Diet & Weight Loss

Pull-up is a typical workout for developing muscle and strength. This kind of exercise is excellent for all fitness levels, from beginners to expert athletes. All you need for pull-up exercises is your body weight plus a few pieces of equipment. There are five essential tools for pull-up exercises you must have in case you need to get the most out of this exercise and maximize your performance.

Lifting Straps

Lifting straps are made from non-stretchable fabric loops that you wrap around the barbell, dumbbell, or other weightlifting equipment and your wrist. They strengthen your grip and enable you to raise heavier equipment without worrying that the bar will slip. The lifting straps are tear-resistant and made from long-lasting materials that last a lifetime. Lifting straps also help you gain extra power and strength during pulling exercises such as deadlifts, rowing, and pull-ups.

Grip Strengthener

Pull-ups require a firm grip, so having one is crucial. If your grip is weak, holding onto the bar for a while will be difficult. That’s why you need a grip strengthener. By strengthening your grip, these devices will enable you to hold onto the bar for an extended period. There are several sizes and resistance levels of grip strengtheners to choose from, so you can find one that works for you.

Weight Vest

A weight vest is a great tool for pull-up exercises. It helps you to put more weight, which makes the exercises difficult. You can perform Lunges, squats, and push-ups more intensely with a weight vest. When performing pull-ups, wearing a weight vest will increase the challenge to your muscles and help you gain strength more quickly.

Assisted Pull-Up Machine

An assisted pull-up machine can be a valuable resource when you require additional assistance during pull-ups. These devices help you raise your body weight using pulleys and counterweights. The machine helps you and facilitates the completion of the exercise as you pull yourself up. By doing this, you can increase the amount of pull-ups you can perform and develop your strength. It also eliminates the concern of not being able to access a bar.

Resistance Bands

Any pull-up exercise requires the use of resistance bands. You can strengthen yourself with them without using your body weight. By varying the tension within the band, resistance bands allow you to modify the level of difficulty associated with each exercise. If your strength is not up to par for the full pull-up, you can also use them to help with the pulling motion. You can find the ideal resistance band for your needs by choosing from various lengths and tension levels available.

Bottom Line

Using these five essential tools, you can maximize your workouts when performing pull-up exercises. You can increase the difficulty and intensity of your pull-ups by using resistance bands, lifting straps, and a weight vest. An assisted pull-up machine is an excellent option if you require extra assistance performing the exercise. A convenient way to perform pull-ups at home is with wall-mounted pull-up bars. In order to strengthen your grip and enable you to hold onto the bar for longer, a grip strengthener is a must. With the aid of these tools, you can improve the quality of your pull-ups.

Losing weight can be a frustrating journey for many people. Although many diet plans and exercise regimens are available, you might require extra support to achieve your weight loss goals. This is where medical weight loss programs come in handy. In this article, we will outline the concept of medical weight loss. Additionally, the blog will delve into how medical weight loss works to help you shed excess pounds and improve your overall health.

Understanding Medical Weight Loss

Medical weight loss is a comprehensive weight management approach supervised by healthcare experts, including physicians, registered dietitians, and other unique providers. Unlike commercial weight loss routines, medical weight loss programs are personalized to meet every individual’s unique requirements. The programs primarily target people with high body mass or obesity-related health conditions.

How Does Medical Weight Loss Work?

• Initial Assessment

The journey starts with a thorough medical assessment to determine your overall health, medical history, and weight-related concerns. This assessment aids healthcare professionals in understanding the underlying causes of weight gain.

• Personalized Treatment Plan

After the assessment, a customized treatment plan is created. This plan incorporates several strategies that address your specific needs. These include dietary modifications, exercise routines, behavior therapy, and surgical interventions if necessary.

• Nutritional Guidance

Registered dietitians play a vital role in medical weight loss programs by giving personalized nutritional guidance. They educate you about healthy eating habits, portion control, and meal planning. The focus is creating a sustainable and balanced diet that promotes weight loss while ensuring adequate nourishment.

• Exercise and Physical Activity

Medical weight loss programs emphasize the need for physical activities to achieve long-term weight loss. Healthcare experts work closely with you to develop exercise routines that are safe, effective, and suitable for your fitness level. Regular exercise helps reduce weight, enhances cardiovascular health, and boosts metabolism.

Benefits of Medical Weight Loss

Medical weight loss offers numerous benefits. If you are looking for ways to lose weight, the reasons below are why medical weight loss can be your best option.

1. Professional Guidance

Medical weight loss programs provide professional supervision, ensuring you receive evidence-based care tailored to your needs. The involvement of healthcare professionals increases the chances of successful weight loss and long-term weight management.

2. Personalization

Unlike generic weight loss plans, medical weight loss programs are personalized, considering your health factors, medical records, and lifestyle considerations. This individualized approach increases the program’s effectiveness and minimizes the risk of complications.

3. Holistic Approach

Medical weight loss programs address not only the physical weight loss aspects of weight loss but also the behavioral and emotional components. By focusing on overall well-being, these programs promote sustainable lifestyle changes that support long-term success.

4. Health Benefits

Losing weight through a medical weight-loss strategy can lead to significant health improvements. It can minimize the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and sleep apnea. Weight loss also relieves joint stress, enhances mobility, and improves overall quality of life.

Bottom line

If you are battling weight loss and have specific health concerns, consulting with a healthcare expert to explore medical weight loss options may be a step toward your wellness journey. Remember, a healthier and happier you are within reach with proper support and guidance.

Men with the highest scores on the USDA’s Baseline Healthy Nutrition Index (meaning their diet more closely followed federal guidelines) reduced their overall risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, or another chronic disease by 11% over 8-12 years of observation compared to those. with the lowest score. Men with high scores (those whose diets most closely followed the principles of the healthy eating pyramid) were 20 percent less likely to develop the severe chronic illness than men with low scores. Another observational study of 93,676 postmenopausal women found that adherence to a food pyramid-style diet (as measured by adherence to the alternative healthy eating index) was superior to adherence to a low-fat diet in reducing cardiovascular disease and the risk of heart failure.    

The Healthy Food Platter also advises consumers to avoid sugary drinks, the main source of calories, usually low in nutritional value, in the American diet. The Healthy Eating Platter does not define a specific number of calories or servings per day for each food group. A balanced diet is a summary of a diet that encompasses three main food groups.    

A balanced diet does not exclude the food group; it consists of a variety of foods that can support your body and keep you energetic, energetic, and healthy. As the name suggests, a healthy and balanced diet consists of a variety of foods that contain all the carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that our bodies need for healthy functioning. A balanced diet includes all the basic foods our body needs for energy and nutrition for growth and recovery. A balanced diet contains important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to keep the body and mind strong and healthy.    

Eating well also helps prevent many diseases and health complications, and helps maintain a healthy weight, provide energy, improve sleep and improve brain function. A balanced diet can provide the body with the correct proportions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fluids. By understanding the importance of a balanced diet, people can obtain the nutrients and calories they need, and avoid unhealthy foods or foods with no nutritional value. Eating healthily means eating a variety of foods that contain the nutrients needed to maintain health, health, and energy.    

Key nutrients to get from food include vitamin A (as carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots), vitamin B (as whole grains and legumes), vitamin C (as citrus fruits and tomatoes), Vitamin D (as eggs and dairy products), and vitamin E (in the form of nuts and seeds). Minerals and vitamins are other nutrients that are also important in your diet to help your body stay healthy. With a balanced diet, essential nutrients produce and help support key germ-fighting cells of the immune system and significantly improve vascular function. This is important because a lack of certain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals can affect the brain, immune system, bones, muscles, and organs.    

On the other hand, empty calories and excess food that the body does not need (such as added sugar, unhealthy fat, and cholesterol) can lead to weight gain, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, etc. For example, no matter how much we want to eat the same amount of potato chips and the same amount of vegetables, our body does not need the same amount of these foods. This means eating a variety of foods and the right amount of food and beverages in the correct proportions to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.    

In this section, you can learn how to eat right to keep your body healthy. Here, we’ll provide general information about the foods we need, the importance of dehydration, and how a nutritionist can support you. A nutritionist can provide you with the support you need, get you out of your comfort zone and keep you motivated, and can talk about your body and what is the importance of a balanced diet for you. Talk to your doctor if you have difficulty following a healthy diet or eating certain foods.    

People need to eat right, especially those who want to stay fit and healthy. Eating a balanced diet. A healthy and balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and helps you feel better. Eating healthy is about finding the right balance, the right food, and the right fluids. Maintaining a healthy diet that includes the right balance of essential nutrients protects us from disease, strengthens the immune system, and always keeps us active and rejuvenated.    

It also helps regulate digestion and metabolism, and maintain a proper weight. The general population needs a balanced and healthy diet because it provides the energy and nutrients needed to survive and maintain health. Combined with regular physical exercise, a healthy and balanced diet can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, and improve your overall health.    

This is achieved by choosing various foods from each different food group every day and remembering that there are no healthy or unhealthy foods, only healthy or unhealthy diets. Check out 8 healthy eating tips to learn more about why you need to reduce your intake of saturated fat, sugar, and salt, the foods they contain, and how to make healthier choices. You can eat very healthy foods, but you still need to track your portion sizes because if they are too big, you will still gain weight. Starchy foods in your diet Starchy foods should account for more than one-third of the food you eat.    

Try to choose different foods from the five main food groups for a wide variety of nutrients. Oils and Spreads Some dietary fats are necessary, but on average people in the UK eat too much-saturated fat. While some fats are essential for a healthy diet, their types and quality can vary. Try to eat moderate amounts of healthy fats, such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados, and avoid alternatives that are not as healthy as fried foods and fatty meats.    

You can reduce your trans fat intake by avoiding or reducing the number of fried foods, fatty snacks, and fatty baked foods you eat. Foods high in saturated fat are the most important foods to avoid – foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Foods high in healthy fats include chia seeds, ground flax, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fish. You can also add sabja seeds to your balanced diet as it is a good source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Though, it can create problems like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, acne, acid reflux, headache, abdomen discomfort, loss of appetite in some people. These are a few sabja seeds side effects.Consult your dietician before adding it to your diet.

Milk and other dairy products (such as cheese and yogurt) are important in the diet because they provide the calcium needed for healthy teeth and bones. They are also a source of protein and may contain other vitamins and minerals important to health. Some of these high-protein foods can also be sources of iron and vitamins, including vitamin B and vitamin D. However, most people eat more protein than they need. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and should account for more than one-third of the food you eat every day. 

When talking about fitness, it’s important to understand the body’s dietary needs. Caloric usage must exceed caloric intake to lose weight, that’s a given. Calories are often an under-used word when discussing dietary contents. Many popular diets such as the Atkins diet or the South Beach diet prioritize specific food groups over the overall picture, leading many to over-eat and sit dumbfounded and full.

Credit: https://www.drpandatv.com/

Thiamin is an important part of a healthy diet. Thiamin works in the body to help you use energy from carbohydrates effectively. It also helps to regulate your appetite. Muscle function, heart and nervous system are all assisted by this vitamin. Thiamin is found in many foods in small amounts, but you won’t find it in refined foods.

One way of maintaining good health is to visit the doctor on a regular basis. By doing this the individual will be aware of any health issues that he may have and therefore removing the risk of being ill or sick. It is advisable to go to the doctor at least twice a year.

When shopping for food, try to stick to the perimeter; or around the edges of the store. This is usually where the fresh produce is, as well as the meats and dairy products. These are the things to stick to in a healthy diet. By sticking to the perimeter, you’ll only buy things that support a healthy diet.

When possible, include more foods in your diet that are high in omega 3. Omega 3 is one of the good fats that has many benefits. It can help reduce pain and swelling in an injury. It is a great source of protection against cardiovascular disease and strokes. It also has some benefits in treating attention deficit disorders.

When considering a diet that provides an adequate nutrition level, be sure to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This will ensure that you keep your risk level low for low blood pressure, as well as, some cancers. Different types of fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients and this is why it is best to spread your choices among them. Generally, darker leafy vegetables, such as spinach or any that are deep and bright in color, such as peppers, have a high nutritional content.

You can be very creative with food without your children even realizing it. Chop up some extra vegetables, and throw them in your chili. You can ever puree fruit, and add it to a smoothie, and your child will think they are having a nice cold dessert.

A good nutrition tip is to invest in a shaker bottle. Shaker bottles are a great way to transport protein shakes and they are invaluable for anyone that works out. They’re usually available at a cheap price and if taken care of, they can last a long time.

Good nutrition can be the answer to managing some bothersome digestive health problems. Fiber is essential for digestive health and can be added to the diet to relieve constipation. Careful preparation of beans can avoid the gas commonly associated with this high fiber ingredient. For diarrhea, try small amounts of nuts or nut butters.

Vegetables make a great calorie-light addition to any diet, whether they come fresh from the market, out of a can, or from the freezer. They provide essential vitamins and minerals for your body, and leave you feeling full. Always eat a couple portions per day; they can be added to soups and salads!

Substitute slices of fresh raw vegetables for potato chips. Sometimes, when you have the munchies, nothing will do except something crunchy. Potato chips are not a healthy choice! Slice up some celery, squash, zucchini, cucumber or whatever other crunchy vegetables you can find. Add some low calorie salad dressing and munch away!

Kids love veggie kabobs, and they are a healthy and convenient way to liven up a cookout! Even adults appreciate the color and taste of a skewer full of fresh or frozen vegetables that has been roasted on the grill. Make sure you keep things interesting with a variety of colors and textures.

Everybody needs to chew their food, but did you know that taking about 10 to 15 seconds to chew will help in your weight-loss effort? Taking this time to chew makes you more aware of what you are doing and will keep you from overeating as you realize when you are getting full.

If you are going to snack during the day and you need something filling you should try snacking on some Laughing Cow cheese. They have wedges that are individually wrapped and great for snacking. Avoid the American cheese though, because it is made of mostly oil.

Forget the chips when you are craving salt. Grab a handful of nutrition packed, lightly salted edamame instead. Edamame are green soybeans that have been cooked and are rich in folic acid, calcium and protein. They can also be added to soup or tossed into your favorite stir-fry.

A great nutrition tip if you’re pregnant is to make sure you’re getting enough iron. Iron is crucial for helping blood carry oxygen throughout the body. You need iron as well as your baby. A good way to get iron is by taking a supplement or you can get it from eating meats.

Seniors can live longer, stay sharp mentally longer and maintain a high quality of life longer, with good nutrition every day. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables help keep bones stronger, which reduces the risk of fractures. The nutrients in fruits and vegetables can also reduce recuperation times in the event a fracture occurs.

Diet is a balance of composition and sheer bulk. While there is no specific diet that suits everyone with a hundred percent objective health, the wisest, general choice is simply to limit a person’s intake based on which goals they aim to achieve. Losing weight should require a calorie restriction; gaining weight, on the other hand, should see a higher caloric intake than the average dietary needs.

We have all been there — struggling to lose those extra holiday pounds. With all the sweet treats and delicious meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it can be easy to pack on the weight but difficult to get rid of it. If you have made it your New Year’s Resolution to get fit and healthy, consider choosing the right diet plan, exercising regularly and having an accountability partner. 

Choose the Right Diet Plan

With so many dieting options out there, it can be difficult to filter through what works and what does not. Go off the advice of friends who have had successful results; researching the pages of diet experts like Ryan Smith can help you find a good starting place for your plan. Whatever plan you choose, be sure that it is manageable for you and that you will be able to sustain it long-term. 

Exercise Regularly

Exercise has many health benefits besides weight loss, and there are so many different types of exercise that you can try to find what you enjoy. Choose something that you look forward to doing, whether it be running or cycling. Joining a gym in places like Lexington KY can give you access to different types of exercise equipment to help you find what you like.

Have an Accountability Partner

One of the best ways to ensure that you stick with your diet and exercise plan is to have an accountability partner. This can be a partner or a friend that shares similar fitness goals with you and keeps you motivated throughout the year.

Choosing a healthy lifestyle is a commendable achievement, and with the right resources you can be successful with your weight loss goals. Do not put this decision off any longer; make a resolution to become your best self in 2020.

Vitality Booster

 “A great deal of talent is lost in the world for want of courage”

The original form of this formula goes back many generations to an Armenian herbalist/physician, who developed it in the 1800s. Later, it was used by his son, who acted as an Armenian medic in both World War I and the Turkish/Armenian War. He and others found the formula to be extremely effective for treating serious life-threatening wounds. The original formula had great value in battlefield conditions as an anti-shock remedy and was widely used to help stabilize wounded soldiers prior to removal from the field to medical facilities behind the front lines.

Vitality Booster™ is very useful for bodybuilding programs and as a sports supplement. Along with supplying the body with nutrients for the circulatory system, this remedy is useful for individuals who have a high predisposition for heart problems. This product is an effective energy amplifier, heart stimulator, herbal health tonic, rejuvenator, and blood circulation builder. It helps reduce shock following a serious injury and helps balance high and low blood pressure while lowering cholesterol levels.

Vitality Booster™ had shown itself to be quite useful in emergency situations for aiding cerebral vascular accident (CVA), congestive heart failure (CHF), arteriosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, and angina pectoris, which are all life-threatening. If such a situation exists, seek medical attention immediately.

Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), known as a stroke, occurs when the blood supply is cut off to an area of brain cells for a critical period of time. When the cells are deprived of nutrients and oxygen, they begin to die. A CVA is similar to a heart attack, except that cell death occurs in the brain. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) occurs, when a heart is weakened or damaged, due to diseases such as rheumatic fever, heart attack, hypothyroidism, arteriosclerosis, or beriberi are unable to adequately pump the blood for proper circulation. Early symptoms of CFH are abnormal fatigue and shortness of breath, following normal work and exercise.

Arteriosclerosis is a condition in which there is thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity in the arteries. The arteries become narrow, restricting the flow of blood and thus causing poor circulation. If a blood clot forms and lodges in the narrow artery, the blood supply to that area of the body is cut off and tissue death results. Atherosclerosis is the number one killer in the US today. It usually affects the aorta, overall heart, and brain arteries, as well as other blood vessels of the body and extremities. The artery walls thicken, and plaques of cholesterol begin to narrow the arteries. This causes them to lose their elasticity and renders them hard and brittle.

Angina Pectoris is a condition characterized by episodes of chest pain. This pain is a result of an insufficient supply of blood available to the heart tissue, thus resulting in a lack of oxygen in these tissues. The most frequent cause is atherosclerosis of the arteries, which supply the heart with blood. Angina is most commonly found in males over the age of 45.

Vitality Booster™ is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t see a marked improvement after using this product, return the empty bottle within 30 days from the postmark date for a full refund. Dosage: Adults, weighing 130 to 150 pounds, may take 10 drops in liquid or directly, 4 times per day as needed, for 60 days or more for increased heart function. Teenagers may take ½ to ¾ the adult portion, based upon weight.

CAUTION: Vitality Booster is not recommended as a treatment for heart attack or any serious conditions. Seek medical attention immediately, if such a situation exists. Product Specifications: Ingredients: Panax ginseng root, ginger root, rosemary leaf, valerian root, gingko leaf, hawthorn berry, and garlic bulb in a 35% alcoholic aqueous solution.

It has been estimated that more than 50% of adults in North America have parasites, but few know they have them. While some parasites are beneficial to the proper functioning of our bodies, others are quite problematic. A portion of the medical community believes that the single most under-diagnosed health problem in the human population is related to parasites. The difficulty is determining the good from the bad and preventing the beneficial from leaving our system.
Our Wormafuge™ herbal remedy is a very effective lower bowel cleanser that acts as a powerful parasite cleanser. Depending on your practitioner’s directions, when used over 60 to 90+ days, the organic and wildcrafted herbs in this product will aid in detoxifying toxic residue without causing nausea or headaches.
Wormafuge™ makes it almost impossible for worms and parasites to remain in the body. Specifically, the organic and wildcrafted herbs affect the stomach, intestines, other digestive related organs, and other parts of the body. This herbal remedy adds herbal nutrients into the bloodstream that make the body less inviting for parasites. While there are a number of beneficial parasites, this herbal remedy will help prevent a wide range of the worms, negative parasites, and eggs from remaining or growing in the body. Wormafuge™ will cleanse the body of most parasitic organisms and their secretions while supporting a healthy stomach and intestinal flora balance.
Wormafuge™ is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Dosage: Adults weighing 130 to 150 lbs. may take twelve drops in liquid or directly, as needed, four times per day for twenty days or longer. For full eradication of any severe or long-standing parasite problems, we recommend that Wormafuge™ be taken for at least sixty days. Teenagers may take ½ to ¾ the adult dose, based upon weight. Pets: Cats – add 2 to 4 drops per day to water for 20 days. Dogs – add 4 to 20 drops per day to water, depending upon weight, for 20 days.
CAUTIONS: Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Check with your health practitioner or midwife prior to taking any herbal remedy. Ingredients: Wormseed, black walnut, fennel, quassia wood chips, cascara sagrada, rhubarb root, garlic, ginger, Oregon grape, pumpkin seed, white oak bark, and cayenne in a 35% alcoholic aqueous solution.

Free Tips for Natural Health, Weight-Loss, and Pain Relief! You can ease headache pain, reduce weight, control stress and anxiety, or support a natural pregnancy using flower essence remedies and herbal supplements. We manufacture over a hundred alternative health products, allowing each man or woman’s health needs and fitness goals to be addressed. We guarantee supplements you can believe in!
What are the best alternative therapy or health products for your individual needs? The first step in choosing a personalized health program is educating yourself with accurate time-tested information.
It’s important to remember that integrative alternative health is the future of health care, and is defined as giving the individual choices where previously there were none. It’s also important to realize that current alternative health and medicine products are often an evolution of traditional healing techniques from centuries before. Natural products for men and women’s health, along with other alternative health products, have been used around the world for generations. Chinese traditional medicine, Native American medicine, Ayurvedic remedies, and Armenian herbal traditions each encompass many thousands of years of development. From those ancient traditions, modern herbal extract and alternative essence traditions have finally emerged in the West (based on the idea of health with flowers and the early bach essence research).
Today the alternative health products industry is an extensive mixture of health products, including: Homeopathic medicine, herbal remedy and flower essence products, natural health products for beauty, organic foods, blended herbal remedies and synthetic nutritional supplements, essential oils of flower therapy strength, natural healing herb teas, bulk herb supplement pills, sports boosting amino acid supplements, and many other natural remedies. The list is literally endless, and yet the choices ALL claim to be highly effective! Some state that they exclusively have the only herb cure. With our many years of experience, however, we have found that the truest mark of quality and efficacy in the alternative health products industry is, and continues to be, the test of time. Alternative Health Networks Incorporated prides itself on its leading-edge products and non-hyped herb remedies and flower essence selections that include some of the most tested and complex formulas in the industry. With over three decades of alternative medicine experience, our formulations and quality are second to none. We even guarantee it!
Every remedy and flower essence is covered by our 100% money-back guarantee. Simply return the product to receive a refund. Some conditions apply. Click Here for details.
Donald Hall, our founder, and our entire company stand behind each of our products. We have used the best materials consistently, which includes only organic or wild-crafted botanicals. Our commitment is and has always been to you, our customers. We always appreciate your comments or questions.
“Lastly, for those that have been asking, and in case you’re wondering, the delightfully tie-dyed man with the gray beard that is featured throughout this site is actually the founder and formulator of our two healing remedy lines. His inspiration in 1974 has developed into one of the most comprehensive blended liquid product lines in the world. Beginning with natural childbirth, a desire to boost the immune system with herbs, and to experiment with flower medicine, our selection has bloomed into everything you see on this site. Remember to visit often as we are continuing to develop this site in new novel ways. Enjoy.”

Whether or not you support the idea of an exclusively raw diet, there are health benefits waiting for anyone who is able to start incorporating more raw food into their diet on a daily basis. Raw foodism centers on eating uncooked food – or food that is cooked at a temperature no higher than 104 – 115 degrees – that is also unprocessed. Most commonly, this food is organic or wild.
Most raw foodists eat varying types of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and sprouted whole grains. Some raw foodists also eat eggs, meat, non-pasteurized dairy products, and fermented foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, or kefir. Many doctors and advocates of the raw diet believe that raw foods, which are also referred to as “living” foods, contain natural enzymes that are critical for overall health. They believe that these enzymes are often destroyed through the process of cooking and that heating above a certain temperature will also result in the production of toxins. Raw foodists also commonly believe that raw foods contain higher levels of nutrients and antioxidants.
If this idea resonates with you, great! If it doesn’t, fear not – your health will still benefit from the mild incorporation of more raw foods into your diet, even if you don’t feel up to giving up your cooked foods. If you’d like to start bringing more raw food into your diet, stock your pantry with these powerhouse raw ingredients to help get you started.
Lemon Juice. Lemon juice is incredibly versatile, packed with vitamin C, and can spritz up a meal like nobody’s business. When eating raw, you’ll be able to use lemon juice in your drinks, in your salad dressings, and so much more.
Cacao Nibs. These little treats will help you to make chocolate-flavored raw goodies, like raw chocolate brownies, bliss balls, shakes, and more.
Raw nuts. I cannot overstate the tremendous role raw nuts play in a raw diet, or even in a single raw meal. You can blend raw nuts together to create delicious raw desserts, like raspberry cheesecake. You can use raw cashews to make seriously decadent “cheeses” and spreads that resemble goat cheese (and others) in texture and flavor. Or you can simply munch on raw nuts or toss them in with a salad for quick-fix.

Dates. Dates are an amazing raw ingredient and integral to some of the most delicious raw recipes I know of – especially the sweet ones, like raw brownies. A few dates can go a long way when acting as natural sweeteners, so be sure to store them well between raw food creations.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Raw apple cider vinegar is filled with health benefits and is great when simply added to water, but it’s also a wonderful raw staple to have around for dressings, marinades, and more.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA; 10.17.99) shows that Americans are fatter than ever and are getting fatter at an alarming rate. This eight-year study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that one in five American adults is now obese. This is a drastic increase from just 10 years ago when one in eight Americans were obese. This development has prompted the Centers for Disease Control to classify obesity in the U.S. as an epidemic.
Being overweight increases risks for a number of serious health problems including heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gallbladder disease. Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are the three biggest killers of American men and women, so the problem is not just a cosmetic one!
According to the JAMA study, 300,000 deaths in the United States each year can be attributed to being overweight. Compare this to the 430,000 deaths each year caused by smoking and you will see that—with the exception of quitting smoking—there is probably no single preventative measure that can guarantee your health more than maintaining your ideal weight.
What is Obesity?
The difference between obesity and simply being overweight is a matter of degree. Although being even slightly or moderately overweight can and does increase certain health risks, it is usually not considered a serious medical problem. Obesity, on the other hand, is considered a serious condition that, if not properly managed, is likely to lead to serious health problems, and possibly death.
The medical criteria for obesity are determined by a formula called the Body Mass Index (BMI), defined as your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). A BMI of 19 to 24.9 is considered a “normal” weight. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and 30 or above is considered obese. The Body Mass Index is not perfect. Muscular individuals, especially those who are short in stature, will have a tendency to score higher than they should. We also normally tend to exchange muscle weight for fat as we get older. (See chart adjusting for age below.) But for most individuals, the BMI is a very good indicator of where we are in relation to where we should be