Dre Fitness

July 27, 2012September 26, 2012

Fox News Slams USDA for “Meatless Monday’s” even as Food Prices Soar

The international campaign for eating vegetarian on Monday’s brought the spotlight to the US Department of Agriculture recently. The USDA encouraged its employees to begin Meatless Monday’s as part of the mission of sustainability to decrease environmental impact. In fact, as food prices increase in the US because of the drought, you can bank on it.

Is this what Meatless Monday’s are all about?

But then… them ther’ Kansas Republicans and the cattleman’s association were not pleased! In a statement released, they fired back saying,

“It is my hope that the USDA has not abandoned farmers and ranchers in pursuit of policies best left to the Environmental Protection Agency,” he said.

Ah, sharp point indeed — if we take the assumption that the EPA needs no additional support to save the planet (at least that which locates on US soil). The result was predictable as immediately the USDA dropped its support for Meatless Monday’s.

The Mission Statement for the USDA is below:

We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

Now, the actually framework lists, “expanding markets for agricultural products,” as first part of its strategic plan. The criticism inherent in Meatless Monday’s is that it is negative for a positive. You are taking away meat, even though you are promoting vegetables as a substitute.

We need sustainable environmental policy.

Plant based agriculture is of equal or greater value than meat agriculture because both humans and livestock consume plant based foods. Plants are the source of energy and nutrients. As a country, we are able to produce a greater volume of plant based food which. Then if the USDA promotes expansive vegetable consumption, it is DEFINITELY in alignment with its framework to expand markets of agricultural products.

Introducing Cruciferous Tuesdays

I promise I will never take meat off your plate. However, whether or not you are looking, I may be serving you up some fresh chard with a side of kale and you’ll never be healthier.

Cruciferous Tuesdays

We should take a moment on Monday’s to make sure the broccoli is ready for Tuesdays. Take it up to the next step, slow cook some lentils and put the cheese on top with black pepper. Consuming sufficient vegetables supports many nutritional needs that meat don’t meet!

The Takeaway

Here’s the key points:

Cow farmers have strong influence over government agencies
The 2012 DROUGHT significantly increases the price of livestock feed, and therefore the price of meat will be noticeably higher in the upcoming months.
Reducing meat consumption is not anti-American and may in fact be good for your health
A balanced diet always wins
Be with me and make it a goal to eat vegetables in the cruciferous family on Tuesdays (broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, etc)

Stay tuned for more commentary on current events as it relates to health… also more fitness tips!

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion

October 29, 2011September 26, 2012

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Barbell Squat is ‘Ol Faithful’ for realizing Results!

Ask any serious weight trainer…

Which exercise has the following benefits?

Builds strength throughout the entire body
Activates core in synergy with hips and spine
Burns fat and promotes lean muscle
Supports a balanced, athletic physique
Works for nearly every healthy individual

The old fashion tried and true Squat.

It doesn’t matter what kind of squat you do, because there are so many variations that work. (Bulgarian split squat, pistol squats, skater squats, back squats, front squats, full squats, sissy squats, you name it!!)

Just Squat.

Physical Fitness by Dre

October 2, 2011September 26, 2012

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Anabolics and the Male Significance

Promoting anabolism could be the best choice you ever make.

Anabolism plays an important metabolic role in body composition. From Greek origin, anabolism means to “throw” and “upward.” Within cells, it affects the quality of living tissue throughout the whole body.

Dietary decisions of major concern.

There are two important metabolic principles when considering the diet.

1. Catabolism is the opposite of anabolism.

When cells go catabolic, it breaks down the complexity of molecules into more basic pieces. The breakdown of cells is a normal part of function, but the risk comes from extended catabolism.

Extreme catabolism may be noticed in anorexic victims. At it’s worst, catabolic lifestyles are wrecked by a weak disposition and dysfunctional immune system.

Because catabolism needs to be balanced with anabolism, you already know the value of going anabolic.

2. Anabolic relates to Fat AND Muscle.

Just as muscle cells can go anabolic, so may adicyphotes (fat cells). Nutrition has a strong impact on promoting anabolic responses in targetted tissue, such as muscle fibers.

The food you eat is crucial to choosing the best pathway for going anabolic.

Anabolic Nutrition Choices for Lean and Toned Body Composition

Essential Amino Acids
Certain non-essential amino acids.
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids
Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (when in balanced ratio to Omega-3’s)
Medium Chain Triglycerides
Antioxidants (including glutathione, betacarotene, chloropgyll, flavanoids)
Carbohydrates, mono-, di-, poly-, saccharide.
Minerals
Vitamins
Living organism flora (probiotic: acidophilus, bifidus, kefiran)
Water

Greater absolute potential and value as it relates to body size.

Strength and size are beneficial qualities. Those qualities have many roots in the understanding of masculinity. All of the components of a healthy system are involved in supporting that potential.

The food you eat is your choices and will always have strong effect on body composition.

A good body composition has muscle tone, a strong heart, and a fat brain.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion

August 30, 2011September 26, 2012

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Learn from Athletic Injuries to Stop Pain Now

Injuries by athletes can be brutal or minor…

Think about the knee for example, you know someone with the dreaded ACL tear. Usually they were playing soccer or football and it just snapped. You fell to the ground in agony and the game paused until you whimpered off the field.

Injuries are a horrifying occurrence during any moment. The bad part about injuries is that it reduces your ability for a period of time, or worse — you may never regain the stability you once had.

Keys to Injury Prevention

During intense sessions of strength and conditioning, the risk for injury is present. Almost any untrained individual (read: average person) would risk serious injury during intense training. Smart athletes must condition to generate force through a superior range of motion. They will be present when called upon to dominate in their way of life.

1. Warm up before activity.

Don’t try going from 0 to 100 miles per hour in ten seconds on a residential street. That’s just asking for disaster. Unless you are me.

Like everything in life, it’s best to get warmed up before you get to the really good stuff. While weight conditioning can bring you toward climactic personal achievements, the gradual movement before exercise is key to a big bang.

2. Stay hydrated

I like caffeine pre-workout and I do intend to maintain proper fluid balance.

With an electrolyte formula like 40,000 Volts mineral drops, my muscles can continue to fire and activate optimally. Dehydration confuses and weakens muscular force potential. If attempt to generate force while dehydrated, you’ll lose your balance easier and risk tearing soft tissue at whatever joint.

Drink water often.

3. Own Inflammation with Diet

Think about as your breathe right now. Why do you do it? To an extent, we can consciously control it but it comes natural because we need the oxygen. With all this oxygen, every single breathing animal must deal with oxidative stress on a daily basis.

To compare oxidation to someone in daily life, imagine an old rusty vehicle. The rust is the oxidation. This rusting or damaging process will occur in every person but can be put into healthy balance by consuming an anti-inflammatory diet.

Antioxidants protect the body’s systems from being damaged by oxygen-related chemical reactions in the cells. By eating fruits and vegetables, you will get a healthy supply of antioxidants.

I eat a ton of sweet cherries to help recover my muscles and keep my joints healthy. The tart cherry antioxidants are one of the best sources of anti-inflammatory support for the body.

You could write an entire library on food and physical degeneration. There’s only one real secret.

Consume foods and herbs with a wide range of colors and natural pigmentation. For example, Salmon (pink astaxanthin) with Turmeric spice (orange curcumonoids), red cabbage (purple betalains), kale (green chlorophyll and carotenoids) and avocado (liver protector glutathione).

Antioxidant Antiinflammatory Joint Health Food Diet

Dinner is served

Big Three Nutritional Benefits of Wild Salmon

Sockeye fresh!

Buy salmon by the whole fish and save on what you get. With benefit in mind the price can be worth it.

The Benefits of Salmon:

1. High quality protein

The meat of salmon is loaded with essential amino acids in the perfect ratios.

Top notch filet

In addition to being a high quality protein source, salmon also delivers many other significant nutritional benefit. Such as…

2. Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-3’s)

Most people talk about Omega-3’s using acronyms ALA, EPA, DHA.

These healthy fats are beneficial and required for life.

The following parts of body are benefited by Omega-3’s:

Central Nervous System
Muscoskeletal System
Immune System
Cardiovascular System
Lymphatic System
Blood Glucose and Insulin

Omega-3’s benefit the entire system

Omega-3s are highly supported by professionals in nearly all branches of health.

Salmon delivers!

3. Astaxanthin: The ultimate antioxidant?

Asta-what? Yea, but its getting more popular now that Dr. Oz talked about it. Actually, it is widely regarded as one of the most functional antioxidants from food.

Astaxanthin strengthens living force

Salmon stores astaxanthin in the meat and that is responsible for the red-pink color of salmon. In humans, after we digest the salmon, the astaxanthin preserves the entire body against free radicals and other stresses of life.