Why You Should Substitute White Foods for Whole Grain

With everyone being more nutritionally conscious nowadays, we decided to take a look at why more and more people are swapping white refined flour for wholegrain.

White Flour 

Everything that we remember as a child from buttery toast to our birthday cakes and muffins have always been made with white flour. In fact as adults when we taste these tastes again it’s just like being kids again. (Unless we had particularly nutritionally enlightened parents!) It’s no wonder that we have an addiction almost to these white flour goods but did you know how damaging these foods are to our delicate systems?

The thing with white / all purpose / enriched flour is that our bodies process it like sugar. Enriched sounds lovely but in reality the flour actually gets completely stripped of all its goodness during this process. Yes white bread and related products taste amazing but the actual flour is created by stripping the most nutritious parts of the wheat berry. In fact this is the only starch left in white flour. Not good!

 White flour and digestion

White flour is just no good for your digestion. The starch is digested mega quickly thus causing a spike in insulin production. This then throws your whole body out of balance and can create a whole host of problems. In fact with the constant fluctuation of blood sugar which manifests through eating white flour products you could be potentially setting yourself up for diabetes and weight problems too!

Whole Grain 

Whole grain and whole wheat flour is so much better for you than its white counterpart. This is due to the fact that whole wheat flour uses the whole wheat berry. This means that you are intaking all the goodness – the bran, the starch and the germ. When you eat the whole berry, there are no peaks and / or lows in insulin levels and your body stays healthy and balanced. Another great aspect of eating in this way is that you will stay full for longer than you would if you were eating white bread! No more rumbling tummies in the middle of the afternoon!

Whole grain is great for you if you have stomach and digestion difficulties and there are even studies to say that there is a link between whole grain and the prevention of cancer of the colon. When you buy your products always look for the word, “whole”. That way you know that you are getting the best; there are many brown products which don’t use the entire wheat berry and won’t be as good for you as “whole” products.

It might be hard in the first few months to wean your family, especially the youngsters off white bread and white flour products but over time it can be done. A trick is to make a half and half sandwich, half white bread and half whole grain, this will give your kids time to get used to the different taste and texture. It’s worth making the change for the health of both you and your family.


Eating whole grain foods instead of white foods is a great way to ensure your general nutrition levels remain healthy consistently.

Gout Foods to Avoid

Gouty arthritis is a common affliction that many people struggle with today. It is a condition mainly caused by a diet which is filled with food items that have high purine content. Listed below are gout foods to avoid, assuring slim chances of developing the condition.

Foods items which are known to be very rich in purines include yeast, sweetbreads, herring, mussels, smelt and sardines. There are also vegetables that fall into this category. Asparagus, cauliflower and mushrooms are some vegetable sources that have been known to precipitate gout. Those at risk for developing the condition should minimize the consumption of these foodstuffs. Likewise, food sources which are moderately rich in purines include veal, turkey, mutton, grouse, bacon, pheasant, scallops anchovies, kidneys, goose, trout, liver and salmon. These may also have the potential to worsen existing gouty conditions.

When considering gout foods to avoid, caffeine and alcohol should also be taken in moderation. Caffeine present in coffee promotes faster breakdown of proteins and promotes purine deposition. Hence, more caffeine in the system aggravates the condition. Similarly, alcohol increases the production of uric acid and hinders optimal excretion by the renal system. This increases the circulating levels of uric acid.

Experts also believe that acidic foods may also contribute to the development of the disorder. The excretion of Uric acid accelerates if the urine achieves a basic or alkaline condition. Conversely, the urine reaches an acidic state in the presence of more acids. The normal pH of neutral Urine is 7.0. If it reduces to 6.0, the excretion rate of uric acid is significantly lowered. There are various foods that can fall under this category. As they are of a wide variety and extremely common in the average diet, it is better to consume these in moderation as opposed to completely avoiding these food items. Some of the more common items include: Carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks, White Pasta, Chicken, Pork, Beef, Brown sugar, Chocolate, White Sugar, Wheat bread, White rice and Processed White vinegar.

Is Juicing Good for You?

So many things have been said about juicing. Some people say juicing has a lot of benefits for the body. However, there is also a group of people who say that juicing is not all that good, that it also has harmful effects to the body. So, which of the two groups is telling the truth? Well, both groups are correct in some aspects. Juicing can both be a good and a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. The answer is a bit more complicated than most people think.

Juicing can give you a lot of health benefits. A lot of people are aware that medical experts highly recommend eating fresh fruits and vegetables. The fact is, not all fresh fruits and vegetables are palatable. Some just have a taste which is just too strong for some people. With juicing, you will be able to have a wide range of vegetables and fruits included in your diet. You can add ingredients like lemons, limes and cranberries to make them more palatable and more flavorful.

Fruits and vegetables contain high levels of ingredients which help fight disease. They also have high levels of antioxidants. They can help make you look younger and help flush out the toxins from your body. Vegetable fruit juices are especially helpful for people who are trying to lose weight. All these things should be enough to convince you buy juicer now.

However, when you juice, you lose fiber from the fruits and vegetables. Fiber is needed because it aids digestion. Fiber is a great help to your digestive health which you cannot get from any other source. Fruit juices tend to be high in calories so people trying to lose weight are better off drinking vegetable juices.  People who consume a lot of fruit juices will have a rapid rise in blood sugar.

Best Inversion Table Reviews

Shopping around for the best inversion table that you can use for inversion therapy can be a daunting task but not if you have an idea about the best inversion tables in the market.

The best inversion tables are those which are highly recommended by medical professionals and widely used by the majority of inversion therapy enthusiasts because of their amazing quality, excellent features, and top – notch functionality and performance. In this post, we will look a few of the best inversion tables which have all these qualities to give you an idea about which inversion table to purchase and to use for inversion therapy.

• Elite Fitness IT 9300 Deluxe Inversion Therapy Table

If you cannot justify spending over $100 for an entry level inversion table, get a Pure Fitness Inversion Table. This is one of the best inversion tables in the market which is sold at only $99 so it is really very affordable but you will never have to sacrifice quality and durability.

It may not have all the special features found in more expensive machines but it does have the standard features which will surely meet your inversion needs at a very affordable price. This table comes with a three position bench lined with a breathable fabric for added comfort. It is then securely attached to a 4 – point pod – style base frame which ensure table stability even on uneven floor surfaces. It also has 4 extra large foam rollers which serve as ankle support and handle bars for easy return from full inversion. It can also be folded when no longer being used.

• Ironman ATIS 4000 Inversion Table

For a more advanced inversion therapy routine, the Ironman ATIS 4000 is a less expensive choice but is considered to be one of the best inversion tables in the sport inversion series. This table will only cost you less than $300 but it is already full – packed with special features which will make inversion extra challenging and more rewarding. It specially features AB and Core Training System which will allow you the additional benefits of inverted ab exercises while performing inversion therapy. Bets of all, it has 10 different locking inversion angles and its extra – wide and heavy duty tubular steel frame can accommodate users weighing up to 320 pounds. For more reviews about the best inversion tables, click here: bestinversiontablereviews.org.

Health Foods: Simple Ways to Eat more Fruits and Vegetables

Everyone is told to eat fruits and vegetables, beginning at a young age.  The up to date dietary guidelines recommend Americans to get at least  five cups of fruits and veggies today.  Many people are surprised by this because an astonishing amount of them don’t even get half of that.  Because of today’s fast and processed foods, they usually take priority over health foods in some households.  It can be hard to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet if you’ve never done it before.  There are plenty of ways you can “sneak” them into your diet and after getting used to it, you won’t ever crave processed foods again!

Fruits and vegetables are essential for our bodies to function.  They provide us with fiber, keeping our digestive tract healthy and preventing digestive illnesses.  They are anti-oxidant rich and will possibly prevent cancer and other chronic diseases such as heart disease.  Fruits and veggies are filled with vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to function.  If you eat them regularly along with other healthy foods, you are likely to maintain your weight throughout your lifetime.  All of these are great reasons to learn to incorporate them into your diet.

At breakfast, you can add fruit to your regular piece of toast, or eat it separately.  Add berries to your oatmeal or cereal.  Chopping vegetables and adding them to scrambled eggs is a great way to get an early morning energy burst.  Make a fresh smoothie with your own ingredients such as: fresh fruit, skim milk or yogurt.  You can even add vegetables to the mix by blending them along with the fruit.  Limit juice but if you must have it, make sure it’s 100% instead of sugary.

Incorporate a handful of fruits and veggies to what you eat for lunch.  If you’re a sandwich eater, load it with fresh vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, sprouts, onions or peppers.  If you crave unhealthy, crunchy snack foods this is a great way to get rid of that habit.  Salads are already a healthy, veggie filled lunch food (if you eat it without croutons and tons of fattening dressing) but you can make it even healthier by adding fresh fruits.  Fresh fruits that go well with salad include: grapes, apples, oranges or pears.

Make ½ of your plate full of fruits and veggies at dinner.  Add them to recipes by chopping or slicing them.  Experiment with different ways of cooking vegetables like steaming, roasting or stir-frying.  Add side salads to your dinners.  Eat veggie pizza instead of plain cheese pizza.  Mashed potatoes, rice and other dishes taste great with vegetables mixed in.  Instead of eating dessert after dinner, make it a priority to eat a piece of fruit.

Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, water and several nutrients.  Because of their make-up, they keep us full for a longer time.  You will become accustomed to eating healthy and will eventually not crave unhealthy food as often.  If you substitute fruit for sugary snacks, it is likely that your sugar cravings will subside.  Try the ideas listed above to integrate fruits and vegetables into your diet and decide which ones you like best.  If you enjoy the healthy food you eat, you will stick to it.

Brianna Elliott is a third year dietetics student.  She had grown a passion for nutrition in her years of studying.  She loves fruits and vegetables and thinks the amount of people who don’t get enough of them is devastating because of the good they do for your body.  Brianna also writes blog for PSCLife.com – a health & nutrition e-commerce store which carries Tyme Zyme enzyme supplement and Nutamax’s Cosamin ASU for sore joints and achey muscles.

The Best Reason You Should Use Multi Gym Equipment

There are many reasons why many people are buying and using multi gym equipment in the comforts of their own home. Some of the obvious reasons are to get back in shape, build more strength, increase endurance, and to live longer. Other reasons is that some people are opting to buy a multi gym equipment is the fact that they now have their own gym that they can work out in the privacy of their own homes. So many individuals are hesitant to join a gym because they so many fit people working out and get discouraged. It’s hard for individuals to muster up the courage to go to the gym for the first time because they feel like they are so behind.

Now, you can basically buy cheap exercise equipment for the home to help you get back into shape without feeling the pressure of all the other gym folks who are already fit. Another great advantage of multi gym equipment is the fact that you don’t have to worry about a monthly membership fee. The average gym membership is anywhere between $30 – $50 which can mean thousands of dollars out of your pocket over several years.  Multi purpose weight training equipment allow you to work out all different types of muscle groups such as your chest, arms, back, legs, and abs.

One of the best places to find cheap second hand gym equipment is to browse through your local classified ads to see if anyone is selling their used gym equipment. If you can buy second hand gym equipment for sale in a garage sale or elsewhere, you’re going to be saving a lot of money. To find out how much you’re really saving,, go online and do a quick search of the brand and model number and see what the price is for the machine brand new.