Java, Mud, Joe, Brew......Coffee is one of those rare treats that contains next to no calories and offers real health and performance benefits. It is also one of the leading sources of antioxidants in the Western diet. This article discusses the numerous proven benefits (and risks) of coffee as well as suitable safe dosages of [...]
Choose dairy – Not only is dairy a great source of protein and low GI carbohydrates (making for a great snack on the go, effective for weight management and even a post-exercise recovery meal), it also contains tryptophan, which as it is metabolized is converted to mood-boosting serotonin. Plus, its calcium, magnesium and potassium [...]
Many of us have heard that it takes 21 days to build or break a habit, but researchers have found that in actual fact, on average, it takes more than two months before a new behaviour becomes automatic -- 66 days to be exact. How long it takes to form a new habit varies widely [...]
Most of us may have heard the term BMI and know it is linked with our weight but what exactly is it measuring and how accurate is it? BMI is used by dieticians, doctors, nurses, other health professionals and the general public. Basics of BMI BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the [...]
When it comes to alcohol and diabetes, there is some confusion as to whether it can be included or not. There is a large body of information that states that moderate drinking has cardio (heart) protective effects but it can also cause havoc with your blood sugar levels. Can you answer the following questions? Is [...]
Designed to deceive? Confusion incarnate? Maybe, but food labels can provide you will a lot of information once you know how to read them. There are a few things you should look for on a food label, the first is the Ingredients list. This gives you an idea of what is in the product. The first [...]
The Glycaemic Index (GI) is a system that ranks carbohydrate containing foods based on their physiological effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. The GI of a specific food is determined by comparing the Blood Glucose Response (BGR) of that food with the BGR of glucose. Glucose is used as the reference food as it [...]
Most of us have heard the term antioxidant but most of us do not really know what they are or what they do. The science can be quite complex here so let's keep it simple: An antioxidant prevents oxidation caused by free radicals in the body. There are a variety of antioxidants including vitamins A,C,E, selenium, resveratrol, [...]
Exercise vs. Activity?! Are these not the same thing? No, not quite. Exercise is strenuous or "formal" exercise that gets you sweating and out of breath (you can talk but not sing). Examples include running, very brisk walking, cycling, fast swimming, most gym exercises, weight training, aerobics classes, and most team sports. Activity is gentler [...]
Smoking is the unhealthiest thing you can do to yourself. Quitting smoking will stop the damage immediately and start reversing the effects very rapidly. It’s best to choose a quitting date about 2-4 weeks away so you can plan, and choose sudden-stopping OR gradual reduction to zero. The ideal quitting plan involves considering nicotine [...]
