Katherine Hepburn once said, “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” That’s not all you could miss. Sometimes following conventional medical advice means losing out on important lifestyle choices, or even better health. Not that the old rules were always wrong, mind you. But let’s face it: times change—technology improves, researchers make breakthroughs. Plus, you have all those personal factors to consider, from family history to your own personality quirks. “Nothing applies to everyone all of the time,” says Erika Schwartz, MD, a New York physician and patient advocate. “Unless we constantly reevaluate outcomes, we can’t move forward.”

To prove our point, we took a look at six common health rules. See what you might stand to gain by breaking them.

1. Don’t go outside without sunscreen.

Break the rule: Get a little unprotected sun a few times a week.

Why: Limited exposure to sunlight helps stimulate production of vitamin D, a critical nutrient which roughly 40 to 60 percent of Americans now lack. That’s a big problem, since vitamin D helps prevent many diseases, including 17 kinds of cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

Caveat: Don’t overdo it. Depending on where you live and your skin’s tendency to burn, 5 to 10 minutes of sun two to three times a week should do the trick, experts say. And don’t toss your sunscreen completely—you still need it.

2. Expect your period every 28 days or so.

Break the rule: By evening out hormonal levels, several kinds of birth control now make it possible for Aunt Flo to visit only a few times a year, or even stop completely.

Why: Skipping your period means freedom from monthly cramps, bloating, crankiness—need we say more? If you’re nearing menopause, suppressing periods can help you avoid hot flashes and night sweats. And regardless of age, planning your monthly cycles gives you an important sense of control: you can make sure your period doesn’t hit, say, during your honeymoon, or the day you run that half-marathon.

Caveat: You may have some breakthrough bleeding the first few months, and it could be difficult to know if you’re pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you start to have heavy bleeding, changes in vision, or pain in the legs, chest, or abdomen.

3. Drink eight cups of water each day.

Break the rule: Sneak in fluids other ways.

Why: Water is still the best way to keep body cells moist and plump. But many nutritionists now say it’s OK to get your H2O from other sources. Tea, juice—even your morning latte—all count. And five servings a day of fruits and veggies can deliver up to 20 percent of your daily water requirements, plus plenty of extra nutrients. Your best bets: melons, grapes, and citrus fruits, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots.

Caveat: Watch out for extra calories.

4. Get eight hours of sleep each night.

Break the rule: Aim for seven instead.

Why: When it comes to sleep, experts say there’s no magic number—but seven seems pretty darned close. In fact, getting seven hours of sleep most nights may help you live longer. In a huge study recently published from Japan, researchers followed the sleep habits of nearly 100,000 adults for roughly 14 years. The scientists found that those people who usually slept seven hours at night seemed to have the lowest risk of death from heart disease and other conditions, compared to those who tried to get by on four hours or less and those who snoozed 10 hours or more.

Caveat: It’s all about getting regular, sound rest, so quit trying to play catch-up. Constantly trying to make up for lost sleep can hurt you over time.

5. Eggs are bad for you.

Break the rule: And crack an egg.

Why: For years, eggs have been given a bad rap because they contain cholesterol. But these elegantly packaged, inexpensive gems have a whole lot going for them. Not only are eggs a great source of protein, but they provide carotenoids, which help protect eyesight, plus plenty of brain-boosting choline. And because eggs help you feel full longer than other foods, they may even help you lose weight.

Caveat: As with any food, eat within reason. Most experts say one egg a day is usually safe.

6. The doctor is always right.

Break the rule: Listen to your body, speak up and ask questions.

Why: Taking charge of your well-being can not only give you a healthy dose of confidence, but an accurate diagnosis. “No doctor knows what’s going on inside of you better than you do,” explains Schwartz, who says she sees many patients, especially women, who continue to believe their doctors know more about them than they do. “Don’t be intimidated,” Schwartz adds. “Bad care is not acceptable.”

6 Health Rules You Can Break

Katherine Hepburn once said, “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” That’s not all you could miss. Sometimes following conventional medical advice means losing out on important lifestyle choices, or even better health. Not that the old rules were always wrong, mind you. But let’s face it: times change—technology improves, researchers make breakthroughs. Plus, you have all those personal factors to consider, from family history to your own personality quirks. “Nothing applies to everyone all of the time,” says Erika Schwartz, MD, a New York physician and patient advocate. “Unless we constantly reevaluate outcomes, we can’t move forward.”

To prove our point, we took a look at six common health rules. See what you might stand to gain by breaking them.

1. Don’t go outside without sunscreen.

Break the rule: Get a little unprotected sun a few times a week.

Why: Limited exposure to sunlight helps stimulate production of vitamin D, a critical nutrient which roughly 40 to 60 percent of Americans now lack. That’s a big problem, since vitamin D helps prevent many diseases, including 17 kinds of cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

Caveat: Don’t overdo it. Depending on where you live and your skin’s tendency to burn, 5 to 10 minutes of sun two to three times a week should do the trick, experts say. And don’t toss your sunscreen completely—you still need it.

2. Expect your period every 28 days or so.

Break the rule: By evening out hormonal levels, several kinds of birth control now make it possible for Aunt Flo to visit only a few times a year, or even stop completely.

Why: Skipping your period means freedom from monthly cramps, bloating, crankiness—need we say more? If you’re nearing menopause, suppressing periods can help you avoid hot flashes and night sweats. And regardless of age, planning your monthly cycles gives you an important sense of control: you can make sure your period doesn’t hit, say, during your honeymoon, or the day you run that half-marathon.

Caveat: You may have some breakthrough bleeding the first few months, and it could be difficult to know if you’re pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you start to have heavy bleeding, changes in vision, or pain in the legs, chest, or abdomen.

3. Drink eight cups of water each day.

Break the rule: Sneak in fluids other ways.

Why: Water is still the best way to keep body cells moist and plump. But many nutritionists now say it’s OK to get your H2O from other sources. Tea, juice—even your morning latte—all count. And five servings a day of fruits and veggies can deliver up to 20 percent of your daily water requirements, plus plenty of extra nutrients. Your best bets: melons, grapes, and citrus fruits, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots.

Caveat: Watch out for extra calories.

4. Get eight hours of sleep each night.

Break the rule: Aim for seven instead.

Why: When it comes to sleep, experts say there’s no magic number—but seven seems pretty darned close. In fact, getting seven hours of sleep most nights may help you live longer. In a huge study recently published from Japan, researchers followed the sleep habits of nearly 100,000 adults for roughly 14 years. The scientists found that those people who usually slept seven hours at night seemed to have the lowest risk of death from heart disease and other conditions, compared to those who tried to get by on four hours or less and those who snoozed 10 hours or more.

Caveat: It’s all about getting regular, sound rest, so quit trying to play catch-up. Constantly trying to make up for lost sleep can hurt you over time.

5. Eggs are bad for you.

Break the rule: And crack an egg.

Why: For years, eggs have been given a bad rap because they contain cholesterol. But these elegantly packaged, inexpensive gems have a whole lot going for them. Not only are eggs a great source of protein, but they provide carotenoids, which help protect eyesight, plus plenty of brain-boosting choline. And because eggs help you feel full longer than other foods, they may even help you lose weight.

Caveat: As with any food, eat within reason. Most experts say one egg a day is usually safe.

6. The doctor is always right.

Break the rule: Listen to your body, speak up and ask questions.

Why: Taking charge of your well-being can not only give you a healthy dose of confidence, but an accurate diagnosis. “No doctor knows what’s going on inside of you better than you do,” explains Schwartz, who says she sees many patients, especially women, who continue to believe their doctors know more about them than they do. “Don’t be intimidated,” Schwartz adds. “Bad care is not acceptable.”

The world is getting smaller by the year. Nowhere is out of reach nowadays. Every one loves telling holiday stories to friends and family about food they’ve eaten and what they’ve seen whilst exploring the far reaches of the planet. But to many of us it isn’t enough to just go on holiday and experience lovely food and sights, we want to be able to take the food home with us and share it with our families and friends. This is where cookery holidays come in.

Cookery holidays are available all over the world but it’s no surprise to find out that Italy is the number one destination for traveling gourmets. What with the stunning scenery, fabulous history, wonderful people and amazing food it has rightly earned its place at the top of the tree.

These holidays are generally situated in rural, unspoilt areas of Italy. One of the beauties of italy is that although you might be deep into the countryside you’re also never too far away from a bustling, vibrant city such as Milan, Turin, Rome, Bergamo, Florence or Bologna.

Cookery holidays cover most ability level so suit those who want a holiday but would love to cook as well as those who want to cook but would also like a holiday and are run by families or chef’s who want to pass on the authentic way of cooking real Italian food. Whatever your level you’ll be guaranteed an experience like no other. These chefs have a first hand knowledge of the local ingredients and the regional culinary traditions, as well as a noticeable passion for Italian cookery.

The beauty of Italian Italian food, just like the countryside, it varies so much from region to region as well as from season to season. Pasta is cooked differently in Sicily than it is in Sardinia, bread is baked differently in Piedmont than it is in Sienna. A pizza is totally different in Milan to one eaten in Naples If you wanted to, and why wouldn’t you, you could have a totally different cooking holiday experience every year just by visiting Italy time and time again.

Don’t be too daunted by a cookery holiday if you’re not the greatest chef, generally classes are made up of around eight to ten people therefore each participant enjoys personal attention and gets the most out of every cooking session and excursion.

The growing demand for cooking holidays and courses has been fueled by the popularity of the celebrity chef. Cookery holidays Cookery holidays in Italy offer plenty of opportunity for both wonderful cooking education as well as fantastic excursions and activities to the local area which could include wine tasting, dancing, painting, sculpting, writing, guided walking, herbal tours and olive picking which all give you more opportunity to soak up the tastes and smells of the local area.

So if you love cooking or would like to experience the many wonderful micro worlds of Italy maybe you could roll both passions into one holiday.

I am an internet author charged with the responsibility of writing about experiences, services and products from around the world.

www.cookery-school-italy.com
Harwood E Woodpecker

Then there is that list of foods that brown rice may be on. The list of foods one knows is healthy like brown rice or rice bran and maybe they’ll try it one day; or not. Healthy grains like brown rice or rice bran are usually on this list.

Consciously, the choice is made for white rice instead of brown rice; processed baked goods instead of something with perhaps a healthy grain like rice bran on the ingredient list.

We opt out of the chewy texture and nutty flavor of a natural whole grain item like brown rice; or the unexpected sweetness of a rice bran product? If you had a choice and were ordering take out, would you look on the menu for brown rice? Would you go out of your way to inquire if brown rice were available at your local Asian restaurant?

I’m not talking about the fried rice that just happens to be brown from the cooking and seasoning process; I’m talking about unadulterated brown rice.

Hopefully we haven’t lost something in the low-carb revolution; the part of the message about needing grains like brown rice in our diets to aid in digestion; fight constipation; control blood pressure; and perhaps lower LDL cholesterol in the fight against heart disease.

In addition brown rice provides our bodies with healthy nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, copper, thiamin, niacin, fiber, iron and vitamin B-6. Brown rice is a staple with other healthy grains in vegetarian and macrobiotic diets for these nutrients. It also has three quarters more dietary fiber than white rice.

The benefits of whole grains may not mean that every individual on the planet needs to follow the recommended guidelines.

Individuals seeking medical attention for diabetes or allergies may receive special nutritional advice from professionals regarding their diet. However adding the right mix of vegetables and healthy grains to your diet is smart eating.

No doubt your taste buds will need some time to adjust. Make your brown rice selection with care. Check labels to ensure a freshness packing date. Since brown rice hasn’t been through the same processes as white rice the expiration date may not be as lengthy. Stale brown rice will taste rancid and shouldn’t be eaten.

Make the transition of adding brown rice or rice bran to your diet a slow process. Gradually swap out processed foods for a smart food like brown rice and rice bran. Read ingredient labels; find whole grain breads that list rice bran in the first few ingredients.

Ask your favorite Asian restaurant if they serve brown rice in place of white rice. Mix it with white rice in a favorite recipe like stuffed peppers until you’re used to the nutty whole grain goodness of the brown rice on its own. In no time your taste buds will be thanking you.

There are actually two points of view when it comes to losing abdominal fat through a diet. One is – there are no foods that can be considered fat-burning; certain foods can only help you lower your daily calorie intake, providing a good nutrient value at the same time. Combined with good exercise regimen, eating low calorie healthy foods can help burn belly fat more effectively. The other theory singles out certain types of food, which boost our metabolism and therefore are helpful in faster belly fat burning. Fat-burning antioxidant content in some foods also makes them the staples of any slimming diet.

However, both theories point at the importance of regular workouts targeting abdominal fat as well as overall body fat. In other words, eating “good” foods and avoiding “bad” is not a very effective solution for weight loss. Excess belly fat may appear due to a variety of reasons: genetics, inactive lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits, hormonal disorder, etc. For best results, eating low calorie food alone is definitely not enough no matter what modern diets claim. In effective weight loss program healthy dieting is only one constituent among a variety of possible solutions, including specially designed workouts, colon hydrotherapy, slimming massage, and so on.

The foods that do contribute to faster belly fat loss include those low in fat and unhealthy carbs, lower in calorie density and higher in nutrients, unprocessed and 100% natural. Oatmeal is definitely one of the leading food contributors to weight loss. Ideally, it should be eaten plain, with no salt and sugar added, but many people just can’t tolerate it as it is. You can enhance the taste by adding fresh or dried fruit or berries; honey makes a healthier alternative to sugar, in case you must sweeten your bowl of oatmeal.

Low-fat dairy products have also shown positive effects in weight loss programs. They are especially good for women, who generally require a higher dairy intake than men. Some studies show that calcium, contained in milk and milk products, is helpful in burning fat faster.

Whole grains, being healthy carbohydrates which our bodies can’t do without, can be added to the list of fat-battling assistants. And of course, fruits and vegetables! No other food comes in a more natural and unprocessed form. Carrots, apples, tomatoes, spinach, oranges and mangoes are low in calories and packed with fiber and vitamins. Garlic is great in reducing the overall unhealthy fat level in the body.

In your determination to attack belly fat, don’t forget that there are certain healthy fats, which are essential to our bodies. Olive oil is one of them. Omega 3 fatty acids found in many kinds of fish are another example. Eaten regularly and as plain as possible, both will support you on your way to flatter abs and complete your effective fat-burning diet.

For our children, the age group that needs the greatest amount of calcium is our teens. Teens need 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily. This number drops the younger the child is. For children 1 to 3, the requirement is 500 milligrams daily and for children 4 to 8, the requirement is 800 milligrams daily. For adults, we aren’t far behind teens, especially if we are 51 or older, we should be consuming at least 1,200 milligrams a day.

So what does it mean to consume 500 milligrams to 1300 milligrams of calcium a day? Well, if a toddler, who needs the least amount, is drinking at least two glasses of milk, it is most likely they are hitting their target. Of course calcium is found in other consumables that include cheese, broccoli, yogurt and some cereals. For teens, their calcium intake is equivalent to four glasses of milk.

Getting our children or even ourselves as adults to consume the right amount of calcium can sometimes be a chore. Adding a daily supplement to our diet can help us balance out our calcium requirements without having to count portions with every meal. Of course eating right and eating in a balanced way is the most ideal, but if your diet isn’t balanced, take a step back and ask whether making the extra effort to watch your calcium is worth the effort. We think so as research has shown evidence that not only does calcium strengthen our bones and teeth but it may even reduce the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels – or, as new research is showing, it reduces our chances of having colon cancer. When our calcium level is low, our body pulls calcium from our bones – which are the stockholders of about 99 percent of the calcium in our body. If our bones are constantly being drawn upon to balance our needed calcium supply, what results are weaker bones and even weaker teeth. For children, who enjoy sugary snacks and soda pop, this can mean more cavities and higher priced dental bills. And if the depletion is even more unbalanced, it could be as serious as bone fractures or breaks.

So is making the extra effort to make sure your children are getting enough calcium worth a parent’s time? You had better believe it. It’s better to make the effort now than to pay the price later.

You will notice that the list covers a broad variety of high protein foods. This was done intentionally so that you can compare food types and have more options to add to your daily meals.

The list:

(all nutrition estimates are based on standard single servings)

Peanut butter (2 tbsp)
Protein- 8 g
Calories- 188
Fat- 16 g

Raw almonds (19 pieces)
Protein- 7 g
Calories- 180
Fat- 14 g

Almond butter (1 tbsp)
Protein- 2 g
Calories- 101
Fat- 9 g

Skinless chicken breast (1 cup)
Protein- 38 g
Calories- 258
Fat- 10.4

Ground beef (90% lean, 3 oz)
Protein- 23 g
Calories- 182
Fat- 9 g

Ground turkey (3 oz)
Protein- 22 g
Calories- 193
Fat- 11 g

Salmon (half fillet)
Protein- 39 g
Calories- 367
Fat- 22 g

Tuna (canned, 1 cup)
Protein- 39 g
Calories- 179
Fat- 1 g

Deli turkey (1 oz)
Protein- 4 g
Calories- 31
Fat- 1 g

Findings:

High protein foods vary substantially in protein, fat, and calorie content per serving. Some of the best high protein foods have high fat counts; however, it is important to consider that not all fats are bad for you, and some can be very beneficial to your diet- even if weight loss is your top priority. Almonds, for example, are rich in omega three fatty acids but low in saturated fats.

In general, if you are looking for an efficient way to increase your protein count but keep your calorie and fat intakes minimal, than fish and lean meats are an effective option. Canned tuna (hold the mayo) tops the list as the most efficient protein source. Skinless chicken breasts, deli turkey, ground turkey, and lean ground beef are also highly efficient high protein foods.

The consequences can vary from bad to worse. For me it was a trip down the highway with the sirens blaring, the lights flashing and the paramedic feeding me nitroglycerin. That trip was not fun, as a matter of fact, it was down right scary. But it did get my attention!

Being a young man of sixty five I wasn’t ready to pilot a rocking chair just waiting to die. I wanted to live, be productive and enjoy life. So I decided that if I wanted to live – I’m working on Methuselah’s record – I needed to make some changes in my life.

The first area I needed to change was what I put in my mouth. They say you are what you eat. Eat junk and you will have an unhealthy body. Anyway, change for me doesn’t come easy unless I have good reasons for that change. So here’s a list of the reasons I came up with to make healthy food choices.

1}Say Goodby To All The Chemicals

Read the label of that food you are about to serve your family. Look at all the preservatives that are used to keep it from spoiling and better yet look at all those ingredients you can’t even pronounce let alone know what they are.

If they are putting sawdust in your food why do they need to change it’s name to something you don’t understand. You don’t suppose they don’t want you to know they’re putting sawdust in your food do you?

That is one reason I am all for making healthy food choices. All the different preservatives and chemicals that are contained in processed foods couldn’t possibly be good for you.

2)I Want To Savor The Flavor

One of the biggest reasons for making healthy food choices for myself is the flavor. I like to taste food! I like the robust flavor of fresh fruits and vegetables. The reason so many vegetable dishes are served with the vegetables swimming in mushroom soup or cheese sauce is that there is no taste to the canned vegetables. You need something to add flavor.

Try some fresh green beans. They are loaded with flavor, delicious to savor and best of all they are loaded with good for you nutrients.

Take an acorn squash, wash it and stick it in the microwave for two to three minutes. When the skin is soft, split in two, scrape out the seeds, add a little butter to each half and you have a food that is so good for you and the best part is it tastes fantastic.

3}I Choose To Eat To Live Longer

Reports of obesity and all the health problems it causes are all over the news these days. From children to adults this problem is getting worse as people turn to fast food for their lunches and dinners.

Obesity puts a terrible strain on your heart, making it work twice as hard to function properly. Causing high blood pressure and all sorts of complications that cannot be reversed unless you lose that weight. Obesity is also directly related to diabetes, which is also on the rise here in America.

Eating healthy makes me feel better and have more energy. If you eat healthy, studies show that you can live longer and have less health issues than someone who does not.

I would like to live to enjoy my grandchildren and one day, their children. I know this is possible so I choose to eat healthy to make sure I have as much time with them as possible. If eating healthy can make you live longer, I choose to eat to live longer.

4}I Choose To Eat To Be In Health

If making healthy food choices helps me to stay in vibrant health then I choose to make healthy food choices. All around me I can see the evidence of making bad food choices. You can too. Just go people watching at any mall or a busy street corner and you’ll be overwhelmed at all the results of making bad food choices.

The great thing about making healthy food choices is that you can start anytime. Like right now! I didn’t until that ambulance ride got my attention. Now I make healthy food choices every day. Every day it gets easier to make those choices, to say no to unhealthy food and to live a healthy life style.

5)I Want to Enjoy My Family

If Making healthy food choices allows me to live longer and be in healthy so that I can enjoy my family then I choose Healthy Food. I have eight children, eight grand children so far and a fantastic wife.

I want to be able to spend time, quality time with them all to let them know just how special they are and how I love them so much.

I want to be able to spend a lot of time with my wife. When you both work and you’re taking care of the kids you don’t get to spend a lot of quality time with your spouse. By making healthy food choice now I hope, The Lord Willing, I’ll get to spend a lot of quality time with her.

Those are five reason that I choose to make healthy food choices. There are more reasons but you get the idea. Making healthy food choice is a matter of life and death. I choose life! I want to live! That is why I like making Healthy food choices!