Friday, November 4, 2022

Can Sports Make You Smarter?

It’s a funny question. Can we actually get smarter by playing sports? Some scientific evidence supports the theory that exercise makes us smarter, while other research suggests the constant engagement of a team sport such as soccer can make us smarter. But is it true? Let’s find out.

But before we look at the scientific evidence, let me give you some more background. The reason I started thinking about this topic is that I caught a few of my team players taking brain supplements. They swore it made them better students and allowed them to get through tougher exams. I’d never heard of it, so was curious. But also slightly concerned about the safety of it all.


I did some research online and came across a website called wanttobesmarter.com. They help you become smarter and review different brain pills. The one that caught my attention was a Lumonol review. Lumonol is compared to a real-life NZT (the brain pill from the movie Limitless). The review warned that the results won’t be the same as in the movie, but many users claim it enhances their concentration and focus. Something a student needs, and these results would definitely make you into a better soccer player.

So let’s get back to exercise and the brain. Most research suggests any effects from sport would be short term. For example, exercise can increase energy, which in turns helps you increase your ability to focus for several hours. Maybe even more importantly, I’m sure you’ve heard that exercise releases endorphins, which are also called feel good hormones. If that’s not enough, by exercising, you’ll also receive serotonin, which also improves your mood. These two “drugs” combined will again make you feel better about yourself and help you focus.

Finally, a study done on college students by the American College of Sports Medicine found that those who exercised beforehand had a better ability to recollect facts. So exercise can also improve memory. But this again might be a short term effect only. So to reap the rewards of exercise, you would need to exercise frequently. The same would apply for weight loss, exercising once isn’t enough. You need to go out and do it on a regular basis to get any sort of real benefit.

While I’m very happy with the conclusions drawn from these studies, my main question now is whether combining exercise and brain supplements would give your brain a bigger boost. I’m guessing it would, but I am unable to find any scientific proof to back up my theory. It’s an interesting question though and the answer might give you an unfair advantage over the competition. I do want to close with one more point. Make sure you seek medical advice first before taking any sort of supplement to avoid suffering from any side effects.

Nootropic Supplements: Benefits And Side-effects

Have you seen the movie Limitless and ever wondered if there is a potent drug like NZT-48 in real life? Truth be told, no drug in the world can give you superhuman powers. But there are certain supplements that are known to boost focus and memory power. Natural nootropic energy stacks aren’t as potent as the NZT-48, but they certainly have their advantages.


Benefits of Nootropic Pills:

Natural nootropics like Brahmi and green tea have been used for centuries by people to improve mental ability and cure illnesses. They’re now used across the world by students, surgeons, stock brokers, and other high profile workers to improve their memory. Some nootropics have been designed to prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Some are subscribed for patients diagnosed with ADHD and ADD.

The best nootropic supplements use a combination of caffeine and L-theanine, compounds naturally found in green tea. These compounds improve focus and attention. They are also stimulatory in nature and hence keep the mind alert and provide clarity.

Some nootropic stacks are designed to enhance your mood and reduce anxiety. They prevent panic attacks and are often preferred by students before an exam.

What if you could work without getting tired? Software professionals are known to use natural nootropic stacks to help them work for hours together without fatigue. Different nootropic stacks offer different advantages. You will have to choose one that’s aligned with your goals.

Side- effects of Nootropics:

Unlike prescription smart drugs like Modafinil and Adderall, natural nootropics are not addictive. They have zero or very low risk of negative side- effects. In fact, some of these side-effects occur either because of wrong dosage or wrong timing. It is important to follow the instructions when taking nootropic pills. Look for products using natural sources. Some manufacturers offer a free trial to allow you experiment with their stack.

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

NutriSystem vs Jenny Craig

NutriSystem vs Jenny Craig: At first glance, it is difficult to tell the difference between the NutriSystem and Jenny Craig weight loss programs. They both tout the advantages of home delivery programs of prepackaged diet food delivered directly to your home, and both diet plans are essentially low carb diets based on low glycemic foods. To make matters even more confusing, both Jenny Craig and NutriSystem are advertised by celebrity spokespeople who claim to have achieved significant weight loss by using their programs.

So let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of both weight management programs to determine which one might be best for your weight loss goals.

NutriSystem




NutriSystem was launched in the mid-1970s, making it about ten years older than Jenny Craig. The original NutriSystem program was based out of local retail centers and provided face to face counseling for program participants. Modern NutriSystem is mostly an online business. If people have questions, they have to call or chat online with company representatives.

How Does the NutriSystem Work?

When visitors go to the NutriSystem online website, they are immediately encouraged to choose a 28-day food plan. NutriSystem from among 4 different meal plans. Each of the 4 meal plans offers a separate variation for men or women:

Silver – for men or women over 65
Diabetic – for men or women in need of low-glycemic foods and frequent meals 
Vegetarian – for men or women who prefer a vegetarian lifestyle. 
Basic – for everybody that doesn’t fit one of the above specialty food plans.

After you choose one of the above meal plans, you will have the option to go with their standard menu or you can choose to customize your food choices. Each food order includes 28 days of meals. The daily meals include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

How much does NutriSystem cost?

The basic food plan for women costs about $300 per month. There is no shipping cost if you choose automatic monthly food shipments, but the monthly cost does not include vegetables, fruit, or dairy products, so you will also need to add some groceries to your monthly food bill.

The pros of NutriSystem:

This program is extremely easy. You simply pick a plan and then decide whether or not you want to customize the menu. If you don’t want to think about it, just go with their standard menu option. 

Variety. The fact that you can customize your menu is a nice option. 
Option for people who only want to lose 10 pounds. Choose a 4-week food supply for $360.

The Cons of NutriSystem:

Not much individual counseling. The program is pretty much one-size-fits-all But you can join the NutriSystem online membership community that allows you to interact with other dieters using the NutriSystem diet plan. 

Summary: While NutriSystem is probably not a good long-term weight management program, it may be an excellent choice for people who don’t have the discipline needed to make their own food choices. While Jenny Craig is probably the better long-term weight management solution, NutriSystem could be a good "no brainer" way to get started losing weight.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig was originally founded in Australia in 1983, but now has franchises in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. The Jenny Craig business model continues to include local centers owned by both the corporation itself and independent franchisees.

How Does Jenny Craig Work?

Much like NutriSystem, the Jenny Craig diet is based on the home delivery of prepackaged diet food. But the Jenny Craig weight management system is more robust than NutriSystem, as it also emphasizes exercise and the emotional well being of the participants.

Unlike NutriSystem, where members interact with each other for support, members at Jenny Craig meet once a week with a consultant from Jenny Craig at their local weight loss center, or over the phone if they are participating in the Jenny Craig Direct online program.

How Much Does Jenny Craig Cost?

Because there is a large variety of foods available, the cost of the Jenny Craig programs varies considerably between users. Company officials say that the cost is only about $1 more per day than the average American already spends on food. In general, most members of Jenny Craig spend $80–$120 per week on Jenny Cuisine. Then they buy their own fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

The pros of Jenny Craig:

A very holistic weight loss program that addresses nutrition, exercise, and emotional support
A personalized weight loss approach that provides both an initial consultation and ongoing support from the weight loss professionals at Jenny Craig
The food program includes many different foods; great for members who crave variety.

The Cons of Jenny Craig:

The food program includes a large variety of foods, so members require more consultation to make their meal choices.
The cost is higher than NutriSystem.

Who promotes Jenny Craig?

Jenny Craig has featured a number of actors, actresses, and other celebrity spokespersons, including Sara Rue, Jason Alexander, Valerie Bertinelli, and Denise Austin.

Conclusion:

After looking at how NutriSystem vs Jenny Craig help people lose weight, it seems there are a few big differences:

NutriSystem is more of "do it yourself" program, where the company simply provides ready-made meals that have been developed to promote weight loss.
Jenny Craig is more personalized weight loss program that provides ready-made meals, as well as consultation and emotional support from staff (as well as other members).
Jenny Craig offers a wider variety of food choices than NutriSystem.

Can Sports Make You Smarter?

It’s a funny question. Can we actually get smarter by playing sports? Some scientific evidence supports the theory that exercise makes us sm...