Are you a protein addict? Are protein shakes and protein based dishes your favorite meals? Do you believe that eating a lot of protein will give you that dream body faster? Well, then it’s high time for you to make some changes. It is common for fitness freaks to consume loads of protein powders. Be it sports or bodybuilding, people are lured by the notion of massive fitness gains in a short period of time. And while in the short term, there are benefits that can be derived from this approach; in the long term, too much protein does more harm than good. There are certain undeniable benefits of consuming protein , like muscle gain, hunger control, fitness and weight loss. But there are limits to this. When you cross these limits, you reverse the effects of protein and expose your body to a number of adverse side-effects. There have been a number of tragic instances of athletes dying due to protein overdoses. What is the permissible limit of protein intake? The necessary and sufficient range is 0.45 grams of protein for men (per pound), and 0.35 grams of protein for women (per pound). So, if you’re a 150-pound man, 67.5 grams of protein in a day is the permissible limit.

We live in a world inundated by diet suggestions. From print media to social media, we are badgered 24/7 by claims that some diet or the other is the “perfect diet” that will give us our “perfect body”.  And the question at the top of any discerning individual’s mind is – Do these diets actually work? It’s definitely better to be safe than sorry when it comes to following a diet. There are diets which claim to cause exponential weight loss, but in fact, only end up causing long-term damage to one’s body. In the worst case scenario, a bad diet could even cause death! Keeping this in mind, it would be in your best interest to learn everything you can about fad diets; so that you can identify and avoid them before they derail your health and fitness program, or worse. What is a fad diet? A fad diet is nothing but a series of simple dietary procedures, that come attached with unrealistic claims of losing weight or slimming down your body at an unrealistic pace. For instance, if you have come across ads that claim that their proven solution will make you lose weight in three days, then it is nothing but a fad diet.

If you observe stores and online portals that sell health products, you will come across one word frequently- Antioxidants. Every product in the market seems to contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are virtually a mantra in the healthcare industry. But what are these antioxidants, and are they really worth all the fuss? Read on for the answer to these, and other questions. Before understanding antioxidants, you must learn what oxidation is all about. Try answering this question – why do cells die? The answer – they age! But what causes this aging? Well, here’s the answer to that – your cells undergo damage each day due to oxidation. When they reach a critical point, they die altogether. That’s what happens to your genes as well. They undergo oxidative damage, and their structure keeps changing till a point when death takes over. All these are due to oxidation. If you want a better idea of the effects of oxidation, look at people who’ve got skin cancer due to excessive contact with the sun. Their skin cancer is due to oxidative damage to the cells of the skin. If you have understood this, then anti-oxidation is all about preventing, controlling or reversing the effects of oxidation.

Suffering from hypertension? Then you are at greater risk of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Fortunately for you, there is a simple solution – namely, your diet. If you manage to get the right nutrition, you can not only control hypertension but also reduce the risk of other comorbid conditions drastically. Before you start to combat hypertension, however, it is necessary to understand what it is. The blood flowing in your vessels exerts a tension on the vessel walls. This is normal pressure. It is necessary to have this pressure to ensure that all parts of your body receive nutrients. When this pressure drops, you run the risk of losing the blood supply to the brain. But when the pressure increases, there is potential for damage to a number of parts of the body, including the eyes, brain, heart and the kidney. If you’re suffering from hypertension, then you most likely are already on medication. But medication alone is not much help, without following a proper diet. Read on to learn what foods you should include in your diet, in order to keep your blood pressure under control. Here is the underlying formula: Consume a diet that contains potassium, magnesium, and loads of fiber , while reducing the intake of sodium.

When fall harvest comes, it brings with it a huge array of nutritional variety and happiness. Every fall harvest offers enormous nutritional benefits. So, this fall, make sure that you get the most out of it. Here is a list of ten super foods that you shouldn’t miss this fall: Apples First and foremost on our list are apples which have a huge supply of antioxidants, dietary fibre and vitamin C. Apples also contains potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin B6 and Vitamin A. Pectin, a soluble fibre found in apples, is responsible for removing toxins from the body. If you have increased blood pressure, then try apples, as they are known to lower blood pressure levels. Apples are also famous for reducing the inflammation of the colon and help treat acid peptic disease. An anti-inflammatory agent called Quercetin is also found in apples. Quercetin is known to reduce pollen allergies. As they contain 84% water, apples also ensure that you keep hydrated. Beets Beet is a root vegetable full of nutrients and a host of other health benefits. These are the features that make the beet a superfood:   Beets are rich in vitamin C Beets provide dietary fiber Beets contain essential minerals like potassium, manganese, and folate Beets help lower blood pressure Beets prevent inflammation and prevent cancer Beets help to detoxify the body by purifying the blood and liver Beet greens contain iron Beet greens have proteins, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin A, C, B6 and K, and calcium Beets strengthen bones Betts is also known to prevent Alzheimer’s disease Brussels Sprouts Rich in vitamins C and Vitamin K, Brussels sprouts are a type of cruciferous vegetable.