Did You Know? Important Health Info for the Healthy Lifestyle Conscious

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DID YOU KNOW THAT:

(1) 1 teaspoon of sugar = 4 grams?

(2) the average American eats 142 pounds of sugar a year?

(3) by the year 2015, 75% of Americans will be overweight, and that 41% will be obese?

(4) eating refined carbs (white rice, white bread, white potatoes, sweets, etc.) on an empty stomach will cause a huge insulin spike contributing to insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes, obesity, etc.)?

(5) weight loss without exercise (walking, climbing stairs, lifting weights, etc.) results in lighter and less dense bones?

(6) shark, King mackerel, swordfish, golden bass, sea bass, tilefish, gulf coast oysters, marlin, halibut, pike, lobster, and tomalley are high in mercury and should be avoided?

(7) obesity is a risk factor for a vitamin D deficiency?

(8) by replacing vegatable oils such as canola, soybean, safflower, sunflower, corn, and peanut with coconut oil, you will lose weight?

(9) the phosphoric acid in soda leaches minerals from bones and suppresses the body's ability to absorb manganese?

(10) diabetes may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? (One study found that there was a 65 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in people with diabetes.)

(11) simple sugars such as white potatoes and table sugar enters the bloodstream at the rate of 30 calories per minute while complex carbs (some veggies for example) enter at the rate of about 2 calories per minute?

(12) supermarket food, including fruits and vegetables, travel an average 1,500 miles to get to your local store?

(13) up to 70% of healthcare costs are lifestyle related (CNN)?

(14) walnuts (contains ALA) are better than olive oil at minimizing the artery restricting effects of too much saturated fat?

(15) the only difference between white eggs and brown eggs is the color?

(16) the imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is the reason for melanoma, the major and deadly form of skin cancer? Sunscreen manufacturers would have you believe that the sun is at fault. Deaths from skin cancer are 2% of all cancers. Melanoma is only 6% of all skin cancer cases. More...

(17) love handles are subcutaneous fat, not visceral fat?

(18) 80 percent of Americans are magnesium deficit? Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include body aches, muscle twitches, low energy levels (feeling rundown), headaches and migraines, leg cramps, chronic constipation, insulin resistance, and severe PMS.

A magnesium deficiency can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and more. Adults should get 400 mg (milligrams) of magnesium daily. Sources include, raw pumpkin seeds, spinach, raw sunflower seeds, almonds, black beans, and brown rice. See...

(19) organic agriculture is growing faster than any other part of American food production? Currently it is a $9 billion industry which is growing at 20 percent per year.

(20) 70 percent of all diabetes patients will eventually succumb to heart disease?

(21) the average man's testosterone and sperm count have dropped 20% in the last 20 years?

(22) the United States produces over 50% of the world's soybeans, and that 85% of all U.S. soybeans are genetically modified?

(23) Americans are among the shortest and fattest people in the industrialized world? They were once the tallest.

(24) according to reserachers, belly or abdominal fat is very common in people of normal-weight but who get little to no exercise?

(25) it can take up to 4 hours for your body to digest protein?

(26) cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the United States?

(27) the avearge American eats 300 more calories daily than he did in 1985?

(28) one-third Americans receive 47% of their calories from junk food?

(29) scores of diseases and conditions are caused or made worse by stress? (90% of all visits to primary care doctors is due to stress.)

(30) being overweight or obese increases risk of breast cancer, as well as cancers of colon, endometrium (uterus), esophagus, and kidney?

(31) you should get 45 to 65% of your energy from carbohydrates, 20 to 35% from fat, and 10 to 35% from protein?

(32) it takes about 20 minutes for the stretch receptors in your stomach to tell your brain how full you are?

(33) 98% of the wheat eaten in the United States is in the form of white flour?

(34) 52% of the vegetables eaten by Americans come from iceberg lettuce, potatoes, and canned tomatoes?

(35) Argentinian grass-fed beef contains 2.5 grams of fat per 4 ounces compared with American grain-fed beef containing 10.8 grams of fat per 4 ounces?

(36) a person in his/her 80s could double his strength in six weeks on a supervised weight training program?

(37) the brain is 60% fat? (approximately 12% is arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 acid, and approximately 17% is DHA, an omega-3 acid.)

(38) more people die of diabetes worldwide than die of AIDS according to the World Health Organization (WHO)? [Six times more people die of diabetes worldwide than die of breast, colon, prostate, or liver cancers. Also, diabetes kills more people throughout the world than Alzheimer's disease, lung cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), car accidents, and war.

(39) real fat breaks down slowly over 3 to 4 hours? (Don't be afraid to include saturated fats and cholesterol in your diet.)

(40) fat burns 70 times fewer calories than muscle?

(41) if one-tenth of the American public started a walking program, $5.6 billion in heart disease costs could be saved?

(42) the most heavily subsidized crop in America is corn, and that it is so cheap that the bag that movie popcorn comes in is more expensive than the popcorn itself?

(43) multiple sclerosis affects twice as many women as it does men?

(44) the average American eats an additional 222 calories every weekend?

(45) approximately 26% of women develop arthritis while only about 17% of men develop it (See also...)

(46) almost 50% of Americans are at risk of developing high blood pressure?

(48) your brain makes up only 2% of your body weight, but uses almost 20% of your blood sugar?

(49) 3 servings of whole grain daily can cut your risk of dying from an inflammatory disease such as heart disease, diabetes, colitis, or rheumatoid arthritis?

(50) 43 million Americans take an aspirin every day?

(51) up to 80% of all heart attacks occur to people who have normal cholesterol levels?

(52) all through history, as wealth increased, so did obesity?

(53) the average American woman wore a size 8 in 1985, and now wears a size 14?

(54) medical related costs for America's overweight and obesity epidemic costs $123 billion per year?

(55) every 29 seconds an American has a heart attack, or goes into cardiac arrest?

(56) the average man loses 6 pounds of muscle between the ages of 30 and 50, and from age 50 to 60, that amount doubles?

(57) 76 percent of Americans have a sleeping disorder at least a few days a week?

(58) no more than 6% of vegetarians are obese?

(59) soft drinks contribute 10 percent of the calories in the average American's diet?

(60) overeating sugar can give you dull and wrinkled skin?

(61) obesity has been linked to 53 diseases?

(62) olive oil is 77% monounsaturated fat, 9% polyunsaturated fat, and 14% saturated fat?

(63) China has 300 million people who are overweight or obese?

(64) sweet potatoes are rated number 1 out of all vegetables by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)?

(65) on average, smoking will shorten your life by 10 years, but obesity will shorten it by 13 years?

(66) 1 out of every 3 people in the United States have diabetes or prediabetes?

(68) the brain holds 25% of your body's cholesterol, and low cholesterol has been linked to memory problems?

(69) 4 out of 5 people in your generation will die from heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, or stroke?

(70) one study has shown that one person develops Alzheimer's disease every 72 seconds in the United States?

(71) between 1996 and 2006 there were 72 outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables?

(72) the United States spent $2.2 trillion on healthcare in 2006?

(73) saturated fats elevate HDL cholesterol (good) as well as your LDL cholesterol (bad)?

(74) the food industry spends nearly $10 billion a year advertising unhealthy junk and fast foods?

(75) restaurant patrons choose drinks, side orders, and desserts with up to 131% more calories when they think the main dish is healthy versus when they don't?

(76) according to a new study publised in the Archives of Internal Medicine that the number of prescription drug-related deaths more than doubled in the past 8 years?

(77) it is considered routine in Europe for a doctor to prescribe fish oil (for its omega-3 fatty acids) in order to increase the odds of survival after a heart attack?

(78) according to a study published in the Journal of Food Composition & Analysis, Americans receive almost 1/3 of their calories from junk foods (soft drinks, sweets, desserts, alcoholic beverages, salty snacks)?

(79) 1 pound of muscle contains 600 calories while 1 pound of fat has 3,500?

(80) diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States?

(81) you can lose 11 pounds in a year by weight-training twice a week?

(82) the caffeine in one cup of coffee will cause your bones to lose about 2 mg of calcium?

(83) in 1965, Americans averaged 44 minutes a day preparing meals and 21 minutes cleaning up? (In 1995, Americans averaged 27 minutes a day in food preparation and 4 minutes cleaning up.)

(84) according to CNN, the average American can put on 8 to 10 pounds between the Thanksgiving holiday and New Years?

(85) 1 in 500 people got cancer in 1900 and today it is 1 in 2?

(86) the average American 65 years of age and older takes 15 or more medications (prescription plus over-the-counter) a day, and that only the first one or two deal with the original medical problem?

(87) adding cream or milk to green tea seems to destroy all antioxidant benefits?

(88) testosterone levels drop as much as 40% in men between the early 40s and early 70s?

(89) 1/2 of all antibiotics in the United States are used for livestock?

(90) in 1940 it took 4 months to grow a chicken to full size, today it only takes 6 weeks? (Due to hormones.)

(91) Americans are sleeping, on average, 2 to 3 hours less than they did 100 years ago?

(92) a serving size of 1 cup is about the size of a baseball?

(93) arthritis is the most common chronic health problem in the United States with 66 million sufferers? (According to the Arthritis Foundation)

(94) walnuts, almonds, and pistachios contain a powerful compound that may stop cancerous tumors?

(95) 469 new health food stores opened between 2005 and 2006?

(96) the average teenager in America drinks 65 gallons of Coca Cola a year?

(97) Adderall and Dexedrine, two drugs used to treat ADHD, has skyrocketed 2,000 percent in just the past 9 years?

(98) according to the Nurses Health Study, each 2% increase in trans fat consumption results in a 93% increase in coronary heart disease?

(98) 1 out of every 2 Americans are living in "unacceptable breathing environments" according to the American Lung Association?

(99) at 50 years old, there's a 50% chance of men experiencing some type of prostate issue, and it goes up to 80-90% at 80 years of age?

(100) you get hungry if your body temperature drops?

(101) the recommended daily allowance of sodium (salt) is 2,300 milligrams or about a teaspoon?

(102) insufficient protein in the diet can cause weakening of the heart?

(103) losing 6 pounds of weight will give most people a 1 mg/dl gain in HDL (good) cholesterol? (Normal for men is over 40 mg/dl; normal for women is over 50 mg/dl.

(104) people who exercise do not get sick as often as those who do not exercise?

(105) women who don't get enough vitamin D absorb less than 10% of their calcium intake?

(105) Americans consume 29 billion aspirins a year?

(106) dry, flaky, and sluggish skin is a sign of a weak thyroid?

(107) excess weight will raise the risk of arthritis in the knees?

(108) the body needs saturated fat to properly absorb essential fatty acids?

(109) in 2006 the average household spent almost one-half of its food budget eating out? (Survey of Consumer Expenditures for 2006 released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

(110) the average American eats 20 tons of food in a lifetime?

(111) having to urinate more than 12 times a day, or more than 3 times in a three-hour period could be an early indicator of diabetes?

(112) vitamin C with your meals enhances iron absorption? (See...)

(113) in 1970 the life expectancy for men was 69 years while for women it was 74 years?

(114) cancer is the number 1 killer of Americans under the age of 85?

(115) Japanese living on the island of Okinawa live the longest, healthiest lives of any people group in the world?

(116) eating raw vegetables such as broccoli for 3 months or more may reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer by about 40%?

(117) more than 25% of bottled water comes from a municipal (public) source?

(118) Britons have a slight edge over Americans in their love of fast foods?

(119) colds, sore throats, ear aches and the flu are caused by viruses and cannot be treated with antibiotics?

(120) lonely middle-aged and older adults have higher levels of the stress hormone epinephrine than people of the same age who are not lonely?

(121) for every 3 pounds of muscle gained through exercise, your metabolic rate is raised by 120 calories per day?

(122) when carbon monoxide is used to preserve meat and give it a red, fresh look, the plastic wrap used is thicker and it doesn't cling to the meat? (By the way, the European Union bans this practice.)

(123) red peppers are higher in antioxidants than broccoli?

(124) broccoli has the most phytochemicals of any vegetable?

(125) cranberries have the highest phytochemical and antioxidant content of any fruit followed by apples, red grapes, strawberries, peaches, lemons, pears, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple?

(126)soft drink consumption has increased by over five times in the last fifty years?

(127) a woman gains 1-1/2 pounds a year during her adult life?

(128) omega-3 fatty acids are more effective at reducing heart disease-related mortality than statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs)?

(129) walnuts contain tryptophan, a sleep inducing amino acid?

(130) women's waistlines are almost 2 inches larger than they were 10 years ago?

(131) Lipitor and other statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) can trigger demetia?

(132) the obesity rate among the Amish is a measly 4%? (The national average in America is a whopping 32%!)

(133) a Japanese study has linked low cholesterol with an increased risk of stomach cancer while some other studies have linked higher death rates of cancer in general to low cholesterol?

(134) over 27 million Americans (of whom 80% are women) suffer from thyroid disease?

(135) the average American child eats 15-30% more calories than are needed for healthy growth?

(136) two cups of water weighs 1 pound?

(137) people who suffer with depression have low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine?

(138) next to water, protein is the most abundant substance in the body?

(139) calcium helps the body to absorb magnesium?

(140) being 10 pounds overweight increases the force on your knees 30 to 60 pounds?

(141) women are more susceptible to lung cancer than men?

(143) according to a telephone survey of 14,660 adults, men are more likely to eat meat and chicken while women are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables? (5,595 men and 9,065 women were contacted.)

(144) the United States has the highest per capita health care cost in any country in the world, and ranks number 37 in terms of quality of health care?

(145) 1/2 of all Americans have a health problem that requires taking a prescription drug every week?

(146) kids received 10 vaccines before attending school in 1976, but today they receive over 36?

(147) new research indicates that over 50% of Americans considered to carry normal weight have a high percentage of body fat--over 20% for men and 30% for women?

(148) when thyroid function is low (hypothyroidism), cholesterol levels go up?

(149) recurrent strep throat can be significantly reduced or eliminated entirely by removing all milk and dairy products from your diet?

(150) infections caused by viruses, such as colds and the flu, should not be treated with antibiotics?

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