Margarine and Shortening Facts & Myths

There are many myths about margarine and shortening, two solid fats made by hydrogenating vegetable oils, ranging from a healthier, low saturated fat alternative to butter and other animal fats to being toxic to animals and humans.

In This video:

• What are margarine and shortening? 00:46
• Food chemistry 101. 1:38
• What is hydrogenation? 2:47
• Partial versus full hydrogenation. 3:28
• Margarine and shortening ingredients and additives. 5:08
• Margarine and shortening facts and myths. 6:40

Cock Pose

Cock pose transforms a seated meditation pose (Lotus) to a hand balance pose. In addition to flexibility, one needs good upper body arm strength. The hands and arms are used to lift one off the floor. If you are unable to get into Lotus pose or hold Lotus pose more than a few seconds, Cock pose may be too challenging. Cock pose provides the mental and physical benefits of Lotus pose plus increasing balance, wrist and upper body strength.

English Name: Cock

Sanskrit Name: Kukkutasana

Difficulty Level: 8

Start Position: Seated Lotus

Instructions:

Step 1.

Thread your arms under your knees while keeping your legs in Lotus pose.

Step 2.

Lean your body forward, and place your hands flat on the floor energizing through your spread fingers.

Step 3.

Straightening your arms to left your buttocks and legs off the floor.

Step 4.

Hold the pose for 4 or 5 breathes, or as long as it feels comfortable. Slowly lower your buttocks and legs to the floor. Repeat if desired.

Physical Benefits:

  • Stretches the spine
  • Strengthens arms and wrists
  • Improves balance and upper body strength
  • Increases hip and knee flexibility
  • Opens up the hips
  • Tones abdominal muscles
  • Improves digestion

Mental Benefits

  • Improves mental acuity
  • Reduces stress

Contraindications:

  • Wrist, arm, or shoulder injury
  • Low back injury
  • Ankle, hip or knee injury
  • Leg, arm, or back injury

High Copper, Zinc and Selenium Foods

Sample of common foods high in the essential trace minerals, copper, zinc, and selenium.

In this video:

• What are trace minerals? 00:39
• Copper’s functions, RDA and foods. 1:40
• Selenium’s functions, RDA and foods. 4:10
• Zinc’s functions, RDA and foods. 6:11

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Poor diets are contributing not only to weight gain and obesity, but to an increase in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). NAFLD can damage the livers ability to regenerate increasing the risk of cirrohis.

In this video:

• What is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease? 00:38
• What causes NAFLD? 1:60
• Symptoms of NAFLD. 2:47
• Preventing NAFLD. 3:54

Does Salt Increase Blood Pressure?

Sodium is an essential mineral. The main source of sodium for most people is salt (sodium chloride). Sodium is found naturally in foods and added to prepared foods. While the recommended amount of daily added sodium is 2.300 mg, most people diets high in prepared foods consume significantly more. Salt is an inexpensive flavor enhancer.

While high sodium diets can increase the risk of high blood pressure in some people, people with healthy kidneys and eating high potassium diets can consume more sodium without developing high blood pressure.

Instead of guessing if your blood sodium levels are too low or high, the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) blood test measures your levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride. In some U.S. states, you  do not need a doctors order for a CMP test. CMP also includes blood protein and calcium levels.

In this video:

• What is salt? 00:43
• Salt versus sodium. 1:13
• Sodium and blood pressure. 3:02
• Added salt and blood pressure. 3:53
• Prepared foods and sodium. 5:56
• DASH diet, sodium and blood pressure. 6:39

15 High Phosphorous Foods

Phosphorous is an essential mineral. Chemical phosphates are added to foods from cereals to sodas.  They prevent discoloration, emulsify, and are food for yeast. But, too much phosphorous can erode tooth enamel and cause kidney damage. People with kidney disease should limit dietary phosphorous.

As with most vitamin and minerals, the risk of adverse side affects and toxicity is low when phosphorous comes from a diet of minimally processed foods. The risk increase with diets high in processed foods.

In this video:

• What is phosphorus? 00:41
• Natural versus added phosphorus. 00:58
• Phosphorus’ functions. 1:20
• Phosphorus deficiency. 1:45
• Phosphorus RDA and toxicity. 2:14
• 15 high phosphorus foods. 3:25

Bulgur Versus Brown Rice

Except for fad diets, most diet experts recommend eating whole versus refined grains.

Bulgur is a parboiled whole grain wheat that cooks in a fraction of the time of brown rice and other whole grains. About 12 versus 30 to 40 minutes.

This video shares how it compares nutritionally to brown rice, some uses for bulgur, and cooking methods.

In this video:

• What is bulgur? 00:41
• Bulgur contraindications. 1:07
• Storing bulgur. 1:27
• Bulgur uses. 2:01
• Bulgur and brown rice nutrition. 2:20
• Cooking bulgur. 3:10

Extended Child

Extended Child Pose has the same physical and mental health benefits as Child Pose. Like Child Pose, Extended Child Pose is a resting pose.

English Name: Child

Sanskrit Name: Utthita Balasana

Difficulty Level: 1

Start Position: Child

Instructions:

Step 1.

From Child Pose, extend your arms in front of you with your palms flat on the floor.

Step 2.

Remain in the pose as long as it feels comfortable. Return to Child or Kneeling pose. Repeat if desired.

Physical Benefits:

  • Stretches spine, ankles, knees and hips.
  • Reduce head, neck and chest pain.
  • Opens the low back and hips.

Mental Benefits

  • Calms the mind.
  • Reduces anxiety and stress.
  • Reduces fatigue.

Contraindications:

  • Pregnancy (keep knees apart and prevent abdominal pressure.)
  • Knee, ankle or hip injury
  • Shoulder injury.

Diet And Direct Access Tests (DAT)

Some US states allow some direct access lab tests (DAT) that used to require a doctor’s order. These test can check for anemia, diabetes, A1-c, and some nutrient deficiencies like potassium, iron, and calcium. Although most insurance does not cover DAT, the cost is is usually about the same or slightly higher than insurance covered tests.

If available in your state, you can use direct access laboratory tests to help monitor your health and diet. DATs do not replace a doctor’s care. Discuss all abnormal results with a healthcare provider.

In this video:

• What are essential nutrients? 00:48
• What is direct access testing? 1:06
• Which states allow direst access tests? 2:20
• Why use direst access tests? 2:42
• Common DAT tests. 3:44
• Direct testing advantages & disadvantages. 6:50

15 High Manganese Foods

Manganese is an essential trace mineral that must come from your diet. It is required for enzyme production and maintaining a healthy immune system. This video highlights 15 foods high in manganese.

In this video:

• What is manganese? 00:39
• Manganese functions. 1:08
• Manganese deficiency. 1:31
• Manganese RDA and toxicity. 2:08
• 15 high manganese foods. 3:40

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