CEREALS - Ideal foods for breakfast?

I remember when I was a small kid, back when the days I was still in primary and high schools. I enjoyed my cereals so much, that I gotten so addicted and it was considered the staff of life and my 'permanent' breakfast meal. My parents didn't know at that time if it was good or bad for my health as they have never been equipped with the health and nutrition knowledge which is needed to ensure I eat healthy and avoid crappy toxic foods.

Should I blame my parents back then? Of course not. Most parents even now, are severely lack of knowledge about health, diet, nutrition and even fitness and exercise. Reason? I think some of you would have figure it out by now if you have been doing your own proper research and reading my blog. You are right. Contradictory health information in medias and misinformation which mislead us all to eat till our insulin spike through the roof and grow a sexy rounded potbelly which looks like 9 months pregnant and make Doraemon your soulmate. 

Most of us, easily above 98% of total population, are avoiding eating fats and cholesterol laden foods. The more we avoid eating fats, the fatter we are, and the sicker we become. How could this be? It certainly doesn't make any sense at all. In fact, most of us have all lost our common sense, we can't even think straight on how and what to research and decide which is right and which is wrong. Some even think that eating sugar is important and needed for humans to survive. Why is our brains hardwired to think this way? The answer is primarily FDA. Yes! FDA! The administration which suppose to protect the foods and drugs from harming the society and world population.

If you want to find an unintentional humor, the source would be FDA. You can call FDA as comedy central. I mean seriously. For example, FDA announced a permanent injunction against two food companies that were making claims such as, "Chemicals found in cherries may help fight diabetes." Two different studies, one a lab study and one an animal study, which have shown that anthocyanins (antioxidant compounds found in tart cherries) may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. But the FDA has ordered the companies to stop making the claims "...until the products are approved by the FDA as new drugs...". That's right, as new drugs. Cherries. 

Next, if you go to the web site for Kellogg's Smart Start cereal, you'll find these impressive claims, which (we can assume) the FDA is just fine with, "Smart Start Healthy Heart has ingredients that can help lower BOTH blood pressure and cholesterol, and it tastes great.". The cereal front box also has a label "Strong Heart". Seriously? Since when on earth would sugar laden grains based foods protects the heart? Not to mention HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), wheat, canola oil and artifical flavor which are part of the ingredients. 

If you have read my previous sugar posts and done your own homework on sugar and its devastating affects on our health and body, you will know it is our no.1 enemy in diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Again, it is not the fats nor cholesterol. 

Ingredients: OAT BLEND (WHOLE OATS, OAT BRAN), RICE, SUGAR, OAT CLUSTERS (SUGAR, TOASTED OATS [ROLLED OATS, SUGAR, CANOLA OIL WITH TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, MOLASSES, HONEY, BHT FOR FRESHNESS, SOY LECITHIN], WHEAT FLAKES, CRISP RICE [RICE, SUGAR, BARLEY MALT, SALT], CORN SYRUP, POLYDEXTROSE, HONEY, CINNAMON, BHT FOR FRESHNESS, ARTIFICIAL VANILLA FLAVOR), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MALT FLAVORING, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, BAKING SODA, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, REDUCED IRON, VITAMIN D, ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), BHT (PRESERVATIVE), BETA CAROTENE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN A), FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B12.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 1/4 Cups

Calories 220

Total Fat 2.5g

Sodium 140mg

Sugars 17g

Dietary Fiber 5g

Ingredients: Whole grain wheat, rice, sugar, whole grain oats, contains 2% or less of rice flour, honey, corn syrup, brown sugar syrup, salt, polydextrose, malt flavor, canola oil, yellow 5, cinnamon, artificial flavor, molasses, soy lecithin, BHT for freshness.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Cup

Calories 190

Total Fat 1g

Sodium 210mg

Sugars 14g

Dietary Fiber 3g

Energise Your Day? Another poor diet recommendation from newspaper

Time after time whenever local newspaper published an article about diet, nutrition or health, I shake my head in disbelief. What is happening here in our diet and nutrition industries? What is happening to the dieticians and nutritionists? Have they been brainwashed and become processed foods salesman rather then educating the public and clients to eat organic whole foods?  

I remember one of my friends who told me that when he enrolled in degree in nutrition course, he felt that he was studying a course which promotes to sell processed foods products. He found it odd and at times awkward. When I told him the only good nutrition courses are hollistic based certification and CCN, he looked dissapointed. He had invested a lot of money, and he was halfway through the nutrition course, there was no turning back. How many registered dieticians and nutritionists realized that their degrees or certifications are funded mostly by food industries? I would say, not many.

Recently, I've read an article in local newspaper, titled "Energize Your Day with the Essentials of Protein". I assume that this article is written and posted by a registered dietician or a conventional nutritionist. I may be wrong, but the point here is about promoting a so called "protein supplement product" by Amway to the public. I tried to google and search for the ingredients of this product. Guess what? I could not find the ingredients list anywhere in Amway brochure nor official website. What is that so? I know why, but I will let you figure it out. In this article, it is pointed out that eating too much fats (highlighted in red below) will lead to obesity. Is that what the dietician and nutrition courses educate the students? Wonder why more and more people in our countries tend to suck in more carbs and sugars and avoid eating fats and we are now become fatlander. Thanks but no thanks to the medias, doctors and dieticians. 

Good science, Bad science...the contradictory bang

I'm sure most of you have read tons of health, diet, nutrition and fitness information from all over the medias. From Men's Fitness magazine to SHAPE, radio and television to newspapers, and regular sharing amongst friends, colleagues, family members and even so called 'personal trainers' and 'dieticians' in gyms and hospitals. Not to mention some of the so called 'health and diet' books sold in the bookstores which you visited from time to time.

Bad Science (1)

This study looked really amateurish, yet Ancel-Keys similiar type of research.

Bad Science (2)

One of the worst flawed bad science ever conducted in diet and health industry, which 'hardwired'  millions of people including doctors, being mislead to think that saturated fats and cholesterol are the villains, which is the cause of heart disease.

Good Science (1)

There are so many indigenous, primitive tribes and population who have been living with extraordinary excellent health for generations after generations, consuming high fat diet.  

Good Science (2)

High Intensity Interval Training has proven in so many studies that it is much more superior, efficient and burn more fat and build lean muscles then steady state cardio. Less time, greater results and stimulating metabolism at better rate.

Good Science (3)

Another HIIT study in NSW, Australia.

References

Boutcher, S.H., et al. The effect of high-intensity intermittent exercise training on autonomic response of premenopausal women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 39(5 suppl):S165, 2007.

Gorostiaga, E.M., et al. Uniqueness of interval and continuous training at the same maintained exercise intensity. European Journal of Applied Physiology 63(2):101-107, 1991.

King, J.W. A comparison of the effects of interval training vs. continuous training on weight loss and body composition in obese premenopausal women (thesis). East Tennessee State University, 2001.

Meuret, J.R., et al. A comparison of the effects of continuous aerobic, intermittent aerobic, and resistance exercise on resting metabolic rate at 12 and 21 hours post-exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 39(5 suppl):S247, 2007.

Talanian, J.L., et al. Two weeks of high-intensity aerobic interval training increases the capacity for fat oxidation during exercise in women. Journal of Applied Physiology 102(4):1,439-1,447, 2007.

Tjonna, A.E., et al. Superior cardiovascular effect of interval training vs. moderate exercise in patients with metabolic syndrome. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 39(5 suppl):S112, 2007.

Trapp, E.G., Boutcher, S.H. Fat loss following 15 weeks of high-intensity, intermittent cycle ergometer training. Obesity Reviews 341, 2006. 

Treuth, M.S., et al. Effects of exercise intensity on 24-h energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 28(9):1,138-1,143, 1996.

Big Fat Lies : Good science vs Bad Science

Just thought this video presentation is awesome yet hillarious. I hope more people would realize that we have been living in 'health and fitness fradulent world' as we have been bombarded with loads of big fat lies when it comes to health, diet, nutrition and fitness. Whoever watch this video, please do share it with as many friends or family members whom you know. Ancel Keys regarded as 'Father of Lipid Hypothesis?" My arse would then worth a million dollar! Anyway, enjoy the short video folks. 

Courtesy link: http://authoritynutrition.com/modern-nutrition-policy-lies-bad-science/ 

Traditional fresh markets...in Aussie-land

Do you often buy whole foods at fresh markets in Malaysia? What do you think of the cleanliness and quality of the whole foods sold in your own country? If you have visited any of the traditional fresh markets in Australia, you will feel a massive different in terms of foods, cleanliness and environment as well as courtesy amongst the traders in the markets.

Compared to countries such as Australia and New Zealand, my country do not have as much healthy free range grass fed animals to be breed and sold to consumers than both these awesome countries. Most animals such as pigs, chickens, cows, and even ducks are fedlot and being feed waste products, grains, sewage, contaminated fecal matter, poor quality foods and there are hundreds and thousands of each of these species together in each allocated land/farm. Due to high demand and cheap prices, commercial fedlot farming is blooming and increasing. People wants cheap foods, and as long as it meet their pocket's requirement and financial budget, each meal and each day will pass on like any other day, as long as the 'stomach' is full.

Most people don't realize the massive difference between eating organic free range grass fed meats and commercial fedlot sick animals. For them, it's all about cheap foods, and meat is just meat, food is just food, why pay more? Most of us heard of "You Are What You Eat". And common sense tells you that you can't get any health from sick unhealthy animals. I know I have stressed that many times and make myself a  broken music box to most people I know. Be aware that healthcare is becoming more and more expensive as and health insurance may not be so helpful in 5-10 years from now when you get old and suffer from chronic degenerative disease. Wealthy people all over the world, millionaires and billionaires died of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases with their loaded savings unable to save or reverse their health and provide cure. Remember, prevention is better then cure. 

One of the famous organic farmer/butcher in Australia - Hagens

Along the meats section in Prahran Market

The whole foods and main area of Prahran Market

One of the main fresh markets in Melbourne

Foods to explore and eat..during vacation

The title of this post says it all. Whenever you go on holiday or vacation, especially countries like Australia, New Zealand or even certain cities in USA, you may ponder and plan out what you want to eat and drink. In reality, most people who travel overseas on holidays, they tend to trash themselves with loads of crap, junk and processed foods, but sometimes, it doesn't have to be this way.

Below are some of the foods which I consumed during my recent trip to Australia. If you want to plan out your meals eating healthy, whole foods and organic, and perhaps do some light cooking, try stay in serviced apartment fully equipped with kitchen. You can buy organic free range meats and poultry, wild catch fresh seafood and fishes, that will provide you a sumptuous meal each and every time you cook your meal. Rather then hitting the fast food restaurants and eating high crap meals, you may want to try it out once in a while during your holidays. Who knows, you may enjoy it very much.

Organic local grapes - dirt cheap

Figs - delicious, an ancient fruit rarely sold in Malaysia

Free range chickens

High quality clean water - artesian Fiji

Avocados, olives, spinach - Dinner

FIGS - yummy

Spinach, macadamia nuts, avocados, bananas and organic yogurt - Dinner

Organic yogurt - delicious, nutritious yet cheap

Pot set, gluten free, stabilizers free and none of the pesticides and synthetic hormones

Free range organic bacon & coriander - The bacon seriously taste better then the processed-packaged bacon sold in Malaysia.

One of the most cheap yet nutritious food on the planet - whole eggs (organic free range). Egg yolk  causes high cholesterol and heart disease? That's just silly.

Organic, high fats, nutrients packed, one of the best whole fruits to be  part of  regular diet. Eating fat will NOT make you fat.

If you must and crave for milk, try this alternative, organic whole milk. Go for  organic grass fed raw milk if possible.

Kangaroo meat - Try it out!

Organic Kale, coriander & fresh oysters - Dinner

Organic local grown mangoes

Gold Coast wild catch King Prawns