Anyone with a history of high blood pressure in their family knows what devastation it can wreak. It carries with it a mishmash of health risks, many of them serious, like tripling the risk of dying from a heart attack, quadrupling the risk of dying from a stroke, doubling the risk of congestive heart failure and tripling the risk of developing kidney disease.
But if our very lives weren't enough for high blood pressure to be in the top five of our "Health Issues to Be Concerned About" lists, then how about the lives of our marriages and relationships?
High blood pressure has a significant impact on a couple's sexlife. Sex is a crucial part of any relationship, and when a loving couple is not having it at least on a semi-regular basis, more often than not, the relationship sours faster than curdled milk.
The reason high blood pressure affects the average sexlife all boils down to blood flow. Due to the narrowing of the arteries that high blood pressure creates, it diminishes a man's ability to have an.erection -- never mind maintain one -- as there's less blood flowing to the penis.
To rectify this situation, the average guy heads to his doctor, reluctantly tells him or her about his issues "down there," and the doctor prescribes him with some form of hypertension med -- usually an alpha or beta-blocker.
Problem solved, right? Not exactly.
While your blood pressure levels might lower incrementally, your sex drive will lower incrementally as well -- the very opposite of what you want to have happen.
This isn't some theory concocted by so-called natural health "whack jobs," mind you. Well-respected news organizations and medical information outlets -- like ABC News and the Mayo Clinic -- corroborate this. In an ABC News webcast on Feb. 7 of last year, Dr. Domenic Sica, chairman for Clinical Pharmacology and Hypertension at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, said this:
"When you look at it, a number of the blood pressure medications we use are associated with the onset of male dysfunction. Now, that can be a diuretic, a beta-blocker, or so-called peripheral alpha beta-blocker -- those are three drugs commonly linked to male dysfunction."
I'm not sure the link can be made any clearer; you name the hypertension drug, and it will adversely affect your sexlife.
Given this, if you'll pardon the cliche, how does one kill two birds with one stone? How does one lower their blood pressure and improve their lovelife at the same time? Or is that even possible?
Absolutely it's possible, and you can learn how to do it all-naturally.
Bestselling authors Frank Mangano and Jon Benson have developed an easy, all-natural way to lower your blood pressure and improve your sexlife at the same time. They weren't sure this was possible, but after months of research and hordes of emails from people on how their system worked for them, they don't just think it's possible, they know it's possible!
Let me prove it to you.
Go here:
http://www.lowpressuresex.com
I recommend you visit their website immediately, where you'll get a crash course on how this issue has affected me personally; more information on the links between what's 'down there' and hypertension; and most important of all, how you can improve the health of your body and your relationship...all-naturally.
Sources:
health.yahoo.com/bloodpressure-complication/high-blood-pressure-and-sex-overcome-the-challenges/mayoclinic--13476B30-E7FF-0DBD-18FF920E1D5480C7.html
americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2129
abcnews.go.com/Health/HypertensionTreatment/story?id=5236683
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
The Skinny on Fats
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
Let's get this one out in the open:
1. Fats do not make you gain bodyfat.
2. Fats do not put you on Heart Attack Row.
3. Fats are not the enemy.
We've been sold a bag of lies when it comes to fats.
Fats are essential for your body's hormone production, skin health, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and even burning bodyfat. Yep... you need fats to burn fat.!
Studies have been conducted to attempt to elevate cholesterol levels using high-fat diets. Most all of them have failed miserably -- in fact several "lowered" total cholesterol while raising the so-called "good" cholesterol (HDL).
That being said, you don't need the following...
1. A lot of fats in your diet. Fats still contain over twice the calories per gram as carbs and protein.
2. Any kind of "fake fats" -- margarine or processed oils of any kind are highly dangerous foods.
Here's my simple dietary fats solution:
1. Eat fats as they occur in nature, but eat at least 80% as they "actually" occur in nature -- meaning from grass-fed and free-range sources. The extra cost is worth it. It tastes better and your medical costs will well offset the few dollars more per pound you pay.
2. Cook with a combination of olive oil and coconut oil, but use both sparingly. If you are eating plenty of animal protein you do not need excessive fats... not because of 'danger' but because of needless calories. Not a good idea if you're wanting to keep your abs. But a bit of raw butter or olive oil can make bland veggies taste wonderful, so feel freee.
Also, omega 3-rich fats like olive oil and fish (and especially fish oil) help lower inflammation. That's the real culprit behind heart disease in most cases.
3. Avoid a lot of fats at night. The night-time meals should be high in lean protein (tuna, tofu, turkey breast) with very limited fats if you are wanting to really get lean. If you are just trying to shed bodyweight slowly, it's okay to have some fats at night.
Just do me a favor: If you are on the "Fats make you gain bodyfat and have heart attacks" bandwagon, jump off. We have consumed fat for countless thousands of years. Just consume it the way we always HAVE (naturally, not stuffed with hormones and cooked up in a lab) and you'll be fine.
If you want a diet-solution that actually uses dietary fats to help you take off the bodyfat, then use this one:
http://www.everyotherdaydiet.com
It's a real-world plan that allows you to eat your favorite foods and still shed the bodyweight you want.
And yes -- that includes fats.
Let's get this one out in the open:
1. Fats do not make you gain bodyfat.
2. Fats do not put you on Heart Attack Row.
3. Fats are not the enemy.
We've been sold a bag of lies when it comes to fats.
Fats are essential for your body's hormone production, skin health, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and even burning bodyfat. Yep... you need fats to burn fat.!
Studies have been conducted to attempt to elevate cholesterol levels using high-fat diets. Most all of them have failed miserably -- in fact several "lowered" total cholesterol while raising the so-called "good" cholesterol (HDL).
That being said, you don't need the following...
1. A lot of fats in your diet. Fats still contain over twice the calories per gram as carbs and protein.
2. Any kind of "fake fats" -- margarine or processed oils of any kind are highly dangerous foods.
Here's my simple dietary fats solution:
1. Eat fats as they occur in nature, but eat at least 80% as they "actually" occur in nature -- meaning from grass-fed and free-range sources. The extra cost is worth it. It tastes better and your medical costs will well offset the few dollars more per pound you pay.
2. Cook with a combination of olive oil and coconut oil, but use both sparingly. If you are eating plenty of animal protein you do not need excessive fats... not because of 'danger' but because of needless calories. Not a good idea if you're wanting to keep your abs. But a bit of raw butter or olive oil can make bland veggies taste wonderful, so feel freee.
Also, omega 3-rich fats like olive oil and fish (and especially fish oil) help lower inflammation. That's the real culprit behind heart disease in most cases.
3. Avoid a lot of fats at night. The night-time meals should be high in lean protein (tuna, tofu, turkey breast) with very limited fats if you are wanting to really get lean. If you are just trying to shed bodyweight slowly, it's okay to have some fats at night.
Just do me a favor: If you are on the "Fats make you gain bodyfat and have heart attacks" bandwagon, jump off. We have consumed fat for countless thousands of years. Just consume it the way we always HAVE (naturally, not stuffed with hormones and cooked up in a lab) and you'll be fine.
If you want a diet-solution that actually uses dietary fats to help you take off the bodyfat, then use this one:
http://www.everyotherdaydiet.com
It's a real-world plan that allows you to eat your favorite foods and still shed the bodyweight you want.
And yes -- that includes fats.
Exercise Less, Not More!
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
If I had to pick out the number one reason most people fail to achieve good results in the gym, guess what it would be?
Over-training. Exercising too much.
Sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me: It's quite real.
Folks write to me all the time and say...
"Jon, I don't get it. I cannot lose bodyfat and I'm running six days a week for an hour and training in the gym five days a week for 45 minutes!"
My answer back is usually:
"You are training 4x more than me, and I'm a fitness pro!"
Look, do you take 21 aspirin for a headache, thinking the more you take the faster your pain will go away?
No?
So why apply the same logic to fitness? Only a certain amount is required. Beyond that, you are spinning your wheels.
When I wrote 7 Minute Muscle (available here: http://www.7minutemuscle.com/) I exposed all the lies about training too long and why this is not the best way to achieve the results you want. Check it out if you want the facts.
One more thing: 75% of your progress will come in the kitchen, not in the gym or on the treadmill.
As for me, I would much rather eat smart and train less than train all the time and be forced to eat 6-8 times a day just to recover from it all.
That makes no sense to me at all.
You?
http://www.7minutemuscle.com/
If I had to pick out the number one reason most people fail to achieve good results in the gym, guess what it would be?
Over-training. Exercising too much.
Sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me: It's quite real.
Folks write to me all the time and say...
"Jon, I don't get it. I cannot lose bodyfat and I'm running six days a week for an hour and training in the gym five days a week for 45 minutes!"
My answer back is usually:
"You are training 4x more than me, and I'm a fitness pro!"
Look, do you take 21 aspirin for a headache, thinking the more you take the faster your pain will go away?
No?
So why apply the same logic to fitness? Only a certain amount is required. Beyond that, you are spinning your wheels.
When I wrote 7 Minute Muscle (available here: http://www.7minutemuscle.com/) I exposed all the lies about training too long and why this is not the best way to achieve the results you want. Check it out if you want the facts.
One more thing: 75% of your progress will come in the kitchen, not in the gym or on the treadmill.
As for me, I would much rather eat smart and train less than train all the time and be forced to eat 6-8 times a day just to recover from it all.
That makes no sense to me at all.
You?
http://www.7minutemuscle.com/
Saturday, 7 August 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercise And The Brain
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
If you ever needed another good reason to exercise, I've got one for you:
Exercise makes your brain bigger.
Actually this isn't entirely accurate. To be more specific, exercise was found to increase brain size slightly, but far more important to increase "spatial reasoning."
This is the ability to recognize patterns, remember phrases, numbers, and so-on. This was discovered by researchers at the Universities of Chicago and Pittsburgh.
It is also one of the most important factors to the prevention of Alzheimer's and dementia.
My mom suffered with dementia the last ten years of her life. But unlike most dementia patients she was fully functional thanks to exercise. She drove and had a mind that was unbelievably sharp right up until an accident injured her beyond the ability to exercise.
After that, she mentally went downhill rapidly. Thankfully, she passed in peace... and she had ten wonderfully active years thanks to her willingness to take up weight training at the age of 71.
She eventually walked up to 3 miles per day and trained in the gym 3 days per week.
That kept her mind sharp, along with fish oil and N-Acetyl L-Carnitine, a wonderful brain nutrient.
Once again, we see the power of exercise. It increases the QUALITY of your life.
Quantity is no where near as important to me as quality.
The links at the bottom of this newsletter are to my books on exercise. Pick the one that appeals to you most and take action.
Your brain will thank you, as will the rest of your body.
One of the best ways to start exercising when you are over 40 is by using the routines covered in "Fit Over 40".
This book profiles 53 different men and women, age 40 to 80, all sharing their workouts, nutrition plans, and mental empowerment techniques.
It is a MUST-HAVE for anyone wanting to begin exercising or improve their level of fitness after the age of 40.
For a freee fat-burning course from Fit Over 40, go here --
http://www.fitover40.com
Exercise And The Brain
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
If you ever needed another good reason to exercise, I've got one for you:
Exercise makes your brain bigger.
Actually this isn't entirely accurate. To be more specific, exercise was found to increase brain size slightly, but far more important to increase "spatial reasoning."
This is the ability to recognize patterns, remember phrases, numbers, and so-on. This was discovered by researchers at the Universities of Chicago and Pittsburgh.
It is also one of the most important factors to the prevention of Alzheimer's and dementia.
My mom suffered with dementia the last ten years of her life. But unlike most dementia patients she was fully functional thanks to exercise. She drove and had a mind that was unbelievably sharp right up until an accident injured her beyond the ability to exercise.
After that, she mentally went downhill rapidly. Thankfully, she passed in peace... and she had ten wonderfully active years thanks to her willingness to take up weight training at the age of 71.
She eventually walked up to 3 miles per day and trained in the gym 3 days per week.
That kept her mind sharp, along with fish oil and N-Acetyl L-Carnitine, a wonderful brain nutrient.
Once again, we see the power of exercise. It increases the QUALITY of your life.
Quantity is no where near as important to me as quality.
The links at the bottom of this newsletter are to my books on exercise. Pick the one that appeals to you most and take action.
Your brain will thank you, as will the rest of your body.
One of the best ways to start exercising when you are over 40 is by using the routines covered in "Fit Over 40".
This book profiles 53 different men and women, age 40 to 80, all sharing their workouts, nutrition plans, and mental empowerment techniques.
It is a MUST-HAVE for anyone wanting to begin exercising or improve their level of fitness after the age of 40.
For a freee fat-burning course from Fit Over 40, go here --
http://www.fitover40.com
How Long To Rest Between Sets
[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]
A lot of my readers ask me how long to rest between sets while exercising.
The answer is: It depends on your goals.
If you are training to increase strength, I recommend resting a bit longer - up to two minutes for exercises like squats and heavy dumbbell work. But if you want to burn the most amount of bodyfat and gain lean muscle, I recommend resting for very short periods of time.
"The Iron Guru" Vince Gironda used to recommend leaving your hands on the bar between sets -- now THAT is short rest intervals! He would frequently rest only 15-20 seconds between sets.
This is similar to the strategy I use in 7 Minute Muscle -- very short rest intervals and very intense training. Smart, short, efficient. That's the way to go.
A good place to start is simply reducing your rest intervals by 10 seconds. No matter what workout you're using, decrease your rest by 10 seconds between sets. You may not be as strong on the last few sets (if you are training traditionally... if you use 7 Minute Muscle your rest is "built-in" and not an issue.) Over time you will work your way back up to the same amount of sets and reps but done in far less time.
This means more work output, which means more muscle if your nutrition is good.
This is the best way to train most of the time: Limited rest, intense sets, and short workouts.
They are the ones that produce results.
Go here for more information --
http://www.7minutemuscle.com/
A lot of my readers ask me how long to rest between sets while exercising.
The answer is: It depends on your goals.
If you are training to increase strength, I recommend resting a bit longer - up to two minutes for exercises like squats and heavy dumbbell work. But if you want to burn the most amount of bodyfat and gain lean muscle, I recommend resting for very short periods of time.
"The Iron Guru" Vince Gironda used to recommend leaving your hands on the bar between sets -- now THAT is short rest intervals! He would frequently rest only 15-20 seconds between sets.
This is similar to the strategy I use in 7 Minute Muscle -- very short rest intervals and very intense training. Smart, short, efficient. That's the way to go.
A good place to start is simply reducing your rest intervals by 10 seconds. No matter what workout you're using, decrease your rest by 10 seconds between sets. You may not be as strong on the last few sets (if you are training traditionally... if you use 7 Minute Muscle your rest is "built-in" and not an issue.) Over time you will work your way back up to the same amount of sets and reps but done in far less time.
This means more work output, which means more muscle if your nutrition is good.
This is the best way to train most of the time: Limited rest, intense sets, and short workouts.
They are the ones that produce results.
Go here for more information --
http://www.7minutemuscle.com/
Thursday, 5 August 2010
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