Exercise: the soon the better.

A recent study shown in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that men and women who are active during their 20s are more likely to prevent substantial weight gain in the future. The key to maintaining a healthy weight, is to "be active and stay active and integrate activity into your everyday lifestyle in a way that you can maintain it."Regular exercise helped keep extra pounds off regardless of a person's initial weight or the amount of calories they typically consumed in a day.

Read more about this study here. 

Finally, Some Good News: Obama Signs Child Nutrition Bill

Once President Obama's pen signed the Nutrition Bill, I yelped pure joy! This is the single most thing I have looked forward to in the White House and I am thrilled about the progress that is going to be made. This bill has been in the works for some time! Finally, children all over the world are able to receive the proper balanced nutrition so they can thrive. First Lady, Michelle Obama has been working rigorously trying to bring awareness about this issue and now her hard work has prevailed. Prior to the Bill being passed Michelle Obama exclaimed, "We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on earth all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams," said Mrs. Obama. "Because in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children. Nothing," 
Bravo. Bravo. 

Here's what AP has to say...

"The $4.5 billion measure increases the federal reimbursement for free school lunches by 6 cents a meal at a time when many school officials say they can't afford to provide the meals. The bill will also expand access to free lunch programs and allow 20 million additional after-school meals to be served annually in all 50 states. Most states now only provide money for after-school snacks."  

President Obama immediately after signing The Nutrition Bill 

To read more on this or to watch a video of The President go here. 
So what does this new law really entail? 
Here are some facts from the actual bill posted on the White House's website: 

• Improves Nutrition and Focuses on Reducing Childhood Obesity 
• Gives USDA the authority to set nutritional standards for all foods regularly sold in schools  during the school day, including vending machines, the “a la carte” lunch lines, and school stores. 
• Provides additional funding to schools that meet updated nutritional standards for federally- subsidized lunches.  This is an historic investment, the first real reimbursement rate increase in over 30 years. 
•  Helps communities establish local farm to school networks, create school gardens, and ensures that more local foods are used in the school setting. 
• Builds on USDA work to improve nutritional quality of commodity foods that schools receive from USDA and use in their breakfast and lunch programs. 
•  Expands access to drinking water in schools, particularly during meal times. 
•  Sets basic standards for school wellness policies including goals for nutrition promotion and 
• education and physical activity, while still permitting local flexibility to tailor the policies to their 
• particular needs. 
• Promotes nutrition and wellness in child care settings through the federally-subsidized Child and Adult Care Food Program. 
• Expands support for breastfeeding through the WIC program. 

Menu Template made for new lunch food

Now thats what I call "change" ...


FDS 

Yumm, CHOCOLATE

You say ho ho ho, I say... "co co coa." Tis the season! Sugar consumption tends to go on the rise during the holiday season. If you don't want to change the size of your belt buckle I say go koo koo for cocoa. Pure cocoa, that is. 

Raw Cacao—the pure source of ordinary chocolate—was revered by ancient cultures as the food of the gods and is a rich source of flavonoids. Cardioprotective effects including antioxidant properties, inhibition of platelet activity, and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase have been ascribed to the cocoa flavonoids. Studies show that High cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate may reduce the burden of the symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Data

ORAC scores for the Top 10 Antioxidants Foods (per 100 grams)

1) Raw cocoa powder* 95,500
2) Raw cacao nibs* 62,100
3) Roasted cocoa powder 26,000
4) Organic Goji Berries* 25,300
5) Acai Berries* 18,500
6) Dark Chocolate 13,120
7) Milk Chocolate 6,740
8) Prunes 5,770
9) Raisins 2,830
10) Blueberries 2,400

Source: US department of Agriculture/Journal of American Chemical Society


Here is a great company that sells some awesome Cocoa!.. 

What Matters Most?

FOODMATTERS.  "Let thy Food be thy Medicine and thy Medicine be thy Food" - Hippocrates. 

Food Matters is a feature length documentary film informing you on the best choices you can make for you and your family's health. In a collection of interviews with leading Nutritionists, Naturopaths, Scientists, M.D.'s and Medical Journalists you will discover...

• How to use food as medicine
• Who needs vitamins?
• Is organic better?
• How safe is our food?
• Natural treatments for lowering Cholesterol
• Foods that fight Anxiety and Depression
• Natural therapies for Cancer
• Which drugs might do more harm than good?
• The best ways to detox, lose weight and keep it off!

This wonderful  films focus is "helping us rethink the belief systems fed to us by our modern medical and health care establishments. The interviewees point out that not every problem requires costly, major medical attention and reveal many alternative therapies that can be more effective, more economical, less harmful and less invasive than conventional medical treatments."  










Who is the wealthiest of all? he/she who is healthy. 
FDS 

Phatty Fat.

This is why.....

"youarefat" ( AHEM Americans) 

"Warning: Don’t eat before, during or after you’ve seen this blog.”

- TIME magazine

"If you dare to eat any of these, make sure you have a cardiologist on speed dial."

- CNN.com

Where Nutrition Is Needed The Most....

Children, in my opinion, is the most important age group that needs to be targeted within the obesity craze. The statistics are absolutely staggering. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%(CDC.) Many researchers even believe that at this rate children wont outlive their parents. Statistics on childhood obesity also indicate that over 70 percent of overweight adolescents will be overweight or obese as adults. 

Ok, this scares me. Actually, it really scares me! 

You might be thinking and asking yourselves all kinds of questions like, who is to blame? why haven't we done anything about it? When are people going to learn that unhealthy food is contributing to their ill-health? 

These are many questions that have been lingering around my head for years. Is there any chance that we can see change? We can never loose hope! 

Change can be determined by two important factors: education and environment. 

Education can be formed in the household and in school. Many do not have the proper education and training to raise their children and teach them the importance of healthy eating. 

On the other hand, the environment is another imminent factor. The government can contribute greatly in helping provide the necessary resources to prevent obesity from spreading. For example if a family lives in an unsafe environment that lacks proper lighting for walking in the night time, this family wont be able to go walking because their safety can be at risk. 

So, what is being done now... 

Well, there is a lot of contention on this issue going on in Washington. Lobbyists are trying to pass the child nutrition bill. Now that congress is back from their recess they have stacks and stacks of important bills to look over. Is child nutrition on top of the stack? Sadly, no. 

An article I read recently offered several reasons Why Congress Should Pass Child Nutrition Now. 

Read away! 

I will touch on this issue further, for it is something that I have a true passion for. Resolving this issue wont be an easy smooth process, but eradicating childhood obesity will take time, patience, and guts. 

Pass it on,

FDS 

Yes, research can sometimes be stupid!

A professor has found that by eating junk-food one can "loose weight."
Read more about it here.