L.A. Lifestyle - Nutritional Products

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts that provide a beneficial health effect or effects on the host. Most probiotics are bacteria, and are not harmful—they contribute positively to normal human growth and development. Friendly bacteria are vital to proper development of the immune system, to protection against microorganisms that could cause disease, and to the digestion and absorption of food and nutrients. Interactions between a person and the microorganisms in his body, and among the microorganisms themselves, can be crucial to the person’s health and well-being. Probiotics are available in foods and dietary supplements in capsule, tablet and powder form. Foods containing probiotics include yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, some juices and soy beverages. In probiotic foods and supplements, the bacteria may have been present originally or added during preparation. Certain probiotics can be a safe, cost-effective approach to fight against microbial infections. Probiotics can also be used to try to counteract side effects from antibiotics like gas, cramping or diarrhea. Antibiotics kill friendly bacteria and unfriendly bacteria in the stomach, which can offset the digestive tract. Probiotics can also be used to ease the symptoms of lactose intolerance–a condition in which someone lacks the enzyme needed to digest significant amounts of sugar in milk, causing gastrointestinal problems.

Probiotics continue to be studied and documented for usage to treat certain health conditions such as:

•    Diarrhea
•    IBS
•    Bacterial infections of the stomach
•    Tooth decay/periodontal disease
•    Vaginal infections

Losing weight is something most people will attempt at least once in their lives. How to go about doing it in a healthy way is often overlooked for instant gratification. Diets promising weight loss ‘forever’ are unhealthy for the body and can potentially cause bodily damage over time or hinder future weight loss efforts.

Here are some of the bad ways to lose weight:

•    Diet Pills
o    These provide almost immediate results, decreasing your appetite with stimulants and diuretics, which will eliminate water weight immediately. These pills will not, however, help you lose actual body fat. The side effects of these types of pills can range from dizziness to kidney damage to seizures.
•    Fasting/Starving
o    When you do either of these, you lose muscle before fat. It is very difficult to sustain the body while fasting or starving yourself. Often the person ends up binging and eating a large amount of calories in one sitting. Long-term fasting weakens the immune system and strains vital organs.
•    Weight Loss Plans that include purchased meals
o    These plans are very expensive and hard to maintain. The meals offered are not necessarily healthy and are made with preservatives and usually come prepackaged or frozen. Often you will not get the support or assistance you are looking for.

There are many other diet products out there promoting quick results, such as patches, which are unsafe and have been seized by the FDA.  The point is, these quick-fix methods will not yield the right kind of results. Weight loss requires effort. You have to want it—the only person who has the power to make changes is yourself. Here at L.A. Lifestyle, we stress the importance of weight loss management, not short term dieting. Using fitness, nutrition and supplementation, you can live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Studies have shown that childhood obesity has swept through Europe at an alarming rate. To address this issue, the European Union (EU) has proposed a nutritional plan that would provide children with fruits and vegetables. The European government will be sponsoring this program, targeting all neighborhoods, including lower income areas. Their goal is to curb childhood obesity by giving the children nutritious snacks and educating them on healthy eating habits that can last them a lifetime. I think it is extremely important to educate people, not just children, on how to eat healthy and live an active lifestyle. It is also important for these children to see role models and other adults eating well, which will encourage them to do so. Not only would this plan be a great way to teach kids about nutrition, it would be free to them!

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also implemented numerous federal nutrition programs, which provide children and low-income households with a healthy diet and nutrition education. In keeping with nutritional education and the support of healthy eating habits, they purchase fresh produce, canned, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables for schools. Most USDA canned vegetables meet the Food and Drug Administration’s “healthy” standard for sodium, which is less than or equal to 480 mg per serving. To lower sugar intake, canned fruits must be packed in light syrup, water or natural juices. In addition to using whole‐grain foods such as brown rice, rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and whole‐grain dry‐kernel corn, USDA now purchases whole‐grain pastas for upcoming school years. Where protein is concerned, schools have had the option of ordering beef patties with a fat level as low as 10 percent, a low‐fat turkey taco filling, frozen diced chicken, and lean ham.

The USDA’s Schools/Child Nutrition Commodity Programs provide nutritious, USDA-purchased food to the following nutrition programs:

• National School Lunch Program
• Child Food Program and Adult Care
• Summer Food Service Program

For more information go to: http://www.commodityfoods.usda.gov