The Importance of Vitamin D

This month is “National Nutrition Month” and nutritionists and dietitians everywhere are celebrating and further advocating healthy lifestyles. The growing vitamin D deficiency epidemic has gained a lot of steam in the press recently with several studies being published last week.

For instance, a study published by The Institute for Children Health Research in Australia linked low levels of vitamin D in pregnancies to shortcomings in children’s language skills. Basically, children born to women who had low levels of vitamin D during their pregnancy are twice as likely to have language problems. … Continue Reading

The Sweat Party Pt. XIII ” SCHOOL DAZE” North Vs South

WAAAAAAAAAAAAKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP !!!!!! What was your SAT score? What school did you go to? What fraternity or sorority do you belong to? On November 19th, we present to you the LAST Sweat Party of the year, and we are going out with a BANG!!! School Daze (North vs. South) means we are not only paying homage to the classic Spike Lee joint, but also a battle of the “bands” — music from the North vs. the Dirty South. And we want you to REP your school. Whether it be a local college or a big time university, we want you to show that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, get your school pride and rep your region. Q: Which side are you on? A: The MASON DIXON line is the divider . If your school is below the line, then your SOUTH. And the opposite means you’re a YANKEE. Calling ALL GREEKS: Come “stomp our yard” and show which frat/sorority rules. We will also be celebrating the Birthday of Markuan Smith of “Let’s Talk About Pep”. Markuan is an actor/model and a huge supporter of the Sweat Movement! Wellness hour still begins @ 10pm. This is the event that saves lives and refreshes the Spirit. ” WE CAME TO SWEAT” GET YOUR TIX NOW!!!! SweatSchoolDaze.eventbrite.com

Benefits of Fish Oils

You’ve heard about the health benefits of fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids, but I’m sure you’re wondering if they’re really true, right?

I mean, the things we hear about omega-3 fatty are great, but is it something worth spending your hard-earned money on?

The good news .. or the fantastic news is that is true, and I have personally been reaping the health benefits of fish oil for several years. As have my girlfriend, my father, my mother, my brother, and even my dog (a miniature schnauzer called Cleo).
… Continue Reading

Benefits of Fiber

Dietary Fiber is the part of plant foods that your body doesn’t digest. Fiber, therefore, helps with regularity and has been shown to have other health benefits, as well.

There are two types of dietary fiber used in the labeling of food products – both are important for good health.

Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is found in foods like beans and other legumes, fruits, and oat products (e.g. oatmeal, Cheerios®). Soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol levels, and therefore can help reduce the risk of heart disease. … Continue Reading

5 Benefits of taking Leucine

Leucine is a beneficial amino acid that the body needs. Leucine is something that can not be produced by the body so it needs to be present in the foods that we eat. The problem is that most of the food people consume does not contain it. Goji berries do contain Leucine and many other amino acids and minerals.
Leucine is one of the branched chain amino acids and is usually taken in conjunction with the other BCCAs which are Isoleucine and Valine. BCAAs are not produced by the body so they have to be ingested. You can get BCAA’s from eating certain foods like brown rice and soy or you can take BCAA supplements. Most people choose to take BCAA supplements like goji berries so that they are sure to get enough of the BCAAs including Leucine to help their bodies be healthier. Here are the top 5 benefits of taking Leucine:

1. It regulates blood sugar – Leucine is easy for the body to break down and convert to glucose, so it helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. Because of this anyone that diabetes or has been diagnosed with pre-diabetes should ask their doctor about taking Leucine supplements.

2. Burns visceral fat – Visceral fat is the deepest layer of fat on the body. Because it’s so deep visceral fat often doesn’t respond to normal weight loss methods and can be extremely difficult to get rid of. Having a lot of visceral fat can make you more likely to develop heart disease or other problems so getting rid of as much visceral fat as possible can make you a lot healthier in several ways. Taking Leucine or a BCAA supplement or eating foods that contain high amounts of amino acids can help burn that visceral fat.

3. Increases energy – Like the other BCCA’s Leucine helps the body run more efficiently and when the body is running as efficiently as possible you have more energy. Having more energy means that you can skip things like caffeine or stimulants to give you the energy that you need to get through the day.

4. Increases the production of new muscle – If you’re trying to build lean muscle BCAA’s like Leucine are the best way to build lean muscle because they encourage the growth of new muscle tissue in the body.

5. Stimulates growth hormones – Babies and children need a certain amount of Leucine everyday to stimulate their grown hormones and make sure that they develop normally. Usually there is enough Leucine in the foods that babies and children eat to give them the Leucine they need but if you notice that your child isn’t developing on schedule your doctor might tell you to start giving your child a Leucine supplement to encourage more growth.