Lost and Found – a Novel by Ron Rink

Every so often I get a comment on these blogs that asks about what foods can you eat that will still give you the energy you need without sacrificing nutrition.

There’s a reason why people are concerned about this. So many of us here in the U.S.A. are addicted to sugar and caffeine. Both of these supplements are horribly lacking in nutritional value, but oh boy, do they ever give you energy! However, because they’re so lacking in nutritional value, the energy they give is short-lived and you begin to droop much sooner than you would with good nutrition. So, what many of us do is go for more sugar and more caffeine and the cycle repeats and repeats. Over time we see that our health is deteriorating and we’re gaining more weight — and we wonder why.

The answer to the “What Can We Eat?” question is simple — eat whole foods. They’re the best way to go.

Most everything you buy in the supermarket that is in cans, or is wrapped, or is boxed just won’t be as healthy and nutritious as whole foods will be. Those canned, wrapped, and boxed items are packaged with ingredients and preservatives that health-seeking dieters should avoid.

One of the major benefits of eating whole foods is that you can eat all of the natural whole foods that you want and still lose weight and look great. Certain fruits, vegetables, and protein sources from lean meats and dairy should be the heart and the bloodline of your diet.

Don’t hold back on the fruits and vegetables! To make eating them more convenient to eat, try these strategies:

1. If there are fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated, keep them in plain view as much as possible. That will get you into the habit of grabbing one of them as you leave or enter the house. They’re also easy to carry to work or in the car.

2. When you do your grocery shopping try some of the items prepared at the salad bars. These dishes have fruits and vegetables already sliced and prepared for you to eat and run. No fuss — no bother. Make sure that the cold things are still cold — sometimes, especially later in the day, they get a little too warm and may spoil. Just be careful.

3. Shop for fruits and vegetables that do not need a lot of peeling or preparation in order to eat. Just grab and go. Carrots, celery, apples, grapes — you know which ones will work for you.

Let’s not forget about your protein. Protein is a very important part of a healthy diet and it’s necessary for building and repairing tissue. Complete proteins from animal sources like meat, fish, dairy, or eggs contain all of the essential amino acids that your body requires. Some examples of whole food/low carbohydrate protein sources that you can enjoy are fish, especially the oily ones like salmon, sirloin steak, bacon, veal cutlet, tenderloin cuts, chicken, eggs, and turkey.

Cheese is another great whole food that you can enjoy while eating healthy. Cheese is a nutritious food but you need to avoid the higher fat varieties. Check out low-fat or no-fat cottage cheese, ricotta (great on salads), low-fat cheddar, feta, and low-fat colby.

Be sure to check out last week’s article about good fats and bad fats. This will help you when you’re picking out your diary or cheese items.

Most fresh fruits and vegetables are easy to eat and require no preparation time. Eat and enjoy! Lose weight and stay healthy!
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Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
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If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

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What’s all this talk about fat? I know that for me, the subject of fat does something to my brain. Whenever I think of fat I tend to think of that stuff so many of us carry around and wish we didn’t. We try to lose it — we try to hide it — we try to avoid it — and yet, we keep hearing that we all need it. No wonder it’s a topic that we try to avoid — it’s confusing. For example, when I look at the food label on some grocery product, I’m always trying to remember what the difference is between saturated and unsaturated fat — and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.

Fat is quite helpful to us. It helps to insulate our nerve cells — it helps to keep us warm — it watches over our hormones so they don’t get out of balance — it keeps our skin and arteries soft and supple — it also lubricates our joints and is a part of every cell in our bodies.

The question is — is it all good?

The answer is “NO!” It’s not all good. And, based on the difficulties we’re having in this country with body weight, we all need to learn more about what’s good and what isn’t. We need to learn what kinds of fat our bodies need and what kinds we don’t. We need information — and that’s what this article is about.

Two Types of Fat

This part is easy — one type of fat is “Saturated” fat. Thats’ the one we don’t need! It’s the enemy!

The other type is just the opposite — it’s “Unsaturated” fat. We need this fat — it’s one of the good guys.

Saturated fat is hard at room temperature. Our bodies do not need it. It comes from meat, eggs, butter, margarine and cheese. It’s hard to digest — and — get this — it’s loaded with cholesterol!

Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and have been divided into two groups. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats such as sunflower oil.

Polyunsaturated fats are split into Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids. Monounsaturated fat (Omega 9) although not essential, is not harmful in moderation.

All about Monounsaturated fats and Polyunsaturated fats.

Have you ever wondered why your favorite olive oil salad dressing turns cloudy when it’s inside the refrigerator, but clears up when it’s left out? What about the layer of oil that forms on top of peanut butter when kept at room temperature?

The formation of oil that you see floating on top of peanut butter is the peanut oil and is an example of a monounsaturated fat, just like olive oil.

Monounsaturated fats contain fatty acids that lower blood cholesterol and are typically stored in liquid form when at room temperature. When refrigerated this healthy fat turns into a solid formation.

Excellent sources of monounsaturated fats are olives, olive and canola oil, peanuts, peanut butter, and all other varieties of nuts and seeds such as almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.

Found mostly in fish, soy, and walnuts, polyunsaturated fats contain oils that are in liquid form at both room and refrigerator temperature. This type of fatty acid also helps in lowering your total blood cholesterol by decreasing the LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids are Omega 3 and the Omega 6. These fatty acids are said to contribute to reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and cancer. Omega 3 fatty acids are also known to lower the level of triglycerides.

Primary sources of polyunsaturated fats are found in a variety of fish such as tuna, trout, herring, salmon, and mackerel. These fatty acids are also found in oils such as soybean oil, corn oil, and safflower oil.

(If you’re wondering about the mono vs. poly when it comes to fat — that has to do with the science and the bonding of the molecules. Monounsaturated fat has one bond and polyunsaturated fat has two bonds. Saturated fat doesn’t have any bonds because we jammed a whole bunch of hydrogen into the fat to break the bonds. When the bonds are broken, the fat has no gaps and the fatty acids are tightly packed together. When they get into your blood stream they’ll clog your arteries. When your arteries get clogged, your risk of heart attacks increases accordingly and your cholesterol levels go up. That’s why those saturated fats are the enemy!)
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Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
===============================================================

============================================================
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

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It is looking like I’m still in a “low carb” mode since today’s article is also on that topic. You might think I really believed in this, right? Well, I do! I think it’s the best way for us to keep our weight down and avoid things like heart disease and diabetes. The neat thing is that once you get into the low carb habit — and have ceased to eat the starchy and sugary carbs all the time, you’ll find that you’ll learn to like this lifestyle.

Try it — you’ll see. You’ll just feel great most of the time. Sure, you might have a bad day once in a while, but it won’t be because you’re depressed about your weight or because you don’t have enough energy.

Did you know that eating low carb snacks every few hours of the day is good for you — good for your health and well-being? People should eat about every three hours in order to maintain a steady blood sugar level and keep their energy in balance.

Most of us, however, have been brought up with the “three squares a day” philosophy. In truth, though, doing three large meals every day is not the best way to go if your goal is having a steady flow of energy throughout the day. Not only will your energy levels stay more constant with low carb snacking, you’ll also be able to digest your food easier — and here’s a biggie — you’ll burn fat more readily.

So, if you were to adopt a low carb “snacking throughout the day” habit, what could you eat? The short answer is stay away from starchy foods like breads and pasta — also stay away from sugary foods — and you’ve got it.

Here are a few more suggestions to help you snack your way into weight loss and higher levels of energy.

1. Delicious cheese wrapped around the sandwich meat of your choice.
2. Tender roast beef cubes.
3. Fresh and creamy cottage cheese (plain)
4. A variety of healthy nuts and seeds.
5. Hardboiled eggs.
6. Pre wrapped cheese sticks.
7. Bell peppers with a low carb filling.
8. Tuna salad mixed with chopped celery.
9. Stuffed tomatoes.
10. Celery sticks stuffed with all natural peanut butter.

All of the above low carb snacking solutions are quick to prepare and easy to eat, especially if you’re constantly on the go. Of course there are many other more heavily prepared recipes that you can look into — just check for some of them on the web. If it’s convenience you’re after, then the above items will get you on the right track.
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Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
===============================================================

============================================================
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

============================================================

Last week we started a discussion about altering your diet towards fewer carbohydrates — well — at least fewer of the unhealthy carbohydrates, like the starchy and sugary carbs. This week let’s take a look at some ways to decide whether focusing strictly on a low carb diet is the right thing for you. Of course, as with anything of this type, whether it’s diet change or a change in your exercise routine, you should always consult your medical professional before making the change. I’ll talk more about that below.

I know that for me following a low carb diet has worked wonders. I’m always careful about the amount of sugar that I intake each day — and although I do eat bread and pasta, I do try to limit the quantity, and I rarely ever eat any that isn’t 100% whole wheat. The goal is to keep the weight under control and stay away from the dangers of heart disease and diabetes.

If every person had the exact same body type and exact same body chemistry then it would be a “piece of cake” to have a “cookie-cutter” diet plan to lose weight. (Talk about mixed metaphors, huh? — plus the metaphors are both bad carbs! — LOL) But unfortunately it’s more complex than that and not every diet is right or beneficial for every person. Food allergies, existing health problems, and other conditions all help predetermine which diets will work and which diets should be avoided.

This holds true for the low carb diet as well. There are many variations of low carb dieting on the market but they all have one thing in common – reduce your carbohydrates.

So how do you know if a low carb approach is safe for you? Obviously going to a doctor would be the first step, preferably a family doctor that knows your history. With an assessment and a look into your family health history, your doctor should be able to give you better direction into your low carb dieting goals.

What kind of information will help you assess whether a low carb diet is safe for you? Here are some of the factors that are important to assessing your low carb plan.

(1) Your LDL cholesterol — Low density lipoprotein — the kind you don’t want much of because it stays in your bloodstream and can cause a variety of serious health problems including coronary artery disease.

(2) Your Triglycerides — These are calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues. These calories are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. High levels of these can lead to coronary artery disease.

(3) Your Total Cholesterol level — Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance that is important for normal body functioning. Cholesterol is used for cellular functions and the production of hormones. Your body, in most cases, will produce enough cholesterol to maintain normal body needs. The liver is the major production factory for cholesterol (about 70%). Diets high in saturated fats, significantly increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood stream. Recommended daily intake of fat should not exceed 30% of calories, with a maximum of 10% being from saturated fat. Research indicates that diets high in saturated and total fat, play a significant role in the process of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup on the artery walls).

(4) HDL cholesterol — high density lipoprotein, known as “good” cholesterol because it helps return cholesterol to the liver, where it can be eliminated from the body.

(5) Blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries. High blood pressure is usually seen when cholesterol level is also high.

These are all important factors when assessing your low carb plan. Why? Because people metabolize carbohydrates in different ways and some carbs are beneficial while others are harmful to your health.

Collect information about your family history, mainly your immediate family like your brothers, your sisters, parents and children. Every disease and surgery should be recorded as well as any chronic diseases. Once you have collected this information about your immediate family then move on to your extended family like your aunts, uncles, and grandparents. The more information that you provide to your family doctor the better he or she can help you determine if a low carb diet is safe for you.

Above all, watch out for diabetes, a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes affects more than 15 million Americans and could be very dangerous for you to partake in a low carb diet. As always, please consult a physician or doctor before practicing any diet or exercise regimen.

Next week we’ll talk more about low carb dieting and some of the choices you can make. The next few articles will presume that low carb dieting is safe for you and that you have determined that by consulting with your doctor.
==========================================================
Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
===============================================================

============================================================
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

============================================================

We hear about it all the time — “If you follow a low-carb diet plan you’ll lose weight!” Low-Carb — it’s practically a household word around these parts. I don’t know if it’s as predominant in Europe, but it sure is in America. Maybe that’s because we do such a horrible job of eating healthy here. Practically every commercial on TV is about losing weight and getting in shape. Yikes! All you have to do is take a walk in a mall and you’ll see why.

So, back to the question for today’s article — Does going on a low-carb diet really work? The system seems simple enough — eat fewer of the “empty” carbs and lose weight. But, what’s going on when we do that? What makes it work?

For one thing, by removing carbohydrates from your diet you are cutting a ton of calories from your overall intake of food. By lowering those calories you are obviously eating less and this will make you lose weight. That’s the basic premise of this system.

In addition to eating fewer overall calories, if you pay attention and skip all (the emphasis is on ALL) those starchy and sugary carbs that you would normally eat, your body will begin to break down glycogen from the liver and from the muscles to free glucose.

What is glycogen? Glycogen is simply glucose that is stored in the muscles and liver. This glycogen contains a ton of water and by converting it to glucose the water is released so when you first start to eliminate those bad carbs, your initial weight loss is almost all water. The thing to realize is that this water is heavy and can help you drop a good many pounds in the first couple of weeks.

After those first couple of weeks, your rate of weight loss will slow down some. This is because you got rid of the water weight, now you need to start burning fat — and you will — IF (big IF) you keep your carb intake below 50 or 60 grams daily.

Good! Now your body is burning fat as fuel. When that happens, your body begins to produce Ketones. What exactly are Ketones? Ketones are a byproduct that is caused when the body is burning fat for fuel and energy.

These Ketones are released from the body through your kidneys. When the Ketone level increases in your kidneys your appetite is also suppressed a bit, aiding further in your losing more weight. It is highly recommended that you drink lots of water during this phase of your low carb diet to prevent dehydration.

How long you stay on your low-carb diet plan is your personal choice. You will eventually arrive at a weight that is ideal for you and your body type. When you reach that point you’ll need to add back some carbs — but just enough to maintain your ideal weight. You don’t want to yo-yo and gain all that fat back. Keep avoiding those starchy and sugary carbs and you should do fine.

It is also recommended that you consult your medical professional before embarking on such a change in eating habits in order to lose weight.
==========================================================
Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
===============================================================

============================================================
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

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