Benefits of Lemon Water | 10 Things You Need To Know

Benefits of Lemon Water

benefits of drinking lemon water

You’re likely aware of the necessity of plain water, but do you know how beneficial drinking lemon water is? Although it’s recommended from health professionals, drinking a copious amount of water regularly can be pretty boring because it tastes bland. We need a little excitement throughout our day and that includes what we drink, even how we drink it.

Adding lemon to your water makes all the difference in terms of taste, and it also comes with many other healthy advantages. Let’s dive into the benefits of lemon water. Who know’s, after reading this all the way through, maybe you’ll be an expert on the topic and maybe even take your health to a whole new level as this beverage will let you refresh and relax at the same time, of course if you use other methods for relax like weed, learning about medical marijuana reciprocity can be really useful as well.

The Top 10 Lemon Water Benefits

Lemon water will improve your energy due to the Vitamin B & C, plus the other nutrients thanks to lemons. It’ll make you feel more rejuvenated and ready for the take on the day. It’s an excellent way to wake up in the morning as opposed to drinking coffee(which is a form of stimulant energy that will soon make you tired); it’s robbing Peter to pay Paul, basically borrowing energy now, only to crash later. Drinking coffee also raises your cortisol levels, therefore adding more stress in your life. Once you get into a habit of drinking lemon water in the morning, you can wave your caffeine addiction goodbye. The smell of the lemon water is enough to brighten your mood and make you want to be productive with your time.
Water on its own can do wonders for your skin, and lemon water is even more beneficial for that purpose. This is due to the fact that it stimulates the growth of new blood cells and also purifies the blood in general. There are also many powerful antioxidants in lemon water, which flushes dangerous toxins from the body and leaves you with a healthy looking glow that even the most expensive makeup products cannot achieve. Natural is best, and this is as natural as it gets. Lemon water has vitamin C, which is strong as an antioxidant and protects cells from damage and reduces inflammation in the body. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of massage in releasing muscle tension and reducing inflammation.
Consuming lemon water will also boost your immune system. It’ll help keep you away from minor/major illnesses like the flu. The Vitamin C is what makes the drink a cold fighter, and in addition to that, there are saponins found in lemons which are full with antimicrobial properties.
One of the main lemon water benefits is its ability to initiate weight loss. There’s a great amount of pectin fiber in lemons which will suppress your appetite, help you eat smaller portions and therefore make you lose weight. Many people (including celebrities) actually go on a lemon water “detox” if they want to lose a significant amount of weight quickly. Lemon water is calorie free, and by replacing other drinks with it, you are actually cutting calories without even realizing.
It’s a natural treatment for many ailments in the mouth and throat area such as throat infections and sore throats. The antibacterial properties of the acidic liquid have healing and soothing effects, and it is really effective in treating tonsillitis. Gargling warm lemon water when you have a sore throat can be a quick and easy cure.
If you suffer from bad breath and nothing you do seems to make a difference, why not give lemon water a try? It’s said that due to the acidic nature of lemons, it triggers the production of saliva in the mouth. The basic nature of saliva discourages the growth of bacteria that causes bad breath. Lemon will also remove the white layer of bacteria on the tongue that festers as you sleep which will tame that dreaded morning breath.
Another benefit of this miraculous drink is that it’s great for digestion because it aids the removal of toxins and other harmful compounds from the body. Not only does an improved digestive system mean you will get a flatter stomach, but it also makes you unlikely to suffer from constipation and diarrhea. A well-functioning digestive system ensures maximum absorption of food nutrients. This in turns improves your overall wealth. It would help you visit the toilet regularly. This is why many famous stars use lemon water as a detox when they have an important red carpet event approaching.
The urinary tract is cleaned by regular consumption of lemon water. If you suffer from UTI’s or other water infections often, this is perfect for you because their reoccurrence will be prevented.
Your liver will also benefit from drinking lemon water. It’s therefore recommended that you take a few glasses after a hard night of drinking. The liver removes toxins from the body hence keeping you in good condition your health. Lemon water will also enhance the enzyme function in all other parts of your body and also get rid of any bacteria that might be harmful to you.
Lemons are super high in potassium, just like the more well-known bananas. Potassium is essential in the working of most vital organs like your heart, brain, kidneys and muscles.

Now that you’ve heard some of the amazing lemon water benefits, what have you got to lose by NOT drinking it? I recommend getting giving it a shot. Instead of a sugary soda, try a glass of pure lemon water.

Below are some other tips that you might find useful when making this beneficial lifestyle change.

Other helpful tips for drinking lemon water

When’s the best time to drink lemon water?

There’s no doubt that it’s good for you all day long but you can heighten the lemon water benefits by making sure you drink plenty in the morning. Not only will this make you feel more awake, but it also gives you the touch of hydration that you’ll need to get you started on your day. You’ve basically been fasting as you sleep so when nothing has gone into your body yet. If you drink lemon water then, its benefits will be more pronounced. Consuming lemon water around half an hour before you have your breakfast will help ensure that you do not overeat and it will also kick-start your body’s digestive system.

What to add for flavor

If you want to flavor your lemon water, even more, you should try a drop of honey or include other fruits as well such as blueberries, strawberries, even mint, and more. It’ll make it even tastier. You can read some pretty amazing stories of people who’ve tried a lemon-honey water cleanse online and if you want to experience the same kind of perks, why not try it?

Lemon water benefits

If you’re craving something sweet and at the same time you do not wish to overindulge in chocolate or something heavy, perhaps adding honey to your lemon water could be a good option. If you don’t like honey or the combination of flavors just don’t appeal to you, regular lemon water will be fine. DO NOT add anything else that may destroy it’s chemical composition and make it worthless.

In other words, don’t run 5 miles in the morning, only to indulge in pizza, beer, and a triple chocolate cake right after if you’re looking to transform your health.

Drink lemon water cold or warm?

Although lemon water is often drunk cold, there are also benefits to drinking it warm. Warm lemon water is said to be better than cold lemon water because it helps even more with digestion and weight loss. Some people simply prefer the taste of warm lemon water; it’s particularly nice to drink in the colder months of the year. You can make warm lemon water by boiling the kettle slightly or using a cup of hot water to soak your bottle of infused lemon water.

Working out

You’ll be doing some amazing things for your body by taking in lemon water regularly. However, you won’t make much of a difference if you continue to have bad eating habits and avoid exercise. Working out and eating well is the best way to keep your body in good shape, so try and make other positive changes too. For additional beauty tips, be sure to check out Femme Guru.

Drinking lemon water should help you with this due to the fact that it works as an appetite suppressant, puts you in a better mood, energizes you and boosts your metabolism. It will kick off the sluggish feeling and fatigue and allow you to carry out workout routines for longer periods.

Peeling off lemons and juicing the fruit into a glass of water could be a daunting task. There are some ways to make it more convenient. Fruit infused water bottles are an option. These are easy to take with you and keeps the lemon water fresh and evenly mixed.

One thing about drinking lemon water squeezed by hand directly into a glass of water is that it can be overly sour. I recommend soaking the lemon itself in a pitcher of water and pouring it in a glass as needed. Or if you’d like to make it easy to drink lemon water on the go, give this vibrant fruit infuser try.

Amazing Benefits of Chlorella As a Super Food

If it is your goal to get fit and be healthy, a nutritious diet plan is imperative. In the past, calories were highly misunderstood by a lot of individuals. A lot of them have focused their attention simply counting calories without taking into consideration the content of the food they eat.

This is where superfoods enter the picture. Superfoods are becoming popular among fitness buffs, athletes and those who want to improve their health. Given the number of people acquiring ailments mainly due to their diets, healthier alternative is now becoming popular not only for professional athletes but even for the average Joe.

What are superfoods?

Superfoods have high levels of essential vitamins and minerals that can meet and replenish the body’s needs for its day to day activities. Superfoods are typically plant and fish based food options that carry a wide variety of health benefits.

To some individuals, it is simply a marketing term for something that is healthy. In reality, the undeniable higher dose of vitamins and minerals make this a better option for those who want to live a healthier life. In fact, this is why a diet consisting of superfoods is highly recommended for those who perform high intensity activities such as athletes and even those involved in blue collar industries.

Chlorella as a superfood

One of the most underrated superfood options is chlorella. Typically, superfoods are associated to blueberries, yogurt, and quinoa among many others.

Chlorella is an alga that is consumed both as a health supplement and complete food in different parts of the globe. It contains high amounts of protein, essential fatty acids, enzymes, as well as vitamins and minerals.

To give you an idea about the content of Chlorella, majority of Chlorella’s content is protein. 45% of its content is protein, which makes it a great alternative food source, especially for those who are scientists who are looking to solve world food crisis.

The popularity of chlorella isn’t something new. Because of the growing population, and the impending world food problem, researchers have focused their attention efficient food options. In the 1940s, Chlorella was viewed as a possible alternative to traditional agriculture products, due to its high protein and vitamin content.

So what are the amazing benefits of chlorella to the body given all this information? Could this be a superfood option for those who want to stay healthy? Or perhaps, even professional athletes could benefit from this?

Amazing benefits of chlorella

The amazing benefits of chlorella are still underrated in the health niche. Unlike other food options, such as salmon and blueberries, chlorella is a lesser known superfood. Just to give you an idea how much are you missing by not incorporating chlorella in your diet, here are some things that you get from this superfood.

Chlorella is an antioxidant

In a 2010 study, chlorella has been found to contain a peptide known as chlorella-11 which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Today, chlorella is considered by many health buffs as an ingredient to their smoothies. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it detoxifies the body and hastens the process of getting rid of toxins.

This explains why chlorella has wonderful effects on the skin. Because of its antioxidant properties, it enhances the way people look once they consume chlorella regularly. Aside from its antioxidant properties, chlorella also contains high level of vitamins and minerals that help the skin glow.

Protection against chemotherapy and radiation

Another benefit of chlorella as a superfood is its ability to protect the body from radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a treatment that not only kills cancer cells, but even the healthy cells. Killing both cells, it depletes the body’s defenses against infection.

What chlorella does is to help negate the effects of chemotherapy on healthy cells. It has a fibrous wall which could latch to cancer treatment substances and heavy metals such as lead and mercury, subsequently removing toxins and radiation out of the system.

Cancer preventive properties

And aside from lessening the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, chlorella also has tumor fighting properties. Given the things we are exposed to, everyone is at risk of developing cancer. Cancer cells are basically normal cells that have grown abnormally.

What chlorella does is to enhance the T-cells that fight off abnormal cells in the body. And also, it allows the body’s immune system to function better against infections.

To give you a better understanding how chlorella’s anti-cancer property works, chlorella contains high levels of chlorophyll that emits oxygen. And looking at the characteristics of cancer cells, these are mostly living in anaerobic or oxygen lacking environments.

Also, it has high levels of magnesium which corrects mineral level on cellular level. This lessens the probability of cancer forming due to incorrect mineral levels.

Prevents diabetes and prevents high cholesterol levels

There are many reasons for us to develop type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels. From the stressful work environment to our daily eating habits, these are some factors that affect us in the long run. According to a study, individuals who took 8,000 mg of chlorella divided into two doses everyday exhibited lower cholesterol levels and manageable blood glucose levels.

It has been discovered that chlorella initially affects the cholesterol levels, before affecting the blood glucose levels.

Weight loss

As the body ages, it becomes more difficult to maintain and lose weight. As your body’s metabolism slow down, the body doesn’t burn calories like it used to. What chlorella can do is to help the body get rid of unwanted weight.

What chlorella does is to improve circulation, and increase metabolism which then allows the body to burn more calories even at resting state.

Better digestion

Digestion plays a crucial role in providing nutrition to the body. The digestive process allows the body to receive all the nutrients that it needs. It allows the body to have regular bowel movement given its high fiber content. What chlorella does is to improve the digestive system’s overall function. It has been discovered to boost the presence of probiotics in the digestive system as well.

Better eyesight

A lot of people tend to lose their 20/20 vision from activities that they do and the food that they eat. One of the most amazing benefits of Chlorella is how it helps the eyes. Chlorella plays a huge role in protecting the eyes with its abundant content of lutein, alpha and beta carotene.

Conclusion

A lot of people are looking to improve their overall health by changing the types of food that they eat. A great number of health enthusiasts have turned to Superfoods to achieve this goal. If you are looking to mix things up in your diet, the amazing benefits of chlorella should be enough to urge more people, especially athletes and fitness buffs to include this option into their meals.

The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet For Health and Fitness

A question I hear often is, “Why eat a plant based diet if I’m exercising regularly and eating the right portions of food?” It’s a common question among people who are keen on their health and have started their fitness journey. Wouldn’t you say that achieving your ultimate health and fitness goals require that you combine physical exercising with the right nutrition? You can’t do one and ignore the other. It’s like Peanut butter no JELLY! Cereal No MILK! Biscuits No GRAVY! You get the point?

Nutritionists give varying reasons why you should or shouldn’t eat a raw vegan plant-based diet. Those opposed to a raw plant-based diet lay emphasis on the importance of cooking food and possible nutrient deficiency. However, they don’t dispute the importance of plant-based diets to human health.
If you’re unsure about shifting to this diet, read on and learn the benefits of plant based diets to your fitness journey.

What is a Plant-Based Diet?

It’s important to define a vegan plant-based diet before we go further and discuss its benefits. Many people confuse a vegan diet with a vegetarian diet. Vegetarians eliminate animal products from their diet based on philosophical and religious beliefs.
A vegan plant-based diet is based on health benefits and includes unprocessed foods and little or no animal products. A plant diet includes whole nuts, vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, pseudograins, and beans. The diet may include unprocessed animal products such as eggs and milk. A strict vegan diet does not include any animal products.

Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

As indicated earlier, you can only achieve your fitness goals by combining exercises with the right diet. Eating a raw plant-based diet has the following health benefits:

1. Plant-based diets contain little cholesterol
One of your fitness goals is probably to reduce your cholesterol level. A strict vegan diet contains no cholesterol and will help you reduce bad cholesterol in your body. Animal products increase your bad cholesterol levels especially when processed. Eating a plant-based diet ensures that you don’t regain the cholesterol you burn during physical exercises.

2. A plant-based diet helps you control your blood sugar
Vegetables have a high fiber content, which slows down the absorption of sugar into your blood stream. This controlled absorption of sugar keep you energized all day. You reduce your intake of snacks and sugars to boost your energy levels in between meals.

3. Raw plant-based diets are rich in nutrients
One rule of preparing some plant-based diets is to eat them raw or cook them for a short period and under low heat, under 118 degrees. Include as many raw products as you can in your daily diet. You can eat vegetables raw or steamed. The key is to avoid processed plant-based foods. Raw vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals. Over-cooked food may be tasty but the prolonged heat reduces its nutritional value

4. Plant-based diets reduce your risk of some diseases
You can reduce your risk of many lifestyle diseases by changing your diet. A plant-based diet will help you reduce your risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease. The fiber in this diet improves digestion and reduces your risk of digestive complications. Plant-based diets reduce your exposure to toxins, increase antioxidants in your body and detoxify your body.

The Importance of a Plant Based Diet to Fitness

Eating a raw vegan plant-based diet support your fitness journey in many ways.

These include:

1. The Diet Helps you Lose Excess Weight
Most fitness programs are focused on burning fat and shedding excess weight. A plant based diet reduces your meal and snack times by controlling your sugar absorption. In addition, the diet contains little or no cholesterol that is found in animal products. You can maintain a low body weight with this diet without losing your muscle mass due to less stress on your body versus the traditional North American diet, which normally consists of refined, processed foods with little to no nutritional value.

2. A Plant-Based Diet Helps You Recover from Physical Exercises in a Healthy Way
Physical exercises drain your energy especially if you have signed up for an intense program. Such exercises are necessary if you have lots of excess weight to lose.
However, many people tend to regain their weight after a weight loss program because of the wrong diet. Eating animal products and processed foods after exercising will make you regain your weight. A 4to 1 carb to protein ratio including no fiber and little to no fats within 45 minutes of your workout will help your body recover quickly. When done properly, a plant-based diet ensures that you do not lose the benefits of physical exercises.

3. Plant based diets improve your workout performance
Why eat a plant based diet before a workout session? Preparing for a workout sessions does not just involve choosing the right gear and a few warm up sessions. It also involves eating the right foods to ensure that you have high energy throughout the workout sessions. Your pre-workout meal determines your performance in terms of burning fat and building muscles.
Depending on your exercise intensity and length, you can formulate an effective pre workout snack that will prepare you for optimal performance. Eating plant-based foods ensures that you do not run out of energy in your workout session. Fruits, especially dates, that are rich in glucose are excellent fruit to eat before a workout session because it goes straight to the liver for immediate energy.

4. Muscular Development
If your fitness goal is to build your muscles, you can achieve your goal without risking your health. The key to building muscles is taking quality proteins in every meal. A lean diet helps you build a lean muscle mass. You can increase you calories intake without taking processed foods and energy boosters in your workout sessions. Plant-based diets provide calories and energy from healthy sources.

5. Better Sleep
One of the benefits of a consistent plant-based diet is the ability to sleep better. With a healthy digestive system, you are likely to sleep better every night. You may have lots of energy during the day but your nights will be peaceful. Getting enough rest every day is as important as regular exercises to your health and fitness journey. Many people focus on exercises and ignore the importance of rest to your body.

If going plant based is something you really want to do, the best way to make the transition is to gradually get rid of processed bad foods and replace them with nutrient dense foods such as greens, fruits, seeds, legumes, etc. Don’t go all commando on the first day. You’ll stress yourself out as well as your body. It needs time to adjust, usually about 6 weeks minimum to fully make the transition without adding stress to your body.

Best Weight Loss Shakes For Your Fitness Goals

Weight loss shakes are a great way to supplement meals and get your nutrition for the day. Many of them include ingredients that can help you curb cravings, improve digestion, and gain energy on top of losing weight.

The best way to lose weight is proper nutrition with exercise. When you can’t eat a whole food meal, or maybe you need something quick on the go, weight loss shakes can be a convenience to make sure you don’t skip a meal or two.

Many of them are low calorie with abilities to fix up your own recipe for a great tasting shake. Some people like weight loss shakes as-is and don’t add anything to them. Some add water, and some add milk, almond milk, and other liquids to satisfy their taste buds.

It’s important to know that everything you put into your weight loss shakes count against and/for your calories. For example, my weight loss shakes are 140 calories itself. When I add all natural peanut butter, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and coconut oil, it is a 400 calorie shake.

For me, this is good because I need 2700 calories daily. On the days I put water instead of almond milk, I’ll add in a banana. This adds 100 calories.

If you’re like me, you have a busy agenda and don’t have time to cook 3 meals a day along with your healthy snacks in between. 6 meals is what you should be eating everyday. So one of my meals, preferably breakfast is my shakeology meal replacement, then 1 of my snacks of the day is either a protein shake or a post workout recovery drink.

I take a meal replacement called shakeology to help me with all my nutrients but have used some others in the past as well. I recommend to look closely to the labels of the shakes you buy as not all of them contain all natural healthy ingredients.

In my own honest opinion, I believe that any supplement you take should be beneficial to your body without jeopardizing other parts of your health. In other words, I don’t believe in taking weight loss shakes that have artificial sweeteners which can store toxic waste in your liver.

Most weight loss shakes contain too much sugar and artificial ingredients.

This is why I drink Shakeology

It’s an all natural meal replacement and nothing compares to it label to label. If you do find something that’s better, please let me know and be ready to prove it label to label.

Sneak Peak – Popular Weight Loss Shakes:

Jillian Michaels Ultimate Shake – Convenient shake that is ready to drink. Contains fiber and no artificial sweeteners. Soy and gluten free. Not proven to crave hunger that much and also not proven for long term weight loss. No exercise plan comes with the shake but I love Jillian Michaels and what she does for the industry.

Advocare Trim– Very high in protein at 24g per serving. This product contains artificial ingredients. Only hunger filler is fiber in the shake and according to their site, the main ingredients are Protein, calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin A, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin C, vitamin B-12. All ingredients can be found in most great shakes so the main ingredients is nothing special. This shake contains an artificial sweetener in sucralose. Contains caffeine.

Equate – Contains artificial ingredients such as sodium caseinate and other artificial flavors according to it’s label. Sodium Caseinate is a modified protein extraced from milk used for thickening and whitening. Lastly, this contains free glutamic acid, which is a form of MSG, or monosodium glutamate. Enough said.

IdealShape – One of many respected weight loss shakes out there at only 100 calories, 2g of sugar, and over 50% of the recommended vitamins and minerals. However, it also has artificial ingredients and sucralose which kills the rest of the great aspects of this shake for me.

Slim Fast – One of the most popular weight loss shakes out there and longest running brands. Why? I have no clue. Although I know that this has been a savior to many people, but losing weight isn’t everything. It’s being in the best health possible doing it. Not saying that Slim Fast isn’t healthy, but it does contain some of the same ingredients they use to make a product called K-Y Jelly in Cellulose Gel. Learn more about slim fast ingredients.

Ensure – Packed with good vitamins but has a small amount of protein at 9g. Unfortunately this shake contains 18g of sugar. Only 1g of fiber so I don’t see this shake being a huge factor in craving your hunger. This shake also has one of the highest amounts of calories of weight loss shakes on the market at 250 calories.

I could go on and on, but honestly, I’ll just be saying the same thing over and over for most of them. That is, many are great tasting, good things about it, but contain either too much sugar, too many calories, and contain artificial ingredients.

All of these shakes are for weight loss. You can see that most weight loss shakes focus primarily on JUST weight loss and leave the most important thing out, which is being all natural and safest to the body. Living a healthy lifestyle and putting things in your body that hasn’t been modified, chemically treated, or enhanced in any way.

Why pack on high amounts of calories, sugar, and artificial flavoring just to lose weight?

Obviously, you’ll end up losing out somewhere else.

Every year, there are tons of new weight loss supplements out there trying to make a buck. Why? it’s the most popular niche in the world. This is why you must be extra careful and look in depth at the labels.

Shakeology reveals 100%, yes, 100% of everything in the shake and is all natural.

weight loss shakes — Shakeology is as real as real food can get with over 40 superfoods in one serving.

At first I thought it was too good to be true because I got so used to everything having cheat ingredients, or modified artificial things in them.

Shakeology is focused on weight loss while improving your inner health, digestive system, mood, immune system, energy, and much more. It is recommended to take with their #1 in-home fitness brands like:

P90X
Insanity
Body Beast
Les Mills Pump
Turbo Jam

Beachbody, the creators of shakeology along with Darin Olien, have a mission to help people achieve their goals, while living a healthy and fulfilling life. This is becasue they believe that true weight loss comes with proper nutrition and exercise and not one or the other.

So why can’t you get shakeology in the stores? Carl Daikeler, the CEO of Beachbody, understands that to get results, most people need to be coached or guided on how to properly eat, workout, and be accountable to their actions. For this, they have made shakeology only avail through Beachbody and their coaches. Coaches, are beachbody customers who have used the products and got results from them, so they decided to pay them forward by coaching others to do what worked for them.

What’s the reason so many people waste their time on message boards saying this and that about how weight loss shakes didn’t work or tasted bad. They even say how it gives them the runs or it makes them feel funny. My advice to this is, it takes your body about two weeks of consistent consumation on average to adjust. If after that time, you still are experiencing a bad flow, then move on.

Most of the time, people won’t use it correctly and won’t stick with it long enough. Now I understand not everyone is going to like the taste of a particular shake, but what is you’re ultimate goal? The taste or to lose weight? Can you make that taste work if does your body right?

For example, when I first tasted Greenberry Shakeology, I didn’t like it until I found the right recipe to mix up with it. After taking shakeology once a day consistently now for 22 months, I won’t order greenberry because I love the Vegan Chocolate.

My point is, finding the right weight loss shake is a journey. It truly is.

Tips on Finding the Right Weight Loss Shakes For You

If you’re looking to include a weight loss shake in your daily diet, take the time to figure out what your ultimate goal is.

Just lose weight
Lose weight and improve inner health
Lose weight, tone up, gain energy
Lose weight , tone up, gain energy, and take advantage of superfoods

If you just want to lose weight and are willing to put modified ingredients in your system doing it, that’s your choice. In fact, the price will be much cheaper than the ones who are truly 100% all natural. For me, If i’m going to lose weight, I want the best along with it.

I’m not saying that my shake is the only one that provides an all natural experience, but it is the one I found and has proven to work for me. Find the best one for your goals.

Your goals may be:

Lowest price
Best tasting
Ready to Drink
Superfood formula

You get what you pay for.

I’m here to tell you that Shakeology isn’t the cheapest, but there’s also no other weight loss shakes out there that I’ve seen to date that compares label to label. With Shakeology, you also get:

Free coaching
1 million plus member support group
30 day money back guarantee
Library of the top in home exercises available to you that show you how to incorporate nutrition, fitness, and support to help you reach your goals.

The Basics Of Weight Loss Shakes Labels

Every shake will have the macronutrient label with vitamins and minerals listed. That part will always be competitive in the most part between companies and brands.

Where Shakeology was set apart for me was when I saw the superfood list and how there was no artificial ingredients. How drinking shakeology helps those farmers and their families in places like Peru, Canada, Mexico, and even Montana(USA).

When I saw the video of how shakeology is created, I had chills because I never knew so much detail can go into developing weight loss shakes. I never knew that drinking a shake can help people from around the world by using their superfoods. When I think about it now, it make’s so much sense.

That said, there are a lot of great companies out there with great goals and you gotta find the right brand and product for you. I found what worked for me and I’m sticking to it until something tells me to move on.

Regardless of you decide to take, remember that proper nutrition and exercise must be a consistent part taking your shake or drink. It won’t work by doing it alone and anyone who tells you different is misinformed.

The only true way to lose weight and be healthy is by incorporating nutrition and exercise both in your life. When you do this, you will get the best out of your weight loss shakes.

Beachbody Coach — Click To Make Me Your Free Coach – Accountability, Support, Fun Team Of Motivated Individuals, Results

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Live Passionately,

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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What Do The PLU Codes On Fruits & Vegetables Mean?

Ever wonder what the 4 and 5 digit plu codes on the fruits and vegetables in your local grocery store mean? If you’re like most people, including me, I used to just pick out my fruit according to type, color, and less discoloration or bruises.

It turns out that the numbers actually make a huge difference in where the fruit came from and how it was grown. These stickers are put on the fruits so that the it makes it easier for the store workers to determine each variety of produce.

What is The Difference With The PLU Sticker Codes

The difference will determine what price each item is as well. Organic produce will be pricier than genetically modified items.

The differences the stickers reveal are:

Conventionally grown
Genetically engineered
Organically grown

Most items in regular grocery market include foods that are GMO’d or genetically modified.

What The PLU Codes Mean On the Fruits & Vegetables

Conventionally grown means that the fruit was grown with fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones to allow fruit to grown even in the off season, have greater resistance to last longer, and grows to a bigger size in most cases.

Conventional Sticker Code: 4 numbers (ie: 4025)

Genetically Engineered means the genes were manipulated to help the larger size and color of the produce. Also means that it may have been chemically treated

Genetically engineered sticker code: 5 digits that start with an “8” (ie: 84125)

Organically grown means that it wasn’t treated with any chemicals. The best kind but the most priciest.

Organically grown sticker code: 5 digits that start with a “9” (ie: 94125)

History of the PLU Sticker Codes

These stickers have been used since 1990.

If you think about this, there are about 7 billion people in the world today. People need to eat to stay alive so they grow food using chemicals to grow year round, bigger, and faster. With the population growing so fast, it also takes up the land that could be needed in the future to grow more food for the demand.

If food production will need to grow by 50% within the next two decades according to some experts, than how is this possible with the shrinking amounts of land available to grow food because of the growth of the population?

The answer…They manipulate food growth to meet the demands. This is where the diference in the world lies in GMO’d foods and organic.

The PLU codes system is run by the International Federation for Produce Standards. Learn more about the PLU sticker codes on fruit by visiting their website.

Sources:

Rawearthliving.wordpress.com

Wiki

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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New & Improved Chocolate Shakeology, Again.

Beachbody released a new chocolate shakeology, again. Not talking about the new superfood formula that came out on August 2012, but the newest customer improved shakeology released December 17th, 2012.

Here is the scoop...

Last summer, the improved chocolate “superfood formula” raised both some positive and negative feedback. Some people thought that when you opened the bag, it wasn’t as pleasant smelling than the previous formula.

The reason Beachbody released the new improved chocolate superfood formula several months ago, was that
they added 4 more superfoods and reduced the sugar, while adding more fiber to the mix. The result, was a
healthier shake, but one that many thought didn’t taste or smell as good as the original chocolate shakeology did.

There were postings on our message boards from both coaches and customers requesting to bring back the old
formula. Some were even losing customers because of this change. Beachbody knew that they couldn’t go back to the old formula because the new one was healthier. However, they could make it taste and smell better. More chocolaty and less earthy that is.

Then, there were others who absolutely loved the new formula and favored it over the old chocolate shakeology.
The shakeology sales were still strong overall and didn’t skip a beat because only the ones who actually new of the old shakeology were the ones having a negative opinion on it. They were the ones who knew the differences from the recent improvements.

Now brings us to the updated new chocolate formula that just released December 17th, 2013.

How Did They Come Up With This New Chocolate Shakeology?

Beachbody asked a panel of 2500 taste testing panelist including both customers and coaches to taste 2 flavors
of chocolate shakeology. Beachbody went back to the drawing board to improve the taste and aroma without
jeopardizing the 70 natural ingredients and superfoods.

Five Key Dimensions Of The New Chocolate Shakeology:

1. Aroma
2. Texture
3. Sweetness
4. Chocolaty(ness)
5. Taste, including aftertaste

My big thing was the taste. I must admit that the “original” or the very first chocolate shakeology was better than the superfood formula that came out early 2012. I liked the original that I was drinking from Feb 2011-August 2012 better.

So after several attempts of trying to like the new formula, I found a recipe that was to die for. I think the most important thing is, is to just find a recipe you like. You can make anything work with the right recipe.

However, because Beachbody always strives to please their customers and coaches, they went back to the
drawing board. The results? They came out with a beautiful new Chocolate Shakeology meal replacement without
changing anything that was improved when they released the superfood formula back in the summer of 2012.

The taste was a quality sweet chocolate taste, and aroma that when you opened up the bag, you new right off the
bat, it was going to be delicious.

See Shakeology Success Stories

I mentioned the panel of 2500, but I don’t think I mentioned that I was one of them on the panel. They sent each
panelist 2 samples, each a different taste and aroma. The one I chose to be the best one, was the same that the
overwhelming majority of the other panelist also chose.

It was an easy decision for Beachbody to make after so many gave their feedback. It was the sample I remember as
#238. An aroma that when I opened the bag, felt like I was in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It wasn’t too rich but just right that you wanted to indulge in it immediately.

What Does The New Chocolate Shakeology Bring To The Table?

Same great formula including superfoods:

Moringa
Coconut Flower Nectar
Luo Han Guo
Himalayan Salt

Except, better taste and aroma. It reduces the aftertaste, brings out and compliments the chocolate aroma, and
let’s the chocolaty(ness) of the natural cacao to come out and satisfy those taste buds.

How To Make Sure You Get The New Chocolate Shakeology?

If you are already on shakeology HD, and currently get the chocolate superfood formula each month, you don’t have
to do a thing. This is because they will no longer be shipping out the old superfood formula. You will automatically get the new chocolate shakeology!

Are the Nutritional Benefits the Same As the Old Superfood Formula?
Yes, the nutritional benefits are the same, which means it still contains less sugar, more fiber, and the 4 new
superfoods.

New Chocolate Superfood Shakeology VS the Old Superfood Formula Label
They took out the red and white “New Superfood Formula” flag and now have the “GREEN” sticker in front of the packaging.

For the first month, the will be shipping out the shakeology with a sticker that says,”We Heard You. Now Better Tasting. Customer Approved.” Here is also a snapshot of the backside of the new chocolate shakeology label.

As an added incentive, Beachbody will be giving all new shakeology customers the famous Shakeology workout DVD’s($30 value) as an added gift. Limited while supplies last.

As always, Beachbody backs up all their fitness workouts and nutrition with full satisfaction guarantees or your money back. This includes a 30 day money back guarantee with the new chocolate shakeology.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Healthiest Fast Food Items Last Resort On The Go

So I decided to write about the healthiest fast food items because we live in this thing called life. Usually these days, people are very busy and there will come a time when we absolutely are running late or need to adjust our schedule and run out of time. When this happens, sometimes we skip a meal because we are so busy. This is when specific fast food items come in handy.

Now before we move on, I want to let you know that I don’t recommend eating at fast food joints as a resource for a healthy lifestyle. However, at times when you’re back is against the wall with “time”, it is better to eat and feed your body than to starve it. These foods listed will also make you gain weight if you don’t exercise. Exercise is key in putting together the best solution to reach your fitness goals in life.

The reason I don’t recommend fast food as healthy nutrition is because the ingredients they are made out of. Not necessarily the calories or the fat content, but more the things in them and what they are cooked in that can create diseases in the long run. Let’s be honest. Our nation has become bigger than ever. If we can be more selective on what we eat and how often we eat fast food, there could be a huge change in our nation’s health and tax payers money.

Finding the healthiest fast food is very difficult. Especially since most restaurants don’t always care about revealing nutritional information on the menu or on the food boxes. Not only that, but when you’re shown steak sandwiches, big greasy hamburgers with bacon and cheese, and those crispy salty fries, sometimes it is hard to resist temptation. Especially if you are in a rush to get dinner or lunch, have a hangover, or even when you are out traveling. Just remember, bigger is not always better.

So when you stop at all these restaurants for lunch or dinner, even breakfast what do you choose? Remember portions are a critical matter here. If you over eat any of these items, you could be towering over 1000 calories in just one meal with over 80 grams of carbohydrates.

Healthiest Fast Food Items From Major Chains

Believe it or not, some of the fast food chains do have food on their menus with a much less amount of fats and calories. The sodium still might be high, but I would rather face that evil than the other two.
McDonalds:
McDonald’s is known for its salty and greasy fries and its Big Mac hamburger. As wonderful and tasty as it may be for those who love fast food, it’s horrible for your body and your figure. So what foods can you eat at McDonald’s that is low-calorie and somewhat healthy as a last resort?

Regular cheeseburger (300, total fat 12, sodium 690, protein 15)
Regular hamburger ( 250 calories, total fat 9, sodium 490, protein 12)
Fruit/Granola Yogurt Parfait (150 calories, total fat 8, sodium 105, protein 4)
Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap ( 270 calories, total fat 19, sodium 670, protein 14)

Taco Bell
Taco Bell has become even more popular throughout the years with their new and funky ideas to change the taco, burritos, and even nachos into something new and delicious. Not to mention that they have now “gourmet” food created by real chefs. So what are the best choices when at Taco Bell?

Beef Soft Taco ( 200 calories, total fat 9, sodium 510, protein 10)
Chicken Soft Taco (170 calories, total fat 6, sodium 460, protein 12)
Tostada (250 calories, total fat 10, sodium 530, protein 10)

KFC
Fried chicken is a food loved by many as well as hated by many due to the massive amounts of salt and fat that each piece of crispy chicken holds. But believe it or not, there are foods on KFC’s menu that are still somewhat healthy so you get the best of both worlds.

Original Recipe Bites (10 piece) (330 calories, total fat 15, sodium 1100, protein 37)
Snack Size Bowl ( 260 calories, total fat 4, sodium 760, protein 12)
Grilled Drumstick Value Box (380 calories, total fat 19, sodium 1090, protein 15)
Chicken Little (sans sauce) (230 calories, total fat 6, sodium 540, protein 14)
House Side Salad without dressing (15 calories, total fat 0, sodium 15, protein 1)

Subway
Subway is popular for the fact you can mix and max making your own sub sandwiches or buying a creation on the menu not to mention the old commercials where Jared held up his fat pants. This is one of the better fast food chains to eat at if possible. These items are shown when served with italian or wheat bread, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and pickles. Here are some of the nutrition facts on select items.

6 inch Black forest ham sans cheese (290 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 830, protein 18)
6 inch Veggie Delite (230 calories, total fat 2.5, sodium 310, protein 8)
Double Chicken Salad (220 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 490, protein 36)
Black Forest Ham Salad (110 calories, total fat 3, sodium 600, protein 12)
Veggie Delite Salad w/o dressing (60 calories, total fat 1, sodium 75, protein 3)
6 inch Turkey Breast (280 calories, total fat3.5, sodium 810, protein 18, carb 46)

Healthiest Fast Food Items In “Sit Down” Restaurants

Sit down restaurants are nicer restaurants to sit down and enjoy a meal with the family or even a date. But some restaurants that we consider “sit down” are actually fast food restaurant.
Applebees
Applebee’s is now considered by many a nicer sit down restaurant when it is still fast food. Though it is better quality than some other fast food restaurants, a good number of its dishes tends to be high in calories sodium and fat that will go straight to our thighs and stomachs. So when you want a sit down meal, what can you choose that is healthy to make sure your pants fit right later down the road?

Bowl of tomato basil soup (280 calories, total fat 16, sodium 1490, protein 6)
Bowl of chicken noodle soup (170 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 1200, protein 14)
House salad (230 calories, total fat 15, sodium 400, protein 12)
Zesty Roma chicken & shrimp (calories 410, total fat 11, sodium 2090, protein 56)
Roasted garlic sirloin (450 calories, total fat 18, sodium 1870, protein 42)

Pizza Hut
Pizza is one of those foods almost everyone loves. It has cheese, sauce, seasoning, lots of meats or vegetables and can fit anyone’s tastes. It is also a great meal when you don’t feel like cooking to sit down too or order. Believe it or not pizza is somewhat good for a breakfast food because you burn all the carbohydrates throughout the day and you are getting vegetables and meats. But, for dinner or lunch it doesn’t work the same, so what are the healthy fast food choices at Pizza Hut?

1 slice cheese Thin -n- Crispy pizza (190 calories, total fat 8, sodium 550, protein 9, carbs 22)
1 slice Veggie Lovers Thin -n- Crispy pizza (180 calories, total fat 6, sodium 530, protein 8, carbs 23)
Pasta “1/2 pan” of Spaghetti w/ Marinara (450 calories, total fat 20, sodium 1100, protein 22, carbs 44)

Healthiest Fast Food Drinks

Many of us worry about the foods we eat, how many calories we consume, fats we intake, and try to cut sodium. Though that is good, while we are picking apart every bite we take, we tend to forget about our drinks. When ordering a drink you could be ordering something full of fat, carbohydrates, sodium or carbonate which will pack on the pounds in a hurry. So what can you drink?

Smart Water is the best. Keep it simple
Green Tea
Espresso
Jamba Juice Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blend
Iced Tea no sugar (0 calories, total fat 0, sodium 30, protein 0)
McDonald’s Small non fat latte

Fast food doesn’t have to be your full-time enemy. It can actually help carry you over if you absolutely must feed yourself and there are no other better options available. There have been many of women and men who have lost weight eating low-calorie meals from fast food restaurants when needed. This said, you must discipline yourself and know when enough is enough. Eating a balanced diet with all natural ingredients combined with daily exercise is in my opinion the best way to a healthy lifestyle.

There comes a time when you must either choose a meal replacement, or get better at preparing meals to take with you. It’s your choice to be healthy. But when you are absolutely on your last resort choice of needing to make that quick stop at your nearest fast food joint, all you have to do is pick the healthiest fast food choice on the menu from the items listed above.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Who is David Wolfe? I Love This Guy!

Living healthy is important and David Wolfe makes it easy for people to choose the right foods by identifying common nutrition myths and informing people about the truth.

Just a while ago, In came across one of the best food documentaries I have ever seen in “Food Matters”. Why? It was all about how this world was created with all the ingredients needed to be healthy. Foods that were so powerful, they could heal sickness and prevent diseases. It went as far as saying how the world has been driven to rely on pills and medication for help instead of the natural ingredients this earth provides.

There was a man named David Wolfe in this film and since then, I have been so impressed with his journey to health through superfoods and eating raw nutrition.

About David Wolfe

Wolfe is an expert on human nutrition and he advocates for the use of raw foods. He introduced a healthy living program that outlines various diet programs. He has a living nutrition degree which contributes to his expertise. He runs a company known as SunFood which deals in selling things related to raw food and is also an author.

Some of the books by David Wolfe include Superfoods, Naked Chocolate, Eating for Beauty and the SunFood Diet. He is the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation’s president, a foundation that seeks to plant 18 billion fruit trees all over the world. Both of his parents were doctors and this is where he traces his desire for good health.

David Wolfe has more than sixteen years of understanding and experience regarding the body’s inner workings. This has made him a highly sought after health and motivational speaker. He has made more than two thousand live lecture speeches within the last sixteen years. He shares the stage today with famous motivational speakers like Anthony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Buzz Aldrin and Deepak Chopra.

David Wolfe – Believers Vs Non-Believers

In the raw food community, people are split by half regarding whether the teachings of David Wolfe are genuine or not. People who believe that his nutrition claims are true consider him to be a trustworthy and well-educated leader in raw food health and nutrition. Those who do not believe in his teachings state that David Wolfe is just a salesman who is just after making profits from people who are seeking a happier, healthier lifestyle.

Most people who claim that his teachings are not genuine do so because of the manner in which Wolfe talks up his foods using buzzwords like “cacao healthiest food” and “super foods”. However, it is not appropriate to dismiss his teachings. You should listen to his lectures to educate yourself and then make an informed decision as to whether his teachings are genuine or not.

David Wolfe recommends that people should take a raw vegan diet. He states that it is the natural food for mankind and when people abide by it, they can achieve amazing wellness and health. When taking a raw vegan diet, it is essential to ensure that it is not deficient in minerals and vitamins like Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, which are not found in raw vegan foods. Wolfe advocates healthy living in his books, which are based on promoting healthy lifestyles that lead to natural healing and improved health.

You can visit his affiliation community for superfoods, superherbs, raw foods, and more at LongevityWarehouse.com

The Common Nutrition Myths That David Wolfe Speaks About

When thinking about the foods that boost health, it is essential to settle for scientific facts. This will ensure that you include foods that contain the nutrients your body needs in your diet. David Wolfe speaks about the common nutritional myths that people have and clarifies the issues surrounding them in order to educate people about the foods that benefit human health.

They include the following:

1. The role that calcium plays in increasing bone density.

Most of us believe that by drinking milk, we increase calcium supply in the body and this strengthens our bones. Many people also accept the idea that supplements that contain calcium play an important role in preventing osteoporosis. However, Wolfe argues that calcium is not the major mineral that causes an increase in bone density. Calcium only causes a one to two percent increase in bone density but this is not adequate in improving bone strength. He states that there are other alternatives that build stronger bones.
Wolfe states that magnesium and silicon are two alternatives to calcium in strengthening bones. These minerals are known to treat bone defects effectively. David Wolfe states that cacao is a very good source of magnesium, which also helps to strengthen teeth. Good sources of silicon according to David Wolfe are horse tail, nettle, alfalfa and oat straw.

2. The belief that chocolate is not good for the teeth.

David Wolfe argues that this is true to an extent but since chocolate is made from cacao beans, it is very beneficial for the teeth. As stated earlier, cacao is a good source of magnesium, which strengthens teeth and bones. Wolfe emphasizes that eating organic chocolate is good for the teeth.

3. The belief that the vitamin C that is sold in supplement form is good for your health.

Wolf states that you should steer away from synthetic vitamin C supplements and opt for natural sources of this important vitamin. All in all, the teachings of David Wolfe are beneficial for they focus on how people get important nutrition by eating natural foods.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Quick Vitamin D Benefits Overview

As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of Natural News and follow them closely. I came across a great photo on their facebook page on vitamin D benefits and thought I would share.

One thing that really sticks out to me is that vitamin D is more effective than flu shots. Opinion or not, it makes me curious how many people would choose flu shots over a consistent dose of Vitamin D. My guess is most would probably go with the shots. Why? Less discipline needed and more convenient.

My family don’t take flu shots cause of the fact that we believe most sicknesses and diseases can be prevented by taking care of yourself with superfoods, vitamins, and other natural resources the world provides.

We get most of our vitamins and superfoods through shakeology, a meal replacement by Beachbody, the maker’s of P90X, Insanity, and other top in home fitness programs. There are also other ways you can get superfoods and other natural resources for better living at Longevity Warehouse. This is a website by David Wolfe. It has foods that you can’t get anywhere else without spending hours on the internet to find them.

So whether or not you are looking for a way to get your vitamin d benefits, I hope this brief post helps you and gives you the resources you need to get what you need in this area.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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Boost Your Immune System | Benefits Of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that promotes the production of collagen in the body; a fibrous structural protein that helps in the development of healthy body tissues. Besides this, there are other numerous benefits of Vitamin C that make it an important ‘vital-amine’ nutrient. It can obtained from fresh fruits and green vegetables though you can also obtain it from vitamin C tablets.

David Wolfe On The Benefits Of Vitamin C

David Wolfe, who is a health, eco, nutrition, and natural beauty expert who was able to cure his chronic disease by doing yoga and proper nutrition says that although synthetic Vitamin C is still effective, getting it from powdered and really high plants and botanicals that are high in Vitamin C such as acerola cherry, rosehip, or camu berry is recommended.

Top 5 Health Benefits of Vitamin C

1. Immunity
Ascorbic acid is not only a component of the body immune system but it also promotes the strength and proper functioning of the system. During the winter season, the body is prone to attacks from viruses, bacteria and infections that can lead to afflictions such as common cold, influenza, pneumonia and gastroenteritis.

To combat the attacks, the antihistamine characteristic of Vitamin C and the fact that it boosts the immune system, help your body to combat these winter diseases and other disorders such as asthma, bronchitis and urinary tract infections. If you’re suffering from neuropathic pain, you can always use cannabis for neuropathic pain.

2. Antioxidant

Vitamin C is also a natural antioxidant that can protect your body from free radicals that often lead to oxidative stress. Free radicals can damage body cells leading to life threatening diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart attack. A slice of apple turns brown when exposed to air due to oxidation, but when the slice is dipped into lemon juice, it takes longer to turn brown. This demonstrates the powerful effect of Vitamin C in slowing down the rate of oxidation.

3. Formation of Collagen
As a fore mentioned, Vitamin C is responsible for the formation of collagen in the body. The abnormal functioning of collagen or its absence in the body can lead to the development of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid fever and muscle pain. A healthy dose of L-ascorbic acid can promote the production of collagen and thus help the body to prevent and combat these maladies. Furthermore, the production of collagen helps to alienate dermal disorders, reduce wrinkles and lines and thus promote a bright and flawless skin.

4. Lead Toxicity
Vitamin C can reduce the blood lead level to a great extent. This is very important especially to children who live in urban areas. Study reveals that lead toxicity increases the chances of behavioral and growth abnormalities that are characterized by difficulties in learning and low IQ. On the other hand, adults with high blood lead levels are prone to high blood pressure and kidney damage.

5. Hypertension
Vitamin C promotes a healthy cardiovascular system which helps lower blood pressure, reducing the chances of hypertension and other heart disorders. It also ensures proper dilation of the blood vessels thus prevents diseases such as angina pectoris, high cholesterol, congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis.

How To Take Advantage of The Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C can also prevent scurvy, cataracts and promote dental health. However, this nutrient should be taken in adequate quantities and in case of deficiency. Mr Wolfe recommends starting your dosage slowly and working your way up to 3000 mg per day.

I know that growing up, people have made claims that taking such amounts of vitamins in a day is dangerous. Did you know that there hasn’t been one confirmed death of vitamin overdose in the history of this world?

Check out this documentary. It will make you wonder why people have made you think about dangers in taking certain amounts of vitamins, and failed to really tell you about the truths and the benefits of taking greater amounts of vitamin C than what most were told as kids.

P90X by Tony Banawa

Tony Banawa on Google+

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