We address the holistic approach to health, focusing on stress reduction, detoxification, correct nutrition, exercise and acid-alkaline balance.
Congratulations!
We are pleased to announce that Elaine’s name has been pulled out of the hat to win the book “Unstoppable Confidence” by Kent Sayre!
Elaine, if you haven’t already done so, please check your email for receipt of this ebook.
For those of you who were not successfull, do not dispair, we will be running more competitions in the near future!
Win Unstoppable Confidence!
Do you want to improve your self confidence? Megavista are offering you the chance to win a copy of the ebook “Unstoppable Confidence” by Kent Sayre.
Learn:
- Why confidence is the difference that makes the difference between the super achievers and the average person.
- The myth of shyness and what shyness really is.
- How to stop being intimidated by people forever.
- 20 explosive techniques to instantly triple your confidence.
To win, simply subscribe to our newsletter.
Competition ends 7 September 2008
Do you Twitter for your Holistic Health?
We do! Follow us on Twitter and keep informed of our latest site updates!
http://www.twitter.com/megavista
Do you want to find more friends and followers who share your holistic health interests? If so, why not share your Twitter address with the Megavista community?
Following the successful Social Media Love-In at www.problogger.net/ we thought it would be a good idea to get our community connecting with each other!
Are you interested?
If so, in the comments section below, please leave your links to your Twitter and other social media profiles that you want to promote and the subject(s) that you are interested in.
Example:
www.twitter.com/megavista – Interested in ph Balance and Meditation
As more and more people leave their profiles in the comments section you will be able to connect with them and share your interests! Please remember that these profiles links will be public so do not post if you are a private person.
Look forward to hearing from you!
p.s – don’t forget to visit our new health forum!
News Digest
Anxiety increases men’s diabetes risk.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have found that anxiety, depression and sleepless nights increase the risk of diabetes in men. Read more….
U.S. facing possible hearing loss epidemic according to study
John Hopkins University in Baltimore have estimated that 55 million Americans have hearing loss in one or both ears. One in three adults suffer from some degree of hearing loss and this is increasing with the use of personal stereos and an aging population. Read more…
The Office Diet – healthy living for busy people
Ali at the www.theofficediet.com provides some useful tips on how to stick to your diet and exercise regime habits despite the extra pressure of colleagues being away on holiday. The site encourages, advises and inspires people who face the daily difficulties of maintaining (and beginning) a healthy lifestyle whilst leading a hectic life.
Daily exercise may help Insomnia
Dr Robert O. Young reports that Brazilian scientists have found that moderate aerobic exercise, such as running on a treadmill, helped insomniacs fall asleep more quickly, wake less often and increase their total time asleep. Heavy aerobic exercise or strength exercises didn’t have the same effect. Read more….
Diet key to Diabetes risk
Steven Reinberg of HealthDay has reported that three studies published in the July 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine all point to the conclusion that increased weight by drinking too many sugary drinks and not enough fruits and veggies appears to be associated with increased risk for type 2 Diabetes, whilst a low fat diet doesn’t alter your risk of developing the blood sugar disease. Read more …
Looking for a new approach to dealing with Diabetes? Watch this video now
Subscribe to the Megavista RSS Feed
We are building the most useful resource on positive holistic health and nutrition that you will ever find anywhere and one that you will come to rely on for your holistic health needs.
RSS or Real Simple Syndication is a resourceful tool used by millions of web users to keep updated on the latest information on their favourite websites.
As a proactive individual who wants to keep in touch with the latest health events, it is probably not practical for you to visit your favourite site as and when you remember in the hope that the site has been updated. RSS feeds replace the need to manually return to a site. They do the hard work for you meaning that you can manage your time more efficiently.
To keep up-to-date on the latest information, news and articles that we publish on our site, we would like to invite you to subscribe to our RSS feed today.
Useful Brain Health Links
I have talked previously about Superfoods for the Brain. Below you will find useful resources to assist you in understanding and improving brain function.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114536.php – Studying how food affects the brain.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114127.php – Nutrition in early life associated with intellectual function as adult.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=39762 – A noisy brain is a healthy brain.
Imagine a diet so simple, it makes you feel incredible in just three days!
Say goodbye to low energy, poor digestion, extra pounds, aches and pains and disease.
Say hello to renewed vigour, mental clarity, better over-all health and a lean trim body.
To find out more click here
Superfoods for the Brain
Superfoods for the Brain
Your brain performs more tasks than all of your other organs put together. To do this it requires vast amounts of energy and nutrients making it the greediest organ in the body. It is important that the right foods are eaten so that your brain can perform at its optimal level. As you age in years, both your body and your brain grow old as well. Preventative action now can help preserve your mind for longer and improve brain and memory support. Here are some of the super brain foods for keeping your brain in tip-top shape:
Blueberries:
Blueberries are the number one super-food. They are delicious as well as nutrient rich. They contain powerful antioxidants (anthocyanidins) which have been shown to shield the brain from stress, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have suggested that diets rich in blueberries significantly improve both the learning capacity and motor skills of aging rats, putting them on par with rats much younger.
Avocados:
Avocados have received bad press as they have more calories in the form of fat than other fruit and vegetables. However, they are a great source of mono-unsaturated fat, or good fat. Mono-unsaturated fat contributes to healthy blood flow and decreased blood pressure, lessening the chances of developing hypertension, which can lead to a stroke. If you can increase healthy fats, found in avocados, and reduce saturated fats (found in red meats and processed foods) you are far less at risk of developing heart disease.
Oily Fish:
Omega-3 is another good fat brought to fame in recent years. It is essential for a healthy and functional brain. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, as well as certain vegetable oils such as safflower and flaxseed oil. Try and aim for at least three meals a week containing oily fish. This way you will reduce the amount of bad fat (saturated fat) from red meat, as well as increase the amount of omega-3 fat such as that found in fish. If you are not a fish fan, then you can supplement your diet with flaxseed oil to prevent depression or other mood disorders, as well as improving heart and mind health.
Flaxseed:
Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil (also known as linseed) also provide omega-3 essential fatty acids. Flaxseed is the seed of the flax plant which is believed to have originated in Egypt. The healthy oil in flaxseed is claimed to:
· reduce the risk of cancer,
· lower cholesterol,
· lower blood pressure,
· assist in the growth of healthy hair and nails,
· promote healthy skin
· improve bowel function.
Nuts and seeds:
Nuts and seeds are a good source of vitamin E, an important vitamin needed by your brain to stave off declining brain functions. Cashews, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower, sesame seeds and almonds are all great choices.
Whole grain:
Whole-grain breads, brown rice, and oatmeal also contribute to a healthy brain by reducing the risk of cardiac disease. By promoting a healthy heart and improved blood flow, the brain is sure to thrive via excellent oxygen and nutrient delivery through the bloodstream.
Iron-rich foods:
Iron carries oxygen to your brain cells and is used to build brain neurotransmitters (which carry messages throughout your brain). So it may not seem surprising that iron deficiency causes a poor attention span and affects learning abilities. Researchers who studied teenage girls (who are renowned for dieting and therefore often have low iron intakes) found that those with a low level of iron in their diet also had a reduced brain-function. Furthermore they found that a very small drop in iron levels also caused a fall in IQ score. The best source of iron is red meat but it can also be found in baked beans, spinach, chick peas, broccoli and brown rice. You can improve your body’s absorption rate of iron if you consume vitamin C with an iron rich food. For example drinking a glass of orange juice with a meal containing spinach will help your body absorb more iron from the spinach.
Menu Suggestions
Breakfast:
Make your own muesli with bran, oats, flaxseeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, raisins and sunflower seeds.
Lunch:
If you are a meat eater try turkey (this is a good source of tryptophan which helps your brain make serotonin, the mood enhancing chemical) salad and boiled potatoes. If you are not a meat eater, add almonds instead.
Dinner:
Grilled salmon with lemon and dill, with a mixed bean salad and herbs.
We have talked about foods that you should consume to improve your brain function but which foods should you avoid?
Fizzy Drinks:
A study published in 2003 found that children who drank fizzy drinks and had sugary snacks for breakfast performed at the average level of 70 year olds in tests focused on memory and attention.
Processed foods:
Avoid junk and processed foods, many of which contain trans-fats (the worst fats possible). A study published in the Archives of Neurology in February 2003 showed that the intake of both trans-fats and saturated fats increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study looked at 815 community residents aged 65 years and older who consumed a diet high in trans-fats. At the beginning of the study none of the participants were affected by Alzheimer’s disease. A follow up almost four years later found that 131 residents had developed the disease. The study concluded that a diet high in saturated and hydrogenated fats may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
For a healthy brain it is important to increase certain healthy foods in your diet and avoid or at least limit certain unhealthy foods too. Take proactive action now in order to have a healthier brain now and in the future.
Dementia Could Cripple the NHS
An open letter in The Times to the Health Secretary Alan Johnson has warned of the potential crippling effects of Dementia to the NHS within the next 20 years if dementia funding is not increased now.
The open letter was written by twelve top UK scientists including Professor Simon Lovestone, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and Professor Nick Fox of the Institute of Neurology at University College London.
With just 3% of the Department of Health’s research budget being invested in finding new ways of preventing or treating dementia it is essential that we as individuals take control of our own health.
We must ensure that we consume the right foods to make our brain work at its optimal level. Preventative action now can help preserve our minds for longer and improve brain and memory support.