:

a) The foot contains the most proprioceptors (sensors) in the body...why would we want to "slow" the messages to the nervous system by minimizing the impact/ground force the foot accepts.

b) The foot contains 26 Bones and 25 joints...if you think that the legs have 2 knee joints and 2 hip joints it would be obvious to reason that the feet would be more important to have working at optimal efficiency!! Very important that we get the foot to move in all 3 planes of motion incorporating gravity, integration, multiplanar movement, proprioception and dynamic stability.... this is very difficult when we have artificial sources (orthotics, heel lifts etc) stabilizing it.

c) The body recognizes movement not muscles (Bobath 1980). The more we can take the foot to its end range of function without pain or discomfort the better the reaction and the more likely that it will allow better activation of the abdominals. (For those biomechanically minded: during heel strike the calcaneus will evert/pronate causing the talus to internally rotate and therefore the tibia to internally rotate causing a chain reaction up the body. At the end, the femur internally rotates causing anterior tilting of the pelvis more rotation of the hip and activation of the abdominals).

d) It's a lot easier to see if the foot is contributing to a physical problem eg knee pain, hip dysfunction, sacro-illiac joint (SIJ) pain.

3. Tips to consider before going barefoot:

- Start slow: Your feet will adapt to harsher terrain over time, but they will not become impregnable.
- Look at your background for guidance: If you have engaged in barefoot practices before, such as a traditional martial art for example, you will probably adapt faster than someone who has worn shoes all of their lives.
- Only train barefoot in places you are confident you will not cause injury. Most gyms are not good places (dumbbells can do a lot of damage to little toes, so always be careful) and generally do not allow it.
- Get your shots up to date! Tetanus is a key one. You never know when you may inadvertently puncture your feet on something sharp, no matter how careful you are.
- Use your common sense: If the temperature is hot enough to see waves coming from the pavement, chances are you're not going to want to run on that. Try some grassy areas instead.
- Consult a foot specialist before attempting any form of barefoot training. Have them check your foot-type to see if you are likely to encounter any problems with training barefoot.

4. Are barefoot shoes an option?

Well it sounds like an Oxymoron to me. I have used them and found them very strange in the beginning, you definitely have to get used to them. My first pair split quite early. The second pair have held up a bit better. That is on average the general consensus to date, most of the brands including Nike have created a shoe that allows an incredible amount of freedom but do not have a long life. Obviously it depends on the amount of use. My response is if you try them ask for a good guarantee.

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

--
Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/seven-things-people-should-not-be-doing-in-the-gym.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/seven-things-people-should-not-be-doing-in-the-gym.html Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Daily, I see people giving their all on cardio equipment in an effort to lose a few kilos, or heaving weights back and forth in an effort to ‘get big’. These are the same people who, a year later have nothing to show for their three-one-hour-per-week-sessions except for perhaps a sore back, an injured knee and a good deal of disillusionment.

Here’s a list of seven things people should not be doing in the gym and some exercise alternatives:

1. Avoid fixed resistance machines. I use this metaphor for performers: using machines is like learning a role by deciding exactly what you will do before you even begin rehearsing, and patterning it for every performance. In the same way machines allow no freedom for the muscles, literally boring them senseless with the same pattern and decreasing neuromuscular awareness. They also take away the role of the important stabilising (core) muscles which is where all real-life movements begin and is where our power comes from.

--> So choose free-weights or cables instead and try incorporating Swiss Balls to increase the neuromuscular demands. Most qualified fitness instructors will be able to show you how to get the most out of such equipment.

2. Don’t overdo cardio. Many people still believe you just need to do lots of cardio to reduce body fat. This is false. Too much cardio can actually result in your body producing hormones that encourage fat storage in the body. You are also possibly sacrificing vital calorie-burning muscle tissue as a fuel source if you do more aerobic exercise than your ingested fuel allows for. Aerobic exercise is important as it allows nutrients to be transported to cells via the bloodstream when fat is released from the adipose cells. The bloodstream is the vehicle that transports it to be burned.

--> Do your cardio after a weight training session to promote fat loss or try circuits which are excellent vehicles for reducing body fat and increasing cardiovascular fitness.

3. Think laterally (literally!). Muscles work as force couples – they play together like teams. Training in isolation can cause an imbalance, leading to injury and an unsymmetrical looking body. Also don’t overemphasise movements in one plane of motion (particularly front to back) as our bodies naturally twist and move from side to side as well.

--> Think training “movements” not “muscles”; pushing, pulling, squatting, lunging, bending, twisting are the basic movements of day-to-day life. Finally if you train slowly you will play slowly, so vary the speed.

4. Posture is key. It’s not just an aesthetic thing, it can also lead to injuries and regular bouts of associated pain. The details can be complex but it’s important to know that there are muscles in your body that naturally become short and tight and others that get long and weak by nature.

--> The required response to correct this is to stretch the shorter, tighter muscles and strengthen the longer, weaker muscles. For example when someone has a posture that makes them look like the Pink Panther – protruding head and rounded shoulders – the chest is one muscle that needs a good stretch. Only stretch what is tight, as stretching the long and weak muscles will lead to further imbalances.

5. Crunch after crunch. There is no such thing as a spot reduction. 100 sit-ups a day will not flatten that tummy and it will only lead to poor posture by over-strengthening the upper abdominals and the powerful and greedy hip flexor muscles. The energy to do the crunch may actually come from fat stored somewhere else in the body.

--> So choose exercises that engage lots of muscles. A squat, for example involves over 14 major muscles.

6. Have a plan. Having no plan will decrease your chances of success.

--> You need to clarify your goals and determine the best way to achieve them or you may be wasting a lot of time (not to mention money).

7. Leave the books at home. Don’t take books or other distracters into the gym.

--> Do exercises that require you to focus on each task as though it’s a meditation and treat every session as a chance to increase your awareness of how your body moves.

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

--
Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/motivation/dream-achievement-process-a-unique-way-to-achieve-your-goals.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/motivation/dream-achievement-process-a-unique-way-to-achieve-your-goals.html Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Goal setting statistics

Here’s some research on the effectiveness of goal setting: In 1953, Yale's graduating seniors were surveyed to determine how many of them had specific, written goals for their future. The answer: 3%. Twenty years later, researchers polled the surviving members of the Class of 1953 -- and found that the 3% with goals had accumulated more personal financial wealth than the other 97% of the class combined!

The moral of this story is: 1. Goals work. 2. Almost nobody uses them.

“That’s all very well”, I hear some of you say, “but I am still not convinced, goal setting is boring, and I have more important things to do, and it works for some but not me.” I understand, but I warn you this is where it all begins and you will miss the key to long term success with the other 97% if you skip over effective goal setting.

The approach to effective goal setting

Ok. Now I personally have done a lot of goal setting exercises before and based on my experience there are 2 general sides.

1. Those that tell you to be absolutely specific and follow processes like the SMART mneumonic (specific/measurable/action/realistic/time)

2. While others say be more general as specificity ruins your chance of success.

I believe good goal setting (like life) needs a balance between specifics and freedom. Trying to control every aspect of the process often complicates things. It can take the joy out of the dreaming and imagination. Goal setting is not about activating the rational mind, but it’s about the subconscious or higher self (whatever term you want to use for that mysterious force that guides us). Accessing that power is through joy, fun, excitement, and inspiration. If the goal setting task is laborious, lame, boring or difficult then forget about it.

3d pts Dream Achievement Process

So here was my challenge how could I make this section FUN, rewarding, challenging, engaging, inspiring, thought provoking, long lasting, and repeatable? OK GO WITH ME NOW, it may seem a little silly and childish but that’s where creation begins so let’s play pretend and let the imagination run wild – then you can return to the serious stuff again J.

Imagine strolling along you favourite beach and tripping over a smooth weather beaten dull green bottle. You pick it up and see it’s closed by a cork, thinking a message may be inside you decide to pull off the cork and out comes a genie wearing some Nike gym clothes and drinking a bottle of water as she floats out.

She says: “I am the wellbeing genie, name your ultimate health and fitness dreams.”

“Wow that is a bit overwhelming!” you say. “I have a lot of health and fitness dreams.”

Then the genie brings you over to a mirror and says: “This is my magical mirror – it reflects back what your health and fitness dreams are. You may see yourself energized upon waking in your desired body, youthfully playing with family and friends or even climbing a mountain.”

What do you see?

Genies know that for dreams to come true you need to be passionate about them, so she digs a little deeper and asks: “WHY do you really want to achieve this?”

What will this outcome GET for you and allow you to DO?

The genie then says: “Ask the mirror vision of you to pick up the paper that’s sitting on the table next to you. It has the date you will achieve this. It may be general or specific.”

What date do you see on it?

The genie then asks you: “Open the door behind you to reveal what RESOURCES and SUPPORT (including people) will be there to help you now?

Now says the genie: “I know that there are things that have held you back in the past from achieving your dreams and they are still holding you back from realising success.” She then proceeds to hand you a red bag: “Place every fear and disappointment in this bag, then tie it together and throw the bag into the mirror.” As you do you see the bag disappearing slowly out of sight.

Then the genie says: “Imagine yourself again in this healthy dream body, feel your fingers tingle with energy and excitement as you live your life with this body.” The genie proceeds to lead you through the day as you experience it with your healthy body full of vitality and abundant energy.

Finally the genie says: “Your wish is my command!”

Genie tips:

1. While you are in this state write it down. Words are an integral part of the thinking process. Words convey images, pictures, feelings, emotions to the mind. By clothing it in words you allow the thought to take form in body, shape, form, substance. Try writing it in the form that you already have it, for example: “I am so happy that I am…” It may feel strange and silly to start but it help to put you into the right state.

2. Get into this state as often as possible, including using techniques like visualization. Your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between something that is real and something vividly imagined. It is a secret technique to high achievers especially in sports. Whatever picture (goal) you consistently think about will drive your actions to create that exact picture. When you continually see yourself in possession of your goal, your subconscious mind will move you into actions that align with the mental image you hold.

3. Believe. If you don't truly believe you can reach a goal, it will forever remain a pipe dream. In order to fully achieve anything, you must believe it is possible at a deep cellular level. For example if your goal is to achieve your ideal weight then buy the clothes now that you would wear when you are your ideal weight.

4. Have an attitude of gratitude. This will change you state from fear and disappointment to one of motivation. Be grateful for everything you have now. It may be the support of family and friends, or the ability to exercise. For an instant motivation shot please see this article and film… Strongest father in the world

Authors note: This exercise is based on the Law of Attraction – there is a lot of great books and information out there on this fundamental law. One resource I recommend is a movie called “The Secret.” Go to www.thesecret.tv to find out more.

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

--
Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/food/artificial-sweeteners-learn-the-truth-about-this-dangerous-man-made-additive.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/artificial-sweeteners-learn-the-truth-about-this-dangerous-man-made-additive.html Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Aspartame is considered by many health experts as the most dangerous food additive on the market. It’s a highly controversial and complex issue because the organisations declaring its safety are numerous and very powerful.

So with two sides, both with their ‘independent’ experts, it comes down to whom do you trust?

The following points will be examined:

History of aspartame Where can aspartame be found? The two opposing teams Symptoms of aspartame poisoning The science behind aspartame Alternatives to an alternative

History

Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. It was discovered by accident in 1965 by James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle Company. Schlatter was testing an anti-ulcer drug, when he discovered this sweet product. (3)

Searle saw it’s promise as a sweetener but was repeatedly refused by the FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration) because of safety concerns.

In 1977 Donald Rumsfeld, now George Bush's defence secretary but then chief executive of the pharmaceutical company GD Searle, publicly stated that he would "call in his markers" to win a licence for aspartame. On the day of his inauguration as president in 1981, with Mr Rumsfeld on his transition team, Ronald Reagan personally wrote an executive order suspending the head of the US Food and Drug Administration's powers on aspartame. One month later Mr Reagan appointed a new head of the regulatory authority, Arthur Hayes, who granted a licence for the sweetener. (1)

Is this the tale of more shady U.S government dealings? or is it just another conspiracy theory?

In 1996 a review of aspartame research found that every single industry-funded study found aspartame safe. But 92% of independent studies identified one or more problems with its safety. (1)

In the Food and Drug Administration’s Final Decision on aspartame’s approval (Fed. Reg. 46:38289, 1981), the Commissioner stated:

"Few compounds have withstood such detailed testing and repeated, close scrutiny, and the process through which aspartame has gone should provide the public with additional confidence of its safety." (2)

What kind of products contains aspartame?

Aspartame is used in almost 5000 products around the world, of which more than 2000 are consumed in Europe. Aspartame can be found in a wide variety of food products including:

Beverages:
Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, squashes, iced teas and coffees and hot chocolate drinks.

Dairy products:
Yoghurts, dairy desserts and fromage frais.

Confectionery:
Chewing gum, sweets, chocolate, breath mints.

Table-top sweeteners:
Tablets and spoon-for-spoon powders.

Frozen desserts:
Ice cream and frozen snacks.

Powdered products:
Powdered soft drinks, milkshake mixes, and multivitamin drinks.

Cereals:
Cereal mixes, mueslis.

Preserves:
Fruit preserves, canned fruits.

Pharmaceuticals:
Effervescent tablets, chewable tablets and sachets.

Organisations that "apparently" give aspartame thumbs up:
Alzheimer’s Association, American Academy of Family Physicians ,American Cancer Society, American Council on Science and Health American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Diabetes U.K. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Canadian Diabetes Association, Mayo Clinic, National Cancer Institute U.K. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), US. Consumer Information Centre, World Health Organization, U.K. Food Standards Agency, U.S. FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (According to the aspartame information centre) (2)

That’s a very powerful and influential list.

Organisations and individual’s calling for its removal:
I have lost count of the number of organisations against aspartame, however they are much smaller in size and lesser known; many have been formed by victims. The film ‘Sweet Misery’ is an excellent resource and shows the aspartame story in shocking detail; it’s packed with leading experts and victims personal accounts. You can check it out at: www.aspartamekills.com

The latest lawsuit filed is a $350 million class action filed on September 15, 2004 in United States District Court in San Francisco, California, case no: C 04 3872. This class action racketeering (RICO) lawsuit was filed against the NutraSweet Corporation, American Diabetes Association, Dr. Robert H. Moser and John Does 1-50. Plaintiffs maintain that this lawsuit will prove how deadly the chemical sweetener aspartame is when consumed by humans. The National Justice League filed three other lawsuit’s on April 26, 2004, in three separate California courts. (4)

Here are some other helpful links to find out more on aspartame:

www.mercola.com/

www.dorway.com/

www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/

www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/ (victims support group)

www.aspartamesafety.com/

www.wnho.org

www.russellblaylockmd.com

www.sunsentpress.com

Symptoms of Aspartame Intoxication:

“Complaints about aspartame represent 80-85% of all food complaints registered with the FDA. More than 6,000 complaints have been made concerning the effects of aspartame. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death.” (3)

The symptoms of aspartame intoxication include:

· severe headaches and nausea

· vertigo

· insomnia

· loss of control of limbs

· blurred vision and blindness

· memory loss

· slurred speech

· mild to severe depression often reaching suicidal levels

· hyperactivity

· gastrointestinal disorders

· seizures

· skin lesions and rashes

· anxiety attacks

· muscle and joint pain

· numbness

· mood changes

· loss of energy

· menstrual cramps out of cycle

· hearing loss or ringing in the ears

· loss or change of taste

· symptoms similar to those in a heart attack.

· additionally, aspartic acid chelates (combines) with chromium - which is a necessary element for proper operation of the thyroid gland. People who consume large quantities of aspartame may end up with a false diagnosis of Graves disease and suffer allopathic irradiation of their thyroid gland for no reason. (3)

The science behind aspartame

“Aspartame is the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. Under strongly-acidic or -alkaline conditions, aspartame first generates methanol by hydrolysis. Under more severe conditions, the peptide bonds are also hydrolyzed, resulting in the free amino acids”.(5) Got that?

Ok, here the English version. J

There are four chemical components of aspartame that scientists and physicians are currently debating over that may be causing or adversely effecting people’s health (5):

1. Methonol

Scientists agree that approximately 10% of aspartame (by weight) is broken down into methanol in the small intestine. Now most of that methanol is absorbed and quickly converted into formaldehyde (yes, the embalming substance).

Some scientists believe that the methanol can not be a problem because:

a) the level of methanol absorbed is too low to cause toxicity

b) methanol and formaldehyde are already in the body as a by-product of human metabolism

c) many alcoholic beverages and fruit juices contain more methanol than is derived from aspartame ingestion

2. Phenylalanine

About 50% of aspartame (by weight) is broken down into phenylalanine, which actually is an amino acid commonly found in foods. But because aspartame is metabolized and absorbed very quickly (unlike phenylalanine-containing proteins in foods), it is thought that aspartame could spike blood plasma levels of phenylalanine. The concern is that this could have a neurotoxic effect particularly in the brain of fetuses by the sudden influx of phenylalanine into the bloodstream because phenylalanine competes with other Large Neutral Amino Acids (LNAAs) for entry into the brain at the blood brain barrier.

3. Aspartic acid

Aspartic acid is another amino acid commonly found in foods. Around 40% of aspartame (by mass) is broken down into aspartic acid. Aspartic acid is known chemically as an excitotoxin, another famous example is monosodium glutamate (MSG). Hundreds of animals studies involving abnormally high levels of excitotoxins have been shown to cause damage to areas of the brain unprotected by the blood-brain barrier and a variety of chronic diseases arising out of this neurotoxicity. In 1970's, Dr. John Olney found that high levels of aspartic acid caused damage to the brains of infant mice. Which led to Dr. Olney and consumer attorney, James Turner, filing a protest with the FDA to block the approval of aspartame.

4. Aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine (DKP)

This substance is created as aspartame breaks down over time. One group of researchers found that – 6 months after aspartame was put into carbonated beverages – 25% of the aspartame had been converted to DKP. Concern amongst some scientists has been expressed that this form of DKP would undergo a nitrosation process in the stomach producing a type of chemical that could cause brain tumors. However there are very few human studies on the effects of this.

So what are the alternatives to this alternative (interesting concept)?

Raw honey is an obvious choice (but avoid heating honey as it can become a carcinogen).

Another natural product is called stevia that comes from a herb.

It has been used for centuries by traditional South American cultures and is very popular in Japan. You can generally find it in health food stores in liquid or powder form.

So where does this leave us with so many ‘experts’ on either side of the fence?

My first question with any product when considering it’s safety is: is it man made?

If so, has it been consumed for a long time?

In this case the answer is clearly no.

Which leads me to my final question, is it worth the risk?

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

References
(1) Safety of artificial sweetener called into question by MP Felicity Lawrence, December 15, 2005, The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,1667771,00.html
(2) Aspartame Information Sevice, http://www.aspartame.info
(3) http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/government_cover_up.htm
(4) News with views, http://www.newswithviews.com/BreakingNews/breaking25.htm
(5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame

--
Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/stretching-and-strengthening-find-out-how-to-balance-your-body.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/stretching-and-strengthening-find-out-how-to-balance-your-body.html Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The question of whether one should or should not stretch is a confusing one, complicated at times but nonetheless important to discuss.

I consider the statement “stretching is unnecessary and sometimes unhealthy” to be another classic generalised BS one.

So too is there good stretching and bad stretching. More importantly, there is essential specific stretching.

Now there is some truth in the statement stretching can be dangerous. Prior to activity, static stretching – which many people do – can have a negative effect on performance. Why? Basically our body has a very clever mechanism called a myotatic stretch reflex that protects the muscles from stretching too far too quickly and without an adequate warm-up by stimulating muscle fibres to contract.

There are many ways one can stretch, including:

1. Correctively – designed to correct common postural dysfunctions, muscle imbalances and joint dysfunctions. Two types of corrective approaches include static stretching (holding the stretch for 20 seconds), and self-myofascial release (foam roller)

2. Actively – neuromuscular stretching otherwise known as contract-relax stretching is one method of active stretching. I personally use this style most often as it also has a corrective function. The three phases of contract-relax stretching are: · passively move the limb into the initial stretch position · contract the muscle being stretched for 10 seconds using only 25% force · relax and move the limb into the new position · repeat 3-5 times

3. Functionally – uses the force production of a muscle and the body’s momentum to take a joint through a full available range of motion. Examples of these include walking lunges and twists, and walking with bands around the legs.

Which type of stretching should I do?

The answer depends on your current physical state and the activity you are about to perform or have performed. For most people due to a sedentary lifestyle that has created postural dysfunctions they need to begin in the corrective phase which will be the focus of this article.

Scientific approach to stretching for postural correction

Basically we have two types of muscles in our body: some that naturally like to become short and tight, and others that get long and weak (to one degree or another).

What does this mean? Have a look around, look at all those people with rounded shoulders and heads poking out like turtles, and now look at all those people who resembling Donald Duck, butts poking right out.

These are two common postures I deal with daily. The problem however is more than an aesthetic one. These people may now be experiencing some form of discomfort. The first group: neck pain, headaches; the second group: back aches.

Various sources believe about 70 % of our population will have a serious back problem in their life time from our sedentary lifestyle, for example sitting too long in front of computers etc.

And exercise can actually make it worse. One prime example is there are a lot of people doing some great hip flexor strengthening exercises, when in reality they were meant to be doing a crunch. A short tight hip flexor gets very greedy and does the work instead of the abdominals, contributing to that Donald Duck posture with all the back problems to go with it. The other classic case is those people hell bent on developing their chest muscles through a disproportionate amount on pressing or pushing exercises (especially bench press). Ultimately they are further contributing to more rounded shoulders when their pecs would be much more on display by stretching the chest prior to doing more exercises that involve drawing the shoulder blades together like a bent over row. So this is where stretching comes into the picture. We need to stretch those short tight muscles in specific ways: pre and post workout. In order to design a program that’s right for you, it’s imperative that you know which muscles are which.

Muscles That Tend To Tighten

1. Upper Trapezius (neck and shoulders)

2. Levator Scapula (neck to shoulder blade)

3. Short Cervical Extensors (back of neck)

4. Pectoralis Major (chest)

5. Pectoralis Minor (deep chest muscle)

6. Lumbar Erectors (low back)

7. Psoas (hip flexor)

8. Rectus Femoris (one of the quadriceps)

9. Piriformis (deep hip muscle)

10. Adductors (inner thighs)

11. Hamstrings (back of legs)

12. Gastrocnemius (superficial calf muscle)

13. Soleus (deep calf muscle)

Remember, unaddressed muscle imbalances will lead to joint dysfunction and pain. Just like a car with poor alignment, trouble - possibly severe – is imminent if the alignment and imbalances are not corrected.

So next time you hear or read that stretching is a waste of time, ask them to be more specific and to explain “which type of stretching they are referring to.”

If you do have recurring injuries or believe your posture is not balanced I thoroughly recommend a professional musculoskeletal assessment and subsequent, logically based program to lessen these imbalances and lead you to a better functioning and more attractive body.

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton

References
PES online manual, Optimum performance training for the performance enhancement specialist, National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2001

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Article by Craig Burton. Craig is a prominent European based holistic health and fitness coach and founder of 3D Personal Training Systems. Craig is a Sports Science graduate with postgraduate accreditations in nutrition, massage, athletic training, and corrective exercise therapy.
He is the author of "The 21 Day Roadmap to Health" available at http://www.21dayroadmap.com.
Receive your FREE 3d pts tools including the 7 Part Series: Success Strategies for transforming the body, mind and spirit, our FREE monthly Peak Performance Newsletter and our FREE questionnaire to find out more about your current health status at http://www.3dpts.com/freetools.
For more information and articles on health and fitness visit http://www.3dpts.com/articles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>