The Healthy Body: Eating The Right Foods For An Optimum Health

18 02 2011

   Whenever we eat, we sometimes forget if what we are eating can provide us the optimum health that we all are aiming for. Many people do not realize that there are foods that have high amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can help our bodies eliminate toxins and boost health, specifically the immune system. There are even foods that are proven to prevent cancer and these the very same foods that we should be taking in large amounts regularly. Read below and find out what these foods are. Eat them in regularly and you will be amazed at how healthy you will feel.

   Bananas, This tropical fruit is one that is available all year round so finding I should not be a problem. A banana is rich in protein and fiber and this means that it is a good substitute for meat. Many people think that the best source of protein is meat or eggs but banana is also a great source without having to worry about cholesterol. It has high potassium content that acts as an antibiotic and the fiber is an essential component of digestion.

   Spinach, Well, you will not instantly develop muscle like Popeye but you will definitely have a better and stronger immune system. Considered as a cleansing agent, the spinach has high calcium content that is also good for the bones. It makes your gums stronger and supplies your blood with iron, making your blood more immune to radicals and prevents infections from bacteria and viruses that infiltrate the blood.

   Potatoes, Mashed or boiled, potatoes are great sources of antioxidants. A potato is also a good source of estrogen’s and it is a highly recommended food for those who have hormone problems, especially those who are having PMS.  Potatoes are proven to prevent heart diseases, cancer, and improve blood circulation, thus preventing stroke. It is also high in vitamin E so it means I can do wonders for your skin. Its high content of potassium, calcium, and magnesium makes the bones, teeth, and gums stronger.

    Yogurt, is made of live bacteria. And yes, these are good bacteria that the body should have to fight the bad bacteria. Only buy the classic yogurt, not the sweetened yogurt, because sweetened yogurt is full of sugar and you do not really want that. The natural contains high amounts of protein and calcium so you can expect to fuel your body’s need for energy and at the same time strengthen your bones and teeth.

   Apples, True enough, apples can keep the doctor at bay or away. Available the entire year, apples are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that will ward of cancer cells. These antioxidants prevent free radicals from destroying the body’s healthy cells. Apples also have high mineral content that protect ad strengthen the body immune system. They are known to reduce inflammation because they have antibiotic properties and they are also proven to be effective in reducing the body cholesterol: levels in the blood.



Natural vs. Man Made Vitamins

19 03 2010

   There is a lot of focus on eating a balanced diet when you are suffering from diabetes. This is to ensure that your body gets all the nutrition that it needs and does not suffer from unnecessary deficiencies. The deficiency of a single vitamin or mineral can cause exaggerated symptoms in a person with diabetes. That is why it is essential to look after your diet to ensure that you get the recommended daily allowance or RDA of all the minerals and vitamins.

   The diet that you eat may sometimes not be enough to provide all the vitamins that you need, at least not in the quantity of the RDA that you need. After all how much vegetables and fruits can you eat in a single day? So a number of people take vitamin supplements. These could be in the form of tablets or juices or even monthly injections. It is an alternative to the natural vitamins found in food and supplements to the food that you consume.

   However the man made vitamins that you get are not as easily absorbed by the human body. They are artificial compounds and take a long while to be digested. Some of them may not be fully absorbed by the body and become toxic. That is why it is always preferable to get your vitamins and minerals the natural way by eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables.



10 Superfoods for Diabetes

26 12 2009

   Vegetables packed with powerhouse of nutrients. Eat four to five serving a day. Have 1/2 cup canned or cooked vegetables or 1 cup raw vegetables.

   Fruits has the same advantages as vegetables, fruit is brimming with nutrients you need, it’s low if fat, high in fiber. Eat three or four serving a day. One serving is one whole fruit, 1/2 cup cooked or canned fruit or 1 cup raw fruit.

   Beans are just about the best source of dietary fiber. This is as powerful that it can even lower your overall blood sugar levels.

   Cereal the right breakfast cereal is your absolute best opportunity to pack pore fiber into your day. Kashi Go Lean Crunch (10 grams), Raisin Bran (8 gram), Gneral Mills Multi-Bran Chex (8 grams), Post Wheat N Bran Spoon Size (8 grams), Kellogg’s All Bran (14 gram), Now you need aleast 10 grams fiber a day. You can put fruit in  your cereal and there is one serving of fruit.

   Fish is a good source of protein. People with diabetes offen have high Triglycerides and low level of HDL the good cholesterol. A excellent source of omega-3 are Salmon, Mackerel and Tuna.

   Poultry Breast, chicken Breast is a miracle food. It’s low in saturated fat, which raise “bad” cholesterol and may increase insulin resistence, making blood sugar control more difficult.

   Nuts they’re loaded with good fats that fight heart disease. These fats have been shown to help reduce insulin resistance and make blood sugar easier to control. don’t forget that they’re high in calories.

   Olive Oil it has been shown to help keep blood sugars steady by reducing insulin resistence.

   Yogurt is rich in protein and another weight loss powerhouse, caluim. Yogurt have been proved to help with weight loss and you are less likely to became insulin resistent.

   Cinnamon is Amzing! Just by sprinkling cinnamon on your foods, lower your blood sugar. he components in cinnamon help the body use insulin more efficiently, just 1/2 teaspoon a day can significantly lower blood sugar level.

  



Superfoods For Your Pregnancy

14 10 2009

   Pregnancy is a wonderful time in your life. It can also be very taxing and exhausting for your body, mind and spirit at times. But by nourishing your body with these great superfoods, you’ll be energized, strong and sharp, and ready to welcome your bundle of joy healthy and happy.

   Beans and legumes are good sources of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, thiamine and niacin. Make a big batch of beans when you have time and freeze them in small containers. Be careful with canned varieties, as they’re usually higher in sodium and their nutritional value is a bit lower since they’reprocessed using high temperatures. Soybeans provide more protein than any other bean or legume, making them a staple either the vegan or non-vegan. Soybeans are rich in many nutrients, including calium and iron.

   Include plenty of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet, and oats as they’re a great sources of fiber, minerals, protein and B-complex vitamins. Buy the least processed grain types you can find, since many of the commercially prepared grains have had the nutritional and beneficial germ and bran removed.

   Dark green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens, watercress, and spinach are especially important while pregnant or lactating because they supply so many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Dark leafy green vegetables also rich in phytochemicals like beta carotene and lutein which protect against many forms of cancer. Vegetables from the cabbage family such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage are wonderful sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and calcium. They are also rich in phytochemicals that have anticancer properties. Dark green leafy vegetables and cabbage familytable provide important nutrients that help to promote a plentiful milk supply for your baby.

   Nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber, protein, minerals and essential fatty acids. Be sure to eat flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts to get omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for baby’s brain and nervous system development as well as your own health. Nuts and seeds can be eaten raw or toasted, and work great in a salad made of dark leafy green vegetables.

   Lastly, it’s important to drink plenty of water, and make sure you’re getting plenty of rest during this time. A well-hydrated, well-rested body recovers more quickly, and ready to take on the challenges that life with a newborn baby brings with it.



Superfoods for Erectile Dysfunction

12 09 2009

   There are many underlying physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. reduced blood flows to the penis and nerve damage are two of the most common physical causes. Underlying conditions associated with erectile dysfunction include vascular disease, diabetes, drugs, hormone disorders, neurolgical disorders, pelvic trauma, surgery, radiation therapy, a venous leak or psychological conditions. A lack of zinc can interfere with the maturation of the reproductive organs, as well as interfere with reproductive functions and processes. It can contribute to impotence. Chronic diarrhea, poor appetite, and thus significant weight loss of the unhealthy and undesirable sort, hair loss, and the slow healing of wounds are all associated with zinc deficiencies. So, too are open sores on the skin and in the mouth, strange tastes in the mouth, and inefficient or reduced mental functioning, especially cognitive processes. So be sure to include lots of zinc rich foods in your diet, including red meat, fortified cereals, oysters, almonds, peanuts, chickpeas, soy foods, and dairy products.

   Zinc is vital to many internal processes and supports immune function, reproduction, and the nervous system.

   It’s also imperative to include other vitamins and minerals in your diet, as they may also help improve erectile dysfunction. Be sure to eat whole, fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits (lots of richly pigmented berries to support vascular integrity), vegetables, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold water fish ( salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut and mackerel. Avoid sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods and caffeine). If you’ve found in the past that you’re sensitive to certain kinds of foods, eliminate them from your diet, as it could be a contributing factor to erectile dysfunction. Also be sure to drink plenty of water. a good rule of thumb is to drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily. Try to avoid alcohol and smoking as they can have a negative impact om erectile function.

   Erectile dysfunction may be chronic or recurring, or it may occur as a single isolated incident. In the past, it was assumed that impotence was primarily a psychological problem, but many therapists and physicians today believe the majority of all cases of impotence have some physical basis.



Here are Super Foods Tips on Rejuvenate Body, Mind and Spirirt

13 06 2009

   When the goal is rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit, the methrod should be smaller, more frequent snacks and meals. This will help keep energu levels on an even keel, and regulate your blood sugar levels to avoid spikes and dips. When you choose the right combination of foods, your body gets the much needed boost it needs to sustain itself properly, even though those slumps later in the day. So dump those high sugar junk foods and reach for the following foods and get that boost you need.

   Dried Apricots and Almonds combination provides  high amount of Vitamin A, iron, protein and dietary fiber. Both foods are low in cholesterol and sodium, and apricots are a great source of potassium, which is important in regulating your body’s fluid balance. The Vitamin A in apricots contributes to healthy vision, bone growth, and reproduction, and help fight infection.

   Raisins are a healthy, low-fat, low cholesterol, and low soduim snack with significant amounts of potassium, phosphorus, copper, and iron, and when mixed with low fat yogurt, you also get riboflavon (vitamin B2) and (Vitamin B12) as well as a high amount of calium, which is needed not only for strong bones and teeth but also plays a key role in the normal functioning of the heart and other muscle.

   Baby carrots and seasame sticks are a tasty treat that will provide significant amounts of beta carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin B6, iron, potassium, copper and fiber. Beta carotene helps protect against disease like heart disease and some cancers. Vitamin A is important for healthy skin, for better night vision, and to fight infection and respiratory ailments. Folate, or Vitamin B9, is essential to human life, helping to form red blood cells and break down proteins, and playing a key role in cell growth and division.

   Peanut butter on some whole grain crackers is an excellent source of protein, iron, niacin, and fiber. Peanuts butter on celery is a classic snack, has great staying power, and the celery is stuffed with numerous Vitamins, minerals and is high in fiber. Low-fat string cheese is a good quick source of protein and calcium. They come in easy-to-carry individual serving and you can add a piece of fresh fruit for extra fiber.



Eating Real Food is A Good Habit for Life

2 06 2009

   Many people think popping a multi- vitamin supplement to get their nutrients is just as good as what comes from real foods. They don’t realize that it is far better to get vitamins and minerls from natural foods and juices. Our bodies utilize the vitamins and minerals from real foods more effeiciently. And most people find it much easier to select a variety of whole foods they enjoy eating instead of trying to make heads or tails of the entire selection of vitamin and mineral supplements that are available. And any of us who’ve swallowed a multi-vitamin or a mineral can say without a doubl that the taste leaves a lot to be desired.

   Supplements are also difficult for our bodies to break down and use, making it difficult to get the full punch from the vitamin and mierals they contains. Conversely, by consuming plenty of nutrients-dense food to get the equivalent means the nutrients are going to be easier for the body to process and utilize, and less likely to be wasted. We are also processing nutrients throughtout the course of the day when we obtain them from food, instead of just getting them from the “one a day” approach.

   Many of the supplements available today use fillers and binders to hold them together, plus coating on the tablets themselves. These are products the body does not need and will not use. Some people find they are allergic to the dyes and fillers used in vitamin pills. However, the body uses the fiber that binds fruit and vegetables. Often the “skin” of a vegetable. like a potato, is the most nutritious part. In addition, sometimes the vitamin and mineral supplements can upset our stomachs, making taking them even more difficult the next day. In many cases, combining supplements can counteract their effectiveness and can produce stomach upset when dealing with the taste and smell of some supplements. On the other hand, a variety of fruits and vegetables enhance the flavor of a nutritious meal and their fiber aids digestion.

   If you’re looking to lose weight, eating fresh food is vital to a weight loss plan. Also, eating fresh fruits and vegetables helps hair, skin and teeth stay attractive and healthy. And when you think about it, fruits and vegetables are the original “to go” food. It’s simple to grab for an orange, apple, banana, grapes, or quickly toss a feww vegetable together for a salad to take to work.

   So when you’re looking for well-balanced, healthy, reliable-nutrition, don’t reach for the bottle. Reach for the food!



Color up Your Diet

29 05 2009

   It’s important  that we eat plenty of different fruit and vegetables every day. Diets rich in fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruit ad vegetables provide essential vitamin and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling.

   You’ve probably heard about the 5 a day for better health program. It provides easy ways to add more fruit and vegetables into your daily eating patterns. It’s vital that we eat a wide variety of colorful orange/ yellow, red, green , white, and blue/ purple vegetables and fruit everyday. By eating vegetables and fruit from each color group, you will benefit from the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that each color group has to offer alone and in combination

   There’s several different yet simple ways to start incorporating vegetables and fruit into your familiar and favorite meals. You can begin your day with 100 percent fruit or vegetables juice, slice bananas or strawberries on top of your cereal, or have a salad with lunch and an apple for an afternoon snack. Include a vegetable with dinner and you already have about 5 cuos of fruit and vegetables. You may even try adding a piece of fruit for a snack or an vegetable at dinner.

  Don’t be afraid to try something new to increase your vegetable abd fruit intake. There are so many choices when selecting fruits and vegetables, Kiwifruit, asparagues, and mango may became your new favorite. Keep things fresh and interesting by combining fruits and vegetables of different flavors and colors, like red grapes with pineapple chunks, or cucumbers and red peppers.

   Get in  the habit of keeping fruits and vegetables visible and easily accessible you’ll tend to eat them more. Shor cut and cleaned produce at eye-level in the refrigerator, or keep a big colorful bowl of fruit on the table.



You are What you Eat

24 05 2009

   Recent  dietary research has uncovered 14 different nutrient- dense foods that time and again promote good overall health. Coined “superfoods,” they tend tohave fewer calories, higher levels of vitamins and minerals and many disease- fighting antioxidants.

   Beans (legumes), berries (especially blueberries), broccoli, green tea, nuts ( especially walnuts), oranges, pumpkin, salmon, soy, spinach, tomatoes, turkey, whole grains and oats, and yogurt can all help stop and even reverse disease such as hypertension, diabete’s, Alzheimer’s, and some forms of cancer. And where one might have an effect on a certain part of the body, it can also effect the health of other body functions and preformance, since diet, weight loss grimmicks and other fly-by-night programs can became a thing of the past in your life.

   Conversely, the ill-effects of an unbalanced diet are several and varied. Low energy levels, moos swings, tired all the time, weight change, uncomfortable with body are just a few signs that your diet is unbalanced. An unbalanced diet can cause problems with mainenance of body tissues, growth and development, brain and nervous system function, as well as problems with bone and muscle systems.

   Symptoms of malnutrition include lack of energy, irritability, a weakened immune systems leading to frequent colds, or allergies, and mineral depletion that can trigger a variety of health concerns including anemia.

   And since the body is connected, realizing that an unhealthy body will result in an unhealthy spirit only make sense. When we nourish our body with these superfoods and complement them with other nutrient-dense and healthy fresh foods, our spirit will be vitalized and healthy as a direct result.

   Many modern diets based on prepackaged convenience foods are solely lacking in many vitamins and minerals, which can affect our mental capacities as well, and cause irritability, confusion, and the feeling of “being in a fog” all the time.

   Superfoods can be the basis of a sound, healthy, nutritious solution to curing many of these ailments and more.



Natural Cure Tips for High Blood Pressure

4 05 2009

As a disease that is often referred to as a silent killer, high blood pressure  is a condition that may be go untected until a routine physical or a visit to the doctor. Once it has been established that high blood pressure is present, it is time to make some serious changes in lifestyle and diet. Here are some examples of home remedies that can help to bring blood pressure levels have into reasonable range, and cut the risk of a serious heart conditions.

   Hypertension or high blood pressure, is a serious condition that affects 50 million Americans, one in four adults. Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and it contributes to hardening of the arteries or atherossclersis.

  Take four leaves of Basil and two leaves of Neem (margosa) and grind them with four spoons of water. Take this ground mixture empty stomach with a glass of water.

   Mix juice of onion and pure honey in equal qantity. Take two spoon of this mixture once a day is an effective remedy for high blood pressure. Take for about a week. upon noticing improvement, take for few more days as needed.

  Exercise with perspiration, jog 1-2 miles at least 5 days a week so that you do perspire. It should take about 30-40 minutes. Then do light weight till you feel the muscles are relaxed.

   Garlic is regarded as an effective means of lowering blood pressure. It is said to reduce spasms of the small arteries. It also slows down the pulse rate and modifies the heart rhythm, besides relieving the symptom’s of dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath, and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. It may be taken in the form of raw cloves or two to three capsules a day.

  By changing specific aspects of your life, you can manipulate the outcome of this potentially deliberating disease. it you are a victim of hypertension, you are encouraged to make changes in your overall daily lifestyle. You can start by altering your diet, incorporating exercise in your daily routine and ultimately loosing weight.

  Wash 5-6 potatoes and peel. Place the peelings in 2 cups of water and boil for 15 minutes, covered. Steep until cool and strain. Drink 2 cups of this liquid every day. Said to bring high blood pressure down to normal.

   Be sure to get enough potassium, and magnesium. When the diet lacks these minerals, supplementation may improve blood pressure control. Potassium rich foods include avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapefruit, nectarines, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green peas, potatoes, and squash. Foods rich in magnesium include nuts, rices, bananas, potatoes, wheat germ, kidney and lima beans, soy, and molasses. Natural apple cider vinegar also contains potassium and magnesium.