Considering Vegetarianism

       Becoming a vegetarian is more than just a notion.  If you have been eating meat your entire life and have made the decision to go vegetarian, here are a few things for you to consider.  The first is meal planning.  Gone are the days of you just grabbing something quick at a fast food place or going to the family barbecue and having many options to choose from.  What’s important here is being prepared by making sure there are food options for you to choose from whether at work or at a family outing.  Now if you are just going to grab carbohydrate type foods then your planning and search for foods will be easier, but we are trying to eat well-balanced meals here, right?  So what you have to keep in mind is making sure protein and carbs are in each meal and if possible healthy fats from nuts, flax seeds, olive oil, etc.  Keeping this in mind you can see that preparation will be important in ensuring your vegetarian endeavour results in a healthier lifestyle and not carbohydrate overload.  This can be done by simply making a list of local eateries that carry vegetarian options; packing a meal whenever you know you will not have time to get home; and planning to bring your vegetarian foods for family get-togethers.  Although there are some challenges with beginning this new lifestyle, one must also consider the availability of vegetarian type food options which are much more abundant now than ever.  Most restaurants carry them, grocery stores have tons of options such as beans, quinoa, tofu, nuts, and even frozen dinners, and supplement companies have great options such as hemp seeds, chia seeds, etc.  The key is to research what your options are and stay focused on being successful with your new lifestyle, because the change will require much effort, and a different attitude toward food. 

       You have your reasons on why you chose this new way of life, but as an added bonus I will share with you some of the great benefits of this lifestyle. 

1. Lowered risk of lung and colorectal cancer. A diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and fiber can help reduce the risk of lung disease and related illnesses.
2. Prevention of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common with the rise of obesity around the world, and vegetarian diets may even can prevent it by including complex carbs and fiber that help the body manage insulin more efficiently. 
3. Hormone-free eating. Fruits, vegetables, and soy products are never injected with growth hormones and other chemicals that may harm the human body. 
4. Increase in energy. With the body spending less time digesting animal protein, an energy boost is a nice side effect. 
5. Lower blood pressure. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be naturally low in fat and sodium, helping reduce blood pressure and improve circulation instead. 
6. Improvement in digestion. Plant-based foods and fresh fruits are rich in fiber, improving the digestion and elimination process. High fiber diets have also been linked to preventing certain types of cancer. 
7. Lower grocery bills. By shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and stocking up on high-fiber, highly nutritious food, vegetarians can eliminate almost 25% of their food budgets without pounds of meat on the bill. In some cases this balances out if the vegetarian shopper chooses to buy premium veg brands and gourmet ingredients, but average costs do tend to be much lower per trip. 
8. Healthier Cholesterol Levels.  Without unhealthy meat and fat sources in the diet, cholesterol levels of vegetarians can be considerably lower and easily fall into a healthy range. 

       We have many Vegetarian Products that can assist you in your new vegetarian lifestyle.  Remember with the exclusion of meat you will need to find ways to replace vital minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and healthy fats.  Many of those products you will find under our Vegan/Vegetarian Category.

Much Health & Success My Friend

Hemp Hearts

Hemp Hearts is one those products that makes you ask the question of  ” where have you been all my life?”  It is a very simple food that can be added very easily to your daily eating regimen and it will add many… health benefits.  Check out the description below:

OVERVIEW OF HEMP HEARTS

HEMP HEARTS™ are the Most Concentrated and Best Balanced Source of Proteins, Essential Fats and Vitamins in Nature.  Of equal importance, these desirable nutrients are not accompanied in Hemp Hearts with an excess of carbohydrates, sugars, and saturated fats–nutrients which are already eaten in excess and which in the long term have proven to be challenging to human health.

HEMP HEARTS™ (Shelled Hemp Seeds) have been sold in increasing quantities. This product is priced and packaged to be eaten in quantity. Our customers have become our best sales agents–recommending Hemp Hearts to acquaintances. Our supplier sells more shelled hemp seeds each day than many competitors sell each year — because of the many health benefits that customers experience by eating Hemp Hearts in quantity.

WHO ARE HEMP HEARTS FOR

• People interested in preventative health and wellness
• Diabetics
• People with obesity
• People with chronic constipation
• Elderly individuals with chronic health problems
• People with high blood pressure
• Individuals on carb-reduced diets
• Individuals battling high cholesterol
• People with Celiac Disease
• People battling depression
• Pregnant and lactating mothers
• Children with hyperactivity disorders

BENEFITS

Energy: Expect sufficient energy to increase productivity and better enjoy life. You will not need energy boosts from coffee and other stimulants. You will naturally select less pastries, sweets, candy bars and sugar-based drinks. Middle aged and older individuals who eat four measuring tablespoons of Hemp Hearts each morning, usually raw on fruit or oatmeal, notice increased and long-lasting energy. Because of their increased energy, individuals eating Hemp Hearts in quantity have less inclination to pep up with sweet foods, sweet drinks and stimulants.

Weight Maintenance: Expect to be free of significant hunger until mid-afternoon. Depending on your health and weight, you may chose o miss lunch entirely. You may restrict yourself to a salad in the evening and lose up to one pound per day, 30 pounds per month. Or without hunger, you may often make later food choices for fruit, salads and vegetables knowing that with Hemp Hearts you have already consumed all of the essential fats, proteins and most vitamins and other nutrients necessary for promoting good health. With less hunger you will less frequently select starches and carbohydrates.

Cravings: Expect reduced cravings for foods with stimulants, sugars, starches and saturated fats. Often marketed effectively by multinational food giants, such foods in excess promote obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes and increased susceptibility to cancer and a whole spectrum of diet-related and infectious diseases. A breakfast of Hemp Hearts is a concentrated and balanced source of all required proteins and essential fats: Satisfied by Hemp Hearts your body will not make insatiable demands that result in unhealthy food choices.

Digestion: Expect to be untroubled by constipation and less susceptible to intestinal diseases. Hemp Hearts is very easily digested by young and old. Important nutritional benefits are readily transferred to those not yet born. Coarse fibers and plant sterols found in Hemp Hearts are thought to reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer. Hemp Hearts has none of the anti-nutritional factors that reduce the value of soybeans in many food items. Customers report efficient digestive systems without sluggishness– able to derive much more benefit from less food. Because they are so easily digested, customers claim that Hemp Hearts have cured or reduced the effects of chronic problems of the digestive system. There are no known allergies to Hemp Hearts. Because they are a well-balanced source of all required proteins, all essential fats and most vitamins, Hemp Hearts are of special benefit to those who are unable to eat gluten, lactose, sugar, fish, nuts, meat and other common foods.

Allergies: Expect none of the symptoms of food allergies. Hemp Hearts is especially beneficial to those who are unable for any reason to eat gluten, lactose, saturated fats, sugars, meats, nuts, fish, beans, etc. Using Hemp Hearts it is not difficult to achieve an exciting and nutritionally superior diet without consuming foods associated with food allergies or prohibitions. There is no THC in Hemp Hearts — not even one part per million.

Cellular/Long Term Health: Expect many long-term health benefits. Because Hemp Hearts is one of the best balanced sources of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, because Hemp Hearts contains only small amounts of saturated and mono-unsaturated fats which can be easily converted to energy, and because Hemp Hearts is also an unsurpassed source of the whole spectrum of required proteins, it promotes vigorous cellular development with diverse health benefits:

• Expect reduced cholesterol and blood pressure after three months — with decreasing probability of stroke.
• Expect a reduction in the inflammatory characteristics of hundreds of diseases.
• Expect a more rapid recovery from disease, from radiation treatment and from injury.
• Expect improvement in circulation: Diabetics may notice warmer, then less discolored, feet.
• Expect a more effective immune system with reduced incidence of all types of disease.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

• Contain more amino acids (proteins) than milk, meat or eggs.
• Contain more omega 3 essential fat than any fish.
• Is a complete protein source – much more balanced than & digestible than any soy product.
• Contain about 47% oil, 86% of which is Omega 3, 6, 9.
• Contains all the essential an Omega 3 fats required for human health.
• Is perfect for those troubled with constipation and for those avoiding carbohydrates.
• Provides more energy than energy bars — without their sugar, milk, nuts, and meat.
• Is suitable for those unable to eat gluten, sugar, milk nuts, or meat.

Hemp Hearts contain the following ingredients:

• Omega – 6
• Omega – 3
• Sodium
• Fiber
• Sugars
• Protein
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Iron

WHAT TO EAT WITH HEMP HEARTS

There are many ways to take Hemp Hearts™. However, to get optimum benefit from your Hemp Hearts™, it is recommended that you consume them in the morning with, or as your morning meal. Here are some of the most popular ways many of our Hemp Hearts™ customers are taking their Hemp Hearts™:

• Sprinkle them on your oatmeal or mix them into your cereal at breakfast.
• Mix them in with your fruit salad or in your yogurt at breakfast.
• If you have a protein shake as your morning meal, blend your Hemp Hearts™ in with your shake.
• Blend them in with your Hemp Oil to make a nice tasty salad dressing.
• Some of our customers eat them straight from the spoon.
• Spread them over your morning toast.
• Sprinkle them into your salad.
• Incorporate them into your home baking.
• Put them in your homemade granola.

SHOP FOR HEMP HEARTS

Much Health & Success My Friend!

Choosing A Healthy Snack

        It is 10am., I’m feeling a bit hungry, and its time to find a snack to eat.  Let’s rummage thru your pantry or cupboard and see if we can find something to eat.  What will I find in there, crackers, cookies, twinkies, trail-mix, bread, pudding, popcorn, potato chips, candy bars, or nothing at all.  Well, what should I eat?  How exactly do I know if it’s a healthy item for me to consume.  There are a few signs that I can utilize to figure out if the snack in the cupboard is a healthy one.  The first thing I want to locate is the nutrition facts list on the packaging.  On this we can find such information as how much fat (and what kind of fat), protein , carbohydrates (and the kinds of carbs), fiber, ingredients list, serving size, calories per serving, serving size quantity, and the vitamin and mineral profile.  After locating this I want to make sure that it contains as little as possible the following items; saturated fat, excessive sugar, salt, and calories.  I also want to elminate any products that have hydrogenated oils, trans fat, or high fructose corn syrup in the ingredients list.  What I would like to see is protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and minimal calories.  If I am able to find a snack combination with this type of nutritional profile then I can be quite certain that it is something healthy for me to eat.   Also I must keep in mind that  a healthy snack doesn’t necessarily come from the cupboard but can be fresh in the form of raw vegetables or fruit, because these items are fresher and not as processed.  So keeping these tips in mind I can be sure to find something healthy to curb my appetite until lunch. 

For great ideas on healthy snacks check out  our Snacktrition products, as well as our best selling  Hemp Hearts at FitlyfeNutrition.com!

Much Health & Success My Friend!

Eating Healthy at the Workplace 1

          One of the common issues that arise with my clients is meal planning and spacing.  Understandably so for the demands of the work arena or home life can place a multitude of strains on one’s eating habits.  Because of this many people cannot find time to eat properly throughout the work day which of course makes it very challenging in reaching their desired weight loss and health related goals.  Once time becomes an issue with eating healthy many often resort to grabbing something quick which results in a vending machine treat, a fast food option, or as most often seen, nothing at all.  Not only has food been shoved to the outward margins of our priority list but so has fluid consumption.  Since water and food are essential components to our minds and bodies functioning properly and efficiently we need to make good use of them to aid us in reaching any goals in health and weight loss we aim to achieve.  Improper or lack of fuel will cause the body to follow suit and not perform its functions properly for it will be deprived of necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.  This lack also affects energy levels, blood sugar and sodium levels as well as causes the body to compensate for the lack by, of course,  maintaining the lean-to-fat mass composition that it has.  So how do we tackle this obstacle so that our weight loss and health related goals are achieved?

           The first factor we must consider is preparation.  Most of the difficulty in eating properly during a hectic workday or daily schedule is the lack of preparation.  Meals and snacks should be determined and packed away - in a bag used solely for your meals and snacks – the evening before.  Nowadays there are tons of options of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, yogurt, cottage cheese, hemp seeds, and chia seeds.  Knowing what you will eat, and when puts you half way down the road to success.  It also keeps you away from grabbing something fast which normally results in not so healthy choices.  Remember a good daily meal breakdown will have you consuming a breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner.  Try to separate the meals by three hours and include in each a lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, health fatty acids.

          Now that you have prepared meals for the following day you must make the time during the workday to eat them.  We know that the time for lunch is typically a given so the meals we must put the most thought into making time for is breakfast (if we don’t eat before leaving the house), the midmorning snack, and the second afternoon snack.  So the second and possibly most important factor to consider in this equation is a willingness to find and make the time to eat.  I can’t tell you how many times I hear the argument of not having enough time to eat.  This is what sometimes separates those who are successful from those who are not, and that is, finding the small windows of time within a workday to refuel your body with the necessary fluids and food.  Committment to success in this area will show one’s true committment to their goals.  Remember, the meals being consumed aren’t large and should take any longer than 5-10 minutes to eat.

          Hopefully you can see in this short blog that eating properly during the work day comes down to three major ideas.  Know what you plan on eating; prepare those meals and snacks at least a day in advance; and execute the plan by making the time to actually eat.  Staying consistent is the key and after some time planning your meals early will become second nature.  Make no excuses for if you want to succeed you must figure your way thru any obstacles that may present itself. 

Much Health & Success My Friend!

2010 Nutrition Trends

Fresh is the new Functional!
The majority of shoppers (88 percent) believe it’s more important to eat foods naturally rich in nutrients instead of fortified or enriched, according to Barbara Katz, president of HealthFocus International.  The trend is being dubbed “inherently nutritious” or “functionally natural.” The new ideal is fresh, less processed, real and authentic.  Anything artificial will continue to be challenged.

Simplicity is the new sophistication.
>The year will be defined by the concept of less is more. We’ll see this in multiple ways, including less packaging, shorter ingredient lists and more understandable ingredients.

Low carbon is the new low carb.
>Expect to see more green restaurants and eco-labeling on foods, including carbon footprint, water footprint, food miles, biodegradable packaging and fair trade.

Food is the new insurance.
>With concerns about health care likely to remain, people will intensify their efforts to stay well.  Increasingly this will mean looking to food as a solution.  Research conducted by HealthFocus International indicates that shoppers have a growing desire to control their own health and “live long and live strong.”  The single greatest concern of shoppers is retaining mental sharpness as they age, according to the research.  That means we can expect to see even more foods and beverages touting brain-related benefits.  Other big claims will focus on immunity, heart disease, arthritis, eye health and the ability to “detox.”

Meat-free is the new meat.
>Meat will be increasingly viewed as optional as more people opt for plant-based plates dominated by whole grains, beans, nuts and vegetables. 

Dining in is the new going out.
>We will continue to reduce our reliance on restaurants in 2010 and eat more meals at home.

Sodium is the new trans fat.
>Now that packaged foods and restaurant deep fryers have taken out trans fats, expect all eyes to turn to sodium.  Expect to see more companies announce sodium reductions, although the cuts will likely be gradual so consumer taste buds can adjust.

Much Health & Success My Friend!

FITL.Y.F.E NUTRITION FOOD DRIVE

Since nutrition is the main focus of this site, then it is necessary for us to make certain we are contributing to the hunger challenges we face across the nation.  Because  community and nutrition are important to us at F.L.N. we want to make sure that we are doing our part to contribute to those in need.  We urge all of the readers of this site, no matter where you are located to get involved and give to your local Foodbanks,  and Homeless Shelters.  If you are located in the Hampton Roads area please stop by our office at 11015 Warwick Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601 and bring your non-perishable canned vegetables, fruits, meats, and boxed meals.  Thanks in advance for your contributions.  Let’s all play our part in helping those in our community get back on their feet.

FITL.Y.F.E. NUTRITION

Welcome to the FITL.Y.F.E. NUTRITION Blog! This site is our information hub for all things related to nutrition, supplements, and your health! We invite you to take full advantage of the free help and guidance provided by this site and integrate it into your current exercise and nutrition lifestyle. We will cover a wide array of topics from Sports, to Bodybuilding, Weight Loss, Senior Health, General Health, and much more. Since maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge for many, look to this site also for motivation and goal setting techniques. Thanks for visiting! Come back soon!

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