Simple Health Cures

   In today’s world, foods play a huge part on human beings. Advertisements, television commercials, restaurants, bars and fast food chains play an important role to promote their food products to people globally. We think foods bring us pleasure. However there are worst foods to eat across the globe. We are being fooled by the foods that bring indulgence and temptation to us. Sadly, these three of the bad foods are our body’s biggest enemy.

Food Enemy #1: Soda Drinks

Soda drinks are everywhere you go, vending machines at schools, workplace, public libraries, restaurants and other common places. There are a lot of brands and various flavors of soda drinks. It is also known as carbonated drinks, soda pop, soft drinks, tonic, fizzy drinks, carbonated beverage which is non-alcoholic. According to Us law, soft drinks are allowed to contain up to 0.5 percent of alcohol by volume. Why soda drinks are could be one of the worst foods to eat?

The amount of high fructose corn syrup, caffeine, refined sugars, and mixture of dry ingredients are too much and that raise the level of blood sugar in our body. USDA recommends dietary allowance (RDA) of added sugars in less than ten teaspoons per day for a 2000 calorie diet. However soda drinks contain more than this amount and that is ridiculously insane!

Soda drinks can lead to dehydration, obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental cavities, low nutrient levels, liver damage, tooth decay, hypertension, kidney stones and kidney disease. Therefore soda drinks are useless for our body and should be avoided at all cost.

Food Enemy #2: French Fries

French fries are the worst foods to eat because it is deep fried. any food that is deep fried increases, trans fat and saturated fats. Even though french fries are made from potatoes, there is a chemical called acrylamide which is form during the potatoes are being baked, fried or grilled. The same goes to baked potatoes and potato chips. This chemical could cause cancer in rats and that could cause the same to human beings.

French fries are widely popular in most fast food restaurants but never be found in the health food pyramid. But sadly in America, around 2 billion servings of fries each year and that worsen the obesity level.

Food Enemy #3: Processed Meats

This is one of the worst foods to eat because it is completely unnatural and not organic at all. Processed meats do look tasty because it looks fresh because of the bright red color of the meat. The reality is that the red color of the meat is actually the huge amount of sodium nitrate and mono sodium glutamate (MSG). It is really bad for consumption and lead to major health problems including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, risk of colorectal kidney, risk of pancreatic cancer and stomach cancer.

Processed meats includes bacon, hot dogs, sausages, burgers, nuggets, packaged ham, sandwich meat, pepperoni, salami and all types of meat that is processed and frozen. Beware of these processed meats because it is sold everywhere at fast food chains, restaurants and most food stalls in school, hospitals, hotels and so on.

Do you notice something about all these three worst foods to eat? Soda drinks, French fries, and burgers. These three foods complete a whole fast food meal! Imagine if all these three foods being consume inside your body. It will definitely triple the bad health effects tremendously! It triples the chances of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and the list goes on and on.

Therefore eating at fast food chains is really a big disaster for our health and body and that is crazy! We need to stop eating fast foods and start eating healthy now. You will live longer, healthier and stronger than ever before. Remember, always pay the grocer instead of paying the doctor!!!!

, obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental cavities, low nutrient levels, liver damage, tooth decay, hypertension, kidney stones and kidney disease. Therefore soda drinks are useless for our body and should be avoided at all costs.

    Life in general is pretty complicated. It poses several obstacles in front of us every day. And then again there are no problems in this world that cannot be solved. It is just that everything takes its own time and space for it to get solved or unwrapped and one needs to be highly patient. In fact it is because of these problems we become who we really are. The choice is in our hands and we need to figure what is best thing we can do and thus by making the right decision we become more mature and survive life. You make the wrong choices and you find yourself to perish and cease to exist at soe point of time.

One needs be stronger all the way through and fight for life valiantly. This has been one of the greatest abilities posed by mankind for several years now and that is why we are the most superior beings of our planet and we have come a long way achieving so many things. One of the greatest inventions by mankind is technology and now it has revolutionized our lives by every means. In fact we have become inter-dependent upon technology and our world revolves with technology. Technology has also played its part in medical advancements. In fact few centuries ago death rates were higher than usual because of the lack of knowledge, new disease and no proper diagnosis for cure. However, it is not the same case anymore in the last couple of decades or so. Technology advancements have enabled us to do a wonderful research and figure out the medical issues, come up with diagnosis plans and cure many. However, there is one disease which is yet to be entirely conquered by mankind. It is called cancer. Cancer few decades ago has no treatment. It was a bizarre disease which eventually leads only to death. But thanks to the technology advancements and knowledge if it is found to persist at the earliest it can be treated and cured.

Many people have fought cancer valiantly and overcome the issue. The best example of such a person Lance Armstrong who fought cancer and still is alive today winning several awards. Firstly in order to fight cancer one needs to be strong by heart and have the will to do so.  Then with proper medical treatment produces and healthy lifestyle one can definitely overcome the problem. Firstly you need to figure out the difference between cancer fighting diet and proper diet. When you figure out that you will be able to differentiate and lead a very healthy lifestyle with proper diet. One needs to control himself/ herself from just eating the food he/she likes at all times. Some of the foods we eat are the cause primarily for the situation to get worsened. Remember we are what we eat and sometimes we eat what is bad for us.

    The evidence is now conclusive. The fat, cholesterol, triglycerides, and carcinogenic protein from all the meat and dairy products we consume clog us up, restricts our blood flow, decreases the oxygen to our cells, weakens our immune system, makes us sluggish, causes high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and causes heart disease. It also causes every kind of cancer that exists, and diabetes. These diseases are becoming epidemic. If you follow the SAD ( standard American Diet) promoted by all the fast food corporations and the meat and dairy industries that support you will get these diseases.

You can avoid these diseases forever, and receive any you may currently have ( that always stay hidden until they are fully entrenched in our bodies), by reducing the meat and dairy you eat to 5% or less of your food intake ( the less the better). Fruits, vegetables and grains taste heavenly when your tongue isn’t filtering them through layers of fats, grease, salt, and sugar. And an occasional steak or rack of ribs won’t push you over the line.

Before you started reading this article, you were probably pleasantly ignorant that meat and dairy caused degenerative diseases. On one hand, that was a good thing. You could continue soon your merry way eating all the meat and dairy products you desired without any quilt. On the other hand, it wasn’t cool, because the meat and dairy products you have been eating will slowly kill you. How many of your family have already been claimed by these disease?

And you don’t know before reading this article that these very diseases can be reversed and even prevented by changing the way we eat. These diseases begin and grow slowly, so you could have heart disease right now, or cancer growing in you, that you may not know about until it physically appears. Are you excited about heart bypass surgery or another fun treatment the doctors love, chemotherapy? You can avoid all that, simply by making a few changes, and reducing your meat and dairy to less than 5% of what you consume.

So, it’s bad news, good news. Before there was no cure and we were helpless victims. Now, we can take control of our health, it’s in our hands by changing what we eat, and we can escape the scourge of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and over 100 other degenerative disease most of which you probably haven’t known existed. The bad news is over now it’s only good news!

   I don’t know about you but I have been hearing a lot about so called super foods. In fact many people are calling foods super that have been around for as long as I can remember. Like broccoli, blueberries, avocados, and other everyday foods. It is true that compared to the highly processed packaged food in the super market these simple common fresh foods are super. What if you are someone food items still considered super to them.

   We know that the reason some common vegetables and fruits are called super foods is because they have nutritional benefits that are highly beneficial to our health, especially when we eat a lot of them.

   Back about 50 years or so, there was not much talk about foods being super. I suppose that was because there were not that much unhealthy processed foods available. So there wasn’t a distinction between the vast amount of unhealthy foods available today and healthy fresh whole foods. So foods as common and simple as broccoli or blueberries didn’t need to be considered foods as nutritionally super.

   There is also another group of foods that are called super foods, these are less common and are actually super, in the sense that they are power packed with concentrated nutrition. These foods, also known as supplements come from botanical sources that have extraordinary nutritional qualities that the common vegetable or fruit does not have. These whole foods come from rain forests or high in the mountains, they are wild grown and grow in virgin organic soil. They have not been diluted or adulterated by human manipulations. Instead they are carefully nurtured into super foods that are natural medicine. They are so beneficial for the human body that they can create true optimal health or what is known as homeostasis. ( normal body function).

   Most people in western modern culture do not enjoy normal bodily function. Instead their bodies are out of balance and they suffer from a wide array of ailments and illnesses.

   Super foods whether in the form of the common fresh nutritious fruits and vegetables or concentrated high nutrition botanical supplements are much needed by most people today.

   It’s important to take the time to do some study about what healthy food really is and what a truly healthy diet consist of. When you do your study you will find that it is not that easy in today’s market pace to get what you need to provide yourself with protection from all the toxins and poor nutrition in common everyday foods.

   Super food nutrition’s fills the gaps, it’s like the extra additive that you might add to your gas tank if you get low quality gas for your car. Most studies done by major medical research groups show that most people in the American culture need to supplement their diets to get a sufficient amount of nutrition to stay healthy.

   Everyday new studies are showing that most major disease and illness including cancer are caused by nutritional imbalance. Unfortunately the pharmaceutical and some parts of the medical industry would like to suppress and hide these studies. If the truth is widely know then instead of everybody taking pharmaceutical drugs to chase symptoms, people will be eating super foods and they will heal and re balance their bodies.

   Time are changing and word is getting out that poor nutrition and lifestyle habits are the reason for the out of control ill health of our American population.

    Super foods to the rescue, take a closer look, study the facts and you too will want to get super foods in you everyday!

   Senior health should be a concern to all of us because none of us can escape the effects of aging. The senior population is increasing steadily. Today there are around 50 million seniors in the United States. By 2036 there will be over 80 millions. In 1940 someone at the age of 65 could plan on living another 14 years. Today a 65 years old can expect to live 20 more years. The point here is that senior health care has made it possible for the elderly to live longer. Although it is certainly wonderful that seniors are living longer live, problems have arisen as it pertains to the financial burden it has created.

   A recent study suggested that over 13 million senior are financially unprepared for retirement. 9 out of 10 seniors rely on social security for support. It is believed that 50% of seniors have no private person option and over 30% do not have saving sufficient enough to cover their needs. those seniors having to file bankruptcy due to skyrocketing medical debt is on the rise. Today the majority of seniors depend on the medicare program for health coverage. This program is pertinent to senior health and without most seniors would have no senior health coverage at all.

   However, the number of seniors on Medicare is increasing at an alarming rate. Less than a decade ago only 40 millions seniors were receiving medicare. Today that number has risen to 48 million. This year has many concerned because the first of nearly 80 million baby boomers begin entering the senior class and many will enter the medicare ranks. This year with the arrival of the baby boomers it is estimated that medicare spending to preserve senior health will rise to 929 billion or 19% of the United States federal spending budget. At this rate, by the year 2030, medicare could be in big trouble.

   Beyond the medical costs associated with senior health there are the problems seniors face with simply growing old. Medicare does not pay for all medical costs and therefore seniors must pay remainder out of pocket or with supplemental insurance. As we grow older our bodies begin to fail us. We become more at risk for disease. It is no wonder that over 6 million seniors suffer from depression and only 10% will ever receive treatment. This effects senior health incredibly. Seniors are often afflicted with health concerns like osteoporosis, dementia, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease and arthritis. Many have outlived their spouse, children and no longer have the social support system they once enjoyed. However,better senior health opportunities are out there.

   It is important that seniors are encouraged to not give up on life. They need the social support system that is often lost in the shuffle because their children lead busy lives. Seniors need to stay proactive and engage in as many activities as possible to get the social support they need. It is also vital that seniors follow a proper diet and exercise. Seniors should exercise 3-5 times per week, 30 minutes per event. This is a very good for disease prevention. It will allow the senior to feel good about themselves and provide them with more energy and enthusiasm.

   Seniors are living longer. Sure the cost of living longer is going to be enhanced, but seniors can still live happy in their twilight years. With exercise, diet, regular screenings, and a proper social support system in place they can be some of the best years of theirs lives.

   When it comes to improving your health, small changes can make a big difference. Whether you decide you want to take a multi-vitamin, go for a brisk walk or meditate it only takes one small change in your daily routine to make a significant difference in your overall health.

   One of tie best ways to get healthy is to add nutritious and vitamin rich foods to your daily diet. Here are the top 10 foods that will improve your health and well being.

   Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a heart healthy whole grain food that can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. it is a complex carbohydrate that is slowly digested and chock full of vitamins and minerals including manganese,selenium, folate and vitamin B1.

   Salmon: Wild salmon is a super food. It’s a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid which is known to protect against heart disease, inflammation and cancer. Wild salmon is also an excellent source of vitamin D, B12, B6, selenium, niacin and magnesium.

    Apple: Apples are one of the healthiest treats nature has to offer. They are filled with health promoting phytonutrients, flavonoids and dietary fiber which can help regulate blood sugar. Also, the pectin i apples can help promote a healthy bacterial balance within the intestines improving digestion and relieving tummy troubles.

    Garlic: Garlic has been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes and studies show it has the ability to help prevent heart disease, cancer, digestive upset, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. It can also provide protection against the common cold.

    Wild Blueberries: Wild blueberries are tiny, tangy, and delicious.

these small robust little berries are a nutritional powerhouse. These anti-aging berries posses immense antioxidants activities which helps protect against cancer, urinary tract infections, vision problems and stroke

    Wheat Germ: Also referred to as wheat berry, wheat germ contains a substance known as phytosterols which can effectively reduce cholesterol levels. Wheat germ is also an essential source of health promoting nutrients including vitamin E, magnesium, tryptophan, omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.

    Flax Seed: Flax  seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. This tiny seed is consumed in the form of ground flax meal or flax oil and contains omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, and both soluble and insoluble fiber.

    Studies indicate that the lignans in flax seed can protect against the onset of various diseases including breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Ionians have also demonstrated the ability to reduce inflammation and support brain function.

    Yogurt: For those individuals with digestion or immune problems yogurt is a excellent dietary food source. It is easy to digest, supports colon health and boosts immunity. The Probiotics found in yogurt contains friendly bacteria that colonize with the intestine to support and enhance digestion by break in down foods and improving the overall functioning of the digestive system.

    Broccoli: Broccoli is a super food that supports the nervous system, immune system and digestive system. These small green florets contain vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A as well as potassium, riboflavin, magnesium and plenty of fiber.

    A healthy diet that contains regular servings of broccoli can help prevent cancer, inflammation and oxidative stress within the body.

    Almonds: this heart healthy nut contains an array of health supporting phytochemicals that can reduce the risk of a heart attack, lower cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation. Almonds are also packed wit immune supporting nutrients including magnesium, vitamin E, phosphorus, zinc, and calcium.

    These top 10 foods can improve your overall health when consumed regularly along with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Take advantage of all that nature has to offer by indulging in some of the tastiest and healthiest foods on the planet.

   Fiber is a special type of carbohydrates that passes through the human digestive system uncharged, that is, without being broken into nutrients. It has a positive influence on the digestion process from start to finish. It is only found in foods that come from plants, including all- natural cereals, whole-grain breads, beans, fruits, vegetables and nuts.

   Fiber foods can help in keeping weight under control and also in preventing certain diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, diverticular disease, gall stones and kidney stones. It also prevents constipation and hemorrhoids. Studies have also indicated that ingesting the right matrix of fiber, mostly containing soluble fiber, can help in balancing blood sugar levels and improving cholesterol.

    Foods that contain soluble fiber can have a positive influence on cholesterol, triglycerides and other particles in the blood that affect the development of heart disease.

   It is believed that when fiber is eaten and the passage of food is speeded up, it may prevent harmful substances in some foods from affecting the colon and thus preventing colon cancer. Other types of cancer that may be prevented with fiber rich diets are ovarian cancer, breast cancer and uterine cancer.

    Adding fiber to diets helps regulate blood sugar levels, thus preventing diabetes.

   Diverticular disease is a condition in which small pouches develop in the wall of the colon. These pouches can become inflamed or infected. It can cause pain, diarrhea, constipation, etc. Fiber foods can help to prevent this.

   Rapid digestion can lead to a rapid release of glucose into the bloodstream. To cope, the body has to release large amounts of insulin into the bloodstream and this makes a person more likely to develop gall stones and kidney stones.

     several herbs found in these supplements, when used together, can enhance effectiveness and synergistic actions. They also help in reducing toxicity in our bodies. Weight loss pills have the highest concentration of herbs, even more than teas and syrups. When used correctly, they are safer than medication. However, it is always recommended that a doctor be consulted before taking any herbal weight loss supplements.

    For many people, the answer is yes! We have such a proliferation of sugary foods, refined carbs and sweet beverages that sugar consumption has skyrocketed! The annual US average is around 150 pounds ( that’s pounds) per year. That’s the weight of an entire person each year!

    Our bodies are not designed to handle that much sugar, because many of us are less active. According to the American Heart Association and Dr. Oz, Americans consume more than 20 teaspoon of sugar daily, triple the maximum recommended intake! And that consumption has a terrible affect on health, weight and energy levels.

    Some Basics for Sugar and Carbs:

   Regular table sugar is sucrose. Also common is high-fructose corn syrup ( a processed blend of sucrose and fructose). These are concentrated forms of sweeteners is processed foods. They metabolize quickly and cause blood sugar to spike.

   Fruits have fructose ( fruit sugar), but whole fruits contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. They are considered complex carbs. They are slower to digest and don’t tend to spike blood sugar. Compared to refined carbs and sugary drinks, whole fruits are healthier.

   Some veggies are starchy, like corn and peas, but they are still complex carbs. Like whole fruits, they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber,  Fresh or frozen, veggies digest more slowly than processed carbs and don’t spike blood sugar. So colorful veggies are also healthy!

   Milk and dairy have lactose ( another type of sugar) but again, with the proteins and fats in milk and dairy, the lactose is less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar and is digested more slowly.

   The problem foods are refined and white carbs and snacks, such as cookies, snack crackers, potato/ corn chips, sodas, sugary drinks, etc., and white carbs (white potatoes, white rice, breads, biscuits and soft pasta). These refined carb/ white foods are high-glycemic foods. They tend to spike blood sugar, The are nutritionally unbalanced.

   Fast Ups and Downs:

    Imagine you are feeling stressed or your energy is low, and you have corn or potato chips and soda. Those foods have little nutrition ( they lack vitamins, minerals, or significant fiber) so they digest quickly, starting in the mouth, where chewing and saliva begin the break down of carbs into simple sugars. The process finishes in the stomach and small intestine where those sugars are broken down with enzymes and converted to glucose, the form the body uses.

   High-glycemic foods move quickly into the bloodstream, causing the blood sugar to spike. That triggers insulin to be released, which brings the glucose level down. The glucose gets stored in the liver and muscles with the extra going to fat cells. Unless you are active enough to use the glucose daily, you will have a surplus, adding more fat.

   After the initial lift of energy from your snack, your energy drops again and you look for another lift. This cycle goes on daily for many people, and it’s a downward spiral.

   Even if you don’t eat lots of sugary foods and snacks, sugar is common in processed foods, from ketchup and barbeque sauce to salad dressing and “low fat” foods. Reading labels is the only way to know! Refined carbs and simple sugars also use up vitamins and minerals during digestion, causing additional nutrient deficits and metabolic stress.

   Declining Health, More Disease, and Early Death:

   The daily spikes and drops from refined carbs and sugars stress the pancreas, liver and other organs. Organ function is compromised, which increases metabolic stress. You gain weight and increase systemic inflammation because fat cells, especially those in the abdomen, are metabolically active. They grow and release inflammatory chemicals and waste products! You also get more wrinkles and develop additional health and organ problems, a downward spiral whose origin is eating of too many processed, man-made carbs pretending to be food!

   Over time, more serious problems often arise, including, high triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, liver problems, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depressed immune function, cancer, and chronic inflammation. This is not normal aging! The end result is a shortened life span: early death from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or other disease.

    The Solution:

   Switch to more healthy, whole foods and non-carb snacks. They will provide more sustained energy throughout the day and minimize the spikes and drops of blood sugar you’re having now. You need less of the quality foods and snacks because you get more nutrition and sustained energy, costing you less money! You’ll feel more vital and youthful! Look for healthy foods on sale ( nuts, whole fruits, lean proteins, veggies, etc) and stock up ( basic frozen veggies are okay too).

   Make small adjustments in what yo eat now, and your body will reward you forever!

    I bet you’ve of the following conditions and disease: high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, heart disease/ atherosclerosis, stroke, overweight/obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, cancer, plus wrinkles, ED and More!!!

   And when these conditions or disease turn up, I hear people bring up their family history/ genetics, normal aging, or both.

   The surprise is that all of these conditions and diseases are strongly influenced by lifestyle choices. The wrong foods (those lacking a balance of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants), and lack of activity are trial basis of declining health!

   Many experts agree that health is mostly due to the choices people make rather than genetics or family history: the choices you make each day are the most significant drivers of your health issues (about 70% of our health status is a result of our lifestyle choices as we get above 35 or 40). Even if genetics contributes to our health, you can’t change your genetics. What you can change is what you eat, how often, and how active you are!

   Refined Carbs and Inactivity the Basis of Disease?

   Let’s look at what happens when we eat common snacks or foods, such as chips, fries/fries foods, snack cakes, candy bars, white/refined or flavored crackers, cookies, soda/sugary drinks, and ice cream. ( I also include white carb: potatoes, bread, rice, biscuits, and well-cooked pasta).

    These food digest quickly because they are high-glycemic ( or sugar-like) foods. They cause a spike in blood sugar and glucose levels climb too high. We secrete insulin to bring the levels down ( if the pancreas is still able to). Did you know that high glucose levels are toxic to many tissues and organs? High-glucose levels irritate and inflame arteries, stress the pancreas ( insulin-producing cell can die), the liver ( which gets fatty from glucose storage), the brain and more! These foods can increase oxidative stress and inflammation which can spread. And they bring down your energy!

    The addictive quality of these carbs ( often including salt and unhealthy fats) cause us to crave more. The damage becomes chronic over time. Other processed foods are also part of this problem, from ketchup and barbecue sauce to salad dressings and so-called “low-fat” foods. These foods are common in our diets because sugar, refined carbs and high fructose corn syrup are everywhere in manufactured foods! Convenient but toxic in the amounts we are consuming ( about 150 pounds per year)!

    Many studies relate weight gain/obesity, high LDL cholesterol, heart disease, high BP, and cancer to high-glucose food consumption. What’s worse is that the spikes and drops of blood sugar cause hormonal and energy problems and we feel less motivated to be active when our energy is low. Less activity means glucose levels stay higher ( adding to weight gain), so being inactive/ not exercising contributes significantly to declining health and chronic disease.

    Less is More With Age!

   As we age, our ability to metabolize processed foods decreases, especially if we are less active. The solution is to simplify our food choices using more nutritionally-balanced, whole foods. Good choices are lean meats, fatty fish ( for omega-3 fats), soy beans and tofu, eggs and egg whites, nuts, veggie and greens, olives, avocados, beans, legumes, whole fruits, moderate amounts of healthy fats ( olive oil and omega-3 fats), and light amounts of dairy ( milk, cheese, etc).

    Avoid all hydrogenated oils/ trans fats ( read label and ingredients, they are very common), processed meats ( with nitrites, they are everywhere too). and only have red meat a few times per week.

   More nutritionally balanced foods like those suggested above will keep your blood sugar more level, especially if you have smaller meals every 3-4 hours ( that’s why non-carb snacks are important). That will help to balance your blood sugar all day long. Your energy will climb and you will feel better. We are made to move, not slump in a recliner for hours at a time! Our bodies suffer when we become inactive, including emotionally!

    The Choice Is Yours!

   It’s no longer a question of whether our lifestyle choices are contributing to, or causing most of the health conditions and chronic diseases we face today. Most health experts agree: they do.

    Why not decide to feel better today? It’s easier than you think! Just make one small change every week or two. Start by switching to non-carb snacks, and begin to work in light activity as you go. Increased activity gets the body moving which can help burn excess glucose and keep muscles leaner and organs more healthy. Build on things you like to do already ( biking, walking, dancing, swimming, gardening, etc). You’ll feel more like a well-tuned engine in a few weeks. Start with 10-15 minutes and work toward 15-30 minutes 4-5 times per week when you can.

   If eating well was as simple as ensuring your meals always looked vibrant and as eye-catching as a rainbow, good nutritious would be easy. Wouldn’t it…Right!

   When it comes to fruit and vegetables, plating up a multi-colored dish is a sure fire way to provide your body with all the antioxidants and phytochemicals it needs.

   Unfortunately we don’t know everything these chemicals are necessary for, but we do know they are all important to good health. Phytochemicals are biologically active compounds in food that have good solid antioxidant properties. It’s only really in the 10 ears or so that we have started to pay more attention to the importance of having them in the diet. Research shows that wholesome multi-colored fruit and vegetables protect against cancer and heart disease, as well as protecting eyes from muscular degeneration. It is in fact, the phytochemicals themselves give fruits and vegetables their distinctive colorings.

   Nature has given fruit and vegetables bright, enticing colors to initially entice us to what is good and wholesome. Think about the color of berries. Foods that are brightest in color are at their most nutrient rich. The best advice is to eat a wide variety and stick to fruit and vegetables that are in seasons. If foods are not in season, they have probably been transported a long way or stored for a long time, so won’t be as nutrient-dense.

   While all fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, it is also believed different phytochemicals interact with each other, adding to the importance of ensuring we eat as wide a variety of different-colored produce as possible. It is a true but sad fact that we are particularly bad at eating the dark green ones. We love eating starchy potatoes, carrots, peas, and beans and salad lettuce but when it comes to vegetables like spinach, Brussels-sprouts and broccoli, we tend to scrunch up our noses and shake our heads in disgust, usually accompanied with a “Nooo!”

    The aversion to these vegetables usually starts when we are children, when mom forced you to eat up your greens, these were usually all mushy and served overcooked. Yet these specific veggies are particularly good sources of fol ate and phytochemicals that protect against certain types of cancer.

   When it comes to cooking, aim to bring out the best in your veggie in terms of color and you will be getting the best nourishment from them. Try to avoid cooking (boiling) your vegetables until they are limp and go that dark grey/olive green color, because they will have less of their vitamins and flavor at that stage. cooking methods that lend themselves to using lots of veggie include stir-fry and casseroles. Get yourself a steamer, steamed vegetables are vibrant and hold the nutrients. Salad are Great Too!!!