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10 Reasons Peter Diamandis Thinks The End of Cancer & Disease is Near

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For his 2017 “kick-off” blog, Peter Diamandis has reviewed more than 52 weeks of science and technology breakthroughs. He discovered that scientists have made huge strides in research and testing in 2016 that make the end of cancer & disease a real possibility in the near future.

Most well known as the Founder of the X-Prize, Diamandis is also the Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of Human Longevity Inc. (HLI), a genomics and cell therapy-based diagnostic and therapeutic company focused on extending the healthy human lifespan.

Here are his top 10 reasons we should all have faith that the end of cancer and disease is in sight.

  1.  Cancer Immunotherapy Makes Strides (Extraordinary Results): Immunotherapy involves using a patient’s own immune system (in this case, T cells) to fight cancer. Doctors remove immune cells from patients, tag them with “receptor” molecules that target the specific cancer, and then infuse the cells back in the body. During the study, 94% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) saw symptoms vanish completely. Patients with other blood cancers had response rates greater than 80%, and more than half experienced complete remission.

  1.  In China, CRISPR/Cas9 used in First Human Trial: A team of scientists in China (Sichuan University) became the first to treat a human patient with an aggressive form of lung cancer with the groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique.

  1.  NIH Approves Human Trials Using CRISPR: A team of physicians at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine had their project of modifying the immune cells of 18 different cancer patients with the CRISPR-Cas9 system approved by the National Institute of Health. Results are TBD.

  1.  Giant Leap in Treatment of Diabetes from Harvard: For the first time, Harvard stem cell researchers created “insulin producing” islet cells to cure diabetes in mice. This offers a promising cure in humans as well.

  1. HIV Genes Cut Out of Live Animals Using CRISPR: Scientists at the Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center at  Temple University were able to successfully cut out the HIV genes from live animals, and they had over a 50% success rate.

  1.  New Treatment Causes HIV Infected Cells to Vanish: A team of scientists in the U.K. discovered a new treatment for HIV. The patient was treated with vaccines that helped the body recognize the HIV-infected cells. Then, the drug Vorinostat was administered to activate the dormant cells so they could be spotted by the immune system.

  1.  CRISPR Cures Mice of Sickle Cell Disease: CRISPR was used to completely cure sickle cell by editing the errant DNA sequence in mice. The treatment may soon be used to cure this disease, which affects about 100,000 Americans.

  1.  Eradicating Measles (in the U.S.): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that after 50 years, they have successfully eradicated measles in the U.S. This is one of the most contagious diseases around the world.

  2.  New Ebola Vaccine Proved to be 100% Effective: None of the nearly 6,000 individuals vaccinated with rVSV-ZEBOV in Guinea, a country with more than 3,000 confirmed cases of Ebola, showed any signs of contracting the disease.

  1.  Eradicating Polio: The World Health Organization has announced that it expects to fully eradicate polio worldwide by Early 2017.

 

You can read more from Peter Diamandis’ blog here.

8 Things That Happen When You Finally Stop Drinking Diet Soda

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Ever think, “Why should I give up soda?” 

You’ve decided to give up diet soda—good idea! Maybe you weren’t hitting your weight-loss goals or couldn’t stomach that long list of ingredients anymore. Or perhaps you heard one too many times that it’s just not good for you.

Whatever the reason, eliminating diet soda from your diet will improve your health from head to toe. Research on diet soda is still in its infancy, but there’s enough out there to identify what you can look forward to when you put down the can and cool down with an unsweetened iced tea instead.

Migraines disappear and focus sharpens.

It turns out the headaches you expected from a diet soda withdrawal didn’t materialize. And now that you’ve quit the stuff, you probably find yourself thinking clearly for the first time in a while.

That’s because the chemicals that make up the artificial sweetener aspartame may have altered brain chemicals, nerve signals, and the brain’s reward system, which leads to headaches, anxiety, and insomnia, according to a review in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

And a 2013 animal study found that rats that drank diet soda had damaged cells and nerve endings in the cerebellum—the part of the brain responsible for motor skills.

Taste buds are more sensitive.

It’s not your imagination: Without your usual diet soda chaser, you may find that food has more flavor. It has subtlety. It’s more enjoyable. That’s because the artificial sweeteners in your diet soda overwhelmed your taste buds with an onslaught of sweetness. Aspartame ranks 200 hundreds times sweeter than table sugar. Splenda? 600 times.

In fact, brain scans show that diet soda alters sweet receptors in the brain and prolongs sugar cravings rather than satisfies them. “We often see patients change snack choices when they give up diet soda,” says Heather Bainbridge, RD, from Columbia University Medical Center Weight Control Center. “Rather than needing sugary treats or something really salty like pretzels and chips, they reach for an apple and a piece of cheese.

And, when they try diet soda again, they find it intolerably sweet.”

The scale finally goes the right way.

29 Ways To Eat Vegetables That Are Actually Delicious

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Source: buzzfeed.com

1. Avocado Superfood Breakfast Toast

Avocados come with healthy fats and protein. The pomegranate seeds and blueberries add sweet, sweet antioxidants to the mix. Get the recipe here, via Choosing Raw.

2. Chicken and Cabbage Postickers

Sneak some veggies into your favorite apps. Get the recipe here, viaculinarycolleen.com.

3. Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese

Just LOOK AT THAT for a hot second. Eat cauliflower in place of bread, and keep the cheese while you’re at it. Get the recipe here, via The Iron You.

Also, on a related note, check out 23 Insanely Clever Ways To Eat Cauliflower Instead Of Carbs.

4. Skinny Omelette Wraps

Put whatever veggies you want in this tasty breakfast. Get the recipe here, via 101 Cookbooks.

5. Asparagus Benedict With Dijon Sauce

Include some healthy sautéed asparagus in your classic eggs benedict. Get the recipe here, via Chow.

6. Zucchini Crust Vegetarian Pizza Margherita

Pizza with a veggie crust. Doesn’t get much better than that. Get the recipe here, via Kalyn’s Kitchen.

7. Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers

Shredded cheese + cream cheese + shredded chicken + bacon + other incredibly tasty things, all stuffed in jalapeño peppers. Count it. Get the recipe here, via Just Putzing.

8. Healthy Butternut Squash Mac ‘N’ Cheese

This gooey bowl of deliciousness comes with butternut squash, as the name suggests. That totally counts as a veggie dish! Get the recipe here, via Pinch of Yum.

9. Paleo California Rolls

10. Chicken Club Lettuce Wrap

11. Spinach and Chicken Quesadillas

12. Roasted Tomato Risotto

This warm and tasty recipe calls for a pound of fresh whole tomatoes. Get the recipe here, via The Daring Gourmet.

13. Quinoa Kale Bowl With Mushrooms and Asparagus

14. Think Green Juice

This supercharged green juice comes with kale, apple, celery, cucumber, spinach, mint, and more. It’s easy and tasty, and makes a great supplement to your regular meals. Get the recipe here, via Cook Republic.

15. Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts With Cranberries and Pecans

There’s so much goodness going on here — Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate, among other essentials. Cranberries are packed with antioxidants, walnuts come with protein and fiber, and that gorgonzola cheese is just delicious. Get the recipe here, via RachelSchultz.com.

16. Crispy Baked Avocado Fries

17. Spicy Sausage, Kale, and Whole Wheat Orecchiette Soup

This healthy, hearty lunch will keep you warm and help you get your fill of kale. Get the recipe here, via How Sweet Eats.

18. Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Here’s a cool veggie-based party snack idea: Stuff your zucchinis with all sorts of tasty foods (vegetables and otherwise).Get the recipe for these here, via Family Fresh Cooking.

19. Cheese and Browned Butter Spaghetti Squash

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Photo:recipeshubs.com

The cheese in this dish is called Mizithra, and it’s delicious. Get the recipe here, via My Purple Spoon.

20. Spicy Miso Edamame

Add an extra kick to your typical steamed edamame starters. Get the recipe here, via Love and Olive Oil.

21. Roasted Tomato Basil Oatmeal

22. Healthy Beef Chili

23. Teriyaki Salmon Bowls With Snap Peas and Sriracha

24. Vegan Lasagna

25. Healthy Garlic Shrimp Pasta

This dish calls for frozen broccoli and frozen mixed vegetables of your choosing. It’s a simple and healthy dinner that you can make quickly and easily. Get the recipe here, via Well Plated.

26. Creamy Cauliflower Garlic Rice

So creamy. So tasty. So full of cauliflower. Get the recipe here, via Pinch of Yum.

27. Sweet Potato-Crusted Spinach Quiche

28. Creamy Spinach and Pear Soup With Pancetta

Cashews in this soup add to the creaminess, blogger Lindsay from Love and Olive Oil says. The pears add sweetness, and the spinach delivers some essential nutrients and minerals. And the final creation can help keep you warm. Get the recipe here, via Love and Olive Oil.

29. Sautéed Julienned Zoodles

This sautéed “spaghetti” dish is actually made from zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots. Get the recipe here, via Skinny Taste.

30 Day Abs and Squats Challenge

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Source: fitnessrepublic.com

Give your body some attention and take up this 30 day abs and squat challenge and boost your core, leg and butt muscles and body strength to the max! The three workouts involved in this challenge will certainly assist you achieve those hot abs and lower body. Build up your core muscle till you reach your goal on the 30th day!

Exercises Involved:

  • Sit-ups: Sit-ups exercise your abdominal muscles and reinforces your core.
  • Crunches: Crunches also target your abdominal muscle and reinforces it. It likewise furthermore advantages your lower back.
  • Squats: Squats not just boost your core but also works out your lower body, tones your legs and improves your flexibility.

Major Signs You Are Magnesium Deficient (and what to do about it)

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woman-with-insomnia-785x558

Magnesium: An Invisible Deficiency That Could Be Harming Your Health

Magnesium is a mineral used by every organ in your body, especially your heart, muscles, and kidneys. If you suffer from unexplained fatigue or weakness, abnormal heart rhythms or even muscle spasms and eye twitches, low levels of magnesium could be to blame.

If you’ve recently had a blood test, you might assume it would show a magnesium deficiency. But only 1 percent of magnesium in your body is distributed in your blood, making a simple sample of magnesium from a serum magnesium blood test not very useful.

Most magnesium is stored in your bones and organs, where it is used for many biological functions. Yet, it’s quite possible to be deficient and not know it, which is why magnesium deficiency has been dubbed the “invisible deficiency.”

By some estimates, up to 80 percent of Americans are not getting enough magnesium and may be deficient. Other research shows only about 25 percent of US adults are getting the recommended daily amount of 310 to 320 milligrams (mg) for women and 400 to 420 for men.

Even more concerning, consuming even this amount is “just enough to ward off outright deficiency,” according to Dr. Carolyn Dean, a medical and naturopathic doctor.

Magnesium Deficiency May Trigger 22 Medical Conditions

Magnesium is often thought of primarily as a mineral for your heart and bones, but this is misleading. Researchers have now detected 3,751 magnesium-binding sites on human proteins, indicating that its role in human health and disease may have been vastly underestimated.

Magnesium is also found in more than 300 different enzymes in your body and plays a role in your body’s detoxification processes, making it important for helping to prevent damage from environmental chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins. In addition, magnesium is necessary for:

  • Activating muscles and nerves
  • Creating energy in your body by activating adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
  • Helping digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
  • Serving as a building block for RNA and DNA synthesis
  • Acting as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin

Dr. Dean has studied and written about magnesium for more than 15 years. The latest addition of her book, The Magnesium Miracle, came out in 2014 and in it you can learn about 22 medical areas that magnesium deficiency triggers or causes, all of which have all been scientifically proven. This includes:

Anxiety and panic attacks Asthma Blood clots
Bowel diseases Cystitis Depression
Detoxification Diabetes Fatigue
Heart disease Hypertension Hypoglycemia
Insomnia Kidney disease Liver disease
Migraine Musculoskeletal conditions (fibromyalgia, cramps, chronic back pain, etc.) Nerve problems
Obstetrics and gynecology (PMS, infertility, and preeclampsia) Osteoporosis Raynaud’s syndrome
Tooth decay

Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, headache, nausea, fatigue, and weakness. An ongoing magnesium deficiency can lead to more serious symptoms, including:

Numbness and tingling Muscle contractions and cramps Seizures
Personality changes Abnormal heart rhythms Coronary spasms

The Role of Magnesium in Diabetes, Cancer, and More

Most people do not think about magnesium when they think about how to prevent chronic disease, but it plays an essential role. For instance, there have been several significant studies about magnesium’s role in keeping your metabolism running efficiently—specifically in terms of insulin sensitivity, glucose regulation, and protection from type 2 diabetes.

Higher magnesium intake reduces risk of impaired glucose and insulin metabolism and slows progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes in middle-aged Americans. Researchers stated, “Magnesium intake may be particularly beneficial in offsetting your risk of developing diabetes, if you are high risk.”

Multiple studies have also shown that higher magnesium intake is associated with a higher bone mineral density in both men and women, and research from Norway has even found an association between magnesium in drinking water and a lower risk of hip fractures.

Magnesium may even help lower your risk of cancer, and a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that higher intakes of dietary magnesium were associated with a lower risk of colorectal tumors.

Results from the meta-analysis indicated that for every 100-mg increase in magnesium intake, the risk of colorectal tumor decreased by 13 percent, while the risk of colorectal cancer was lowered by 12 percent. The researchers noted magnesium’s anti-cancer effects may be related to its ability to reduce insulin resistance, which may positively affect the development of tumors.

Surprising Factors That Influence Your Magnesium Levels

Seaweed and green leafy vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard can be excellent sources of magnesium, as are some beans, nuts, and seeds, like pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds. Avocados also contain magnesium. Juicing your vegetables is an excellent option to ensure you’re getting enough of them in your diet.

However, most foods grown today are deficient in magnesium and other minerals, so getting enough isn’t simply a matter of eating magnesium-rich foods (although this is important too). According to Dr. Dean:

“Magnesium is farmed out of the soil much more than calcium… A hundred years ago, we would get maybe 500 milligrams of magnesium in an ordinary diet. Now we’re lucky to get 200 milligrams.”

Herbicides, like glyphosate also act as chelators, effectively blocking the uptake and utilization of minerals in so many foods grown today. As a result, it can be quite difficult to find truly magnesium-rich foods. Cooking and processing further depletes magnesium.

Meanwhile, certain foods can actually influence your body’s absorption of magnesium. If you drink alcohol in excess, for instance, it may interfere with your body’s absorption of vitamin D, which in turn is helpful for magnesium absorption. If you eat a lot of sugar, this can also cause your body to excrete magnesium through your kidneys, “resulting in a net loss,” according to Dr. Danine Fruge, associate medical director at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Florida.

Photo: youtube.com

Photo: youtube.com

The following factors are also associated with lower magnesium levels:

  • Excessive intake of soda or caffeine
  • Menopause
  • Older age (older adults are more likely to be magnesium deficient because absorption decreases with age and the elderly are more likely to take medications that can interfere with absorption)
  • Certain medications, including diuretics, certain antibiotics (such as gentamicin and tobramycin), corticosteroids (prednisone or Deltasone), antacids, and insulin
  • An unhealthy digestive system, which impairs your body’s ability to absorb magnesium (Crohn’s disease, leaky gut, etc.)

Calcium, Vitamin K2, and Vitamin D Must Be Balanced with Magnesium

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Photo: ancient-minerals.com

It may seem like you could remedy the risks of low magnesium simply by taking a supplement, but it’s not quite that simple. When you’re taking magnesium, you need to consider calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 as well, since these all work synergistically with one another. Excessive amounts of calcium without the counterbalance of magnesium can lead to a heart attack and sudden death, for instance.

Research on the Paleolithic or caveman diet has shown that the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the diet that our bodies evolved to eat is 1-to-1. Americans in general tend to have a higher calcium-to-magnesium ratio in their diet, averaging about 3.5-to-1.

If you have too much calcium and not enough magnesium, your muscles will tend to go into spasm, and this has consequences for your heart in particular. “What happens is, the muscle and nerve function that magnesium is responsible for is diminished. If you don’t have enough magnesium, your muscles go into spasm. Calcium causes muscle to contract. If you had a balance, the muscles would do their thing. They’d relax, contract, and create their activity,” Dr. Dean explains.

When balancing calcium and magnesium, also keep in mind that vitamins K2 and D need to be considered. These four nutrients perform an intricate dance together, with one supporting the other. Lack of balance between these nutrients is one of the reasons why calcium supplements have become associated with increased risk of heart attacks and stroke, and why some people experience vitamin D toxicity.

Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate place. If you’re K2 deficient, added calcium can cause more problems than it solves, by accumulating in the wrong places, like your soft tissue.

Similarly, if you opt for oral vitamin D, you need to also consume it in your food or take supplemental vitamin K2 and more magnesium. Taking mega doses of vitamin D supplements without sufficient amounts of K2 and magnesium can lead to vitamin D toxicity and magnesium deficiency symptoms, which include inappropriate calcification that may damage your heart.

Tips for Increasing Your Magnesium Levels

One way to really increase your magnesium, as well as many other important plant-based nutrients, is by juicing your greens. I typically drink one pint to one quart of fresh green vegetable juice every day, and this is one of my primary sources of magnesium.

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Photo: watchfit.com

Organic foods may have more magnesium if grown in nutrient-rich soils but it is very difficult to make that determination. If you opt for a supplement, be aware that there are a wide variety of magnesium supplements on the market, because magnesium must be bound to another substance. There’s simply no such thing as a 100 percent magnesium supplement.

The substance used in any given compound can affect the absorption and bioavailability of the magnesium, and may provide slightly different, or targeted, health benefits. The table that follows summarizes some of the differences between the various forms. Magnesium threonate and citrate are some of the best sources, as it seems to penetrate cell membranes, including your mitochondria, which results in higher energy levels.

Additionally, it also penetrates your blood-brain barrier and seems to do wonders to treat and prevent dementia and improve memory. If you take a supplement, you can use the “bowel test” to determine if you’re taking too much magnesium. Dr. Dean explains:

“The best way to tell if you are getting enough magnesium is the “bowel test”. You know when you have too much magnesium when your stools become loose. This, in fact, may be a blessing for people with constipation… [which] is one of the many ways magnesium deficiency manifests.”

Photo: wellnessbite.com

Photo: wellnessbite.com

Besides taking a supplement, another way to improve your magnesium status is to take regular Epsom salt baths or foot baths. Epsom salt is a magnesium sulfate that can absorb into your body through your skin.

Magnesium oil can also be used for topical application and absorption. Whatever supplement you choose, be sure to avoid any containing magnesium stearate, a common but potentially hazardous additive.

Magnesium glycinate is a chelated form of magnesium that tends to provide the highest levels of absorption and bioavailability and is typically considered ideal for those who are trying to correct a deficiency.
Magnesium oxide is a non-chelated type of magnesium, bound to an organic acid or a fatty acid. Contains 60 percent magnesium, and has stool softening properties
Magnesium chloride/Magnesium lactatecontain only 12 percent magnesium, but has better absorption than others, such as magnesium oxide, which contains five times more magnesium
Magnesium sulfate/Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) are typically used as laxatives. Be aware that it’s easy to overdose on these, so ONLY take as directed

Magnesium carbonate, which has antacid properties, contains 45 percent magnesium
Magnesium taurate contains a combination of magnesium and taurine, an amino acid. Together, they tend to provide a calming effect on your body and mind

Magnesium citrate is magnesium with citric acid, which like most magnesium supplements has laxative properties but is well absorbed and cost effective
Magnesium threonate is a newer, emerging type of magnesium supplement that appears promising, primarily due to its superior ability to penetrate the mitochondrial membrane, and may be the best magnesium supplement on the market

This Is Exactly What Happens When You Start Doing CrossFit Now

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What is CROSSFIT?

What is CrossFit? CrossFit is an effective way to get fit. Anyone can do it. It is a fitness program that combines a wide variety of functional movements into a timed or scored workout. We do pull-ups, squats, push-ups, weightlifting, gymnastics, running, rowing, and a host of other movements. Always varied, always changing, always producing results. Kids, cops, firefighters, soccer moms, Navy SEALS, and grandmas all do CrossFit. In fact, hundreds of thousands worldwide have followed our workouts and distinguished themselves in combat, the streets, the ring, stadiums, gyms and homes. Welcome.

You haven’t heard of CrossFit? Let me tell you about CrossFit.

CrossFit is a lifestyle in which you are prioritizing your health. The ability to do many different things at a high level of intensity.

I think it’s the absolute best way to help you reach your fitness goals.

For me, it’s making me happy. A fun way to get fit with a lot of people. The last person finishing is the just as important as the first one.

It’s this team atmosphere that ends up making you better as an individual. It’s camaraderie, that family that you end up building and the energy that you get back from it yourself, that’s CrossFit to me.

You come to a CrossFit gym everybody knows your name, everybody loves you and you’re a part of something bigger than just getting a workout.

CrossFit gave me that something extra that I kinda needed in life.

It’s my outlet, I love it. It’s my passion. It’s commitment. CrossFit is a sport now.

I like the challenge, I compete with myself, I’m healthier, I am stronger. Even though I was sore, I was, you know, getting a little discouraged, you know … I felt accountable because my community, or I felt accountable to my class because they were looking for me there.

Finding CrossFit and then having to work really dang hard for whatever your goal is … whether its to compete or just get a damn pull-up. I love it ’cause the workout’s different everyday, I can come in and I don’t know what I’m doing.

Everyone is welcoming, everyone is cheering you on. They don’t let you quit even if you wanna quit.

We all share this experience, which is emotional. It doesn’t look emotional, it looks like people working out … but it’s emotional. I mean it’s raw, it’s intense, it’s incredible, it’s freakin’ awesome. I’m gonna keep doing it for a long time, I hope.

CrossFit, to me, is a fitness program where the reward for doing well is the ability to express your fitness in everyday life in as many different planes or as many different activities that you can possibly imagine.

People walk through the door and say, ‘Hey, where’s all the machines?’ We’re the machines!

Beauty in Strength

CrossFit can change how a woman both defines beauty and feels about her body, as Rita Benavidez, Jackie Perez, Erin Cianciolo and Andrea Ager discuss in this video.

Once thinking beauty was a picture of a waify woman on a magazine, Benavidez feels differently now. “My perception of beauty has changed over the past few years,” Benavidez says. “True beauty … is strength and fitness, and confidence in yourself.”

Perez was originally motivated by trying to be skinny. “That wasn’t getting me anywhere,” she says. “With CrossFit, I set goals. I want to deadlift 225, I’m going to hit that faster than I’m going to look in the mirror and like what I see.”

Ager says putting in the work is key to getting what you want. “I think that hard work and the way that your body looks go so hand-in-hand,” she says. “Once you do get a body that you want, you’re very proud of it … you’re proud of what your body can do.”

Through CrossFit, these women are confident, stronger and fitter. They are mothers, tomboys, coaches. They are CrossFit athletes.

If you ask 100 people to define beauty, you’ll get 100 different answers. Most will falter and offer descriptions instead.

CrossFit athletes are now rejecting previous definitions of beauty and putting forth their own, a definition researched and confirmed in every workout and every rep.

“There are people who spend their entire lives allowing the reflection in the mirror to determine their self-esteem, submitting to a cultural judgment established decades ago. But in CrossFit gyms all over the world, mirrors are conspicuous by their absence. Fitness is gauged in reps, in speed, power, virtuosity. And beauty is measured in joy. And in pride,” says narrator Marty Cej.

CrossFit presents a new aesthetic based on function, performance and confidence.

“I love the way that CrossFitters look because it’s just so real,” says three-time CrossFit Games competitor Ruth Anderson Horrell, pointing to an aesthetic that’s born of a relentless pursuit of work capacity and the inner strength that comes from achieving it.

“It’s beautiful to be fit, but I think … anyone who carries themselves with confidence will be beautiful,” says Michele Letendre.

Four-time Games competitor Austin Malleolo agrees: “If you want to look good, do stuff well, and do what life demands of you, and everything else will fall into place.”

There is more to a CrossFit athlete than strength and endurance, rippling muscle and life inside the gym. There is beauty beyond strength.

Crossfit workouts

Crossfit challenge for four top UK athletes. Redman, Hugo, Matt and Leon are four guys with a passion for fitness whose usual training is based on lifting weights in the gym. Here, they take on one of the most exciting and challenging forms of training to emerge in the last few years. Crossfit is a tough workout for the whole body, heard and lungs, with a variety of exercises which are designed constantly to challenge the body.
The guys are Hugo, Redman Neale, Leon Williams and Matt Sallis.

CrossFit Athlete Andrea Ager performs an insane Tabata workout consisting of an array of staple CrossFit movements, and also takes a minute to chat about Tabata and CrossFit in general.

What is Tabata? 20 Seconds of sprint/work, 10 second rest, for 4 straight minutes. Tabata music lets you focus on your workout, rather than think about having to look at your watch or a timer.

Andrea Ager is listening to Tabata Songs (Tabata Timer Music) with JayBird BlueBuds X Wireless Headphones.

The Workout:
-Ring Muscle Ups
-Overhead Squats
-Box Jumps
-Toes to Bar
-Power Cleans
-Butterfly Pullups
-Kettle bell swings
-Dumbbell Thrusters

TabataSongs creates music that matches the exact timing of the Tabata Protocol
Tabata Training began in the mid 1990’s. Japanese fitness researcher Dr Izumi Tabata created a HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout, using this very method. Dr Tabata proved the tabata method to draw heavily from both the aerobic and anaerobic systems, unlike most conventional workouts, which tend heavily favor one or the other.

The Tabata Interval has gained a lot of recognition throughout the Crossfit community, running community, and health clubs across the globe, for its versatility, adaptability, and positive results.

The Tabata Interval Method has proven to maximize VO2 max, while also building endurance, burning fat, and retaining muscle. Though the Tabata was not designed as a fat loss or weight loss program, it has gained a lot of recent attention in response to tabatas ability to speed up the metabolism and burn fat.

What is Crossfit? A workout program designed by Greg Glassman, which follows daily WOD (workout of the day) posts on the company’s official site. CrossFit often uses tabata in their w.o.d.

CrossFit Female Fitness Motivation 2015

For time:
75 pound Thruster, 30 reps
15 foot Rope climb, 3 ascents
75 pound Thruster, 20 reps
15 foot Rope climb, 2 ascents
75 pound Thruster, 10 reps
15 foot Rope climb, 1 ascents

DIY Homemade Spiced Turmeric Milk – A Miracle Health Drink

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Source: top10homeremedies.com

Turmeric milk is a traditional Ayurvedic drink to boost your health and vitality. It is usually taken at night to promote sleep and heal an array of ailments including common colds, sore throat, indigestion, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, menstrual cramps, headaches and arthritis.

It also fights cancers like that of the breast, liver, colon and prostate, relieves depression, promotes digestive health, detoxifies the liver, purifies blood, boosts circulation, accelerates wound-healing, relieves pain, protects against cardiovascular disease and helps with neurological disorders.

Most benefits of turmeric come from its key compound, curcumin, which has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic properties. Turmeric is also used as a carminative herb in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.

The health benefits of turmeric are further enhanced by adding black pepper to it. Research shows that black pepper contains piperine, a compound that helps the body absorb curcumin better.

Plus, adding other spices like cinnamon and cardamom enhances the taste as well as health benefits of turmeric milk. Cinnamon helps control blood sugar, reduces bad cholesterol and improves circulation.

Cardamom improves digestion, aids detoxification and beats bad breath. Including virgin coconut oil in this beverage adds to the immune-boosting and cholesterol-lowering benefits of your spiced turmeric milk.

How to make spiced turmeric milk at home

Things you will need:

  • Milk (opt for low-fat milk)
  • Turmeric
  • Black pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Cardamom
  • Coconut oil
  • Honey
  • A pot
  • Measuring spoons
  • A cup
  • A strainer

Steps

1. Pour a glass of milk into a pot and turn on the heat.

2. Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder.

3. Add ¼ teaspoon of powdered black pepper.

4. Add a small cinnamon stick.

5. Crush the seeds from a cardamom pod and add them to the solution.

6. Add ½ teaspoon of virgin coconut oil.

7. Bring the solution to a boil, then let it simmer for a few minutes.

8. Strain it.

9. Sweeten it with a little honey.

Your homemade spiced turmeric milk is ready now. Drink it daily in the evening or at night before going to sleep.

Tips

  • Vegans can replace the milk in this recipe with coconut milk or almond milk and sweeten this healthy beverage with stevia or some other natural sweetener.
  • If you are using freshly ground black pepper, use a little less than ¼ teaspoon.
  • If you do not have cinnamon sticks, use ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
  • You can also add ½ or 1 teaspoon of grated ginger in your spiced turmeric milk.
  • To make this recipe with turmeric tea paste, heat ¼ cup of turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon of black pepper powder and ½ cup of water together in a sauce pan on medium heat until they form a paste. Use ¼ teaspoon of this paste in your milk and add cinnamon and cardamom before boiling it. Cool and store the remaining paste in the refrigerator.

How To Completely Detox From Sugar In 10 Days

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1. Make a decision to detox.

In my book, there are three simple quizzes to help you learn if you need to detox. If you answer, “yes” to any of these questions, a sugar detox is your ticket to feeling great quickly and losing weight painlessly.

The first is the diabesity quiz.

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  • Do you have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes? (90 percent of Americans have not been diagnosed.)
  • Do you have belly fat?
  • Are you overweight?
  • Do you crave sugar and carbs?
  • Do you have trouble losing weight on low-fat diets?
  • Do you have high triglycerides, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, or been told your blood sugar is “a little high?”

The second is a food addiction quiz.

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  • Do you eat when you’re not hungry?
  • Do you experience a food coma after eating?
  • Do you feel bad about your eating habits or avoid certain activities because of your eating?
  • Do you get withdrawal symptoms if you cut down or stop eating sugar or flour?
  • Do you need more and more of same bad foods just to feel good?

The third is the FLC Quiz (or the Toxicity Quiz). FLC stands for Feel Like Crap. FLC Syndrome has a list of symptoms including bloating, gas, reflux, irritable bowel, joint or muscle pain, brain fog, memory or mood problems, sinus or allergy symptoms, and more. Millions of us have FLC Syndrome and don’t realize that we are only a few days away from health and happiness.

2. Be a turkey (a cold one).

There is no way to handle a true physiological addiction except to stop it completely. Addicts can’t have just one line of cocaine or just one drink. Go cold turkey. But you won’t have to white-knuckle it because if you follow these 10 ideas, you will automatically reset your body’s neurotransmitters and hormones.

Stop consuming all forms of sugar, flour products, and artificial sweeteners, which cause increased cravings and slow metabolism, and lead to fat storage. Also get rid of anything with trans or hydrogenated fats and MSG (watch for hidden names). Ideally, for 10 days you avoid any foods that come in a box, package, or a can, or that have a label. Stick to real, whole, fresh food.

3. Don’t drink your calories.

Any form of liquid sugar calories is worse than solid food with sugar or flour. Think of it as mainlining sugar directly to your liver. It turns off a fat storage machine in your liver, leading to dreaded belly fat. You don’t feel full, so you eat more all day and you crave more sugar and carbs. It’s also the single biggest source of sugar calories in our diet.

That includes sodas, juices other than green vegetable juice, sports drinks, and sweetened teas or coffees.

One 20-ounce soda has 15 teaspoons of sugar; Gatorade contains 14 teaspoons of the stuff in one bottle. One can of soda a day increases a kid’s chance of being obese by 60 percent and a woman’s chance of type 2 diabetes by 80 percent. Stay away.

4. Power up the day with protein.

Protein, protein, protein at every meal—especially breakfast—is the key to balancing blood sugar and insulin and cutting cravings. Start the day with whole farm eggs or a protein shake.

Use nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, chicken or grass-fed meat for protein at every meal. A serving size is 4 to 6 ounces or the size of your palm.

5. Eat unlimited carbs (the right ones).

Yes, that’s right, unlimited carbs. Did you know that vegetables are carbs? And you get to eat as much as you want. There is one catch.

I only mean the non-starchy veggies such as greens, anything in the broccoli family (cauliflower, kale, collards),asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomatoes, fennel, eggplant, artichokes, and peppers, to name a few.

Avoid potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash and beets—just for 10 days. Also skip grains and beans for 10 days. It supercharges the results so you lose weight and feel great.

6. Fight sugar with fat.

Fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar does. Fat makes you full, balances your blood sugar, and is necessary for fueling your cells. Along with protein, have good fats at every meal and snack including nuts and seeds (which also contain protein), extra virgin olive oil, coconut butter, avocados, and omega-3 fats from fish.

7. Be ready for emergencies.

You never want to be in a food emergency when your blood sugar is dropping and you find yourself in a food desert such as an airport, the office, or in a maze of convenience stores, fast food joints, and vending machines. You need an emergency food pack. I have one with me all the time and it’s filled with protein, good fats, and good snacks so I never have to make a bad choice. Here’s what’s in mine:

  • Packets of Artisana nut butters and coconut butter
  • Almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds
  • Salmon jerky or turkey jerky

 

  • A can of wild salmon or sardines
  • Unsweetened wild blueberries.

8. Swap distress for de-stress.

If you are stressed, your hormones go crazy. Cortisol goes up which makes you hungry, causes belly fat storage, and leads to type-2 diabetes. Studies show that taking deep breaths activates a special nerve, called the vagus nerve, that shifts your metabolism from fat storage to fat burning and quickly moves you out of the stress state. And all you have to do is take a deep breath.

Try my Take Five Breathing Break. It’s something you can do anywhere, anytime. Simply take five slow deep breaths—in to the count of five, out to the count of five. Five times. That’s it. Do this before every meal. Watch what happens.

9. Put out the fire (of inflammation).
Studies show that inflammation triggers blood sugar imbalances, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and type-2 diabetes. The most common source of inflammatory foods other than sugar, flour, and trans fats are hidden food sensitivities. The most common culprits are gluten and dairy. We often crave the foods we’re allergic to. Without them we feel lousy and want more.

Quit gluten and dairy for 10 days. Getting off them isn’t easy, but after just 2 or 3 days without them, you’ll have renewed energy, relief from cravings, and will see many of your common symptoms disappear.

10. Get your Zzz’s.

Getting less sleep drives sugar and carb cravings by affecting your appetite hormones. In human studies, depriving college students of just two hours of the recommended eight hours of sleep led to a rise in hunger hormones, a decrease in appetite-suppressing hormones, and big cravings for sugar and refined carbs.

You want more energy if you don’t sleep, so you go toward quickly absorbed sugars. Sleep is the best way to fight against the drive to overeat. You literally can sleep your cravings and your weight away.

The 7 Best Flu Fighting Foods

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Your throat is itchy…your head hurts…and you have the chills. You have all the tell tale signs. You’re coming down with something.

Every year, adults suffer from an average of two to three colds per year and an estimated five to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu, typically between the months of October and March.

Did you know that what’s in your kitchen often times works better to treat the flu than all those over the counter medicines? While frequent hand washing, regular exercise and the flu shot are always recommended to fend to keep sickness at bay, you can also give your immune system a boost with items found right in your pantry. “The most authentic way to fight a cold or flu is to eat foods that will help you build the healthy cells you need to feel better,” says Anita Mirchandani, MS, RD, CDN and spokesperson for the New York State Dietetic Association.

Heading to the grocery store soon? Make sure these cold- and flu-fighting foods are on your list.

RELATED: The 6 Supplements You Need to Survive the Holidays

7 Flu Fighting Foods:

Photo and Recipe: Cook The Story

1. Garlic

According to Alissa Rumsey, RD, CDN, CNSC, CSCS and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it’s allicin, the major active component found in garlic, that’s responsible for its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, not the smell. “Garlic also helps promote healthy gut flora, which rids the body of toxins, bacteria and viruses,” says Mirchandani. While you could take garlic pills, Rumsey says it’s best to eat the actual thing. “The active components are more bioavailable when you eat real garlic.” Try this simple garlic soup recipe pictured above from Cook the Story next time you feel the flu knocking.

Photo and Recipe: A Beautiful Mess

2. Dark Chocolate

Nutrition experts agree that dark chocolate deserves a place in healthy diets, and a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition says it can boost your immunity, too. High doses of cocoa support T-helper cells, which increase the immune system’s ability to defend against infection. Sweet! Try this dark chocolate hot chocolate recipe (pictured above) from A Beautiful Mess to ward of those chills.


Photo and Recipe: healthline.com

3. Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, which plays a key role in maintaining the health of your mucosal surfaces. Vitamin A is especially important for areas that go haywire when we catch a cold: It keeps the mucous membranes that line our nose and throat—one of the body’s first lines of defense—healthy and functioning properly. These sweet potato recipes will help you load up on good old vitamin A and satisfy your winter comfort food cravings at the same time!

4. Turmeric

An excellent superfood, turmeric is a rich yellow powder often used in curry dishes. It’s high in antioxidants and considered a natural anti-inflammatory. The lipopolysaccharide in turmeric arms the immune system against germs. It kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Order up a curry from your favorite Indian restaurant or use this turmeric supplement for a quick immunity boost.


Photo and Recipe: food52.com

5. Dark Leafy Greens

Most people usually grab some orange juice to get a boost of vitamin C, but dark leafy greens, like spinach, kale, Swiss chard and arugula, are also great sources of the cold-fighting vitamin. According to Rumsey, some research shows that if you consistently take in adequate amounts of Vitamin C, it can reduce the duration of a cold. Try sautéing vegetables and combining them with other healthy spices and foods, such as garlic. When the greens are cooked, they shrink in size and you can consume more of the vegetables than if you were eating them raw. The darker the greens, the higher the nutrient content. Learn how to make a better leafy green salad without a recipe from Food52.


Photo and Recipe: inspiredtaste.net

6. Wild Salmon

Less daylight during cold and fly season means we get less Vitamin D. This nutrient is critical for fending off colds and flu so it’s important to mindful of consuming foods rich in it, like wild salmon. Oily fish—including salmon, tuna, and mackerel — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, compounds that help reduce harmful inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation prevents your immune system from working properly, and can contribute to colds and flu as well as more serious diseases. Try this recipe for salmon with lemon and dill for some extra Vitamin D.

The 6 Supplements You Need to Recover From the Holidays

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www.bodynutrition.org

Holidays, stress and travel. You are exposed to more germs, struggle to stay on track with exercise, splurge on party food and drinks and I’m guessing you feel sleep deprived too. By the time the holidays are over and it is time to go back to work, you might feel like you need another vacation to recover!

This time of year takes a major toll on your health. However, there are things you can do to help get your mind and body back on track after the holidays. Check out this holiday supplement survival guide for your healthiest holiday yet!

1.Probiotics


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Taking probiotics all year is important and this is a reminder that your body needs consistency when it comes to probiotics. A minimum 50 B probiotic will help keep you regular, keep your digestive system operating smoothly, and will help keep your gut in check.

Recommended: Essential Flora 7 

2. Super Food Green Powder


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Cookies, pies, mashed potatoes and cheese balls….these all make it a little tricky to get your nutrients in.  Chances are the veggies are the smallest portion on your plate. A super food green powder is the perfect way to pack vitamins, minerals, and photo-nutrients into your day to support detoxification and immunity.  

Recommended: Organifi 

3.Vitamin D


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Sunlight is our most important source of vitamin D and during the holiday season, for most of us, that is when we get the least amount of it. Vitamin D has several important functions. Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, and facilitating normal immune system function. Getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases.

Recommended: Marine-D3 

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids


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What makes omega-3 fats special? They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation

Recommended: Omega Flex 

5. Chamomile


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Chamomile has been used for centuries in teas as a mild, relaxing sleep aid, treatment for fevers, colds, stomach ailments, and as an anti-inflammatory, to name only a few therapeutic uses.

Recommended: Shop for a variety of chamomile products at Thrive Market

6. Turmeric


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Turmeric is a bright, yellowish-green spice that comes from a root. It is used in traditional Indian and Asian dishes and has a few powerful health benefits that you don’t want to miss out including naturally relieving pain and inflammation.
Recommended: Purathrive Liposomal Organic Turmeric Extract 

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