Nutritional Value of Oranges

Nutritional Value of Oranges
By Sue Smith

Now in season, fresh Florida oranges are a great source of nutritional value. Packed full of vitamin C and other nutrients, a freshly picked orange is a great treat. Ever since early times, oranges have been used to treat diseases and supplement dietary health. For example, oranges have been used to prevent scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency, and were brought to the Caribbean region by Christopher Columbus on his second trip to the new world.

Native to Asia, the orange is thought to be a cross between a pomelo and a tangerine. It is available in many different varieties such as the navel, Valencia, and blood orange. Aside from being loaded with vitamin C to boost the immune system, oranges are also said to help lower cholesterol and lower the chance of certain types of cancer, of which include esophageal and stomach cancers.

Like other fruits, oranges are a good source of fiber. Additionally they are high in calcium and A and B vitamins. Studies have also shown that drinking orange juice as opposed to taking a vitamin C supplement yielded the greatest benefits for the vitamin. Also increasing fruit intake in the diet by just one additional serving daily can reduce the chance of stroke by nearly 4%. This is a very impressive statistic, one that can improve health and save lives.

The leaves of the orange tree can also be steeped into a tea which is one of the best tasting herbal remedies. The oils of the peel can also be used to scent lotions and perfumes as well as candies and baked goods. Orange flavoring as well as orange related vitamins and minerals can also be found in products such as a diet pill, and fiber supplements.

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How to Recognize Your Hunger Cues

How to Recognize Your Hunger Cues
By Jenny R Smith

One of the important biological needs for human beings to survive is to appease their hunger pangs. The different stages of human growth need different levels of food consumption. As an adult, the attraction towards various food waver and the food intake is directly proportional to the mood swings. Some adults are very strict about the food they take, monitor their food preparation, and take their food on time, rain or shine. They follow strict timings and give importance to the food they consume. Not many people come under this category.

Some adults, due to mood swings, give into their food cravings. These cravings might not be really due to physical needs but because of some emotional disturbance that person is going through at that particular moment. Hunger can be categorized into physical requirements or emotional cravings. During childhood a mother takes care of her child's necessities. This is both physically appeasing and emotionally soothing. Small rewards in the form of food goodies make the child very happy. This emotional well being, in the long run, can make an adult overcome bad mood.

How do we get to know whether our hunger pangs are due to physical needs or emotional cravings? If it is only physical hunger we should follow strict rules. During emotional disturbances our hands automatically reach for comfort foods. These comfort foods might prove disastrous to the body and cause long-term damages. If we can recognize the hunger due to emotional cravings and avoid giving into the hunger pangs, it will benefit in the long run. We sometimes forget to distinguish between need to eat and want to eat. More often than not, it is the desire and not the need. People tend to confuse themselves and take inappropriate food. Based on the facts such as

• The emotional state & the stress level • The time elapsed since the last meal • The quantity of the meal

An individual has to recognize the hunger as emotional or physical. One of the effective ways of controlling "emotional" hunger cues is by drinking a glass of water. Another way would be to eat little quantity slowly to overcome the urge.

While these might be methods to overcome emotional hunger cues, in the short term, developing a stress free mind and focusing towards positive things in life is a sure way of eliminating emotional hunger cues.

Jenny Smith is a Ringtone fanatic that owns Ringtone Blog. She regularly blogs on Ringtone Blog and talks about her most passionate interest - ringtones.

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Saying to No to Junk Food

Saying to No to Junk Food
By Brenda Williams

That bag of potato chips has your name written all over it. It is calling to you-beckoning you to come over and open it so that you can bite down into crispy, crunchity, salty, greasy goodness. When you feel this happening, or if you've already got one hand half way into the bag of potato chips, you need to stop yourself and reflect on what it is you're doing.

Junk food is one of the primary reasons that the obesity levels are as out of control as they are. Whatever happened to the days of eating your snacks, which consisted of fresh vegetables and dip? Now, if you're lucky, the veggies and dip only come out whenever you have company over. Who made the rule that we can't eat healthier all of the time? The truth is, eating healthy is incredibly difficult. It is a mental game that we often battle with our minds. To eat or not to eat- that is the question.

When you feel yourself craving junk food, immediately try to think of at least five healthy alternatives to the food that you were going to consume. In the mood for something sweet? Instead of reaching for that candy bar, why not opt out for a small can of cantaloupe or pineapple? Even a small yogurt is a much better choice. You don't have to become a calorie counter or some sort of health food freak to know what is good for you and what's not. Too often, we second guess ourselves. We think that a nutritionist or a doctor will know better than us what is good for our bodies when in truth, we know our bodies better than anyone else!

My boyfriend is a personal trainer who happens to be extremely well versed in diet and exercise (no pun intended), and I am constantly asking for reassurance from him when it comes to what I want to eat versus what I already know I should be eating. He is incredibly patient but nevertheless assures me that I already know what I need to be eating.

When you are thinking of making the switch to eventually cut out most of (if not all) of the junk food from your diet), you should keep a food journal documenting what you ate before and after. For example, if during the week prior to you attempting to change your diet, you decided to eat fast food all of the time, record that. Then, the week after, record all of the healthier choices you are making. Usually, the journals will act as a secondary method of catching you in your own act. If you know that you are committed to writing down each food item that enters your mouth, you will more than likely be hesitant to pick up that bag of double-stuffed oreos! This isn't to say that you can never have junk food. After all, going out to pizza or ordering mozarella sticks as an appetizer isn't out. You just need to be aware of when it would be appropriate to eat these things.

San Francisco Alcoholism

San Francisco Addict

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3 Reasons For a Plant-Based Diet

3 Reasons For a Plant-Based Diet By Kevin Hinton

In order to calm my nerves and get a grip on myself before I begin a talk to an audience I remember the words of my teacher, Mr Jaffrey - "Don't worry" he said, "They always ask the same questions."

Sometimes this assists me with my answers and sometimes it bores me.

Take the 'Vegetarian question' - please.

Why is it so hard to accept the fact that, on all levels - physical, chemical and spiritual - the human species is designed to achieve the highest level of health on a plant based diet?

The following 3 reasons are most convincing for the argument for vegetarianism.

1. Tests have shown that vegetarians have twice the stamina of meat eaters.

One such test at Yale University showed that on the average - vegetarians performed better and more consistently than meat-eaters, even though half of the vegetarians were sedentary people, while all of the meat-eaters tested were athletes.

Does this surprise you? - Not if you think about one of the strongest animals on the planet - the elephant.

The diet of this animal is 100% plant based and it doesn't affect it's strength one bit - in fact, the law of structure governs function demands that the elephant remain on its own specific diet.

2. Another test by a Danish team of researchers tested a group of men on a variety of diets, using a stationary bicycle to measure their strength and endurance.

They found that the individuals tested who were on a strictly vegetarian diet outperformed the athletes that ate meat.

I follow the trials and tribulations of the athletic world and I notice - not with surprise - that athletes who compete in endurance events perform what is called 'carbohydrate loading' This is done to allow for the cycle of energy to kick in later and supply oxygen to a tiring body. I also noticed that the athletes did not bulk up on heavy proteins - which take a long time to digest and are not the best suppliers of 'quick energy.'

3. Other tests by Doctors in Belgium report that vegetarians bounce back from fatigue far more rapidly than do meat eaters.

Recovery time - the ability to recover and and be ready for the next opponent or next challenge is very important in sports. As an A grade squash player in my 50's I was often challenged to the limits of my endurance, however, I always found that if I could hang in the rally and get a game or two off my opponent, by the end of the match, my recovery rate was a factor in my success. I attribute this to my 26 years as a strict vegetarian.

Sometimes, anecdotal evidence is sniffed at by the 'scientific' community, however, some of the most brilliant people of our time confirm the efficacy of the truth that the human animal is designed to function more efficiently on a plant-based diet.

All the best for your health and happiness, Kevin Hinton

Kevin Hinton is a renowned Natural Health Educator & Advocator who has assisted a broad range of people to reinvigorate their lives through common-sense Natural Health practices.

He is a trusted advisor to many in the corporate world in Australia and North America who recognize the life-improving value of Natural Health habits.

His experience in the field reveals that adopting practical Natural Health habits usually helps drive success in other areas of life.

Visit Kevin at: http://www.thehealtheducator.com.au and sign up for a FREE world class newsletter.

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Benefits of Eating a Salad Every Day

Benefits of Eating a Salad Every Day
By Lauren S Johnson

Incorporating a salad into our daily diet is very beneficial to our health. We can be very creative by adding our favorite vegetables, leafy greens, fat free dressing and nuts. A salad is something that is very simple to make and it can bring us a few steps closer to meeting our daily vegetable requirement. Here are a few other benefits that we can gain from consuming a delicious mixture of greens each and every day.

An increase of fiber is one of the benefits we gain from consuming salad. The fiber that we gain from these leafy greens is responsible for lowering our cholesterol and decreasing constipation. Fiber is also excellent for those individuals who wish to lose weight. While some people rely upon the best diet pills, others consume a diet rich in fiber and protein. Fiber acts as an appetite suppressant by helping you feel full much longer. That is why it is recommended to consume a salad prior to your meal in order to reduce your calorie intake during lunch or dinner.

Furthermore, it is almost a given that the diet which you are currently on does not include the recommended serving of fruit and vegetables. Eating a salad every day can bring you closer to that goal. Eating the recommended daily dose of fruit and veggies provides us with countless nutrients which nurture every cell and organ in our body. Furthermore, green veggies and other dark pigmented produce provide our bodies with free-radical fighting antioxidants which lower our chances of developing many illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer. So as you can see, the five a day is not just a random saying, it is a wise step towards a healthy lifestyle.

Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition.

Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies, diet pills, and hoodia gordonii.

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Want to Become Vegetarian - 4 Advantages of Vegetarianism

Want to Become Vegetarian - 4 Advantages of Vegetarianism By Arman Hansen

Vegetarianism is a campaign to reduce or totally eliminate the presence of meat in the diet. The different classification of vegetarians are as varied as the reasons as to why people switch into this type of diet. However, this movement has a long history, even dating as far back as Pythagoras' time. During those times though, they saw the act of killing animals for human consumption as immoral and blatant barbarism.

Today, the fight continues and it serves varying importance on each individual who chooses to make the change. After all, it offers benefits and advantages that makes becoming a vegetarian a practical decision.

1) Monetary or Economical

By reducing or eliminating meat in your diet, it could improve your financial conditions tremendously. There is no more practical reason than this alone.

If you were to study the trends in the market today, the cost of meat is escalating. There are several factors that can contribute to this. For one, raising meat is expensive in itself as compared to plant-based foods. After the raising period, the processing stage is just as costly. Hence, it will certainly be reflected in the price of meat in the market.

If you remove meat from your list of grocery items, you will notice a major drop in your bill.

2) Safety of Food

Meat, especially poultry, is often stored and kept frozen for a long period of time. Although the meat is frozen, cold temperatures have not been proven to effectively kill all bacteria. Not to mention that during the shipping, processing, and thawing process of the meat, they could have easily been contaminated. Because the procedures just stated are all part of the meat processing method, there is nothing you can do to avoid it.

In fact, statistics show that several meat eaters suffer from food poisoning. This is especially true because several microorganisms could have possibly infested that dead meat, which can be harmful to your body.

3) Variety of Food Choices

Aside from meat being too costly on your budget, it also reduces the variability in your diet choices. Plus, preparing vegetable dishes take no more (even less) than cooking meat dishes.

It is a common misconception that vegetables are boring and not tasty. There are several varieties of vegetarian dishes that you can explore cooking. Aside from being equally tasty as most meat dishes, they are also nutritious and easy to prepare.

4) Health Benefits

This is probably the most common reason why people opt for a vegetarian diet. There is a wide variety of health risks entailed with a diet consisting of meat; hence you must be informed of each one of them.

The vegetarian diet is resolving several health problems worldwide and there is no more convincing reason than that to try it yourself. Find out more if vegetarian is right for you at http://vegetariandiet.relatedtips.com

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Shorten Your Workouts to Double Your Results!

Shorten Your Workouts to Double Your Results! By Stephen Cabral

I promised to deliver a formula we use in Boston to condense a full hour workout into just 45 minutes. These shorter exercise bouts leave clients feeling energetic and looking fantastic in usually less than 3 weeks.

By using the principles of Escalating Density Training, we choose opposing push, pull, and twisting exercises to eliminate the need for most rest periods between sets.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps

1. Choose a muscle group to work

Example: You decide to start your first set by working your chest

2. Choose a compound (multi-joint) exercise for that muscle group
Example: You need to work your chest muscles so you chose a dumbbell ball chest press
3. Pick an opposing upper or lower body exercise to superset it with.

Example: You need to work an opposing muscle, so you can either choose a back exercise, or a pulling lower body exercise such as Romanian deadlifts or 1-legged reaches since chest is an upper body pushing exercise.

So now that you know what formula to use to develop a more efficient workout, you can now go back and reinvent your current exercise program. Just make sure to superset or even triset all the exercises by grouping opposite muscle groups.

When do you rest?

Here's where the brilliance of EDT principles shine. Since you are working opposing muscle groups, you are in essence resting each previously worked muscle complex while the current one is under tension. Using this formula, if it were to take you 40 seconds to complete each exercise and then you rested for 30-60 seconds after you completed the superset, you would have essentially given the first muscle group 1 min/10 sec to 1 min/40 sec rest. Unless you are a powerlifter going for substantial strength gains, that's more than enough time to rest a muscle group before hitting the weights again.

Let's take a look at this in action!

Here's an actual workout that you could use today to get started:

5 minute dynamic warm-up

1A. Dumbbell ball chest press 1B. Dumbbell Romanian deadlifts

2A. Cable 1 arm row (standing) 2B. Dumbbell front squats to box

3A. Band Rotational Chops 3B. Prone lying cobras on a stability ball (like a ball back extension)

- Choose 2-3 sets per exercise - Complete either 8 or 15 reps of each set for this entire program

At the end of the workout, you could finish it off with some 30 second fat burning intervals to leave your metabolism revved up for the rest of the day. This entire workout, including warm-up and intervals, should take you no more than 40 - 45minutes. As your conditioning gets better, you can decrease your rest period down to 30 seconds before beginning the next superset.

This type of workout will yield at least twice the results of an ordinary exercise program where you are just circuiting through machine after machine. The time flys by and you'll absolutely love what it does for your body and energy levels!

If you need a place to start, check out my free weight loss e-course on "How to Lose Belly Fat Starting Today!" I've reserved a limited number of copies to give away and you can grab yours today at http://www.stephencabral.com/FreeReports.html

Committed to your success,

Stephen Cabral Author of Lose5in7 Health Consultant for MTV, NutritionData, Diet.com, Gather, EDGE http://www.Lose5in7.com

Stephen Cabral is a national health & fitness correspondent with over 10 years of credentials and media appearances. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. His Trim, Tone & Tighten newsletter is seen by over 100,000 people each week.

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Quick Tips For Common Digestive Health Problems

Quick Tips For Common Digestive Health Problems By Katherine Oosthuis

There is no magic bullet for digestive health but certainly digestive health problems can dictate our quality of life. We literally do become what we eat, digest and assimilate so if that process goes wrong our everyday life can be significantly affected. The health benefits of probiotics for digestive complaints are most important. Probiotics work by killing harmful bacteria, destroying toxins, boosting antibodies and preventing bacterial and fungal overgrowth. Digestive health problems should be dealt with as quickly as possible because then they are easier to treat than if they are left to linger.

Constipation

Increase dietary fibre or take a fibre supplement such as psyllium supplement in powder or capsule form. You can also try adding oat bran to your daily food.
• Increase your water intake
• Supplement with a good probiotic

Diarrhea

• Investigate the possibility of coeliac disease (a condition of the small intestine)
• Avoid very hot or cold liquids, stimulants, fizzy drinks and junk fats hidden in baked goods.
• Avoid fried foods
• Take a good probiotic supplement.

Abdominal pain/bloating

• Consider that you may be wheat or dairy intolerant - cut these out for one month,
• Cut out sugar,
• Avoid processed food and
• Take a probiotic.
• Eat small regular meals
• Do not wear tight clothing around your waist.

Oral thrush

A yeast infection or oral thrush can often occur after an antibiotic or a time of stress. The symptoms of an oral yeast infection include coating on the surface of the tongue, or a metallic taste in the mouth. Accompanying this can be a feeling of anxiety and a dry-mouth sensation which no amount of water seems to satisfy. Open a good probiotic capsule and pour the powder into your mouth. Take a little water, then slosh it around for a few minutes, gargle with it and then swallow it. Within a day you should feel relief.

Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

This is a common complaint and often due to poor cardiac sphincter tone. That is the ring muscle at the end of the oesophagus (food pipe), and increased abdominal pressure from being over-weight or pregnancy. Some helpful steps:

• Eat small, regular meals, avoid fizzy drinks and take digestive enzymes with each meal.
• Don't lie down for three hours after eating your evening meal, and don't bend to pick up things if your stomach is full.

Visit Detox For Life to find out:

Which three foods cause many Digestive Health Problems What's an effective natural remedy for GERD Which supplements are best for digestive health

Detox For Life offers a wealth of articles and information on all aspect of health managed and updated by Katherine Oosthuis.

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The Dilemma of Modern Food

Conventional wisdom teaches that we can obtain all the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need from a diet which consists mainly of natural carbohydrates, i.e. vegetables and fruit.

Take a look at "healthy" food, i.e. fresh fruit and vegetables off the shelf:

1. Beans and lettuce - contain 25% of the most important minerals that should be present when grown naturally, except for sodium, manganese, iron and copper. These minerals are virtually non-existent.

2. Cabbage - contains 30% of natural content but almost no sodium, manganese or copper.

3. Tomatoes - contain 20% calcium, 7% magnesium, 25% potassium but virtually no sodium, manganese, iron or copper.

4. Spinach - 500%* calcium, 23% magnesium, 3% potassium, almost no sodium, manganese, iron or copper.

Source: Rutgers University 1993: Study of Micronutrient Value of Commercially Produced Vegetables compared with Naturally Grown Products.

Core Finding: Modern fresh vegetables contain only 13%, on average, of the essential micro-nutrients that could be expected to be present in organically grown produce.

An even worse real-life scenario

The real-life situation is even worse than these figures suggest.

*For example, on the face of it the 500% calcium in spinach looks good. Bear in mind that the utility of calcium depends on a delicate balance between the amount of calcium, magnesium and potassium in your food. Note the dramatic upset in the ratio between these three minerals. This effectively reduces the value of the apparently high calcium content to virtually nil, because your body is unable to absorb and utilise the mineral calcium if magnesium and potassium are not also present but, very importantly, in the correct ratios.

To-day, fifteen years later, it is more than likely that the situation has deteriorated even further. It therefore comes as no surprise that JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association), the mouthpiece for conventional medicine and traditionally not well-disposed towards alternatives and supplements, published an article shortly after the turn of the millennium, which declared that every person should take a multi-vitamin and mineral each day.

There appears to be conclusive evidence that every man, woman and child in our society should be supplementing appropriately and regularly. Those who do not are more than likely to experience accumulating shortfalls that lead to escalating health problems as time goes by.

In our previous newsletter entitled "Ten Ways to get Robbed" guidelines were given to assist the reader to avoid the pitfalls when shopping for appropriate supplements and to ensure that you get good value for money.

Read these and other related newsletters on http://www.svelteslot.net or e-mail jan@verslank.net

for more details.

Quote: "People who don't know how to keep themselves healthy ought to have the decency to get themselves buried, and not waste time about it." Author: Henrik Ibsen 1828-1906, Norwegian Dramatist

Jan Greeff

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Ingredients Found in Grapes Could Be the Key to Living Longer

Ingredients Found in Grapes Could Be the Key to Living Longer
By Richard Craig

Scientists have discovered two ingredients found naturally in some food and wines and doctors say in a supplement formula, these ingredients may increase mitochondria and turn on longevity genes. So, is it a Medicine Man Potion or a Real Alternative for Mankind to increase life expectancy?

This clinically proven discovery has created a stir in the research world. Could substances found in red grapes, peanuts, dark chocolate, red wine and blueberries hold a key to living longer, feeling better, looking younger fighting cancer, reduce insulin for Diabetes patients, lower cholesterol and being thinner? Several anti aging scientists and doctors are leaning towards the possibilities this discovery will bring about.

"We find that resveratrol is the best molecule we know of to increase healthy lifespan and the mice end up being resistant to diseases of aging like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and can even run twice as far on a treadmill," says Dr. David Sinclair, a biologist and pathologist at Harvard Medical School.

"People are actually feeling more energetic, being able to walk farther, often times especially older people can extend their walks, which is really great sense of well being, sleeping better, less aches and pains," says Dr. Jamie McManus, a clinical research director at the Shaklee Company.

This research biologist and family physician are representing the makers of Vivix; a cellular anti-aging tonic that they say in one teaspoon has the same amount of resveratrol equal to 100 glasses of red wine. Adding a powerful antioxidant called polyphenol in the form of an extract from the muscadine grape. Vivix is a high concentration you couldn't receive from eating normal amounts of food and together they say have been clinically proven in the lab working to slowing down and rebuilding the four mechanisms of aging in our cells.

And they say there is an additional effect.

"The mice lost weight and they looked much better, you could really tell the difference between the mouse that was taking resveratrol and the control animal," adds Dr. Sinclair.

Other experts say, yes, there does seem to be promising results with resveratrol for anti-aging, but they don't think we are there yet because science lacks the studies on humans.

"I think it's promising but I think we have a long way to go, It does have these principles that get rid of the oxidative damage from eating the unhealthy foods or from just everyday toxins in the air, so it's probably going to make you feel better, then maybe make you want to exercise more. I mean that's a reason to try the grape seed," says Melinda Sothern, a professor of Public Health at LSU Health Sciences Center.

"If you're taking safe doses and everything seems to be okay. Is that a problem if that's going to help you exercise and do more physical activity? I don't view that as a negative. But from a pure scientific standpoint, there is no data to conclusively say that it actually works," says Dr. Kim Edward LeBlanc, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at LSU Health Sciences Center.

"Remember these words that Mackie said it: 'I think it's going to have a profound effect on mitochondrial function,'" stated Fitness expert Mackie Shilstone of East Jefferson General Hospital.

The mitochondria that Mr.Shilstone is speaking of about are the small power packs of each cell. When we are young we have lots of them, as we age we begin to lose them, they become weak and inactive, making us lose energy, lowering our immune system and become susceptible to getting ill.

"Now if you improve mitochondrial function, you make the muscle more effective, that being the heart muscle, that being the biceps, the triceps during your exercise you will be actually more efficient. In theory, I think this will improve stamina and I think will improve strength," adds Shilstone.

"This particular molecule seems to be able to turn off and on, sort of change the activity of different genes in our body that regulate things like obesity. It really looks to regulate how the little energy storehouses in our cells work. So not only does it have an effect on obesity but it does seem to have an effect on aging and it seems to have an effect on some cancers as well," says Dr. Henri Roca in the Department of Family and Integrative Medicine at LSU Health Sciences Center.

But without conclusive human studies doctors don't know how much can help or how much would not only hurt you, but interact in a bad way with the medications you are taking.

Still the scientists behind Vivix stand by their product.

"What we see is resveratrol just like exercise is really effective at boosting the number and activity of these mitochondria within cells. The good news is that resveratrol has been in human clinical trials already and the results there been positive that we're seeing the same metabolic physiological effects that we saw in the mice translating into people," says Dr. Sinclair.

Resveratrol has also been shown to reduce inflammation which in some studies has been associated with obesity.

Richard C. Craig http://livelongeryears.com

http://www.wwltv.com/medical/stories/wwl112608mlweightloss.6ab8241.html?ocp=1

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Eating For Energy - Five Top Benefits of Eating Raw and Live Foods

Eating For Energy - Five Top Benefits of Eating Raw and Live Foods By Ntathu Allen

Do you lack energy; feel bloated or tired after eating?

The food you eat has a massive effect on your body's ability to function correctly. I am sure you are familiar with the saying "you are what you eat".

If you are looking for simple ways to boost your energy and feed your soul, eating more raw and live foods in your daily diet may be the answer.

From a nutritional point of view, you need to eat foods which are easily digested and maintain their "life-giving properties." These foods are known as "Energy foods."

What Are Energy-Rich Foods

1. Energy rich foods are whole, natural, raw and live foods.

What Are Raw Foods

1. Raw foods are energy rich foods. They are plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables; nuts and seeds, grains and beans which are eaten uncooked and in their natural state.

2. Food is not regarded as "raw" if it is heated at over 40-47 degrees C (104-117F.)

3. Raw and living foods are juiced, blended, grated or chopped and dehydrated as opposed to boiling and roasting.

What Are "Live Foods"

1. Living foods are beans and seeds which are eaten live, through a process known as sprouting. The more popular seeds/beans sprouted are mung bean, alfalfa, sunflower, buckwheat, radish.

Five Top Benefits Of Eating Raw And Live Foods

1. These foods aid detoxification and help you to effectively manage your energy and restore health. . 2.Raw and live foods are easy to digest.

3.The enzymes in foods are destroyed when food is heated over 116 degrees.

As raw and living foods are uncooked they contain all the enzymes your body needs. They are known as the "Life-Force" or "energy" of foods and play a key role in the digestive process and are essential to the body's absorption of nutrients.

4.The high level of nutrients found in raw and living foods contribute to improved physical health and emotional wellbeing; a stronger immune system, detoxification, higher energy levels.

5.Eating raw and live foods give you more energy. They provide the maximum amount of energy your body needs with less effort.

The more you look after yourself in your diet and exercise programme, the more energy and vitality you will have to do the activities you enjoy the most.

So, if you wish to feel energised and experience that "feel-good" factor during your day, try and eat more raw and live foods - energy foods - in your daily diet.

Ntathu Allen, Yoga and Meditation Teacher works with women who want a richer, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families. She teaches you easy yoga postures, meditation practices and relaxation techniques to help you live a healthier, wealthier and happier stress-free life. To find out more go to: http://www.yogainspires.co.uk and sign up for your copy of Ntathu's free monthly yoga Inspires enewsletter. The newsletter contains a goldmine of tips, techniques and strategies you can use to become healthier, wealthier and happier.

Email: ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk http://www.yogainspires.co.uk

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Add Fitness to Your Wishlist

It's that time again; time to start buying holiday gifts for friends and families. While you're out finding the perfect present for them, though, consider what it is you want to receive this year. If you are like many people who are hoping to get in shape, you may want to add some of the top fitness products to your wish list this season. You should also consider these presents for loved ones who share your goal for a healthier life. Everyone has their own preferred method of working out and getting into shape. Thankfully, though, there is surely a fit gift to suit every personality. For example, people who love to work out with a group are likely to appreciate a membership to a gym or health club. Get one for your best friend, and sign yourself up too. Then, you can go together and make getting into shape a social experience. Another great option is to sign up for a fun class. Get a gift certificate for a local dance studio and learn to strut your stuff, or hit the yoga mat to discover a new way of healing your body and your mind. If you and your friends already share a fitness hobby, you can get great gear to step it up a notch. Love to bike? Consider getting a pair of quality fitness sunglasses or a mileage tracker for your cycle. If running is your thing, check out the latest shoes that record how far and how fast you run. Other great options for any sport are heart rate monitors, music players, and environmentally friendly sport bottles. The gym may not be the place for everyone, though. If you are someone who prefers to get sweaty in solitude, your best gifts are likely to be found in the DVD section. Add a few of the top video workout products to your wish list and clear a space in front of the TV. With the recent surge in fitness interest, there are hundreds of great programs to choose from. Everything from pilates to kickboxing can be done right in your own home with the aid of your DVD player! If the television isn't quite personal enough, consider a paid membership to an online training site. You can gain access to personalized workouts and nutrition info. Most sites even let you download routines to your iPod or mp3 player. They also let you record your progress and celebrate your successes. Plus, it's easy to sign up with a friend and send each other progress reports. No matter what your interests, there is sure to be a fitness gift perfect for you or another exercise enthusiast in your life. So, drop a few hints to family and friends to let them know which of these fit gifts you're hoping to unwrap this season. Don't think they'll get it right? Splurge on yourself this year. You deserve it!

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Robert Harden, fitness coach at Extremely-Fit, invites you to visit http://www.extremely-fit.com. The perfect place to fill your Christmas wish list. DVD programs like P90X, 10 Minute Trainer, and Turbo Jam are perfect gifts! Not to mention as a fitness coach, you have someone to ask all those important questions along the way.

Food and Diet

Food and Diet By Brenda Williams

Food and Diet is such an incredibly important part of our lives. Every day we need food to sustain ourselves. However, not just any food will do. We should always exercise caution and be selective when we can regarding what type of food we put into our body. That being said, there are many people who choose not to eat healthy because they don't have the mental fortitude and wherewithal to turn away from tempting foods that are bad for them.

Here's an example. In an effort to eat better, I decided that I would forego all of the sugary, carb heavy foods that I normally eat such as bread, butter, cookies, pies and fast food. Instead, I am now trying to revert back to the way I used to eat before I got out of college. You see, when we have someone else making our food for us, we often don't think twice about what is healthy versus what is not healthy. When I was in college, I had the food at the dining hall. When I didn't eat at the dining hall, I was racking up debt on my credit cards eating out; and while I ate out quite a bit, I always somehow managed to eat relatively healthy. Eating became a problem after college was over and it was time to step into the real world. No longer leaning on the total support of an academic institution to provide me with free meals, and having racked up a ton of debt eating out was no longer an option; I had little money but was still hungry. So what are your options when you don't have the money to spend on healthy foods that cost more? You eat poorly.

Rather than go to the supermarket and purchase the necessary ingredients needed to make a healthy meal for myself which would've taken anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes to make, I opted instead to stop in at the local fast food restaurant. And even though I would order what I thought was the healthiest choice on the menu (typically some sort of chicken deal), it turned out that it still wasn't that great for me. The funny thing about eating poorly is that your health almost immediately suffers. In my case, I am a runner; and having been used to a relatively healthy diet to then go to one that is in the dumps, I began to feel sluggish. I was having trouble getting out of bed in the mornings (and I am typically a morning person). My feet felt like they were dragging up the hills, and I became increasingly irritable and couldn't think straight. If that wasn't enough, I began to put on a little weight- hardly noticeable, but noticeable enough to me.

The lesson to be learned here is that we must learn to treat our bodies as if they were temples. Before you pick up food to eat, think twice about whether or not the food is good for your body. Do you really need to eat that bag of chips? Discipline yourself to do better.

Fort Worth Rehab

Fort Worth Addiction

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Low Carb Diets - Fast Weight Loss Or Big Let Down?

One of the most widely held beliefs among the weight loss community is that low carb diets are the key to a fast slim-down. Just think of all of the "low carb" diets available... -- Atkins -- South Beach -- Zone ...just to name a few. But why do so many weight loss professionals promote carbohydrate restriction? Four words... it appears to work. Those who restrict carbohydrates, often do lose weight quickly. And for individuals who are desperate to lose weight this quick slim-down seems like the "light at the end of the tunnel". It appears to them that they have found the "holy grail" of weight loss in cutting carbs. But have they only been fooled? The answer is a resounding yes! The truth is that your body depends on GOOD carbohydrates for the majority of its functions and when there is an absence of GOOD carbohydrates (As there is with carb restricted diets) your body will actually manufacture its own in order to maintain tissues that absolutely need them! Because the manufacturing of carbohydrates takes additional energy your body will burn an excess amount of calories... something that promoters of low carb diets call the "Metabolic Advantage". Along with the excess use of energy by the body to produce carbohydrates, people who are on low carbohydrate diets are also eating fewer calories because they are consuming far fewer BAD carbohydrates than they typically would on a day to day basis... -- French fries -- Boxed cereals -- Soda (diet or regular) -- White Bread -- Refined Pastas -- Salad Dressings -- White sugar It's this combination of an increased use of energy by the body to manufacture carbs and fewer calories from refined carbs going into the body that makes low carb diets produce quick weight loss... ...giving the illusion that the diet is actually working, when really it's only a set up for massive failure! So what's the problem? The problem is that most carb restricted diets make no distinction between good carbs and bad carbs. These diets simply teach the elimination of most carbs from your caloric intake. This is a huge mistake because eliminating good carbs from your diet causes the body to go into survival mode, meaning that it will store and ration the food you consume. As a result, when a person who has been on such a diet begins to eat normal again, the body will store increased quantities of the food they eat as fat! Your body needs good carbs like whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Vital organs such as your brain, kidneys and liver absolutely will not function without carbohydrates and when these carbs are cut out of your diet for any extended period the affects can be extremely dangerous! At some point you will have to consume good carbs or you will seriously impact your health! There's no need to partake in low carb diets to lose weight. There are other alternatives that produce faster, healthier and longer lasting weight loss!

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Jason Clemens is a leading weight loss and nutrition expert. "Learn the simple, step-by-step weight loss formula for losing 30lbs In 30 Days - using the ancient, almost magical power of four basic, all-natural principles!" ==>Visit http://www.naturalexplosiveweightloss.com

Savory Soups and Stews

Savory Soups and Stews By Kaleena A Lawless

In the fall and winter time, we crave hearty meals that keep our bodies warm and full. Soups and stews offer a dish that is both healthy and filling. Soups are hydrating and great for weight loss. Stews have the potential to deliver an awesome serving of lean proteins for workout recovery and building muscle.

Soups

Soups can be made from scratch using a broth, fresh vegetables, meat, pasta and spice. You can purchase a soup blend mix containing grains and vegetables to add to your favourite broth.

Made from scratch soups usually don't take long to prepare but they can take a long time to cook for the ingredients to become tender and the spices to come out.

If you are in a hurry there is a wide variety of canned and boxed soups. When you go canned, try to pick up the low sodium option. My favourite ready to eat soups are the brands in mason jars sold in most grocery stores. They are a little more expensive but they are packed with grains and vegetables. The thicker pureed soups are delicious paired with a piece of whole grain bread for dipping.

Avoid creamed soups that are high in fat and try to make canned soup with water or low fat milk instead of full fat milk or cream.

Stews

Stews are similar to soup except they are thick and made with larger pieces of food. Typically stews are made with beans, chunks of beef, other meats or vegetarian meat-like alternatives and vegetables such as peppers, corn, carrots and potatoes.

Stews are perfect for when you have a bunch of left overs. Just throw all ingredients in to a pot with a bit of water, stock or crushed tomatoes (some recipes call for wine or beer but this is a health blog!) and simmer on low heat until the flavours and spices have blended.

Stews are great for people trying to cut back on carbohydrates and fat because it's such a filling meal that you won't notice the only carbs are coming from vegetables.

Eating healthy doesn't mean being hungry. With literally thousands of soup and stew recipes out there your palate will never get bored and your body will be more fit than ever before!

Kaleena Lawless Personal Training Specialist http://www.kalisthenixfitnessblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaleena_A_Lawless http://EzineArticles.com/?Savory-Soups-and-Stews&id=1708844

Whole Eggs Versus Egg Whites

Whole Eggs Versus Egg Whites

By Siegfried Garcia

This has been probably one of the most controversial issues in the Fitness World. And it all boils down to whether you eat the Whole Egg or just the Egg white. As for the whole egg, it's all about the Yolk. Which actually has 210mg of cholesterol. So what? Well as we all know cholesterol when increased, could block arteries to the heart which cause common heart attacks and maybe other cardiovascular diseases. But wait, there are 2 types of cholesterol right? The good which is HDL and the bad which LDL. Before we go any further, lets try to define some terms here.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) "good cholesterol" - It carries the cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad cholesterol" - It carries the cholesterol through the blood streams from the liver to peripheral tissues. It also carries fat to the arteries which eventually blocks blood from flowing.

So maybe the question in mind is... which of the 2 do we really need? Actually the answer is BOTH. However, it is advised to take at least only 2 whole eggs a week. Why? The LDL or bad cholesterol resides on the Yolk. The HDL or good cholesterol resides on the white. Too much intake of the yolk may trigger some heart illnesses. Though HDL is suppose to free us from LDL, it unfortunately cannot handle the large amount if taken daily assuming a whole egg is consumed. As for weight lifters who need Protein Intake, a good practice wood be 1 whole egg and a couple of egg whites. But of course it is always better to seek a physicians advice just to be safe.

People who are in the weight gain program I believe have Eggs in their Diet list. That's because of it's high Protein content. As we all know, protein is the one responsible for building our muscles. Others get it from milk, fish, beef & white meat (chicken breast/ thigh).

In my second month of training, I'm now going to increase my Protein intake. And Eggs are definitely in my list. Limiting the yolks and increasing the whites of course. I'm also going to start having oat meal which is rich in fiber. Just to flush all those stuff we really don't need in the body.

I was actually given a meal plan. Thanks to the very supportive people of http://www.bodybuilding.com/. You may want to check it out and see if it would apply to your eating habbits.

Siegfried Garcia "A Blogger's Journey to Fitness" http://thebloggerexperiment.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Siegfried_Garcia http://EzineArticles.com/?Whole-Eggs-Versus-Egg-Whites&id=1688284

How to Stay in Shape During a Bad Economy

How to Stay in Shape During a Bad Economy

By L. A. Smith

During times when jobs are scarce and/or the price of food, gas and other necessities are on the rise and making unaffordable things that are not necessarily a need but a want like:

1.) Your membership to that awesome gym that's costing you $60 to $150 dollars per month or 2.) Those personal fitness training sessions you like so much.

Fret not because if you should have to cancel your membership or your training sessions during tough economic times, you can still maintain your fitness for pennies on the dollar.

The key to maintaining your fitness at the lowest possible cost is really two fold. The first thing you must do is find effective workout routines that you can do using the exercise equipment you currently have or find routines that are effective and require a limited amount of exercise equipment and space. The second thing you must have is commitment and determination.

Finding good workout routines is really easy to do today with all the articles being printed in magazines and on the internet pertaining to fitness. Search the internet and/or go to your local library and find 3 to 6 workout routines that require only an exercise ball, a pair of dumbbells, and perhaps a couple of resistance bands. If you do not already have the foregoing exercise equipment, you can purchase all of it for $50 or less.

As for the commitment and the determination, a couple of things you can do in this regard to keep you on track is to get yourself a workout log and schedule your training days and then put those schedule training days in your cell phone, your calendar on your computer or in your alarm clock at home, so that you receive an alert reminding you of your training days and time. In addition, on those days when you feel like you just don't have the motivation and/or energy to train, be sure and do something even if it's just a 10 minute walk. This will keep you on track with your schedule, which is very important because many find it difficult to get back on track once they deviate from their scheduled workout routines.

Get free workout routines, printable workout log and ebook from L.A. Online Fitness (http://www.laonlinefitness.com).

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How important is Water to Your Health?

How important is Water to Your Health?

You could be dying of thirst and not even know it.

In fact thousands of individuals are actually shortening their lifespan simply because they are not getting the required hydration their bodies require.

Are you overweight? Do you have excess hunger or do you feel depressed and anxious? If you do then you may not be drinking enough good quality water.

The earth is 70% water. Water makes up two thirds of our body weight. Our brains are 85% to 95% water and our blood is 82%.

It’s easy to see how important water is. The amount of water you consume and the quality of the water with proper minerals and ph levels is vital to your health.

Most Americans are suffering from dehydration which can cause fatigue, fuzzy memory and even eyesight problems.

Water serves as a lubricant. It helps form saliva and provides fluids around our joints. It also regulates temperature, alleviates constipation, plus regulates our metabolism.

Our water supply is in danger of pollutants all around us. The problem is increasing every year.

We can all help by trying not to pollute. From gas, to sewer drains, storm sewers, septic tanks and treatment plants, these all add to polluting our precious water supply.

All water is not equal. Many of us are drinking bottled water because we know that tap water has much to be desired. It contains pollutants and poison such as chlorine. So we often look for alternatives.

Many studies on bottled water indicate that it’s not any better then tap water. You are likely wasting your money and degrading your health if you are drinking bottled water.

Water filtration may be a better choice. With the proper filtration system you can eliminate the bad particles while hopefully keeping any beneficial minerals. This can get complicated and expensive however.

Some believe that reverse osmosis systems and distillation, removes all the good minerals along with the bad. This could possibly influence the water property to act as a mineral sponge. Since the water is in effect too pure, the net effect could be that it is taking minerals from your body.

Tap water is usually too acidic. Alkalinized water is believed to be better for your health. Alkalized water rich with minerals will help hydrate you faster.

Electrolytes in water helps cells maintain their voltage across cell membranes. This also support the ability of nerve impulses to work more efficiently. They also help muscle contractions and provide peak physical performance.

Good quality water with the proper ph, minerals and electrolytes will keep your body running smoothly while giving you a longer, healthier life.

So you see that it is important to drink adequate water that is of the highest quality and includes the essential minerals needed for optimal performance.

A final note, water is around 600 times cheaper then cola and much better for you, so drink up!

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Steve Caldwell is a student of health and an advocate of people interested in improving a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and exercise. To become a part of this healthy movement, feel free to join our social community, HealthEWorld.

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Copyright © Steve Caldwell 2008. All rights reserved.

A Timeless Guide to Fitness Nutrition

A Timeless Guide to Fitness Nutrition By Gary Holdon

What is fitness nutrition? It's been said time and again that the only thing that doesn't stay the same is change. At one point you realize that portion control does have its advantages and it effectively sheds off the pounds. But sometimes this doesn't always work and you'll probably end up harming your body in the long run. There are some who can attest to the benefits of green tea and even lose weight because of it but sometimes even this isn't enough to stay fit.

And so the search continues for the elusive formula of how to stay fit and healthy. The biggest question is: what is the universal law which everyone can follow and use everyday and get constant results? This universal law states that a body in a state of movement stays that way but a body cannot be in this state efficiently without the right kind of nutrition. This means getting enough exercise and eating right are both important.

When it comes to fitness nutrition, the concept of dieting is different than what most are exposed to. The belief of fitness nutrition is based on what your body is burning while in movement, what it requires to sustain this and what it requires to recuperate and repair itself.

Fitness Nutrition Guide for Those Who Exercise

To get into fitness nutrition, you should follow a dietary guide especially if you plan to workout for more than 60 minutes everyday. Having tired muscles is a common complaint when working out. This is generally caused by a short supply of sugar in the liver but in this case, there is a short supply of sugar in the body's muscles. If a muscle's supply of sugar is depleted, there is soreness and fatigue felt which is why to boost your stamina and fight tiredness, eating in small portions is advised.

The best food for your muscles is glucose, which is a type of carbohydrate from sweet and starchy foods. If you plan to exercise for more than 60 minutes the best foods to are breads, beans, cereals, fresh or dried fruits or yogurt. Sports drinks and energy bars are not enough to feed your muscles and sustain it for extended moments of demanding workout sessions plus this can affect the health of your teeth. It's also best to stay away from cakes and biscuits which contain high fat carbohydrates.

The important rule of fitness nutrition is always stay hydrated. This means drinking water even if you're not thirsty so always have a water bottle nearby. It's advised to drink a cup of water before and during a workout and then drink three cups right after. Not only is staying hydrated necessary it is required in fitness nutrition and as well as in life.

There are so many diet plans available out there and new ones seem to keep coming out every time. But what is common among these plans is the addition of exercise into their diet plans. It is quite evident that if you want to burn more you need to move more. To be able to achieve efficient burning of calories is to follow proper fitness nutrition. If you plan to start a diet plan, always check with your doctor and remember results don't come right away so be patient.

We have a great solution for fitness nutrition. Why not check it out? Click Here for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Holdon http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Timeless-Guide-to-Fitness-Nutrition&id=1662670

How to Lose Weight During the Holiday Season

Every year we face a similar dilemma. While we all love to enjoy getting together and celebrating the holidays with friends and family, come January we face the consequences of our actions and often find ourselves finding a few (or sometimes more) extra pounds. Is there any way we can actually reverse this trend and take off a few pounds this year? You bet there is. Here are a few things that will likely produce good results. Read More

Feel And Look Younger Starting Today

As we age there is often the desire to feel younger like we did years ago. When we were young everything was easy and fun to do.

As the years go by we begin to ache a bit more, have less energy and can even find it more difficult to think as well as we should.

Well don’t feel alone. Many of us are in the same boat and want a better quality of life.

You have seen certain older people that seem to defy aging. They just keep on doing what they enjoy and seem younger than their years. You can tell they are having a great time enjoying life. What’s their secret? Are they just blessed with good genes? Well, they could be.

Maybe they just know how to take care of themselves and have acquired the knowledge and desire to look and feel younger.

There are many factors involved in staying fit. Activities like exercise, both physical and mental, diet, interactions with others and of course your genetic makeup can decide this.

As far as exercise goes, it really does help. If you are one of those that doesn’t like exercising then you could find something physical that you enjoy. What about a sport? Even walking in places you enjoy like a park will benefit you.

Pollution can have an effect on aging as well. Try to cut down on pollution as much as possible. You may not be able to do a lot about the world you live in, but at least you can control your immediate environment to some extent.

Some things you can do in your own home is keeping it clean, use a water filter and keep toxins out at much as possible. A good hepa vacuum can really do wonders by getting rid of dust and animal dander.

If you eat a lot of fast food and processed food, then it’s no wonder you are aging faster then necessary. Do you grab a donut and coffee for breakfast or do you eat a balanced meal?

Try eating whole foods including some raw fruits and vegetables that are filled with antioxidants. Drink plenty of water too.

Some foods just seem to be extraordinary in the anti aging department. These include blueberries, green tea, aloe vera, ginkgo biloba and beets.

There are many supplements that will help you to look and feel younger as well.

If you start following a healthier lifestyle by exercising, eating a wholesome diet, taking a few supplements and doing things you enjoy, then you will find that you will be younger at heart and look better as well.

Just imagine a life with less stress, greater mental clarity, full of energy and less aches and pains.

Now is that a change worth making?

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Steve Caldwell is a student of health and an advocate of people interested in improving a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and exercise. To become a part of this healthy movement, feel free to join our social community, HealthEWorld.

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Copyright © Steve Caldwell 2008. All rights reserved.

Weight Loss Exercise Plan

Weight Loss Exercise Plan By Eva Young

When you are trying to lose weight in a consistent manner and seriously, you need to consult your doctor and fitness instructor who will chalk out a proper weight loss exercise plan that is tailor made and appropriate for you.

Yoga

Yoga has its hardcore followers as well as detractors when it comes to weight loss. But it has been proven that certain yogic postures do help to trigger weight loss if combined with other forms of exercise.

You can practice the following - Hatha yoga Warrior pose Archer pose Kundalini yoga and yogic kriyas Power yoga Sun salutations Vinyasa yoga Ashtanga yoga

Most of these are vigorous forms of exercises which will make you break out in a sweat and involve abdominal crunches, dance and shake moves, jumping, deep squats, pacing, jogging, arm raising etc. These are really beneficial but you need to practice them under expert supervision.

Aerobic exercise

When you combine power yoga with aerobic exercises, the results will be visible in a few weeks.

Exercise

However, most fitness experts and past benefactors will swear by resistance training, weight lifting and muscle building exercises which are considered as the best weight loss tools in the book. Combine these with cardiovascular exercises and watch your calories burn super fast.

These exercises listed above are metabolism accelerators and performing these exercises regularly will help you to burn your fat with ease.

Opt for regular doses of swimming and aquatic weight loss exercises. It is difficult to cheat the water for water creates greater resistance and you have to exert yourself really hard, which will result in rapid weight loss.

An hour of running every day, preferably out doors will work wonders. If it is not possible to run outdoors, you can opt for running on your treadmill.

Cycling, jogging, walking briskly 10000 steps a day, playing outdoor games of your choice like tennis, soccer, cricket, baseball, basketball, playing golf without the cart, practicing martial arts will all help you to lose significant amounts of weight.

Always climb up the stairs, walk down to the grocery store, take your dog out for an airing, play with your children in the park, do household chores. The key to losing weight is to give up your couch potato habits for good and embracing a healthy active lifestyle. Kick your sedentary ways.

Do you know what a healthy diet is? A healthy diet is all about what you eat rather than how much you eat. Read more about helathy diet plans here.

Would you like to lose 2+ pounds of pure fat each week? Start your own healthy diet plan now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eva_Young http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss-Exercise-Plan&id=1642611

Eating Healthier As a Family

Eating Healthier As a Family By Laura Plunkett

Changing a family's diet requires two crucial elements: patience and persistence. Keep in mind that this is a long-term project so go at your own pace. Decide upon a change and stick with it. Don't let them see you waver.

1. Explain that changes in your family's diet benefit everyone's overall health, not just the child with diabetes. Eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while avoiding sugar, white flour, and processed foods pays healthy dividends for everyone.

2. As we struggle with our own eating impulses, we know how hard it is to deny ourselves without support and encouragement. Think of your family as an organization like Weight Watchers. Your job is to keep a close eye on your child's ups and downs, set limits, and offer constant praise and encouragement.

3. When you shop, concentrate on the outer edges of the store where you find fresh produce, meat, fish, whole grain breads, dairy, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Avoid the cookie, cracker, juice, candy, and soda aisles.

4. Each time you place an item in the shopping cart, consider whether it has nutritional value. If it doesn't have vitamins, minerals, protein, or fiber, leave it in the store.

5. When you get home, wash and cut up the fruit and vegetables and put them on a shelf in the refrigerator so that they are the first thing your children see when they open the door.

6. Place a snack plate of green pepper, carrots, cucumbers, celery filled with peanut butter, and some ranch dressing next to your children when they are watching television, playing computer, or doing homework. Over time, add pieces of raw broccoli, cauliflower, baby tomatoes, red peppers, snap peas, green beans, or celery filled with cream cheese. You can add chunks of cheese, rolled up cold cuts, and fruit as well.

7. A salad at dinner gives everyone raw, enzyme-rich food. Serve it before the meal when your children are really hungry.

8. Feed your children at home before parties. This will help them limit themselves to one or two slices of pizza and a small serving of cake or ice cream. Feeling full, they may be able to skip the frosting, the cookies, and the candy.

9. Save dessert for special occasions rather than keeping sweets in the kitchen. A walk to the ice cream store makes it a treat and less accessible than reaching into the freezer.

10. Take your time and take small steps. Picky eaters need to taste foods many times before they will accept them. You can move from white bread to a slightly darker oat bread before introducing a hearty whole wheat bread. Just when you are ready to give up, you may find your child is ready to give in!

Laura Plunkett is a nationally-known expert on parenting children with diabetes. Additional articles and her book The Challenge of Childhood Diabetes: Family Strategies for Raising a Healthy Child are available at http://www.challengeofdiabetes.com

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Blood Pressure Tips For Diabetics

Blood Pressure Tips For Diabetics

By Christopher Ruane

You should be receiving regular blood pressure checks if you have long term chronic illness. If you want to check it more often than you go to the doctor, you can purchase a monitoring device that lets you measure blood pressure. There are different kinds to choose from. Two of those are the aneroid and digital monitor. This may be helpful for someone who has diabetes mellitus and needs good long term control because they have a risk of vascular problems.

Now, the aneroid type monitor uses a pointer to let you read your blood pressure. The digital monitor displays your reading on a screen which makes it easier to read.The aneroid monitor is cheaper but not as easy to use. This may have value if you visit for a health check up and get nervous. This can make a reading higher than it should be due to being around healthcare professionals.

Among taking your own blood pressure readings, you can double check your lifestyle habits. Are you on a healthy diet? Eating healthy will help keep your blood pressure low and normal. Cut back on salt (known as sodium). Opt for seasonings to give an alternative taste. Salt substitutes contain potassium instead of sodium and can cause problems with certain medications such as digoxin. Introduce more vegetables and fresh fruits into your diet. If you use tobacco (stop doing so )or drink excessive amounts of alcohol try to cut back or refrain completely. These will raise your blood pressure putting you at more risk for a stroke or heart disease.Only eat one piece of fruit at a time in you have glucose intolerance or suffer diabetes.

If you cannot quit these on your own there are plenty of resources and trained people to help.Would you consider yourself at a healthy weight or overweight? Overweight people are more prone to developing high blood pressure (hypertensive disease).

If you are not already regularly physically active, try to do at least thirty minutes of physical exercise three times a week. This will make you feel a lot better. Did you know there is a definite link between depressive illness and heart problems? Not difficult to believe when depressed people do not look after themselves.

Having high blood pressure puts your health at risk. If these lifestyle changes do not help, you may eventually have to consider going on medications. There are many different kinds of blood pressure medications and they need to be combined with a healthy lifestyle and exercise to deal with the issue more effectively.

For more related information visit Blood Pressure Readings. Get knowledge on dealing with symptoms, drug side effects and improving your life!

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Lower Your Blood Sugar

Glucose is a natural part of body metabolism. The food you eat is transformed into glucose in the bloodstream. The pancreas produces insulin that helps move excess glucose into the cells of the body where it can be used for energy. Highly processed and refined foods made of simple carbohydrates are quickly transformed into glucose. This causes a dramatic increase in blood sugar. The pancreas must then produce a great amount of insulin to move the excess glucose out of the bloodstream. This often overtaxes the pancreas and with constant consumption of high glycemic foods, the pancreas can burn itself out leading to diabetes. With the hectic pace of life that most of us live, we eat foods that are easy to digest but have a bad effect on our health. A diet of whole foods, consisting of fresh fruit and vegetables helps regulate and keep blood sugar in balance. But quick breakfasts consisting of sugar and lunches filled with fat do little toward a healthy balance in glucose. What can help lower your blood sugar? Drugs certainly do, but all of the drugs currently used to treat diabetes have severe side effects and do nothing to treat the complications of diabetes that leads to blindness and the deadening of nerves in the hands and feet. Fully 90% of all diabetics are overweight or obese. Losing weight should be the top priority of many diabetics. The simple act of losing a few pounds can help reduce blood sugar. It has been shown that the extra "spare tire" we carry around acts much like a separate organ in the body, secreting compounds that make it difficult for the cells to open up and accept glucose. Many type 2 diabetics are Insulin Resistant. Because the cells cannot open up, high levels of blood sugar and insulin remain in the bloodstream where it damages the kidneys, heart and impairs overall circulation. Regular exercise has the extra benefit in helping glucose move into the muscle tissue where it is needed to fuel activity. Most people do not exercise enough or not at all. A sedentary lifestyle works against the maintenance of proper health and well-being. Excessive smoking, drinking and stress levels all have a damaging effect on blood sugar control. To lower blood sugar means a total change of one's lifestyle, something not easy to do for the majority of people. Weight loss and exercise are the two most important activities that avoid the dangers of diabetes, yet are the most difficult to do. In summary, to lower blood sugar we need to: 1. Eat a proper diet rich in fiber and more fruits and vegetables. 2. Lose weight. 3. Exercise regularly. Walking is the simplest form of exercise. Just 20 minutes a day can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar. 4. Cut out smoking, excessive drinking. Reduce stress levels through prayer or meditation. 5. Supplement. Most people don't even meet RDA recommendations for essential vitamins and minerals. Supplementing is a necessity, more so for the diabetic who loses nutrients very quickly through the process of elimination. 6. Detoxify. Environmental toxins remain in the body and affect the functioning of the major organs. Food on store shelves are regularly treated to preserve freshness and color. Regular detoxification is necessary. 7. Drink at least 8 glasses of pure water every day to help flush out those toxins.. Lowering blood sugar is a major key to health and longevity. But it means a total commitment and a willingness to set aside the lifestyle that is making you sick.

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The author has been a diabetic for over 8 years. Like many he experienced the symptoms. He has since tackled the disease by losing weight and normalizing his blood sugar through natural means. If you should be interested in finding out about some products that have helped, you'll find them in the Resource section of his website-in-progress at: http://www.newagediabetic.com

Lower Abdominal Exercise - Toning Up the Lower Abdominals

Lower Abdominal Exercise - Toning Up the Lower Abdominals

By Phil Corey

Getting a tone lower abdomen can be a tricky process most of the exercises you see target the upper and middle abdominal areas. Finding exercises that are going to target the lower abdominal muscles effectively can be difficult. This is because many people do not realize the types of exercises that target these lower muscles.

For the most part these exercises actually involve the use of your legs. You work these muscles by pulling your legs up and tilting your pelvic muscles up and out. These work the harder to reach muscles that are found in the lower pelvic region. You can even target these muscles with more traditional abdominal exercises for example a crunch by lifting your legs at the same time you come up in the crunch.

This however can be difficult for some individuals. It is considered a more advanced abdominal exercise. For those looking for less advanced abdominal exercises that work on the lower abdomen consider simply lifting your legs. It works best to lift both at the same time curl your pelvis up and in towards your body. This will help you tighten up the muscles on the lower abdomen.

The muscles of the lower abdomen can be difficult muscles to get too through traditional styles of exercise. Women may have more difficulty with this area than men may especially if they have had children or been pregnant since the abdomen muscles especially the lower ones take the most stretch and weight during the pregnancy. You can also use an exercise ball in order to assist with providing a low resistance form of these exercise, to add more resistance consider using resistance bands or weights. This can help create a more advanced lower abdominal exercise while still maintaining its simplicity and ease of execution.

There are a number of ways that you can accomplish providing resistance, expanding on and making these types of exercises more difficult as your muscles strengthen and advance. Check with the exercises to see what type of muscles tone they are going to provide. If you are looking for lean and tone you may want to try different exercises than if you are looking for the built muscular look that comes from strength training.

Before starting any exercise program or routine, it is important to check with your primary health care provider as well as a fitness expert in order to ensure that you are doing the exercise properly and it will give you the results you want. Starting any type of exercise program can be a great thing and finding an exercise or exercise set that is, going to provide you with what you need to get back into shape should not be fraught with avoidance. Making sure that you are using an exercise program that is going to get you results without going outside of your fitness level and is still able to be adapted as you advance can be difficult but it can also be rewarding and a great way to start a new lifestyle.

For more information on free exercises to flatten your stomach, how to tone abs quickly and related topics visit AbsSecrets.Blogspot.com

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Creating Your Healthy Life - Genetically Modified Food

Creating Your Healthy Life - Genetically Modified Food By Pamela Heyen

The Western diet has a love affair with "fast food". There are sugar laden breakfast cereals, snack cakes, fruit juices, and soft drinks. Our frozen, "already prepared" dinners and appetizers are high in sodium. Then add into that our "fast food" restaurants with foods high in fat and cholesterol, including but not limited to fried hamburgers, French fries, fried chicken, fried pies and the list goes on. These are a few of the food choices made every day by millions of people in our society. Study after study has shown us that a diet of these foods will adversely affect our health. Eating too much sugar can result in diabetes...too much sodium can result in high blood pressure....too much fat can result in clogged arteries leading to coronary and heart disease. All these things combined can lead to obesity which then begins to affect our bones, joints, cartilage and nervous system. Before long, you have a body with chronic disease(s) and riddled with inflammation! These are our obvious "food enemies", but what about the unobvious? What other "foods" in our common Western diet, could result in chronic disease? According to Andrew Kinbrall AAL, the Head of Food Safety in Washington, D.C., All our food sources are questionable. Our food supply is being "genetically polluted" from the very first link in the food chain, the SEED! Scientists are just now beginning to study and question the affects of DNA altered foods on humans. In our quest to produce bigger and better foods, we may have opened ourselves up to a biotechnological nightmare. Professor Terje Traavie at the institute of Gene Ecology in Norway is researching what effects genetically modified foods may have on organisms. His study of mice injected with growth hormones has shown that the foreign DNA material is found in their internal organs and then gone on to invade their DNA. His concerns are that there is no control groups for these "genetically modified" foods which are on our tables in our homes and our restaurants being eaten by millions. There are no labels to advise us as a society what we are eating; it is to the benefit of these "genetically modified" food companies to keep the consumer ignorant. Many scientists believe that many chronic illnesses and diseases and the weakening of the immune system may be a result of these biotechnological altered foods. This could account for innumerable cancers, the unexplained auto-immune diseases such as CFS, Fibromyalgia, Epstein-Barr Syndrome to name a few, as well as chronic headaches, migraines, even arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. No one knows for sure what the long term effects will be on the human body. No one knows for what the long term effects will be on our future generations. The facts known and documented are only on the effects of the animals being injected with this DNA altering technology. Some cows and pigs injected with growth hormones have suffered from unspeakable nervous system side effects, unable to walk or even stand. Some are so grossly large that they suffer respiratory distress and skeletal breakdown. DNA altered fish have produced offspring with birth defects and chickens that have been altered tot extinguish the brooking instinct have exhibited aggressive behavior. Even our wildlife is being put at risk with genetic altered grains and the escape of genetic altered fish into our streams and rivers. This genetic revolution has not been observed in a real ecosystem with real organisms and there could be an ecological catastrophe or alarming disease. Everyone must take responsibility for their own health and know as much as they can about what they put into their bodies. We cannot depend on the purity of our food sources off the shelf or plate anymore. That healthy looking salad filled with fruits and/or vegetables, nuts, seeds, baked chicken strips and drizzled with olive oil, just may be a ticking time bomb when it comes to our bodies and "chronic disease"!

"Creating Your Healthy Life" series of articles written by Pamela A. Heyen to inform and empower individuals who want to take control of their health.

Pamela began her natural health education after regaining her own health through natural remedies and therapies. Her credentials were obtained through Australasian College of Health Sciences in Portland, Oregon.

She uses her personal health related experience, combined with her formal training to educate, encourage and support the option to heal with natural therapies.

For more information on specific natural therapies and remedies regarding the subject matter of this article, contact a Holistic or Natural Health Practitioner. http://www.HeyenWellnessTherapies.com Pam@HeyenWellnessTherapies.com

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The Skinny on Good Carbohydrates

The Skinny on Good Carbohydrates By Denny Phillips

Choosing a carbohydrate-friendly diet can be confusing. There are good carbs and bad carbs. There are simple carbs and complex carbs. Should I choose a low-carb diet or a no carb-diet? What are good carbohydrates anyways and why should I include them in my diet plan?

Good carbs generally refer to those foods such as vegetables, whole fruits, gains and beans (which are unrefined carbohydrates). They contain a great deal of fiber which can help you keep your blood sugar at the proper levels. Other benefits of the fiber contained in these foods include regulating your digestion processes, lowering your cholesterol levels, and decreasing the risk of certain types of cancer.

Eating the good carbs and fiber can also help in your dieting plan. Fiber allows for better digestion of the food you eat and helps you to feel full longer. This can help you feel less hungry and help keep your cravings at bay. In other words, eating fiber can help prevent over-eating, which can be a major benefit when you are trying to lose weight.

Increasing the amount of good carbs in your diet can make a real difference when you are trying to lose weight. The average person typically does not take in enough dietary fiber in their daily foods. If you are trying to lose weight, it is a good idea to take in at least 25-30 grams of fiber per day.

The most beneficial fiber comes from carbs from unrefined foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables (not from processed foods). For example, it is better to eat whole grain bread than white bread. Also it would be better to eat a high-fiber bran cereal than a sweet sugar-filled cereal that contains no fiber.

There are many other ways of getting the good carbs into your daily eating without going off your diet. Small changes in the way you eat can result in you including more of the good carbs, without you having to worry about gaining weight by eating too many carbohydrates. Including fresh, whole fruits as a snack (instead of the bad carbohydrate-rich chips you may now be eating) is one way to switch to a good-carb friendly diet. Also, eating less refined flour (like white flour) can give you the added benefits of a good-carb diet. You can use soy flour in place of white flour and get more of the benefits of fiber.

As you can see including (but not eliminating) good carbohydrates into your diet plan can be a good thing. Not only can they help you lose weight by aiding your digestion, but they can help you feel full and give you other health benefits. When you come to think of it, eating good carbohydrates can actually help you become skinny.

Everyone who has ever dieted knows they may need help to achieve dieting success. If you need more tips and help with your diet plan, visit: http://guide-to-dieting.blogspot.com/ to sign up for a FREE 5-Part Dieting Tips E-Course.

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Fiber - It's Not Just For Making Clothes!

Fiber - It's Not Just For Making Clothes!

By Linda Henderson

It takes fiber to make rope and pants. But, we need to eat fiber as well. We all know, whether we do it or not, the need for good nutrition, which is a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrate and fat. What we don't always think about is fiber, that is, dietary fiber, and its importance to our health and well-being. Fiber is not broken down by the digestive process and thus, it passes right through without being absorbed. So you might wonder why bother then? Fiber actually performs a variety of important functions to help us stay healthy.

Fiber comes in two varieties and each has importance in helping us maintain health. The first is soluble fiber and its job is to slow the passage of food through the intestines, allowing for more absorption of nutrients. By dissolving in water it forms a gel which helps keep the stool soft. Good foods for soluble fiber include fruits, vegetables and beans.

Insoluble fiber comes from the cell walls of grains, beans and vegetables. It provides bulk which helps us feel full with less food, and also aids in the movement of food through the intestines. Also, it increases stool bulk benefiting people who have problems with constipation.

Here are some benefits to a high fiber diet:

Helps us lose weight by taking longer to chew and it makes a meal feel larger and linger longer in the stomach.

Aids in controlling blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar.

Can reduce low density lipoprotein, the bad cholesterol.

Prevents constipation by increasing the size of the stool and keeping it soft.

Lowers the risk of hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome.

So we need a balanced nutrition of protein, carbohydrate, fat and fiber. Rope, clothes and food. Fiber is great stuff, indeed!

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5 Healthy Fruits That You Will Love to Eat

5 Healthy Fruits That You Will Love to Eat

By Gabriel J. Adams

As everyone knows, fruits and vegetables are great sources of important nutrients. Of course, most fruits are super-tasty, in addition to being healthy. Here are 5 fruits that are nutrient-packed health foods - add these to your diet and you'll be well on your way to a healthy diet.

If possible, eat your fruits and veggies fresh. Cooked fruits and vegetables lose most of their nutrition value. Salads are one great way that you can eat fruits on a daily basis.

Blueberries

Forget the magic pills promoted by salesmen; nature has it's own anti-aging food - blueberries. Blueberries are rich sources of antioxidants that neutralize the unstable and harmful free radicals in our bodies. Blueberries are known to improve the short term memory and improve night vision. Plus, they contain resveratrol, potentially an anti-cancer agent,, in addition vitamin to C and E.

There are many great ways to eat blueberries. Of course, if you eat them fresh you will get more nutrients than if you eat them cooked. You can use them to make a fresh fruit salad, or eat them fresh with other foods. A handful of blueberries can taste awful good, too.

Black Currants

Great for cardiovascular health, weight loss, and the health of your vision, black currants are also easy to make a part of your regular diet. The antioxidant polyphenol in black currants protects the body from disease; for this reason, black currants have been used as a natural remedy for centuries. Pound for pound black currants have more vitamin C than oranges, making them one of the best sources of vitamin C.

Goji Berries

Considered one of the world's most powerful anti aging foods, goji berries boast antioxidants and polysaccharides that reduce the speed of aging and help the body recover. Goji can also boost the immune system, boost energy levels, and improve overall body function and health.

Goji juice is probably the easiest and tastiest way to eat goji berries. Goji is very hard to find fresh - pretty much impossible for most people. Dried berries aren't as tasty as the juice.

Cranberries

Cranberries are an amazing source of nutrients: Rich in vitamin C, they are also great antioxidants, and great sources of phytochemicals. They also contain Hippuric acid (a antibacterial), potassium , Vitamin A, and many trace nutrients. Cranberries have been used for years to combat urinary tract infections.

You'll want to eat your cranberries fresh to get the most nutrients. They can be rather sour plain, but you can easily make a healthy salad with plain yogurt, nuts and honey.

Kiwi

Kiwi fruits have a variety of great nutrients - The fruit contains Serotonin which has a calming affect on the nerves, reducing stress. Plus, the large number of electrolytes in the fruit make it a great option for those who regularly find themselves short on energy. In fact, it is regularly used by athletes because of its minerals and electrolytes. The presence of Inositol in the kiwi makes it great for diabetes patients, as it helps regulate the body hormones and neurotransmitters.

Learn how goji juice can help your health. Visit our Australian goji site and jugo goji sitefru

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