Aa
major lifestyle change
Recently I gave up a lot of things that were messing up my body horribly. I gave up opiates, pot, and fast food. Each of them were done on a daily basis. I've been off the opiates for about two weeks, pot about one week, and just giving up the fast food. I am tapering myself off the fast food. I begin my day with a banana and low fat yogurt. Then I eat something not so good for you for lunch. Then I eat healthy snacks like grapes, apples, blueberries,ect. Then I try to eat a pretty healthy supper. I feel like my bloodpressure spikes when it gets dark for some reason. What I'm asking is do you think I am hurting my body buy the way I took them to the extreme. I'm not very active yet but that's my next goal. Thanks for the input!
The 12 Best Smoothie Ingredients
You can boost your brain, build muscle, burn fat, and help your heart in less than one minute: Just mix up a smoothie and slurp. It's that simple—if you include these dozen add-ins that not only pack health benefits, but also make your shake taste even better.
# 1 Peanut Butter
Packed with protein, manganese, and niacin, peanuts can help stave off heart disease and, when eaten in moderation, promote weight loss.
# 2 Fat-Free Milk
All the calcium and protein, none of the fat.
# 3 Blueberries
The huge amounts of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, in blueberries have been shown to slow brain decline and reverse memory loss.
# 4 Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt
A cache of calcium and digestion-aiding probiotics in every scoop.
# 5 Raspberries
An antioxidant powerhouse bursting with fiber, manganese, and vitamin C, these berries will keep your heart and brain in top shape.
# 6 Fat-Free Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
Calcium, phosphorus, and none of the guilt.
# 7 Pineapple-Orange Juice
OJ has vitamin C, and pineapples contain bromelain, a cancer-inhibiting, inflammation-reducing enzyme.
# 8 Cherries
In addition to their vitamin C and fiber content, cherries have been linked to reducing arthritis pain.
# 9 Bananas
Heavy on potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6, bananas do wonders for your heart and provide good carbs to keep you full and energized.
# 10 Whey Protein
Its essential amino acids help pack on the muscle—making whey the best friend of athletes and gym rats.
# 11 Frozen Mangoes
To their stock of vitamins A and C, mangoes add a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which helps prevent cancer and promotes healthy skin.
# 12 Ice
A little H2O never hurt anyone.
The Best Foods For Every Part of Your Body
Today's busy, high-stress lifestyles often lead to a diet of convenience—one that's lacking in vitamins and minerals, and overloaded with sugar, fat, and calories. The result: a body that never realizes its full potential. But you can fight back with food; start today and you'll hit your peak from head to toe.
Skin
Carrots are loaded with vitamin A, which helps balance the pH of your skin's surface, making it just acidic enough to fend off harmful bacteria. Plus National Cancer Institute researchers found that people with the highest intakes of carotenoidspigments that occur naturally in carrots—were six times less likely to develop skin cancer than those with the lower intakes.
Hair
Low iron levels can lead to baldness, according to a Cleveland Clinic review. Researchers looked at 11 studies on the relationship between iron intake and hair loss, and concluded that treating iron deficiency may help regrow hair. Feed your mane iron-packed foods such as lean red meat, turkey, egg yolks, dried beans, dried fruit, whole grains.
Eyes
The National Institute of Health found that people who consume the most lutein—a carotenoid found in plant foods—are 43 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration. Lutein helps filter blue light, preventing it from damaging retinal tissues. Eat two servings of greens each day. Consider one serving to be ½ cup of cooked spinach, broccoli, or brussels sprouts.
Heart
Cornell University researchers found that eating one Red Delicious apple a day can block LDL oxidation, resulting in an 8 percent drop in levels. Bonus: Apples (and their skins) contain soluble fiber, the kind that scrubs artery walls clean. Cut one up and mix it into your oatmeal, another top source.
Muscles
To maximize muscle growth, you need the right raw materials. Beef is the perfect muscle food because it's packed with protein, zinc, and creatine. Down a hefty portion of each with this taco-salad recipe from Men's Health cover model Gregg Avedon:
Brown ½ pound of extra-lean ground beef over medium heat. As it cooks, sprinkle it with black pepper, 2 teaspoons of chili powder, and a couple dashes of Tabasco. Place the cooked beef, one diced tomato, and 2 tablespoons of low-fat cheese over a bed of lettuce, and top with salsa.
Bones
Bones are a lot like reclusive coworkers; until one snaps, you aren't likely to give them much thought. Drink two 8-ounce glasses of vitamin D-fortified low-fat milk every day. This provides your body with 600 milligrams (mg) of calcium and 5 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D, the perfect combination of nutrients to build break-resistant bones. Plus, in a 20-year study, U.K. researchers determined that men who drink more than 6 ounces of milk a day have half the risk of stroke of men who drink less
Belly
By snacking on the right foods—those that are low in sugar but rich in protein—you'll keep your metabolic furnace stoked, and be less likely to binge between meals. Have one slice of hard or semihard cheese—for instance, Cheddar, Swiss, or provolone—two or three times a day. Cheese has 7 grams of protein per slice and contains no sugar. That means it doesn't raise blood-sugar levels, so your body stays in fat-burning mode. Want an alternative? Opt for a cup of low-fat plain yogurt or a stick of beef jerky.
Manhood
When it comes to keeping your sex sessions going long and strong, a certain amino acid known as L-Arginine may be man's best friend. "L-Arginine works like Viagra by increasing nitric oxide to help relax blood vessels and allow more blood flow to the penis," says Marrena Lindberg, author of The Orgasmic Diet. Some studies suggest that getting three grams a day could make for better erections. Many foods high in good-for-you omega 3s are also high in L-Arginine, such as free-range game, seafood, walnuts, and sesame seeds. Plus, omega 3s help your body better absorb L-Arginine, according to a study in Nutrition & Metabolism. There are no RDA guidelines for how much L-Arginine you should have, but Lindberg recommends getting your daily fix by eating omega-3 packed protein such as free-range beef and chicken, or fatty fish like salmon.
You can boost your brain, build muscle, burn fat, and help your heart in less than one minute: Just mix up a smoothie and slurp. It's that simple—if you include these dozen add-ins that not only pack health benefits, but also make your shake taste even better.
# 1 Peanut Butter
Packed with protein, manganese, and niacin, peanuts can help stave off heart disease and, when eaten in moderation, promote weight loss.
# 2 Fat-Free Milk
All the calcium and protein, none of the fat.
# 3 Blueberries
The huge amounts of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, in blueberries have been shown to slow brain decline and reverse memory loss.
# 4 Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt
A cache of calcium and digestion-aiding probiotics in every scoop.
# 5 Raspberries
An antioxidant powerhouse bursting with fiber, manganese, and vitamin C, these berries will keep your heart and brain in top shape.
# 6 Fat-Free Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
Calcium, phosphorus, and none of the guilt.
# 7 Pineapple-Orange Juice
OJ has vitamin C, and pineapples contain bromelain, a cancer-inhibiting, inflammation-reducing enzyme.
# 8 Cherries
In addition to their vitamin C and fiber content, cherries have been linked to reducing arthritis pain.
# 9 Bananas
Heavy on potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6, bananas do wonders for your heart and provide good carbs to keep you full and energized.
# 10 Whey Protein
Its essential amino acids help pack on the muscle—making whey the best friend of athletes and gym rats.
# 11 Frozen Mangoes
To their stock of vitamins A and C, mangoes add a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which helps prevent cancer and promotes healthy skin.
# 12 Ice
A little H2O never hurt anyone.
The Best Foods For Every Part of Your Body
Today's busy, high-stress lifestyles often lead to a diet of convenience—one that's lacking in vitamins and minerals, and overloaded with sugar, fat, and calories. The result: a body that never realizes its full potential. But you can fight back with food; start today and you'll hit your peak from head to toe.
Skin
Carrots are loaded with vitamin A, which helps balance the pH of your skin's surface, making it just acidic enough to fend off harmful bacteria. Plus National Cancer Institute researchers found that people with the highest intakes of carotenoidspigments that occur naturally in carrots—were six times less likely to develop skin cancer than those with the lower intakes.
Hair
Low iron levels can lead to baldness, according to a Cleveland Clinic review. Researchers looked at 11 studies on the relationship between iron intake and hair loss, and concluded that treating iron deficiency may help regrow hair. Feed your mane iron-packed foods such as lean red meat, turkey, egg yolks, dried beans, dried fruit, whole grains.
Eyes
The National Institute of Health found that people who consume the most lutein—a carotenoid found in plant foods—are 43 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration. Lutein helps filter blue light, preventing it from damaging retinal tissues. Eat two servings of greens each day. Consider one serving to be ½ cup of cooked spinach, broccoli, or brussels sprouts.
Heart
Cornell University researchers found that eating one Red Delicious apple a day can block LDL oxidation, resulting in an 8 percent drop in levels. Bonus: Apples (and their skins) contain soluble fiber, the kind that scrubs artery walls clean. Cut one up and mix it into your oatmeal, another top source.
Muscles
To maximize muscle growth, you need the right raw materials. Beef is the perfect muscle food because it's packed with protein, zinc, and creatine. Down a hefty portion of each with this taco-salad recipe from Men's Health cover model Gregg Avedon:
Brown ½ pound of extra-lean ground beef over medium heat. As it cooks, sprinkle it with black pepper, 2 teaspoons of chili powder, and a couple dashes of Tabasco. Place the cooked beef, one diced tomato, and 2 tablespoons of low-fat cheese over a bed of lettuce, and top with salsa.
Bones
Bones are a lot like reclusive coworkers; until one snaps, you aren't likely to give them much thought. Drink two 8-ounce glasses of vitamin D-fortified low-fat milk every day. This provides your body with 600 milligrams (mg) of calcium and 5 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D, the perfect combination of nutrients to build break-resistant bones. Plus, in a 20-year study, U.K. researchers determined that men who drink more than 6 ounces of milk a day have half the risk of stroke of men who drink less
Belly
By snacking on the right foods—those that are low in sugar but rich in protein—you'll keep your metabolic furnace stoked, and be less likely to binge between meals. Have one slice of hard or semihard cheese—for instance, Cheddar, Swiss, or provolone—two or three times a day. Cheese has 7 grams of protein per slice and contains no sugar. That means it doesn't raise blood-sugar levels, so your body stays in fat-burning mode. Want an alternative? Opt for a cup of low-fat plain yogurt or a stick of beef jerky.
Manhood
When it comes to keeping your sex sessions going long and strong, a certain amino acid known as L-Arginine may be man's best friend. "L-Arginine works like Viagra by increasing nitric oxide to help relax blood vessels and allow more blood flow to the penis," says Marrena Lindberg, author of The Orgasmic Diet. Some studies suggest that getting three grams a day could make for better erections. Many foods high in good-for-you omega 3s are also high in L-Arginine, such as free-range game, seafood, walnuts, and sesame seeds. Plus, omega 3s help your body better absorb L-Arginine, according to a study in Nutrition & Metabolism. There are no RDA guidelines for how much L-Arginine you should have, but Lindberg recommends getting your daily fix by eating omega-3 packed protein such as free-range beef and chicken, or fatty fish like salmon.
Way to go! Its hard giving up things that we were use to, but with time you will find yourself feeling much better. Youve made to good changes, I would just suggest that you add some more protein to your diet, low fat with your fruit and some vegetables. The goal is to have half of your plate with vegies, one quarter carbs and one quarter protein. Keep looking up, its worth it!
You are probably suffering withdrawal symptoms,your body was use to these things on a daily basis and now you have stopped,well done your will power is strong but if you do find it a struggle please seek extra help and support from your doctors.
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