I just received an email with the following link. Just goes to prove the old saying: “You are what you hang out with.” 

If your friends and family get fat, chances are you will too, researchers report in a startling new study that suggests obesity is “socially contagious” and can spread easily from person to person.
go to http://health.yahoo.com/news/177766 for the rest of the article.

Interesting stuff, huh?

Peace,

Alexander Morentin, C.E.S.
Health & Fitness Consultant
http://www.fitness-for-women.net/

As American corporations such as McDonalds, Starbucks, and Wal-Mart experience exponential growth in China, so does the Chinese waistline. It is interesting to note that there are more Starbucks in China than in the United States.

It is reported that there are 250 million overweight Chinese. Childhood obesity is also on the rise. A recent USA Today article reports: “Today, 8% of 10- to 12-year-olds in China’s cities are considered obese and an additional 15% are overweight, according to Education Ministry data.”

As the world becomes more “Americanized” it is also getting fatter. Countries such as England and Brazil who used to laugh at the “fat Americans” are now experiencing a rapid increase in overweight and obesity.

What Does This Have To With Me?
Wal-Mart, McDonalds, and Starbucks sell nothing but processed foods that will make you fat.

Sure these companies sell a couple of items that are supposed to be healthy, but, in reality, they are all smoke and mirrors. Feeble attempts to make you think that they are concerned with your health.

If your goal is to look better, feel better, and have more energy, you need to eat whole foods and stay away from places like Wal-Mart and McDonalds.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is not only killing us, it is killing the rest of the world.

I hope that you understand the need to be as informed and educated as you possibly can when it comes to your health and fitness. I will do my best to help you.

Yours in health,

Alexander Morentin, C.E.S.
Holistic Fitness Coach
www.fitness-for-women.net

Here in America we hear a lot of stories about the French being able to eat whatever they want yet they don’t get fat.

This morning NPR (National Public Radio) aired a story on how the French eat in Paris. The reporter visited the produce stands, delis, butchers, and bakeries. She noticed that there were many mom and pop type of stores that were doing a bustling business. There were no franchises or large corporate stores anywhere in sight.

This piqued the reporter’s interest, so she spoke with a Paris city official in the planning commission regarding their business practices.

This is what the reporter learned:
City officials in Paris do not allow large supermarkets or corporate franchises to come into Paris. City officials do not want Paris to lose its feel and they want to maintain their availability of quality foods.

Parisians are willing to pay a little more for their food as long as it is fresh and grown or raised locally. Parisians enjoy fresh local produce, fresh local meats, and freshly baked and cultured breads, all of which are free of preservatives and genetic modifications.

The practice described above is known as sustainable living. I call it sustainable living for a sustainable future.

We have gotten away from this style of living in America and are now living a lifestyle of convenience… and it shows!

Vibrant health, along with a desirable look and feel, is not hard to achieve, but it does take a little effort.

In America we have more choices than any other country in the world. This is not a bad thing. We just have to get informed and make responsible choices for a healthy and sustainable future.

I will keep with this theme of sustainable living for the next several days. Sustainable living, also known as green living, is something that is dear to me.

I hope that you found this post of interest to you.
If you know anybody that may be interested in this blog, send them a link.

Have a wonderful day!

Alexander Morentin C.E.S.
Holistic Fitness Coach
www.AlexanderMorentin.com

The above headline was on the front page of the Los Angeles Times this weekend.

It seems that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering for approval a list of 38 nonorganic ingredients that will be permitted in organic foods. The approval of these ingredients would affect every type of manufactured organic food.

The proposed ingredients include food colorings, flavorings, bulking agents, and fish oil. Needless to say that the approval of this list would be a huge blow to the organic food movement.

In case you are wondering, food coloring, flavoring, and bulking agents are not desirable additions to your diet.

Why is this happening?
Well, it’s all about the m-o-n-e-y!
That’s right. Big corporations have entered what used to be a small “grass roots” movement. Big business will do whatever it can to make as much money as it can with blatant disregard to the consumer (us).

According to the L.A. times: Sales of organic food in the U.S. has grown from $4 billion in 1997 to $16.9 billion in 2006. This is a more than 400% increase. Big business definitely wants a huge piece of this rapidly growing pie.

The USDA is expected to make a ruling on this issue any day.

What does this mean to me?
It doesn’t look like this dilema will affect organic produce. The proposed additives would be added to organic packaged foods.

Those of you that know me, know that I promote the consumption of fresh whole foods as opposed to packaged foods. However, I hope and pray that the USDA does not approve the list of 38 nonorganic ingredients.

Local is the new Organic
Remember to support local farmers by purchasing your produce at Farmers Markets and CSA’s - Community Supported Agriculture. By doing so, you are voting with your dollars. Together we can make a difference.

I will keep you up to date as to the outcome of this dilema.

Feel free to leave me any questions or comments you may have regarding this situation.

Yours in health,

Alexander Morentin
Holistic Fitness Coach
My Fit Life

Pharmaceuticals have been found in the water ways and ground water in Los Angeles & its surrounding communities.

Yes, it’s true, a recent report in the evening news stated that studies conducted by an independent “watch dog” group detected a variety of pharmaceutical drugs in the water in and around Los Angeles.

Pharmaceuticals found in the water include:

• Estrogen
• Acetomeniphen
• Ibuprofen
• Muscle Relaxors
• Anti depressants

You may be asking yourself this question: Why hasn’t the local government or the water companies themselves discovered any of these substances in our water?

Answer: Local government and municipal water companies are not required to test for these substances in our water. They are only required to test the water for a small list of contaminants in our water. Of course, they only check for the bare minimum of what is required.

I don’t know about you, but if I am going to take drugs, I want to do it of my own free will; not because I am forced to. The implications run far and wide as to why or how these substances got into our water.

Those of you that know me personally are aware of the fact that I am against the widespread use of pharmaceuticals. These findings are very disturbing to me.

This is one of the many reason why you need to have a good water filtration system for your house.

I know that many of you reading this post do not live in the L.A. basin, but similar findings may be found in your water ways. Remember, local municipalities are not required to test for pharmaceuticals in your water.

I hope you found this post of interest to you.

Yours in health,

Alexander Morentin
Holistic Fitness Coach
My Fit Life