Many people have asked which is better for weight loss: low fat or low carb? Well, that question has finally been answered: neither… and both!

As it turns out, calories are the key. Whether they are from fat or carbohydrate is not as important as the total number of them. To lose weight and keep it off, we simply must adhere to the simple rule of “calories in, calories out.”

Be cautious about cravings
Our bodies were designed to communicate nutrient needs through cravings. Our bodies need protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber and water to be healthy. These are called macro-nutrients because they are large categories of food that contain smaller categories called micronutrients. A micronutrient is something we need in a very small quantity, like salt (sodium). We crave what we need.

Food manufacturers create products to tempt these cravings the way a fisherman uses a lure to catch a fish. We can be induced to buy one food over the other because of added ingredients. Three common additives that tempt our taste buds:
• Sugar
• Fat
• Salt
Salt has its own issues but sugar and fat are often hidden sources of calories.

Hidden calories
Are you watching your calorie intake? Use these tips when looking at labels:

Watch out for added-sugar foods. Recommendations for carbohydrate intake range from 60 to 250 grams daily for the average adult. These carbohydrates should come from whole foods to avoid the “empty calories” of added sugar. If the label lists “sugar” as an ingredient, select another food without the added sugar.

Watch out for added-fat and high-fat foods. Fat contains very few nutrients. While it is a good source of energy, a little goes a long way. Protein and carbs contain four calories per gram, yet fat contains a whopping nine calories per gram. Fat is often added to improve the “mouth-feel” of foods. If a label lists the daily value (DV) at 20% or higher, it is a high-fat food. The DV should be between 2% and 10% for a single serving. Never eat trans-fats.

Conclusion
As with most elements of life, selecting your diet is both a science and an art. Take a little time to learn the science behind food selections and then you can enjoy the endless, artistic variety of foods. Remember, moderation is the key!

Take Control of Your Health

· Get your nutrients from plant-based foods

· 5 servings of fruits and vegetables for children

· 7 servings of fruits and vegetables for women

· 9 servings of fruits and vegetables for men

· Take Leanology to help curb cravings

· Take VitaDaily AM/PM, Daily Men or Daily Women to fill in nutritional gaps

To find out more about TriVita’s products including Nopalea, go here or if you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Technorati Tags: food labels, Health Information, Nopalea, nutrition

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. It may be triggered by a number of different conditions such as infection or allergy. Underlying the development of psoriasis is a confused immune system. An autoimmune condition such as psoriasis begins when your immune system attacks healthy cells as if they were diseased.

Many things may cause this confusion. Stress is a primary trigger. Other triggers may include injury (with psoriasis beginning at the site of trauma), nutrient deficiency – especially of essential fatty acids – and toxins such as sugar, alcohol and allergens.

Progress of inflammation

There are three basic steps in the inflammation process:

1. Antecedent – The first step is called an antecedent. An antecedent is like a predisposition to something; for example when a person is prone to a condition because of heredity or environment.
2. Trigger – The second step in the inflammation process is the trigger. This may be injury, stress, deficiencies or toxins.
3. Release of mediators – The third step in the inflammation process is the release of inflammatory mediators like histamines. Histamines are stored in cells called mast cells. These mast cells are like balloons filled with acid that pop and release their poison. Deficiency weakens the walls of these balloons, and trauma, toxins and stress pop the balloons. Histamines are released and inflammation results.

Runaway inflammation and psoriatic arthritis
Mast cells populate our skin. They are also abundant in our joints. They line our airways and digestive tracts. Runaway inflammation occurs when so much histamine is released by one cell that it triggers other mast cells and causes them to pop and release their histamine (this is why sunburn may cause sinus inflammation). This histamine then triggers other cells and more histamine is released, perpetuating the cycle.

Inflammation from psoriasis will eventually inflame the joints. Toxic levels of histamine from the skin will trigger mast cells in joints to release their histamines. Again, trauma, toxins, deficiencies and stress can cause this runaway inflammation.

What to do

* Stress
Deep breathing is an excellent remedy for stress. Adaptogens are as well. Everyone responds differently to stress. Learn to reduce your anxiety during stressful situations by applying some of the suggestions found in our Weekly Wellness Report on Stress.

* Nutrient deficiencies
One of the most common deficiencies for people with psoriasis is an essential fatty acids (good fats) deficiency. Taking one to six grams of OmegaPrime daily can give you therapeutic levels of essential fatty acids. Another common deficiency in people with psoriasis is Vitamin D. We normally get enough Vitamin D from sunshine. Be sure to expose at least 40% of your skin to early morning or late evening sunshine. Never let yourself get sunburned. For more information on healthy sun exposure, see our Weekly Wellness Report, Is the Sun Our Enemy?

* Histamine
For reducing histamines, very few nutrients compare with Vitamin C and Vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 as found in our Super Sublingual B-12 reduces histamines by hindering them from being formed in the first place. Vitamin C acts like a body-wide antihistamine. Find out how much Vitamin C your body can use by calibrating your levels with the Vitamin C flush.

* Joint inflammation
If inflammation has already reached your joints, you can help reduce inflammation and protect your joints with TriVita’s Joint Complex. The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin with anti-inflammatory nutrients like boron offer more joint protection than even some NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

When one part of our body is sick, our whole body suffers. So, it is no surprise that the same imbalanced immune system that attacks our skin may attack our joints, sinuses, lungs and intestines. Teach your immune system to work smarter, not harder, by applying the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness and supplying the nutrients needed for healthy skin and joints.

Take Control of Your Health

* Reduce stress and toxins for skin health
* Increase Essential Fatty Acids
* Safely increase sunshine
* Use Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin C to help your body reduce histamine
* Apply the 10 Essentials for lifetime wellness

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802.  And ask me about our new product, Nopalea, that is proven to reduce inflammation.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Technorati Tags: Health Information, Nopalea, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Skin Conditions, sonoran bloom nopalea, TriVita, Wellness