high food costs

Dollar signs in an orange circle.  Depicting the rising high food costsWe have all experienced the sharp increase in the high food costs these last three years. But in the past few decades the nutritional value of our food has decreased dramatically. Even when we select good foods we have to make very careful choices and pay more high food costs for a cleaner option. It does cost more to go organic. It does cost more to go non-GMO in our food choices. And it ishigh food costs can be mitigated with this clean food product that builds health  
more expensive to select meat products that do not contain growth hormones.

There is one food that can check all the boxes for eating clean and optimal nutrition. That food gives 20 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, 24 vitamins and minerals, Omega 3 fatty acids, ancient grains that provide prebiotics and it’s non-GMO. It also contains healthy digestive enzymes and it’s powered by leucine.

As a side note:

  • Prebiotics provide food for the healthy bacteria in your digestive tract.
  • Enzymes help with the overall digestion process.
  • Leucine is an amino acid that helps to preserve lean muscle mass.
  • The protein also contains all 9 essential amino acids, those your body cannot produce.

That is a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to selecting food. It’s difficult to get a food this clean and this nutritious in one serving.  So why wouldn’t you make this a selection for part of your daily food intake?

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas, Dallas Health Helpers, talks about long-term health.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas, Dallas Health Helpers, talks about long-term health.

 

March is National Nutrition Month.  Big Whoop!!  I am so glad the nation or who ever sets these months as official, brings the idea of being conscious of our nutrition to the forefront of our minds.

But I think that we should be concerned about our health on a daily, monthly and yearly basis, not just one month.  We should be looking at all aspects of health every day; concerns such as what we are eating, how much sleep we are getting, are we exercising frequently and are we getting enough water to drink.

There is a lot of maintenance to keeping our bodies functioning properly for as long as we are here.  That means time out of each day dedicated to our long-term health and well- being.  Many people take more time and money to keep their car, dog or even their home functioning properly.  The sad fact is that the home you really live in, your body, is often neglected or takes a back seat to other aspects of your life.

There is an old saying that if you don’t make time for your body now, it will take time from you later.  That may mean a shortened lifespan or more time in bed incapacitated.  Neither is a viable outcome in my opinion.

Even though it may not fit into your picture of the perfect day, spend some time doing maintenance on your body.  Here are four simple things to do:

  • Instead of having your car washed, do it yourself or go for a brisk walk.
  • Turn off the TV and read a book in order to get better sleep.
  • Keep a large glass or bottle of water handy so you can keep track of the ounces you drink.
  • Plan your food intake for the week so you get good nutrition and avoid “emergency” stops at not-so-healthy places.

Remember that your body is really where you live.  Take good care of it and it will serve you well.

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee Distributor in Dallas is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214.252.9596 or email us to learn more about vitality and health.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas suggests going meatless on Mondays.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas suggests going meatless on Mondays.

Meatless Monday.  It has a nice sound to it, right? Going vegetarian one night a week can be good for your body and it can save you money.

First of all, going meatless is not a license to eat outrageously.  The plan is to designate one night a week to things like fresh produce and whole grains. It doesn’t have to be Monday, but we think Monday is a great day to go light.  It starts your week off on a healthy foot, setting you up to be more conscious of how you eat the rest of the week.

Meat is a great source of protein. But many cuts—especially red meat—are often high in saturated fat and calories.  Plus, it’s probably one of the most expensive item on your grocery list.  Eliminating it once a week gives your wallet a break.  And putting together a balanced vegetarian meal will encourage you to discover new ingredients you might otherwise ignore.

Here are some tips:

Bulk up on the whole grains, which give you lots of nutrients and fiber.  Try brown rice or quinoa topped with stir-fried vegetables or whole-wheat pasta with tomato sauce and baby spinach.

Add beans! What a great source of protein they are! Scatter garbanzo beans over couscous with some wilted greens (like spinach or kale), a squeeze of lemon, and some feta cheese.  Make vegetarian burritos with black beans and grilled onions and peppers.

Embrace the egg. Eggs are inexpensive and they make any vegetarian meal heartier.  Add a fried egg on top of that brown rice with vegetables we talked about above for a perfectly well-rounded meal.  Make an omelet with lots of fresh vegetables and a few chunks of goat cheese.  Use egg whites or egg substitute to reduce the fat and/or calorie content of your omelet.

-Shake it up! Using protein shakes is also a great way to go meatless and still get the nutrition you need.  I often make a Cinch shake and pour it over cereal for an evening meal that is low fat, low calorie, high fiber and vegetarian.  It is quick and simple, keeps me satisfied for the evening and I am not headed back to the kitchen for a snack later on.

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee Distributor in Dallas is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214.871.9596 or email us to learn more about vitality and health.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas looks at a muscle retention study.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas looks at a muscle retention study.

With two-thirds of the United States population being overweight, it is no wonder that so many Americans are on a diet at any given time. It is a major concern for individuals as well as the national healthcare system.  Individually there are many conditions of poor and failing health that are directly related to being overweight and more so to being categorized as obese.  Nationally, the costs of caring for those who have fallen victim to the ravages of conditions that stem from carrying around too many pounds are skyrocketing.  The sad part of this is that the majority of these “conditions” are preventable.

We all know that.  That is why so many of us are trying to do the right thing and drop the weight.  The problem is most of the attempts to loose weight are met with failure.  Why?  Why do most diets fail and those who attempted them wind up with more weight than when they started?

Many of these failed attempts are due to a program that was incomplete and not scientifically sound.  How many people simply try to reduce their calorie intake?  Generally, these cuts in food intake are very drastic in the hopes of quick loss.  It is common that the food intake on these lo-cal programs is not meeting the nutritional requirements of the individual.

There are certain foods and nutrients that can be helpful in loosing weight and ensuring the proper kind of weight loss.  When weight loss diets are not properly balanced with nutrition, the weight that is lost comes from muscle, not fat.  The problem with this is that with the loss of muscle comes the loss of metabolism.  A higher metabolism means more calories are burned.  Muscle tissue requires more calories to exist than fat and thus drives metabolism to a higher rate.

So what is the key to loosing weight and keeping your muscle?  How do you make sure that the weight you loose is fat and not that precious muscle?

The Shaklee Corporation ran a study at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts. The 23 week study involved 68 adults with an average age of 59 who worked out three times a week.  The workouts involved light to moderate weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise.  Half of the participants were given a protein drink enhanced with luciene after the workout.  Luciene is an amino acid that has been used by athletes to maintain muscle mass during periods of heavy training.  The half of the participants who worked out and drank the protein with luciene lost 50% more weight and gained 25% more muscle than the participants who simply worked out.   They clearly had better toned bodies and better, faster metabolism.  This study indicates that a luciene-enhanced protein drink can help one maintain muscle mass and even build more muscle tissue.

This drink deserves a try when weight loss is needed.

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee Distributor in Dallas is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214.871.9596 or email us to learn more about vitality and health.