Table Sugar vs. High Fructose Corn Syrup

I was just reading an elaborate page about some ongoing legal battle that involves the basic sugar (stuff like cane sugar, beet sugar, etc.) companies taking on what they calling "false claims" by the corn syrup companies. I usually just call the basic white stuff "table sugar," so that is what I mean when referring to such. I don't know much about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) other than it has a bad reputation and that it is altered by man and it's nowhere near as "natural" as they claim it is. If you'd rather read about this long drawn-out legal battle, go here: investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/23/22406018-sugar-vs-corn-syrup-legal-battle-aims-to-establish-the-sweet-truth

On this post, I provided a chart that shows the decline of table sugar and the rise in high fructose corn syrup, over the last several years. The most healthy sweetener (in my opinion) is honey, and it has basically remained the same down through the years, going by the data in the chart. I'm assuming the main reason for the corn syrup additives, is to cut the cost. Whether it has more negative health effects than common table sugar, is something I wouldn't argue about, but I'm pretty sure it isn't any better!

I have heard of some companies illegally using corn syrup in certain types of honey products so they could make more profit. However, if you have ever had real honey, it should be easy to distinguish between the real and the tainted. But the bottom line, to me, is that the more uproar and court battles they go through, the elevated public awareness should help decide who the real winner is in the long run. With more manufacturing companies replacing high fructose corn syrup with natural sugars, and more people avoiding products with corn syrup in it, table sugar may ultimately come back out on top.

I think the matter is relatively simple, though, since a diet high in simple sugars is generally not a good idea. The best sugars to consume are from fruits, honey, and the small amounts in most vegetables. Cakes, pies and twinkies do not grow from the ground, regardless of who wins the Sugar vs. Corn Syrup battle.
In a thumbnail:  Use some common sense, people!

---End of Post "Table Sugar vs. High Fructose Corn Syrup"

What is up with the Probiotic Craze?

Evidently, this is one of the biggest health kicks since fish oil became so popular. Probiotics have slowly been gaining steam, but the last couple of years it has hit the market running - and fast! There is literally a probiotic craze going on right now, and I'm confused at why there is suddenly a high demand for such things. If you are not aware, probiotic supplements suppose to increase the healthy, "friendly" bacteria in your gut for better digestion, intestinal health, disease prevention, etc. They even claim that it helps fight off the common cold, flu, reduce cholesterol, aid in weigh loss, you name it!

First of all, the human body suppose to already have billions of these organisms in the intestines/gut. A lot of folks don't realize this, but even if a person has some long bout of flaming diarrhea and intestinal stress that flushes away or kills a lot of your healthy bacteria, your appendix (if you still have one) acts as a "good bacteria warehouse" and replaces what you lose, to help keep a balance. If you are one of those people that still think the appendix has no purpose, go here: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071008102334.htm

Anyway, eating a healthy diet alone, helps keep a balance of this much-needed intestinal bacteria. Fruits and vegetables are great for this, and especially raw vegetables. Hell, even certain types of teas and pickles are a form of probiotics, even though you don't hear about those very often. Yogurt has long been known to have probiotic power, but not everybody sits around and eats yogurt all day. Oh, one of the worst things for healthy gut bacteria is to take antibiotics for long periods of time. You are destroying both the good and bad bacteria when you do this, so think about it. I doubt if eating junk food and fast-food most of the time is good for your levels of friendly bacteria, either.

To make matters worse, it has been found that many of these probiotic supplements are not living up to their name and you are not getting anywhere near what you are paying for. If you'd like to read more about how the consumers are getting lied to and totally ripped off, go here: healthyliving.msn.com/nutrition/are-your-probiotics-a-sham

What will the next health craze be? Drinking toilet water for boosted immunity? LOL!

--->'Click Here' to Search for Probiotics Online<---

---End of Post "What is up with the Probiotic Craze?"

Grapefruit is not good for Detox or certain Medications

First of all, I'm about as omnivorous as they come, and I can seemingly eat and enjoy almost any food, drink, etc. I've never been a picky eater and I'm lucky that I wasn't born with the fat gene or whatever they call it now. Anyway, I hate grapefruit. I can't stand the stuff. If I'm asked about what types of food I like to eat, I normally tell them that they are better off asking me about what kind of foods I don't like, as the list will be much shorter. Yeah, grapefruit and perhaps a couple more things out of everything I've tried so far! So, the point is, I have a chance to insult grapefruit and I'm going to take it; ha-ha!

Grapefruit, unlike some people may claim, is terrible for a detox and is not even recommended at all, if you take certain types of medication. In fact, I've heard of people dying from such things, only to find out later (not the ones that died, of course) that it was the grapefruit's fault. There are many resources for this, so I don't really even know where to start.

Don't get me wrong, grapefruit is normally considered to be a healthy fruit, but not for certain circumstances and/or individuals. Personally, I'm glad that I hate the stuff because I enjoy my beers too much and we all know how alcohol can keep a liver busy. Anyway, according to Ann Louise Gittleman in "The Fast Track Detox Diet," grapefruit actually interferes with liver detoxification (both phase I and phase II). This freaky fruit inhibits the function of one of the liver's most important enzymes, which is CYP3A4. A quote from a health website states: "Grapefruit juice decreases the metabolism of many drugs, allowing more of the drug to be absorbed. Therefore, substantially higher levels of pharmaceutical drugs may show up in the bloodstream than if grapefruit had not been consumed. This also puts increased strain on the liver during a detox, as grapefruit can enable toxins to be more readily metabolized, similar to drugs." You can read more about that, here: www.livestrong.com/article/336266-liver-detox-grapefruit/

At any citrus rate, I feel better now that I have insulted this fruit that I absolutely detest; LOL!

---End of Post "Grapefruit is not good for Detox or certain Medications"

Hot or Warm Korean/Panax Ginseng vs. Cold or Cooler American Ginseng

This post will briefly compare the two main varieties of ginseng, the Korean Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) to American Ginseng. I will also mention a few other potential benefits this herb has, outside of the most commonly touted benefit, which is boosted energy. I will bring up which is hot and which is not; ha! Okay, okay... I mean which type is Yin and which type is considered Yang.

While not for everyone, depending on your current medical conditions, ginseng is generally accepted as a wonderful herbal remedy that promotes balance in the body as well as increased energy, sexual performance, stamina levels, and increased cognitive function. Many people use it to combat stress, as well. Since ginseng acts as an adaptogen, it does tend to have a stabilizing effect on various functions within the body and reduces the effects of stress. By definition, adaptogens increase the ability of an organism to adapt to environmental factors. Ginseng even helps some people who suffer from alcohol withdrawal, for example. Ginseng helps the liver and the body remove alcohol from the body in a quicker fashion and this effect has been tested and proven many times over. Since it also acts as an antioxidant and is loaded with ginsenosides, it can help prevent free radical damage from toxins along with possessing some anti-cancer properties, etc.

When a fairly healthy individual takes this, ginseng tends to help balance your blood sugar and level out your blood pressure when consuming this herb in moderate amounts. Although, if you abuse ginseng for a long period of time, it may actually elevate your blood pressure. So, like most things, use in moderation. I know that the Panax/Korean Ginseng is often recommended to be used for several weeks, followed with a break of at least a couple of weeks before starting the regimen again, in case it builds up in your system, etc. I'm still unsure if this is necessary or not. However, I have heard that the American (Panax quinquefolius) ginseng can be taken consistently in a daily fashion. Personally, I've taken them both for long periods of time before without any ill effects, but if in doubt, ask your doctor, as they say.

Another warning that comes with ginseng, is if you suffer from bouts of low (hypoglycemia) or fluctuating blood sugar, as ginseng may cause it to drop to unsafe levels in people with those types of problems. If you are on blood-thinning medication, it also wise to check with your doctor before taking this particular supplement.

Chinese herbal medicine often involves the yin/yang philosophy in their practice. Yin as in cold or cooler, and yang as in hot or warm. When it comes to promoting the yin energy, American ginseng is the one. It has a cooler, calming effect when compared to Korean ginseng. American ginseng is often used during the summer months or when a person has a fever, since it suppose to help cool the body. Korean ginseng promotes yang energy, since it is considered hot and/or warm. It is often used to enhance blood circulation and during the colder months, since it supposedly helps warm the body. To me, they both are great herbs and each have similar health benefits. The main difference without all the cold/hot Chinese chatter, is that Korean/Panax ginseng is more potent and is used more as a stimulant. However, American ginseng gets more credit for improving your immune system and for enhanced cognitive function. Some people claim that American ginseng even helps people that suffer from ADD, etc.

Well, I was going to get more into the Chinese Yin & Yang stuff, but I see that this post is already getting rather long. At any rate, ginseng is one of my favorite herbal supplements, as you can probably tell by reading this; ha!

--->'Click Here' to Shop for American Ginseng Online<---

---End of Post "Hot or Warm Korean/Panax Ginseng vs. Cold or Cooler American Ginseng "

Working Out your Lower Body to Build Bigger Arms?

This is not like most of the typical informative and/or physical fitness-related posts found within this health blog, as this particular subject would be better suited for a Q & A (questions and answers) section, albeit I decided to post it anyway.

The concept behind "working out your lower body to build bigger arms," is not that far-fetched of an idea, although I'm still undecided if it really matters that much.

Basically, in a thumbnail, many health & fitness gurus think that when trying to build a bigger upper body, you will actually benefit and increase muscle mass in other areas, if you work your lower body.  The reason for this, is that a lot of these people claim that your overall level of testosterone will be boosted due to pushing your body to create more total muscle mass and so on.

There is definitely some debate about this muscle displacement theory, and I'm yet to be convinced as I have seen it work in numerous ways for different folks.  I sort of relate this to the old concept that what works for some, may not work for others.  Some people, unless they are taking illegal steroids, growth hormones or natural testosterone boosters, will only reach a certain level of this muscle-building hormone - no matter what they do.  If you are working your lower and upper body out in an equal fashion, the amount of food, protein and time for your body to grow, will be spread out fairly evenly, in theory.  If total body workouts have the ability to boost the size of your chest, back or arms, then why are there people out there who ignore leg workouts and still have massive upper bodies accompanied with small legs?

On the flip side, if you seem to be stuck in progress or peaked out, adding different exercises to your workout regimen, may very well boost your gains in other areas.

Instead of me thoroughly giving my opinion about this concept, I would really like for others that have tried this method, to comment on this post.  Once again, this is more or less like a Q & A type of blog entry, so don't be shy...  Feel free to comment about what has or hasn't worked for you, when experimenting with this concept.  At any rate, good luck to anyone that tries to maintain their physical fitness levels - and try to stay motivated; cheers!

---End of Post "Working Out your Lower Body to Build Bigger Arms?

Random Blog Link:  "Body Opponent Heavy Bag - BOB"

Popular Posts of 2012

I haven't updated this blog very much lately, although I still have a few posts that I meant to write on here a few months ago, but I either don't make the time or I'm busy writing on other websites, blogs and community writer sites, etc.

So, I figured I'd do a quick blog entry over the 5 most popular posts this blog has had during 2012.  It is really hard to narrow it down to 5, as it varies from month to month, but I'll give it a shot...

Fight Arthritis & Inflammation - Black Cherry Extract - Out of all the posts on this health & physical fitness blog, this is probably the most popular.  Many folks are curious about this black cherry supplement and, of course, many people are trying to combat their arthritis and inflammation issues, as well.

Natural ways to help fight symptoms of alcohol withdrawal... - This is another popular post on here, as many ex-alcoholics seem to be out there looking for natural ways to deal with their withdrawal symptoms of alcohol, instead of depending on drugs, which is always good to hear.

Weight Gainers & Protein Shakes - Since this particular blog entry has had so many spam comments (that I had to delete) over the months, I placed it on the list of most popular for 2012, even though, to me, it doesn't seem like a very hot topic.

Picking out the right Heavy bag / Speed bag Stand - I was pleased to see that a lot of individuals are still interested in "reading" about these things.  It really is important to pick out the right speed bag or heavy bag stand that is best suited for you and the area you are placing it.  Now, if I could just sell more of these dang things!

3 basic ways to use Hand Grippers - This is one post that I was somewhat surprised to get as much traffic as it has.  It seemed to be somewhat elementary to me, but evidently there are many folks out there who are curious about different ways to use hand grips.

Dang, I've already listed 5 popular posts...  There are many more that could have made the list, but I had to stop somewhere.  In the future, maybe I'll have time to write more health-related content on this Health & Fitness Blog.  In the mean time, enjoy the rest of the year; cheers!

---End of Post "Popular Posts of 2012"

Force Factor - Natural Testosterone Boosters

This post will briefly cover the Test X180 product from Force Factor along with the ingredients found within it, etc.

I'm sure that most males that have been involved in weightlifting, bodybuilding, physical fitness, etc., have heard about natural testosterone boosters.  Of course, some people decide to take a health risk and select anabolic steroids, growth hormones and so on, but the majority would prefer a natural method, I'm sure...

I have seen loads of bogus claims over the years, when concerning this subject, along with some debatable herbs that seem to work at times for some, yet they'll have side effects for many.  Although, to be truly natural, the meat & potato country diet with good ol' fashion heavy lifting, is hard to beat when trying to pack on muscle mass without the need for supplements, in my opinion.  However, this post isn't about traditional exercises and balanced diets, as we are talking about Force Factor - Test X180 - Premium Male Performance Supplement - Testosterone Booster.

To make a long story short, I ordered a trial bottle (14 capsules) of this stuff a while back, mainly because it was free (except for shipping).  It had been a while since I tried any new products and I was currently suffering from a transitory hiatus and/or on a temporary break from working out, so I thought it might motivate me to get back into physical fitness training.

Side note:  I prefer Korean Ginseng for performance supplements, so when I tried this product I would just substitute it for that, to see if there was any difference.

Anyway, I tried a pill or two every few days, and could notice a slight dilation in my blood vessels, a slight feeling of better blood flow to the surface of my skin (warmer feeling, etc.), but mainly what I noticed had nothing to do with working out, as this involved extra blood flow to my beloved male organ.  I didn't have any trouble before, but the extra boost was nice; ha!  So that's what they mean by male performance enhancer...

Now, my trial bottle was consumed and I figured I'd order from Force Factor later on, since money was kinda tight, but oh no...  Within days, I find a package in the mail and a bill for 70 dollars, for something I didn't order.   This bottle contained 60 capsules and was considered a month supply on auto-shipment, as if I'd be taking two capsules a day.  In my opinion, by what I have noticed, stuff like this the body gets used to, so you are better off taking it sporadically or here and there, not regularly, but opinions will vary...  Anyway, I was slightly angry, so I called the company and wanted to know why I am getting billed for something I didn't order and how I would like to order this Test X180 as I need it.
I got a long answer and how I was automatically enrolled in auto-shipment, blah, blah...

Well, after telling them I didn't want anymore bills from them, they lowered the price to 30 dollars a shipment and I got my future shipments delayed.  The point is, you may have to work out a deal with them, if you select the auto-ship method.  Enough rambling about the petty details, and lets get on with the ingredients found in this product...

Each capsule contains a daily value of 50% Vitamin D, 100% B6, and 167% B12, but many of you do not care about that, as it is the growth enhancement matrix, that is the most important, which contains:  Testofen, Siberian Ginseng, Panax Ginseng, Cordyceps sinensis, and Tribulus terrestris.

I'm not covering the properties of Ginseng on this post, as I have written about that on this blog before, here:  "Korean Ginseng Extract."
Scavenging the web for info about the other ingredients:

Testofen - is an extract of Fenugreek, which is a herb known to have more than a hundred phytochemical compounds. A way by which fenugreek seems to have gained its reputation as an aphrodisiac is probably because of its beneficial effect on the body’s circulatory system. Vitamins and minerals present in fenugreek serve to rev up blood circulation, a factor which is crucial for achieving and maintaining erection among men. Fenugreek also causes a significant increase to levels of testosterone within the body, allowing for enhanced sexual stamina and a boost in sexual desire.

Cordyceps sinensis - the Cordyceps mushrooms have a long history as medicinal fungi. The earliest clear record is a Tibetan medical text authored by Zurkhar Nyamnyi Dorje in the 15th Century outlining the tonic propensities of Yartsa gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis renamed now to Ophiocordyceps sinensis), especially as an aphrodisiac.  Although there are often-repeated claims of thousands of years of use in traditional Chinese medicine, so far no clear textual source has surfaced.

Tribulus terrestris - some body builders use T. terrestris as post cycle therapy or "PCT."  After they have completed an anabolic-steroid cycle, they use it under the assumption that it will restore the body's natural testosterone levels.  The extract is claimed to increase the body's natural testosterone levels and thereby improve male sexual performance and help build muscle. Its purported muscle-building potential was popularized by American IFBB bodybuilding champion Jeffrey Petermann in the early 1970s.

Well, there you have it, as that was my quick review of the Test X180 product from Force Factor - Natural Testosterone Boosters.  If you're interested in these types of supplements, feel free to browse through a fine selection of products, by clicking the provided link below:

--------->'Click Here' for Force Factor & Natural Testosterone Boosters<---------

---End of Post