“Don’t Forget To Eat Your Vegetables”!

There was a day when I simply hated vegetables. However, somehow when I got to college my taste buds changed for the better. Now vegetables (anything with the color green) are always on my dinner plate.

But still I’m not able to eat the recommended 5 servings of vegetables a day? Unlike many people, I enjoy vegetables. I even like “unpopular” veggies like peas, kidney beans, and cooked cabbage (although I still despise Brussels sprouts). Yet there are many days where I don’t consume ANY vegetables. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that it’s so much easier for me to prepare or purchase foods that don’t contain vegetables.

Unfortunately our busy lives often preclude us from eating the way we should. However, a new study reveals that in addition to myriad other benefits, consuming that salad or cup of plate of eggplant parmesan can also help keep the brain youthful. Researchers tested more than 3700 older adults and determined that those who ate more than a serving a day of vegetables had significantly less cognitive deterioration than those who ate less than a serving a day. This is probably due to the level of certain nutrients, such as Vitamin E, found in vegetables.

So, even if you don’t enjoy vegetables, try to find a way to fit them into your diet. Your brain will thank you.

Stacey Albert
Nutritional Writer
VitalMax Vitamins

Source: Norton, Amy. Vegetables May Help Keep the Brain Young. Reuters Health

America’s Obsession With Whose Teeth Are Whiter!

Just yesterday I ran out of my favorite toothpaste. And my trip to the toothpaste aisle of the supermarket I most frequent revealed an astonishing array of tooth whitening products. If I want to make my smile brighter, I can choose from gels, trays, special toothpastes, sprays, or strips. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Americans spent more than 1.4 billion last year on tooth whitening products. That does not include the money spent on cosmetic whitening procedures, which are the most requested cosmetic procedures in the country. Such procedures can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

While the appeal of having luminescent teeth is strong, there are serious side effects to whitening that need to be considered. Whitening concoctions are quite abrasive to the enamel of the teeth and can cause extreme sensitivity and even decay. Taking a breath of fresh air can become a painful experience. Gums can be damaged by the acidic compounds in the formulas.

The proliferation of celebrities with whiter-than-white smiles might cause us to think our own, more natural appearance isn’t good enough. However, the risks involved in whitening should be carefully considered, even before using over-the-counter products. Remember, nothing can take the place of good dental hygiene.

That reminds me, I need to go floss.

Stacey Albert
Staff Writer
VitalMax Vitamins

Source: Mapes, Diane. MSNBC. Blindingly White: Teeth Bleaching Gone Too Far

This One Is For The Dogs!

Just the other day I had a friend tell me that his dog could be a good “Dog Detective” for medical purposes. Of course, this caught my attention and I asked him to explain. He proceeded to tell me that dogs have been shown to discover cancer growth in humans. I thought it was a joke until he produced the evidence. Check out this information.

Man’s best friend may be useful for much more than companionship. Dogs are well known for their sense of smell, and are increasingly used by the police for a variety of reasons, including sniffing out drugs and missing people. However, recent studies point to using dogs for another reason: detecting cancer. Apparently, dogs’ olfactory abilities are so refined that they can sense the difference in the smell of cancerous cells over healthy cells. One of the most famous examples of their abilities involves a woman who went to the doctor because her dog kept sniffing a mole on her leg, and the mole turned out to a malignant melanoma. A study conducted by the University of California (Berkeley) reveals that dogs can sense cancer on the breath of cancer patients at least 87% of the time. This held true even if the cancer patients were in the very early stages of the disease.

Though of course dogs should not replace more traditional methods of cancer detection, they might be a viable, inexpensive option to consider as a non-invasive prescreening method.
The next thing I’ll hear is that my pet cat Lilly is wearing medical scrubs and licking infected wounds. You never know!!

Stacey Albert
Staff Writer
VitalMax Vitamins

Source: Prevention Magazine

Your Brain Is A Muscle Too!

Sending your brain to the gym might be the best thing you can do to retain mental acuity.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you already know that physical fitness is a very important part of a healthy regimen. Now recent studies are indicating there may be even more reason to take that bike ride or play that tennis match. UK researchers have found that seniors who perform well on fitness tests also perform better on cognitive tests than those who are not physically fit.

There are many times I leave the gym after a strenuous workout feeling like I’ve been drugged with a “happy pill”. Of course, much of this is due to the endorphins that are secreted from our brain after exercise. And I can’t begin to tell you how alert I feel the morning after a workout session. So I suggest that you find a sport or activity that you enjoy, and do it at least a few times a week. Hiking, tennis, and biking are all pleasurable activities that burn lots of calories and help build strength and vigor. Please consult a physician before beginning any new exercise routine.

Source: Physical Fitness May Ward Off Dementia. Reuters Health

Stacey Albert
Staff Writer
VitalMax Vitamins

I Want A New Menu!

Trans Fats: The Scourge Of The New Millennium

You won’t believe this bit of news that came across my desk today. Legislators in New York are considering a ban on “trans fats” in restaurants. Why don’t they just walk into my home pantry and clean out of every bit of fat they can find? Doesn’t it seem that our politicians are overreaching there responsibilities?

It has been speculated that such a ban will reduce health problems in some people considerably, and even save thousands of lives a year. However, many, including myself, are opposed to this type of legislation. It does make me think of the Big Brother principle.

Now for the facts: Trans fats have come under attack in recent years, and research seems to indicate that this attack is justified. Studies show that trans fats are harmful towards the heart and arteries. Fortunately, many restaurants and food companies have chosen to remove trans fats from their foods of their own accord. This voluntary decision is wise, as the amount of bad press this type of fat is receiving could conceivably have a deleterious effect on sales.

However, the question of whether government should dictate the removal of trans fats is not an easy one to answer. Such legislation may set a dangerous precedent. We should think carefully about whether we are on a slippery slope, and whether such a ban will open the door to the government banning other, markedly less nefarious food additives.

Imagine someday, our elected officials telling us that Cheesecake is no longer available!

Source: New York Trans Fat Ban: Life-Saver or Orwellian? Reuters Health

Stacey Albert
Staff Writer
VitalMax Vitamins