Hot Off The Press # 2

Photo by Juan Davila on Unsplash

Hi StrongHealth Tribe

Here we are at the beginning of another Friday and the question to ask is: “What have I done to improve my health this week?” Not paying attention to the state of our body, especially in this day and age of refined foods, can lead to a number of negative consequences.

Let’s take the example of eating a restaurant hamburger. On average, a burger from a fast-food chain contains 36–40% of your daily energy needs and this does not account for any chips or drinks consumed with it. This is a large amount of food for the body to digest.

The nutritional composition of a popular burger from a famous fast-food restaurant, detailing the average quantity per serving and per 100 g.The carbohydrates of a burger are mainly from the bun, while the protein comes from the beef patty. Large amounts of fat come from the cheese and sauce.

A few hours after eating rich, heavy foods such as a burger, unpleasant symptoms like tiredness, poor sleep, and even hunger can result. (Frontiersin.org)

If we eat mostly junk foods over many weeks, months, or years, there can be severe long-term impacts on health through diseases. Studies show processed foods can reduce your lifespan by more than ten years. Odds are, a major disease can take us out if we’re not careful with that we consume.

Modern nutritionist call on clients to follow the “80:20 rule”: Eat healthy foods as often as possible (at least 80 percent of the time), but also enjoy the occasional less healthy food (about 20 percent of the time), if that’s what you really want.

Is this really what we should be doing? Should we strive for 20% less healthy foods? Should we increase the odds of ill health by that much?

I often tell my clients to follow the 70%-30% alkaline to acid ratio. That is, eat 70 percent alkaline to 30% acid foods. These are “whole foods.” That doesn’t mean we can’t have some pizza or other foods occasionally, but I never advocate that to a 20% ratio. Think of all the refined oils, sugars, fats, salts and chemicals your body has to eliminate at that percentage.

Not many people will achieve perfection, but I’ve never heard that 80% is a top number to shoot for. What happened to excellence? You’ve been given one body - take care of it like a good steward.

Like I say to my clients: Do better, remain healthier!

Alkaline Boosters

I’ve been asked how to get more alkalinity into the body besides fruits and vegetables. Personally, I still eat a bit more protein than the average person because I’m still very active with exercise. That means I need more alkaline substances to offset the proteins. Here is a quick and dirty alkaline list I use:

1. Chia seeds

2. Flax seeds

3. Sodium bicarbonate

4. Natural sulfur powder

5. Lemons, oranges in water

6. Increased spring water

7. Coconut water

8. Kefir (because of fermentation)

9. Green powders

10. Apple cider vinegar

11. Figs

12. Nuts and seeds like almonds and walnuts

13. Legumes like chickpeas

14. Omega-3 fish oil

15. Probiotics

Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh) and herbs and spices (basil, oregano, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin) also work really well.

What I’m Eating

I’ve decided to simplify my eating. Young people love carbohydrates because they provide energy, they make them feel good and they easily burn them off. Not so much anymore for those who are no longer spring chickens. The metabolism is slower and they sit on the midsection like a group of tourists taking up all the best spots on the beach. They have a great time and refuse to leave!

So, my take on food is to simplify, reduce carbs significantly but not entirely, and alkalize by eating more cut up veggies with dip, more soups and increased shakes, besides other whole food staples. All are naturally low calorie and super healthy.

Every decade, you have to adjust foods intelligently. I analyze foods intake by how my body processes it and how I feel. If something no longer works, I discard eating much of it, hence less carbohydrates. It’s no use trying to run a race with a backpack full of rocks. No one has time for that! So lighten the load and say sayonara to those excess pounds. Your body will thank you later.

What I’m Using

Right now I’m getting into supplements of the whole food variety. I use a lot of:

• Green powders (nutrient dense)

• Beet root powder

• Wheat germ

• Collagen

• Seaweed

• Fermented flax

• Fermented chia seeds

• Green teas

• Herbal drinks

• Pumpkin Seeds

• Hemp Seeds

• Etc

I’m finding my body absorbs whole food nutrients much better at this point in life. However I still take staples, such as vitamin D, vit.K, magnesium and zinc for the immune system.

What I’m Reading

I’m plowing through a medium sized book on Churchill, by Paul Johnson this week. It’s a lively, succinct exploration of one of the most complex and fascinating personalities in history. Johnson’s analysis casts new light on Churchill’s extraordinary life and times.

The book covers various phases of Churchill’s career and shows how Churchill’s immense adaptability and innate pugnacity made him a formidable leader for the better part of a century.

If you’re thinking this is dry reading, think again; Churchill is a towering figure in history. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during some of the most difficult times in world history, and his leadership helped the UK (and Western civilization) survive. No small feat!

No man did more to preserve the freedom and democracy that you enjoy today. This book answers the question: “How did one man do so much, for so long and so effectively?”

What I Listen To

Classical music is not everyone’s cup of tea. But did you know there are powerful benefits to this type of music?

It’s been linked to improved cognitive functioning in a variety of studies. One found that immersing yourself in it for just 60 minutes a day for six weeks improved cognitive function.

This improvement was measured in terms of memory, attention span, and reaction time. Another study found that classical music can help improve memory recall, and accuracy in adults. Can we all use a bit more of this?

Additionally, research suggests that classical music can help reduce stress and anxiety levels; it can have a positive impact on mood and emotions, and increase alpha and theta brain waves, which are associated with relaxation, improved memory, and better concentration.

If all of this suggests that classical music can help improve brain power and cognitive functioning, then I’ll gladly sign up for a daily dose of it.

Thanks for reading this week. Have a wonderful weekend.