Everyone is talking about the P90X exercise program and ads for it are taking the internet by storm. In fact, I’ve even been seeing ads for it on websites like Miriam Webster. Is all of this hype justified? Not if you ask me.

Despite its gimmicky marketing, I was intrigued by the P90X program based on a number of people’s opinions and decided to check it out. Although my primary intention was only to learn more about P90X, I was actually planning to give it a try. That was until I watched it. Although this program may be well suited for some, which I’ll discuss later, it’s definitely not for me. I prefer fitness programs that are motivated by excellent physical function, high resistance to injury, and above all else, optimal health. Even though the P90X program can certainly bring the average person closer to these ideals, I think it does so in a manner that’s compromised by the program’s undeniable priority of burning calories and getting “ripped.”

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Although it’s becoming more widely accepted that nutrition can have a significant impact on your mental wellness, and that part of this is dependent upon the unique nutritional needs we each have, it’s far from being as well known as it should be. As a result, many people are unfortunately missing out on a simple and natural solution to both mental and physiological dysfunction.

After reading Nutrition and Your Mind by George Watson PhD, I was left with two compelling thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised that I could gain so much from a book that was published in 1972, but highly disappointed to see how little has changed since then, and in some ways, has even become worse.

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Whether you’re an athlete or not, the following interview with top powerlifter Eric Talmant will help you understand the importance of prioritizing your health over your fitness and appearance.

When I first started learning about natural health, I was frequently frustrated by how rarely it’s principles are applied to the needs of an athlete. After all, following conventional advice for sports oriented nutrition and conditioning is part of what led me to my prior health problems. As both an elite athlete and a big advocate of natural health, and also a fellow Metabolic Typing advisor, Eric Talmant bridges this gap. As such, I’m thrilled to have him share his unique perspective with you.

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Most people have become so reliant on the convenience of packaged and processed foods that they feel lost and overwhelmed when they consider transitioning to a healthier diet. Fortunately, with a little motivation and the right information, it’s not nearly as difficult as it may seem at first.

The healthiest diet that you can follow is one that’s based on the natural whole foods we evolved on such as meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables. Despite this, processed forms of grain, dairy, and sugar have become the most prominent foods in the modern diet and this is the reason why so many people are overwhelmed by the thought of limiting themselves to whole foods. Although this is to be expected with the prospect of such a significant change, it’s a change that’s necessary for anyone who’s serious about improving and maximizing their health. Furthermore, there’s a much wider variety of natural whole foods to choose from than most people realize, and as such, a truly healthy diet doesn’t have to be “limiting” at all.

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Question: I would like to take protein powder to help gain muscle mass. I plan to buy organic whey protein powder, but would also like to understand the benefits of eating organic red meat, chicken and fish.

Also, how many grams of protein should be eaten per day? I know that everyone is different, but what would you consider to be average?

Building muscle mass is hard work. In fact, it’s almost as hard as building good health, and I know from personal experience how hard it can be to accomplish either goal.

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I’m looking for some healthy energy shakes. I’ve got flax oil, organic frozen berries and organic whole milk. What could I use (besides bananas) to give the shakes some texture? Is there any other ingredient you would recommend always including?

Also, any links to recipes for healthy, organic shakes would be much appreciated! Shakes are convenient for after work-outs and for quick breakfasts when on the go.

With our fast paced culture and a trendy fitness industry, protein shakes have become quite popular. They go by many names and are also referred to as smoothies, energy shakes, workout shakes or recovery shakes. They’ve become so popular that there are even shops and franchises dedicated to selling them.

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Due to the fast paced and convenience driven lifestyle that has become so common, few of us are as healthy as we think.

In a world where nearly everyone is run down, it’s easy to accept as normal. But in reality, this is a compromised state of health that deprives you of a much better quality of life and can eventually lead to serious disease.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Although not formally recognized by conventional western medicine, adrenal fatigue is an extremely common condition in which the body is no longer able to handle the daily demands of our busy lives. The adrenal glands are at the center of our ability to handle the fast paced lifestyles that most of us live, and in many cases, these small glands can’t keep up with this level of demand long term. As with any other part of our body, with enough wear and tear, they begin to function with less capacity.

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With the prevalence of poor health and disease in today’s society, it’s evident that many people are not properly caring for themselves. They often blame their poor health on genetics and circumstance, but in most cases, this is an excuse that will prevent them from ever achieving better health.

Modern medicine is so focused on chasing symptoms that good health is often considered to be elusive and highly complicated. This is unfortunate because excellent health really doesn’t have to be this mysterious. Unhealthy lifestyle habits are nearly always at the root of poor health and disease, and this is something that we all have the ability to change.

Living a lifestyle that promotes optimal health is by far the best method of preventing disease and building the vitality you need to get the most out of life.

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Although cardiovascular exercise is extremely popular, it’s a less effective way to exercise in most cases and can even be counterproductive.

The three primary reasons for the popularity of cardiovascular exercise are health, weight loss, and athletic conditioning. Each of these goals have unique characteristics that make cardiovascular exercise a questionable choice for achieving them.

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Nutritional supplements have become so popular that they’re readily available in supermarkets and even department stores. But are they good for you? And do you need them?

Diet Comes First

Just as their name suggests, nutritional supplements are meant to supplement a good diet, not replace it. If you’re not eating well, supplements aren’t going to make up for it.

Our bodies are evolved to get the nutrients and minerals we need from food, not pills. Because natural foods often contain unique combinations of nutrients that are necessary for proper assimilation, natural food is often absorbed and utilized better than supplements are. And depending on the quality of the supplement and whether it’s from a natural or synthetic source, the nutrients from the supplement may not even be absorbed at all.

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