L.A. Lifestyle - Nutritional Products

Soy has been around for ages, and can provide a good source of protein found in many forms: tempeh, tofu, soy meat substitutes, soybeans, miso and soy milk and soy flour. Many of its therapeutic benefits are believed to come from its vast stores of isoflavones. To get the most out of soy, health experts suggest eating whole foods like tofu, and soy milk because they contain higher levels of isoflavones than processed foods or supplements. Foods containing soy protein can offer a good alternative to the protein sought after by eating meat, poultry, and other animal-based products. When soy replaces animal protein in the diet, it helps to lower cholesterol, which in turn helps prevent heart disease. Soy has been linked to improvements in such disorders as cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms. Soy products can now be found in supermarkets and specialty food stores nationwide, such as soy milk, yogurt, ice cream, various tofu dishes and meat substitutes.  Many restaurants are now offering soy-based alternatives to traditional dishes. Soy can easily be added into recipes to create healthy alternatives to certain foods.

Survey sponsored by Stremicks Foods, which owns its own brand of soymilk, found that:

•    50 percent of consumers surveyed know little about soy
•    Less than 1 in 5 people consume soy products on a weekly basis
•    83 percent of adults know one health benefit of soy
•    40 percent of respondents never tried soy milk because they believed it would taste bad
•    25 percent thought soy milk was too expensive or were unaware of its health benefits
•    17 percent consume soy products on a weekly basis; 34 percent monthly

I understand that everyone lives a different life each day, and we are all busy with family, work and other commitments. I cannot stress how important it is to at least get some form of exercise each day. I was not surprised to read recently that Americans are not getting enough exercise. According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, the minimum recommended aerobic physical activity is 150 minutes a week, which combines both vigorous and moderate activities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 1/3 of Americans do not meet these guidelines, with the numbers showing around 65 percent of Americans do. Despite the vast amount of health information out there, whether online or otherwise, many Americans are overweight, obese or suffering health problems due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. To avoid Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease and other health risks, it is important to exercise as much as possible. The government has also come up with new guidelines for people’s health: its Healthy People 2010 objectives recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week or 20 minutes of vigorous activity 3 days a week. So far only about 49 percent of Americans meet these requirements.

If you work in an office, take a brisk 10 minute walk for a quick break. This will help you increase circulation, de-stress and stay energized throughout the day. There are many ways to get exercise outside of the office or on the weekends. I have always been an advocate of the gym, but it can be expensive and time consuming. For some the gym is not a positive environment, but the good news is that you can get some exercise in your own home.  You can take neighborhood walks, go for a run or make your own little space in your home for exercising. Whether it is pilates, yoga, strength training or aerobics, it can be done at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. Adding more intervals of physical activity to your weekly routine may be difficult at first, so it is important to go at your own pace.  Remember, some exercise is better than none!

There are many nutrients available to consumers to nourish the body and address certain issues. Most people are aware of well known vitamins and supplements, like Co Q10 or Vitamin C, but there are many others that can provide health benefits. I have been reading up lately on the new push for phospholipids, which are essential building blocks of cell membranes, helping keep a strong cell structure. Some phospholipids commonly available as dietary supplements are phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine. When we consume phosphatidylcholine, also known as Lecithin, it is broken down into the nutrient choline, which the body cannot make on its own. Lecithin defines the cell membrane structure and helps facilitate the movement of fluids inside and outside the cell. Lecithin is also a component of myelin, the thin covering that protects brain cells and the spinal cord from damage. Lecithin is typically found in the cell membrane or cell walls of every single living cell of an organism, whether plant or animal in origin. Cell membranes or walls are semi-permeable, and responsible for regulating the passage of nutrients into and out of cells. Phosphatidylserine plays a crucial role in several membrane-linked activites, such as enzyme activation, maintenance of the cell’s internal environment, cell-to-cell communication and cell growth regulation. As a supplement, phosphatidylserine is most well known as a cognitive enhancement agent, but also may protect against the hormonal effects of stress. Modern dietary phospholipid supplements are clinically proven to be safe and beneficial for the brain, liver, intestinal tract and overall circulation. Due to our modern diet of unhealthy and unnatural foods, the dietary phospholipid intake has declined, mainly because of increased food refining and processing. The foods most enriched in phospholipids are eggs, muscle meats, milk and peanut butter.

Click to learn more about L.A. Lifestyle’s Lecithin Powder.