Like most other sane human beings, I can’t start my morning without at least 1 cup of coffee. Meaning, my PJs aren’t coming off until I feel that glorious caffeine buzz give rush through my veins. I only have 1-2 cups in the morning before I head out the door, which I guess isn’t TOO bad, but some other more intense coffee-addicts are sucking it down all-day long, which really isn’t too healthy. Why? According to TheDietchannel.com, here are a few reasons:

• Increases stomach acid production for more than an hour after ingestion and can lead in some cases to stomach ulcers or acid reflux symptoms.
• Has a stimulating effect on the large intestine, which can cause diarrhea.
• Has been shown to interfere with the repair of chromosomes in cells which can lead to cancer.
• Can cause high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms in sensitive people

How could something that makes you feel so good, be so bad for you? I don’t know, but there are plenty of other, healthier alternatives out there:

• Chai. Spiced concoctions of black and green, which contain caffeine, and red tea, which does not.
• Rooibos tea. Also known as Redbush tea from South Africa. Like black tea, it is good with milk, but it’s caffeine-free and full of antioxidants.
• Carob powder. From the pods of the carob tree, tastes similar to cocoa. Soothes the digestive tract.

Antioxidants basically help prevent disease because they protect your body from free radicals (radicals are believed to be involved in degenerative diseases and cancers). So now that you know what antioxidants are and how they can greatly and vastly improve and protect your health, I’m sure you want to know which types of food are high in antioxidants.

Fruits—basically all your berries (blueberry, strawberry, blackberry) are all high in antioxidants. Try eating a cup of plain yogurt with some fresh berries on top each day to incorporate them into your diet.

Vegetables—no meal is complete with vegetables. Leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale are high in antioxidants as well as peppers, cabbage, artichokes and brussels sprouts.

Nuts and seeds—pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts and sunflower seeds all tossed together make a great high antioxidant trail mix

Legumes—broad beans, pinto beans, and soybeans are filling, easy to prepare and healthy.

Cereals—barley, millet, oats and corn are easy to find and high in antioxidants

Don’t be afraid to mix these foods together. Combine oats, nuts and seeds with some fresh berries for new breakfast ideas. Or try make a soup with different legumes and vegetables for a Fall time favorite.

“Although irresponsible sunbathing is unquestionably harmful and precautions need to be taken, regular, moderate, unprotected sun exposure is essential for good health. It is free, easy to get and good for you when used intelligently. It is the only reliable way to generate Vitamin D in your own body, which we now know to be an essential ingredient for optimizing health and preventing disease.?”

This quote comes from an article on Vitamin D Deficiency by Frank Lipman, MD, guest columnist on Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog, GOOP.com.

The GOOP scoop is this: our favorite extremely health conscious, fair-skinned actress has been diagnosed with osteopenia, a precursor to osteoperosis, because of very low levels of Vitamin D. She’s avoided the sun for ages, following the general wisdom like many of us, but it turns out this was not very good advice.

Vitamin D is incredibly important. New studies show that some 15-20 minutes every few days should be spent in bright sun without sunscreen or cover. Huh? We were as confused as Gwyneth when these studies came out. But science marches on, and we don’t want to be left behind, developing bone disease, heart disease and low fertility rates. Now that we know, we’re ready to start making some Vitamin D, and you should be, too.

Check out the GOOP article for more information here.

Being in a recession isn’t much fun, but it turns out, it might be good for our health. Not just in a character building way, either: physical health.

In a study focused on mortality rates and life expectancy in the years 1920 to 1940,  researchers looked specifically at six causes of death: cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, cancer, flu and pneumonia, motor vehicle deaths and suicide.

The only one that increased in down years was suicide. But suicide represented less than 2 percent of all deaths. Overall, mortality improved.

Why? They’re not sure. Maybe less pollution with less industrial activity? Less smoking and drinking?

In general, it can’t be denied that richer countries are healthier than poorer countries. But why not think of it as a silver lining to the position we’re in? After all, it can’t hurt. We know a positive outlook contributes to better health.

Laughing makes you healthier and happier. You might think the happier part should come first, and sure, that helps, but laughter actually prepares the body for happiness.

“When you start laughing, your chemistry changes, your physiology changes, your chances to experience happiness are much greater,” says Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, India, and the founder of and chief proselytizer for Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is a movement that started in 1995 and has fostered some 5,000 Laughter Clubs worldwide. There are some 200 Laughter Clubs in the U.S. today. At Laughter Clubs, people get together, to…yep… laugh.

Studies have found that laughter increases circulation, stimulates the immune system, exercises the muscles, invigorates the brain, reduces stress hormones, and may even help prevent heart disease. Sounds fun, right? So what are you waiting for, go join a club!
Or at least watch this:

Particularly on television, advertisements for fatty or high-sugar filled foods catering to children are ineffectively regulated.

Yes, food companies are required to meet certain standards when marketing to children under 12. But no, these are not government standards — they’re actually the company’s own standards.

So, Kellogg’s gets to choose how healthy Kellogg’s has to be, and the same goes for General Mills, Post, and all the rest of them.

This legislation might be lacking, but it does keep certain products from being marketed. Kellogg’s does not advertise for Cocoa Krispies, for example, because the cereal features 14 grams of sugar per serving — exceeding the company’s own limit of 12 grams.

The data tracked more than 2,000 respondents over four years, and people who regularly ate butter, red meat, organic meat, and fatty diary products were less likely to develop the disease. Specific foods that these people consumed include:

• Salad dressing
• Poultry
• Fish
• Fruit
• Tomatoes
• Nuts
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, etc.)
• Dark/green vegetables

Researchers are interested in studying this diet pattern further, as it is unclear whether the nutrients involved work individually or collectively to help prevent Alzheimer’s.

Running is great way to boost your health — and it doesn’t even require any special equipment! The exercise is especially beneficial to the heart and lungs, as it promotes healthy oxygen and blood flow.

Studies have linked running to reducing the risk of contracting a cold and even developing cancer. It also provides excellent stress relief and can soothe mild forms of depression as well.

(And it’s good for dogs, too!)

Photo via richard.heeks on Flickr.

We were happy to see an article on glutathione in The Huffington Post, as this powerful antioxidant is instrumental in removing toxins from the body.

Humans actually produce glutathione naturally. It serves as a sort of internal fly paper for toxins and free radicals — absorbing them so they can’t do harm elsewhere in the body. Ideally, everything goes smoothly, and the body recycles glutathione so it can keep on fly-papering, however an excess of pollutants can actually halt this process, thus leaving dangerous toxins inside our bodies.

Part of the problem, HuffPost reports, is that humans evolved in a much less toxin-filled environment, leaving our species rather unprepared for the pollutants of the 20th and 21st centuries. About one half of all people lack something called a GSTM1 function, leaving their bodies unable to fully remove toxins.

To bulk up on glutathione, HuffPost recommends ingesting sulfur-loaded foods such as onions, garlic, broccoli, and cabbage, in addition to exercising regularly. For more tips, check out the full article here.

Some researchers contend that the secret lies in red wine — particularly in resveratrol, an ingredient that is vaguely associated with anti-aging and such… in mice. When such news first hit the States in 1991, the demand for red wine sky-rocked.

Alternatively, other experts argue that the French lifestyle more than compensates for said high fat content. Relevant factors include: more walking, less snacking, and a tendency to savor meals (as opposed to munching mindlessly).