Visual appearance and body weight can often be deceptive when we are trying to compare ourselves with other people. We all come in different sizes and shapes, most of which are genetically determined. Although it is possible to change the body to a certain extend by losing fat or building muscles, you cannot do a complete makeover. As a result, many self-conscious people feel inadequate because of repeated failures at transforming themselves into the shape they are just not meant to be. Read full “How Much Should We Weigh?”

We live is the age of low-fat, no-fat, reduced-fat, and fake-fat craze. A phobia of animal fats is everywhere. Healthy, life-giving lard, butter and coconut oil, which nourished the lean and sturdy generations of our ancestors for millennia, are now almost completely wiped off our plates. Every day, on TV and in doctors’ offices, we hear the same refrain - animal fats are bad for you, they are responsible for obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease… Indeed, is it true? Read full “Eat Fat, Gain Fat?”

Many ancient types of exercise have formed a basis of modern training systems. The martial arts were originally derived from yoga asanas and pranayama and later, in the 5th century, reached China. Their initial introduction to the Chinese indigenous scene is attributed to the Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma. The fusion of his yoga teaching with the unique Chinese “Dao -Yin”system resulted in what we know today as martial arts. Nowadays, it is largely forgotten that in all ancient cultures exercise was, first of all, a form of medicine, an element of a wholistic healing art, the purpose of which was to strengthen or restore spiritual and physical balance of the aspirant. Read full “TAI CHI - Ancient Martial Art and Modern Way to Wholistic Health”

Unfortunately, it is a proven fact - just like hard drugs, fast food can cause chemical dependency and turn us into junkies. In accordance with the experiments conducted by Dr. John Hoebel from the University of Princeton, sweat and fatty meals can lead to a full-blown addiction by activating the hormone dopamine, in the same way it is activated by drugs.

Read full “Fast Food Junkies?”

Mass media is full of quick-fix recipes to lose weight: from celebrity diets to magic slimming pills. No surprise in here - someone is just making big bucks! The negative side of it, though, is that you are being deceived by false promises. You try different diets, follow the advertised recommendations and… end up frustrated and sometimes even more overweight. Any diet or slimming pill potentially can lead to health complications, some of which might be severe and irreversible. In addition, most of the “diets truths” are based on biases, and my purpose in this article is to analyze some of those dietary stereotypes and try to refute them. Read full “Myths and Truth of Dieting - 9 Things Not to Do”