Tag Archives: Health is Wealth

Americans Consume Too Much Sugar

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Most Americans are unknowingly drowning their bodies in sugar and high fructose corn syrup at levels far beyond what their metabolism can handle, according to a New Your Times article.

On average, adult men consume 19 teaspoons and women 15 teaspoons of added sugars daily—well above the recommended limits of 9 teaspoons for men and 6 teaspoons for women.

Despite warnings, the average adult consumes about 60 pounds of sugar annually-more than two to three times the recommended daily limit-hidden in everything from sodas to breads and even canned soups. This relentless overload overwhelms the liver, promotes fat buildup, triggers insulin resistance, and fuels chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart conditions.

The sweet addiction is not just a matter of indulgence; it’s a public health crisis quietly escalating behind the scenes of everyday meals.

About 3 in 5 Americans ages 2 and older exceed the recommended amount, and the average intake is 2 to 3 times higher than suggested by health authorities. This widespread overconsumption increases the risk of various health problems.

Over time, excess consumption of these added sugars and high fructose can increase the risk of health problems, cardiovascular disease, and death.

Excess consumption of added sugars and high fructose is linked to several health problems, including:

•Weight Gain & Obesity: Excess added sugar, especially from sugary drinks, contributes to weight gain and increases the risk of obesity.
• Type 2 Diabetes: High sugar intake can lead to insulin resistance, raising the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Heart Disease: Consuming too much added sugar raises blood pressure, increases chronic inflammation, and is strongly linked to a higher risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
• Fatty Liver Disease: Added sugars, particularly fructose, can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Cancer: Diets high in added sugar are associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, partly due to obesity and inflammation.
• Cognitive Decline: High sugar diets may accelerate cognitive decline and increase the risk of dementia.
• Dental Problems: Sugar feeds harmful mouth bacteria, leading to cavities and tooth decay.
• Other Risks: Excess sugar can increase cholesterol, blood pressure, kidney disease risk, and gout.

Health professionals recommend limiting added sugar and high fructose intake to reduce these health risks and to improve your health span.

True Wealth is Quiet

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True wealth is quiet.

Wealthy, financially savvy individuals tend to avoid flashy displays of luxury.

Instead, they focus on investments and assets that grow in value (appreciate) rather than depreciating luxury items.

They don’t need to impress others with their possessions because their wealth speaks for itself.

Genuine wealth isn’t about loud displays on social media, flashy possessions, or constant boasting. Instead, true wealth is often found in:

• Inner peace and contentment
• Financial security without stress
• Meaningful relationships and good health
• Freedom to live life on your own terms

True wealth doesn’t need to be announced or flaunted; it quietly enriches your life and those around you. It’s a reminder that the most valuable things often come in subtle, understated forms.

The wealthiest people were often the simplest. They didn’t care for flashy logos or luxury brand names. In fact, many avoid luxury brands altogether. They focused on what truly mattered—investing in assets that would grow in value over time, like real estate, stocks, and gold, rather than wasting money on items that depreciate the moment they leave the store.

They would rather buy a property, a piece of art, or shares in a company than a $5,000 handbag or a $2,000 pair of shoes.

True wealth doesn’t seek attention or demand validation-it whispers in moments of calm, thrives in the freedom to be yourself, and grows quietly in the background of a well-lived life. It’s the silent strength behind genuine happiness, the unseen foundation of lasting fulfillment.

When you learn to recognize this quiet wealth, you discover that richness isn’t measured by noise or numbers, but by the peace and purpose that quietly shape your days.

Wealthy, financially savvy individuals tend to avoid flashy displays of luxury. They don’t need to impress anyone with what they wear or drive; their wealth speaks for itself.

Real wealth is not about showing off; it’s about preserving and growing your resources. It’s about finding joy in the simple things, valuing time, experiences, and meaningful relationships over material possessions.

The genuinely wealthy prioritize what will last, not what’s trendy. And that’s where the true difference lies.

Sources;  https://raisini.substack.com/p/luxury-brands-are-a-scam-how-i-learned?utm_source=perplexity

The Power of Creatine While Intermittent Fasting: What You Need to Know

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If you’re looking to maximize muscle gains, boost your workout performance, and burn fat more efficiently, the combination of creatine and intermittent fasting might be your secret weapon.

Intermittent fasting sharpens your body’s ability to burn fat and repair itself, while creatine powers your muscles for peak strength and endurance-even during fasting periods. Together, they create a powerful synergy: preserving lean muscle, enhancing recovery, and accelerating your progress toward a leaner, stronger physique.

Pure creatine (without added calories or sugars) does not break a fast, as it contains little to no calories and does not cause an insulin spike.

Benefits of Combining Creatine and Intermittent Fasting

• Creatine can help maintain and build muscle mass during intermittent fasting, supporting muscle growth and reducing muscle breakdown.
• It can enhance recovery and support cognitive function during fasting periods.
• Fasting increases insulin sensitivity, which may improve creatine uptake by muscles.

Best Timing for Creatine During

• The most effective time to take creatine is during your eating (feeding) window, ideally after workouts for maximum absorption and muscle benefits.
• Daily supplementation is important for maintaining muscle creatine stores, regardless of timing.

In summary, combining creatine supplementation with intermittent fasting can be a powerful strategy for those seeking to build muscle, maintain strength, and optimize body composition without sacrificing the unique benefits of fasting. Creatine helps preserve lean muscle mass, supports high-intensity performance, and may even enhance cognitive function during fasting periods.

Source:  https://www.transparentlabs.com/blogs/all/does-creatine-break-a-fast

Dark Chocolate Health Benefits

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Dark chocolate containing 80 percent cacao or higher is packed with nutrients that can strengthen your body’s defense systems and positively affect your overall health. It is so outstanding, many consider it a superfood containing surprising health benefits.

Dark Chocolate is Heart Healthy

Epidemiologists have long-established a connection between consuming foods with flavanols—a potent antioxidant found in dark chocolate—and a lower incidence of death from cardiovascular disease.

Increases Good Gut Bacteria While Controlling the Bad

Researchers from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom studied specific bacteria affected by chocolate consumption by giving 22 healthy volunteers a beverage containing high-cocoa flavanols for four weeks. They found that this drink strikingly improved the ratio of good to harmful bacteria. There was an increase of beneficial Lactobacillus (by 17.5 times) and Bifidobacteria (by 3.6 times), and there was a decrease in harmful Clostridium histolyticum (by 2 times), a bacteria best known for causing gangrene.

Reduces Stress

For stressed-out individuals, eating dark chocolate can reduce biomarkers of anxiety and stress in the body. Researchers at the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research designed a study that tested the effects of dark chocolate consumption on high-anxiety subjects. Participants received a medium-sized commercially available chocolate bar (Noir Intense, 74 percent dark) to eat every day. After two weeks, researchers found that levels of the stress markers cortisol and adrenaline had substantially decreased in their urine.

Dark Chocolate is Antiangiogenic

Scientists at the University of California at Davis have shownthat bioactives called procyanidins in cocoa have potent antiangiogenic effects through their ability to stop the signals activating blood vessel cells. Research my group has conducted on cocoa powder showed that not all chocolate is the same. When we studied the antiangiogenic effect of cocoa from two different powder suppliers, one of the samples had twice the potency of the other.

Stem Cell-Recruiting Food

With the help of over 750,000 stem cells, your body regenerates itself each and every day. Dark chocolate can mobilize your stem cells to carry out their job to the fullest. At the University of California, San Francisco, researchers found that participants who received a chocolate drink made with cocoa twice a day for thirty days had twice as many stem cells in their circulation as their control group.

Consumption of Dark Chocolate May Lower Diabetes Risk

As a sweet, chocolate is a confection containing saturated fat and processed sugar, two ingredients that are not healthy. But dark chocolate with high amounts of cocoa solids provides antioxidants, which mobilize stem cells, aid in blood sugar control, and reduce inflammation—all contributing to a reduced risk of diabetes.

Dark Chocolate Provides DNA Protection

DNA is your personal genetic blueprint that guides every aspect of your health. Yet, DNA is quite fragile and is the target of ferocious attacks throughout your life. Antioxidant compounds found in dark chocolate—like flavanols and other polyphenols—have been discovered to support DNA repair and strengthen your body’s regenerating abilities.

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The health benefits of dark chocolate are both impressive and exciting. But you must choose wisely—not all commercially available chocolate is nutrient-dense.

Source:  https://drwilliamli.com/7-pleasantly-surprising-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate/

9 Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

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Practicing yoga regularly can help you feel better from head to toe, since yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. And, if you’re going through an illness, recovering from surgery or living with a chronic condition, yoga can become an integral part of your treatment and potentially hasten healing. 

Yoga can support the healing process and help the person experience symptoms with more centeredness and less distress.

1. Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength.

Try it: Tree Pose
Balance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle. Try to focus on one spot in front of you, while you balance for one minute. 

2. Yoga helps with back pain relief.

Yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in people with lower back pain. The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain.

Try it: Cat-Cow Pose
Get on all fours, placing your palms underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. First, inhale, as you let your stomach drop down toward the floor. Then, exhale, as you draw your navel toward your spine, arching your spine like a cat stretching.

3. Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms.

Gentle yoga has been shown to ease some of the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis, according to a Johns Hopkins review of 11 recent studies.

4. Yoga benefits heart health.

Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts. Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.

Try it: Downward Dog Pose
Get on all fours, then tuck your toes under and bring your sitting bones up, so that you make a triangle shape. Keep a slight bend in your knees, while lengthening your spine and tailbone.

5. Yoga relaxes you, to help you sleep better.

Research shows that a consistent bedtime yoga routine can help you get in the right mindset and prepare your body to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Try It: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose
Sit with your left side against a wall, then gently turn right and lift your legs up to rest against the wall, keeping your back on the floor and your sitting bones close to the wall. You can remain in this position for 5 to 15 minutes. 

6. Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods.

You may feel increased mental and physical energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm, and fewer negative feelings after getting into a routine of practicing yoga.

7. Yoga helps you manage stress.

According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep.

Try It: Corpse Pose (Savasana) 
Lie down with your limbs gently stretched out, away from the body, with your palms facing up. Try to clear your mind while breathing deeply. You can hold this pose for 5 to 15 minutes.

8. Yoga connects you with a supportive community.

Participating in yoga classes can ease loneliness and provide an environment for group healing and support. Even during one-on-one sessions loneliness is reduced as one is acknowledged as a unique individual, being listened to and participating in the creation of a personalized yoga plan.

9. Yoga promotes better self-care.

Scientific Research on Yoga Benefits

The U.S. military, the National Institutes of Health and other large organizations are listening to — and incorporating — scientific validation of yoga’s value in health care.

Numerous studies show yoga’s benefits in arthritis, osteopenia, balance issues, oncology, women’s health, chronic pain and other specialties.

Source:  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga

Brain and Mental Exercises and Health

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Engaging in brain exercises can help keep your mind sharp and improve cognitive functions and mental health.

Here are some effective brain exercises you can try:

  1. Puzzles: Working on jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, or Sudoku can enhance your problem-solving skills and memory1.
  2. Card Games: Playing card games like solitaire, bridge, or poker can improve memory and thinking skills1.
  3. Learning New Skills: Picking up a new hobby or skill, such as playing a musical instrument or learning a new language, can boost brain function2.
  4. Reading and Vocabulary Building: Reading books and learning new words can stimulate your brain and improve cognitive abilities1.
  5. Physical Exercise: Activities like dancing, yoga, and tai chi not only benefit your body but also enhance brain health by increasing blood flow and reducing stress3.
  6. Meditation: Practicing mindfulness meditation can improve focus, memory, and emotional regulation2.
    Socializing: Engaging in social activities and maintaining strong social connections can help keep your brain active and healthy1.
  7. Playing Games: Board games, video games, and brainteasers can be fun ways to challenge your brain and improve cognitive functions2.

Which of these exercises are you most interested in trying? 1: Healthline 2: Medical News Today 3: AARP

Cayenne Pepper Health Benefits

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Cayenne pepper offers several health benefits for men, thanks to its active ingredient, capsaicin.

Capsaicin is the active component in chili peppers that gives them their characteristic heat. It has a variety of health benefits and uses that include:

  • Pain Relief: Capsaicin is commonly used in topical creams and patches to relieve pain from conditions like arthritis, muscle pain, and nerve pain.
  • Weight Loss: It can boost metabolism and help reduce appetite, which may aid in weight management.
  • Heart Health: Capsaicin has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and improving blood flow.
  • Digestive Health: It stimulates the digestive tract, increasing the production of digestive enzymes and gastric juices.

Here are some key Cayenne Pepper benefits:

  1. Improves Blood Circulation: Capsaicin helps dilate blood vessels, promoting better blood flow throughout the body, which is essential for overall cardiovascular health.
  2. Boosts Metabolism: It can increase metabolic rate, aiding in weight management and energy levels.
  3. Reduces Pain and Inflammation: Cayenne pepper has anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate pain from conditions like arthritis.
  4. Supports Digestive Health: It stimulates the digestive tract, increasing the flow of enzyme production and gastric juices, which aids in digestion.
  5. Enhances Immune Function: Rich in vitamins A and C, cayenne pepper can help strengthen the immune system.
  6. Potential Sexual Health Benefits: Improved blood circulation can also benefit sexual health by promoting healthy blood flow, which is crucial for erectile function.

Incorporating cayenne pepper into your diet can be as simple as adding a pinch to your meals or making a spicy tea. Have you tried using cayenne pepper in your cooking before?

 

 

 

Moringa Benefits and Risks

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Moringa, often referred to as the “miracle tree,” offers a wide range of health benefits due to its rich nutritional profile and medicinal properties. Here are some of the key benefits:

Moringa leaves and seeds are rich in glucosinolates, which are linked to the plant’s beneficial effects on prostate health in rodents and which may have anticancer properties.

Test-tube studies have demonstrated that the glucosinolates from the plant’s seeds may inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells

It’s also believed that moringa could help prevent benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This condition typically becomes more common as men age and is characterized by enlargement of the prostate, which can make urination difficult .

In one study, mice received moringa leaf extract before being administered testosterone daily for 4 weeks to induce BPH. The extract was found to significantly reduce prostate weight .

What’s more, the extract also reduced levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland. High levels of this antigen may be a sign of prostate cancer

Lastly, the study also demonstrated that the plant decreased testosterone levels in the treated mice. In humans, low testosterone levels can reduce sex drive and erectile function, lead to a loss of lean muscle mass, and cause depression.

Researchers have yet to determine whether these same benefits occur in humans.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/moringa-benefits-for-men#1.-May-promote-prostate-health

Health is Wealth

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Your physical and mental health are investable assets, not a costly liability!

The adage “health is wealth” is a paraphrase of the Roman poet Virgil’s famous comment that “the greatest wealth is health.” The adage presents the idea that your physical and mental well-being are arguably your most valuable asset.

At its core, “health is wealth” means that your physical and mental well-being are far more intrinsically important than financial wealth in the realm of life satisfaction.

It’s saying, “Yes, money is great. It can solve many problems and lead to a fantastic quality of life. But in the absence of good health, money and financial assets mean very little.”

In other words, don’t pursue wealth to the detriment of your health and well-being! After all, you can’t enjoy the financial fruits of your labor if you’re in constant pain, unable to move, struggling to breathe, going to the hospital every few months, or worrying about your health…or dead.

Only if you’re well and feel well can you take full advantage of your wealth. Moreover , staying healthy is also crucial to reaching your full financial personal and professional potential.

It’s hard to be happy when you’re unwell! Thus, chasing wealth at the expense of well-being can often backfire – especially when you realize happiness also tends to make people wealthier.

“Health is wealth” is a proverb and truism that most of us could benefit from being reminded of every now and again.

After all, it’s too easy to fall into the trap of pursuing money at all costs – forgetting that, without our physical and mental health, life really isn’t that pleasant! Furthermore, by prioritizing your health, you stand to accrue even more money in the long run (and to actually be able to enjoy it without pain, discomfort, or a lack of energy getting in the way).

Health Is Wealth: What It Means and Why It’s True

References:

  1. Danny Newman, Health Is Wealth: What It Means and Why It’s True, Wealth Tender,
    https://wealthtender.com/insights/health-is-wealth/