Over the past several years, the public’s image of fish oil has evolved. It used to be a

mysterious, (though widely-praised) supplement of questionable value. Now, doctors are

saying it should be a quintessential part of our daily diet. Experts used to scoff at it,

arguing that it was a thinly-veiled attempt to sell an unwary public a useless product. Now,

a lot of those same experts not only recommend fish oil, they take it themselves.

That depends upon how much value you place on fatty acids. Experts tell us that the oil

found in fish contains eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA,

respectively). We also know that our bodies need both of these fatty acids but can’t produce

either of them. So, we need to get them from eating fish or taking fish oil supplements.

While fish can taste delicious when prepared correctly, they also tend to have a high level

of mercury. Fish oil supplements are purified of mercury. So, your body gets the fatty acids

it needs without the toxins.

What do the fatty acids do for you?

Scientists have found that EPA and DHA provide us with a host of benefits. They can prevent

the development of heart disease. They increase your blood circulation. It can even help

reduce the severity of arthritis. There are plenty of other benefits, as well (we’ll talk

about them some other time).

Back to the original question: should you take fish oil?  You should at least consider it if

you’ve never tried it.

Acceleration training can be used for both weight loss and physical therapy. It’s the antithesis of fad diets and conventional exercise routines. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong about treadmills and exercise bikes. They’re fantastic tools for quickening your metabolism and keeping in shape. But, you can lose weight more efficiently through acceleration training.

Let me explain how it works. When you’re on a treadmill, your body goes through a slow, monotonous cycle (again, there’s nothing wrong with that). By contrast, acceleration training throws your body into an aggressive routine that leverages and speeds up your metabolic processes. It does it through targeted vibrations. The vibrations are calibrated to cause muscle contractions that exceed those from a normal exercise regiment.

The reason this helps you to lose body fat quickly is due to the vibrations’ effect on your metabolism. As your muscles experience quick contractions, they burn calories more efficiently than would be possible by simply walking on a treadmill or powering an exercise bike. As long as you’re not gorging yourself on food, you’ll likely find your weight dropping quickly.

Here’s another benefit to think about: it takes far less time than a traditional workout. A lot of people spend up to 10 hours a week at the gym. Vibration training can accomplish the same results (better results, actually) in about 1 hour a week.

Is this type of training well-suited for everybody? That’s hard to say. Each person’s body is different. And some folks have health issues that others don’t. Like any exercise routine, you should speak with your doctor. That being said, using vibrations to leverage muscle contractions, accelerate your metabolism and ultimately, to shed extra body fat is a proven weight loss strategy.

I take vitamins. I’m a  believer in them. It’s not because I was taught to take them when

growing up. Nor is it because conventional wisdom recommends taking them. The reason I take

vitamins is the same reason I’m proactive about everything I share with you on this blog:

because of my experience.

I take vitamins because my body functions better when I do.

Now, it’s not my goal to convince you that you should take them. That’s your choice.

Instead, my goal is to give you helpful information so you can make the best choice for your

life and your health.

So, here’s what we (scientists, actually) know about vitamins…

First, they help your metabolism function properly. That’s important when you’re trying to

lose weight. Second, they help your blood clot when necessary. It’s not pleasant to think

about, but if you sustain an injury, clotting helps to prevent excess blood loss. Third,

they’re a rich source of antioxidants. That prevents the spread of free radicals and fends

off heart disease.

Looking at it from another perspective, a deficiency in vitamins can lead to nerve damage,

fatigue, a feeble immune system and even depression. For the record, I don’t experience any

of those things (well, maybe a little depression when I listen to politicians).

While my being healthy may have nothing to do with my taking vitamins, evidence suggests

otherwise.

Now, you don’t need to take a bucket of vitamins each day. Your body only needs so many.

Think of it like filling your car with gas. Once it’s full, it’s full. Your body works

similarly. I take a few vitamins daily. Most vitamins are reasonably priced and can choose

to customize your intake or take a multi-vitamin.

Your body needs water. It craves it all day, even if you don’t feel like drinking it. While

everyone should be drinking 8 glasses each day, it’s even more critical for those who are

trying to lose weight. In fact, weight loss without sufficient water is a platform for

failure. Let me explain how water can help you shed the extra pounds.

We gain weight based upon our caloric burn rate. If we consume more than we burn, we pack on

the pounds. So, we exercise. We try to burn calories to slim down. Ideally, we’re burning

more than we’re consuming each day. Over time, we end up losing weight.

Now, keep that in mind and consider what water does for your body. First, it helps you

digest food. This is important because the more quickly your body can turn food into energy,

the more efficiently it can burn through the calories. And remember, losing weight is about

burning more than you’re consuming.

Second, water helps your body eliminate what it doesn’t need. By helping the elimination

process, water flushes the waste matter from your system, thereby lowering your body’s

toxicity.

Third, dehydration leads to hunger. That may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true. When

you’re feeling dehydrated, your body begins to crave food. Drinking water helps to sate that

hunger and avoid excess eating.

Diving In

Now, let’s review. Water helps your body turn food into energy to accelerate your caloric

burn rate. It also helps flush waste matter from your system. And it regulates your hunger.

These are some of the reasons why doctors, nutritionists and other experts recommend

drinking plenty of water.

Let’s talk about fiber. You’ve heard about it. You may even know how it helps your body. For

the benefit of those who aren’t familiar with it, let’s start at the beginning.

Fiber is good for you. They say your body needs about 30 grams each day. Unfortunately, most

people eat less than 12 grams a day. That may be a problem. First, let me explain the

benefits of fiber. That’ll help you understand how a deficiency can lead to health issues

down the road.

One of the most common conditions that people cope with is constipation. According to some

estimates I’ve read, 20% of the population is constipated. Fiber moves matter through your

gastrointestinal tract. That is, it prevents constipation.

Another benefit of fiber is that it helps your body manage its blood sugar levels. That

prevents Type 2 diabetes from developing.

There’s yet another reason to eat fiber: diverticulitis. It’s a condition that occurs when

your colon develops small pouches. If they become inflamed, they’re painful. And it’s more

common than you may think; it’s estimated that over 30% of people who are 45 years old and

older have diverticulitis. Doctors insist that dietary fiber can reduce the likelihood of it

occurring by 40%.

That makes fiber pretty important, doesn’t it?

Let’s assume that you’re convinced. You’ve decided that you’re going to eat more fiber each

day (good decision). Where can you get it? You need both soluble and insoluble fiber. I eat

apples, almonds, whole wheat bread, black beans and tomatoes.

That’s enough to get you started. For those of you who are already getting the 30 grams per

day that you need, let us know the foods you’re eating in the comments.

Acceleration training can be used for both weight loss and physical therapy. It’s the

antithesis of fad diets and conventional exercise routines. Now, there’s nothing inherently

wrong about treadmills and exercise bikes. They’re fantastic tools for quickening your

metabolism and keeping in shape. But, you can lose weight more efficiently through

acceleration training.

Let me explain how it works. When you’re on a treadmill, your body goes through a slow,

monotonous cycle (again, there’s nothing wrong with that). By contrast, acceleration

training throws your body into an aggressive routine that leverages and speeds up your

metabolic processes. It does it through targeted vibrations. The vibrations are calibrated

to cause muscle contractions that exceed those from a normal exercise regiment.

The reason this helps you to lose body fat quickly is due to the vibrations’ effect on your

metabolism. As your muscles experience quick contractions, they burn calories more

efficiently than would be possible by simply walking on a treadmill or powering an exercise

bike. As long as you’re not gorging yourself on food, you’ll likely find your weight

dropping quickly.

Here’s another benefit to think about: it takes far less time than a traditional workout. A

lot of people spend up to 10 hours a week at the gym. Vibration training can accomplish the

same results (better results, actually) in about 1 hour a week.

Is this type of training well-suited for everybody? That’s hard to say. Each person’s body

is different. And some folks have health issues that others don’t. Like any exercise

routine, you should speak with your doctor. That being said, using vibrations to leverage

muscle contractions, accelerate your metabolism and ultimately, to shed extra body fat is a

proven weight loss strategy.

You can probably relate to feeling exhausted at the end of the week. Everyone experiences

it. During the day, we trudge through meetings while trying to fulfill our job

responsibilities. When we finally leave the office to head home to relax, we’re blindsided

by a list of errands that never seems to end. It’s no wonder we’re exhausted.

Recently, I began using goji juice. A friend had recommended it to me after I explained how

tired I always felt. Let me admit something upfront… when I first started taking it, I was

skeptical. It’s my nature. What ultimately swayed me was the fact that the Chinese had been

using goji juice for thousands of years (I’ve always been fascinated by the holistic health

disciplines of the Chinese).

After using goji juice for awhile, here’s what I experienced…

1. More energy.

2. Headaches have practically vanished (I used to get them frequently).

3. Better night’s sleep.

4. More alertness.

5. Less feeling of being stressed.

6. I haven’t been sick since using goji. (My friend had told me that goji gives your immune

system a boost.)

7. My memory has improved.

Those are the benefits that were obvious from the beginning. That is, they manifested in a

way that I was able to identify them quickly. My friend also explained that goji improves

liver function, stems our bodies’ natural aging process and regulates blood pressure levels.

Should you use goji juice? Of course, that’s completely up to you. I am just trying to give

you helpful information and to explain what has worked for me. Personally, I intend to

continue taking goji.

When you experience a stressful situation, your body instantly begins going through changes. Your breathing becomes short, the pace of your heart quickens and the muscles throughout your body begin to tense. Stress can even cause your digestive system to stop working until you’re calm and relaxed. With enough time, perpetual stress can lead to serious health problems.

Tai chi is an exercise routine that relaxes your body. It involves a series of graceful moves that can slow your heart rate, relax your muscles and help you manage your breathing. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate stress, you can use tai chi to regain your composure and help you recapture a sense of calm.

The great thing about tai chi is that it’s easy and you can do it anywhere. You just need a little space that’s free from major distractions. Plus, tai chi can be performed at your own pace, regardless of your age or health because it focuses on low impact movements and fluid motions.

Tai chi is a great way to reduce stress and avoid the health problems that stress can lead to. Many people perform it not only as a relaxation technique, but also to increase their agility and energy level. You should take a class to learn the proper moves, postures and motions. After that, you can perform tai chi on your own and at your leisure.