Category Archives: Health Facts

Monosodium Glutamate: Is it Bad for Your Health?

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Greg Asseff

For literally decades, virtually the entire medical profession as well as many nutritionists debated over whether monosodium glutamate dangers (MSG) could impact your health. MSG, an artificial flavoring, is typically added to salty foods in order to impart a taste that could be described as “meaty” or “delicious”, depending on the palate of the individual you ask.

Most accurately, the flavor of MSG is best represented by the term “umami,” a word with which you may be unfamiliar. Umami can be described as a savory taste and is considered one of the five basic tastes, including sweet, sour, bitter and salty. However, despite its arguably scary-sounding name, monosodium glutamate, scientists, medical professionals, food experts, and researchers alike, now agree, at least for the most part, that MSG is not nearly as dangerous as was once thought to be.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition | 35 Comments

Hydration is Crucial, Even During the Winter

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Greg Asseff

During the summer, many individuals have little trouble staying hydrated as it feels natural to reach for a fresh glass of water every hour or two because you’re thirsty.

During the cooler months of the year, however, many individuals assume that they need less water since they’re not sweating as much and they feel comfortable, not parched, and hence, tend to ignore winter hydration.

Hydration during the winter months is a concern as your body continues to lose water through the various internal bodily functions that it routinely performs, urination, perspiration and breathing. The fact that the late fall and winter months coincide with flu season doesn’t help either, since you lose water at an even faster rate when you’re sick.

Hydration is important year-round, and the absence of thirst does not always indicate that your body is properly hydrated. In order to keep your body fueled with water, it’s good to know how much to drink and how to drink it.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Skin and Beauty, Studies | 29 Comments

8 Ways to Eat Right on a Low Budget

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Most fitness enthusiasts understand that obtaining good overall physical and mental health requires a sound nutritional intake routine. However, as food prices in the United States continue to rise to higher levels, many Americans face an important yet unfortunate decision: buy more food of a lower quality, or buy less food that is actually healthier and more nutritious?

With several recent reports stating that boosting even a single nutrient could add 10% to your overall grocery bill, there’s little doubt that food costs represent one of the most impenetrable barriers to consistently healthy eating on a low budget for millions of Americans.

In fact, if you’ve ever strolled down your local grocery store’s health food aisle and thereafter, compared those prices to what you would find elsewhere in the same store, it’s quite clear that high quality nutritious foods come with an elevated price tag.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, News, Nutrition, Weight Loss | 28 Comments

Struggling with Chronic Back Pain? Try Yoga, Study Says

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Greg Asseff

With origins in ancient India, Yoga is one of the most universal types of exercise in the world, however, Yoga did not become popular in the United States until the 1960s. In fact, Yoga is now practiced by millions of men and women in the United States and millions of additional individuals throughout the world.

The first references to yogic principles have been proven to date back as far as the 2nd century B.C. while the oral traditions of Yoga concepts and poses most likely preceded the 2nd century by a couple of thousand additional years, although the precise date of origin is difficult to specifically pinpoint.

Many forms of Yoga are designed to stretch, elongate, and relax the soft tissue of the body. In other words, the various muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the body.

If you suffer from chronic back pain, you’ve probably tried everything from prescription medications, expensive massage, chiropractic services, to a variety of exercise types in search of relief. However, if you have not given Yoga a try, it is well worth considering as, under many circumstances and situations, Yoga is ideal for relaxing, strengthening, and calming a sore back.

Posted in Exercise, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies | 8,941 Comments

6 Surprising Sources of Antioxidants

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Current health and fitness wisdom dictates that if you want to lower your chances of acquiring a debilitating disease such as heart disease or cancer, to name a few, you’d better be getting your daily dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants are like kamikaze compounds that seek out and destroy free radicals (an oxygen atom that is missing an electron) in your body, helping to protect cells from the damage they’d incur otherwise.

When individuals think of rich sources of antioxidants, colorful vegetables and fruits such as blueberries and pomegranate immediately come to mind. That makes sense, considering that antioxidants were first discovered by scientists in these types of foods. Nutritional science has come a long way since then, however, and we now know that antioxidants can be found in a wide variety of foods.