Welcome to "52 Weeks to a Healthier You"....


Are you thinking about making changes in your life to become a healthier person but don't quite know how to get started? Perhaps your doctor has suggested eating healthier, exercising and losing weight, but it all seems so overwhelming. Many of us already know what we should be doing, but implementing all of those pieces of information can be quite a challenge. Too often we embark on a new diet or exercise plan only to give up after a few days or weeks because it seems too difficult. Well, worry no more. You have arrived at the ideal place to help you make those changes. We are going to develop new habits, one week at a time. Health, exercise, and nutritional goals have been broken down into small, manageable steps. Each week you will add one new habit and have seven full days to perfect it before moving on to the next one. This is not a traditional diet and exercise plan, but rather a journey towards a permanent healthy lifestyle. The steps may seem small at first, but collectively they add up to major improvements in one's overall well-being. In just 52 short weeks, you will be amazed and proud of the changes you have made. You will look back and see just how far you've come on your quest to be a healthier YOU. Now, scroll down in the archives to January 2011/Week 1 and let's get started.... Then, follow each week's tip to a healthier YOU!


9 ingredients to avoid in packaged foods....

IngredientWhy it is UsedWhy it is Bad
Artificial Colors
  • Chemical compounds made from coal-tar derivatives to enhance
    color.
  • Linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, asthma, skin rashes,
    hyperactivity and headaches.
Artificial Flavorings
  • Cheap chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors.
  • Linked to allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, hyperactivity
    and asthma
  • Can affect enzymes, RNA and thyroid.
Artificial Sweeteners

(Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Equal®, NutraSweet®,  Saccharin,
Sweet’n Low®, Sucralose, Splenda® & Sorbitol)
  • Highly-processed, chemically-derived, zero-calorie sweeteners found
    in diet foods and diet products to reduce calories per
    serving.
  • Can negatively impact metabolism
  • Some have been linked to cancer, dizziness hallucinations and
    headaches.
Benzoate Preservatives (BHT, BHA, TBHQ)
  • Compounds that preserve fats and prevent them from becoming
    rancid.
  • May result in hyperactivity, angiodema,  asthma, rhinitis,
    dermatitis, tumors and  urticaria
  • Can affect estrogen balance and levels.
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
  • Chemical that boosts flavor in many citric-based fruit and soft
    drinks.
  • Increases triglycerides and cholesterol
  • Can damage liver, testicles, thyroid, heart and kidneys.
High Fructose Corn Syrup

(HFCS)
  • Cheap alternative to cane and beet sugar
  • Sustains freshness in baked goods
  • Blends easily in beverages to maintain sweetness.
  • May predispose the body to turn fructose into fat
  • Increases risk for Type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease,
    stroke and cancer
  • Isn’t easily metabolized by the liver.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
  • Flavor enhancer in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips,
    frozen entrees, soups and other foods.
  • May stimulate appetite and cause headaches, nausea, weakness,
    wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensations and
    difficulty in breathing.
Olestra
  • An indigestible fat substitute used primarily in foods that are
    fried and baked.
  • Inhibits absorption of some nutrients
  • Linked to gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, gas, cramps,
    bleeding and incontinence.
Shortening, Hydrogenated and Partially
Hydrogenated Oils


(Palm, Soybean and others)
  • Industrially created fats used in more than 40,000 food
    products in the U.S.
  • Cheaper than most other oils.
  • Contain high levels of trans fats, which raise bad cholesterol
    and lower good cholesterol, contributing to risk of heart
    disease.

SOURCE: href="http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/9-ingredients-to-avoid-in-processed-foods-1268429, http://www.sheerbalance.com/