The Paleolithic Diet: So Easy a Caveman Could Do It

It's no secret that many of the foods we consume nowadays aren't good for us, but why? The reason is that we were not evolved to eat them. For many thousands of years, humans hunted and gathered food from the wild. They ate meat and fish supplemented with plant foods. In season, they might have found fruits that are smaller and not as sweet as modern fruit and nuts, but mostly they ate leafy plants and herbs. On a really good day, they might have raided a bee hive for some honey.

These foods made hunter gatherers taller and healthier than the farmers who came after them. It is how humans were evolved to eat. Since humans evolve very slowly, it's also the diet that we are suited for too. Modern people who try to eat like our hunter-gatherer ancestors call this way of eating the Paleolithic Diet, aka the Caveman Diet.

What Is the Paleolthic Diet?

The most important thing is what you don't eat. Most people exclude the following foods:

• Cereals and grains
• Dairy products
• Legumes
• Potatoes
• Sugar
• Vegetable oils

There are different variations of the Paleo diet. Some people eat sweet potatoes. Others eat butter and cheese. Generally, those are the only "forbidden" foods that are debated among followers of the diet.

So, What Do You Eat?

• Meat, poultry, fish, seafood
• Vegetables,
• Berries
• Nuts and seeds
• Fruits
• Olive oil, coconut oil, lard

Most people who follow the Paleo diet do not eat much fruit because modern fruit is so sweet. The diet is relatively low in carbohydrates moderate in protein, and high in healthful fats.

What Are the Health Benefits of the Paleolithic Diet?

You will probably lose any excess weight without really trying, and you will become leaner and more muscular without changing your exercise routine. Studies have also found the following changes from following a Paleolithic diet:

• Lower body fat
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower insulin levels
• Lower levels of total cholesterol
• Lower levels of LDL cholesterol
• Lower triglyceride levels

These changes should result in a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The Paleolithic diet has become extremely popular, and along with popularity come the debunkers. They point out that hunter-gatherer diets varied according to geography and environment, and that some grains may have been eaten prior to the rise of agriculture. Both are certainly true. What they don't say is also important though. They don't say that cereals and grains made up a significant portion of the human diet prior to agriculture, nor do they say that the modern version of the hunter-gatherer diet is unhealthy.

The Paleo diet requires some adjustment, just as any lifestyle change does. There's nothing wrong with easing into it either by dropping the forbidden categories of food over the course of a month or two. Because the Paleolithic diet has become so popular, there is a lot of information about it. You should be able to find recipes and menu plans that will suit your tastes and fit your lifestyle.

Mark Sisson is the author of the most popular book on the Paleo diet.

Intermittent Fasting: for Fat Loss, Muscle Gain and Health

Most of us in the modern world sit down for three - or more - meals a day every day. We take regular meals for granted, and sometimes act as if missing a meal will lead to dire consequences. But did you ever stop to consider whether this is how humans are really meant to eat? Considering how many health problems many people have related to eating too much food - obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease to name a few - it may be time to re-think our dietary habits.

Humans lived for many thousands of years as hunter-gatherers. Their food supply fluctuated according to the availability of game and what plants were in season. They simply weren't able to eat three square meals a day every day. Yet, many hunter-gatherer societies were tall, with strong bones and teeth, and lived long, healthy lives if they weren't killed in accidents or natural disasters.

It may be that missing a meal once in a while is natural and good for us. Intermittent fasting is an eating style that tries to apply that idea for better health and longevity. Caloric restriction is the only scientifically proven way to extend life. Many people, however, find that reducing the size of their meals difficult. Most people discover that just skipping a meal or two altogether is actually easier, which is what intermittent fasting involves.

Here are a few of the health benefits of intermittent fasting that scientific studies have found:

• Reduces excess weight
• Lowers diabetes risk
• Decreases cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• Improves mental function
• Protects against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
• Cuts cancer risk

Intermittent fasting can be done many different ways since all it really means is skipping a meal or two occasionally, but here are three popular methods:

One method is to do a 24-hour fast once or twice a week. That does not mean not eating for a whole day. It means not eating until 24 hours after your last meal - in other words skipping breakfast and lunch the next day. For example, if you finished dinner at 7 pm, and the next day was a fasting day, you wouldn't eat again until 7 pm the next day. This method was popularized by Brad Pilon in his book Eat Stop Eat.

Another method is to cut back to two meals a day, usually by skipping breakfast. Many people do this anyway, either because they're not hungry, or they don't have time. Many people find that skipping breakast and then having two good meals later in the day allows them to restrict calories without feeling deprived. Mike O'Donnell recommends this method in the 2 Meal Solution.

The newest method is almost not a fast at all. A method called the 5:2 diet recommends just cutting your calories on two days out of the week. Users of this method gain most of the benefits of other types of intermittent fasting, including cutting their cancer risk, with this 5:2 method of calorie restriction.

In all of the above methods, you can eat normally on your non-fasting days. This is what makes intermittent fasting easier for most people than dieting. They don't feel constantly deprived because once the fasting day is over, they can eat what they want.

As healthful as intermittent fasting is for most people, it isn't for everyone. Children under 18 should not fast, nor should diabetics, nor pregnant or lactating women. If you have any doubts, of course, check with a doctor. With those exceptions, intermittent fasting is a health practice that seems to improve the health of just about everyone, not just those who need to lose weight.

Abs and Core : The Best Exercises

This video demonstrates some of the best exercises you can do for your core and abs and to strengthen your lower back and obliques. It's a great routine and helps fitness levels from beginner to advanced.

Premature Ejaculation: 5 Tried and Tested Solutions

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a problem with a large percentage of sexually active men. The definition of PE differs greatly on whom you consult. It can mean orgasm before penetration, shortly after penetration, or simply, orgasm too soon to please a partner. This makes PE a highly relative term. For the man who can have a successful foreplay session with his partner and achieve penetration, but finishes in less than five minutes, you may only need some careful training. Here are five tried and tested solutions that can be used to treat premature ejaculation.

1) The Chinese Method.

After penetration, and a few moments of trusting, withdraw and go back to foreplay, or make an excuse and let the cat out or the dog in. This starting and stopping will let you achieve easily up to an hour of erection and towards the end of your session, you partner may be aroused enough to orgasm as well.

2) Wear a Thick Condom.

This will act to desensitize your penis, especially the "trigger" area under the crown or head. It may be less pleasurable to you, but your partner will not notice the difference. She will only notice you are lasting longer.

3) Use an Analgesic Gel.

This may also make your (and your partner) feel less sensations (unless you wear a condom...and some condoms already come with such gel included). It will buy you some time, and as you get used to more time, you will gain confidence and begin to less nervous and last longer naturally.

4) Have a Drink/

Have a drink of red wine shortly before your sexual encounter. Do not drink more than that though. A glass drunk with your partner slowly and sensually will act to relax you and by being relaxed, you will last longer.

5) Practice Kegel Exercises.

You can develop your Kagel muscles (the ones you use to restrict urination). You just constrict and relax these muscles wherever you are and almost whatever you are doing. (My post Exercise for Harder Erections has a complete Kegel exercise program.) After a few weeks, you will see you have a great more control that you imagined over your ejaculation.

Premature ejaculation is a major problem for many men, so you're not alone. You can take positive action to help your condition by trying one or more of these tried and tested solutions. One thing for certain: the problem won't fix itself.

Are you sick and tired of the frustration and embarrassment of finishing way too soon? Finally, you can end the "personal hell of premature ejaculation forever! To discover how you can last 15-45 minutes longer in bed tonight, click here!

10 Natural Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as impotence, is a man's inability to get or maintain an erection. One of the primary factors required to trigger an erection is nitric oxide. When we think about sex, nitric oxide is released, which enables the blood vessels in the penis to dilate and fill with blood, thus causing an erection. Natural erectile dysfunction treatments contain substances that are sources of nitrogen molecules which aid in the production of nitric oxide and help the blood circulation, while others can do much to reduce stress which is a major cause of lack of desire.

Here is a slection of herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that are all known to affect libido and sex drive:

1) Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is recommended for circulation problems and low energy levels. Ginkgo's role in helping circulation can also help improve erectile dysfunction. Research has shown the chemicals in the leaves, known as flavonoids, relax blood vessels while improving sluggish circulation caused by paralyzed or flaccid blood vessels.

2) Ginseng

Known as the male remedy in China, ginseng can improve vitality and sexual desire. The chief organs in the body responsible for dealing with stress are the adrenal glands. These glands secrete a variety of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which have important roles to play in the body's response to stress. Ginseng is believed to improve the body's capacity for mental and physical exertion by reducing cortisol and adrenaline, which cause stress.

3) L-Arginine

Known as "nature's Viagra," L-arginine not only bolsters the immune system and increases growth hormones, it also increases the amount of nitric oxide in the body, which is critical for achieving erection.

4) L Tyrosine

L-tyrosine upports and assists neurotransmitters in the brain. Reduced levels of L-tyrosine are present when the body is stressed and tired. L-tyrosine helps reduce stress, improves mental alertness, and enhances mood, which in many instances results in increased male libido.

5) Magnesium

Magnesium is important for the production of sex hormones such as androgen, estrogen, and neurotransmitters that modulate the sex drive, such as dopamine and nor epinephrine

6) Selenium

Selenium is believed to be good for sperm production and mobility - nearly 50% of the selenium in a man is in the testes and seminal ducts. Men lose selenium in their semen. Getting enough selenium, therefore, helps men achieve peak sexual performance.

7) Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Niacin increases blood circulation and is involved in the synthesis of sex hormones.

8) Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

Pyrodoxine Is responsible for the formation of neurotransmitters that affect mood and enhance sexual stimulation. Vitamin B6 is believed to benefit erectile dysfunction by enhancing the levels of testosterone in the body and also improving the stimulus required to get the erection process started.

9) Vitamin E

Vitamin E, referred to as the sex vitamin, is a powerful anti-aging antioxidant that protects cell membranes from free radical damage.

10) Zinc

Zinc is required for the production of testosterone. The zinc content of the prostate gland and sperm is higher than in any other body tissues. Zinc also helps to maintain semen volume and adequate levels of testosterone, thereby increasing sex drive.

The above will all help increase libido and desire but men also need to live a healthy lifestyle, which means, among other things, no heavy drinking, smoking. or recreational drugs. These are all known sex drive killers. If you are in good health and take one or more of the above supplements, you should see an increase in both sexual desire and performance.

Men should not be afraid or ashamed of having erectile dysfunction because nowadays, they have many options that can help them beat or overcome erectile dysfunction. A breakthrough new method gives any man harder erections simply, naturally and without drugs! To stop erectile dysfunction and start having stiff, powerful erections tonight, Click Here!

Get Fit Like a Wild Man

MovNat founder Erwan Le Corre reveals how to get fit by training like a wild man.

In the late 19th century, Dudley Allen Sargent – virtually the founder of physical education in America – warned that without solid physical education programs, people would become fat, deformed, and clumsy. Sound familiar?

Fitness has become accessory to the life of the modern man. It is up to each of us to exercise or not. Most people don’t, and being out of shape has become both ubiquitous and commonly accepted. It has become okay to be a physically soft, inept grown-up. Superficial, cosmetic improvements in body shape remains the primary motivation to the few who exercise, and globo-gyms are filled with “mirror-athletes” — people obsessed with their own reflection. Read more

How to Beat Your Mid-Afternoon Slump

You can beat your mid-afternoon slump by replacing bad carbs with delicious, good-for-you fat, says Joseph Mercola.

Many people experience a slump in energy levels by the time the afternoon rolls around. A number of factors may contribute to this phenomenon. The most common cause is post-lunch hypoglycemia, which is related to your inability to burn fat.

Hence, addressing your diet is key if afternoon fatigue is something you contend with on a regular basis. Besides alterations in your diet, intermittent fasting is one of the most effective ways to switch your body from burning carbs to burning fat, thereby boosting your mental and physical stamina.

Other factors are related to when and how much you exercise. Poor sleep also plays a role, of course, and recent research highlights the interconnectedness between sleep and exercise. Read more

Sitting Is Dying: How to Work Standing Up

Sitting is dying. For health and enjoyment, work standing-up, says Mark Sisson.

A few years back, my general manager and editor hurt his back deadlifting. He found the only way he could comfortably work at a desk was to stand. It worked really well for him, even offering benefits above and beyond the improvements in lower back pain – stuff like improved energy levels and increased focus and cognition. Once his back recovered, he continued to stand because of these benefits. It eventually spread to the rest of us at Mark’s Daily Apple and Primal Blueprint, prompting me to devote an entire post to standup workstations. Read more

The Cheap, DIY Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Cancer Treatment

Dr. Joseph Mercola says that broccoli-based medicine is a potent tool against arthritis and cancer.

Science has proven time and again that Mother Nature is the best physician, and food is the best medicine. Broccoli, for example—and to an even greater degree, broccoli sprouts—have been repeatedly shown to be one of nature’s most valuable health-promoting foods, capable of preventing a number of health issues, including but not limited to: Read more

Is Gluten Free Just a Fad?

Is gluten-free just a fad? Hardly, says Mark Sisson, as people look and feel so much better without it.

This is a comment I’m starting to see more and more often. Go to any news article about gluten and the comment section will be littered with angry outbursts and outright vitriol for people who go gluten-free. Skeptical blogs love to trot out posts lambasting and ridiculing the “gluten-free fad.” And from what I can tell, nothing inspires a contemptible eye-roll like a person asking a waiter in a restaurant if they have gluten-free options. By some stretch of the known laws of cause-and-effect, the removal of gluten from someone’s diet apparently causes irreparable harm to people with knowledge of the decision and deserves unequivocal reprobation. Otherwise, why else would they care so much? Read more

Could Lack of Sleep Be Making You Fat?

Could a lack of sleep be making you fat? A study found that tiredness causes people to eat higher calorie foods.

A lack of sleep not only increases tiredness and irritability - it can also expand your waistline.

After being deprived of one night's rest, participants in a study went on to purchase food that was higher in calories and weighed almost a fifth more than their normal shop.

Scientists from Uppsala University in Sweden found that poor or no sleep resulted in raised levels of a hormone that is linked to boosting hunger. Read more

It’s Time To Ramp Up Flu Season Hysteria

Catherine Frompovich previews this year’s flu season propaganda, mercury-laden vaccines, and how to avoid them.

It’s getting to be that time again when advertising campaigns will begin to persuade you to take flu shots in order to prevent contracting influenza. This writer wonders what kind of advertising campaign the feds will come up with for the 2013-14 flu season to persuade everyone to roll up his or her sleeve for any one of numerous trivalent and this season’s newly-approved quadrivalent influenza vaccines per the CDC’s website. Read more