about health food

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Why Are Consumers Demanding More Organic Milk

2009-01-07T09:00:00.003-08:00

The demand for organic milk has increased all over the world. No, this is not with reference to the increased demand for the product that occurred in 2000-2001. This is about the present - 2006.

So, why is the demand for organic milk increasing? The answer lies in the benefits of organic milk. Consumers are demanding more organic milk due to its enhanced health benefits.

Research conducted at the University of Aberdeen, and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research have shown that organic milk has more Omega 3 than non-organic milk. So consumers can now just replace their regular milk with organic milk and do away with those Omega 3 supplements or fish oil capsules.

Similarly, research conducted at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Newcastle has shown that organic milk is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Vitamin A is essential for a good eye-sight, and Vitamin E protects body cells from free radicals and delays ageing.

Organic milk also has more Conjugated Linoleic Acidl (CLA) than non-organic milk, as it has become mandatory to graze the organic cows on pastures unless weather forces the farmer to interfere. Now cows that graze on pastures have higher concentrations of CLAs in their milk than fodder-fed cows.

There was always a lack of evidence that organic food is better than conventional or non-organic food and all the benefits of organic food over non-organic food were strong beliefs of the producers and consumers in the wellness of organic food production methodologies.

However, the research findings on health benefits of organic milk have firmed the beliefs of consumers who are now demanding more organic milk. Health conscious people have also shifted to organic milk resulting in a shortage of the product.

However, the increased health benefits of organic milk are not the only reasons for this surge in demand. People are also questioning the factory mode production of organic dairy products. Many people now believe that livestock have good health when they are left in the open. Confined animals are more prone to diseases and hence the increased chances of BSE cases.

Consumers are also becoming conscious of animal rights and do not wish to be part of the extensive cruelty imparted to confined livestock. Since organic milk production involves certain aspects of animal welfare, these consumers have shifted to organic milk even if it costs more.

Kiran Patil is a chemical engineer and an expert on organic food and organic farming. Visit his website at www.organicfacts.net

[tags]organic milk,organic milk demand,omega 3,benefits of organic milk,benefits,vitamin,CLA,health[/tags]

Healthy Dinners Begin With Healthy Beef

2009-01-07T09:00:00.001-08:00

With more than two-thirds of Americans classified as overweight or obese, consumers are looking for new ways to lead a healthy lifestyle, while still eating the foods they love. The latest United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient Database shows that 19 cuts of beef meet government guidelines for lean beef 1, including many of America's favorites like tenderloin, T-bone steak and 95 percent lean ground beef. And, 12 of these lean beef cuts have, on average, only one more gram or less of saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast, per 3-ounce serving.

Low Fat Meat Cuts Reflect Current Demand for Healthy Beef

"This new data illustrates how beef is changing it's simply not your father's steak anymore," said Mary K. Young, M.S., R.D., executive director, nutrition, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). "In fact, many people are surprised to learn that some of their favorite beef cuts are lean."

In addition, the updated version of the USDA Nutrient Database indicates that many low fat meat cuts are 20 percent leaner than they were 14 years ago. And, according to new research, consumers are increasingly choosing low fat beef in the grocery aisle when shopping for healthy dinners. In fact, 68 percent of all muscle cuts sold at retail and 17 of the top 20 most popular whole muscle cuts meet government guidelines for low fat beef.

The 19 lean cuts, beginning with the leanest, include: eye round roast, top round steak, mock tender steak, bottom round roast, top sirloin steak, round tip roast, 95 percent lean ground beef, brisket (flat half), shank crosscuts, chuck shoulder roast, arm pot roast, shoulder steak, top loin (strip or New York) steak, flank steak, ribeye steak, rib steak, tri-tip roast, tenderloin steak, and T-bone steak.

"There are now so many lean options for people who enjoy the great taste of beef," said Richard Chamberlain, chef and proprietor, Chamberlain's Restaurants and board member, Texas American Heart Association. "Many of the most popular cuts in my restaurants, like top sirloin, tenderloin and top loin, are some of the leanest cuts available. Today, you don't have to sacrifice taste and enjoyment when trying to eat healthy."

These 19 beef cuts meet government guidelines for lean with less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving. Beyond lean beef's favorable fat profile, beef is and has always been a nutrient-rich powerhouse. Just one 3-ounce serving of beef is an excellent source of five essential nutrients: protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorous, and a good source of four essential nutrients: niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin.

In addition, beef's fat profile is generally misunderstood. Half the fatty acids in a 3-ounce serving of lean beef are monounsaturated fatty acids the same heart-healthy kind found in olive oil that research shows may have cholesterol-lowering abilities. And, one third of the saturated fat in beef is a unique fatty acid called stearic acid, which has been found to have a neutral or cholesterol-lowering effect.

"Research shows lean beef can play the same role as skinless chicken or fish in a cholesterol-lowering diet," said Dayle Hayes, M.S., R.D., member of the Council for Women's Nutrition Solutions (CWNS). "In addition, beef provides essential nutrients that can have a positive effect on some of today's major health issues like weight management and bone health."

Don Seger manages news and information for Fairbury Steaks. For more information on premium beef, premium pork, quality seafood and other fine meats, visit http://www.fairburysteaks.com

[tags]lean beef, healthy beef, low fat meat ctus, low fat beef, healthy dinners[/tags]

How To Put On A Great BBQ

2008-12-07T09:00:00.001-08:00

Want to throw a party for extraordinary event, and then barbecue party is the one of the type that will make the whole event a memorable one! As eating outdoors is a much loved activity liked by everyone and planning the event can help make it more memorable and tranquil for the host. A barbecue party requires an adequate amount of planning and preparation to ensure that everything is laid out properly whether big or small. The very first thing that you should plan about is the theme of the party that could range from Hawaiian motif, nostalgic seventies get-together, or, if you are near the sea, opt for a beach barbecue party and then plan all aspects of the party such as the food, games and decorations can be fashioned around a central theme.

The other important aspect of the party is planning the menu, as most guests will be looking forward to an array of lip-smacking roasted meats dripping in barbecue sauce, it should be inline with the theme of the party.

Barbecue on the Beach Anyone?

Barbecue bash on the beach could be one memorable event that your guests will be looking for from you in future as well. The whole process of grilling and barbecuing as a cooking technique is that it's fun, exciting and very rewarding and if done on beach, it is certainly going to double the enjoyment, as the beach pretty much radiates the same atmosphere. You can also plan some interesting games and add extra fun and exciting to the activities that you do at the beach. It's a place where people can be themselves in their 'bare essentials' and the relaxation factor is definitely rewarding. Putting these two brilliant concepts together, a barbecue on the beach is pretty much a recipe for a great time!

Make before you pack your stuff, gear up your grill and hit the sand for one hell of a barbecue on the beach party sure that you are aware of the various safety procedures and other rules governing beach areas and if not so it would be best to consult authorities and secure the proper permissions before you even think about organizing a beach barbecue party.

Once you have finalized on the venue the next step in line would be preparing for your barbecue on the beach. There are various grill types that you may use for barbecuing on the beach - you have the wood or charcoal grill, gas grill or you may also use a campfire tripod. Be sure to station your grill in a stable spot, away from any flammable material and secure from people probably knocking into it.

Bring your marinated meat, poultry or seafood in a cooler and take them out only when you're ready to start barbecuing to avoid spoilage. Further, the last seasoning you would want on your barbecue on the beach is sand right? So keep them covered!

And of course, don't forget to pack those barbecue sauces and hot sauces to spice up your barbecue dishes. Treat yourself and your friends' taste buds to their line of extremely hot products; they would definitely go well with a good beer. Now that's what I call one unforgettable barbecue on the beach party!

Jakob Culver is founder of the website Nutritional Food Info and has a solid background in health and nutrition education. To find out more information about this topic visit our website.

[tags]bbq, health, food, sausage, steak, meat, healthy, health food, nutrition, barbecue, barbecues[/tags]

Organic Restaurants Alabama

2008-11-09T09:00:00.003-08:00

Because we understand the importance of Organic food with what we cook or where we choose to eat that we wanted to make it easier to find those places that serve organic food. There is an understanding, finally that is spreading throughout the country that genetically altered food, and all of the additives and hormones and other chemicals are creating disease, old age and poor nutrition. we hope this helps to support those that are serving and selling organic food and drink, and those who wish to buy organic.

Organic Restaurants - ALABAMA

Caribbean House
2612B Jordan Ln
Huntsville, AL 35816
205-837-1230
Vegetarian/Vegan

Garden Cove
628 Meridian St North
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-534-2683
Mostly organic

Golden Temple
1901 11th Ave
Birmingham, AL 35205
205-933-6333
Grocery/Bakery/Deli/Juice/Organic produce

Hot and Hot Fish Club
2180 11th Ct. South
Birmingham, AL 35205
205-933-5474
Fresh homegrown local produce, seasonal menu
www.hotandhotfishclub.com

Jerusalem Café
5773 Airport Blvd
Mobile, AL 36608
334-304-1155

Our Daily Bread
2413 B Jordan Ln Northwest
Huntsville, AL 35816
256-722-9696
Mostly vegetarian

Purple Onion
1550 Montegomery Hwy Ste P
Hoover, AL 35216
205-822-7322
Restaurant, Deli, Grill
www.purpleonionofhoover.com

The Standard Bistro
3 Mt. Laurel Lane
Birmingham, AL 35242
205-995-0512
Uses local organic produce and meats

TBO Deli
5510 Hwy 280
Birmingham, AL 35242
205-995-8888
Organic juice bar - smoothies, raw living food daily special

Michele Michaels has been active in raising awareness for alternative and natural methods of curing and treating all manner of illnesses.

You can also access the whole of the site at http://www.drclarkuniversity.blogspot.com/ (we will continue to update) and for more information on curing disease with out drugs/surgery or in combination with traditional medicine go to drclarkuniversity.com

[tags]Organic,organic food,natural cures,Dr. Hulda Clark,Cancer,alternative health, alabama,breast cancer[/tags]

Benefits Of Garlic Juice

2008-11-09T09:00:00.001-08:00

Benefits of garlic are numerous. Garlic, like the onion, has a powerful effect on healing wounds and is also very good as a disinfectant. The old Greeks placed garlic on stones at cross roads as a dinner for their triple goddess Hecate who was Diana on earth, Phoebe in heaven and Proserpine in hell.

As with horseradish, it is difficult to juice garlic in the machine because of the strong essential oils which can only be removed with the greatest difficulty. So we crush it and the resulting liquid is easily incorporated into juices or taken in small amounts by itself.

In 1936 Caspari demonstrated in the laboratory that garlic can destroy the bacterium staphylococcus and that this might be the basis for the use of garlic as a medicine. Later on studies with animals demonstrated the effect of garlic in improving the condition of arteriosclerosis whilst at the same time bringing down the blood-pressure.

Garlic acts well against cataract, particularly in smokers, and for colds. Like onion juice, one dessertspoonful of garlic in half a pint of warm water (10ml in 275ml water) is a recognized remedy for worms in children. One suspects that children in Mediterranean countries must be well protected against worms, and statistics show that their parents have a lower incidence of heart disease than most Europeans, all of which helps to confirm the therapeutic value of this bulb.

The great benefit from garlic was demonstrated in a controlled trial on sufferers from long-standing intestinal disorders such as persistent diarrhea with accompanying headaches. These symptoms disappeared in the patients having garlic juice, but even more importantly, an entirely fresh and improved quality was found in the intestinal flora, those bacteria which aid the digestion of food.

Garlic juice has been used beneficially for many conditions including those mentioned already plus tuberculosis, entercolitis and amoebic dysentery. It is an expectorant as well as assisting asthma and bronchitis.

Garlic and garlic juice has been used as a medicine for some 5,000 years and we would be misguided not to use it on account of the smell. If you cannot bear to use it with your juices than take garlic in the form of capsules which do not dissolve until they have reached the intestine

Garlic is by far the best common food source of germanium. Containing around 750 parts per million. It also seems to be better at concentrating selenium than most other fruits and vegetables, supplying 20 micrograms per100g. The exact quantity of these elements will depend on where your garlic was grown as some soils have richer supplies than others. Both germanium and selenium are considered to be important antioxidants.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies which include juices of beet, avocado, garlic.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, garlic juice[/tags]

Whole Grain Vs. Whole Wheat - What's The Best For You Part II

2008-11-08T09:00:00.003-08:00

Here is an easy way of finding the healthiest breads and cereals that you can. Number one, look for the words WHOLE GRAIN. Look at the first two ingredients, if one those two do not say WHOLE GRAIN, put it back! Number 2, look for the FDA-approved health claim that reads "In a low fat diet, whole grain foods may reduce the risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer". That sounds easy enough doesn't it. Now you have no more excuses when you are at the store. You can find healthy breads and cereals for you and your family.

Well, we know how to find whole grain foods, but even at that, there is still discrepancy between how much whole grain should be in the food to make it the healthiest. Look once again at the nutritional statement on the box. There are two things you really want to look for. Fiber grams and Sugar grams. High fiber, low sugar is the best bet. So, what is high fiber, what is low sugar? The FDA will usually only put their mark of approval on foods that are good or excellent sources of fiber. A good source of fiber has 6-10 grams of fiber per serving. An excellent source of fiber has 16 or more grams of fiber per serving. Using this as your guide, you need only to eat 3 servings of an excellent source of fiber, or 6 of the good sources of fiber. As far as sugar goes you should eat foods with 2 grams or less of sugar per serving. The more sugar in the servings, the less fiber that will be in it. The more fiber, the less sugar. Lets look at a new trend General Mills is coming up with. Take the new whole grain, low sugar Cinnamon Toast Crunch. We need to look at both boxes to compare this. Here is the regular cereals stats. 130 Calories, 10 grams of sugar and 1 gram of fiber. How about the new cereal, 120 calories, 2 grams of sugar and 2 grams of fiber. General mills has done a pretty good job. If you have to eat cinnamon toast crunch, then this will be better than the original. But does it stack up to our new found knowledge? NO! There is hardly any fiber in this cereal to make it a good source of fiber. It would not be considered a good source, or an excellent source. They did manage to make it look better on paper however, or cardboard to be exact. How about one of those healthy cereals? Let's look at Kashi GoLean Crunch. It says seven whole grains, it has 190 calories per serving, 8 grams of fiber and 13 grams of sugar, it also contains 9 grams of protein. When looking at the nutritional facts on the box the first set of ingredients is, whole oats, whole long grain brown rice, whole rye, whole hard red winter wheat, whole triticale, whole buckwheat, whole barley, and sesame seeds. The second item is soy protein concentrate, and the third is evaporated cane juice, followed by brown rice syrup. So we are getting better on our choices here. Even with the high sugar content, which is all natural by the way, they do have whole grains, and multi-grains at that. I am not saying natural sugar is really much better for you , but at least it is not the refined white sugar that we see so often. These natural sugars will still affect your blood sugars, but will take a little longer than refined sugar. Put this cereal next to our new set of standards and how does it stack up? Well, we are doing good on fiber, the added protein is a good addition, sugar however is still above the recommended health benefit. Is it good for you? It is better than even the whole grain low sugar Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but you will need to decide if this is the best you can do.

So, with all this information what should we do? We should try to make the best choices available. If you are afraid that eating healthier will cause you to be slaving away in the kitchen you need to realize that there are so many products out there that are good for you and easy to fix. Take for example the Grinin Grains line. Home made batches of scone mix, pancake mix, waffle mixes, and cereal mixes. These are made in small batches using the whole grain and priding themselves on the healthiness of their product. Breads, cereals, pastas, and even baked goods are beginning to come around and make the change to provide a healthier food choice for your family. Shouldn't you try and do the same?

Linda Cramer is the owner of Oregon Gourmet Foods and Gifts. Come visit our site at http://www.oregongourmetfoods.com

[tags]whole wheat, whole grain, wheat breads, white breads, health[/tags]

Alaskan Wild Salmon

2008-11-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

For years health experts have been promoting the benefits of eating fish. The oils in fish have been known to help fight cancer, and other dangerous diseases. The omega 3’s that fish contain can also help the body stay healthy. Fish also provides valuable sources of vitamins, and minerals that are rarely found in meat, and vegetables. Salmon is one of the healthiest fishes to eat, and coincidently one of the most popular fishes consumed by the public today.

Wild salmon is known to be much better for your body then farm raised salmon. Wild salmon can be found in a number of places, but the most robust wild salmon come from Alaska. Think about it, if it’s good enough for the bears, shouldn’t it be good enough for you?

Wild Alaskan salmon can be used for many dishes, in a number of cuts, and filets. The most popular salmon dishes are paired with lemon, capers, and broccoli. Grilled salmon on a bed of fresh romaine lettuce is a great dish that many people enjoy often. There are salmon based pastas that people call their favorite dishes of all time. And of course there is the smoked salmon, which is the perfect addition to a cracker and some sharp cheddar cheese.

Baby salmon, otherwise known as lox, is a popular dish for breakfast lovers. The lox and cream cheese bagel is one of the most popular breakfast delights at many a New York deli. The baby salmon often comes from Alaska or Canada.

No matter how you enjoy your salmon dishes, it’s important that you do enjoy salmon. The exotic fish flavor of this pink centered masterpiece is a delight for all that give it a try. If you feel in doubt about the great benefits of salmon, and the robust taste, just look at a picture of the wild bears eating it, they seem to enjoy the taste.

[tags]food,recipes,nutrition,Alaskan salmon,fish,omega 3,healthy eating,cooking,lox[/tags]

Fun Healthy Snacks For Kids

2008-11-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Kids love snacks. After school, in the late evening, or just about anytime, kids want snacks. You may be struggling with snack ideas for your kids that are healthy and inexpensive.

Here is a list of healthy snacks to give your kids.

Some of the healthy choices for kid's snacks are unsweetened applesauce, bottled water, fruit cups or snacks, raisins and other dried fruits, granola bars, low fat or fat free milk, and pure fruit juice.

Meat and Cheese: Low fat lunchmeats such as chicken, turkey, and ham make fun snacks when rolled around a small slice of cheese or on whole wheat bread, cut into finger size sandwiches. Cheese and low fat or fat free crackers served with low-sodium pickles are favorites as well as turkey hot dogs with mustard.

Fresh fruit: Kids love fresh fruit peeled and sliced into bits size pieces with some low-fat yogurt on the side for dipping. Peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread with a little sugar free jelly are great ideas for a healthy snack that your kids will enjoy.

Fresh veggies: Fresh vegetables cut into bite size chunks with some low fat salad dressing are fun snacks that your kids will love and not even notice that they are healthy.

Finding healthy snacks that your kids will actually eat is not impossible. Give your kids healthy choices and arrange the various food items in a fun, colorful way on their plates as extra incentive to enjoy the healthy foods.

Childhood obesity is a major problem in our society. Make sure your kids eat healthy, fun snacks that give them some nutritional benefits and set an example of healthy eating from a young age.

Angela Tyler would rather spend time doing the things she loves rather than being stuck in the kitchen. She invites you to http://www.freequickrecipes.com where you'll find quick recipes for mothers... and others. And, if you are looking for fun exercise for your kids, check out http://www.funexercisevideos.com/big-kid-exercise.php

[tags]article submission, articles, writers, writing, publishing, ezine, email marketing, email newsletter, email[/tags]

Say Cheers To Good Health The Natural Way!

2008-11-06T09:00:00.002-08:00

Good health is always within our reach. Believe it or not, maintaining a sound health is not, after all, a burdensome task. All that you require is to eat right at regular intervals. Sounds quite simple, isn't it? But most of us hardly pay enough attention to our diet. With a generous addition of fruits and vegetables to our daily diet, we can take a big stride forward towards the course of a blooming health.

It is commonly observed that most people take a lot of stress upon themselves nowadays. One hardly has the time to devote to his family owing to the mounting pressure of workload. Our body can meet these stressful circumstances only when it enjoys a sound health. Hence the need to remain fit and healthy has become necessary; else it would be hard enough for a normal human being to survive.

There's nothing more logical than keeping an eye on your diet in order to remain healthy. Your daily diet should be monitored to help you cope with your hectic schedule and make you feel healthy and cheerful throughout the day. Nothing can be as refreshing as a cool fruit juice or a natural drink to relieve a stressful situation. Fruit juices not only serve as energy boosters, they also cool your system and help you relax.

Fruit juices are an excellent source of essential vitamins. It is always wise to consume a glass or two of seasonal fruit juice daily. These seasonal fruits contain essential components that help human body to adjust to the changing seasons. For instance, a cool watermelon juice during a hot summer day helps to rehydrate the body and supplement the loss of fluids. Fruit juices offer resistance to fight diseases and thus are a tasty way to say cheers to good health. Certain flavors like watermelon or strawberry are hot favorites among people.

With more and more people becoming self-conscious about their health, fruit juices have gained an upper hand over aerated drinks in recent times. Certain fruit juices are consumed much more than a banana or milk shake owing to the greater calorie content of the latter. For this reason, watermelon juice is preferred over other natural drinks. With one cup serving of watermelon providing around 48 calories, watermelons form an excellent way to keep your calorie count under check. This is because watermelons boost your body's metabolism and burn loads of calories. A little exercise combined with a glass of refreshing watermelon juice can really help you shed those extra pounds! Talking of essential vitamins, watermelons are an excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Besides, watermelons are a very good source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene.

So guys! Fasten up your belts and prepare yourselves to lead a life, the natural way. You should always remember that there is nothing so precious as your own health. Strive to attain the 'pink of perfection' and cheer your way to success. So drink healthy and get going!

Suzanne is an Internet marketing professional with expertise in content development and technical writing in a variety of industries. Watermelon Juice

[tags]Watermelon, Honeydew, Cantaloupe[/tags]

Are Healthy Organic School Dinners On The Increase

2008-11-06T09:00:00.001-08:00

Jamie Olivers campaign to improve school dinners has galvanized politicians and parents alike. Even the Prime Minister has got involved saying that If changes are made it will only be a matter of months before British health, education and farming could be affected for the better. It could be one of the biggest food revolutions that England has ever seen. What is now needed is real commitment to this change and the funds from central government to back it up.

In a response to the plea from Jamie Oliver for a school dinner revolution, the Prime Minister has also said that school kitchens will be rebuilt and equipped so that food dishes can be cooked from scratch, while dinner ladies are given culinary skills to help them create appetizing menus.

From autumn 2006, school dinners in England will now exclude crisps, chocolate, fizzy drinks and low-quality meat. School children will be served at least two portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal and deep-fried food will be restricted to two portions per week. Meals that are high in salt and fat from the school canteen are also banned.

From a parents perspective, many want better school meals for their children and to swap junk food for both organic and local fresh meals but there has been pictures in the national newspapers of some parents taking dinner orders at the school gates and going and buying burgers, chips and other unhealthy meals and then delivering it to their children and others. This is clearly undermining what Jamie Oliver and the Prime Minister is trying to do, at school they have to wear a uniform and conform to certain rules, why cant this include eating green and healthy food? When they get home they can then wear and eat what they want. Its not going to kill them to eat 5 healthy meals per week is it? Wake up!!! This also reminds me of Ian Wrights (famous ex Arsenal football player in the UK) recent TV programme about unhealthy kids, he tried his hardest to engage them in exercise to reduce their obesity levels and when he was struggling he asked their parents to lead by example..many of them refused!

Back to healthy meals againthe Soil Association is encouraging the use of organic and local produce in school meals by running a Food for Life workshop at interested schools. It is a one day workshop for key stage two pupils. It is run by the Soil Associations education department. The workshop provides children with an opportunity to consider healthy eating, local and organic food through the theme of choices.

Schools also need information on good practice when sourcing healthy food for school meals. Schools can further improve childrens diets and increase their understanding of food by means of farm visits, and classroom activities. Wouldnt it be wonderful if all schools could have gardens so that kids can see that food doesnt come just from packets or appear miraculously in shops?

To encourage kids at home to eat healthily why not make soups with organic vegetables, while the children can make their own smoothies in the blender with organic yogurt or milk and fresh or frozen fruit. I bet the kids can taste the difference. All the kids in my family love organic yoghurts, and for snacks they have organic dried fruit.

Davinos Greeno works for the organic directory This green directory lists 100s of Organic Food and Drink Companies and Eco Jobs and Campaigning Videos

[tags]organic, oliver, parents, families, eco, environment, lessons, school, kids, healthy, dinner, snacks[/tags]

The Future For Loose Leaf Tea And Tea Rooms

2008-11-05T09:00:00.001-08:00

The new American tea culture places high value on stress reduction (perhaps partially attributable to the relaxing properties of L-Theaninea natural amino compound occurring in tea), product purity and exotic teaware and other brewing accessories (the after-market for tea accoutrements is substantial compared to espresso-based drinks).

Until the boom in Ready To Drink teas (circa 1990-95) made tea drinking simultaneously easy , fashionable with colorful and appealing packaging, and healthy (a no/low calorie, antioxidant-rich alternative to carbonated beverages), tea sales in America were sleepy at best. Annual retail sales had not reached $1 billion prior to 1990 and tea producers were simply uninspired.

Snapple, Arizona Iced Tea and a handful of other specialty Ready To Drink teas catapulted the entire loose leaf tea category into double-digit growth while whetting appetites on Wall Street.

Increasing interest from America's 76 million baby boomers just beginning to embrace tea as a health-promoting product for the entire family is laying a solid base for loose leaf tea.

This exceptionally health-conscious demographic is starting to explore loose leaf tea culture through brewed tea beverages, tea-based skincare products and neighborhood cafés offering exotic teas.

The consumer product dollars available for loose leaf tea purchases within the U.S. over the next decade will be significant

This stellar consumer interest in tea is being driven by scientific findings linking tea consumption and improved health and a seemingly endless wave of favorable media coverage. Novel blended flavors and convenient packaging may be securing American consumers attracted to loose leaf tea, but news of the health promoting benefits afforded by regular tea consumption is the number one market driver.

Researchers have released survey data indicating heavy frequency consumers of herbal and hot teas spend more on healthy and natural products than the general population or coffee drinkers.

This is yet another indication of the emerging demographic pursuing loose leaf tea within the nation's hottest spot for loose leaf tea salesnatural foods retail outlets.

Finally. As the demand for loose lea tea grows, customers will also demand pleasant and wholesome surroundings to better enjoy the tea experience.

The tea room business, as a result, has a very strong growth path and a bright future.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Golden Moon Tea a division of Element H2O. Golden Moon Tea is a supplier of high quality loose leaf tea and high quality tea ware. Golden Moon Tea's website is found at http://www.Goldenmoontea.com

[tags]Loose tea, loose leaf tea. tea room, health, packaging, healthy natural products, natural food outle[/tags]

Becoming A Vegan

2008-11-04T09:00:00.003-08:00

Depending on one's level of commitment this can include not using certain medicines because they are tested for safety on animals. A Vegan will not buy or use animal products whether that's a steak, an egg, bread with milk in it or leather shoes. The overall goal of veganism is to reduce animal suffering, environmental damage, hunger in the developing world and risks to our own health. Veganism takes all those advantages just a little further. For very many people concerned about any or all of these problems, it seems the natural step to take from vegetarianism.

Why do people choose to become Vegan?

Animal Welfare - Despite the common belief that drinking milk or eating eggs does not kill animals, commercially raised dairy cows and egg-laying chickens, whether factory-farmed or 'free range,' are slaughtered when their production rates decline, not to mention the appalling conditions to which they are kept. There is an ongoing debate on the finer points of what constitutes an animal product; The Vegan Society and most vegans include insect products such as honey in their definition as well.

The environment - Animal agriculture takes a devastating toll on the earth. It is an inefficient way of producing food, since feed for farm animals requires land, water, fertilizer, and other resources that could otherwise have been used directly for producing human food.

Health - The consumption of animal fats and proteins has been linked to heart disease, colon and lung cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, obesity, and a number of other debilitating conditions. Cows' milk contains ideal amounts of fat and protein for young calves, but far too much for humans. According to Gill Langley, a Ph.D. in biology and author of Vegan Nutrition, "it is clear from the example of many thousands of vegans worldwide that a varied plant-based diet not only supports health and well-being but, additionally, can have positive health benefits" (Langley 1995). A vegan diet is protective against such major killers as heart disease and cancer.

Eating fewer animal products is a good choice for the environment and your conscious. Animal agriculture produces surprisingly large amounts of air and water pollution, and causes 80 percent of the world's annual deforestation. It also requires large amounts of water, and livestock worldwide consumes half the world's total grain harvest. How Do I Know it's Vegan?

When shopping, look out for the Vegan Society Logo. It appears on thousands of animal free products that have been registered with

The Vegan Society.

You will need to examine the packaging and labelling carefully of all non registered products to ensure that you avoid animal by-products such as gelatin and rennet which can be found in everyday items such as children's sweets.

Find Vegan products via GuideMeGreen's vegan directory.

[tags]veg, veggie, vegan, vegetarian, animal, healthy, fat, egg, cow, welfare,[/tags]

Raw And Living Foods

2008-11-04T09:00:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that Americans are the most wealthy, yet malnourished, of all humans on the planet. Our society reports the highest incident in the world of illnesses such heart disease, chronic fatigue, ADHD, high cholesterol, allergies, joint pain, depression, gallstones, gum disease, hair loss, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, autism, diabetes, insomnia, cancer and other. Much of this is due to our consumption of high-fat, high-sugar, "low-life" foods filled with dangerous preservatives, dyes and chemicals that the FDA approves.

Recently I went to a friend's house for dinner and she introduced me to living foods. I was intrigued with the fact that foods have life and energy in them, and that when any food is separated from its life source, (its "umbilical cord" to Mother Earth) it begins to die. Processing, cooking, refining, and adding chemicals, coloring or preservatives to food kills the active enzymes, and destroys oxides, chlorophyll, vitamins, essential fatty acids, fiber, and alkaline/acid minerals, thus stripping them of their healing powers. The best way to insure good health is to eat food that is as close to its growing state as possible. This allows our body to access what it needs to heal and protect itself from illness.

Not everyone is able to grow their own food, but there are healthy alternatives. You may purchase organic produce at farmer's markets and whole food grocery stores, or participate in a co-op such as the Barefoot Farmer's community supported agriculture group (see http://www.barefootfarmer.com/csa.html) or grow herbs, wheat grass and sprouts indoors.

I did some research on living foods, and began my new eating regime. After just a few days of consuming 75% of my diet in raw, organic, and living foods, I felt more energetic, my mind sharpened and my mood lifted. I still have a cheeseburger and fries upon occasion, but after a meal of dead or low-life food, my body quickly notifies me that it didn't get what it needed. When I begin feeling tired, sleepy or emotionally irritated. I run back to my wheat grass and juicer!

The famous physician, Hippocrates, once said, "Let food be your medicine, let medicine be your food." Most of us agree that what we put into our bodies is very important, but we are hooked on the convenience of fast foods in our busy lifestyles. The best way to get started changing to a living food regimen is to get a copy of Rose Lee Calabros' book, Living in the Raw, and begin her "Three-Month Plan to a Healthier Mind, Body and Soul." you may soon find that growing and preparing living foods is a great way to express your creativity. And the best part is you'll have the energy and enthusiasm to enjoy the "uncooked" life style!

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team of ghostwriters service clients all over the globe by offering quality writing on a variety of topics at an affordable price. If you need a brochure, web text, business document, resume, bio, article or book, visit http://www.yvonneperry.net. While there sure to subscribe to the RSS podcast feed and the free monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing. Read more on Yvonne's blog at http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com.

[tags]Raw foods, Living Foods, diet, cooking, preservatives, healthy eating, organic food, uncooked[/tags]

Bananas, The Instant Energy Source

2008-11-03T09:00:00.001-08:00

If you want a quick energy booster, there's no better snack than a banana. Bananas have three natural sugars; sucrose, fructose and glucose-combined with a fiber, a banana gives an instant and sustained boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute work out.

Unripe bananas contain resistant starch, so called because it cannot be digested by the small intestine-which then ferments in the large intestine, often causing wing. Because ripe bananas are very easily digestible and rarely cause any allergic reactions, they are a popular solid food for babies.

Bananas are also found to beneficial to preventing or curing these ailments:

Heart Burn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from a Heart burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep the blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito Bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful in reducing the sweeling and irritation caused due to insect bites.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milk shake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and with the help of honey, builds the depleted sugar levels, while the milk soothes and rehydrates your system.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The nutrients in Bananas help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Ulcers: Banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It also neutralizes acidity and reduces the irritation coating the line of the stomach.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate increases, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balance with the help of a banana snack.

Anemia: High in iron, Bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin and help in the cases of Anemia.

Green Bananas or Plantains are indigestible and unpalatable when eaten raw. Because they are rich in tannin, they can taste bitter, though some of this flavors disappears when cooked. Plantains contain more starch than Bananas because they are eaten before they are fully ripe. Some research has linked low incidence of stomach and bowel cancer with a diet high in indigestible starch.

So a banana is a natural remedy for many ills. When compared to an apple it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorous, five times vitamin A and iron and twice other vitamins and minerals. So next time you see a banana don't hesitate to grab a bite!

----------------

Here's a delicious Banana recipe to get started -

Banana Cream Pudding

Bananas-4
Chocolate sauce-1 cup
Powdered sugar- 1 cup
Little chocolate powder - 2 Tblsp.

Cut the banana into big pieces. Mix the chocolate sauce and chocolate powder to make a cream. Then add the banana pieces into this cream. Mix the powdered sugar into the cream. Set this mixture for sometime in a freezer until the pudding becomes soft to medium hardness.

Roshan Kumar is the creator of the website http://www.top-indian-recipes.com, "Indian food Kitchen". Indian Food Kitchen gives various recipes from India as well as cookbook reviews and food articles and a recipe blog to keep any food lover's tastebuds tingling! Subscribe to the KitchenExpress newsletter to receive some tasty food bytes in your inbox. http://www.top-indian-recipes.com/kitchenexpress-newsletter.htm

[tags]banana,bananas, banana health benefit, banana energy source, banana recipes.[/tags]

The Organic And Healthy Food Market

2008-11-02T09:00:00.001-08:00

Recent research by market analysts nVision suggests four in ten adults now choose organic options on a regular basis. Organic supermarkets in England are booming and Europes biggest organic event, the Biofach exhibition in Germany in getting bigger every year.

Unfortunately, at the moment retailers are charging artificially high prices. I was in Tesco last week which is a rare occurrence as I shop locally where possible, and I nearly died when I saw the prices being charged for organic yogurt and eggs compared to the non-organic brands. Its about time that the government started to investigate these organic suppliers and supermarkets to see who is ripping us off! Encouraging competition is not always a good idea as this can drives down prices (good for the consumer) which can put organic suppliers out of business if they have small profit margins. I understand that we have to pay more for organic produce because there are more crop failures due to the fact that the farmers cannot use pesticides, but what is an acceptable percentage and does this vary from product to product. Should organic fish be 10 percent more expensive than non organic fish and vegetables 20 per cent etc?

Once only available in small health shops or farmers markets, organic foods are becoming much more widely available. In the past 10 years sales of organic food in the UK have increased over 10-fold from £100m in 1993/94 to nearly £1.4bn in 2004/05. This large growth is predicted to continue, and many companies are jumping into the market. Sales through farmers markets and farm shops have grown faster than any other retail outlet. Organic food and drink now accounts for 1.2 per cent of the total retail market (Source Soil Association).

There are two types of organic foods.

Fresh food

Fresh food is seasonal and perishable. Vegetables and fruits are the most available type of organic, fresh food, and are closely associated with organic farming. They are often purchased directly from growers, at farmers markets, supermarkets or through speciality food stores. Organic meat, eggs, dairy are also available.

Processed food

Processed food accounts for most of the items in a supermarket. Often, within the same store, both organic and conventional versions of products are available, and the price of the organic version is usually higher as already mentioned. Most processed organic food comes from larger companies producing and marketing products like organic baby food, organic beer, organic pasta or other convenience foods.

How do I know its organic?

The term organic is defined by law - all organic food production and processing is governed by a strict set of rules. Look for symbols such as the Soil Association symbol for your guarantee of the highest organic standards. The Soil Association organic symbol is the UK's largest and most recognisable trademark for organic produce. Wherever you see it you can be sure that the food you have purchased has been produced and processed to strict and rigorous animal welfare and environmental standards. Other symbols to look out for include the Organic Food Federation and Certified Organic Ingredients.

Most people dont have enough time to read the labels of all the different food products that they buy to check for organic ingredients. So look for the various symbols, you can then be sure that the product complies with minimum government standards.

The use of such symbols is entirely optional and a product can still be organic even though if it doesnt carry the symbol of a certifying body. That means if you want to be 100% satisfied that what you are eating or using is organic always read the label or speak to the vendor.

Where you will find the symbol? - Look out for organic symbols on almost any kind of food and drink you can think of from fresh produce like fruit, vegetables and meat to processed foods such as bread or baby food. You can even buy organic pet food!

Davinos Greeno works for the organic directory This green directory lists 100s of Organic Food and Drink Companies and Eco Jobs and Campaigning Videos

[tags]farms, farmer, organic, social, ethics, fair, trade, health, renewable, energy, vegetables, supermar[/tags]

Food And Feng Shui

2008-11-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

Feng shui has a great impact on the food we eat. Feng shui, the food we eat and ourselves are interrelated and influence each other. Chi and our life balance are highly influenced by food, starting on how it was harvested and produced, going through how we cook it and the environment and mood in which we eat it.

Chi or positive energy flows in food as well as in everything else, and its quality depends a lot on the way we cook it. Actually, eating has direct relation with energy flowing, since it is the way we receive energy and it becomes part of us. Therefore, the source of that energy, which is food, should be handled very carefully.

Harmony and balance is an important aspect of the relationship between food and feng shui. It is important that we eat balanced food, which consists in variety and balance of colors. Feng shui recommends that a dish should contain different colors which are in harmony with each other. You should try to use as many different colors as possible in one same dish at the same time as they should combine and look good together.

You should also achieve a yin and yan balance in your food which is done through the balance of flavors. A feng shui and yin yan harmonic dish would contain strong flavors as well as delicate ones balanced through the use of different colors. There should not be one strong element predominating too much over the others. The food, the colors and the smells should all be in balance.

It is also important to pay attention to the food smells as well. You should like the smell of your food and it should be appealing to you. Every sense which is part of the eating process should be paid attention to and in balance with the dish as a unity. All the process, through which food goes, from where they are originated to when we eat it, is very important and should be followed carefully.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com. Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you'll ever need!

[tags]food,fen shui,chi,harmony,health alternative,life balance,lifestyle[/tags]

Tea And Talk

2008-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

The word "Talk" begins with "T" or "Tea" for the matter at hand. It is not just coincidence. There is connection beyond the common alphabet. But before I go on to explain the subtle link between these two beautiful ingredients of life, let me first "tea" up the topic by talking about talk.

We talk every day. At home, we talk to our spouse, we talk to our children. At work, we talk to our colleagues, we talk to our customers. In addition to traditional face to face talks, we talk virtually through phone, email and Internet chat. We not only talk to each other, we talk to ourselves too.

Like foods and drinks, talk is an important part of our daily life. The most distinguishing characteristic that separates human beings from the rest is that we are social and live in a society. Our survival as well as our happiness and triumph are so much dependent upon the interaction among ourselves and talk is the most used form of the interaction we have with each other.

Let's evaluate how effective we are at talk.

I find we are great at opening a talk. We say "how are you" everyday to everyone, to our neighbors, to our co-workers and even to strangers. But I also find that we are not that good at talk when it comes to the real meaning of talk.

When we say "how are you?" we don't really mean it. We don't look at the person in the eyes and wait patiently to listen to his or her response. We don't really care about the answer.

We don't talk much to our spouse, to our children and to our parents. When we do talk to them, we tend to rush the conversation because we are stressed from our long commutes and challenging jobs in addition to mundane day to day chores.

Many of us are sons or daughters as well as parents. We know we should call and talk to our parents on regular basis. But many of us make the calls when we are on the road driving or waiting at the checkout line in a grocery store.

Not to mention about our poor record of talk when it comes to challenging situations such as talking to mediate conflicts, disputes and differences in ideas.

Along with unhealthy junk foods, talks have become hasty and unfulfilled.

Discovering the many health benefits of tea, more and more people are turning to the green leaves for the health of our body, mind and spirit. For the health of our human relationship, let's add tea to our talk too.

Tea can calm our temperament down and warm our heart up. Tea can slow down our pace and even help us pause when we attempt to rush. Only when we are calm and warm, we are able to enjoy the conversation and bring enjoyment to others.

People from eastern culture generally are not as expressive as those from western culture. For example, they hardly show their passion for the loved ones in words like "I love you." That does not means they talk less. They actually talk more. How can you say less and talk more? Isn't it contradictive? Well, the answer lies in the Tao of tea.

Next time before you pick up the phone and call someone; or when you and your friends get together, make a cup or a pot of hot and aromatic tea first. Let the rising mist, the unfolding leaves and the soothing liquor kick off the talk. Infuse the magic leaves into the interaction gradually and take the time to brew the conversation slowly. You will be amazed by the results of a talk infused with tea through time.

Tea, talk and time are the most powerful trio that works in tandem to enrich, enhance and enlighten our lives.

Jay is the owner of TaimuTea.com - an online tea store that focuses on tea knowledge, news and education in addition to providing quality fresh teas from Taimu Mountain and its surrounding areas in Fujian province of China. http://www.taimutea.com

[tags]Tea, Talk, Health, Foods, Drinks, Conversation, Eastern Culture[/tags]

Tea Time A Healthy Dimension

2008-10-30T09:01:00.001-07:00

You are having a craft party. Cheer and excitement fill the room as you munch and share the joy of great company and fabulous crafts. Take this light hearted and prosperous occasion to a new level. Interject some health information with your snacks and beverages. Further enhance the knowledge and health of your team and customers by sharing the benefits of green tea.

Why you might ask? Because the high antioxidants in green team fight ovarian cancer. Knowledge is power. You can screen for breast cancer, You can screen for colon cancer. You can quit smoking. But it's really hard to screen for ovarian cancer. So, it remains on the hit list of nasty diseases without a concrete method of attack and prevention.

Studies have shown that many women who drank two cups of tea a day had a 46% reduction in their ovarian cancer risk. And for each cup of tea a day past two, another 18% reduction was achieved. This adds to the body of knowledge that leads scientists to agree that foods high in antioxidants have major health benefits.

Financial success and a good quality of life are affected by a healthy body. Take the opportunity to ward off the silent killer ovarian cancer. Educate your company about the benefits of green tea.

You do not have to be a health professional to offer green tea with a health clipping of information posted to a colorful sheet of paper or a internet search creatively mounted and displayed. Your goal is to promote awareness and get your group brain storming and sharing.

Not a big tea lover try drinking Chai. With lots of milk and cinnamon. Adding lots of milk gives you an additional boost of calcium to ward off osteoporosis. There are many tea options on the market. Green tea or White are what you want to look for as they are higher in antioxidants. Have fun, promote crafting, make money and stay healthy. Anytime can be tea time. Add a new dimension to your craft party one that promotes health and wealth.

(From the Archives of Internal Medicine: This Week, Dec 12, 2005 (2005:165, 2683-2686 Author Susanna Larrson) n.d.)

The majority of home business entrepreneurs don't REALLY want a business...They want money! To relieve the bill crunch. To help with their kid's school tuition etc.. See how I make 3000 per sale and never talk to anyone http://www.umakemoney247.com

[tags]home, business,work from, prosperity,automated system,income,money,internet,computer,PAS,freedom,job[/tags]

The Truth About Turkey

2008-10-29T09:00:00.002-07:00

All along, turkey has been associated to once a year family feasts. You know, the Thanksgiving turkey. The Christmas turkey. Roast turkey stuffed with some yummy stuffing, eaten with gravy or cranberry sauce is a must for the end of the year celebrations.

The fact is, turkey is such a healthy meat, it should not be reserved ONLY for Christmas and Thanksgiving. You should have turkey as part of your daily diet. Especially the breast meat of the turkey, without the skin.

Why?

3 reasons.

1. Turkey meat has a very high protein content

2. Turkey meat itself has low fat content.

3. Turkey can be really delicious. My mom cooks a fantastic roast turkey. Here are 2 of her roast turkey recipes.

Protein

Ok, so we can get lots of protein from meat, fish and soya beans. Sure, beef packs plenty of protein that you body needs, but red meats are high in cholesterol.

For example, 1 oz of turkey contains between 15 mg and 24 mg cholesterol while 1 oz of beef contains 20 and 30mg of cholesterol. It all adds up to a large difference in artery clogging cholesterol between beef and turkey. That means if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, switching from beef to turkey can make a big difference.

As for protein, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council billed turkey as the perfect protein. It has more protein than chicken, or even a top loin beef steak.

That makes turkey the ideal food for growing children, athletes and anyone who wants lean muscle.

Fat

Most of the fat in poultry is found in the skin. That means, by trimming off the skin in chicken or turkey, you remove most of the fat. Beef, pork and lamb on the other hand have the fat embedded in the meat itself. So just by switching to poultry alone, and removing the skin, you effectively remove most of the fat.

In fact, 3 ounces of skinless, boneless turkey breast contains a mere 1g of fat and no saturated fat. That is a weight watcher's dream. This is about as healthy as you get.

This makes turkey the ideal meat for anyone who wants to stay slim, yet eat to his or her heart's content, without consuming much fat. Still even if you do switch to turkey, watch your portion size. Double the amount you eat and you will still gain weight.

The flip side is the lack of fat in turkey meat compromises the taste. After all, the yummiest food contain fat. Fat flavors food.

Then again, with the right seasoning, gravy and all, turkey can be delicious. Just try my mom's recipes like her roast turkey with rice stuffing or the roast turkey with bread crumb stuffing. It is time to switch to something healthy and yummy.. like turkey.

The writer is the webmaster of Kitchen which helps you find your kitchen essentials online, easily.

[tags]turkey,turkey recipes,turkey protein,turkey for health,turkey fat,cooking turkey[/tags]

Knowing The Value And Importance Of Orange Juice

2008-10-29T09:00:00.001-07:00

The botanical name given is for the common sweet or Malta orange which was introduced into Europe from China and is now grown in many hot countries especially the U.S.A. Among other species are the Citrus aurantium which is the bitterly aromatic Seville orange and the most scented, the Citrus bergamia, from which the orange bergamot is prepared.

The first greenhouses were called 'orangeries' because the fruit is damaged by even a slight frost, and the nobles of seventeenth-century England and France would not allow so unpredictable a thing as the weather to stand between them and their enjoyment of this delicious fruit.

The orange has a modest mineral content but a good ripe fruit will have at least 50mg of vitamin C in 100g (4oz), a smallish fruit. There are also plenty of the interesting and probably important bioflavonoids. There is much experience which strongly suggests that when vitamin C is taken, for example as an anti-infective, the effect is reinforced in the presence of these bioflavonoids.

In nature they are often found naturally occurring in vitamin C-rich fruits such as rose hips and green peppers. Other names for the bioflavonoids include rutin and hesperidin. They have been used in concentrated form for the treatment of high blood-pressure, as anti-coagulants and as part of the treatment for colds.

Orange juice is very nutritious and pleasant to take at any time, but it is a good idea to take a regular glass daily during the winter months to make certain that you are having enough vitamin C. The fat soluble vitamins, A, D and E can be stored in the body, but you need your vitamin C regularly.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on all the natural and home made remedies with the value and benefits of orange juice.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, orange juice, orange[/tags]

Smoked Salmon - A Healthy Low Carb Diet Choice

2008-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, many people are turning to fish such as smoked salmon to give a little something extra to their diet. While most fish is loaded with healthy nutrients, smoked salmon serves up something that other fish are lacking in. Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty

acids which a wonderful nutrients for the human body. These are some of the nutrients that can help to prevent

such problems as heart disease and some cancers as well as many other ailments.

Mercury is another concern of most consumers when they are looking to add fish to their diet. However, with smoked salmon, recent studies have shown that it has a very low level of mercury compared to other fish such as shark and swordfish.

When weighing all of your health options these days, most of the information can be a bit tedious and confusing at times. Studies of smoked salmon however, have convincingly shown over and

over that this is a great source of so many great nutrients that everyone needs.

You can add cold smoked salmon, or "lox" to your bagel with cream cheese in the morning. Or how about adding it to your salad at lunchtime for a nice bit of added taste? Try using salmon for treats the next time you are entertaining or have guests over for dinner. Most recipes are not only impressive but easy as well. Your guests, or friends and family will surely thank you for adding such a healthy food as smoked salmon to their diets.

Smoked Salmon Delivered is excellent as a part of a low-carb diet. Having 15.55 grams of protein effective

carbohydrate grams smoked salmon fits right in with your low-carb diet. You couldn't choose a better food to

eat when you are on a low-carb diet. To help assist you with your goal we have assembled the Smoked Salmon

Delivered Carb Buster Kit. You will find enough smoked salmon to prepare 72 low-carb or low-carb snacks. Using

recipes you will find in our library, you can prepare restaurant quality meals with smoked salmon that are

great tasting, good for you and will impress your dinner guests.

Our smoked salmon Carb Buster Kit offers two units each of our most popular All Wild Alaska Smoked Salmon,

spreads, and canned Wild Alaska Smoked Salmon. All of our smoked salmon is processed at our facility located in

Ketchikan, Alaska.

Hundreds of thousands of people have discovered the health benefits of eating smoked salmon. The Journal of

American Medicine Association recently published a report stating adding Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon at least

once a week to your diet will cut the risk of sudden cardiac death in half.

Keeping your diet low-carb is a great way to stay healthy and smoked salmon is a fantastic and easy way to stay

on your diet!

Smoked Salmon Delivered makes it easy to get high quality smoked salmon. Start enjoying the health benefits of making smoked salmon part of your diet. To browse our fine selection of smoked salmon please visit Smoked Salmon Delivered today!

Smoked Salmon Delivered has a great selection of High Quality Smoked Salmon products and recipes to choose from. Please stop by http://www.smokedsalmondelivered.com today, browse the smoked salmon items and check out a recipe or two while your at it!

[tags]Smoked Salmon, Alaskan Smoked Salmon, Smoked Salmon Recipes, Omega-3 Fatty Acids,[/tags]

Fun & Healthy Snacks For Kids

2008-10-27T09:00:00.003-07:00

Looking for a quick and healthy snack for the kids? Here are a few tasty ideas that you can surprise them with, or let them make on their own.

1. Bugs On A Log: They'll love it just for the name! Simply spread peanut butter onto celery stalks, and then top with raisins (the bugs). Yummy.

2. Melon Balls: Show them that ice cream scoops can be used for more than just ice cream. Scoop the "meat" out of watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe and serve them on a tray with colorful toothpicks in each one.

3. Quesadillas: You don't have to drive to a Mexican restaurant to enjoy these melted treats. Simply sprinkle shredded cheese onto a tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half and microwave it until the cheese is gooey. Cut the quesadilla into triangle-shaped wedges and dip in salsa.

4. Frozen Grapes: The entire family will enjoy this cool treat once summer arrives. Place a washed bowl of grapes into the freezer for an hour or so. Don't forget to cut the grapes in half for smaller children and toddlers.

5. Peanut Butter Squares: Kids will eat just about anything that's covered in yummy peanut butter! Spread peanut butter onto a cracker (or a rice cake). Add a couple of apple slices then top with another cracker to form a little cracker sandwich.

6. Snackers Delight: Children change their minds with the wind, so be prepared with a medley of their favorites! Fill each cup of a muffin tin with different treats such as nuts, raisins, cheese cubes, pretzels, carrot slices and sunflower seeds.

About The Author

Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of the brand new book, "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com

deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

[tags]snacks,healthy snacks,nutrition,kids,parenting[/tags]

The Precious Water

2008-10-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

Can you remember what you decided to drink the last time you were thirsty? If the answer is something other than nature's most precious liquid nourishment, then you should reconsider your water drinking habits.

Every morning before setting off to go to work you probably drink at least a cup of coffee and perhaps, if you are conscious with your diet, you begin your day with a glass of water at room temperature and a drop of lemon. But, during the day, with a coffee spot on every corner and a vending machine in every office building and school, you seem to forget that your organism needs the most precious of all the liquids you may or may not consume; water.

Actually, with the deteriorating dietary and drinking habits, people seem to be dehydrated and not even know about it. In fact, the most important ingredient of a healthy lifestyle might be missing from the daily list of things we consume, just because a cup of coffee can wake us up, or an ice-cold soda can give us the sugary taste we want. But, if you feel fatigue, moodiness, or drained, and of course that you are always thirsty, then you probably are dehydrated and you have not even realized it. In fact, what has surprised me numerous times is when I am out with friends and I hear someone complain of being thirsty. While the 'normal' reaction would be to order a glass of water from the bar, I am amazed when a soda, a coffee or even an alcohol beverage arrives instead of a glass full of water.

Did you know that 45 to 75 percent of the human weight is actually from water and that your body's muscles are 75 percent water based? If not and this is the first time you have read this fact, then you probably should do some homework before getting to sleep tonight. As little as 1 percent loss of water can translate to an increase in core temperature during exercise, while if you loose more than 7 percent of water, then you most probably will collapse.

Thus, keeping yourself hydrated and adding at least 6 to 8 glasses of water to your daily liquid intake, can save your body from fatigue, pains and dehydration. More specifically, your weight divided by 2 for the number of ounces you should drink each day -there are eight ounces in a cup, so divide by eight to get the number of cups.

Most importantly, remember that water intake, although it comes also from other fluids and food consumption has to remain constant. Drink water every day and drink it whether you feel thirsty or not. A good tactic is to bring a water bottle with you everywhere and fill it as often as necessary. Do not judge how much water you need to drink only by examining when you are thirsty and remember to drink more than the recommended daily dose, if you are overweight, exercise or the environment you live and work is hot. Finally, avoid caffeine as much as possible, since it dehydrates your organism and do not drink water with meals; drink red wine or milk instead.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Nutrition, Food, and Fitness

[tags]Water, drinking habits, liquid intake, nutrition, health[/tags]

Shake It Up

2008-10-26T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here's a healthful breakfast idea for busy, workaholic types: the fruit and yogurt smoothie. It's the ideal breakfast for people like you and me who don't have time for elaborate morning rituals. Not only is a yogurt fruit shake delicious and nutritious, but it affords maximum convenience and diet control!

Reasons Why Breakfast Shakes Rock

You decide what goes in. Allergic to bananas? Try peaches in your smoothie instead. Don't like nuts? Leave them out. It's totally up to you, what you add to your smoothie each morning. Mix up a "Berry Blast" one day and "Very Vanilla" the next. Smoothies are totally versatile and delicious!

They're so easy to make. It doesn't take a culinary master to throw a little of this or that in a blender with ice, give it a whirl on high speed and pour into your receptacle of choice. Stock up each week with a smorgasbord of smoothie ingredients and mix and match each day.

It's a meal in a glass. What could be better than a breakfast that's both nutritionally-optimized and can be ingested without chewing? This is the perfect food as far as I can see. Slurp one down just before that big meeting! Drink your meal while sitting in traffic. Brilliant!

Smoothies are easily transportable. Take one to work, carry one along in your gym backpack... your smoothie can go wherever you go, in a handy plastic container with a snap-on lid. Keep it cool in your take-along cold pack and enjoy a refreshing thirst quencher and energy booster any time of day.

Make it the night before. If you've got a full day scheduled, blend up your smoothie the night before, store it away in the fridge, and then in the morning you can just grab and go. Smoothies are for stress-free living!

Smoothie Ingredients: the Perfect Blend

When it comes to ingredients, there's really no set recipe to follow. It's your smoothie and you can make it however you like. Following is a list of foods that you may or may not include when dreaming up your own unique smoothie creation.

1. Yogurt. Just the right consistency to add body and texture to your shake. The tart flavor of yogurt contrasts nicely with fruit and natural sweeteners. A good source of protein for brain power, plus calcium to keep bones and teeth healthy. Active acidophilus cultures in yogurt help to maintain the bacterial balance of the stomach and intestinal tract.

2. Soymilk. The benefits of soy protein are vast! Used to curb hormone fluctuations in menopausal women, soymilk contains natural estrogenic plant derivatives that can reduce your risk of cancer. Calcium and B-vitamin rich soymilk also makes for healthier bones and improved nervous system function. Pour some into your morning smoothie as a healthy alternative to cow's milk.

3. Whole, rolled oats. Add fiber plus heart protection to your diet. Whole oats are packed with B vitamins and notorious for keeping cholesterol down. Remove artery sludge and reduce the risk of heart attack with a half-cup of oats a day. Cleverly hidden in your tasty breakfast shake, you barely even notice they're there.

4. Nuts or seeds. A source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids needed for glandular and cellular function, nuts and seeds are another ingredient you can toss in by the handful and get instant health benefits. Try any combination of peanuts, walnuts, filberts, pecans, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds or milled flaxseeds for added fiber plus a bold, nutty flavor.

5. Fresh fruit. Start your day right with a little jolt of seratonin from natural fruit sugar. Blueberries are known for their anti-carcinogenic properties. Or, try any of the other vitamin-packed berry varieties such as strawberries, raspberries or blackberries. Bananas, peaches and pineapples make great shake flavors as well.

6. Raw honey. Just a touch of honey in your smoothie adds that sweetness to counter the taste of nuts and oats. Known for its amazing healing properties, honey is the healthy man's sugar and makes for excellent flavor in your morning protein drink.

Instead of skipping breakfast tomorrow like you usually do, why not shake things up with a fantastic breakfast shake that takes less than ten minutes to make! It'll go down smooth and easy, and set the tone for an energy-filled and productive day.

Liked this article? Have more of the same emailed to your inbox each month. Sign up for the Copywriting and Marketing Ezine from Dina at Wordfeeder.com and learn to write search engine friendly web copy and market your web based business for free.

[tags]yogurt shake, breakfast shake, breakfast smoothie, healthy breakfast, soymilk[/tags]

The Wonderful World Of Peanuts

2008-10-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

HISTORY

Before I begin with the history of peanuts you should probably know that the peanut is not a nut. The "pea"nut is actually more closely related to the pea. It is a member of the legumes family. Also, peanuts do not grow in trees like nuts do. They grow on the ground. They start out as flowers, and eventually wind up burrowing underground. Under ground is where they become a delicious peanut.

OK - so where did these little guys come from you ask? Well, they are thought to have originated in South America...possibly Brazil or Peru. When the Portuguese began to explore "The New World," they took peanuts back home with them. Portuguese traders took them as far as Asia and Africa.

In the United States, peanuts became popular during the Civil War. Then around the 1900's many mechanical devices were invented to help with the processing of peanuts. As a result their popularity increased even more. Speaking of inventions...George Washington Carver invented over 300 uses for the peanut, including; medicine, ink, soap, shampoo, ice-cream, and axle grease.

Today, peanuts are eaten all over the world. They have become a huge money making industry. In the United States alone they contribute well over 4 billion dollars yearly to the economy

PEANUT TRIVIA

Americans consume 700 million pounds or 3.3 pounds per person, of peanut butter per year.that's enough to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon.

To enhance the flavor of a cola drink, Southerners put peanuts into the bottle.

There are approximately 810 peanuts in an 18 oz. jar of peanut butter.

The peanut is unusual because it flowers above the ground, but fruits below the ground.

Peanut oil has a very high smoking point. This allows peanut oil to be heated to a higher temperature than most oils, making it an excellent choice for frying.

Since peanuts are a legume, they reduce the need for additional fertilizers as they return nitrogen to the soil as they grow.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Peanuts are packed full of healthy stuff, including; antioxidants, niacin, Vitamin E, monounsaturated fat, bioflavnoids, protein, and they have more resveratrol than grapes (which lowers LDL - aka "bad cholesterol")

That's not all...Some medical researchers say that they lower the risk of heart disease and provide protection from some types of cancer (colon, prostate, and breast).

Well, as you can see there are some great reasons to eat peanuts...as if the fact that they are delicious isn't enough.

THE DARK SIDE

Peanut proteins can act as powerful allergens, even in tiny amounts. That is why Peanut allergies are the most common cause of death by food in the United States. Some people can have a ruthless reaction just for inhaling the scent of a peanut. People can die from very small amounts.

So, if your allergic to peanuts...or think you could be...don't risk even going near them. You can substitute almonds or any nut for any of the recipes below. For the cookies...you'll have to make your own 'nut butter.

YUMMY...PEANUTTY RECIPES:

CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER

Put 2 cups of peanuts in a blender and blend until smooth.

For added texture and/or flavoring add one or more of the following:

2 Tblsp honey

4 tsp sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract - or any other extract you like.

1/4 c mini chocolate chips

1/4 c rice cereal

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS...USE YOUR IMAGINATION!

CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER 3 c. salted peanuts2 Tblsp. butter Measure 1/2 peanuts and put aside. Empty remaining peanuts into blender container. Cover and blend on low speed until the peanuts are chopped. Add butter, cover and blend on low speed 15 seconds. Turn off the blender and scrape down sides with rubber spatula. Cover and blend on low speed 5 seconds.

Repeat this process 3 or 4 times until the peanut butter starts to get smooth. Cover and blend on highest speed 1 minute. Add the 1/2 cup peanuts, cover and blend on medium speed for 3 - 5 seconds. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

MAMA'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. light brown sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix peanut butter and butter in large mixing bowl until smooth. Then gradually add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spoon batter onto greased cookie sheet. Flatten cookies with a criss cross fork print. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden.

This article is free for reprint, ONLY if you keep the author box in tact, all links active, and do not change ANY part of this article.

About the Author: Lara Velez is a Homeschooling WAHM. She lives in the Sunshine State with her lovely daughters and husband. She is a published author, web publisher, web designer, and editor. She owns two successful websites, Moms of Faith: http://www.momsoffaith.com and, Home Business Resource Directory: http://www.homebusinessresourcedirectory.com She also owns her own Health and Wellness business: http://www. mymonavie.com/HlthyLiving/mystory.asp

[tags]peanuts,cooking articles,peanut recipes,recipe,peanut history,peanut health benefits,health,peanut[/tags]

Food For Free; The Delights Of The Humble Blackberry

2008-10-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

I have always loved foraging, and have happy memories of childhood forays with my mum; finding nut trees, a splendid abandoned apricot tree, a majestic old fig tree which produced only a few of the most wonderful enormous figs; the countryside all over the world has plenty of interesting food on offer . Last weekend I went out with my girls, and we found hoards of blackberries, a mountain of damsons to make jam, unloved lonely plum trees begging to be picked, and a bag of wild hazelnuts. It was a great mixture of fresh air, a good walk, fun together, and the wonder and excitement from the children that they could collect all of this food; they were desperate to get home and eat it. We were careful to avoid even the most tempting berries from near roads, and our bounty had the benefit of coming straight from nature; fresh and organic.

Even in the cities, there are abandoned or unkempt areas where the hardy blackberry will flourish, and I will wager that most people will be able to harvest at least a pies-worth! Blackberries are sadly neglected now that we can eat year-round tropical fruits, but they were an important part of the northern diet since Neolithic times. The blackberry is a good source of Vitamin E, Folates, Magnesium, Potassium and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber. It is extremely high in Vitamin C, and also contains Vitamin K and Manganese. Only 10 blackberries will provide 20% of your RDA of vitamin C, and frozen berries will retain much of this important vitamin for about 6 months. If you like making your own juices and smoothies, a freezer full of blackberries will provide you with weeks of healthy vitamin-packed FREE fruit to add to your juices. I cannot resist an apple and blackberry pie, which I make with wholemeal pastry and hardly any sugar, a scrummy treat with half-fat crème fraiche, and a huge improvement on fatty, sugary, processed supermarket pies. If you want to make your own Christmas presents, now is the perfect time to collect damsons, blackberries and sloes; freeze them overnight, then steep in gin or vodka and a little sugar to make a beautiful pink sloe gin to give away to friends (or damson vodka, or blackberry and raspberry liqueur!). Seek out interesting old recipes, find out what wild foods are in season, and go out and grab some; it is fun healthy, and great exercise! Why not get out this weekend and see what you can find?

Have fun fellow-foragers, but avoid anything from near a road, and EVERYTHING which you do not recognize!

Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters. Vikki lives in Bristol in the U.K. with her partner Jeremy and two young children. Enquiries for nutritional advice, personal training, corporate wellness and general enquiries.

If you wish to receive Vikki's free newsletter please visit http://www.getfitter.net/

[tags]foraging, wild food, berries, nutrition, home-made food, organic food, healthy-eating, juicing[/tags]

Health Benefits Of Wu Long Tea

2008-10-23T09:00:00.003-07:00

Research studies on the health benefits of wu long tea (also referred to as oolong tea) reveal the brew's potential to reverse signs of aging, facilitate weight loss, and promote overall wellness.

While all teas possess similar properties including caffeine, catechin, polyphenals, and teaflavin tearubigin that provide benefits to the human body, the quantities and percentages differ depending on the extent of oxidation during production.

Therefore the health benefits of wu long tea, which is semi-fermented, vary from those offered by green tea with its limited processing and black tea with its extensive oxidation process. Following are some research studies that point to the health benefits of wu long tea consumption.

WEIGHT LOSS:

Scientists from Japan's University of Tokushima School of Medicine found that people who regularly consumed oolong tea experienced more than twice the calorie-burning results compared to those who drank green tea.

A study published in the Journal of Medical Investigation found that women who consumed wu-long tea directly after a meal increased energy expenditure by 10%. This compared to an energy expenditure of 4% for green tea drinkers and 0 for water drinkers.

Researchers at the Suntory Research Center in Osaka, Japan found that drinking wu long tea 15 minutes before eating foods high in carbohydrates curbed rises in insulin, thus reducing some of the fattening effects of carbohydrate intake.

ENHANCED SKIN CONDITION:

Researchers from Japan's Shiga University of Medical Science found that drinking wu long each day helps to clear up skin problems within one month.

Dr. Kenichi Yanagimoto and colleagues from the University of California found that people who drank wu long tea on a daily basis experienced a fifty-percent reduction in free radicals within 15 days.

Free radicals are damaging substances in the body that contribute to signs of aging, including wrinkles and dark spots that are caused by ultra-violet rays, chemical food additives, pollution and stress.

HEALTHY TEETH:

A study by the Department of Dentistry at Japan's Osaka University showed that regular consumption of oolong tea strengthens teeth and helps prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the build-up of plaque.

STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM:

According to a study published in Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, test subjects who consumed wu long were found to have stronger immune systems and a reduced risk for infections.

While the results of these and other studies are promising, you should always talk with your doctor about the health benefits of wu long tea before adding the brew or other varieties to your daily diet for therapeutic purposes.

This article was written by Jules Sowder. Visit Learn-About-Tea.com for more information on tea, including varieties, health benefits, selection, accessories, gift-giving and entertaining.

[tags]wu long tea, health benefits of wu long tea, wulong tea, tea, oolong tea, wu-long, wu-long tea,[/tags]

Tonic In A Teapot!

2008-10-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

Many people love to relax with a cup of coffee but tea is fast becoming popular as the beverage of choice due to the delicious flavours now available and the reported health benefits.

The legend of tea maintains that over 5000 years ago in ancient China, an Emperor by the name of Shen Nung required all drinking water to be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One summer day while Shen Nung was out travelling his kingdom, he stopped to rest. In accordance with his rule, the servants began to boil water for him to drink. Dried leaves from a bush nearby fell into the boiling water and a brown liquid was created. The Emperor drank the liquid and found it very refreshing, and according to legend, this is how tea was created.

Whether or not this legend has any basis of fact, tea has played a significant role in Asian culture. Chinese scholars regarded the brew as a cure for ailments, the nobility considered tea drinking as a status symbol and the commoners simply enjoyed its flavour.

As the craze for things oriental swept Europe in the 1600s, tea became part of the way of life. By 1650 the Dutch were actively involved in trade throughout the western world and by 1680 the first reference of adding milk to tea was made.

Tea arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788 and by 1820, tea was the drink of choice and enjoyed by all Australians regardless of their position in society. Early folklore talks of swagmen roaming the countryside, sharing tales beside campfires whilst drinking their "cuppa". Swagmen and soldiers used to carry their tea leaves in their kit and the sundowner was rarely without his billy as he arrived at the stations often at dusk hoping to be granted some free rations.

Tea has also inspired much poetry and song and features in Banjo Paterson's "Waltzing Matilda" written in 1895 as well as in "While The Billy Boils" written in 1863 by Keighley Goodchild. Tea evoked a sense of nostalgia and togetherness, particularly for the Australian soldiers abroad who were mailed packets of tea to remind them of home.

Afternoon tea and devonshire tea is still fairly popular in Australia and due to the diverse mix of races and cultures in Australia since the 1950s, most cultural variations of tea are now available.

As discovered by the emperor and testament to his good taste, tea is now second only to water in worldwide consumption and the word "tea" actually originates from the Chinese word "T'e" pronounced "Tay".

India and China are the actual largest consumers of tea on the basis of total leaf used. The English have the reputation for being huge tea fanatics but the largest consumer of tea per capita is actually Ireland where the average person consumes 2.5kg a year.

In Australia, 83% of households use tea-bags with 600 tea-bags, per household used every year. On average 22 million cups of tea are consumed every day in Australia which equals 44 tonnes each day and it accounts for 18% of everything we drink in Australia.

In the United States, tea typically is served at all meals as an alternative to coffee or soft drink. Afternoon tea is rarely served in the States except on special occasions such as an afternoon out at an exclusive hotel or restaurant. America is unique in its tea consumption habits with approximately 40 billion out of the 50 billion cups consumed each year are over ice.

Iced tea debuted in 1904 and the tea bag was also born the same year. A Boston tea merchant began sending samples of tea in small silk bags for customers to try. Eventually, the convenient sacks came to dominate the tea market.

Prior to World War II, the US preference for tea was equally split between green tea and black tea. The war cut China and Japan off from the United States and its primary sources of green tea, leaving it with tea almost exclusively from India, which produced black tea. After the war, nearly 99 percent of tea consumed was black tea although this has changed in recent years as has the popularity of the loose tea which has increased in the specialty tea sector.

Tea is among the richest natural sources of antioxidants, which have been linked with cancer prevention, decreased risk of stroke and reduced blood cholesterol. Green tea has also been associated with fighting cavities, slowing down blood clotting and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent in arthritis. Green tea has also been shown to increase metabolic rate so that you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day.

Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea. An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup. Recent research has also shown that tea and other caffeinated beverages contribute to our fluid needs but will have the opposite effect if you drink five or six cups in a short period of time.

Young people, looking to move away from traditional coffee drinks, have started to drink tea and the emergence of bottled teas have brought tea to younger people who would normally view it as a drink for the older generation.

Some people are particularly fussy as to how their tea is brewed. Follow these tips and you are bound to get more enjoyment out of your "cuppa".

Always use fresh water as water which has been reheated a number of times can give tea a flat taste.

Make sure the kettle has been fully boiled for black or herb tea and if making green tea, that the water is hot (cooled slightly after boiling).

Pour the boiling water over your tea or tea bag and steep to the desired strength.

If possible, use a saucer to cover the cup to retain the heat.

It is always best to brew tea by the clock and not by colour as some teas brew light and others dark. Try three to five minutes for green and black tea and four to six minutes for herb teas. If you steep too long you'll end up with an acidic taste.

If using a tea bag, give it a gentle squeeze as it will enhance the colour and the flavour.

For iced tea, brew your tea with boiling water as described above and then chill with ice and keep in the fridge.

Lu Yu (733-804) who is respected as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to Chinese tea culture and best known to have written the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea adds:

"The best quality tea must have creases like the leathern boot of Tartar horsemen, curl like the dewlap of a mighty bullock, unfold like a mist rising out of a ravine, gleam like a lake touched by a zephyr, and be wet and soft like a fine earth newly."

But Henry Fielding, the English novelist, makes the occasion even tastier when he remarked, "Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."

So what are you waiting for? Cuppa anyone?

Michelle Sweeney is the owner of Tonic Gifts (http://www.tonicgifts.com) - the online gift store which specialises in selling beauty and bath products, accessories, baby gifts, books, toys and many other great gift ideas.

[tags]tea,shopping,online,coffee,gifts,australia,china,health,tonic[/tags]

The Benefits Of Avocado Juice

2008-10-22T09:00:00.003-07:00

Avocado is sometimes known as the alligator pear because of the texture of its skin and its pear-like shape. The avocado contains a good supply of carotene, there being three times as much in a well-colored ripe fruit as in a hard one. Analysts have found no less than 11 vitamins and 17 minerals in avocado, making it a very comprehensive storehouse of the nutritional needs of man.

There is a high level of oil which contains the vitamins A, D, and E, and is rich in the mono-unsaturated fat oleic acid. This type of fat is the principal constituent of olive oil which is rapidly gaining credence for preventing of heart disease. Although the calorie count of the avocado is large, there being 165 calories in l00g (40z), it is of excellent nutritional worth

The avocado is also rich in vitamin 86, with an impressive 530 micrograms per l00g (40z). There is evidence that the leaves and fruits of the avocado have been shown to contain a substance known to be somewhat toxic to goats, rabbits, horses and canaries. There is no evidence that there is any danger to man, but for the sake of prudence it is best to have no more than one avocado a day whether juiced or fresh.

Happily the fate of the unfortunate canary need not affect the use of avocado juice in the therapy because the best effect is found when the juice is employed as an external application to the skin. Avocado juice is a good way of having a balanced quantity of the oil of avocado. The oil is second only to lanolin in being the most penetrating oil known when applied to the human skin.

Yet, unlike lanolin which is thought by many experts to be the cause of more cases of sensitivity to cosmetics than any other ingredient, avocado is emollient and innocuous without any known sensitizing effects. It can therefore be used externally as the ideal treatment for soothing sensitive skins. Avocado reduces ultra violet light and is a useful sun screening lotion for use prior to moderate exposure to the suns rays.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on information on common cold as well as importance and value of avocado juice.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, avocado juices, nutrition[/tags]

Cherries - The Supercharged Fruit

2008-10-22T09:00:00.001-07:00

The little red fruit that has been enjoyed by countless millions offers more than great taste.

Are cherries truly fruit for a healthy you? Recent studies have revealed that cherries offer an assortment of health benefits including the ability to offer natural relief from joint pain caused from gout, arthritis and joint inflammation.

So what makes the tasty red fruit so beneficial? The wonder of the cherry is the anthocyanins. According to research from Michigan State University tart cherries contain anthocyanins and bioflavonoids, which inhibit the enzymes Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2, and prevent inflammation in the body. These compounds have similar activity as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. Further investigations revealed that daily consumption of tart cherries has the potential to reduce the pain associated with joint inflammation. Many consumers are choosing to drink cherry juice, eat cherries or consume tart cherry pills to starve off the pain of gout, arthritis and joint inflammation.

Linda L. Patterson is a living testimony of the soothing affects of cherries on her joint pain. "I enjoy crocheting and lately my hands have been so painful, I couldn't crochet for more than about 30 minutes.", says Patterson. In an attempt to find relief from her pain, she located Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules, a supplement made from red tart cherries. "Within the first week of taking the tart cherry capsules my hands felt so much better.", says Ms. Patterson. "I am now able to crochet without the pain in my hands."

In addition to the health benefits offered by cherries, many people are just eating the fruit for the taste. John Simms, a life-long resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, eats cherries for the convenience and taste. "As a short-haul truck driver, my diet isn't the best, I would eat fast food every day. A year ago, my wife bought some dried cherries and I began eating them to keep my weight down. Now I eat a handful of cherries instead of eating fast food."

Not only are cherries a great way to maintain a healthy body they are a natural product. According to Andrew LaPointe, Director of Marketing for Traverse Bay Farms, www.traversebayfarms.com "many of our customers are looking to eat healthier and fruit products fit this trend. It's certainly better than fast food." Traverse Bay Farms sells Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules and cherry juice concentrate.

About The Author

Tony Anderson is a freelance writer.

admin@youronlinebusiness.com

[tags]cherry,cherries,fruit,food,healthy food,nutrition[/tags]

Make Eating Healthy Foods Fun

2008-10-21T09:00:00.002-07:00

Children everywhere in the world have an on-going love affair with junk food such as hamburgers, pizza, candy, soda and salty foods like potato chips and french fries. Unfortunately, it's hard to find a single child who has these same strong feeling for the healthy food that they need such as grains, vegetables, fruits and foods reach in nutrients such as meat, beans, fish and nuts.

Fortunately, there is one tied and tested strategy to make kids eat the kind of healthy food that some of them may not want -- that's by making it fun.

That's right, make eating healthy food fun. And how do you do that? Here are some tips:

(1) The Sneak Attack. Try sneaking in some of those fruits and vegetables along with the kind of food they like, say, making muffins out of bananas or apples. There are lots of vegetables the you can throw in when you're serving the kids pizza. You could also make them look funny by arranging them creatively on a plate or making them stand up like people. Sure, some people don't want their kids playing with food, but if it will help them get healthier, it may be worth the effort.

(2) Funny Name Game. If your kids are below the age of four, here's a nifty trick that gets them every time. Give the fruits and vegetables funny names and concoct elaborate stories. Some stories will end with these funny-named vegetables getting swallowed alive by the giant child. In another version, the vegetables run for cover and hide from their enemies by entering a big cave that happens to be your child's mouth where they quickly get gulped down.

(3) The Taste Test. Kids dislike vegetables because they don't like the taste. Therefore, make the healthy foods taste better and your child will love them. For instance, put peanut butter on celery or add a dash of flavor to broccoli with ranch dressing. I'm sure you can think of dozens of ways to spruce up healthy food.

The key is to find creative ways to make your children enjoy eating healthy food. And once they've acquired a taste for it, eating healthy foods will be second nature to them.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Food, Home Improvement, and Outdoors

[tags]Eating, foods, healthy food[/tags]

Fennel - Delicious And Nutritious

2008-10-21T09:00:00.001-07:00

I love Fennel (the bulb) which surprises me because I never liked aniseed (even when, at 16, Pernod was the only thing to get drunk on in friends' parents' drinks cabinets!). I'm not that keen on liquorice either and the flavour of fennel is definitely in that taste area only for me at least sufficiently different to be one of my very favourite veggies.

What to do with it - the raw...

I particularly like it raw, either grated or shredded on a mandolin in a green salad or added as an exotic twist to homemade, dairy-free coleslaw, so... white cabbage, carrots, onions and fennel with a dressing made from a blend of sunflower oil, apple cider vinegar and almond butter. Absolutely delicious.

...and the cooked.

If I eat it cooked, I like to sweat it in a teeny bit of oil with leeks, onion, garlic and plenty of dried tarragon. The tarragon does something really special to the flavour of the fennel and leeks. A divine combination. I introduced my gourmet father to this recipe back in April and he has served it at dinner parties twice since then - only he uses naughty butter instead of oil. It really is delicious and I urge you to try it.

I also like it as a soup. Again it's a doddle to do. Simply place half a red onion and a crushed, chopped clove of garlic into a pan with a splash of olive oil. Gently fry until they start to go clear then add a roughly chopped fennel bulb to the pan along with a Marigold organic, yeast- and gluten-free vegetable stock cube and some water. Bring to the boil and then allow to simmer for about 7 minutes. I take it off the heat at that point and using a hand blender, blend it in the saucepan, sat on the chopping board. Blend until smooth and return to the heat for a minute before serving with a handful of sprouted seeds sprinkled on top.

How about roasted? Not the best way to cook from a nutrition point of view I know, but if you go really easy on the oil and keep the chunks small enough to reduce the cooking time, it's delicious chopped and roasted with chunks of red and yellow pepper, whole garlic cloves and slices of onion, sprinkled over with rosemary.

So that's a few ideas on what you can do with it, but what does it do with you?

Well, it's an excellent source of fibre, so aside from helping lower high cholesterol levels, there is also evidence that it can help diarrhoea or constipation too, so if you suffer from IBS you should try it. And since fibre also removes potentially carcinogenic toxins from the colon, fennel bulb may also be useful in preventing colon cancer. Like broccoli, it contains those all important phytonutrients including one called 'anethole' the primary component of its oil. Believed to enhance immunity, anethole has been shown to reduce inflammation and to help prevent the occurrence of cancer. It seems to be able to protect the liver from toxic chemical injury. At 100mg per 100g, it contains just a little less calcium than full-fat milk (118mg per 100g*) except unlike milk, fennel is very low in cholesterol. It is a great source of Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium and Manganese and a good source of Niacin, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper.

So if you are having a BBQ this weekend, how about making a batch of the coleslaw suggested above or adding some fennel to your green salad. Or even skewering chunks of it with organic chicken and red and yellow pepper to make some delicious kebabs. Don't forget to invite me round!

*The Dairy Council

Claire Raikes is a Wellbeing Coach, Speaker and Writer who 'cured' herself of a chronic, disabling and potentially life-threatening bowel condition without the use of steroids, surgery or any other traditional medical intervention. She now shares her passion for natural and vibrant health through coaching, speaking and writing about the importance and power of a truly healthy diet.

She publishes a free weekly eZine, In Essence and is compiling an eBook of Healthy Fast Food with 25% of the proceeds going to The Cancer Project, a charity set up by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and nutritionists to educate the public on the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival. If you have a recipe you would like to submit, visit the Live In Essence website for further details. To book Claire to speak at your event, email her at hello@claireraikes.com.

[tags]healthy recipes, healthy food, fennel, IBS, coleslaw, soup, veggie, vegetarian, kebabs, colon cancer[/tags]

Darling, Honey Is Good For You!

2008-10-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

A little honey article for your little one.

Kids just love honey, but they often think that the sweet liquid simply comes from the grocery shops. This article helps adults explain to their little ones (3-6+) what honey really is, where it comes from, and the goodness it brings in a simple language young children would be able to appreciate.

What is honey? Honey is a sweet syrup bees make for their food. They make honey from the nectar of flowering plants. Nectar is the sweet juice in the centre of a flower. Honey is good for us to eat!

How bees make honey? Long time ago, people collected honey from the nests which wild bees make in tree holes. Later, people found that bees would bring their nectar to a wooden nest made by humans. This is called a hive.

Bees suck up flower nectar with their long tube called proboscis. At their hive, they hold the nectar in their stomachs. This turns the nectar into a sticky liquid called honey. A special wax called beeswax come from the bodies of bees. Bees shape the beeswax into six-sided cells to form honeycomb. They then put the honey into the honeycomb. They also put beeswax lids on these honeycomb cells to stop the honey from coming out.

Collecting Honey Most honey is made in big honey farms. People who keep bees for their honey are called beekeepers. They keep their hives near the flower fields.

Bees mostly make honey in spring and summer when there are lots of flowers. They eat some of this honey and keep the rest in their nests for winter. Bees make much more honey than they need so beekeepers can take a lot of the honey for people to eat. Beekeepers collect honey in the spring. They wear special clothes to protect themselves from bee bites. They take the honeycombs out from the hives. Before they can get the honey, they have to scrape the beeswax lids off the honey comb. This is called uncapping.

A special machine called an extractor takes the honey out of the honeycombs. The machine spins the honeycombs around very fast to make all the honey come out. The honey is then passed through a net with tiny holes to make it clean and clear. The honey drips through the holes and any small bits of beeswax are left in the net. Machines pour the liquid honey into jars. Lids are put on the jars to keep the honey fresh. Labels on the jars tell the people who are going to buy what kind of honey is in the jar. Every year, beekeepers sell millions and millions of jars of honey.

Different Kinds of Honey There are hundreds of different kinds of honey in the world. The colour, taste, and smell of honey depend on the kind of flowers the bees visit. Every kind of flower has a different nice smell. When bees make honey from a type of flower, this nice smell becomes part of the honey. Liquid honey is cooled in a special way to make it thick and creamy. You can spread cream honey on bread or toast like butter. You can also use it as a topping for yoghurt or pudding.

Honey is Good for You Honey is a carbohydrate. This means it is a kind of food that gives us energy to walk, run, think and play. Honey contains vitamins. Vitamins help to keep us healthy. Honey is very good for us, so it is used in lots of things we buy in the shops. People use honey in breakfast cereal, cakes, biscuits, barbeque meats, and even shampoos and cough medicines.

By Tan R. http://www.benefits-of-honey.com All Copyrights Reserved. 2006

Tan R. is the owner of the website http://www.benefits-of-honey.com

[tags]benefits of honey, honey facts, bees honey facts, health benefits of honey, kids and honey bees[/tags]

Jerky Is Healthy! Buy The Best Or Even Make It Yourself!

2008-10-19T09:00:00.003-07:00

Did you knowjerky made from fresh, lean meat is low in cholesterol, low in fat and very high in protein? This makes jerky an excellent and nutritious snack! Jerky is excellent for sustaining energy when biking, skiing, playing sports, backpacking, hiking, or anytime! There are excellent packaged and bulk jerky products out on the market. Great American Style® beef jerky (available at www.greatjerky.com) provides high quality meat products that are packaged in various convenient sizes. This makes for an easy and convenient snack option when you are on the go, or when you are doing just about anything. You can also find an extensive recipe section for making your own healthy, low fat, high protein jerky. In this article, we will include some expert tips used by Great American Style® beef jerky to help you create the best jerky in your own home! That's right - make it yourself!

Jerky can be made from various kinds of meat, at Great American® Jerky lean beef is the primary meat of choice, but chicken or turkey breast, and wild game also work extremely well for jerky. Quality meat means quality jerky, but that doesn't mean you have to pay high prices for it! A great at-home tip: Watch for local supermarket sales! Sales are great for getting high quality meat at a lower price, and the meat can always be frozen for later jerky making! Lean ground beef makes great jerky, and can be shaped with cookie cutters for fun jerky!

Flank steaks are one of the best buys it's all lean red meat that's easy to prepare because of its consistent grain. Chicken and Turkey breasts make for even lower fat jerky snacks. Deer, rabbit, and other wild game meats are great for jerky making, too! Just make sure the meat has been handled properly.

Jerky meat should always be cut with the grain, otherwise it will crumble and fall apart when you cook it. Beef and Deer meat should be cut into ¼ inch thick strips about 1 inch wide. If you are making jerky from poultry, slice it thinner (about 3/8 inch). Be careful! If the meat's too thin or too thick it won't cook evenly! Season your meat strips with your favorite seasonings and recipes many of the steak and chicken marinades already on the grocery store shelves work wonderfully for jerky as well. Store the meat in a zip lock bag or sealed container over night. The meat will absorb all your favorite flavors.

Jerky has to be cooked! This can be done with a dehydrator, on the grill or a smoker, or even right in your own oven! For basic oven cooking, pre-heat to 200 degrees and place strips of meat on a cookie sheet (make sure they don't touch each other) and cook for an estimated 1 hour and 20 minutes turning pieces regularly. Test after one hour to determine doneness and desired consistency.

Again, jerky is a healthy snack for all ages! Take it outside take it anywhere! Jerky makes an excellent gift as well! It's a fun activity for kids to help out in the kitchen. Get the whole family involved. Jerky recipes can be customized to tatse - Hot and Spicy to Sweet and Tangy...whatever your tastebuds desire! Just be sure to check your meat often, to avoid over cooking and overly dry jerky. Wash your hands and surfaces after handling any meat products, and make sure the Jerky is sufficiently cooled before tasting.

For more great jerky tips, recipes, and excellent jerky products and opportunitiesvisit www.greatjerky.com now! You can also call toll free (800) 574-1288 or (208) 359-0590 for more great jerky information and ordering! And remember Jerky is Healthy!

Great American Beef Jerky has been providing high quality meat products to consumers for over 15 years! To learn how you can receive Free Jerky, visit http://www.greatjerky.com now!

[tags]jerky, beef jerky, Beef Jerky, homemade jerky, healthy,low fat, high protein, recipes, recipe, beef[/tags]

Health Benefits For Chai Drinkers

2008-10-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

What is Chai Tea?

"Chai" actually means "tea" in Hindi, so calling "chai" "chai tea" is actually rather redundant. However, marketers in the western world thought that "chai tea" would help them sell the "new" product to the western market. Chai is actually centuries old, with its origins in India. Generally, it is a milky, spiced tea made with black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, pepper, and various other spices. It is usually sweetened most commonly with sugar, but some drinkers prefer honey. There is not a universal recipe for chai, as different drinkers like it different ways, so the spice list can change depending on who's making it.

It is most likely this list of ingredients not often found in western beverages that makes chai seem "exotic" to westerners. But in India, chai is as common as tea is in Britain and coffee is in the United States. In fact, it's so common that in many Indian households, the first thing a host offers a guest is a cup of chai.

Potential Health Benefits of Chai

Some tea companies tout the health benefits of drinking their chai product but buyer beware. While chai is certainly better for the body than a drink such as coffee, because not all chai is made with the same ingredients, it's not really possible to state that chai is universally beneficial. And it's also more likely to benefit the drinker when the drinker has brewed his/her own chai, rather than buying boxed chai or chai in tea bag form. Why? Simply because the spices and herbs being used are much fresher. Here is a list of some of the benefits of the different ingredients in most chai recipes:

1) Cinnamon: In a recent study by the US Agricultural Research Service, cinnamon has been shown to benefit diabetics because the cells are less likely to let insulin in. In lab rats with Type 2 diabetes, cinnamon helped lower blood pressure and prevented cell damage. Cinnamon's oils also help to stop the growth of certain bacteria and yeasts.

2) Ginger: In the Far East, ginger has been used for over two millennia to treat upset stomach, diarrhea, arthritis, and heart disease. Recent research by western scientists also suggests that ginger may help lower the risk of colon cancer.

3) Cardamom: Like ginger, cardamom is often used to soothe digestion problems. But it is also used to treat respiratory problems such as asthma or people suffering from other kinds of respiratory spasms. Further, in Saudi Arabia, animal studies have shown cardamom to have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing muscle spasms.

4) Cloves: Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis. It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea and similar digestive ailments.

5) Pepper: Most chai recipes do not usually contain enough black pepper for it to be of significant benefit to its drinkers. However, black pepper does reduce intestinal gas and works as an antioxidant.

Just remember: The best way to ensure that your regular cup of chai provides you with the health benefits you're looking for is to brew it yourself. Then you can select the herbs and spices that benefit your specific health condition.

About The Author
Rachel Medlock is a connoisseur of hot drinks, including chai. She also operates the informational website http://www.MyChaiTeas.com.

[tags]chai tea, chai product, drink chai[/tags]

Gas Grills Healthy Grilling

2008-10-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you may be caught wondering to yourself, gee that grilled hamburger looks good, I wish I could grill everything from now on. Well the truth is, you can! In fact, you can grill anything you want and not just the traditional barbeque fare of hot dogs, steaks, and sausages, etc.

The truth is you can grill lots of other stuff, and also add some healthy foods to the mix as well. In addition to your chicken and other white meats you can add a huge assortment of delectable vegetables. It's really simple to just slice and dice them anyway you see fit and prefer, and dab some olive oil, apply a dash of pepper and salt and any other seasoning that you prefer and voila! You've got yourself a meal fit for king!

Make sure to place everything on an aluminum foil (heavy duty variety), and bring up the sides to create a mini cooking "container" for the foods. This is a quick and easy way to prepare a fun, hearty meal for you and all your neighbors and loved ones!

This is just one of many ways to cook a convenient and delicious meal using your favorite grilling techniques. So go on, get grillin!

Make haste onto our web page for good and useful content on ducane gas grill parts insider tips this minute!

http://www.gasgrilldeluxe.com

[tags]metal wine rack,hanging wine racks,iron wine rack,metal wine racks,corner wine rack[/tags]

A Note To Food Manufacturers

2008-10-17T09:00:00.003-07:00

Food manufacturing in the US has always been about convenience, product availability, taste and price. The more society ventured away from the family garden and kitchen, the more food manufacturers developed a market or niche for their products at home in the cupboards. Processed foods no longer are limited to flour and sugar on the country store shelf, but have evolved to include the variety of foods eaten daily and taken from restaurants, grocery stores, super markets and convenience stores.

As the commonality of quick processed foods increases throughout the world, health problems such as obesity, diabetes and cancer have also become common and inevitable to the point that *"1 in 3 American adults have Insulin Resistance, a pre-diabetic condition", and this will only be the beginning.

The philosophy behind Functional Food is to create food additives and ingredients that will enhance the bodies health by making manufactured foods more beneficial to the consumer with out losing quality or taste.

It is the intention to not only create additives and ingredients that will benefit todays market but will benefits today's generation as they age.

By using products such as "SugarBlendtm",and "FlourBlendtm,, in drinks, cakes, cookies, candies, breads, pastries, and snacks, today's children will have increased mineral uptake, aiding in the prevention of Osteoporosis as they age, increasing bowel function, reducing the chance of colon cancer and by aiding in the control of blood sugar swings that may cause diabetes later in life. These "Functional" properties are accomplished without side effects that may cause consumers to reject manufactured products. These side effects include sweeteners that cause a laxative effect, gas, bloating, aftertaste and degrading sweetness in high heat. Styrofoam-like textures, no taste, distasteful smell and color in cooking flour substitutes.

We see that parents today are becoming more aware and educated in the direction of nutrition, especially with regards to growing children. If foods are eaten that increase calcium in the bones today, twenty years from now, it is possible that this generation won't suffer from Osteoporosis or Colon Cancer. If foods are eaten today that keep the blood sugar steady and absorb slowly in the gut, not only will the child have protection from disease, but they will have a lessor chance of developing diabetes twenty years from now also.

The main objective of Home Blend Gourmet and others that manufacture functional food is "The Health of Humanity". Manufactures using these products today can influence the health of future generation and secure their markets for tomorrow. We create first rate ingredients and additives by being on the cutting edge of research. The demands of fast paced lives and lifestyles shouldn't cost the health of the human race. We can help food manufactures become more health conscious and competitive with marketing strategies that will put them above the rest of the pack.

Today, the education of the general public on nutrition is vastly brought about through mass media, by informational commercials, through news media, T.V. talk shows, magazine articles and newspaper articles.

High protein, low-carb, low-fat diets have gained popularity through media blitzes on celebrity books, university studies, restaurant menus and nutritional labels. These diet plans have also gained popularity by the prove results, some of the newest diets include Glycemic Indexing, or the blood glucose response to the manufactured products. We check our food formula's for impact to blood sugar response by doing in vivo oral tolerance tests. Each formula is created to not only aid in control of nutritional conditions, but that the side-effects of that formula is beneficial to the human body. We offer In Vivo testing for any of our manufacturing clients that would like to use Glycemic Indexing guidelines for marketing their products. We are South Pacific Health Enterprises, and we license our food formulas only to Home Blend Gourmet.

*AACE, AC of Endo. Conference, 08-25-26, 2003

About The Author

D.S. Epperson is the top formulator for Home Blend Gourmet / South Pacific Health, a leader in the functional food industry in the U.S.. With 20 years of experience in Nutritional Biochemistry, she has written reference books on botanicals and manufacturing of medicines from botanicals, and published articles on health, fitness and foods. She has formulated over 240 formulas and inventions for health, the environment and agricultural uses, and continues to research and study microbial advantages in nutraceuticals and functional foods. For more information or to view the articles that she has written: http://www.sugarblend.com.

online@sugarblend.com

[tags]food,fda,health,fitness,nutrition,food label,food manufacturing[/tags]

Health Benefits Of Tomatoes

2008-10-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

Did you know that tomatoes were once considered poison? It's true, the tomato is a member of the nightshade family, and was at one time considered to be toxic. Tomatoes were first eaten in the U.S. in the early 1800's, when a gentleman by the name of Robert Johnson shocked his hometown by eating a basket of tomatoes in the middle of town. When he didn't die, or even get sick from the tomatoes, they became a part of the American diet.

We now know that tomatoes are not toxic, and in fact are quite nutritious. First of all, tomatoes contain a lot of vitamin C, which is quite beneficial, as you've probably heard. Vitamin C helps the body to produce collagen, an important protein skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, helping to prevent cell damage by free radicals.

Tomatoes also contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene. Studies have shown that men consuming 10 servings of tomatoes a week cut the risk of prostate cancer by 45%. Lycopene also lower the risk of colorectal cancer and stomach cancer, and inhibits the growth of other types of cancer cells. Lycopene may also help older folks remain active.

Coumaric acid and chlorogenic acied are also found in tomatoes. These two compounds are thought to block the effects of nitrosamines, which are formed naturally in the body, but are also a strong carcinogen in tobacco smoke.

Tomatoes may also help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Tomatoes are a good source of potassium, niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Niacin has been used for years to lower cholesterol. Potassium has been shown to lower high blood pressure. And vitamin B6 and folate are used by the body to convert a dangerous chemical called homocysteine into more benign compounds.

Vitamin K, found in tomatoes helps to maintain healthy bones. Vitamin K1 activates a protein in the bones called osteocalcin, which anchors calcium inside the bone. Without enough vitamin K, bone mineralization is impaired.

When you buy tomatoes, be sure to buy the ones with the brightest red color. This indicates high amounts of beta-carotene and lycopene. Lycopene is found in the cell walls of the tomato, so by cooking it in a bit of oil, more lycopene is fully released. Also, cooking the tomato in a bit of olive oil helps your body to absorb the lycopene. If all you can find are canned tomatoes, that's fine. Cooking and canning don't cause tomatoes to lose any of their nutritional value. So cooked and processed tomatoes are just as beneficial as fresh tomatoes.

So tomatoes, once thought to be deadly poison, are now a nutritious staple of our diet. They help to fight cancer, and they contain a good amount of vitamin C, and other vitamins and minerals. So go ahead and start adding tomatoes to your diet.

Spaghetti Sauce:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced (or more if you want)
1 lb ground beef (optional)
4 28oz. cans of crushed tomatoes
1 28oz. can of tomato sauce
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp dried oregano
3 bay leaves

In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chopped onion, and cook for a couple of minutes, until the onion is tender. Add the garlic, and cook briefly. Be sure not to burn the garlic.

If using ground beef, cook the meat in a skillet until browned. Drain the meat, and add it to the pot.

Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, worcestershire sauce, oregano, and bay leaves. Stir everything together, then turn the heat to medium low, and simmer for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Remove the sauce from the heat, and serve over pasta. The leftover sauce will freeze well.

Tim Sousa is the webmaster for Negative Calorie Food. A blog about losing weight eating negative calorie food.

[tags]tomatoes, lycopene, nutrition, cooking, health[/tags]

Cheap, Healthy Foods - Watch Your Weight And Your Budget

2008-10-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

A major issue for those who are trying to create a healthy lifestyle is the cost of healthy food. There are many products on the shelves of your local grocery store that are healthy, but most of them have a larger price tag than the unhealthy, high-fat foods. There are options. If you shop wisely, you can eat healthier than you ever have before and decrease your grocery bill at the same time. Nutritious eating doesn't need to be expensive.

Less Junk = More Savings:

In choosing healthy foods, keep in mind that you will automatically be spending less than before due to the absence of junk foods that you may normally purchase such as soft drinks, sugary snacks, and high fat meats.

Less Waste = Less Waist:

Healthy eating is not just eliminating certain foods from your diet; it is replacing them with healthy foods. And, if weight control is your goal, you will also be reducing your portion sizes, which will mean less money spent on each meal.

Less Meat, More Veggies:

Reducing the amount of meat you eat and replacing it with vegetables is a great way to save money. Fresh vegetables are not nearly as expensive as meat or poultry and your body will thank you for it. Salad is another cheap, healthy food. The pre-packaged salads will cost a bit more than if you purchase the lettuce and other vegetables separately and prepare the salad yourself.

Frugal Fruit:

Fruit can be a somewhat expensive, but if you purchase canned fruits in low-sugar syrup or water, you will pay relatively little in comparison to fresh fruit. Apples and oranges are inexpensive compared to some other fruits and you can often find sales that will further reduce your expenses.

Beans and Rice are Nice:

Legumes and rice are very inexpensive and you can use either or both of these to replace meat several times per week.

Save on Meat:

Canned fish costs considerably less than fresh fish and still contains most of the nutrients. Canned tuna and salmon are very cheap and are very low in fat and calories if you choose the varieties packed in water rather than oil. Chicken is less expensive if you purchase a whole chicken and remove the skin yourself before cooking.

Healthy food does not have to be expensive. You can purchase cheap healthy foods and not only eliminate unhealthy fat and calories, but you can actually save money if you shop wisely.

Would you rather spend time doing the things you love rather than being stuck in the kitchen? http://www.freequickrecipes.com -- has quick recipes for mothers... and others. And, if you are looking for a fun way to trim your thighs, don't miss http://www.funexercisevideos.com

[tags]article submission, articles, writers, writing, publishing, ezine, email marketing, email newsletter, email[/tags]

Fig - The Natural Way To Good Health

2008-10-15T09:00:00.001-07:00

The fig occupies a high position among fruits. Soft, sweet and puply, this delicious fruit promotes health. It is a pear-shaped hollow fruit, with sugary pulp and a large number of small seeds of golden color sticking to the wall of the cavity. It is variable in size and color. The ripe fresh fruit is juicy, wholesome and delicious. However, being highly perishable, it if sold in the world markets in its dry form.

Origin and Distribution

The fig is a native of Asia Minor and spread early to the Mediterranean region. It is a plant of extremely ancient cultivation and was grown in Egypt around 4,000 BC. It has been used as a principal food in the Mediterranean countries for thousands of years. The main areas of fig cultivation in India are Pune in Maharashtra, Srirangapatnam in Karnataka, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and parts of Gujarat.

Food Value

An analysis of the fresh fig shows it consists good amount of moisture and little protein, fat and carbohydrate. The dry fig has a high nutritive value. Its most important food element is sugar which forms 51 to 74 per cent of the whole fruit. It can be taken in various ways, either by itself or in combination with other foodstuffs enrich their food value. When taken with white flour, it removes much of its constipating effect. It combines very well with milk. Figs are often used for preparing cakes and jams. They are also made into pudding.

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

Many medicinal virtues have been ascribed to the fig. It is considered a restorative food which helps in quick recovery after prolonged illness. It removes physical and mental exertion and endows the body with renewed vigour and strength. It is an excellent tonic for the weak people who suffer cracks in lips, tongue and mouth.

Constipation

Taken either fresh or dried, the fig is regarded as a dependable laxative on account of its large cellulose content and its tough skin. The tiny seeds in the fruit possess the property of stimulating peristaltic or wave like movements of intestines which facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean.

Piles

Owing to its laxative property, the fig is an excellent remedy for piles. Two or three dried figs should be soaked in cold water in a glass of enamelware in the night after cleaning them thoroughly with hot water. They should be taken next morning. Figs should be taken similarly in the evening. This will remove straining at stools and thus prevent the protrusion of the anus. The piles will be cured with regular use of figs in this manner for three or four weeks.

Asthma

Figs are considered beneficial in the treatment of asthma. Phlegmatic cases of cough and asthma are treated with success by their use. It gives comfort to the patient by draining of the phlegm.

Sexual Weakness

Figs can be beneficially used in the treatment of sexual debility. They can be supplemented by other dry fruits like almonds and dry dates along with butter. Their use has proved effective in such cases

Corns

For corns of long duration, the milky juice of green figs helps to soften them. The milk has a mild necrotic action

Precautions

Figs should be washed thoroughly before use. The skin of the dry fruit being tough, the soaked fig is easy to digest. It is, however, essential to take the water along with the fruit as much of the nutrients come out into the water.

Note:

Information in this article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advise provided by your own physician or other medical professional. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.

Cindy is the host of http://www.asianonlinerecipes.com, a Free Asian Recipes website dedicated to all things on Asian Cooking and Culinary Guide with thousands of Cooking Tips.

Besides, she is also the co-host for http://www.vietnamese-recipes.com and http://www.alldessertrecipes.com

[tags]fig,health,fruits,food[/tags]

Enjoy Healthy Eating!

2008-10-14T09:00:00.003-07:00

Can you enjoy healthy eating? Some people seem to think that healthy eating is some kind of punishment. On the contrary, it's a pleasure!

There are so many delicious dishes that can be made with less fat and sugar. It's a new world to discover. When I go out for dinner or cook in my own kitchen I often choose a vegetarian meal. There are lots of different ingredients to choose from and the combination possibilities are almost endless.

Sometimes I just pick a few products in the store without having any idea of what to do with them and then I surprise myself with a new tasty dish. It's fun! Use your imagination. Eat what you enjoy and enjoy what you eat! You don't have to exclude meat in your food, but we all need much more vegetables. We should try to see the vegetables not just as accompaniments, but as a meal in itself, with its own value.

Relax!

Try to give yourself time in the kitchen. You need to slow down and be free from stress to be able to enjoy eating. Think of your time in the kitchen as an important part of your day. Make your kitchen a place where you can relax and feel comfortable. Make it nice, put a cloth on the table and some flowers. Light candles. Many people seem to want to get out of the kitchen as soon as possible. If you feel that way, you won't be able to enjoy your meal. Be present, focus on the meal, don't watch TV or read any paper or magazine while you're eating. Enjoy the food, see how it looks, feel the appetizing smell and taste of it.

Eat slowly!

When you are enjoying something you want it to last long, right? Eat slowly, take your time to enjoy every bite. Chew it well. When you eat slowly like this you will notice that your body will tell you when it's time to finish. You will know when you are content and you can avoid eating too much. Stop eating when you feel content even if there is still food on your plate.

Make a small lifestyle change!

When you go to a restaurant next time, order something new that you haven't tried before. Next time you go to the store, buy some low fat or light products that you haven't tried. Find out if they really are as boring as you might think they are. Maybe you'll be surprised. Maybe you will find new favourites and get new ideas for delicious meals to enjoy! Then you have made a small lifestyle change. And all major achievements start with the first step.

About The Author

Ingela Berger started her own Internet business Lifestyle Plans in 2003 out of a desire to inspire and encourage others to make reality of their dreams of a personal, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Ingela has studied theatre directing, acting, history of art, history of ideas, health communication and leadership psychology. After some years working with art exhibitions and the theatre she went back to college and is now a health and lifestyle consultant.

[tags]health,nutrition,healthy living,diet,food,lifestyle[/tags]

Nutritious And Healthy Uses Of Apple Juice

2008-10-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

Apple juice is good as a nutritious drink but excellent in overcoming a liverish feeling, in helping sort out digestive disturbances and for flushing the kidneys. Many of these health providing properties are retained in cider vinegar, so if you cannot obtain apples to prepare your juice you can use instead two teaspoonfuls of cider vinegar in a glass of water.

Besides being a great cleanser, the apple juice diet purifies the blood and is helpful for skin and liver, and as a general tonic. After juicing, the liquid often oxidizes quickly so it is best to store for even a short while in the refrigerator. Apples contain some 15 calories per oz (220KJ per 100g). The vitamins present include C, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, carotene, B6, biotin and folic acid.

There is a little sodium and a lot of potassium and phosphorus. Until the 1930s apples were regarded as an important indicated source of vitamin C. Then some scientist carried out a few analyses which indicated very low amounts of vitamin C. It took years for the poor apples to return to favor, for what the chemist found out was partially true. Modem research shows a fluctuation between 2.3mg per 100g (4oz), in the worst varieties, to 31.8mg in the best.

Those high in vitamin C include Ribston Pippin, Golden Noble, Reinette, Ontario, King of the Pippins, Bramleys, Beauty of Bath, Blenheim Orange, Cox's and jonathans. The poor providers include Rome Beauty, Laxton's Superb and James Grieve. Around the low middle are such favorites as Golden Delicious and Worcester Pearmain.

Oranges and lemons are more important as providers of vitamin C, but apples, unlike citrus fruits, have very high mineral contents, and also pectins, malic acid and tannic acid, all of which are of the greatest therapeutic importance in normalizing the intestines.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on some nutritious juices of apple which is good for diet as well as nutrition.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, apple juice[/tags]

Asparagus Juice For Cooking And Nutrition

2008-10-13T09:00:00.003-07:00

Asparagus juice is usually taken in the quantity of a sherry-glassful three times a day before meals. Asparagus extract has been used not only to remove water from the body but as a purifier of the blood, to tone up the nervous system and as a gentle laxative.

The thickness of the asparagus used has little effect upon the value, only upon the cost. So choose fresh looking stems that have not dried out and gone floppy. The white, woody base of the stem helps prevent it from losing moisture. It can be stored for a few days wrapped with a damp cloth around the base and kept in a cool place.

Asparagus is a luxury vegetable that still grows wild in Mediterranean countries. Old herbals called it sparrowgrass and farmers still call the plant 'grass'. A big helping will contain less than 40 calories and it is a good provider of vitamins C and E and folic acid.

The therapeutically active substance found in the asparagus is the alkaloid asparagines which exert a rapid effect upon the kidneys, stimulating them and coloring the urine a dark yellow within hours of consumption. The asparagines is much reduced in quantity during cooking, so that the use of quite a small amount of the raw juice produces a good diuretic effect.

Not only is the urine colored, the asparagus also imparts quite a strong smell to it, so do not think anything is amiss should this phenomenon surprise you. The essential oils which give asparagus its distinctive and pleasant flavor are very powerful because they are present in such small amounts that special analytical methods have to be employed to detect them.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on asparagus juice can be used as laxative as well as used for blood purification.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, asparagus juice, laxative[/tags]

Fruits - Savior Of Health

2008-10-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

There are certain healthy foods that prevent mental, physical and sexual senility and prolong youthful vitality and appearance. The usefulness of some of the more important foods noted for such properties rendering good health are discussed here.

Almond as a health food Known as the king of nuts, almond is a highly nutritious food. It is rich in all essential elements needed by the body. Almonds are highly beneficial in preserving vitality of the brain, strengthening the muscles and prolonging life. It is an effective health building food both for the body and mind.

Substances such as Copper, iron, phosphorous aand vitamin B1 present in almonds exert synergic action and help the formation of new blood cells. They also play a major role in maintaining the smooth physiological funtions of the brain, nerves, bone, liver and the heart.

Almond is a valuable health food for several common ailments, including anemia, constipation, skin disorders and respiratory diseases. The best way to consume almonds is to soak them in water and eat it after peeling or grinding in into a paste after peeling.

Another health food: Apple Apple is invaluable in the maintenance of good health and in the prevention and treatment of many ailments. This fruit is a highly nutritive food and contains minerals and vitamins in abundance. It has been found beneficial in the treatment of anemia, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery stomach disorders, headache, heart disease, high blood pressure, rheumatic afflictions, eye and dental disorders.

The various chemicals present in apple such as vitamin B1, phosphorous and potassium help the synthesis of glutamic acid. This chemical substance controls the wear and tear of nerve cells. Eating an apple with honey and milk is very valuable in the nervous disorders like extreme tiredness, lack of concentration, lack of memory, mental irritability and mental depression. It acts as a very effective nerve tonic and recharges the nerves with new energy and life. The apple is the best fruit to tone up weak and run down condition of the human system.

It removes all deficiencies of vital organs and makes the body stout and strong. It tones up the body and the brain as it contains more phosphorous and iron than any other fruit or vegetable. Its regular consumption with milk promotes health and youthfulness and helps build healthy and bright skin. It has a calming and relaxing effect.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies and the importance of fruits such as apple and almond.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, apple, almond, fruits[/tags]

Virtually Vegetarian!

2008-10-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

Being a vegetarian is still something of a conversation killer even in today's health conscious society. "What do you eat then?" is muttered quietly whilst images of the gourmet meat pies are tossed aside for green salads at the next dinner party.

Vegetarianism has actually shown a slight decline over the last decade although statistics have shown that many people have been a vegetarian at one period in their life. But overall, the vegetarian lifestyle is still as popular as ever as shown by the ever increasing range of vegetarian products and meat substitutes entering the market.

Whilst the vegetarian terms may seem confusing at first the concept behind the terms are actually quiet easy to follow.

Lacto-Ovo Most people when they hear the term vegetarian would think of a lacto-ovo. The term refers to people who do not eat any fish or meat but who do eat dairy products and eggs.

Ovo This term refers to vegetarians who will eat eggs but will not eat any dairy products in their diet.

Lacto Refers to a person who will not eat any meat or eggs in their diet but who will eat dairy products.

Vegan Vegans are the strictest form of vegetarians as they do not eat any form of animal product or by-product.

Semi The term semi-vegetarian has become increasingly popular with the rise of the so called "fad diet". This category is set aside for people who want to try the vegetarian lifestyle but who still enjoy the occasional hamburger.

Many vegetarians choose this lifestyle not only for the health benefits associated with it but also for their belief against animal cruelty and associations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) now champion animal rights.

Before the advantages of the vegetarian lifestyle were well documented we assumed that vegetarians were insipid, thin, pale creatures but with the number of famous celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney and Alicia Silverstone touting the benefits, the attitude has been given a more positive makeover.

Vegetarians can run the risk of suffering from a lack of iron, protein, Vitamin B and calcium if they do not balance their diets. But a little bit of education and knowledge of vegetarian sources should ensure that this does not occur. Protein can easily be found by eating nuts, seeds, tofu, veggie burgers and grains. Vitamin B2 can be found by eating leafy green vegetables, almonds and mushrooms and many vegetarian products are now fortified with Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D as an aid against any deficiency which may occur. Calcium can be found in tofu, leafy green vegetables, dried fruit, watercress and many of the soy milks found on the markets are calcium fortified.

Dining out can also pose a problem as many restaurants still have few vegetarian options and some vegetarian products may be more expensive than their meat counterparts.

The upside about being a vegetarian is that you do not have to worry about raising cholesterol levels by eating too much red meat. Research has also shown that many vegetarians suffer less from obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, diet related cancers, constipation and gall stones.

Even if you don't embrace the vegetarian lifestyle wholeheartedly, trying a veggie meal once in a while certainly can't do you any harm.

Recommended Vegetarian Recipe Websites:

http://www.sanitarium.com.au/recipe/recipes.do?cat-id=312
http://www.vnv.org.au/Recipes.htm
http://www.vegsoc.org.au/recipes.asp
http://www.annabella.net/vegetarian.html

Michelle Sweeney is a self confessed vegetarian of over 12 years. She is also the owner of the online gift store http://www.tonicgifts.com.au. Tonic Gifts registered as a business in October 2004 with an aim to provide quality and affordable gifts to online shoppers both in Australia and overseas and to make the whole experience as simple and enjoyable as possible.

[tags]vegetarian,vegan,health,food,fad,vegetarianism,vege,ovo-lacto,recipe,cooking,kitchen,lifestyle[/tags]

The 5 Beliefs About Food That Keep You Fat

2008-10-11T09:00:00.001-07:00

1. Food should not be wasted

We have learnt not to leave food even though we don't really want it. If we cooked it, bought it, served it up on a plate or ordered it in a restaurant it has to be eaten because "it's a sin to throw away good food". So we use our bodies as a kind of human waste disposal unit and pile unwanted pounds onto our hips.

We learnt to clean our plates when we were kids, mostly from well-meaning parents who wanted to make sure we got enough nourishment and tried to make us feel guilty about all the starving people in the world. We learnt to eat stuff we didn't really want or need to please our parents and sometimes we got more food as a reward ("Eat your dinner or you won't get dessert").

Now you're an adult you can take a different approach. Buy less, cook less, serve up less and order less but if it's still more food than you need, throw it out rather than down your throat. It's a greater waste to over feed your body than it is to throw out excess food.

2. Food equals love

We learn from birth to link love and comfort from our mother with being fed and that feeling is reinforced throughout childhood. We equate food with being cared for. So it's often the first thing we turn to when we want to experience those feelings of love and comfort again.

But food is not love. A double-chocolate chip cookie or plateful of fries will never love you back. Only people can do that.

If you need love, you need contact with other living breathing humans. Call up a friend and talk, don't eat.

3. Slim people can eat as much food as they like

This one is actually true but not in the way we often believe it. Slim people eat as much as they like but they don't live for food. They like to eat as much as they need and they do. Sometimes they overeat. That's when you see them eating chocolate cake and pizza and you think they have it made. But other times (more likely when you're not seeing them on an evening out) they're satisfied with soup and a salad. It's a balance thing. If slim people ate too much all the time they would be overweight too!

Even so, you may find that your friend can eat more than you and not get fat. You may put it down to the luck of a fast metabolism but actually the slight variances you find in metabolism make very little difference. Naturally slim people simply move around more during the course of the day even if they don't take regular exercise. They're forever on the go. They're up and down more. And they fidget more. Studies have shown that they use up more calories than others in that way.

If you eat and move like your slim friends you will have little to envy.

4. Healthy food doesn't make you fat

You can get fat eating anything - although, granted, it would be difficult to overeat lettuce. But some natural foods are high in calories - in particular nuts and seeds - so you can easily take in too many calories with these. And fruit juices, smoothies and shakes can really pile on the pounds. Too many complex carbohydrates, whole grain though they are, will go straight to your hips too. Healthy foods are great but they still have to be eaten in moderation.

Having said that, true healthy natural real foods are not generally the real problem. The main culprit here are those foods which are branded as healthy by food manufacturers - the foods that are "full of goodness" or low in fat or carbs or whatever. They offer so-called healthy options for cookies, cakes and pies that you could do well without eating. They just tempt you to eat more because you think they are healthy or low in calories. Check the labels and give them a miss.

5. Only unhealthy food tastes good

You may have spent years assaulting your taste-buds with fat and sugar confectionary, salty snacks and fried foods and that is what they have learnt to know and love. But actually many foods that you eat have sugar and salt added to give them appeal they wouldn't otherwise have. Once you start tasting quality natural foods and delicious healthy recipes you will never look back. Become a true gourmet and learn to love good natural food in moderation. Take the time to prepare and enjoy it properly and you will find your taste buds dancing with delight.

Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach, slimming club owner and author of "The Diet Exit Plan", an 8 week coaching program for automatic permanent weight loss. Request her FREE 15 page report "How to lose weight without dieting - 7 secrets the diet industry doesn't want you to know" at http://www.SimplySlimming.com TODAY!

[tags]beliefs about food, lose weight, myths about food, healthy food, fattening food, diet, diet food[/tags]

Boost Your Energy Levels

2008-10-10T09:00:00.001-07:00

If you woke up last Tuesday feeling tired and are still feeling run down, do not think that this is the end of the world and that your energy levels have been exhausted completely or that your age is catching up with you . Everyone has at least once felt too tired to get up, dress, drive, work, and come back to the house ten hours later after performing a variety of functions, only to continue cleaning up, filing, cooking, and execute all those routine activities we have learned to complete on a daily basis. But although you tried to sleep your tiredness away, the feeling of fatigue has prevailed and you are now in a worse state than ever before. Do not panic, but instead seek a doctor's advice and perform a medical check up. If all seem to be fine on the physical level, apart from the low energy levels you have been experiencing, then follow these tips and boost your energy to skyrocket heights.

People that experience a low energy period usually comfort themselves by resorting to sleep and adding extra hours of bed time in their attempt to find their lost energy somewhere in-between their bed sheets and covers. This is usually not the right strategy. If you have maintained a steady sleeping schedule, prior to this recent development, which suited your needs perfectly, the extra sleep you are planning to have will not help you increase your energy levels and take control of your life again. On the contrary, if you decide to sleep when your body does not need that extra sleeping time you are increasing the feelings of being tired and lethargic. Thus, instead of sleeping, try to exercise. Energy needs energy to be produced. By performing simple exercises, like walking or swimming, your body will increase its metabolism which will help you get your energy levels again up. Try introducing exercising as part of your daily routine and you will be witnessing a tremendous change in your energy levels as well as mind awareness.

Do not forget to consume fluids and particularly water. Additionally, by adding more vegetables, complex carbohydrates and proteins into your diet, you will see your energy increase and you will feel much better about yourself and be actually healthier than before.

Another tactic to boost your energy levels is to start working on something you have been postponing for a long time, but would love to see yourself doing. Hobbies, interests, volunteer work or house improvement projects can help you get rid of boredom, which can be a very good reason why you feel the way you do. You can invest time in doing things that are fun and relax your body and mind. Going camping, fishing, playing with your or the neighbor's kids, can assist you increase your recently dropped energy bucket and become involved again.

Most importantly, you have to get started. If you begin doing something that can take you away from that couch or bed, you will witness the difference in your energy levels instantly. Do not procrastinate. Act today and boost your energy levels back up where they belong.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Health, Nutrition, and Food

[tags]Energy, Food, Health, Nutrition[/tags]

Vegetables - Health Food Or Killers

2008-10-08T09:00:00.002-07:00

With the recent outbreak of e-coli traced back to bagged spinach of all things, the FDA now suggests consumers thoroughly wash all bagged produce (including salad) before consuming it to avoid the extreme diarrhea e-coli bacterial can cause.

The e-coli bacteria can be found in any raw or undercooked foods. Most often outbreaks are linked to undercooked meat, or unsafe handling of raw meat, particularly ground beef. What was up until now less well known is that e-coli can also be found on fresh produce like fruits and vegetables.

E-coli bacteria cause severe diarrhea often with bloody stool and can cause kidney failure and possible death. The old and the young are particularly prone to extreme cases of the infection. If you suspect you have been infected with e-coli, contact your physician right away.

E-coli naturally occurs in the intestines of animals like cows and chickens. As these animals are slaughtered and processed, traces of the bacteria can come into contact with the meat. Ground beef seems to be especially prone to getting contaminated. To kill any e-coli (or other bacteria for that matter) that may have "snuck in", cook all meat to an internal temperature of at least 160 F.

So, how does this same bacteria get into our salad, veggies and fruit? Manure is often used as a natural fertilizer and gets' stuck on the outside of the vegetables and fruits as they grow and are harvested. Produce is cleaned off before it's bagged and shipped to you, but that doesn't necessarily mean all the bacteria are gone.

In particular vegetables including salad that are bagged provide a perfect growing environment for the e-coli bacteria. The bag ensures that there is always some moisture around the produce that allows the e-coli to multiply.

The recent outbreak of e-coli in bagged spinach along with previous outbreaks in bagged salad mixes and even containers of strawberries makes you wonder if we should just avoid all prepackaged and bagged produce. Fortunately we don't have to go that far, but we should get in the habit of properly preparing those foods.

Salad and vegetables mixes in bags are often pre-washed and sold as "ready to serve". Take a few minutes and rinse them with warm water, followed by a splash of cold water to avoid cooking the spinach or salad. Use plenty of warm water on hardier vegetables such as tomatoes or carrots and don't forget to wash fruit with plenty of water as well, especially strawberries. Strawberries grow very low to the ground and are often fertilized with manure or are grown on soil that was previously fertilized that way. Since the berries grow practically directly on top of the soil, it is easy for the e-coli to catch a ride on the fruit directly into your home.

Washing raw fruit and vegetables with plenty of warm water should get rid of most of the bacteria, making it safe to eat. Make it a habit to wash your produce whether the packaging indicates it's pre-washed or not. It will only take a few minutes and could prevent you from getting sick in the long run.

Susanne Myers is the co-publisher of the Healthy Menu Mailer, a weekly recipe and menu mailer that's all about eating healthy. Join us for a free 7-day sneak peak at http://www.healthymenumailer.com

[tags]ecoli, e-coli, ecoli in spinach, ecoli produce[/tags]

Garlic In Your Food For Health

2008-10-08T09:00:00.001-07:00

The link between food and health is often forgotten and the wonderful part about adding garlic to your food is it is so flavorful you forget it has preventative disease and medicinal healing properties.

Garlic is one of the best sources of selenium, a nutrient noted by cancer researchers for its powerful antioxidant properties. From curing colds, and fighting cholesterol to cleansing toxins from your body; is it any wonder it is considered a miracle food? To learn more about it's medicinal properties I recommend reading, Garlic the Miracle Food by Dr. Pavlov.

Add Garlic to your food everyday yes every day. Sound like a lot? You won't think so once you discover a few favorite recipes. With these tips and ideas you will find yourself roasting garlic, adding it to cooked and non-cooked meals and yikes, even eating it raw!

Worried about smelling of garlic? Although people who eat garlic on a regular basis do not reek of it, after a meal of eating it raw you will have garlic breath. To relieve garlic breath, chew on a sprig of parsley. If you are worried, stick to cooked garlic or garlic capsules.

Over the years I've discovered a variety of ways to use garlic in my daily meals, and have converted many people to the wonders of garlic as well. These ideas will turn your meals into tasty delights and gourmet dishes. If you are unaccustomed to garlic, start with smaller amounts until your taste buds get used to the new flavor.

Roasted Garlic

Excellent as a side dish served with a pepper jelly and added to recipes roasted garlic has become one of my gourmet favorites.

How to make it:

Cut off the top of the garlic bulb, exposing the flesh of each clove. Pour 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over the cloves. Wrap in foil and bake in the oven at 375 for 1 hour.

Hints:

· Roast several at a time. Pinch the soft cooked clove from its shell and store in a container in your freezer to have ready for your next recipe.

· Choose large bulbs, elephant garlic works best.

Roasted garlic with meals you already love. It's so easy to include: just crush 1-2 cloves of garlic and stir it in.

Soups Stir 2-3 cloves into potato soups, tomato based soups and pasta dishes.

Potatoes Crush 1 clove per serving into mashed, fried and scalloped potato recipes.

Side dishes - Serve a whole roasted garlic bulb with pork dishes especially pork chops. A whole roasted garlic will also compliment salad and casserole meals.

Hints:

· Roasted garlic introduces a nutty flavor

· Start with 1 clove per serving and adjust to your taste

Cooking with Garlic

Experimenting with garlic in my everyday cooking has me adding it to almost any dish.

Vegetables The next time you steam your broccoli add a few cloves of garlic slivered during or after cooking and you won't need all that salt and butter.

Stir Fry Adding slivered, sliced or crushed garlic to any stir fry dish will only be complemented by it's flavor.

Eggs Add crushed to scrambled eggs, omelets, and quiches.

Roast Beef Cut slits large enough to insert whole cloves of garlic and roast as usual.

Hints:

· Cooking garlic slowly in soups, stews and roasts mellows the garlic flavor.

· Take care when sautéing garlic, burning it will make it bitter.

Raw Garlic

Did we say raw? Yes, raw garlic is most effective in it's natural form.

Try these easy and simple favourites:

Grill cheese sandwiches thin slices spread on your cheese before grilling Pasta garlic oil slice garlic cloves up to 1 cup and mix with 1 cup of olive oil and cook over medium heat until soft and lightly browned pour over pasta.

Juice add crushed garlic to your vegetable juice.

Hummus This chickpea spread is a tasty way to eat raw garlic, and you won't even notice it's raw.

Salads Rub the side of a wooden bowl with raw garlic. When you toss the other ingredients in it your salad will have a hint of garlic.

Condiment - Some people actually eat them the same way they would eat pickles. I haven't tried this one, yet!

Hints:

· Store garlic in a cool dry place with ventilation not in the fridge.

· Avoid buying garlic with green sprouts

Enjoy in good health!

Barb Keck is the author of this article, and many more on various topics of life at http://www.vidaville.com Vidaville - it's about living! Answers to daily dilemmas, making life easier and more enjoyable. Educates and inspires to have healthy relationships and new ways to live. Life resources for women and men to love, laugh and live.

Article Reprint Rights - Feel free to publish this article on your website. You must agree to leave all author credits, active links contained within intact, and "as is" and NOT hidden behind a java or redirect script. Please notify the author at barb@vidaville.com.

[tags]garlic, food, health, raw, roasted, antioxidant, cancer, recipe healing[/tags]

Pomegranate! The SUPER FOOD!

2008-10-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Pomegranate has so many wonderful characteristics! The fruit's beautiful color and unique structure of thick, red skin encasing hundreds of small, lusciously juicy seeds is artistic and inspiring.

Its healthy juice contains more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, and other fruits, therefore lowering cholesterol and preventing heart attack and stroke. Beside its anti-aging capabilities, the fruit is also thought to lower blood pressure, help kidney disorders, inhibit colon, breast, skin and prostate cancer.

Pomegranate may even help with osteoporosis and depression. On the lighter side, pomegranate is a very popular trend in home décor.

Oprah even recommends you try it in a martini! There are several liquors, liqueurs and some absolutely wonderful food recipes using its seeds and oil.

Many parts of the world have favorable climates for growing the trees and there is a special way to cut, eat and juice the nutritious fruit. Anything you want to know about pomegranates you can find on www.allpomegranate.com!

Go to www.allpomegranate.com to find information on:

How to Make Pomegranate Juice Lean how to make pomegranate juice. What is its nutritional value? How to juice a pomegranate.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate The health benefits of pomegranate are amazing whether you drink juice, eat seeds, use it as an extract, syrup, molasses, paste, nectar or concentrate.

Pomegranate Martini - the hottest new martini flavor for your next cocktail party - deliciously refreshing and colorfully tasteful!

Pomegranate recipes Try some scrumptious pomegranate recipes! Use pomegranate seeds, syrup, juice, oil and extract in delectable recipes for salads, appetizers, main courses, beverages and desserts.

Pomegranate drink recipes There are so many pomegranate drink recipes from martinis to green tea. Choose your beverage and find the delectable recipe here.

Growing pomegranate is easy in a temperate climate. They are native to southeastern Europe, Asia and the middle east. They have beautiful flowers!

Pomegranate Supplements There is a variety of pomegranate supplements. From powders to pills each supplement contains the powerful nutritional value and health benefits of the super food.

Picture of a pomegranate Looking for a picture of a pomegranate? They are unique and beautiful. Photos of pomegranates, seeds, and trees.

Nutritional Value of Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate juice is antioxidant rich and a super power in eliminating free radicals. A tart, sweet red fruit that tastes wonderful.

Trish Stevens and Brandon Toomey
http://www.allpomegranate.com

[tags]juice,health benefits,martini,recipes,growing,antioxidants,anti-aging,nutritional value,syrup,paste[/tags]

Organic Restaurants - ALASKA

2008-10-06T09:00:00.001-07:00

Because we understand the importance of Organic food with what we cook or where we choose to eat that we wanted to make it easier to find those places that serve organic food. There is an understanding, finally that is spreading throughout the country that genetically altered food, and all of the additives and hormones and other chemicals are creating disease, old age and poor nutrition. We hope this helps to support those that are serving and selling organic food and drink and those who wish to buy organic.

You can also access the whole of the site at www.drclarkuniversity.blogspopt.com (we will continue to update) and for more information on curing disease with out drugs/surgery or in combination with traditional medicine go to www.drclarkuniversity.org

Organic Restaurants ALASKA

Enzyme Express
1330 East Huffman Rd Ste C
Anchorage, AK 99515
907-345-1330
Raw organic juice bar and Deli, Vegan buffet

Fiddlehead Restaurant And Bakery
429 W Willoughby Ave
Juneau, AK 99801
907-586-3150
Gourmet natural foods, vegan options

Fresh Sourdough Express Bakery and Café
1316 Ocean Dr
Homer, AK 99603
907-235-7571
Organic and all natural ingredients
www.freshsourdoughexpress.com

Helse Restaurant
17 Sing Lee Alley
Petersburg, AK 99833
907-772-3444
Natural foods, vegan options, vitamin store

Juice Kaboos
1330 East Huffman Rd
Anchorage, AK 99515
907-345-0282

Marx Bros. Café/Restaurant
627 West 3rd
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-258-6279
www.marxcafe.com

Middleway Cafe
1200 Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, AK 99503
907-272-6433
Juice bar, mostly vegetarian/vegan

Natural Pantry
3801 Old Seward Hwy
Anchorage, AK 99503
907-770-1444
Natural and gourmet foods store/café
www.natural-pantry.com

Organic Oasis Health Foods & Juice Bar
2610 Spenard Rd
Anchorage, AK 99503
907-277-7882

Rogues Garden
354 Fairbanks Dr
Valdez, AK 99686
907-835-5880
Juice bar, organic produce

Michele Michaels has been active in raising awareness for alternative and natural methods of curing and treating all manner of illnesses.

[tags]Organic,organic food,natural cures,Dr. Hulda Clark,Cancer,alternative health, alabama,breast cancer[/tags]

Organic Products And Production

2008-10-05T09:00:00.003-07:00

Many shoppers only seem to have an abstract understanding of the benefits of organic foods and products on the environment and their health. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Many people believe that genetic engineering is dangerous, unpredictable, and can reduce the nutritional value of food. But the FDA has said that the amount of hormones used in commercial livestock isn't enough to harm humans. As a result to be deemed organic, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products must come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Typically organic fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs and meat products are produced within a 50-mile radius of their place of their final sale.

Organic produce refers to vegetables that are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Only naturally occurring fertilizer, like manure can be used to grow organic produce. While it is still better to eat non-organic vegetables than no vegetables at all, consumers are starting see the value in organic products.

The natural and organic skin care product sector has seen a growth of thirty nine percent over the last year. The product formulations rely entirely on natural or naturally-derived ingredients. These products do not use any artificial preservatives.

The FDA does not regulate skin care manufacturers, questionable ingredients often make their way into their formulas. Some of these products may claim to be all-natural, while still containing a slew of chemicals and toxins. As a consumer if a skin care product contains an ingredient that you are unsure about, write down it's name and do a little research. If a product claims to be all natural, its ingredients should be easily recognizable as natural components.

Scrutinize the first several listings in the product to be sure that they are the natural ingredients you are looking for. Dirt, dust, pollutants, and other environmental pollutants enter the body through the skin, providing a more significant gateway to your system, so it is important to be aware of what products contain. In response to a growing demand on the part of consumers, more and more organic foods and products are flooding the market. Even in mainstream supermarkets, certified organic foods and organic skin care products are available.

Demand for organic production is increasing by at least 40 per cent each year. And while in some cases the price for organic raw materials may be 3 to 4 times more expensive than conventional. If consumer demand increases, prices should continue to drop.

Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items http://www.organic-items.com and Pilates Shop http://www.pilates-shop.net leading portals for organic products and natural excercise.

[tags]organic, health, natural, skin care, healthy, produce, all natural, garden, grow[/tags]

Watermelon Dectective

2008-10-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

If you've been keeping up with the latest in health news, you may have seen a few articles reporting that watermelon is more nutritious when served at room temperature. Personally, I prefer my watermelon ice cold, so I was a bit dismayed when I heard about this. After all, that's one of the joys of these sweltering summer days...a juicy, deep red, icy cold slice of my favorite fruit. The thought of eating watermelon at room temperature is well...a little less than appetizing.

I did a little sleuthing by taking a look at the study behind these headlines. Turns out that watermelons continue to produce more lycopene and beta-carotene even after they are picked, as long as they are stored at room temperature. Lycopene, as you may know, is a powerful anti-oxidant that gives watermelon (and tomatoes) that beautiful red color and also plays a role in preventing heart disease as well as some cancers. Beta-carotene is converted by the body into Vitamin A.

The study, completed by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, showed that whole watermelons, when stored at 70 degrees, had substantially more of these nutrients than melons that had been freshly picked or that had been stored at cooler temperatures.

When compared to freshly picked melons, whole watermelons that had been stored at 70 degrees (the temperature of an air-conditioned building) for 14 days, gained up to 40 percent more lycopene and a whopping 50 percent more beta-carotene.

Watermelon is a great summer food. True to its name, this favorite summer fruit is 92% water and two cups (a 1-inch half moon slice) contain only 80 calories. Watermelon is also loaded with potassium and is very low in sodium. Of course, watermelon contains no cholesterol or fat.

Tip from your Wellness Coach: Go ahead and enjoy your watermelon ice cold! Store whole watermelons up to 2 weeks at room temperature, rather than your refrigerator, before eating. Chill just prior to serving, so you don't lose out on any of those great nutrients watermelon has to offer. Look for watermelons that are free of damage (cuts, bruises, cracks or dents). The yellow, flat place on one side of the melon is perfectly normal, as this was the part of the melon that had contact with the ground as the melon was ripening on the vine. Rinse the melon well before cutting, as your knife could drag dirt and germs into the fruit.

Happy eating!

Ellen Britt, PA, Ed.D., is executive producer of the beautiful and relaxing Flash movie, Lessons from Water. See it at: http://www.LessonsfromWater.com or visit our website at http://www.primalwaters.com

[tags]food, diet, nutrition, watermelon, health, weight loss, dessert, weight loss, obesity[/tags]

How To Stay Healthy When Eating During The Holiday Season

2008-10-04T09:00:00.002-07:00

I don't know about you but I am like most people and I find the weight I lost over the summer and fall during the holiday season from November through Christmas. It is difficult to stay on a half way decent healthy diet when all the sweet stuff is calling your name! Still, it is possible to enjoy the holidays and still taste some of the forbidden fruit while eating healthy and avoiding the holiday weight gain that most experience.

Traditional holiday foods can be prepared to be low fat in most cases. For example, the turkey that just about everyone has for thanksgiving or Christmas dinner is extremely lean if you remove the skin and you can make a lean gravy to go over it as well. Potatoes are very good for you, until you load them up with butter and sour cream. Even pumpkin pie can be made to be healthy and nutritious if you forego the mound of whipped cream.

One of the other reasons that people gain a lot of weight over the holidays is because they decide to skip out on exercise. Half the battle of keeping the pounds off during the holidays is regular exercise, and maybe even a little extra to get rid of those extra calories you are taking in. It is a good habit to get into taking a walk after every meal and do some extra walking when you go shopping, park way out instead of looking for the closest spot. Not only will this help you to reduce your weight but it will reduce stress as well.

When it comes to the food itself, fill up on things like fresh vegetables, fruits and lean meat. That way you won't have the room to even feel like eating all the fattening desserts and you will choose a tiny sliver of pie instead of choosing a quarter of the whole pie.

Alcohol is another big culprit for excess calories and in addition to the empty calories it takes away your will to diet and also will make you eat more. Make sure that you choose water instead which will keep you from adding all the extra calories as well as help you to feel more full. Try to totally avoid eggnog which is loaded with belly building calories and fat.

You don't have to be super strict to the point of not enjoying the holidays, just remember to eat in moderation and limit the fatty foods to not much more than a taste, balancing that with some additional exercise and you will avoid the holiday bulge.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about holiday cooking and easy appetizers online at http://www.gourmetpartyappetizers.com

[tags]food, appetizers,gourmet food, fat free, diet, weight loss[/tags]

Are There Any Noni Juice Health Benefits

2008-10-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

Some people claim there are many different Noni Juice health benefits. However within the medical community the jury is still out on whether Noni Juice is able to benefit consumers. According to some research, one of the greatest Noni Juice health benefits is its application to the fight against cancer.

Does Noni Juice Help Fight Cancer?

Since cancer became one of the leading killers of people around the world, people have been looking for ways to stop the spread of this terrible disease. Hundreds of lives are lost each day to a different type of cancer, and once diagnosed, most people are willing to attempt all sorts of alternative treatments to fight the disease that has infected their bodies. Many testimonials have reported positive Noni Juice health benefits. There have been a number of different studies showing this particular Noni Juice health benefit may have some real truth to it.

The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii has spent the last two years studying the Noni Juice health benefits with regard to cancer. The findings are not yet complete, but preliminary results look quite promising. Cancer patients who have tried all other courses of action to no avail have been recruited to participate in the study. For this study, Noni Juice is being used in capsule form.

The University of Hawaii has just begun the first phase of a massive cancer research study involving Noni. The study will also examine other tropical plant uses on islands throughout the South Pacific.

A 1999 study suggested that Noni Juice helped to stop the growth of tumors. The study was completed on mice with tumors. A regular dose of Noni Juice injected directly into the tumor suggested that the growth was significantly slowed over a period of six months.

These Noni Juice studies, suggest what native South Pacific islanders have thought for years Noni Juice may help with all sorts of medical applications.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of NoniJuiceAdvisor.com providing the benefits of noni juice including Hawaiian and Tahitian noni fruit juice benefits, testimonials and products.

[tags]noni juice health benefits, medical, benefit, testimonials[/tags]

Organic Food - What Is It

2008-10-03T09:00:00.001-07:00

J. I. Rodale is a pioneer in the field of "organic food", he first gave information about this topic in a magazine called Organic Gardening, in 1942. In that magazine he explained the importance of maintaining soil fertility and stability by putting organic matter -- animal manure or compost -- back into the soil rather than relying on the "inorganic," or synthetic, fertilizers that were then widely seen as the modern way to go.

He changed the whole concept by changing the fertilizers, and from them, the farming methods, rather than the food, that were organic, and the concern was primarily with the soil, not with issues like biodiversity or animal welfare.

As time passed the meaning of "organic farming" soon parted company from Rodale's original narrow distinction between fertilizers. Varying definitions spun out of control as different associations of "organic farmers" tried to set standards in accordance with their own values. Some wanted to stick with a narrow definition in terms of what you could and could not put on the soil, the crops, or the animals. Others wanted to include an entire way of life, including healthy living, an equitable form of distribution, concern for wildlife, and so on.

So when there was so much of difference in the perception of organic food then the organizations of organic farmers around the world organized the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements which settled on this definition:

Organic agriculture is an agricultural system that promotes environmentally, socially, and economically sound production of food, fiber, timber, etc. In this system, soil fertility is seen as the key to successful production. Working with the natural properties of plants, animals, and the landscape, organic farmers aim to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment.

As there were no specific standards defined so it created all the more confusion among the consumers as they were often unsure what the various "organic" labels used by different associations and producers really meant

Because of this much of confusion the U.S. Congress in 1990 decided to clear up the confusion by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to establish legally enforceable "USDA Organic" standards and a certification scheme so that the consumers would e ensured that their food really had been produced in accordance with the standards.

That led, in 2002, to a set of standards that most people in organic farming considered a reasonable compromise among the various views of what organic farming is all about.

So it was then formally announced that the crops must be grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, and most synthetic pesticides and all herbicides are also banned, although biological and botanical methods of control can be used.

For maintaining the soil fertility, animal and plant waste (but not sewage sludge, which can contain toxic heavy metals) has to be used, crop rotation, and growing "cover crops" like clover between other crops. (Cover crops are plowed into the soil to restore nitrogen and organic matter.)

Animals intended for usage as meats, eggs, or milk must eat organic grains or other organic food and must not be given growth hormones or antibiotics. (Sick or injured animals may be treated with antibiotics, but then their meat, milk, or eggs cannot be sold as organic.)

Moe importantly the organically raised animals must have access to the outdoors, including access to pasture for ruminants. Neither plants nor animals can be the product of genetic engineering, and organic food cannot be irradiated.

So now using the label "organic" to distinguish one tomato from another doesn't ask for much of the efforts.

Find more information about food and nutrition by visiting our resourse portal about healthy eating and nutrition.

[tags]food, nutrition, health, healthy, healthy eating, eating, drink, body health, weight loss[/tags]

Green Tea, Black Tea, Herbal Tea Healthful Beverage Choices

2008-10-02T09:00:00.001-07:00

The health benefits of green tea have been trumpeted in the media recently. Even though the claims may be exaggerated, if you're going to drink much of any beverage other than water, tea is probably your best choice.

Tea is water plus phytochemicals including caffeine, and very little else unless you add a lot of sugar. Both green and black tea come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. To make green tea, the leaves are steamed, rolled and dried. For black tea, the leaves are dried, then fermented and fired.

Both green and black tea contain phytochemicals that have been linked to reduced rates of certain types of cancers. When brewed at normal strength, both contain about half of the caffeine found in a cup of coffee. If caffeine is a concern, de-caffeinated teas are available.

Herbal teas are dried leaves of a wide variety of plants, which you steep in hot water as you would regular tea. They are generally caffeine free. Many claims are made for the phytochemicals found in herbal teas, but all we can safely say is: yes, they do contain phytochemicals, which may be beneficial or harmful, depending on the plant used and the amount you drink. If you have hay fever or other allergies, be aware that herbal teas made from plants in the family you are sensitive to can trigger the same reactions.

Tea appears to be healthful and may contribute phytochemicals to your diet that you would not otherwise get. So enjoy your tea, but remember, what is beneficial in moderation may be harmful in large amounts. That's true for all foods, not just tea. If you need to drink more than a few cups of a beverage, make it water.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

[tags]tea, green tea, black tea, herbal tea, nutrition, antioxidants, caffeine[/tags]

News Flash 4,000-Year-Old Dietary Guidelines Are The Best Yet (Part 2)

2008-10-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

What New Testament people ate

Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:48). In Matthew 4:4, He says, "Man shall not live by bread alone." In context, He was being tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread to alleviate His hunger. Bread appears in many New Testament Scriptures. Since the importance of bread for physical sustenance had long been established, He was using bread as an analogy for the vital importance of obedience to God.

The diet of New Testament peoples must not have been much different from that of Old Testament peoples. In addition to fruits, vegetables, and herbs, unlimited seafood was available from the Sea of Galilee; seven of Jesus' disciples were fishermen. Fish could be eaten boiled, sun-dried, pickled, or salted.

As in Old Testament times, mammals usually were slaughtered only for special occasions. In the Luke chapter 15 story of the Prodigal Son, the fatted calf was killed and prepared for the feast in celebration of the son's return. (The emphasis here is that the Prodigal Son's return was such a big occasion that it warranted the slaughter of a calf.) One reason that large mammals were slaughtered only for special occasions is that, in the absence of refrigeration, leftovers were not an option; therefore, a large group of people was required to consume the animal.

Jesus, like all Jews, followed a ritual for the Passover meal. The lamb would be slaughtered and grilled according to special rules; at least ten people would be required to consume it, and it had to be eaten before midnight. (Again, there was no refrigeration.)

To the present, His people have taken bread and wine together in remembrance of Him.

Dominion over the animalswhat exactly does this mean?

If you have read my "Companion Animals" article, you will have already thought about the ambiguity of man's "dominion over animals."

The same verse (Genesis 1:26) that gives man dominion over the animals also tells us that God made man in His image. Undoubtedly, we are to conclude that people are to be considered higher than animals. But are we simply to care for them, as if they were babies or elderly humans? Or do we do with them however we please?

It is worth noting that both animals and humans breathe (respire) and plants do not. Respiration has the same root ("spir") as "spirit." So, while animals do not have an eternal soul, as humans do, they do have a spirit. That alone elevates them above plants and all other members of creation, except humans.

In giving us dominion over animals, perhaps God meant to warn us not to worship animals, as some pagans had done. Dominion seems to imply a middle ground between worship and wanton use.

Man began to eat meat after the Flood, when the earth was a wasteland and Noah and his family had nothing else to eat until they could establish their crops, and wild plants flourished again. At the time of creation, God had said, "I have given every green herb for food" (Genesis 1:30). After the flood, circumstances changed. God now said, "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs" (Genesis 9:3). For the first time, humans had the option of including animals in their diet.

We do not know, however, if people were supposed to continue eating meat indefinitely, or if it was a temporary solution to the food shortage problem. Postdiluvian peoples have not lived such long lives as before. Perhaps regular meat eating should be viewed as a sacrifice that Noah's generation had to make for the survival of the human species.

What does all this mean for 21st-century people?

Cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressurenot to mention obesityare among the life-shortening diseases now connected to a diet too high in fat. Fat is not an inherently bad thing. Even if it were possible to avoid dietary fat, it would not be advisable. Fats are needed for the assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. Fat is necessary for healthy skin and for nerve function. Leviticus 7:23, however, advises us not to eat animal fat. Remember that olive oil was used prodigiously by Biblical people, and is now known to improve health rather than deteriorate it as animal fats do.

While these fat-attributable ailments may not have been known by these names in Bible times, when Biblical people died, it was usually for a known reason, and the reason was usually advanced age or battle casualty. It would seem, then, that people did not often die of these diseases, which are now among the major causes of death.

When people eat only to satisfy their tastes and desires, God is not pleased. Excessive meat eating, like excessive partying, is equated with gluttony.

It could be argued that Biblical guidelines no longer apply. We have refrigeration, so food need not spoil. We have plumbing, so we can wash our food easily. And we have antibiotics and other modern medicines, so if we do get sick, we can be made well again.

Yet, the road that leads away from dependence on God always leads toward destruction. The reasons behind the rules still apply: God wants us to stay pure for Him. I Corinthians 6:19 says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we need to obey even when we don't know the reasons for the rules. The attitude that we don't need His help because we have invented wonderful things for ourselves does not please Him. (Remember the Tower of Babel? Remember the Titanic?)

The very real consequences of overdependence on our own intelligence can be seen in the decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics because of overuse and misuse. We have had these wonder drugs for our use for only a few decades, and we are in very real danger of losing them through irresponsible breeding of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A whole generation of people has deluded themselves into a false sense of security that because of antibiotics, we do not need to heed the old rules against, for example, casual sex. Now antibiotic-resistant sexually-transmitted diseases are rampant.

We really do reap what we sow.

About The Author
Lisa J. Lehr is a freelance writer with a specialty in business and marketing communications. She holds a biology degree and has worked in a variety of fields, including the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, and has a particular interest in health matters. She is also a graduate of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI), America's leading course on copywriting. Contact Lisa J. Lehr Copywriting www.ljlcopywriting.com, for help with your business writing needs. This article ©Lisa J. Lehr 2005.

[tags]people eat, food, nutrition, healthy eating[/tags]

Take Out, Fast Food, Restaurants

2008-09-30T09:00:00.003-07:00

Living in the city offers the convenience of fast food. You can buy whatever your taste buds desire, and it can be ready in a matter of minutes! However, country living changes the convenience!

When we first moved to the country, many times I would forget that I had to plan each day's meal. There was not the fast food or take-outs around the corner!

Now, however, planning the meals has become routine. No longer does planning meals have to be remembered it is now done automatically.

We find we are eating healthier and no longer snacking as much as we used to. We make large batches of food, like chilly and spaghetti sauce, and then freeze meal size portions. So when we are in a hurry, we have our own fast food ready in the freezer, but with ingredients that we put in exactly to our own taste!

Also, we have invested in a bread maker. (a very simple, inexpensive one) We now make our own bread which is fresher and without a lot of preservatives in it. In addition to making bread, we also make rolls and sweet breads in it.

To quote Jon Wickham, "Treat yourself properly with adequate sleep and nutritious food."

Catherine Pulsifer is one of the editors of Stress Relief by a Simple Life where you will find stories, thoughts, poems and inspirational quotes on simplicity, frugal living, free craft projects, stress and more.

Note to publishers - please use the text "Stress Relief by a Simple Life" when linking to http://www.stresslesscountry.com Thanks!

[tags]city,convenience,changes,living,meals,food,healthier,freeze,bread[/tags]

Oolong Tea - A Healthy Refreshing Drink

2008-09-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

Green tea is often touted as a wonder drink providing all sorts of health benefits. Studies have shown that green tea can prevent cancer, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system and reduce hypertension. Although green tea gets the spotlight, many of these same health benefits can be attributed to all sorts of tea including oolong.

Tea is, after all, tea. The only difference between green, oolong, and black tea is the way it has been processed after harvesting. White tea is a little bit different because of the way it is grown, but all tea is from the same plant - Camelia sinensis. And this plant has naturally occurring antioxidants that are beneficial to human health.

Antioxidants are also present in other types of food such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, and wines. They are good for disease prevention by combating free radicals - substances in the body linked to cancer, Parkinson's disease, senile and drug-induced deafness, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's.

There are several components in tea that act as antioxidants including catechins, flavanoids, and polyphenols.

White, Green or Oolong?

Oolong tea is produced by allowing the tea leaves to oxidize for a short time after picking. Oxidation is the process which makes the leaves turn dark on exposure to oxygen. Oolong is semi-oxidized; black tea is fully oxidized; and green tea is un-oxidized.

Fresh tea leaves are high in catechins. Processing the tea reduces these levels, so the more the tea is oxidized the lower the catechin levels. This means that white tea has the highest levels of catechins closely followed by green tea.

Catechins are the media darling of green tea promoters and usually receive the most coverage when discussing the health benefits of tea. There is one point, however, which is often overlooked: As the levels of catechins decrease during oxidation, the levels of theaflavins and thearubigins increase.

These two substances are found in higher concentrations in oolong and black tea than in green tea and have anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. A 2001 Chinese study indicated that the antioxidant properties of green tea and black tea are equal.

So it appears that oxidation does not eliminate the health properties of tea, but simply reduces one type of antioxidant while increasing other health-promoting compounds.

So is Oolong Good for You?

It is safe to say that all tea is good for you, but since we are particularly interested in oolong, let's see what the medical literature has to say.

Diabetes - Oolong tea may be an effective adjunct to oral hypoglycemic agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Eczema - Japanese researchers reported that patients with a form of eczema improved after drinking a liter of oolong tea daily.

Allergies - Two catechin derivatives (C-1 and C-2) with potent antiallergic activity were isolated from Taiwanese oolong tea.

Bacterial infections - Oolong tea polyphenols strongly inhibited the enzyme activities of some types of streptococci.

Cavities - Oolong tea polyphenolic compounds could be useful for controlling dental caries.

Obesity - Consumption of oolong tea stimulates both EE and fat oxidation in normal weight men.

Cancer - Oolong tea extract has a chemopreventive action against hepatocarcinogenesis.

Great stuff! Drinking oolong tea will make you healthier, live longer, be more beautiful and have great teeth!

The Bottom Line

Drink oolong tea for your health, but don't lose sight of this simple fact - people have been drinking tea for thousands of years because it is a great tasting beverage. Sit back, relax, and savour the sensations as you sip this wonderful drink. It's good for the soul, and what's good for the soul is certainly good for the body. __________________________________

References:

J. Agric. Food Chem., 47 (5), 1906 -1910, 1999. 10.1021/jf981114l S0021-8561(98)01114-5
Archives of Dermatology, January 2001
Diabetes Care 26:1714-1718, 2003
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993 April; 59(4): 968-973.
The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 131:2848-2852, November 2001
Caries Res. 1993;27(2):124-9.
Jpn J Cancer Res. 1996 Oct;87(10):1034-8.
Journal of Nutrition. 2001;131:2248-2251.

This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet or in ezines as long as the resource box and hyperlinks remain intact.

Ross MacIver is the webmaster of Tea From Taiwan, a Taiwan-based merchant of high-quality oolong tea. Taiwan produces the best oolong tea in the world. All the tea carried by Tea From Taiwan is hand picked and hand processed. The tea is shipped worldwide by Taiwan air post.

[tags]tea,oolong,health benefits of tea,health,antioxidants,catechins,flavanoids,polyphenols[/tags]

Grapefruit And Its Natural Benefits

2008-09-29T09:00:00.001-07:00

The grapefruit occupies a high place among the citrus fruits because of its flavor, its appetizing properties and its refreshing qualities. The fruit is often very large. It varies in color and may have a pale yellow or pinkish flesh. The rind is usually quarter to half an inch thick.

The grapefruit is indigenous to Indo-China, Thailand and Malaysia. It has spread to other hot countries from these lands. It is now extensively grown in West Indies, Israel, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA and India.

It is nutritive and refrigerant; and possesses very much the same properties as the orange, lemon and lime. The seedless variety is the best as it often contains greater amount of sugar, calcium and phosphorus. The grapefruit is often used as table salad and is taken together with other fruit and vegetables. It is sometimes cut into half, and the seeds and the hard pith removed from then center. The cavity is then filled with sugar which is also sprinkled over the cut surface. It is left for one hour in a covered plate and then taken.

Grapefruit is an excellent appetizer. It promotes salivary and gastric digestion. It is an important health builder and also a tonic. In spite of its often sharp, sub-acid taste, the fresh grapefruit has an alkaline reaction after digestion. The citric acid of the fruit is oxidized in the human system and hence the effect is to increase the alkalinity of the fluids of the body. Its juice is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of acidity and many diseases caused by too much acid in the body system.

The fruit is also valuable in relieving constipation. The pulp, when wholly taken, supplies healthy bulk to aid bowel action. It is beneficial in maintaining the health of intestines and is regarded as a preventive food item against dysentery, diarrhea, enteritis, and other infective diseases of the digestive tract.

When having influenza, the juice of grapefruit is an excellent remedy as it helps to reduce acidity in the system and its bitter properties arising from a substance called 'maringin', tones up the system and the digestive tract.

The juice of grapefruit is also an excellent diet in all fevers. It quenches thirst and removes the burning sensation produced by the fever. It should be taken mixed with water.

Grapefruit contains a natural 'quinine' and hence is valuable in the treatment of malaria. This 'quinine' is also beneficial in feverish colds. It can be extracted from the fruits by boiling a quarter of a grapefruit and then straining the pulp.

This wonderful fruit could also be used as natural remedies to treat diabetes, fatigue, scanty urination and others.

Cindy is the host of http://www.asianonlinerecipes.com, a Free Asian Recipes website dedicated to all things on Asian Cooking and Culinary Guide with many cooking tips and articles

Besides, she is also the co-host for http://www.vietnamese-recipes.com and http://www.allvegetarianrecipes.com

[tags]grapefruit, health benefits[/tags]

Barbecues

2008-09-28T09:00:00.001-07:00

There's nothing like a good weekend barbecue with family and friends in your own backyard to wash away the stresses of a hard week at work and rejuvenate you for the coming week ahead. It would be great to have a barbecue every weekend, wouldn't it? But as I realized only lately, there are so many other things to consider if you want to aspire for the barbecue. It's not a simple as putting meat on the grill and letting it roast, as I used to think.

First of all, you have to consider your choice of wood because different types of wood give the meat a distinct kind of flavor. The choice of wood is also important considering that some kinds of wood burn faster than most. You may want to consider combining wood and charcoal for better smoke control and a consistent fire.

When it comes to charcoal, using a commercial bag of processed charcoal briquettes is good enough, but for best results you should use lump charcoal instead. What's the difference? For one thing, lump charcoal has not been ground and shaped as opposed to charcoal briquettes. In addition, lump charcoal is the purer type of charcoal and, obviously, it is the charcoal of choice by barbecue purists who scoff at the use of processed charcoal.

Using a chimney starter matters as well especially if you want to make sure that the heat stays at a consistent level all throughout your cooking. Others also use an electric iron to heat the coals. The lazy ones are prone to soaking charcoal in lighter fluid but though this technique may be quick and easy, it gives the meat an unnatural chemical taste.

Once the coals are covered in ash, usually after 15-25 minutes, you can either barbecue the meat directly (by piling the coals together in the center beneath the meat) or indirectly (by spreading the coals around the grill's perimeter and placing the meat in the grill's center).

For maximum convenience, gas grills are the way to go because they are easy to light and easy to control. But purists have a bone to pick with this technique as well, claiming that cooking with gas grills lessens the flavor of the meat compared to cooking with wood and charcoal.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Food, Fitness, and Nutrition

[tags]Barbecues Health, Fitness[/tags]

Breakfast Ideas That Are Healthy And Delicious

2008-09-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here are a few nutritional breakfast ideas to help start your day with a boost of energy.

Try a healthy cereal with low-sugar, low-fat milk, and top it with fresh fruit.

Make waffles or pancakes for the whole family. Be sure to make them with milk or top them with fat-free or low-fat yogurt...and enjoy a glass of fat-free or low-fat milk with them.

Enjoy a glass of low-sugar fruit juice the kind with added calcium.

Top a whole wheat English muffin with your favorite melted low-fat cheese.

Make a breakfast banana split. Top a sliced banana with a small container of low-fat or fat-free fruit yogurt, a sprinkle of frosted cereal and pieces of your favorite fruit.

Smoothies are certainly a great way to get a good dose of fruit.

Try a yummy breakfast muffin. For a healty muffin use whole wheat flour and instead of sugar and mash a ripe banana or a little honey into the mixture.

Breakfast Toast - Try whole wheat bread and serve with peanut butter and sliced bananas.

Making your own oatmeal for breakfast is much healthier than flavored instant packets.

These are just a few healthy breakfast ideas to get your day started. For more breakfast recipes and cereal information please visit our website.

Visit www.cereal.com

[tags]breakfast, cereal, health, diet, calcium, milk[/tags]

Eating The Blues

2008-09-26T09:00:00.002-07:00

We sing the blues but shouldn't we eat the blues as well? Well, we're in luck: it is blueberry season and we all could benefit from having some blues in our diets. Most of us encounter blueberries only minimally: folded into muffins or sprinkled into fruit salads.

However, science has been extremely invested in this pebble-sized super food as of late, conducting countless studies on this small wonder. Let's put it this way: if the blueberry were a Broadway play, a star-studded lineup of nutrients would be on the Playbill.

Blueberries feature a low glycemic index. A one half cup serving of blueberries is only forty calories, containing nutrients like potassium and iron as well and vitamin C. Blueberries also provide dietary fiber, in fact, two grams in ½ cup serving. This equals the amount of fiber in a slice of whole wheat bread.

They may be small but they pack a powerful punch. Health Magazine has recently listed blueberries as the top source of antioxidant activity in their Guide to 50 Super Foods.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, their high level of antioxidants helps the body to slow the process of aging and protect cells against damage.

Blueberries are especially rich in the antioxidants called anthocyannins, which are also present in blackberries, radishes, red cabbage, grapes and apples. Blueberries are lovers of the brain. In fact, some neuroscientists call it the brain berry.

Foods that are blue or purple in hue are often overlooked in our diets. These colors deeply promote urinary tract health, memory function and encourage healthy aging with their vast array of phytochemicals such as phenolics and the aforementioned anthocyannins.

Next time you pass by them in the supermarket, you should swipe a carton or two. Give your body a chance to sing the blues.

Ryan Joseph is a writer/researcher. For info on Blueberry-rich Sea Health Plus, which has 1,600 ORAC units per serving, go to Sea Health Plus from Dr. Barry Sears.

[tags]ORAC, Sea Health Plus, Blueberry, Dr. Barry Sears,antioxidants, anthocyannins,Super Foods,healthy[/tags]

Mexican Food - Healthy Alternatives To Tempt Your Taste Buds

2008-09-26T09:00:00.001-07:00

If you were scared away from Mexican food by the Center for Disease Control's last report about it-and even if you weren't-you may be wondering if there are any healthy choices in Mexican cuisine. Mexican food is an American favorite-even if it is just the Taco Bell variety. The key to eating healthy and enjoying Mexican cuisine is to make simple changes in the ingredients that you use and to change your preparation techniques. Before "civilization" came, centuries ago, Mexican food was very healthful. By using the key elements of beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and lean meats you can make your Mexican food healthy.

Enchiladas are a favorite Mexican dish-but they are usually loaded with fat as well. Just eliminate dipping the corn tortillas in the hot oil and soften them with a tomato or low fat broth based sauce and you can cut out a lot of calories.

Your choice of dairy products also greatly affects the fat content of your Mexican food dishes. There are lots of low fat and non fat dairy choices on the market today that you can substitute in your dishes. If you love sour cream, and don't want to leave it out, use nonfat sour cream or nonfat plain yogurt as an alternative.

The cooking of Mexican food is where a lot of fat comes in. Look for dishes which are not fried-stay away from chimichangas and chile rellenos. Fajitas and soft tacos are good choices if they have lean meats and not a lot of dairy.

Choose corn tortillas and soften them by putting them for just a short time on a heated griddle. There are also many wheat flour tortillas on the market which are low fat, or nonfat and high fiber choices.

Believe it or not, refried beans can contain as much as a day's worth of saturated fat in them because of lard and cheese. Make them a low fat alternative by mashing beans with a little bean juice, spices, and possibly even your favorite salsa. They taste great and are very healthy.

You can eat Mexican and eat healthy just choose well.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Food and Cooking and she loves Mexican food. For more information about mexican food visit foodax.com

[tags]mexican food, mexican cuisine, mexican cooking[/tags]

Hot Sauces For Healthier Living

2008-09-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

Everyone loves great tasting meals but most of the time the foods we eat contain too much salt and oil. Too much of those are definitely not good for you. How do you cut on these unhealthy ingredients? If you are used to strong flavors, a diet low in salt and oil can be very difficult to maintain. However, you can flavor your food with healthier options like herbs, spices, and yes, hot sauces! Hot sauces, in particular, are great food enhancers. With some creativity, you can prepare great tasting meals that are both healthy and satisfying.

Tips for a Better Diet

Stop frying and start grilling! Most people actually prefer the taste of grilled food. Seeing that grilling is a healthier cooking option, you should be doing it more often. Invest in a good outdoor grill. You can also investigate those indoor electric models for quick grill cooking. Instead of salt, try adding hot sauces and herbs to your barbecue marinade instead.

Hot sauce products make a great condiment. In fact, you can remove the salt shaker at home and place a variety of hot sauces instead. The African Rhino Peri-Peri Peppers Sauce is a great all-around flavor enhancer. From sandwiches to vegetable salads, this versatile condiment is a great alternative. You can buy it at InsaneChicken, a retailer of hard to find barbecue sauces and condiments.

Similarly, hot sauces can replace unhealthy or high-calorie ingredients like oil, butter and sugar without sacrificing on taste. For instance, if you make a lot of pasta dishes, you can try removing the butter and olive oil and replacing it with a dash of herbs and hot sauce instead. Your family will love the difference.

There are a variety of hot sauces that you can choose from. Make sure you pick one that has the lowest sodium content. For more variety, you can opt to buy online from one of those specialty barbecue condiment online retailers.

Quick Hot Sauce Recipes to Ignite Your Taste Buds

Hot Casserole Adding hot sauces into your casserole sauce is a great way to invigorate this staple dish. This could be marinara sauce, spaghetti sauce, or even white sauce. Make sure you mix the sauce thoroughly so you won't have uneven hotness. Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce is an excellent choice for hot casseroles. It's mild enough to appeal to everyone, and the onion flavor complements any type of casserole.

Fried Rice is very easy and fast to make, perfect for busy parents. Just dice leftovers and your favorite vegetables, and sauté them in oil. It's a filling and delicious dish, but if you want to make it really special, you should add some hot sauce for extra heat. Once again, an excellent choice would be the Ass Kickin Roasted Garlic Hot Sauce available of course from InsaneChicken. The garlic taste blends well with the dish while the peppers add just the right amount of heat.

Fried Foods You'll enjoy fried chicken, pork chops and steaks even more once you've added some hot and spicy flavors to it. Marinate meats in hot sauce for at least one hour with your favorite spices just before dipping them in flour.

I bet you never really knew you could put a precious few drops of hot sauce into the above dishes so do try them and give 'ordinary' dishes that extra zing.

Chris McCarthy is the owner of InsaneChicken's Hot Sauce and BBQ Sauce Catalog. InsaneChicken sells hot sauces, bbq sauces, bbq rubs and salsas from around the world. The site also has a Recipe of the Day section. Visit thier website http://www.insanechicken.com

[tags]diet,health,healthy,hot sauce,food,gourmet,spicy[/tags]

Pesticides, Can We Avoid Them

2008-09-24T09:00:00.003-07:00

We all ingest lots of chemicals, one way or another. We breathe them, we drink them, and we eat them. The most troublesome are pesticides in produce. It makes me uncomfortable to think that while we are eating fruits and vegetables in reality we are also ingesting poisons that can accumulate in our bodies and make us very sick. This is food that supposes to be healthy and good for us!

Even if the most toxic chemicals have already been banned for use in agriculture, pesticides in general are poisons designed to kill insects, weed, small rodents and other pests. The long time effects of these poisons on people are not completely known. Even the minimal risk with these pollutants is too much, when we think we may expose children. We should try to do every effort to minimize our intake of these adverse chemicals.

Education is the key. Knowing which produce contain more pollutants can help us make the right choices, avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least polluted, or buy organic instead. In simulation of consumers eating habits has been demonstrated that changing a little bit the eating practices can lower considerably the ingestion of pesticides.

The results of an investigation on pesticides in produce by the USDA Pesticide Data Program (*), show that fruits topped the list of the consistently most contaminated produce, with eight of the 12 most polluted foods. The dirty dozen are: Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Imported Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, and Strawberries.

You don't like broccoli? Too bad because they are among those least contaminated. In fact the 12 least polluted produce are: Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sweet Corn, Kiwi, Mangos, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples, and Sweet Peas.

Can washing of produce help get rid of pesticides? Not really. The fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA PDP (*) are "prepared emulating the practices of the average consumer" before testing for pesticides. That is: "(1) apples are washed with stems and cores removed; (2) asparagus and spinach have inedible portions removed and are washed; (3) cantaloupes are cut in half and seed and rinds are removed; [] and (9) tomatoes are washed and stems removed".

Washing before consuming is highly recommended because helps decrease the pesticide residues present on the surface of the vegetables, but the majorities of pollutants are absorbed into the plant and can't be just washed away. Some pesticides are specifically created to stick to the surface of the crops and they don't come out by washing. Peeling can help eliminating some of the chemicals but not all, and a lot of important substances will be discarded with the skin.

So, on one hand we have to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet, and on the other hand we have to reduce as much a possible the intake of pesticides. What to do if you are unconvinced by the claims of the chemical companies that certain levels of pesticides are not dangerous?

We have very few options to defend ourselves: (1) Wash all vegetables and fruit very well; (2) Change eating habits in order to consume more of the produce with low pollutants; (3) Consume a diet as varied as possible; (4) Buy organic foods.

Anna Maria Volpi

Anna Maria Volpi is a cooking instructor and personal chef in Los Angeles. Visit Anna Maria's website http://www.annamariavolpi.com/ for step-by-step illustrated traditional Italian recipes for tiramisu, pasta, pizza, lasagna, risotto, gnocchi and much more, articles and food newsletter.

Permission is granted for this article to reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, as long as no changes are made and the copyright, resource box, and active link to her website are included. Please inform Anna Maria if you use this article: anna@annamariavolpi.com

[tags]food, health, cooking, pollutants, pesticides, fruit, vegetables, produce[/tags]

Enjoy Exotic Tastes In Your Everyday Cooking With The Power Of Aromatherapy

2008-09-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

Anyone who is at least a beginner when it comes to cooking in the kitchen has more then likely already incorporated many of the elements of aromatherapy into some the dishes they have created. Making use of various ingredients such as infused oils and flavored butters can add a incredible amount of depth in flavor to the meals you cook. When you use these types of ingredients you cause your smell receptors to burst with activity and come alive from a flood of tantalizing aromatic sensations.

Many of us have a tendency to overlook the obvious fact that part of enjoying the meals we eat involves using more than just our sense of taste. Living a fast paced lifestyle is becoming the norm for many people, it is becoming more and more common that many of us never have enough time to fully appreciate the meals we do eat. The sad side effect of this constant eating on the go is we end up never giving our brains the time it needs to fully process and appreciate our dining experiences. If we would allow ourselves to slow down a bit, we could give our selves a much fuller experience incorporating more then just our sense of taste. Not only will we enjoy our food more but something many people do not realize is that giving our brains a more sensory rich experience in general helps to create new neural networks. There are many positive health and psychological benefits from expanding our neural pathways.

A majority of what we taste is greatly influenced by it's associated smells. The reason for this is simple, if we would only taste the flavors our tongues were designed to process, we would end up only able to distinguish a very small pallette of flavors. Sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness. You can easily test this the next time you walk into any home or restaurant while food is being prepared. You will notice that even before we see food we can easily smell it. Not only that, but many times we are able to pick out the different aromas and we end up instantly hungry as our taste buds begin to water.

Here are a couple of easy ways to incorporate aromatherapy into your own cooking.

First any good chef will tell you, do not be afraid to experiment with your food! playing with the many different varieties of herbs, spices and edible flowers can help breathe a wonderful new life into many dishes which may have became tiered with time. Using these types of powerful taste enhancing ingredients will almost surely turn the most boring of simple foods such as plain vegetables into meals you truly look forward to eating.

One of the many benefits of incorporating aromatherapy into your home cooking is its ability to help you lose weight. A common reason why many people are drawn toward foods high in fat is the simple fact that many of these foods just taste so good. While it is true that cheese, creams, gravies and butter can help add a lot of flavor to many dishes, they also have the side affect of adding quite a bit of extra calories. Try using more vegetables, fruits and lean meats in your recipes while flavoring them with a powerful aromatic herb or flavored oil. By doing this you will not only provide your self with many additional vitamins and nutrients but also give your self a healthy alternate way to enhance flavors without using high fat ingredients.

In order to add aroma and flavor to food with mother natures treasure trove, you have got to first release the powerful oils from the various plant material. Using heat to extract a plants aromatics is a common and effective method, however if you use to much heat you will burn the plants and end up spoiling your meal. To get the ideal results, it is always best to heat the herbs very slowly under a low heat.

The different ways you can use aromatherapy in your cooking.

Infusions

One great way to incorporate aromatherapy into your cooking is through the use of infusions. An infusion can add a tremendous variety of different flavors to your meals and as bonus they are very easy to make. An infusion is just a combination of an oil or water base that has been steeped with some sort of herb or flower for a period of time.

Herbed butter

Many herbed butters can be a fantastic addition to your dishes. They can add a lot of flavor as well as an incredible aroma to just about any meal. But due to the butter base you want to use herbed butters sparingly and in moderation. As with infusions, making herbed butters is quite easy.

Fresh herbs

If you use fresh herbs in your cooking, you will get much more pronounced flavors when compared to the use of dried herbs.

Here are some quick ideas you can easily use to incorporate aromatherapy into your cooking.

A Healthy alternative for pasta instead of the standard cheese and meat combination is to try tossing in some vegetables that have been sauteed in an infused oils.

Also the next time you are cooking poultry, vegetables or seafood, try brushing them with an herbed butter, then just wrap in aluminum tin foil and grill or bake. The trapped steam inside the wrapped aluminum foil will help the flavors of the herbed butters seep throughout whatever it is you are cooking.

There are many additional ways to use aromatherapy in cooking, as was said before don't be afraid to experiment and let your creativity run wild!

For more information on Essential Oils and Aromatherapy visit us at http://essential-oils-aromatherapy.info-journal.com/

[tags]Essential Oils, Aromatherapy, Cooking, Health, Oils, Aroma therapy, Essential[/tags]

News Flash 4,000-Year-Old Dietary Guidelines Are The Best Yet (Part 1)

2008-09-23T09:00:00.003-07:00

Many people these days are health and diet consciousand well they should be, as it is an undisputed fact that health and diet are major determining factors in both length and quality of life. As far as the particulars are concerned, there is a much lesser degree of agreement. Advice and opinions abound, much of it conflicting. And those looking for the latest fad diet based on shaky medical concepts will never be disappointed!

Yet the Bible sets forth some deceptively simple rules, and Bible readers and non-Bible readers alike can benefit from this timeless advice. Just think: these dietary guidelines are thousands of years old, and the societies that have followed them are among the healthiest and longest-lived on the planet.

The Essence of the Healthful Old Testament Diet

Correct diet formed the basis of Mosaic Law, and no other ancient writing is so strict regarding what to eat and what not to eat. Modern knowledge of healthful eating is strikingly corroborative of this ancient wisdom.

The Israelites thrived on an almost exclusively vegetarian diet. The use of meat may not have been forbidden per se, yet it was not considered necessary for health, and was generally reserved for special occasions.

Protein sources were mainly grains, including wheat, barley, and millet; and legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils. The latter group, which comprise the seeds of pod-bearing plants, are referred to as pulse.

Bread, the main part of everyone's diet, is mentioned frequently in both Testaments. This was whole-grain, unrefined bread; whole grain contains the germ, a rich source of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and other nutrients. Bread could be made from other grains besides wheat; grains could also be roasted rather than made into bread. Barley provided fiber and high-density lipoproteins, which help control cholesterol. The Israelites so depended on their hand mills for making bread that the law stated a hand mill could not be taken as a pledge against a debt.

Nuts, especially almonds and pistachios, were additional sources of protein.

Foods were flavored with onions and garlic (not coincidentally, now both found on most "10 best foods" lists), as well as mint, dill, and mustard, and other herbs and spices. The manna referred to in Numbers was probably coriander seed (see Numbers 11:6-8).

Food was cooked in olive oil, which was also used as a condiment. Olive oil, unlike animal fats and tropical oils, guards against arteriosclerosis. Sugar as we know it did not exist; honey, a natural sugar, pre-digested by bees, was used for sweetening.

Fruits release digestive enzymes to help metabolize food. Apricots, figs, dates, pomegranates, and grapes were among those available to Old Testament people.

What about dairy products? The Bible makes few references to any dairy product as part of a meal. Occasionally butter and cheese are mentioned, and these were usually made from the milk of sheep and goats.

Besides water, wine is the drink most often found accompanying food in the Bible. It was less likely than water or milk to be contaminated because the alcohol content killed germs. Often the wine probably was not fermented, but actually more like grape juice, and enjoyed by people of all ages.

If and when people did eat meat

God specified that only mammals that chew their cud and have cloven hoovessuch as cattle, sheep, and goatsare fit for human consumption. Wild game that could be hunted would have included deer and wild sheep and goats.

One possible interpretation of Deuteronomy chapter 14 suggests that milk and meat were not to be eaten together. Modern understanding of the digestive system concurs. Dairy products require mild enzymes for metabolism; meat, by contrast, requires much stronger digestive acids. If the two food groups are eaten together, the weak acids dilute the strong ones, and the meat is not digested properly. The result is heartburn and digestive upset.

God's laws further specify that seafood must have fins and scales. Scales protect the fish from disease, and fins enable the fish to control its direction. Shellfish merely drift with the current; they cannot avoid polluted waters and are therefore vulnerable to infection.

As far as edible fowl are concerned, those considered acceptable are chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducksthose that eat grain and not dead flesh or other garbage.

The Israelites were forbidden even to touch the carcass of an animal already deadeven of a clean animal. And if a rodent or some small creature was to fall into a vessel of food, the food would be discarded and the vessel, depending upon the material, was either destroyed or scoured clean.

In addition, creeping things such as lizards and snails were not to be eaten or even touched. This is fascinating in light of modern cases of babies and young children who have become infected with salmonella, in which the infection has been traced to parents who did not wash their hands after handling the family's pet reptile. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" may not be Scriptural, but whoever first said it probably knew his Bible.

Some meat for sale had been slaughtered in pagan religious ceremonies, and therefore was spiritually as well as physically unhealthful.

He even told us how to prepare it

Within God's guidelines for the eating of appropriate animal flesh, He directed the manner of slaughter. The method was designed to be painless for the animal, and in turn was more healthful for the humans who subsequently ate it, because humane slaughtering precludes the accumulation of toxins in the carcass of an animal that suffers a slow and stressful death. (Besides, it was more kindly toward God's creatures.)

The modern-day meat industry is anything but painlessfor the humans who work there, as well as the animals that die there. More accidental amputations occur in the meatpacking industry than in any other, and injuries from falls are common becausewell, imagine what the floors of these places must look like. Human civilization has digressed a long, long way from God's instructions.

Daniel and the three other captive Israelites requested vegetables and water in place of the rich meats and wine offered by the Babylonian king (Daniel chapter 1). The king was concerned that they would become malnourished, but at the end of a ten-day trial period, they were healthier than the others who had taken the traditional rations. In the story of Daniel, he (along with his companionsand they were probably mere teenagers at the time) took a stand for God and was rewarded for his faithfulness.

Why did God make these rules?

God wanted His people to be separate from other people; He wanted them to survive and thrive in order to serve Him better.

Pagan peoples during Old Testament times routinely ate virtually any type of animal, with the result of frequent plagues and epidemics. In the ancient civilizations that consumed animal fats to excess, there was a higher incidence of illness and lower life expectancy. Thousands of people died needlessly, and God handed down, through Moses, a set of dietary guidelines.

What difference do cud chewing and cloven hooves make? Cloven hooves are less susceptible to disease, because of better air circulation. It is an observable fact that feet are a critical point of entry for infection. This is not surprising considering the amount of stress to which feet are subject. Consider the importance of foot care for humans. We are all taught as children how to cut our toenails in order to avoid ingrown toenails, and I have heard more than one story about someone whose heel blister or stubbed toe was not properly treated and led to the risk of foot or leg amputation.

Additionally, cud-chewing animals have better digestion, resulting in overall better health. Pork, expressly forbidden to God's people, is a notorious disease-bearer in hot regions. Note that animals with closed hooves include horses.

Animals with paws were forbidden for the same reasons, and for the additional reason that most animals with paws (especially lions) are hunters (carnivores), and the possibility existed that such an animal had previously eaten a human.

The people may not have known the reasons behind the rulesbut God did.

Please continue to Part 2

[tags]eating, healthy eating, nutrition[/tags]

Today's Buttermilk Is Healthier Than Yester-years

2008-09-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

Buttermilk was traditionally a by product of homemade hand churned butter. Buttermilk was the liquid that remained after the butter had been made. The liquid contained small particles of floating butter and some traces of butterfat. This gave the buttermilk a rich sweet flavor and made the drink very refreshing. It was also commonly used in homemade biscuits, salad dressings such as ranch and as the dipping liquid for fried chicken.

Today buttermilk is mass produced and has only a trace resemblance to the original form of buttermilk. In today's dairy processing facilities a lactic acid bacteria is added to non-fat milk and allowed to ferment. This modern version of buttermilk contains calcium, protein, and vitamin B2 which make it a healthier alternative to traditional buttermilk.

Today's buttermilk is lower in fat than traditional buttermilk due to the lack to butter particles and the base being a non-fat milk. It is also thicker and tangier than traditional hand churned buttermilk.

A homemade version of buttermilk can be easily made with a buttermilk starter. Simply heat a scant 4 cups of non-fat milk until it is slightly warm. Do not allow the milk to come to a boil. Next add ¾ cup of store bought buttermilk. Allow the milk to stand overnight. After resting for at least 12 hours you will have thick tasty ready to use buttermilk.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet meal plans. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday. http://www.gourmayeats.com

[tags]buttermilk, dairy, non-fat milk, skim milk, butter, butterfat, milk, lactid acid, drinks[/tags]

10 Snacks That Burn Fat

2008-09-22T09:00:00.003-07:00

Whether lying awake in bed at night when hunger pangs strike, or at a social gathering where snack plates are circulating, most of us have experienced food cravings that are just too hard to resist. When the time comes to choose your snack, are you prepared to make the right decision? More specifically, are your prepared to reach for a food that will actually burn more calories than it contains? These types of foods, called negative calorie foods, have so little energy that your body uses more energy to digest and absorb the nutrients than the food actually contains! Switching to negative calorie foods for the majority of your snacking, combined with a solid exercise program, can enable you to literally watch fat melt away! This article is going to give you a jump-start on your nutrition with 10 negative energy snacks that will boost your metabolism and burn loads of calories.

1. Cabbage. I suggest supplementing a daily salad with sliced cabbage strips, or finding a healthy cabbage salad recipe.

2. Celery. Drenched in peanut butter and raisins does not count.

3. Cucumber. Sliced cucumbers make a great addition to any salad or stir-fry.

4. Carrots. Again, sliced on salad, or eaten raw, if you prefer.

5. Tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are great snacks, or stack them on a healthy sandwich with lettuce (another negative calorie food!).

6. Blackberries/Raspberries/Strawberries. Great for snacking raw, or throwing into a blender or a bowl of oatmeal.

7. Grapefuit. A bowl of fresh grapefruit on the breakfast table is a smart addition.

8. Watermelon/Honeydew/Canteloupe. Again, good for smoothies, nice for breakfast, great for snacking.

9. Peaches. Throw into a ziplock bag for a convenient snack at work or travel. Just remember napkins.

10. Mandarin oranges. Wonderful on salads, or with a meat such as chicken.

So how does it work? Basically, your body's response to the presence of these foods results in the production of digestive enzymes, which act like small engines to break up carbohydrates, protein, and fat. However, because of their specific vitamin and mineral content, the enzyme response to these foods is so great that there are enough engines to not only break down the negative calorie food, but also additional calories that are present in digestion. So a 5 calorie piece of celery may take 30 calories to burn, resulting in a negative 25 calorie intake. Amazing! You can e-mail me with questions at elite@pacificfit.net. Remember to train smart!

Head trainer Ben Greenfield runs the online training website Pacific Elite Fitness, and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sport Science and Exercise Physiology, as well as certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA-CPT & CSCS). For over 6 years, Ben has coached and trained professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, and helped hundreds of individuals achieve their personal fitness goals. For more information on online personal training and fitness, contact Ben at elite@pacificfit.net.

[tags]health, fitness, weight loss, fat loss, personal training, nutrition, exercise, weightlifting, gym[/tags]

Grow Your Own Food; Find Health And Fitness In The Garden!

2008-09-22T09:00:00.001-07:00

This week there has been much excitement in our household; we picked our own vegetables and ate them for the first time; ok so it was only a bunch of salad leaves, but they whipped the pants off salad in a bag from the shops. What's more, I only started to grow things a few weeks ago, but have still eaten salad from the garden three nights running. I started by clearing a messy flowerbed, and bought some runner bean plants and a couple of tomato plants from a local gardening shop. I though that this would satisfy my botanical cravings, but then my mum gave me some seeds, and baby lettuce plants, and suddenly it was looking a little more like a real veggie patch.

Before I knew it, I had run out of space, so I used some old wooden fruit crates from the green grocers, lined them with a compost sack, and filled them with earth; now they are housing my herbs, pepper plants and some Borlotti Beans. The little kitchen garden has taken on a life of its own and moved out of the flowerbeds and into every container that I can find. There are runner beans, peas, black turtle beans, borlotti beans, red peppers, chili peppers, basil, parsley, chard, lettuce, spicy mizuna and other hot leaves, 2 varieties of rocket, parsley, tomatoes, little Alpine strawberries for the children, and courgette plants in big pots.

I have really been enjoying my time in the garden; I burnt a good few calories turning over the flower beds, and digging out some stubborn old roots, have spent some beautiful hours in the sunshine, and watering my little plants in the evening is less of a chore, and more a time for relaxation and contemplation. The children have been very excited about the vegetables, and spend happy moments watering or collecting snails in a bucket (to be relocated). There has been great anticipation waiting for the tiny strawberries to ripen, and searching under the leaves to find them.

If you have any space at all, you can rediscover your link with real food by growing something. There is still time to throw some lettuce and rocket seeds into a pot, or pick up some young plants to grow-on. You can put runner beans in a pot, supported by a wig-wam of canes, or grow some chili peppers on a kitchen window. If you have a spare pot, buy some salad leaf mix, the young plants grow quickly and you will be picking your own summer salad within the month. I cannot recommend the experience highly enough; growing your own food is great exercise, the process is educational for children, and the end results give satisfaction and superior nourishment. There is a different time scale in the garden; nothing happens immediately, and you are forced to slow down and relax the pace of life, something we could all benefit from; the complete opposite of fast food.

The crowning glory has been collecting things to wash and put straight onto the plate, so here was my dinner last night to give you some inspiration:

Roasted Vegetable Bruchetta with garden salad:

Roughly cut some onions (red and white) and some sweet pointed red peppers, and roast for about 30-40 minutes in a little olive oil, salt, pepper and any herbs (I love thyme).

Toast some bread (I used home made white) and when it has cooled, rub with a peeled garlic clove (I use the whole thing, but I really love garlic) and drizzle some olive oil over the top.

Pile the roasted vegetables onto the garlicy toast, and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

Serve with lots of leafy salad and rocket from the garden, and some sliced tomatoes; a perfect summer dinner.

Enquiries for nutritional advice, personal training, corporate wellness and general enquiries visit http://www.getfitter.net

[tags]nutrition, weight-loss, gardening, health, fitness, recipes, easy recipe, relaxation, kids nutrition[/tags]

Grocery Shopping The Healthy Menu Mailer Way

2008-09-21T09:00:00.003-07:00

I have to admit, grocery shopping isn't exactly one of my favorite things to do. In case you can't "hear" the sarcasm in my voice, let me tell you that I'd rather be doing just about anything other than grocery shopping. I tried delegating it to my husband, but we usually end up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips when I do that. Since I can't avoid grocery shopping, I found a few things that make it a more pleasant and most importantly a faster process. I'd like to share my grocery shopping tips with you.

1) Make a shopping list and stick to it

Making a list and sticking to it will keep you from buying too much junk. Not only will it encourage you and your family to stick to the new healthy eating lifestyle, it will also save you some money on your grocery bill. Please apply common sense to this though. If you remember that you forgot to put your baby's diapers on the list, by all means get them. On the other hand, if you feel tempted to get the new chocolate pie because there is a two for one sale, skip it. You get the idea.

2) Eat a snack before you go grocery shopping

Never go grocery shopping while you are hungry. You'll be much more tempted to buy junk food and already prepared meals. You'll also end up buying much more than you really need. Either go shopping right after a meal, or eat a small snack before you go. Even eating a piece of fruit and drinking a glass of water will keep you from feeling hungry while you are in the store.

3) Avoid the aisles with the chips, snacks and candy

Don't tempt yourself by going down the "junk food" aisles. You're only human and the candy and snack manufacturers put a lot of money into making their products as tempting and appealing as possible. The easiest way to avoid having those items land in your cart is to skip the aisles entirely.

4) Buy fresh meat and produce whenever possible

Buy your meat and produce fresh whenever possible. You'll get the most nutritional bang for your buck that way. If there is something you either can't find fresh, or it just doesn't look good, go with a frozen version. The only exception to this is tomatoes, especially if you are going to cook them anyway. Tomatoes loose their nutritional value quickly after they are picked. If you are making tomato sauce or are using them in a stew or soup, just stick with canned tomatoes. They are canned immediately after they are picked and contain more nutrients than a batch that has been sitting in a truck for days.

5) Write your grocery list with your supermarket in mind

You will make your shopping trip much easier and faster if you keep the layout of your market in mind when you write your shopping list. Think about the departments and isles you go through first and put those items on your list. Mentally make your way through the rest of the store adding your items to your list as you go. You'll avoid backtracking for an item further down on your list once you are in the store.

6) Clean veggies and herbs

Unpack and clean your vegetables and herbs as soon as you get back from the store. Loosely wrap them in some paper towels and stick them in a Ziploc bag. They'll be ready to use when your recipes call for them.

7) To freeze or not to freeze?

Portion your meat out depending on how much each recipe calls for. Keep what you will be using over the next two days in the fridge and freeze the rest. With hamburger meat, you may want to freeze any portions you are not using the day you bought them.

You'll see that by implementing even just a few of these tips, your shopping experience will be more pleasant and most importantly more efficient. You'll spend less time in the supermarket and more time enjoying your family.

Susanne Myers, together with Christine Steendahl, owns and publishes the Healthy Menu Mailer. The Healthy Menu Mailer is a weekly publication that will provide you with a healthy and lean dinner recipe for each night of the week and a grocery list to go along with it. Members also have access to an ever-growing list of breakfast, lunch, snack and desert recipes and a members' only forum for additional help and support. Join today at http://www.healthymenumailer.com

[tags]healthy, weight loss, healthy eating, menu mailer, grocery shopping[/tags]

Healthy Desserts For You

2008-09-21T09:00:00.001-07:00

Who says desserts have to be bad for you? The fact is that most people crave sweets at one time or another. If you start depriving your body of the sweets it needs, you may find yourself pigging out on a whole box of cookies one rainy afternoon. So, you need to allow yourself the opportunity to eat the sweets your body needs to be satisfied.

The truth is that you don't have to indulge in those horrible desserts however. You can choose to eat healthy desserts that will not add inches to your waist. The best thing to do is choose desserts that are made with fruits and low fat ingredients.

One of the best things you can serve for dessert is strawberries and whipped cream. Both the strawberries and whipped cream are low fat and healthy snacks. The whole thing will give you the satisfaction of the sweet taste. If you are a chocolate lover, you can even throw in some non-fat chocolate syrup if you want to add more taste.

In addition, if you must have those treats that you think of as being homemade or fattening, you can always choose to go for the sugar free types. When you eat things made with sugar alternatives, you will cut back on a majority of the calories that come along with the traditional versions. Desserts don't have to be bad for you after all! So, start looking for healthy desserts to indulge on and let yourself have a little fun once in a while with your food.

Check out some sample Indian desserts recipes that are easy and low fat.

[tags]healthy desserts[/tags]

Food Addiction Can Lead To Death

2008-09-20T09:00:00.003-07:00

Food has been described as ambrosia and the elixir if life. For some, eating is a biological necessity for others it is a passion that can turn into an obsession. Experts define food addiction to be a disorder where the addict is preoccupied with food, the availability of food, and the pleasure of eating. There are three recognized addictions:

Overeating, where the addict has no control over the amount or the number of times he eats. The person has no concept of being overweight or the servings a person must eat normally. Being an overeater, the addict will indulge in uncontrolled eating binges. Being obese, the addict will be prone to hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis, and cancer.

Bulimisa Nervosa, where the addict binges and then tries to maintain weight by vomiting, using laxatives, excessive exercise, or even fasting. Such addicts will develop dental problems like thinning of enamel, excessive number of cavities, swollen salivary glands, fluid and electrolyte disturbances, as well as calluses and scars.

Anorexia Nervosa, where the addict fears weight gain and so starves himself. Obsessed with weight gain and body shape anorexics will exhibit obsessive behaviors in maintaining themselves. In the process, they develop problems like disruption of menstrual cycle, emancipation, hair loss, unhealthy skin pallor, and a lack or fluids.

The most common health problems are obesity, alcoholism, diabetes, bulimia, food allergies, and food intolerance.

The signs that you are addicted to food are:

Uncontrolled cravings for particular foods. Some are addicted to sweets, others to soft drinks, yet others to coffee.

Continuous or frequent eating. No fixed meal times an addict will eat throughout the day.

Sharpened hunger on consumption of specific foods.

Anxiety attacks, feelings of nervousness, low sugar, a headache, stomach gripes and grumbles.

Withdrawal symptoms.

Fatigue.

Extreme irritations.

Intolerance to foods.

Feelings of guilt at having eaten.

The very cornerstones to curing the addiction are to:

Identify and avoid what are known to be trigger foods or drinks.

Put into practice a diet that is nutrient rich, healthy, and helps maintain or loose weight.

Make lifestyle changes. Adopt a healthier lifestyle and include plenty of fresh air as well as exercise.

Focus on personal and spiritual development. Seek inner peace, calm, and joy. Practice meditation and deep breathing.

Plan to have activity filled days to distract the mind from food.

Even if you have a niggling doubt that you may be a food addict you must seek help. Nip the problem in the bud before it grows into something unmanageable and serious. You must consult a nutritionist, doctor, psychologist, or an eating addiction center or specialist. There are programs run by groups like Overeaters Anonymous that run 12-step programs which are extremely beneficial.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/food/, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Food Forum, including topics on all about food, food network, food recipe, health food, food gift, different food and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Food Article Submission Directory http://www.1888Articles.com/food-and-drink-articles-13.html

[tags]Food Forum, food network, food recipe, health food, food gift, different food[/tags]

A List Of The Healthest Meats

2008-09-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

There is the recent hype of eating right meat and certain warnings about the dangers of eating meat have also been given, by many nutritionists. This article will separate the hype form the reality of eating meat. This article deals with what is the right meat to eat and we conclude the article by many surprising facts.

1. Beef Per 100g 136 calories 5.1g fat

Beef contains lots of fat and about half the fat in beef is monounsaturated fat which is similar to the heart healthy fat that you find in olive oil.

These cattle are more likely to have been fed on grass and not grain which makes the fat healthier and will contain more omega 3 which is heart friendly.

2. Pork Per100g 123 calories 4g fat

As it is known that pigs are intensely reared which increases the chance that pork will contain harmful chemicals. It is more important than ever in pork to go organic.

3. Lamb Per 100g 156 calories 8.3g fat

The lamb has best known for being unhealthy as it is a relatively fatty meat however lamb is one of the least intensely reared animals (the complete opposite to pork) and is relatively healthy and a great treat.

4.Ham Per 100g 107 calories 3.3g of fat

Normally you should end up eating packaged ham in moderate quantities as it can contain up to 37% water and have high doses of salt and even flavourings.

5. Venison Per 100g 120 calories 2.4g of fat

It is a very healthy choice for red meat lovers and this tends to be wild or non intensively farmed it is therefore one of the healthiest of all.

6. Bacon Per 100g 215 calories 16.5g of fat

Just like ham very high in salt and preservatives that are the subject of cancer scares. Like ham only indulge occasionally.

7. Chicken Per 100g 116 calories 3.2 fat minus skin

Chicken is a rich source of iron, zinc and vitamin B12 so ensure its organic chickens are one of the most intensely farmed meats and these can be full of things, well you really don't want to know!

8. Turkey Per 100g 119 calories 1g fat

Like chicken it is a very healthy meat - Go for organic. It is one of the leanest meats and good source of protein. Turkey is Rich in B vitamins and zinc and a great source of tryptophan a brain boosting nutrient.

9. Duck Per 100g 11.2 fat

Duck contains lot of saturated fat, but also contains a lot of health benefits to with big doses of Iron and Zinc and B vitamins.

If you compare all the said above meats then turkey rules by being the best all round choice. You normally should refrain from bacon and ham and beef is not as bad for as many nutritionists rest all of the meats above can be eaten regularly.

Nutrition And Food Info is a health and nutrition information portal founded by Jakob Culver. To find out more information about this topic and more visit the website: nutritionalfoodinfo.com

[tags]meat, beef, ham, turkey, chicken, lamb, pork, bacon, salami, duck, food, healthy, health, meats[/tags]

Health Benefits Of Basil

2008-09-19T09:00:00.002-07:00

Basil is a popular herb in Italian cooking, particularly in pesto. This fragrant and flavorful herb, a relative of peppermint, is an excellent, nutritious addition to your pasta sauce, soup, or salad.

An array of flavonoids exist in basil, which help to protect cells and chromosomes from damage. Studies have shown that two of these flavonoids in particular, orientin and vicenin, are useful in protecting cell structures and chromosomes from damage by radiation and oxygen.

Essential oil of basil has been shown to inhibit the growth of several types of bacteria, many of which have become resistant to antibiotics. This essential oil has been found to inhibit growth of the widespread staphylococcus, enterococcus, pseudomonas, and e. coli bacteria, among others. Adding basil to your vinaigrette will both enhance the flavor, and ensure that the fresh salad greens are safe to eat.

Eugenol, which is found in essential oil of basil, provides an anti-inflammatory effect, by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. Aspirin and Ibuprofen work by blocking this same enzyme. So, basil can have healing benefits, and provide relief from the symptoms of inflammatory problems, like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions.

Basil is also a good source of vitamin A, which helps to prevent damage to the cells by free radicals. Vitamin A also prevents free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol in the blood stream, preventing the cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels.

Magnesium is also present in basil. This essential mineral helps the heart and blood vessels to relax, improving blood flow. Other nutrients found in basil include iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C.

The fresh, spicy flavor and scent of basil will wake up any boring salad or soup. Use fresh basil whole, or shredded to add a burst of flavor to your dinner. If you are using fresh basil in a cooked dish, add it towards the end of cooking, so that the volatile oils will not be dissipated by the heat.

Insalata Caprese is a simple salad, utilizing tomatoes, fresh mozzerella cheese, basil, and olive oil.

1/2 pound, fresh mozzerella, sliced 1/4 inch thick.
2 large tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick.
1 cup fresh basil leaves.
salt and pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil.

On a serving plate, arrange the mozzerella and tomato around the edge, alternating mozzerella and tomato slices.

Tear up the basil leaves, and sprinkle them on top of the tomatoes and mozerella cheese.

Season with a bit of salt and pepper.

Just before serving, drizzle the extra virgin olive oil over the salad.

Serves 4.

Learn about the negative calorie diet. Visit Tim's blog, Negative Calories.

[tags]basil, herbs, diet[/tags]

Watermelons The Tasty Way To Health!

2008-09-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

It is really difficult to resist the temptation of sweet, ripe watermelon, however its not just the taste but there are more than one reasons to get attracted by this wonderful juicy fruit. Do you know watermelon has enormous health benefits?

Nutritionists have been educating people about watermelon's health benefits for a long time now. Recently, American Heart Association has endorsed their view by recognizing watermelon's nutritional properties with the "heart healthy" seal of approval.

With advanced research more and more nutritional properties and health benefits of watermelons are being explored. Watermelons contain the maximum concentration of Lycopene, the most potent carotenoid antioxidant. Lycopene is a bright red pigment, a phytochemical found predominantly in watermelons, tomatoes and some other red fruits. However, not all red fruits carry Lycopene, the red color in cherries and strawberries is from a water soluble pigment called Anthocyanin that is no way related to Lycopene.

The red color in watermelon comes from Lycopene. Studies show that regular intake of watermelon or other Lycopene rich vegetables and fruits reduce the risk of prostrate cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The Lycopene content in watermelon helps to reduce risk of prostrate cancer.

In a research conducted in 1955 at Harvard University, it was found that eating at least 10 or more serving a week of tomato products reduced risk of prostrate cancer by as much as 34 percent. When the prostrate tissue of the men subject for study was examined, it was noticed that the growth of cancer cells has considerably reduced.

In current studies conducted, it has been declared that men who have the highest amount of Lycopene in their body have lesser possibility of suffering a heart attack compared to people with low Lycopene content.

A rich juicy watermelon is an excellent source of multivitamin. A 2-cup serving of watermelon would contain good amount of Vitamin A, B6 and C. Vitamin A in watermelon helps prevent night blindness and boosts immunity by enhancing infection-fighting action in lymphocytes.

Vitamin B6 found in watermelons is extremely useful in manufacturing brain chemicals and also helps cope with anxiety and panic. Vitamin C is also instrumental in boosting the body immune system and also deters aging and conditions such as cataract. Watermelon also provides minimal amount of Potassium.

With all these health benefits and the great taste that watermelon offers, it is often an easy choice for parents for their kid's nutrition. Also the wide variety and myriad of recipes in which watermelon can be used is just amazing! Multinationals like Sundia Corporation are making it all the more popular and easier to eat watermelons with their wide distribution network as well as meticulous specification about quality. So, next time if you are looking for a health snack or a fruity delight, think Watermelons!

This article is written by Ray Smith, a marketing expert with years of experience in different industries and specialized knowledge on branding and Internet marketing. Watermelon-Cantaloupe-Honeydew.

[tags]Watermelon, watermelon juice, cantaloupe, honeydew, Lycopene.[/tags]

Organic Produce Is Better, But Why

2008-09-18T09:00:00.003-07:00

With so much publicity about the benefits of organic produce, this article represents my observations and opinions on the matter. Just to avoid confusion, I am not referring to the government's standards on "certified organic" when I say organic. I believe organic means locally grown by responsible stewards of the land that avoid the use of artificial herbicides, pesticides, etc.

Organic Produce Tastes Better

This is the number one reason for me. When produce is locally grown you get it only hours from when it is picked. This means that tomatoes are picked red, cucumbers are crisp, and your carrots still have a little dirt on them. In my 15 years of experience with the Southeast Idaho Farmers' Market I have seen hundreds of repeat customers who won't buy from the grocery stores because locally grown produce just tastes better.

Organic Produce Is Healthier

I acknowledge that there is a lot of material out there that both sides of this argument will use to support their point. However, I base my opinion on the fact that people born in the early part of the 20th century, who grew up on farms the better part of their lives, and had access to the improved medical care of the late 20th century continue to amaze me with their longevity and quality of life. They ate bacon from a pig they raised, had potatoes they grew themselves, and cooked the old-fashioned way. I think they had something right and science will eventually confirm that fact.

Final Thoughts

In short, I hope that consumers will be willing to go to their local farmers' markets or roadside vegetable stand to get locally grown, organic produce. If you grow organic produce I wish you the best of luck in marketing and selling your produce so that your talents will spread the benefits of organic produce.

Insights on Farmers' Markets, and certified organic produce.

[tags]organic, organic produce, certified organic, whole foods, organic foods, natural foods, healthy food[/tags]

Mangosteen - The "Queen" Of Fruits

2008-09-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

What is a mangosteen?

The mangosteen fruit, although well known in tropical and subtropical climates, is a relative stranger to most other countries. Given its name, the mangosteen may be easily confused as a hybrid of the mango. Although the mangosteen and the mango are of the same family and grow in the same areas, these two fruits not only look different, they have a much different taste.

A mangosteen fruit is approximately the same size as an orange, but with a deep purplish-colored skin. The outer rind of a mangosteen is very leathery, with scars, and serves to protect the delicious inner pulp. Found on each mangosteen fruit is a scar at one end, displaying remnants of the flower that once grew there. Interestingly, based on the number of flower segments still found in the scar, one can tell how many segments of fruit will be found inside.

The taste of a mangosteen has been likened to that of no other fruit, hence the nickname "Queen of Fruits" or "Food of the Gods" on some Caribbean islands. While it's difficult to describe its taste, many people compare it to a cross between strawberries and oranges, with just a touch of acidity. However, the texture of the rich inner pulp is much like a ripe plum. Traditionally, the mangosteen is a fruit best experienced fresh and unprocessed. However, as it begins to gain popularity in countries all over the world, mangosteen can be found canned or frozen, and is made into syrup, preserves, and, most popularly, juice.

The Origin of Mangosteen

While Chinese and ayurvedic practitioners have known of the high nutritional and medicinal value of the mangosteen for hundreds of years, it was first "discovered" by the French explorer Laurentiers Garcin in the 1700s. It is from him that the scientific name for mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, comes.

The mangosteen tree does not grow well as a "wild plant," and fares best if it is cultivated in the perfect climate. Most of the plants are found in Thailand, a country so enamoured of the mangosteen, it adopted it as its national fruit.

Although efforts have been made to grow orchards, because of their finicky growth patterns and unpredictable harvest times, mangosteen trees are mostly found along the banks of rivers or lakes, as the tree roots need almost constant moisture.

Because of governmental regulations, import of the fresh mangosteen fruit into the United States is illegal. Fears of introducing the devastating Asian fruit fly into the country have mainly kept the fruits themselves from crossing the borders, although occasionally one may find a mangosteen fruit on the shelves of a small Asian grocery store. And because mangosteen trees only grow in certain climates, attempts to cultivate the fruit within the country have yet to "fruitfully" succeed.

Making it additionally difficult to mass-produce mangosteen, a tree takes many years after planting to begin producing fruit. From the time of planting a mangosteen seed, the growing tree will take ten years or more to start producing fruit. Uncharacteristically for a tropical fruit tree, the mangosteen tree will only grow to about 10 to 20 feet in height. Once it matures to full growth, one average tree will produce approximately 500 mangosteen fruits per harvest. However, the longer a mangosteen tree stands, the higher the yield. There have been reports of 30-year-old mangosteen trees producing up to 2000 fruits in one season.

Enjoying Mangosteen

As mentioned, the import of mangosteen into the United States is currently illegal due to health regulations. However, fresh mangosteen can be found in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Cuba, sparingly in Puerto Rico, and scattered around the West Indies.

Care should be taken when eating a fresh mangosteen. The outer rind is quite hard and leathery, and the deep purple-red juice of the rind stains nearly anything it comes into contact with. Traditionally, the shell of the mangosteen should be broken by hand, not cut with a knife. As the rind begins to crack, the delicious inner fruit segments may be peeled away. To enjoy mangosteen to its fullest, one should avoid the hard, leathery outer shell by pulling the segments out before eating, as the sap from the shell is quite bitter and unpleasant.

It may be possible to find canned mangosteen; however, it is widely known that through the process of canning, much is lost in terms of the fruit's flavor. In the Philippines, many of those who attempt to preserve the fruit will boil them first in a heavy brown sugar syrup.

Other Uses of Mangosteen

While the rind of mangosteen is sometimes used in tanning leather, and the twigs from the trees are favorite "chewsticks" for those in Ghana, the most popular alternative use of mangosteen is nutritional and medicinal.

From Singapore to China, different aspects of the fruit are used to treat and heal a wide variety of medical afflictions. From dysentery to eczema, it appears that scientifically the mangosteen has a multitude of beneficial uses.

It is believed that much of the reason why mangosteen is such a powerful curative is because of its high level of xanthones, which are biologically active plant phenols that are somewhat similar to flavonoids. While most fruits contain xanthones, the mangosteen appears to encompass at least 40 of the currently discovered 200 types of xanthones, making it incredibly rich in its nutritional properties. Indeed, it is somewhat of a "wonder fruit," in that it is the only fruit as yet known to science to contain such a high percentage of xanthones.

In addition, mangosteen is also high in several other necessary nutritional properties, including fiber, calcium, iron, and thiamine.

Given its delicious taste and exponential nutritional value, the mangosteen is truly deserving of its nickname - "Queen of Fruits."

[tags]mangosteen, health, anti-oxidant[/tags]

Benefits Of Alfalfa Plant Juice

2008-09-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

Alfalfa plant or Alfalfa sprout juice Alfalfa plant, which is also known as lucerne or bum clover, is usually known to fatten cattle, and the juice has long been employed to put weight on people. Combined with carrot and lettuce, alfalfa juice is reputed to aid the growth of hair. Like comfrey the alfalfa plant has exceptionally long roots, sometimes over 120 ft (37m).

These enable the plant to be an efficient concentrator of trace elements. Alfalfa plant is a very concentrated source of vitamin A, which is not lost when the plant is dried and sold in tablet form, and of vitamin C. Not all of us live near a source of alfalfa, but it is as easy to sprout, to mustard and cress, and the resulting sprouts are not only of a high nutritional order but are also exceptional providers of a wide spectrum I minerals.

The high vitamin K content is important as a blood clotting factor and has been found in animal studies to control high blood-pressure, although the importance of this to man is not yet established. Alfalfa juice is normally taken in combination with carrot because it is very strong alone and the two complement each other well. It must be said that it is not very tasty on its own so its use as pan of a juice combination is the more acceptable way of using alfalfa as pan of a healthy diet.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses and some tips on raw juice therapy.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, alfalfa sprout juice[/tags]

Health Food

2008-09-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

Does your kid often eat junk food? Chances are, the answer to that one is a resounding yes because, as all parents know, children everywhere in the world absolutely love junk food such as hamburgers, pizza, candy, soda and salty foods like potato chips and french fries. Like most parents, you probably want to wean your child away from junk food (or at least lessen his intake of it) and reinforce his diet with healthy food such as grains, vegetables, fruits and nutrient-rich foods such as meat, beans, fish and nuts.

Here are some tips to help you achieve just that. The basic strategy is to make eating healthy food fun for the kids. You probably can even think of more ways to use this strategy when feeding your child.

(1) The Sneak Attack.

Sneak in those fruits and vegetables with a type of food that your child really enjoys. One example would be making muffins out of bananas or apples. If your kids like pizza, you can sneak in a wide variety of vegetables in there that your youngsters probably won't even notice. Another tack is to arrange the food in creative ways that will appear funny and play-like to your childe. For instance, you can arrange the food creatively on a plate or make food stand at attention like people.

(2) Funny Name Game.

Kids below the age of four always fall for this one. It's called the funny name game and involves giving healthy foods like fruits and vegetables funny names and conjuring up interesting stories involving the food. Obviously, many of these stories will conclude with the food being gobbled up by the giant child or having the food run for cover to avoid an alien attack by ducking into a big cave that also happens to be your kid's mouth.

(3) The Taste Test.

The main reason kids don't like vegetables is that they can't stand the taste. Hence, if you can add things kids love like peanut butter to celery or some ranch dressing to broccoli, your kids may go for those veggies.

The main thing is to be creative about feeding your food. I'm sure you can look into your kitchen and discover your own way to make eating healthy food a fun experience.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Food, Fitness, and Society

[tags]Health Food, fitness, vegetables[/tags]

Benefits And Importance Of Beet Juice

2008-09-15T09:00:00.002-07:00

Beet was looked upon by the Romans as being good for cooling the blood. Beet root is also found to benefit against feverish conditions, especially in growing children. Later generations found that beet root was also beneficial for a very strong specific action to regulate the digestive system.

The Doctrine of Signatures, which suggests that every plant illustrates its medical purpose, supposed that beet, because of its redness, was good for the blood. In fact the iron content is not particularly high, although it is said to be present in a form that is easy to assimilate.

The whole beet family (remember sugar beet) is rich in easily digested carbohydrates, even so the calorie content is not high. The red beetroot tends to concentrate rather than lose its mineral content when boiled for two hours, but the vitamins are generally reduced. Therefore when used therapeutically beetroot is usually juiced raw. Beet root juice taste has a stimulating effect not only upon the nerves of the tongue but also on the nerves in the intestines.

In Germany there is widespread use of beet juice, which is available in pasteurized form in bottles, as a powerful restorative during convalescence. It follows that beets are also good for general weakness and debility of all sorts. In combination with other juices, especially carrot and cucumber, beet juice is not only a splendid blood builder but also one of the finest therapies for sexual weakness, kidney stones, gall bladder, kidney, liver and prostate troubles.

Beet juice still remains a potent force the secrets of which are far from being unlocked. It is, after carrot, one of the chief juices in the science of natural healing as practiced on earth. The chlorine present in beet juice acts to regulate digestion by controlling the peristalsis, or natural rhythmical contractions of the gut and, because of this, the assimilation of food during the time of recovery is much assisted.

Uncooked beets keep rather better than many vegetables. If you cook beets it is important to avoid damaging or cutting the skin. If this happens the red color will leach out into the cooking water leaving the cook with a very pale beet of unattractive appearance. If the skin is accidentally damaged the leakage of color will be very much reduced if you add a few drops of lemon juice or cider vinegar to the water.

The dark green beet tops should not be discarded because they are rich in carotene and in minerals. They may be juiced in small quantities as an addition to other juices, whilst steamed they make a good and cheap alternative to spinach.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on information on common cold as well as importance and value of beet juice.

[tags]natural home remedies, home remedies, natural remedies, health and beauty, beet juices, nutrition[/tags]

Food Combining

2008-09-15T09:00:00.001-07:00

Food, we all must eat to survive. We now know that we were designed to eat predominately raw, whole, plant food. But the big question is do we eat it like most health teachers and the media tell us, everything at every meal, or is there a better way?

Does our digestive system have a standard mixture of chemicals that it dumps into our stomach regardless of what we eat? Or, will it make a specific solution for specific foods? Does it make any difference? I will attempt to answer these questions in this lesson.

The digestive system

When most people think of their digestive system they think of their stomach and the small intestines. Many would include the mouth. But did you know that your taste buds and brain are the key to successful digestion?

When you take a bite of a food substance your taste buds analyze what it is and tells your brain what you just eat. Your brain decides what solution will best digest that food and tells your various glands to secrete the correct solution. Or, at least that is what is supposed to happen.

Most of us eat a large variety of food types at each meal. What happens is that the brain gets confused. One second the taste buds tell it you eat potatoes. Before it can prepare to digest the potato it says you eat some flesh food, so it sends some acid to digest the meat. But before it can accomplish that it is told that you have some sugar desert coming down, perhaps even some fruit.

The end result is that it is very rare that your system is not challenged by the variety you eat. The result is that most of the food is not correctly digested. Too much acid is usually the result and we have problems with the acid and wonder why.

It has been proven by millions of people that if we eat a more simple diet with less variety you will digest more of it and need less. You will have less digestive problems.

We were designed to eat mono meals of one type of food at a given meal. Think of it this way. We were designed as gatherers who went from tree to tree to find what was ripe. In the beginning we did not have to worry about storing food. It was always there. So we stopped at a given tree or plant and picked enough for our meal and eat.

Mono meals work best. They are the easiest for our body to digest. Especially when you eat things like melon you should eat them alone at a melon meal, or use them as an appetizer about 30 minutes before the meal. Watermelon digests perhaps the fastest. If you eat watermelon by itself it will be out of your stomach and absorbed in about 30 minutes.

If melons are used as a desert they tend to ferment and cause all sorts of digestive problems. Most people who have problems when they eat melon see these problems disappear if they eat the melon on an empty stomach. Keep in mind that some foods take 4 or more hours to get out of the way of the melon. I like to eat melon as my breakfast.

High Starch ~ High Protein

The standard American Diet (SAD) would combine starches, high protein foods, and sweet deserts in one meal. The theory is that we need all these nutrients all the time at every meal. They ignore physiology completely.

Our bodies do not function on a just in time basis like modern factories. They function like a store with a large warehouse. Only part of the goods are on the shelves. As the stock is removed it is replaced from the warehouse. When we eat we replenish the warehouse, not the shelves, unless we have been fasting for a long time. Because of this we don't need a large variety at each meal.

High protein foods require an acid environment to be digested properly. Starches require a an alkaline environment. The two are not compatible together. The enzymes needed to digest starch are destroyed by the acid needed to digest meat.

I will talk more about protein in a future lesson but think about this. Mothers milk has 5% protein. It would stand to reason that a baby, growing rapidly, would need the highest percentage of protein. Why would an adult ever need more that 5%? Why would you ever need nearly 100% protein?

We need a certain amount of sugar (simple carbohydrate) each day. The type of sugar you get makes a huge difference to your body. The simple sugars found in fruit are the easiest to digest. Our bodies don't have to do anything to use them. That is why you feel energized after eating grapes, or an apple.

On the other hand starches are complex carbohydrates. They are made up of several sugars. The more complex they are the harder it is for the body to brake them down into the simple sugars they are made of so it can use them. That is why you sometimes feel sluggish after eating potatoes. Like you want to take a nap. It takes a lot of energy to digest the starch.

Carrots are a less complex starch. They are easier to digest. Carrot juice is easier yet to digest because the fibre has been removed.

When you eat a starch with a high protein food you create an impossible situation. Either the protein will digest partially and the starch will ferment creating gas, or the starch will digest and the protein will putrefy. Usually both will happen. Along with the limited nutritional value you will absorb the byproducts of fermentation and putrefaction. They are all toxic.

Some foods are compatible

Some foods are compatible with others and may even aid in the digestive process. For instance lettuce will aid in the digestion of protein foods. It will not interfere with the digestion of starch. All other non-starchy vegetables can be combined with either a starch or a protein with little or no problems. For that reason we recommend that you have a vegetable salad with your protein and leave off the starch. Or have a vegetable salad with your starch and leave off the meat or other protein food.

Food combining rules

Keep it simple. Mono meals especially with fruit are best. Always eat melons especially watermelon, at a separate meal or as an appetizer 20-30 minutes before the main meal. Never combine high starch and high protein foods at the same meal.

Starches can be combined with non-starchy vegetables.

Proteins can be combined with non-starchy vegetables.

Something to keep in mind

The greater the variety at a given meal the greater the likelihood that you will over eat.

You can prove this very easily. Eat your favorite fruit till you feel full, satisfied. Then pick up something else you like. Instantly you don't feel full anymore. But then you soon feel the result. Many people suffering with excess weight have lost large amounts of weight and kept it off by just limiting the variety and properly combining their foods.

I could expand on the subject of food combining but I want to keep it do-able.

Feel free to ask a question about this lesson or any other article on our site.

Charles Snyder is a Health Minister. He is the author of the book Six Months to Live. It is an adventure story based on testimonies of people who have restored their health by using the system taught on his website. http://www.arthritis-back-knee-pain-free-health-restored.com

You can contact him through that website. The article above is part of his health course Health by Design. This course is available at no cost.

[tags]food,combining,health,protein,starch,calories,carbohydrates[/tags]

How To Eat Healthy And Still Stay In Your Budget

2008-09-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

For a lot of people it is difficult to eat healthy without it breaking their wallet. If you take some of the following suggestions into consideration you find that you can eat healthy and stay within your budget.

The first culprit is most cases is junk food. Don't take the kids to the grocery store with you or even your spouse if they are junk food junkies. Do the grocery shopping by yourself and you will find that all of those junk food items no longer mysteriously appear when you get to the checkout line.

Buy water, milk, and natural juices instead of colas and other soft drinks. You can splurge when you go out but at home you should eliminate these costly non nutritional items. Milk isn't just for kids, everyone needs it.

Always buy fresh fruit when you can, if you have a produce stand nearby go shop there for your produce and buy large quantities that you can freeze and put away when that fruit isn't in season.

For your protein consumption you will need meat and beans, lean meat is going to be more expensive than meat that is fatty. Lean hamburger costs three times as much as regular hamburger meat. Canned beans are a bargain giving you a good source of protein for low prices.

Occasionally, you should use beans in place of meat for meals to cut back on fats and cholesterol. Since there are many varieties of beans you can do this quite a bit without repeating the same types of beans. The best thing to do is to put them cooking on a low temperature in a crock pot while you are working, that way by the time you get home they are done.

According to the US. Government you should have beans for part of your meals at least four times a week for the protein and finer benefits they offer. If you suffer gastric problems with beans try washing them before you cook them, then cover them with water, boil, drain the water off, and then refill the pot again. If this doesn't help you may want to try a product such as Beeno.

If you are lucky enough to live in a coastal area and I am. Take advantage of the abundance of fresh fish and make them a staple in your diet planning. If you catch them yourself they cost you nothing and even if you have to buy them they are fairly inexpensive if you live close to the source.

Another great budget saver is peanut butter. Peanut butter with jam on wheat bread is the food I ate as a young bodybuilder. It was cheap, gave me my protein and carbohydrates, and I didn't have to cook!

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Bahamian food and ethnic foods at http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com

[tags]food[/tags]

Try Kiwi Fruit For Good Taste And Good Health

2008-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Maybe "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But, years ago, that same sentiment didn't seem to apply to a strange looking little fruit from China known as Yang Tao.

Missionaries in the early 20th century brought Yang Tao to New Zealand, and in 1960 it was renamed the Chinese Gooseberry. In 1961, the Chinese Gooseberry made its first appearance in the United States and the name was changed again. This time to kiwi, in honor of the native bird of New Zealand, whose brown fuzzy coat looks somewhat like the brown fuzzy skin of this unusual little fruit. This name change seems to have been a good move. Doesn't a kiwi fruit sound much more appealing than a Chinese Gooseberry?

Today, people everywhere love kiwi fruit. And, with good reason. The kiwi has a sweet unique flavor and is loaded with vitamin C, as well as a variety of other vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that promote good health.

Kiwi fruit can be eaten by itself, but it is also delicious in tossed salads, or fruit salads. But here's a tip you might not know. Kiwi fruits should be eaten soon after they are cut because they contain enzymes that act as a food tenderizer. These enzymes can tenderize the kiwi, making it overly soft. These enzymes can also make other fruits soggy, so add kiwi to fruit salads at the last minute.

It's easy to enjoy kiwi fruit. You can even eat the skin. Just rub off the fuzz, wash the kiwi, slice it, and enjoy.

Suzanne Lieurance is a freelance writer and owner of the Three Angels Gourmet Co. which produces a unique line of "heavenly gourmet mixes" for sale at: http://www.threeangelsgourmet.com For additional food information and daily tips, visit the Three Angels Gourmet Co. blog at http://www.threeangelsgourmet.blogspot.com

[tags]Kiwi, fruit, Chinese Gooseberry[/tags]

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