Preventing Your Biggest Health Risk – Heart Disease
February 15 2018
While January had many of us making resolutions to kick things off with a healthy start, February has traditionally been deemed “Heart Health Month”. Regardless of how this tradition started, it’s perhaps for good reason, since the health of your heart is one of the most important factors of maintaining good health and is often ignored until it’s too late.
There are many reasons to make sure you are taking good care of your cardiovascular health. Some of the most sobering are shown in these alarming statistics.
Here Are The Facts
From the Centers For Disease Control and American Heart Association:
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women
- 1 in 4 deaths is due to heart disease – every 40 seconds in the USA
- Only 54% of women recognize it’s the #1 killer
- Of those who die from heart disease, two-thirds (64%) of women and half of men die suddenly with no previous symptoms
- Only 54% have their high blood pressure under control.
- 9 out of 10 Americans eat too much sodium
Risk Factors
According to research identifying the primary causes of heart attacks sponsored by the World Health Organization and World Heart Federation, the primary risk factors for heart disease are (in no particular order): abnormal cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, stress, smoking, abdominal obesity, inactive lifestyle, alcohol abstinence and not consuming enough fruits and vegetables.
Take a second look at the risk factors listed above. What stands out as the common link? In one word: Diet!
Yes, abnormal cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and lack of fruits and vegetables are all linked to a poor diet as a primary cause. Therefore, the most powerful thing you can do as an individual to avoid and reduce your risk of heart disease, is to take a closer look at what you are consuming on a daily basis!
The REAL underlying cause of heart disease is the food choices that we make each day.
The Ultimate Way To Treat And Prevent
Why is diet so important? The reason is that what you put in your body is closely associated with how your cardiovascular system works. Certain foods harm it, while others help repair and improve it. Consume too much of the bad foods, and not enough of the good and your heart health will be negatively impacted. The good news is that detrimental effects can to a great extent be reversed and/or improved by making smarter food choices.
In a nut shell, you’ll want to eat more unsaturated fats, ensure you are eating nutrient rich healthy foods, include foods with fiber content, eat calcium and high quality protein rich foods. And eat less processed foods, along with reducing consumption of foods that contain trans fats, saturated fats, salt and sugar.
▶ For help getting started please see our informative article on exactly what to eat.
Amazingly, by simply changing what you eat, you can make the biggest impact on your heart health and anyone can start today without delay. You’ll avoid and/or reduce your risk of becoming one of the unfortunate and completely unnecessary statistics. All it takes is a choice you make and then follow with each bit you take every day.
For the easiest way to help ensure your heart gets the attention it deserves, consider signing up for our Heart Healthy Meal Plan. MealEasy® was created to help anyone eat healthier without any guesswork, showing you precisely what to eat and providing a plan to ensure absolute success. The Heart Healthy plan follows recognized dietary guidelines to achieve better cardiovascular health for anyone who follows it. Try it today and you heart will love you for it!
Happy New Year 2018!
January 01 2018
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with good health and happiness!
From MealEasy
Transform Your Life With Phytonutrients
December 30 2017
You’ve likely heard the word “phytonutrient” in the past, but there’s a good chance you don’t know what they are or why they are a vitally important component of good health and a good life. Once you learn what they are you may never look at food the same way again! Read on to find out just how powerful they are and help transform your health for the new year!
What Are Phytonutrients?
The first thing you may be wondering is what exactly are phytonutrients and why should you care about them?
Well, to explain simply, they are generally thought of as natural chemicals that food from plants are composed of. Generally these are found in foods that are fruits, vegetable, whole grains, nuts or legumes. In fact, the word “phyto” means “plant” in Greek.
These special nutrients help protect plant life from threats such as bugs, fungus and germs and consequently are also considered to be beneficial to protecting our own health; as well as prolonging our life when consumed.
There are over 25,000 types of phytonutrients, each with different properties and health benefits. Without getting too technical, they are for certain something you’ll want to ensure you eat enough of!
How To Use Them
A good rule of thumb is to look for and consume fruits and vegetables with lots of color. Foods with color are full of positive benefits that your body can use to improve and maintain good health. Each time you eat, try to be conscious of the color of the foods you put in your mouth. If most of what you eat has little or neutral colors, then there’s a good chance they are lower quality foods that lack phytonutrients.
So maybe our mothers’ were right when they kept telling us to eat our fruits and vegetables!
Example Phytonutrients
Some of the more well-known phytonutrients include:
- Carotenoids are one category of phytonutrients that have many known benefits. Typically they provide the red, yellow and orange colors found in fruits and vegetables. They are known to provide an abundance of antioxidants that protect the cells in our body from damage.
- Flavonoids another type of phytonutrient category contain numerous health benefits including reducing the risk of asthma, reducing/preventing some types of cancer, reducing inflammation, preventing chronic diseases, and reducing risks of heart disease.
- Lycopene is a phytonutrient found in red and pink colored fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon has particularly been linked to lower cases of prostate cancer.
- Resveratrol is another phytonutrient commonly found in grapes and products of grapes, such as red wine and grape juice. It is known to potentially help reduce incidents of heart disease and some types of cancer. Animal studies also show that it may aid in prolonging life.
There are so many it’s impossible to list them all, but these alone should demonstrate they should not be overlooked!
The Benefits
Phytonutrients provide so many advantages to your body that it’s impossible to list them all. Here are just a few benefits:
- Antioxidants are known to protect us from common health issues including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, eye health, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, along with many other conditions. In fact, many health experts believe that the aging process can be slowed by ensuring that one’s diet contains plenty of antioxidants!
- Immune system health is thought to benefit greatly when eating foods containing phytonutrients.
- Antibacterial/Antiviral properties are known to be present in foods high in phytonutrients.
- Hormones within the body are thought to be positively affected as well.
Important To Note
One thing to remember when it comes to phytonutrients is that you can’t cheat your way to including them in your diet. By this it means, that no supplement, pill or other trick will provide your body with phytonutrients! The only way to properly incorporate them in your life is to consumer healthy foods made of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes.
Remember This!
When you shop AND eat, look for colorful ingredients, namely fruits and vegetables; which are in turn rich in phytonutrients.
The miraculous benefits they provide is nothing short of life changing if you learn to look out for them and use them daily at each meal.
We created MealEasy® with this in mind. To help anyone eat more health enriching foods, containing more phytonutrients and life changing health benefits.
For any easy way to start including more of these types of meals in your diet, consider joining MealEasy today. We built it for you and your health… Your body will thank you for it with better health, more energy and a positive outlook.
Happy Holidays From MealEasy
December 22 2017
Wishing you and yours the best in health and happiness this holiday season!
From all of us and MealEasy
Obesity Now At All-Time High
October 30 2017
IT’S OUTRAGEOUS! – 70.7% of adults are overweight in the USA! Additionally, obesity has now officially reached record high levels, with 39% of adults and 18.5% of youth now obese! These sobering facts are based on a study conducted in 2015-2016, and released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on October 17 2017 and also reported by CNN.
Obesity among all US adults reaches all-time high
Since 1999, there has been a staggering rise in the prevalence of obesity, particularly in adults, without any “signs of it slowing down,” according to the study’s lead researcher, Dr.Craig Hales, medical epidemiologist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth obesity rates seem to be more stable in recent years.
It’s obvious that we are losing the war on the obesity epidemic and the prognosis is alarmingly worse! The health and life expectancy of the entire population is decreasing as a result… we’re literally eating ourselves to death, to put it bluntly; with no end in sight.
You would think with all the talk of effort to combat this problem there would be progress being made. Unfortunately, the numbers are proving otherwise.
It’s time we stopped trying to be politically correct about the weight problem facing the nation. No, being overweight is not the “new normal”. It’s not!
The problem is THE TYPE OF FOOD WE EAT!
WE MUST STOP EATING PROCESSED FOODS AND START EATING HEALTHY WHOLE FOODS!
Don’t know how to go about it? Check out our helpful article to get started today. Getting back in the kitchen is the starting point, and having a plan is a must.
What do we mean by plan? Well, a plan is a specific guide that provides you with:
- The type of food to eat to lose weight
- An overview of what you are consuming over a given period of time
- Portion control
- The ability to control calorie levels
Obesity is more serious than we lead ourselves to believe, so no one should ignore it or think it is the “new normal” – it isn’t. It’s linked to the most serious health risks, and in those cases is usually one of the primary contributors leading to major diseases and much shorter life spans.
For an easy way to get on the right track consider joining MealEasy today. All it takes to get on the right path is that first meal. Enjoy delicious healthy dishes, designed specifically to improve health and keep weight off for life.
AM I WORTH IT?…
Is the question we should ask ourselves with that next piece of food we are about to put in our mouth!
MealEasy Launches NEW Enhanced Mobile Meal Planning
July 19 2017
We are pleased to announce the release of an enhanced mobile version of MealEasy! Now even easier to use on ANY mobile device!
It’s now even easier on your mobile device to:
- Navigate the entire web app
- Schedule & view meal details
- Access your grocery list on the go
- And prepare all the delicious and healthy meals!
Works on just about any device including the latest iPhones, Android phones, iPads/tablets, and of course also on PC or Mac.
Did you know MealEasy is NOT a recipe site?
MealEasy is an online service that helps ANYONE improve their health by showing EXACTLY what to eat and how to prepare it using healthy whole food ingredients. There’s NO guesswork involved!
All our make-at-home meals are designed with input from health professionals, following strict established guidelines from health authorities. Combined with MealEasy’s planning system, you are guaranteed to be on the right track as soon as you start.
We are hear to help you and sincerely want what is best for you, with no advertising or outside interests.
Why Consider It?
Though you may think you are eating healthy, there is a good chance you are not.
Over 70% of the American population over age 20 is now obese and the stats are getting much worse! This is linked to the top life threatening health conditions. The ROOT cause of all this is that we are now unknowingly eating primarily processed VERY unhealthy food. If we want a better future for ourselves and our children something has to be done!
That’s why we created MealEasy. To make it easy for anyone to improve their health and finally KNOW they are eating healthy.
Join today and your health and family will thank you!
Are We Eating Real Food?
May 31 2017
Most of us are obsessed with food that tastes good, but don’t realize it’s often not suited for human consumption!
The reason we choose these processed foods is for convenience, however, there is an ENORMOUS price that we pay for that in terms of our health. We are under the assumption that healthy food does not taste good, but that’s far from the truth.
During recent years our diet has devolved to be primarily made up of “ultra-processed foods” that offer little nutritional value and are linked to our most serious health issues. In fact, 57.9% of what Americans now eat is considered ultra-processed, according to a study published in the BMJ Open medical journal!
By ultra-processed, it generally refers to foods composed of additives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, emulsifiers, that emulate the qualities of real unprocessed ingredients, in order to improve qualities of the final product and/or hide undesirable qualities. In other words, it is food that is intentionally manipulated to make consumers favor it more.
This side effects are much poorer health, as exhibited by the deteriorating health of our nations.
What We Eat Is No Longer Natural Food!
On a day-to-day basis, we don’t even think about what we are eating. This is illustrated by a sobering question… Did you know that America’s unprocessed vegetable consumption is less then 1%! Yes, you read that right!
We are no longer aware of what we put in our bodies at each meal and most of it is not real food!
Our bodies were not designed to deal with “food” that isn’t real food. We evolved without anything processed in our diets, and suddenly our generation is bombarded with it. These sudden dietary changes have resulted in numerous serious health conditions all being linked to the fake food we are consuming.
The sad truth is most of us are brainwashed by society and commercial interests to continuing eating the way we do. It’s convenient and everyone is doing it. We continue eating convenience foods, fast foods, frozen meals, boxes foods, restaurant meals; none of which are natural.
What’s The Solution?
Luckily, the solution is simple. The key to solving this is getting back to what our ancestors did. Eating real foods, made from whole food ingredients, made at home from scratch (raw natural ingredients).
You may be thinking, it’s too hard, or times have changed. And if you are, then you’re on the same unfortunate path as most of us.
Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated and it starts with cutting or severely reducing your consumption of processed foods. Learn more about how to do that here.
If you want a quick and easy way to get on the right track, you’re in luck! That’s exactly why we created MealEasy®. Consider joining the thousands who already have, and start a better future as a result. One small step in the right direction is all it takes to begin.
The Health Benefits of Wild Rice
May 17 2017
Wild Rice: A Nutritious and Tasty Alternative
It can sometimes be difficult finding ingredients that tick all the right boxes when it comes to taste, nutrition and affordability. And it is even more of a challenge if you are also having to take food intolerances or special dietary requirements into account. Yet wild rice could just be the answer to your prayers. If you’ve never cooked with it before, now could be the time to give it a try.
Contrary to what you might think, wild rice is not just a special variety of the white or brown rice with which you are familiar. In fact, it is not really a rice at all, but a type of aquatic grass. It contains no grain and no gluten, meaning it is even suitable for those with the strictest dietary constraints; essentially, wild rice is packed full of nutrients that we all need for a healthy body and immune system.
Rice That Is Not Rice
Wild rice is a term that is used to describe four distinct species of grass that are mostly native to North America. Its popularity has increased over recent years as people have got wise to its health benefits and rich, nutty flavor. The seeds are larger and more densely-packed with nutrients than conventional rice, meaning it packs a real punch from a nutritional perspective.
Ounce for ounce, it contains double the protein content of brown rice and more than ten times the selenium content – a vital mineral for the production of antioxidants that helps keep the body healthy and the immune system working properly.
Cooking With Wild Rice
Wild rice can be added to your regular diet as a substitute for white or brown rice as a healthy accompaniment to any meat, fish or vegetable dish. It is cooked in much the same way, but bear in mind that it will typically need at least 45 minutes boiling or steaming time, so schedule the rest of your dish accordingly.
It is also a great basis for a nutritious salad that is a little out of the ordinary, but is quick and easy to prepare.
The Next Great Superfood?
Healthy, nutritious and easy to prepare, yet tastes great and is suitable for those on a vegan, grain-free or gluten-free diet. It is easy to see why wild rice is gaining in popularity and being hailed as the latest superfood.
Join the revolution and try some today – you might never go back!
Cinnamon: A Simple Ingredient Can Have Incredible Power
March 21 2017
Did you know that cinnamon, a common ingredient that’s found in many of our own cupboards and used in many well know recipes, has some amazing properties!
Just a few of the things it can do for your health includes:
- Lowering blood sugar
- Reducing insulin resistance, including powerful anti-diabetic effects
- Reducing heart disease risk
- Providing you with beneficial antioxidants
- Exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties
- Potentially helping to prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
- Protecting against cancer
- Fighting bacterial and fungal infections
Recent studies also indicate it may be beneficial for those with HIV.
Wow! That’s a lot of punch in something so simple that we all take for granted in our everyday lives. The cure is really in our cupboard isn’t it!?
So the next time you look at your food, remember it’s more then just something you put in your mouth to feed hunger. The choices you make with your food can have dramatic effects on your health if used the right way.
We created MealEasy as a family with this in mind. If you would like to boost your health to new levels, please consider giving MealEasy a try. Whether you use it to make one meal or hundreds, you’ll be making a big impact on your well-being!
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