Take coffee and tea.  Both provide positive, stimulating effects; that when consumed in excess can negatively affect your physical and emotional health.  Personally, I love my Grande-Soy-Sugarfree-Cinnamon Dolce-latte from Starbucks.  I consume one nearly everyday, and some days, two.  But, as you can see, I supplement the sugary syrups and the lactose-fatty milk with other viable options.  It is the taste that I enjoy the most and I do appreciate the uplifting feeling I receive 15 minutes after consumption.  Did you know that caffeine takes only up to 15 minutes to take effect, and can last only about an hour.  That is why we often feel somewhat tired after.  But it all depends on our digestion.

Health & Wellness coaches, friends of mine, and even Oprah; suggest consuming tea is better than coffee.  So, I ventured out to find the answers; and wouldn’t you know it, two days later in a sitting room at my physicians office, I found them.  WebMD Magazine featured an article in its latest, June 2009 edition regarding the effects of tea.  I will provide the excerpt from the article here, because it is recommended by physicians and has been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Board and Nutrition Review.

- – “Tea is a name given to a lot of brews, but purists consider only green, black, white, oolong, and pu-erh teas the real thing.  All are derived from teh same plant and contain unique antioxidants called flavonoids.  Potential health benefits include:

Green tea: Its antioxidants could interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectacl cancers.  Green tea might also prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels.

Black tea: this has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas such as chai and some instant teas.  Studies show black team might protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke.  It also could reduce the risk of stroke.

White tea: One study showed white tea has the most potent anticancer properties compared with more processed teas, such as black or oolong.

Oolong tea: In an animal study, those given antioxidants from oolong tea had lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels.

Pu-erg tea: A black tea, its fermented and aged leaves are pressed into cakes.  In one animal study, those given pu-erh had less weight gain and reduced LDL cholesterol.”

In my book, green tea wins.  So next time your in your local coffee shop, why not try and subsitute your favorite latte for a green tea; you might just like it.

Healthy bodies are fueled by the foods that are put into them.  Just as you would not like to be leaded gasoline into your car; why would we put products that contain harmful chemicals that were not meant by nature to be, in our bodies?  FRESH opens the viewers eyes and mind to the choices available to us as consumers, and the route we have to take to change the future of our food supply for the future of our health.

Similar to the documentaries by Michael Moore, FRESH offers a dynamic view of truth.  I was surprised at the treatment of different animals that we as consumers eat daily; and the food which is fed to the animals that we Americans, in return, consume.  In one short clip in the film, it discusses the new technique in industrial farming; in which cattle are given grain meal which contains pieces of other dead cows.  I remember grade school science teacher telling me that cows were herbavors?  Why then are large-scale industrial farmers feeding herbavors, meat?

A second area of astonishment; is the cost-effectiveness findings of the two different styles of farming.  Large-scale industrial farming costs more money and produces less-healthy products to consumers.  Organic farmers produce more high-quality products, and make increased profits over large-scale farms.

If you are interested in viewing this informative video, check out their website and opt to purchase for its, low-worth-the-money price; and let others know your opinions on the matter.

FRESH

Lastly, remember that local organic produce and meat provides you the nutrients needed to Grow better.  Not only is buying organic food good for your body, it is good for your soul.  As you meet the local members of your community through purchases at a co-op; you are providing economic growth for your community and establishing relationships that are fruitful.  Search out the local organic or co-op food stores in your area, and help keep locals buying locally.

In Milwaukee, you can view a new type of farming and gardening that is changing the way urbanites prepare their gardens.  This co-op might just inspire you to join one in your community.

Growing Power

When working with clients, I often utilize physical exercise and diet to increase results of Life Coaching.  Similar to utilizing holistic views, it is important to maintain an appropriate body weight that one can feel comfortable with.  I provide tips on nutrition; diet and exercise, and foods that are positive for both body and mind.

About a year ago, I was given the gift of sessions with a physical trainer.  At first, I was excited for an opportunity to lose some of the un-wanted pounds.  But, after thinking about the regiment of exercise and diet that would need to be completed to achieve the results I wanted, I was worried about failure.

Growing up I was a skinny child.  When middle school rolled around, I found myself eating too much food to compensate for the teasing and lack of emotional and social support systems.  I became mildly obese and I viewed myself as unattractive.  But, in high school, I decided to regain some control over my body weight and body image.  I found a mentor to help in my lack of emotional support systems, and I turned to an extra-curricular school sport for the social and physical systems.  This was the beginning of my weight loss.

A year later, I went to college.  I gained the standard “freshman fifteen.”  I tried to be healthy by involving myself in different physical activities and maintaining a diet regiment.  But, eventually I wanted to eat the really tasty treats; generally speaking are higher in fat and in calories.  My body image was fluctuating, but I never felt completely comfortable with myself.

At age 26; a decade after I began trying to manage my weight and become both mentally and physcially healthy, I am comfortable with myself.  The personal training sessions that I received were absolutely exhausting, but amazing!  My trainer was well suited with my personality, provided constant motivation, and designed a workout that challenged me.  I also spoke with a licensed nutritionist about how to best manage my food consumption.  I learned the basic steps in which foods contain positive and negative fats, carbohydrates, sugars, and protein.  I learned about muscle mass and the effects of different types of food on the developing of muscle tissues; and how to best utilize food for increased metabolism, increased mental functioning, and increased weight loss.  These two services, in addition to meeting with a mentor, was the most successful and growth year of my life.

I still continue to work out daily.  I continue to watch what I consume, and I still work with a mentor to help become the best me I can.  Often when people see me, who did not know me as a child, often say that “there is no way you were a big kid.”  True testament, I weighed 250lbs and had a 42 inch waist at age 14.  By age 26, I weigh 155lbs and have a 31 inch waist.  Best yet, you can have any of the desired results you wish; but you have to be willing to work for them.  My suggestion, start out slow.

So here’s a freebie seed of starting off slow, but successful.  Eliminate SODA or JUICE from your diet.  Replace your daily consumption of soda and juice, with an equal portion of water.  If you don’t like the taste of plain water; use Crystal Light or other forms of sugar-free sweetners.  OBGYN’s can testify that a woman who is pregnant, will often gain 5 lbs from consuming juice during her pregnancy.  Secondly, replace the juice consumption with whole fruits.  Did you know that too much sugar, like that in soda, can often cause tiredness and fatigue?  Did you further know that by replacing soda with a whole fruit can actually speed up your metabolism and help your body prevent infections?  If you have trouble giving up soda, at least switch to diet soda or juice that contains half the sugar of normal brands.  Soda provides no nutritional value to your body.  Why would someone place something into their bodies that does not provide any nutrients?

So next time you have the option of soda, think about the effects on your mental and physical health.