As we all know, vitamins are very important when it comes to keeping your heart healthy. You need to eat the right foods of course, although you also need to supplement the food you eat with the necessary vitamins your body needs to stay in shape and keep your heart working healthy for a long time to come. If you don’t consume the right nutrients, you won’t be doing your heart any favors - and may end up having problems later on in life.
The first vitamin that comes to mind for most people is vitamin E, a vitamin that is essential to improving the overall health of your heart. When taken correctly, vitamin E will stop the cholesterol in the body from harming the arteries that surround the heart. Anytime cholesterol oxidizes, it sticks to the sides of the arteries and can lead to blockages which can cause heart attacks or other serious problems with the heart.
To help you keep your heart healthy, most doctors recommend that you take additional supplements that contain vitamin E. They may also suggest that you eat foods that are naturally rich in vitamin E, such as nuts. Nuts have high amounts of vitamin E, and most of them taste great. You can find other foods that contain vitamin E as well, although nuts have the highest amounts.
In the past, research has shown Vitamin E to help those who have already suffered the wrath of a heart attack. This vitamin helps to prevent heart attacks in the future by opening up the arteries and eliminate blockage. Those who have had a heart attack in the past are always encouraged to add more vitamin E to their diet.
What many aren’t aware of, is the fact that you can use vitamin C to boost the effects of vitamin E. Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant, which prevents the damaging effects that cholesterol has on the body. Along with preventing cholesterol from damaging the body, vitamin C also helps vitamin E with it’s functions - such as protecting your arteries and your heart.
By taking both vitamin C and E as a combination, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier heart. Overall, this is the easiest way that you can be sure you aren’t damaging your heart, especially if you have had a heart attack in the past. If you have a history of heart disease or heart problems in your family, these vitamins are essential to your diet. Even if you are just concerned about the health of your heart, these vitamins will give you the peace of mind in knowing that you are eating for a healthy heart.
As far as your dosage goes, it will vary from person to person, although 400 international units of vitamin E and C are the recommended amounts for most people. On it’s own, vitamin C can be tolerated in large doses, without imposing any harmful effects. You can take around 500 mg of it twice a day, and ensure that your heart remains healthy.
To be on the safe side, you should always make sure that you get the proper amount of vitamins in your daily diet. Taking additional vitamins and supplements isn’t a bad idea either, especially if you are trying to boost the health of your heart. Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body, which is why you should always take care of it. If you eat the proper diet and take the necessary vitamins - you’ll be well on your way to keeping your heart healthy.
20110402
20110320
Your Body And Antioxidant Foods
Even though a lot of people don’t actually realize it, a lot of antioxidant foods that we consume are from vegetables. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers are all excellent choices with some great benefits for your body. When consuming vegetables, you should always go for those that are rich in color, as they are high in what is known as phytonutrients.
Phytonutrients are nutrients found in the skins of several fruits and vegetables, which give the food color as well as flavor and scent. Phytonutrients are quite simply the best types of antioxidant foods that you can find anywhere. If you are looking for a supplement value, the coq10 offers you a high level of antioxidant value.
Although fruits and vegetables are the best sources for antioxidants, the problem with them is that they are produced by the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and different types of fertilizers. Over the years, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables which are organically grown are high in antioxidants, and boast a much higher concentration than those that have been produced commercially.
In the busy world of today, it can be very tough to eat like we should, nor can we eat organic fruits and vegetables all the time. If you can’t or don’t have access to organic fruits or other sources of antioxidant foods, you should look into nutritional supplements that offer you the phytonutrients you need in your diet.
Supplements that contain phytonutrients do have advantages when compared to certain fruits, such as carrots - which can elevate your blood sugar level to a very high level. Phytonutrients found in supplements are the extract of pigments where nutrients are concentrated, meaning that they draw the best from antioxidant foods, leaving the calories and sugar behind.
Don’t get the wrong idea here, fruits and vegetables are indeed good for you. They are high in antioxidants, although those that are produced commercially generally come with chemicals and such that aren’t so good for you. Canned fruits and vegetables come with high levels of sugars and calories, which antioxidant supplements don’t have. The supplements offer you the levels you need, without any chemicals, sugars, or calories. This way, you don’t have to worry about consuming anything that isn’t good for you.
No matter how you look at it, healthy eating for your body starts and end with foods that contain antioxidants. There are several types of foods that contain antioxidants, although fruits and vegetables contain the most amounts. Steak and meat are also great sources of antioxidants, along with other great benefits, such as protein. Anytime you can’t get foods that contain antioxidants - you can count on supplements to deliver the amount you need to stay healthy
Phytonutrients are nutrients found in the skins of several fruits and vegetables, which give the food color as well as flavor and scent. Phytonutrients are quite simply the best types of antioxidant foods that you can find anywhere. If you are looking for a supplement value, the coq10 offers you a high level of antioxidant value.
Although fruits and vegetables are the best sources for antioxidants, the problem with them is that they are produced by the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and different types of fertilizers. Over the years, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables which are organically grown are high in antioxidants, and boast a much higher concentration than those that have been produced commercially.
In the busy world of today, it can be very tough to eat like we should, nor can we eat organic fruits and vegetables all the time. If you can’t or don’t have access to organic fruits or other sources of antioxidant foods, you should look into nutritional supplements that offer you the phytonutrients you need in your diet.
Supplements that contain phytonutrients do have advantages when compared to certain fruits, such as carrots - which can elevate your blood sugar level to a very high level. Phytonutrients found in supplements are the extract of pigments where nutrients are concentrated, meaning that they draw the best from antioxidant foods, leaving the calories and sugar behind.
Don’t get the wrong idea here, fruits and vegetables are indeed good for you. They are high in antioxidants, although those that are produced commercially generally come with chemicals and such that aren’t so good for you. Canned fruits and vegetables come with high levels of sugars and calories, which antioxidant supplements don’t have. The supplements offer you the levels you need, without any chemicals, sugars, or calories. This way, you don’t have to worry about consuming anything that isn’t good for you.
No matter how you look at it, healthy eating for your body starts and end with foods that contain antioxidants. There are several types of foods that contain antioxidants, although fruits and vegetables contain the most amounts. Steak and meat are also great sources of antioxidants, along with other great benefits, such as protein. Anytime you can’t get foods that contain antioxidants - you can count on supplements to deliver the amount you need to stay healthy
20110318
All About Vitamin A
You can find vitamin A in natural foods such as oranges and yellow fruits. It can also be found in vegetables as well, such as spinach and fats. When found in vegetables, vitamin A is water soluble, coming in the form of beta carotene. The beta carotene form of vitamin A can be eliminated from your body through natural processes, making it an excellent way to get vitamin A.
Vitamin A is required by the body on an every day basis to maintain healthy skin and keep your eyesight on track. There are many people who say that carrots provide enough vitamin A to prevent you from getting night blindness. The fact is, ancient Egyptian doctors prescribed liver in their time, which they said contained enough vitamin A to combat night blindness. Vitamin A is also known as an antioxidant, which makes it ideal to prevent cancer and anti aging. Along with these benefits, it also helps with your immune system as well.
To get the proper absorption of vitamin A, you’ll need to consume fat. Those of you who happen to be on a low fat or restricted diet, simply may not be getting the right amounts of vitamin A from your supplements that you may think. To get the proper absorption of vitamin A in your diet, you’ll need to consume a high enough level of protein. Protein combines with vitamin A to make it stronger, and help it move through your body.
On a normal day, you should be consuming around 5,000 international units (IU) of vitamin A. Depending on your health and your age, you may need to consume more or less. The safest form of vitamin A is beta carotene as mentioned above, and it can be taken in much larger doses. No matter what age you may be, you can feel safe to consume high amounts of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene.
If you don’t consume enough vitamin A in your diet, you’ll end up with a deficiency. A deficiency is never a good thing, as it normally results in skin problems, increased infections, and even night blindness as well. A prolonged deficiency in vitamin A can put you at a risk for cancer as well, and you’ll also miss out on any effects of anti aging that the vitamin might have. Although you should begin taking it immediately if you have a deficiency, the effects wouldn’t be the same as they would be if you stayed up to date with the right amount on a daily basis.
On the other hand, if you are getting too much vitamin A, you’ll put yourself at risk for pain in your joints, abdomen, and your bones. Even though too much or not enough can cause you serious side effects, you should always get the right amount in your diet. Vitamin A is very important, and should always be included in your diet. You can find it in many foods, or take supplements that include the well needed vitamin. If you are going to take supplements, you should make sure that they provide the right amounts - with no side effects.
Caffeine Intake, The Benefits and Risks for Healthy Life
Caffeine is used commonly around the world. It helps professionals get through the day, aides students in pulling all-nighters, and serves as a key ingredient in one of the most popular social drinks in the world, coffee. The benefits and risks of caffeine use, however, are debated among the medical community. So, are there any true benefits to drinking caffeine? And how can we avoid the risks? First of all, what exactly is caffeine? Caffeine is a naturally occurring compound that is found in the beans, leaves and fruit of particular plants. Caffeine is actually classified as a psychoactive stimulant drug. This means that it crosses into the brain and acts upon the central nervous system, altering perception. In fact, caffeine is the only psychoactive drug in the world that is legal and unregulated. The effects of caffeine intake are, like other stimulants, changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior. It temporarily ends drowsiness and stimulates alertness in the body.
There are 115-175mg of caffeine in a cup of drip coffee, 80-135 mg in a cup of percolated coffee and 100mg in a shot of espresso. Caffeine is also found in natural tea leaves. There are 50mg of caffeine in a serving of black tea and 30mg in green tea. Caffeine can also be artificially added to drinks. There are 34mg of caffeine in 12oz of Coca-Cola, 54mg in Mountain Dew and 80mg in 8 oz. of Red Bull. It only takes, however, about 30-40 mg of caffeine to reap effects, which typically last around 3-4 hours.
The benefits of caffeine are not fully known, but some research has found a connection between coffee drinkers and a lowered potential for the onset of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. According to research, coffee drinkers may also have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes. Caffeine increases mental cognition. It increases the amount of adrenalin in the body, causing the heart rate to speed up, the pupils to dilate and the muscles to tighten. Caffeine just gives the body a general boost, and can raise functioning when the body is fatigued.
While there are no major health risks associated with caffeine, the general healthiness of consistent caffeine use is debatable. The only found risk associated with caffeine use is health problems due to overuse of caffeine. The recommended amount of caffeine is no more than 400 mg a day, but many people consume much more than that. General consumers pay little mind to serving sizes and the amount of caffeine they are actually consuming. Caffeine is also present in places one may not expect, such as chocolate. If caffeine is consumed excessively, the body will begin to build up immunity, of sorts, to the effects of caffeine. This means that the body can actually display symptoms of caffeine addiction and withdrawal, such as restlessness, irritability, anxiety, heartburn, headaches, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, rapid heartbeat and nausea.
The best way to use caffeine safely is to make an effort to limit caffeine intake to the amount actually needed in order to feel effects, which is 40 mg. Then, consumers should drink another 40mg amount after those effects have worn off.
Vitamin Overview
All natural vitamins are organic food substances found only in living things, that is, plants and animals. With few exceptions, the body cannot manufacture or synthesize vitamins. They must be supplied by the diet or in dietary supplements. Vitamins are essential to the normal functioning of our bodies. They are necessary for growth, vitality, health, general well being, and for the prevention and cure of many health problems and diseases.
HOW THEY WORK: A lot of people think vitamins can replace food, they cannot! In fact, vitamins cannot be assimilated without ingesting food. That is why they should be taken with a meal. Vitamins regulate metabolism, help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assist in forming bone and tissue.
20110317
5 tips for Fat Burning
At this time of year, we can use every last tip to help avoid holiday weight gain.
So here are 5 more fat loss tips for beginner & advanced readers.
1) No liquid calories (with the exception of a post-workout drink).
Get rid of all the juices, the sodas, and the sports drinks. Liquid sugar is the last thing you need when you are trying to lose fat.
You must also limit your alcohol intake - especially if you are adding mix to drinks...that is a double calorie bomb! A single "Jackand Coke" is over 200 calories (100 calories from booze and 100 calories from mix).
2) No fast food.
Do not eat at fast food restaurants. Even if you choose what you think is healthy, remember this:
Fast food restaurants are all about profit.
And in order to profit while giving you cheap, quick, and easy to prepare foods, the quality of the food ingredients will be poor - especially the protein.
Now you might have read that you can still make healthy choices at fast food restaurants. But you know what, that's just politically-correct opinion. If it's fast food, it's poor food.
Walking into a burger joint and grabbing a chicken breast on a white bread bun with a piece of old lettuce and a half-green, half-pink tomato is "barely" healthy eating. The politically-incorrect truth is that it's going to take time and effort to eat properly. You will have to plan, shop, and prepare healthy meals. You will have to spend time cleaning, cutting, and cooking your food. That's the truth.
But believe me, it will taste so much better than fast food, and healthy eating will make you more alert. Eating fast food will make you feel terrible, and will make you want to have an afternoon nap at your desk.
Make one small improvement to your nutrition everyday for the rest of your life.
3) Eat more fruits and vegetables.
If you are eating 2 servings per day, then go up to 4 servings per day by the end of the week. And even if you think you are doing great by having 5 servings per day, you still need to double that (take 2-3 weeks to work your way up to 10 servings per day).
Stick with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables - organic if possible.
4) Eat 1oz of almonds or walnuts per day (1/2 oz in the AM, and the other half in the afternoon).
Most nuts are roasted in oils (possible source of trans fats), so stick to natural or dry-roasted nuts.
Don't panic...this small amount of nuts won't make you fat, but will fill you up and help you lose weight.
5) Be consistent with your workouts.
And make sure the workouts are efficient and effective.
It doesn't matter if you train in the morning before or after breakfast, or at night before or after dinner, or at 1pm on days when the moon is in line with Saturn...don't worry about the details, just train consistently.
So here are 5 more fat loss tips for beginner & advanced readers.
1) No liquid calories (with the exception of a post-workout drink).
Get rid of all the juices, the sodas, and the sports drinks. Liquid sugar is the last thing you need when you are trying to lose fat.
You must also limit your alcohol intake - especially if you are adding mix to drinks...that is a double calorie bomb! A single "Jackand Coke" is over 200 calories (100 calories from booze and 100 calories from mix).
2) No fast food.
Do not eat at fast food restaurants. Even if you choose what you think is healthy, remember this:
Fast food restaurants are all about profit.
And in order to profit while giving you cheap, quick, and easy to prepare foods, the quality of the food ingredients will be poor - especially the protein.
Now you might have read that you can still make healthy choices at fast food restaurants. But you know what, that's just politically-correct opinion. If it's fast food, it's poor food.
Walking into a burger joint and grabbing a chicken breast on a white bread bun with a piece of old lettuce and a half-green, half-pink tomato is "barely" healthy eating. The politically-incorrect truth is that it's going to take time and effort to eat properly. You will have to plan, shop, and prepare healthy meals. You will have to spend time cleaning, cutting, and cooking your food. That's the truth.
But believe me, it will taste so much better than fast food, and healthy eating will make you more alert. Eating fast food will make you feel terrible, and will make you want to have an afternoon nap at your desk.
Make one small improvement to your nutrition everyday for the rest of your life.
3) Eat more fruits and vegetables.
If you are eating 2 servings per day, then go up to 4 servings per day by the end of the week. And even if you think you are doing great by having 5 servings per day, you still need to double that (take 2-3 weeks to work your way up to 10 servings per day).
Stick with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables - organic if possible.
4) Eat 1oz of almonds or walnuts per day (1/2 oz in the AM, and the other half in the afternoon).
Most nuts are roasted in oils (possible source of trans fats), so stick to natural or dry-roasted nuts.
Don't panic...this small amount of nuts won't make you fat, but will fill you up and help you lose weight.
5) Be consistent with your workouts.
And make sure the workouts are efficient and effective.
It doesn't matter if you train in the morning before or after breakfast, or at night before or after dinner, or at 1pm on days when the moon is in line with Saturn...don't worry about the details, just train consistently.
Seven Mistakes People Make When Trying to Lose Fat
1. They fail to consider the consequences of their actions.
Alwyn Cosgrove (one of the top trainers in the business) say, "I get my clients to think, "Will this help me or not? Is this a positive step or not?" If you can see that every action that you take is either helping you lose fat or stopping you from losing fat, then you will start to make better choices. So remember that everything you put in your mouth is either for or against fat loss. And every exercise choice you make is either for or against fat loss. "Get that", Alwyn says, "and you're a hit."
2. They neglect to control their insulin and blood sugar levels - 2 key factors in determining whether or not the body fat will come off.
If you eat processed foods you are guaranteed to elevate your insulin & blood sugar levels. If you do that, your body sends the message, "Store fat!", and you won't make any progress. So avoid white-flour based bakery products, sugary drinks, and almost any carbohydrate snack that comes in a bag or a box.
3. They train like it's the 80's.
Yes, I know. Eighties music is popular again. But that doesn't mean ineffective training methods from the 80's like light weights, low intensity steady state cardio, and endless low-intensity ab work should also make a comeback. That type of training should stay buried in the back issues of cheesy muscle magazines. Stick to strength training and interval training for efficient and effective body changing routines.
4. They don't take 30 minutes to plan their next day's food intake.
If you fail to do this, you will set your fat loss efforts back by a minimum of 72 hours. Without a good meal plan, you are left to hunt and gather food in the modern world. And that's a recipe for fat loss disaster. You are bound to eat something processed if you aren't prepared. You will lose the fat burning benefits from yesterday's workout and it will take until the end of the following day to get back on track. An entire 72-hour period wasted.
5. They don't eat enough vegetables.
We can thank John Berardi for making it common knowledge that you should eat fibrous vegetables at every meal to assist your fat loss efforts. By doing so, you'll control your blood sugar and insulin - thus supporting the optimal hormonal situation for fat loss.
6. They screw up their hormones with poor lifestyle choices.
If you are out boozing and staying up late on the weekend, you are shutting down your fat loss and messing up the optimal hormonal environment for fat burning. I will talk a lot more about the optimal hormonal levels for fat loss, as I believe this is the underrated key to building your best body ever.
7. They don't plan and monitor their training sessions.
If you are still going to the gym without a plan, then you are going to have a hard time losing fat. And if you aren't recording your workouts and eating habits, then you aren't losing as much fat as you probably can. To fix this mistake, start by getting on track with strength training and interval training. It's guaranteed to get you lean.
Alwyn Cosgrove (one of the top trainers in the business) say, "I get my clients to think, "Will this help me or not? Is this a positive step or not?" If you can see that every action that you take is either helping you lose fat or stopping you from losing fat, then you will start to make better choices. So remember that everything you put in your mouth is either for or against fat loss. And every exercise choice you make is either for or against fat loss. "Get that", Alwyn says, "and you're a hit."
2. They neglect to control their insulin and blood sugar levels - 2 key factors in determining whether or not the body fat will come off.
If you eat processed foods you are guaranteed to elevate your insulin & blood sugar levels. If you do that, your body sends the message, "Store fat!", and you won't make any progress. So avoid white-flour based bakery products, sugary drinks, and almost any carbohydrate snack that comes in a bag or a box.
3. They train like it's the 80's.
Yes, I know. Eighties music is popular again. But that doesn't mean ineffective training methods from the 80's like light weights, low intensity steady state cardio, and endless low-intensity ab work should also make a comeback. That type of training should stay buried in the back issues of cheesy muscle magazines. Stick to strength training and interval training for efficient and effective body changing routines.
4. They don't take 30 minutes to plan their next day's food intake.
If you fail to do this, you will set your fat loss efforts back by a minimum of 72 hours. Without a good meal plan, you are left to hunt and gather food in the modern world. And that's a recipe for fat loss disaster. You are bound to eat something processed if you aren't prepared. You will lose the fat burning benefits from yesterday's workout and it will take until the end of the following day to get back on track. An entire 72-hour period wasted.
5. They don't eat enough vegetables.
We can thank John Berardi for making it common knowledge that you should eat fibrous vegetables at every meal to assist your fat loss efforts. By doing so, you'll control your blood sugar and insulin - thus supporting the optimal hormonal situation for fat loss.
6. They screw up their hormones with poor lifestyle choices.
If you are out boozing and staying up late on the weekend, you are shutting down your fat loss and messing up the optimal hormonal environment for fat burning. I will talk a lot more about the optimal hormonal levels for fat loss, as I believe this is the underrated key to building your best body ever.
7. They don't plan and monitor their training sessions.
If you are still going to the gym without a plan, then you are going to have a hard time losing fat. And if you aren't recording your workouts and eating habits, then you aren't losing as much fat as you probably can. To fix this mistake, start by getting on track with strength training and interval training. It's guaranteed to get you lean.
Eat Your Way to Health and Longevity
Based on experiences and traditions, our ancestors have used foods and plant materials to treat various kinds of illness. Manuscripts discovered from a tomb (dated 168 B.C.) in China described prescriptions for 52 ailments with herbs, grains, legumes, vegetables, animal parts, and minerals. Ancient Sumerians recorded the use of 250 medicinal plants on tablets five thousand years ago. Today, plant and food remedies are still the major medicinal source for 80% of the world’s population.
The pharmacological roles of everyday foods have long been neglected by modern medicine due to lack of proven scientific validity. The main focus of modern medicine has been on pharmaceuticals. With the invention of modern chemotherapy by Paul Erhlich in the early twentieth century and sulfa drugs and antibiotics in the 1930’s and 1940’s, it seemed as if chemical medicines would take care of all our ills. However, while there continues to be great strides made in the understanding and use of pharmaceuticals, there is also widespread dissatisfaction with both them and the system of medicine that utilizes them. This dissatisfaction is centered around the feeling that they are too disease-oriented, and perhaps too limited by their precision to cope effectively with the subtle factors and interrelationships that compromise human health and disease. The precise and pure nature of modern biomedical pharmaceuticals also tends to increase their side effects. In addition, with the victory over many common infectious diseases, more people are concerned with chronic degenerative processes and with prevention of disease. The increasing concerns have started a new movement in medical research. More and more mainstream scientists are reaching back to the truth of ancient food folk medicines and dietary practices for clues to remedies and antidotes to our modern diseases.
Research on pharmacological effects of foods is fast-paced and the results are exciting. The mystery of what foods can do for or to us has started to unveil. In order to effectively use foods for our health benefits, the following issues need to be considered:
- Keep up with the most recent scientific findings and make use of them for our health benefits
- Try to use variety of whole foods as much as possible instead of isolated dietary supplements for your health problems - they are safer, cheaper, and usually more effective since they can provide multiple and balanced disease fighting capabilities
- Choice of foods is important: since healing power of a food is depending on the content of pharmacologically active constituents that differ among foods, and certain foods may need to be avoided due to their disease encouraging activities
- How do you prepare and eat your foods can affect their pharmacological effects
- Concerns about multiple health conditions: foods that benefit one health condition may be harmful to others
- Overall nutritional values of foods
What's in your refrigerator?
So, what is in your refrigerator? Are there science projects lurking in the corners? Is soda pop your beverage "du jour?" Do the leftovers saved from last week have any semblance to their original state? It can be a scary task foraging through the long-forgotten foods we stored weeks or even months ago.
Dining at home has become one of the most neglected experiences couples and families have in these hectic times. From the moment we get out of bed we rush to feed the kids, the cats, the dogs, the spouses. Maybe pour a bowl of cereal or throw a breakfast bar in our mouths. Maybe nothing. Then we rush to work. No time to pack a lunch. Give the kids lunch money and hope they actually buy lunch instead of candy or coke.
Grab a bite to eat at the local fast food place.
Come home exhausted after a very long day and pop a family-sized pizza in the microwave. Dinner is done.
Maybe eat some cookies or ice cream later, comfort food.
Drink some more soda pop, watch some TV, help the kids with the homework and fall into bed.
oh dear.
Is this really how we Americans eat? I'm afraid too many of us do.
It's not that hard to shop wisely and healthily and prepare good, nutritious meals that can be saved and eaten later. It's winter now, great time to cook up a big pot of soup - minestrone - lentils - chicken noodle soup. Ummm, I love the hot, nourishing mixture made from all fresh ingredients.
That's the key. We need to replace packaged food with fresh produce, fruit, meats and fish. Eat MUCH less sugary foods, especially the soda pop. We need to drink MUCH more water - good, clean, mineral-enhanced water that will plump up our cells and our immune systems.
I heard an interview with Jack Lalanne not long ago (he's in his 90s now!) and he says the secret to living long and well is to eat only foods that grow naturally - nothing processed or packaged. Of course get lots of exercise too, and drink lots of WATER. He looks great, his mind is supple and active, and he is an extreme example of how healthy eating and living can prolong life - and that's a life of joy and accomplishment.
So many ailments can be traced back to poor eating habits and dehydration. In order to really be healthy, one must make that extra effort and actually cook fresh foods and eat lots of raw vegetables and fruits, too. And remember to drink plenty of WATER.
It's easy, really. Just try - you'll be glad you did.
Fresh Foods
Health Benefits of Legumes
Legumes are plants in the pea family, which produce pods (long seed container), that splits into two valves with seeds attached to one edge of the valves. Legumes are among the most nutritious plant foods because it is high in protein, B-complex vitamins, iron, potassium, magnesium and other essential minerals. They also provide large amounts of fiber, including the soluble type that is important in controlling blood cholesterol levels.The varieties of beans and legumes like black beans, dried peas, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, soybeans could be taken in any form: dried, frozen, fresh and could be included in salads, soups and casseroles. Although peanuts are often classified as nuts, they are actually legumes.
Benefits:
- Legumes contain more protein than any other plant derived food.
- Legumes are high in soluble fiber, which prevent constipation, promote a healthy digestive tract, help lower blood cholesterol levels, and can reduce the risk of some types of cancer. The beans and legumes can help in reducing cholesterol levels by approximately 20% with just half a cup of dry beans each day.
- Legumes are loaded with complex carbohydrates, the nutrients that are responsible for providing energy to the muscles and brain. This is therefore a good food for diabetic because their balance of complex carbohydrates and protein provides a slow, steady source of glucose instead of the sudden surge that typically occurs after eating simple carbohydrates.
- Legumes are low in calories and fat; soybeans and peanuts, however, are high in mostly unsaturated oils.
- Colored beans are higher in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to reduce oxidative stress, which is associated with degenerative diseases in the body.
Storage Tip: If stored properly, dried beans and peas will last for a year or more. Keep them in their unopened bag. After opening, store the beans in a dry, tightly closed glass jar in a cool, dark area.
Drawbacks:
- May cause bloating and intestinal gas.
- Legumes contain a number of toxic substances or compounds that interfere with the action or absorption of vitamins. Soybeans, for example, contain substances that destroy beta carotene and vitamin B12 and D; beans and peas have an anti-vitamin E compound. Heating and cooking inactivates most of these substances, but to compensate for any vitamin loss, it’s a good practice to balance legume consumption with ample fresh fruits and yellow or dark green vegetables (for beta carotene), lean meat or other animal products (vitamin B12), and wheat germ, fortified cereals, seeds, nuts, cooked greens, and poultry (for vitamin E).
- Some legumes, especially peanuts, trigger an allergic reaction or migraine headaches in some people. In such cases the offending foods should be eliminated from the diet.
Tomato Facial Wrinkles
Typically, women start to worry when the new wrinkles in the face. Wrinkles usually appear around the chin, fine lines, and forehead. Now many effective drugs or creams to minimize wrinkles on the face is definitely with age. Moreover, skin surgery of the face also overcome the problem of wrinkles above.
In addition to the above medical form is a natural way, which is cheaper and safer in reducing facial wrinkles, by eating tomatoes. These tomatoes contain lycopene, which can prevent wrinkles and dark patches caused by exposure to the Sun
According to nutritionists, eating tomatoes a day can reduce skin damage, especially in the face. Furthermore, even tomatoes prevent heart disease and cancer. The content of lycopene in tomatoes is an antioxidant that is useful in preventing skin damage caused by free radicals. Raw tomatoes are high in lycopene, but when cooked, its content will be four times larger.
Get Healthy Now
The increasingly fast paced world that we live in, can put us in a difficult situation when it comes to nutrition. A lot of the time we just grab and go on the run, not the healthiest choice but what else can you do? Even when we do have the time to sit down and fix a proper meal, the food we are cooking today doesn't have the same amount of nutrients as it did 50-60 years ago.
WE NEED VITAMINS
Because the food we eat is lacking in vitamins, our bodies can't digest it properly or use it the way it needs. You see, vitamins are used to catalyze (help) the chemical reactions that are occurring in our bodies. When we are lacking in vitamins the chemical reactions get backed up, and we start to notice the problems as they manifest as different illnesses. But when our intake of vitamins is plentiful we can enjoy the optimum functioning of our bodies, and experience the energy and vitality characteristic of true health.
WHATS GOING ON IN THE VITAMIN WORLD???
Now ideally, we would all get our nutrients from the foods themselves, grown in nutrient rich soils. In this way the nutrients are in their most absorbable form, and our bodies have no problem utilizing them. But for some reason most vitamin manufacturers think it is okay to fill their products with synthetic chemicals. Ask yourself, "Do I want to be taking high doses of synthetic chemicals?" No way!! synthetic vitamin isolates are not food, are not absorbed and are quickly excreted from our bodies. Have you ever noticed that when you take your multi-vitamin with out food you get stomach pain?? Well, that's because they are not food they are chemicals.
WE NEED VITAMINS
Because the food we eat is lacking in vitamins, our bodies can't digest it properly or use it the way it needs. You see, vitamins are used to catalyze (help) the chemical reactions that are occurring in our bodies. When we are lacking in vitamins the chemical reactions get backed up, and we start to notice the problems as they manifest as different illnesses. But when our intake of vitamins is plentiful we can enjoy the optimum functioning of our bodies, and experience the energy and vitality characteristic of true health.
WHATS GOING ON IN THE VITAMIN WORLD???
Now ideally, we would all get our nutrients from the foods themselves, grown in nutrient rich soils. In this way the nutrients are in their most absorbable form, and our bodies have no problem utilizing them. But for some reason most vitamin manufacturers think it is okay to fill their products with synthetic chemicals. Ask yourself, "Do I want to be taking high doses of synthetic chemicals?" No way!! synthetic vitamin isolates are not food, are not absorbed and are quickly excreted from our bodies. Have you ever noticed that when you take your multi-vitamin with out food you get stomach pain?? Well, that's because they are not food they are chemicals.
we need real food
Take Whole Food Nutrients
Our bodies were designed to absorb the food around us, in its natural form. Not a synthetic version of the real thing. Our bodies can tell the difference because they need the naturally occurring phytonutrients alongside vitamins in order to fully absorb and utilize them. In fact, whole food nutrients can be taken on an empty stomach!! That, is the ultimate proof that they are real food- as potent as the bounty of fruits and vegetables we should be eating.Where can I get whole food nutrients?
Since the mid 80's NewChapter has been pioneering the science of producing whole food vitamins. Synthetic duplicates can not be found in any of their products. The way they produce their vitamins is through a culturing process. They take the real food, broccoli, kale, brown rice, brussels sprouts, etc. and culture them with probiotics. The probiotics take the whole-food medium and transforms them into a whole food complex that is effortlessly absorbed by your body. This means that along with the essential whole food vitamins, you will also be consuming probiotics daily which has been shown to boost the immune system, improve digestion, detoxification and protection from toxins. Furthermore, because whole food nutrients are so easily absorbed by your body, it is not necessary to use mega-doses of them as you would see in synthetic vitamins. When in nature would you be eating 1667% of a nutrient?? Synthetic vitamins must increase the levels to mega-dosages because most of what they give you is quickly excreted from your system. On the other hand whole food complexes dont rely on mega-dosing but rather on simply giving you what your body was designed to receive, real food. Such whole food nutrients work with your body as they were intended to, rather than trying to force their way in like synthetics. It's simple, nature will always be better than the synthetic alternative. What attracted me even more to New Chapter vitamins is the fact that they pack their vitamins full of antioxidants and super-foods, as well as anti-inflammatory herbs. For example you will find things like spinach and blueberry as super-foods and antioxidants, plus tumeric and ginger to cool down the inflammation. New Chapter is at the top of it's field because their vitamins provide everything your body needs to function optimally, allowing you to experience what health and vitality feel like.
Food for fitnes
The training is only half of what is necessary to improve muscle mass however, when training you body burns a lot more calories and also your muscles are actually torn during the lifting, this is how your muscles grow. Due to these facts you must change your diet accordingly, protein is what helps to rebuild your muscles and it can be difficult to eat enough in a standard diet so many people use whey protein powder to supplement their protein intake. Using this before and after training can really help you to build your muscle mass more quickly.
Whey protein can come in many forms and new products are always coming out. Whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate are 2 of the stronger products available on today’s market. It can be tricky to know what kind of whey protein powder is best for you personally, fortunately many different reviews can be found online or alternatively you could seek advice from a personal trainer at your gym.
Everyday Trace Minerals Explained
Like vitamins, minerals are fundamentally important to our life and health. They all components of enzymes that are used by the body to break down food sources, as well as assist in the manufacture and assimilation of vitamins.Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and chloride are all macro minerals, and are needed throughout our lives, and in quite a large quantity by the body.
Calcium, as we all know is used for strong bones and teeth, and the majority of the calcium in our bodies is in our bones and teeth, with about 1% used in our cells, and bodily fluids. Bone density and strength is dependent on regular supplies of calcium in a usable form, although it is essential that early development from plentiful calcium supply is sustained, as this will greatly help strength and usage of calcium intake later on in life. This means if you have built a strong body with calcium at an early age, the chances of calcium deficiency, and bone weakening in later years will be that much less.
Calcium is also found in cells, and these serve a vital function for the nerves and muscles and blood clotting. Vitamin D. is needed in order to absorb calcium, but exercising would also increase the body’s usage of calcium, as well as increasing bone density and calcium usage efficiency. It therefore makes sense, that even the young must have enough exercise, as well as enough calcium, and vitamin D. to adequately produce bones of a sufficient density to last them into old age. Having the young playing outside in the daylight, drinking milk, is most likely the best form of health and fitness for them from natural vitamins and minerals sources! Even though daylight is extremely beneficial to a young person’s well-being, sunlight is not as good. ultraviolet light in its strong sunlight form not only damages the skin, it also stops the skin from producing vitamin D., and then that has a negative effect on calcium usage.
Magnesium is also a very important mineral, especially for the correct function of medicine and muscles and for maintaining bone structure. It is also used in the metabolism, the synthesizing of proteins, and for body temperature regulation. There have been many cases where excessive sweating has been the fault of low magnesium levels. Magnesium is also used for the metabolism of fatty reserves, and fatty acids.
Phosphorus is also used in conjunction with calcium and magnesium to build strong, and dense, bones and teeth. It is also used in the breaking down of carbohydrates into energy forms, and for their transportation of its eventual products, and for the transportation of fats, around the body.
Potassium is quite a well known mineral, very often said to be the best reason to eat bananas, which are naturally high in potassium, and is one of the most abundant in the body and is used importantly for controlling the balance of water in body’s tissues and cells. Potassium is also crucial in regulating blood pressure.
Sodium and chloride work with potassium for much the same reason, and do a very good job of controlling the fluid level in the body and cells, and this is one of the main reasons why athletes often need balanced salt drinks to replenish their electrolytes levels lost through heavy training and competition. As well as this sodium is extremely important for health of the nervous system.Iron, zinc, iodine, manganese, selenium, chromium, copper and fluoride are commonly known and grouped as trace elements. This means that the body needs a much smaller amount of these as compared to the macro minerals, but this does not mean that they are less important, and some of these have specific purposes within the body that would not allow a human being to function healthily and properly, or live any kind of long life, without them.
Iron is probably the most well-known mineral that we encounter. It is often believed that we need huge amounts of this mineral to have good health. This is not so, we need the right amounts coupled with the right vitamins in order to metabolize this effectively. We should be able to get all of our iron from natural vitamin sources, without taking any supplements, as long as we have a well balanced diet. Iron is most important for the manufacture of hemoglobin, this is what colors our blood red, and these cells that look like red soup bowls under a microscope, are used for the transportation of oxygen to parts of the body from the lungs. It is also used as an essential part of many enzymes.
Zinc is one of the lesser-known minerals, and is often associated with poisoning, but is necessary for good mental health, the physical and reproductive systems, and for the skin and hair growth. It is also used in the production of insulin, and, as we know with babies, zinc is highly effective in repairing skin damage, and even works topically to repair wounds, and skin problems.
Iodine is often the unrecognized mineral. It is essential for the correct function of the thyroid, which regulates metabolism, as well as a number of other necessary bodily functions. It also allows us to maintain healthy skincare and nails. Iodine is so important that in the Western world it is added to table salts, in a trace amount, so that we get enough iodine without ever having to take any supplements. The lack of iodine is often shown as a thyroid problem known as goiter.Manganese is virtually never heard of when listing minerals for human use, and specifically is an eight to the reproductive cycle, cell function, bone growth and development.
Selenium is also very important, and also acts as an antioxidant. It works best, and with vitamins AC and E.
Chromium, and extremely poisonous substance, is essential to make insulin work properly and also maintains normal blood sugar level.
Trace amounts of copper are also needed in the body for the production of red blood cells and to assist with an manufacture.
Fluoride, often using toothpastes, and sometimes added to drinking water supplies, is especially important for the formation and strength of teeth (surprise), and bones, and functions by hardening the crystalline structures.
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What are Vitamins
Almost everybody has heard of vitamins, and like proteins carbohydrates and , they are essential building materials for the body.
Vitamins, differ from these other categories in that there is no energy to be obtained from vitamins. Instead of this, coupled with minerals, they are used in regulation and function, for processes within the body, such as growth, cell reproduction, digestion, oxidation and metabolism.
Generally speaking there are 13 vitamins, and these are either water-soluble, or fat soluble.
Water soluble vitamins
This group includes the vitamin B. Group and the vitamins C. the problem with all water-based vitamins is that they have an inability to be stored for long periods of time. And so this means those groups must be found on a regular basis, preferably dietary. This group stays in the body roughly for about 3 to 4 days. Being water-based, they are easily absorbed through the intestines, and from there into the blood, and any that is not used, or you have an excess of, is eventually past through as urine. However, if you are lacking in these vitamins, any symptoms will not show for months, it is only under severe deterioration does vitamin deficiency begin to take its toll. Unfortunately, by this time, the road to recovery, can be very long and laborious. Luckily, it is rarely a problem that cannot be repaired with time.
Fat soluble vitamins
These are vitamins A, D, E and K. These are all so absorbed through the intestines and digestive system. Although, these are not as easily absorbed as water-soluble vitamins. With the exception of vitamin K., these vitamins are stored in the body’s fatty tissue, and in the liver to a smaller degree. For this reason it is not necessary to keep eating foods that contain these vitamins on a regular basis. Some of these vitamins, vitamin A., can be stored for up to a year in the body’s fat reserves. Not all of these vitamins are gained from food necessarily, such as vitamin D. which the body produces from exposure to light. It should also be noted that vitamins do not work on a proportional basis, that is to say, that you do not need the same amounts of each vitamin to be healthy. Because these vitamins are fat soluble vitamins, to obtain this set in abundance, would necessitate the eating of fatty foods, which would be a negative to your body’s health. Although in the case of anti-aging treatments, an excess of vitamin A, also known as retinol, is beneficial to the quality of your skin.
Minerals
Minerals are a normal organic material that is used by the body for various processes, and are essential in the manufacture of necessary enzymes that are used by the body in the digestion of food. So as you can see, from the previous paragraphs, that’s it is essential to have minerals with vitamins in order to be able to extract the necessary vitamins to the bloodstream. It also goes, that without the necessary minerals, the absorption of vitamins, and their utilization, can be inefficient without the correct balance of both. Some minerals are required only in very trace amounts, as these are poisonous in too high a dosage, and some minerals are required in very high dosages. The most common minerals that we require, for example, is iron, or calcium, and even if you are unsure of what minerals were, there is no doubts that everybody has heard of these two and how much we require them daily. We will be exploring each section in my much greater detail further into the sites. We hope you will learn a lot, and that you will benefit from it. Here is to your good health, cheers.
Vitamins and Mineral Supplements
Vitamin and mineral supplements a very big business, approximately 1/3 of all adults take these supplements on a regular basis. However, there are many makes and brand name more in these markets, and they are not all the same. The majority of trademark names of very high quality vitamins and mineral supplements, and care has been taken to make sure these are in a form that can be easily absorbed, and do not tax the liver and kidneys in excess. Vitamin and mineral pills only contain a fraction of the useful ingredients, the rest of the pill is in fact buffer, this is necessary to make the pill large enough to swallow correctly, and sometimes to contain flavorings, sweeteners, to make the pill more palatable. It is essential that this buffer does not contain any ill additives that full run contrary to your desired effect.
Before these supplements were high enough quality and so readily available, human beings had to manage with natural vitamin and mineral supplements, and that is now a range of natural vitamin and mineral supplements that serve this purpose. These involve ingredients that are not chemically synthesized, but are in fact a purified versions taken from naturally grown origins. If you are capable, and have the time, choosing a balanced diet with the right combination of fresh fruits vegetables and meat products, means you do not need to take any supplements at all. Everything you need is in the food you eat, providing you choose the correct foods. This is easy to say, but not so easy to do. It involves the avoidance of processed foods, and involves the cooking and preparation, as well as the purchasing, of natural fresh produce. This means fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. These can all be found in the supermarkets, unfortunately this method can work out to be expensive, as well as time-consuming in both sourcing these items, and for their necessary preparation, and cooking. For this reason processed, more convenient foods are often bought, they are cheaper and easier to prepare before cooking, in most cases requiring only a can opener and a saucepan. It is important to remember this golden rule… There are more vitamins and minerals in a foods most natural form – that is – the more raw the food is the more vitamins and minerals in a usable form it contains. This also applies to proteins. The author here, was once a health fanatic, and bodybuilder, and knows full well the necessity for eating virtually raw foodstuffs, many a breakfast consisted of six raw eggs in half a pint of milk, or eating beef almost raw and bloody. Although this is not recommended as any form of advice to anybody, it is still practiced by those who wish to take natural approaches in extreme circumstances. There are a number of dangers by eating food in this manner including, salmonella, MRSA, and any other number of diseases from raw and uncooked, or improperly cooked food.
Vitamins C. can be gained quite easily from the majority of fruits, but most especially from oranges and lemons. The problem with fresh, shop produce, is that’s this vitamin can do great quite quickly while on the shelf. Apples, broccoli, and strawberries have been known to vary widely with the amounts of vitamins C. that are contained from one to another. A great source of vitamins C. is concentrated orange juice, it does not contain as much as lemons, which is the greatest amounts of vitamins C., but is far more palatable. Non-seasonal fruits can have despicably low vitamins C. content, and very often this fruit has been picked when it was not ripe and packaged and sent thousands of miles to a store in a refrigerated vehicle, and therefore has not had the chance to develop its vitamins C. levels to a natural points. Coupled with this, a growing number of stores, especially large franchises, irradiate vegetables and fruits, which destroys essential vitamins and minerals, without destroying flavor. The most common of these is strawberries, known to begin degrading almost immediately after being picked, especially at the points where they were touched, are frequently picks though red, were not right and are still very hard and crunchy, and are irradiated immediately, so that’s their ripening process is destroyed, and it is that’s ripening process that forms the vitamins C., and other vitamins, as well as destroying the glucose content within. Irradiation, cause is every cell, even bacteria, to be destroyed at the molecular level, breaking the bonds, in effect making the food dead, even though fruits continues to live, respire, after picking, and ordinarily fruits can ripen by natural process after picking.
In addition to these facts, many vegetables and fruits are now grown with an artificial rockwool base, and drip fed artificial nutrients to make them grow. These very often lacked flavor, and have low longevity when stored after purchase. They also have high levels of phosphates and other undesirables in them. As my father was a grower of natural vegetables, and was forced out of the trade by competition from the cheapness of rockwool farming, I find this very worrying and makes choice of vegetables and fruits from supermarkets very difficult. I have been known to return meats, and fruits and vegetables simply because I believed them to be of low value because of irradiation, or artificially grown. The majority of us can remember a time when fruits and other foods tasted delicious, whereas now the vast majority taste very poor.
Perhaps the only way to ensure that we get the correct amount of vitamins and minerals in a form that our body can make the most use of, is to purchase good-quality vitamin and mineral supplements from reputable sellers. There are also many foods that we all sure I’ll still good and these can be used in conjunction with these natural supplements, such as breakfast cereals that contained falsified vitamins, milk, non-irradiated meats, non-irradiated and in season fruits and vegetables.
Can you overdose on vitamin and mineral supplements?
People often believe that the more you take of supplements the more vitamins you will get into your system. This is especially believed of vitamins C. and iron. Megadoses, can be very damaging if not dangerous long time. Long-term high doses of vitamin B., would cause scurvy, a lack of vitamins C. This also has a problem that’s will turn your skin you know especially on the hands and soles of your feet.
Vitamins A., D. and E. stored in the liver, and as these all the fat soluble’s can build up very easily in the body. Vitamin A., and vitamin D. can be toxic if 10 times the RDA is reached. Vitamin A. is commonly in liver of animals, so when we ate took to the we are eating a lot of vitamin A., retinal. For this reason, and for the reason that liver contains other impurities, should only be eaten sparingly and on an occasional basis. Fish livers also contain a lot of vitamin A. and vitamin D., this oil is likely to make you vomit, and otherwise expel from other orifices if you take too much. The most effective of one of these is of course, cod liver oil, and we all know what that can do to you!
Vitamin E is not toxic in large doses, and high doses are often given to those with heart disease is full positive effects.
A high intake of vitamins C. and vitamin B. Complexes are water soluble, and I’m not stored in the body and excesses leave the body in the urine, which makes them virtually harmless, except for pressure on the kidneys, with the exception of vitamins B3, and vitamins B6, and folic acid. Vitamin B3 can cause low blood pressure, nausea and flushing. Excessive vitamins B6 can cause nerve damage, and is often used by women in pre-menstrual situations. The maximum dosage of any of these vitamin B. categories is 25 mg per day.
Vitamins C., apart from giving bad stomach cramps, is virtually harmless. However these cramps are made worse if you are taking vitamins C. in a liquid vitamin form, or from orange or lemon juice. The acidic nature can cause gastric disturbance especially those who have sensitive stomach and intestinal linings. As mentioned earlier, excessive acids can cause a more rapid sloughing of the stomach and intestinal linings causing you to lose iron and calcium.
Mineral supplements
mineral supplements should not be taken in excess. Iron selenium and zinc are all extremely dangerous, and can be stored in the body to appoint where they will poison you, starting with liver, pancreas and then the heart. If you are going to take minerals find the recommended daily allowance for that mineral and make sure you do not exceed that dosage. If you think you would exceed the dosage by eating foods that contain that mineral, just know that it is extremely rare for anybody to get mineral poisoning from consuming foods that are naturally high in that mineral. For example, eating spinach every day will not give you folic acid poisoning.
Who needs vitamin and mineral supplements
if you are one of those people that eat poor quality foods, such as processed foods for example, preprepared meals from supermarkets fast foods, then you will find that these overcooked, and foods made from inferior quality stuffs, contains virtually no beneficial products, yes does contain many harmful products, especially fats, salts, then you are slowly damaging yourself with vitamin and mineral deficiency, and likely poisoning your liver with urea.
What are Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins A., vitamins E, vitamins D., and vitamins K. are 4 fat soluble vitamins. These are all absorbed through the intestinal tract, and are also stored in fatty tissue, and in the liver. The exception to this is vitamin K. In this place, they can be stored for over 12 months, and this is what differentiates fat soluble vitamins from water soluble vitamins. This means that fat soluble vitamins do not need to be consumed constantly, or even at regular intervals. As a rule, you would not like to confuse them these vitamins in their natural supplement form, because as most of them are animal fat produce, there is a huge danger of ill health associated with a diet high in animal fat.
Vitamin A., retinol, has a number of beneficial purposes around the body. Vitamin A., is important, if not essential for good eyesight, and the manufacture of rhodopsin, also known as these you’ll purple. This is the part of the retina that is sensitive to light, and without vitamin A., or deficiencies, a diminished night vision, and color identification ensues. This vitamin, is also used to make healthy skin nucleus, linings such as the nose and digestion, and is also needed by the liver to function properly. The young especially, need this vitamin to grow and develop, and at certain points in their lives require quite high dosages. This can be taken as a vitamin supplements, or can be gained from various animal foods. Vitamin A. can also be gained from Beta carotene, so named because it was first found and identified eating carrots, and is converted into vitamin A. by the intestines, initially, and then by other processes. Retinol, the common name for vitamin A., is a very potent antioxidant, which we will discuss much later in another article, but it’s safe to say that these particles stabilize unstable particles that run the body looking for cells to damage.Vitamin D., cholecalciferol, is essential for the repair and development of calcium parts of the body, this includes bones, teeth and is also used in the metabolism and absorption of phosphorus, as well as the absorption of calcium and its distribution. There is rarely any need to have this as a supplement, as this vitamin is manufactured by the body, specifically the skin, when exposed to ultraviolet light, this does not necessarily mean sunlight, exposure to normal daylight is enough to produce all you need. However, it is often added to various staple diets constituents, such as milk and bread.
Vitamin E., tocopherol, is a very powerful antioxidant, more so than vitamin A., and when transported through the body with vitamin A. and vitamin C., protects the fatty acids from damage from free radicals, and in so doing protects the body’s storage system from vitamin depletion. Essentially these three, will stop oxidization of the fatty acids, as well as protecting the heart and other cells from potential cancer forming reactions from free radicals.
Vitamin K., is a very essential part for the body, and its function is to help produce substances in the liver that make the blood clot. It is available in a great many foods, so many it would be very difficult to avoid, and in addition it is manufactured I our own intestinal bacteria, to ensure that we all will benefit from the essential parts that it plays. However, it is used in hospitals, and is often administered as an injection to birthing mothers, after they had just given birth, and to new babies who have a very low supply of vitamin K.
Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Modern research has exposed supposed unstable molecules (free radicals), that could constitute determinatives in an amount of chronic diseases, as well as cancer and heart disease. This possibility has headed to additional investigations to clear up the relationship between free radical molecules as well as antioxidants, like beta carotene, which swab them up and could hence cut down the chance of these diseases. A lot of analyses advise that vitamin A and maybe the other carotenes could serve to prevent breast cancer.
The grounds that vitamin E brings down the relative incidence of heart disease is still firmer. The more the degree of vitamin E in blood, the lower the fatality rate* from heart condition. Corresponding connections have been ascertained for vitamin C and beta carotene. Each are antioxidants, and it seems that they operate as a preventative ‘army’ with vitamin C as the 1st line of defence, vitamin E and additional chemical compound* in the midst, and beta carotene as the final line of defense toward free radicals.
Even so, these determinations don’t mean that you had better begin adopting doses of these antioxidants. While the results of vitamin supplements are however being debated, there’s no argumentation that consuming more than fruit, vegetables and grains which are ample in antioxidants is advantageous. It’s hence sensible to be sure you abide by the latest dietary recommendations for these vitamins, although this is usually unneccessary if you gaining extra vitamins and minerals by natural means.
To guarantee a decent intake of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, medical experts advocate that you eat a certain amount of food portions daily: six to eleven portions of cereals and potatoes; five portions of fruits and vegetables; two to three portions of dairy products, ; two to three portions of protein foods, like meat, seafood, pulses and eggs; and just a really diminished quantity of fat.
The Benefits of Vitamin E on the Skin Oil and Health
This is an article I found that I think is very interesting and well researched. It has a lot of tips for those wanting to learn more….
One of the most important vitamins that we use in the body is vitamin E. It has a profound effect on the skin oil and health. This vitamin belongs to the family of fat soluble vitamins, and is most frequently quoted for its anti oxidant properties. It is frequently spoken about in anti aging circles and is often used in topical creams and solutions for this purpose. When taken internally it has the benefits of protecting essential fatty acids including vitamin A from the harmful effects of free radicals and oxidation. Fat soluble vitamins are at risk in skin cells that are exposed to daylight from harmful UV light and by increasing the intake of vitamin E, and thereby the amount in the skin cells, would greatly improve the cells resistance to oxidation, and ultimately its premature death.
There is conflicting evidence as to whether or not vitamin E can be absorbed topically. Although generally added to many skin repair creams and anti aging compounds it is difficult to ascertain whether it is the vitamin E that has a beneficial affect or just the increased moisturizing that makes the skin look and feel better. In this case, it would be more advantageous to change the diet to include more forms of naturally occurring vitamin E.
Vitamin E is not only attributed to healthy skin but also to a variety of healthy bodily functions. It is also commonly believed that taken in regular doses can be preventative for many common complaints. Heart disease is not only a big killer in the United States but also in the western world. In eastern cultures it is not so prevalent and this has often been thought to be diet orientated. It is not believed to be the vitamin itself that prevents heart disease but the antioxidant affect on cholesterol. It is possible therefore to effect the same results by consuming foods that are high in antioxidant properties, such as green tea, that do not contain any vitamin E.
In much the same way cancer cells are believed to be affected by antioxidants and as this particular vitamin is so potent it can neutralize the free radicals that are commonly believed to cause growths and irregular cell behavior. There have been a number of trials where high levels of this vitamin have been used to measure the reaction of cell growth and tumor development but the results have never shown any scientific advantage. There is a current wave of belief in the use of vitamin E to prevent breast cancer although no definite grounds for the dosage or type have been explored.
Natural vitamin E is found in most vegetable oils, many grains especially wheat germ, and various nuts. This would indicate that the most at risk from low levels of vitamin E are those who are on low fat diets or generally
avoid foodstuffs that have any type of oil in high levels. Margarine and breads often have synthetic vitamins, fatty acids and minerals added at production for public health reasons. In conclusion, it does take a variety of many different foods to form a complete healthy functioning human body and care is needed to ensure that variety is the spice of life.
One of the most important vitamins that we use in the body is vitamin E. It has a profound effect on the skin oil and health. This vitamin belongs to the family of fat soluble vitamins, and is most frequently quoted for its anti oxidant properties. It is frequently spoken about in anti aging circles and is often used in topical creams and solutions for this purpose. When taken internally it has the benefits of protecting essential fatty acids including vitamin A from the harmful effects of free radicals and oxidation. Fat soluble vitamins are at risk in skin cells that are exposed to daylight from harmful UV light and by increasing the intake of vitamin E, and thereby the amount in the skin cells, would greatly improve the cells resistance to oxidation, and ultimately its premature death.There is conflicting evidence as to whether or not vitamin E can be absorbed topically. Although generally added to many skin repair creams and anti aging compounds it is difficult to ascertain whether it is the vitamin E that has a beneficial affect or just the increased moisturizing that makes the skin look and feel better. In this case, it would be more advantageous to change the diet to include more forms of naturally occurring vitamin E.
In much the same way cancer cells are believed to be affected by antioxidants and as this particular vitamin is so potent it can neutralize the free radicals that are commonly believed to cause growths and irregular cell behavior. There have been a number of trials where high levels of this vitamin have been used to measure the reaction of cell growth and tumor development but the results have never shown any scientific advantage. There is a current wave of belief in the use of vitamin E to prevent breast cancer although no definite grounds for the dosage or type have been explored.
Natural vitamin E is found in most vegetable oils, many grains especially wheat germ, and various nuts. This would indicate that the most at risk from low levels of vitamin E are those who are on low fat diets or generally
avoid foodstuffs that have any type of oil in high levels. Margarine and breads often have synthetic vitamins, fatty acids and minerals added at production for public health reasons. In conclusion, it does take a variety of many different foods to form a complete healthy functioning human body and care is needed to ensure that variety is the spice of life.
Skin problems
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. More than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually. Skin cancer is a disease that has shown a steady increase over the past 20 years. Fortunately, with early diagnosis and treatment, it remains a very curable disease. Skin cancer is most likely to be seen on areas of the body that are most often exposed to the sun. These areas include the arms, the legs, the scalp, the back of the neck, the ears, the chest and the back.
Melanoma , the rarest form of skin cancer, is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma , another type of skin cancer, starts in the melanocytes. It is not as common as basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, but it is much more serious. Melanoma is the rarest and most serious form of the disease. The epidermis is made up of squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes.
Moles that are present at birth and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in your child’s moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. Moles are very common and normally change only slightly over time; however in melanoma there may be a more rapid increase in size – symptoms include a darker or variable discoloration, itching, and possibly ulceration and bleeding.
Sunscreen may be used on babies over six months. Sunscreen users should buy one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Be sure to put on enough lotion. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun’s harmful rays.
Tanning booths use ultraviolet rays. Makers of the booths may claim that they use “harmless” UVA rays. Tanning occurs when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin’s inner layer, causing the skin to produce more melanin, or dark pigments, in response to the sun’s damage.
Sunburn, especially blistering sun burn, can also increase a person’s risk for skin cancer, he said. Even occasional tanning can be harmful. Sunbeds don’t offer a safe way to tan. The intensity of UV rays in some sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun. Sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Malignant melanomas are different. They account for about 5% of all skin cancers, and are the type most likely to be fatal. Malignant melanoma occurred most frequently in the 60-69 year-age group (26.7 %). Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer that tends to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not treated early.
Exposure to the sun?s ultraviolet (UV) rays can directly damage the DNA in skin cells, causing ?signature mutations that are like fingerprints left at the scene of a crime,? In addition, UV light generates free radicals that damage the enzymes which usually repair those cells. Exposure to UV rays from the sun is mainly dependent on how far away from the equator one lives. In the far north (e.g.
Moles that are present at birth and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in your child’s moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. Moles are very common and normally change only slightly over time; however in melanoma there may be a more rapid increase in size – symptoms include a darker or variable discoloration, itching, and possibly ulceration and bleeding.
Sunscreen may be used on babies over six months. Sunscreen users should buy one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Be sure to put on enough lotion. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun’s harmful rays.
Tanning booths use ultraviolet rays. Makers of the booths may claim that they use “harmless” UVA rays. Tanning occurs when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin’s inner layer, causing the skin to produce more melanin, or dark pigments, in response to the sun’s damage.
Sunburn, especially blistering sun burn, can also increase a person’s risk for skin cancer, he said. Even occasional tanning can be harmful. Sunbeds don’t offer a safe way to tan. The intensity of UV rays in some sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun. Sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Malignant melanomas are different. They account for about 5% of all skin cancers, and are the type most likely to be fatal. Malignant melanoma occurred most frequently in the 60-69 year-age group (26.7 %). Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer that tends to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not treated early.
Exposure to the sun?s ultraviolet (UV) rays can directly damage the DNA in skin cells, causing ?signature mutations that are like fingerprints left at the scene of a crime,? In addition, UV light generates free radicals that damage the enzymes which usually repair those cells. Exposure to UV rays from the sun is mainly dependent on how far away from the equator one lives. In the far north (e.g.
Lose weight fad fee diets
Diets don’t work. Appetite suppressants don’t work. Diets simply don’t work! Diet plans are generally designed according to the recommended caloric intake but it is important to note that the most successful diets are those that simultaneously promote physical activity . There are many dietary programs that claim to be efficient in helping overweight individuals to lose weight with no effort.Diets that promise quick, effortless weight loss are best avoided. You may lose weight initially, but they’re often difficult to follow in the long term. Dietary advice is based on scientific and medical data and advice from our nutrition experts. The truth about weight loss, dieting, over weight and obesity in as unbiased and honest a way as can be.
Add good fats to your diet. Monounsaturated fats have been clinically proven to help you burn fat, especially in your midsection. Adding fruits and veggies is another good way to lower fat intake, as they take up a lot of space in your stomach without adding too many calories or fat. Add to this that the diets are very restrictive and for most of us, the motivation is just not there to stay on an expensive diet that doesn’t allow for deviation from the diet plan.
Exercise helps, but unless you are an athlete, you will have to cut calories, too. And remember, it?s OK to be hungry when losing weight. Exercise videos for men often feature gym-style exercises with machines. Exercise releases endorphins into the body which have the effect of making you feel great. It also releases built up tension in the body.
Eating a healthy diet is the best way to keep the weight off. What makes a healthy diet, weight loss diets such as the Atkins and South Beach Diets, and how to count calories? Eating well doesn’t have to mean eating dull. Eating three meals a day and not skipping meals. Eat each meal slowly.
Dietary regimens that are extremely restrictive may produce weight loss results in the short term, but are certainly not healthy or practical over the long term. Dieting should never be something hard to do. The diet should feel as natural as breathing to you. Diets including sugar were found to increase the levels of HbA1c, indicating higher levels . A balanced diet is always the best choice!
Caffeine may prevent diabetes
According to UCLA, Los Angeles reason studies have shown that caffeine can help protect against diabetes. It has been discovered that there 
is a connection between the protein sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG], which regulates the body sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Coffee has shown to be the cause of the increase in levels of sex hormone binding globulin and thus affecting the development of type II diabetes.
Atuski Goto, a doctoral student in epidemiology and Dr.Simin Liu a professor of shown that coffee drinkers do the bare minimum of 4 cups of coffee a day are less likely to develop type II diabetes.
It has long been felt that sex hormone binding globulin has an important role in development of diabetes and can be used as an indicator for risk. This hormone the only regulates sexual mandal production but also Barnes to specific receptors and possibly have mutations in genes coding which may have two possible side effects, one is to increase the risk of diabetes and other to decrease. This means that SHBG can be used to assess a person’s future risk developing diabetes. It would seem that SHBG is a possible factor in reducing the risk of developing type II diabetes, and this can be influenced by the diet.
The researchers discovered that subjects who consumed more than off the other day at high levels of SHBG and were 56% less likely to develop type II diabetes. Although those who carried a protective copy of the SHBG gene benefited the most from this experiment.
Perhaps a cup of joe a day keeps the doctor away!
Source: http://Medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213665.php
is a connection between the protein sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG], which regulates the body sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Coffee has shown to be the cause of the increase in levels of sex hormone binding globulin and thus affecting the development of type II diabetes.Atuski Goto, a doctoral student in epidemiology and Dr.Simin Liu a professor of shown that coffee drinkers do the bare minimum of 4 cups of coffee a day are less likely to develop type II diabetes.
It has long been felt that sex hormone binding globulin has an important role in development of diabetes and can be used as an indicator for risk. This hormone the only regulates sexual mandal production but also Barnes to specific receptors and possibly have mutations in genes coding which may have two possible side effects, one is to increase the risk of diabetes and other to decrease. This means that SHBG can be used to assess a person’s future risk developing diabetes. It would seem that SHBG is a possible factor in reducing the risk of developing type II diabetes, and this can be influenced by the diet.
The researchers discovered that subjects who consumed more than off the other day at high levels of SHBG and were 56% less likely to develop type II diabetes. Although those who carried a protective copy of the SHBG gene benefited the most from this experiment.
Perhaps a cup of joe a day keeps the doctor away!
Source: http://Medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213665.php
Papaya (Plants)
The papaya (from Carib via Spanish), papaw or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, in the genus Carica. It is native to the tropics of the Americas, and was first cultivated in Mexico several centuries before the emergence of the Mesoamerican classic cultures. It is a large tree-like plant, with a single stem growing from 5|to|10|m|ft tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50|-|70|cm|in diameter, deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes. The tree is usually unbranched if unlopped. The flowers are similar in shape to the flowers of the Plumeria, but are much smaller and wax-like. They appear on the axils of the leaves, maturing into the large 15|-|45|cm|in long, 10|-|30|cm|in diameter fruit. The fruit is ripe when it feels soft (like a ripe avocado or a bit softer) and its skin has attained an amber to ...
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How to lose 15 pounds by swimsuit season
Eat in more than you eat out, turn off the TV during meals and other easy ways to trim calories
Sure, winter seems bleak. During dark, chilly days, we shroud ourselves in bulky down parkas—and our bodies have that overstuffed look even when we take our coats off. That’s why now’s the time to start thinking about another garment you’ll want to slip into: Your swimsuit.
Note that we said “fit into,” not “spill out of.”It's not spring yet, so there’s plenty of time to shed the parka-shaped pounds you may have gained over the winter. Act now, and when the heat returns, you’ll have a body to match.
That’s where the "Lean Belly Prescription" comes in. We wrote the book because we’ve found in our own lives, and among our friends who’ve succeeded on the plan, that feeling great, and feeling great about yourself, are all part of living life to the fullest — and that’s better than leaving the dinner table at your fullest.
So how could you drop significant weight in the short time before swimsuit season? Let’s do some math: It takes about 3,500 calories to build a pound of fat. It stands to reason, then, that if you can shed those calories from the foods you eat, and burn more in your everyday activities, you’ll drop pounds quickly, and gain sex appeal and self esteem at the same time.
To lose 15 pounds in two months, you’d need to ditch about 875 calories per day. Impossible? Hardly! Here’s how we’ll get you there, based on the principles of The Lean Belly Prescription:
Start your day with breakfast. Simple, right? So how come there are so many portly breakfast skippers out there?
Savings: 200 calories a day. According to Donald Layman, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Illinois, people who start the day with a protein-rich breakfast consume 200 fewer calories a day than those who chow down on a carb-heavy breakfast, like a jam-smeared bagel.
Bonus Tip: Speaking of the most important meal of the day, Some of them have a day's worth of calories, fat, sodium, or sugar in one meal.
That’s where the "Lean Belly Prescription" comes in. We wrote the book because we’ve found in our own lives, and among our friends who’ve succeeded on the plan, that feeling great, and feeling great about yourself, are all part of living life to the fullest — and that’s better than leaving the dinner table at your fullest.
So how could you drop significant weight in the short time before swimsuit season? Let’s do some math: It takes about 3,500 calories to build a pound of fat. It stands to reason, then, that if you can shed those calories from the foods you eat, and burn more in your everyday activities, you’ll drop pounds quickly, and gain sex appeal and self esteem at the same time.
To lose 15 pounds in two months, you’d need to ditch about 875 calories per day. Impossible? Hardly! Here’s how we’ll get you there, based on the principles of The Lean Belly Prescription:
Start your day with breakfast. Simple, right? So how come there are so many portly breakfast skippers out there?
Savings: 200 calories a day. According to Donald Layman, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Illinois, people who start the day with a protein-rich breakfast consume 200 fewer calories a day than those who chow down on a carb-heavy breakfast, like a jam-smeared bagel.
Bonus Tip: Speaking of the most important meal of the day
Some of them have a day's worth of calories, fat, sodium, or sugar in one meal.Drink seltzer water, unsweetened ice tea, or ice water with a squeeze of lemon juice, instead of soda.
Savings: 450 calories a day. According to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, that’s how many calories you drink every day from sweetened beverages. We’re already three quarters of the way to our goal of 1,250 calories saved in a day.
Turn off the TV when you eat dinner.
Savings: 300 calories a day. Distracted eaters eat more food, and eat for longer periods of time, according to a study published in Trends in Food Science & Technology. The average: a whopping extra 300 calories per meal. That’s 950 calories! Why not lose more?
Stand up when you talk on the phone (49 calories per 20 minutes). Park at the far end of the office parking lot (50 calories, to the mall and back). Play vigorously with your pet or your kids for 30 minutes (160 calories). Wash the dishes by hand, then go for a walk through the neighborhood (75 calories).
Savings: 334 calories a day. Notice how we didn’t even suggest that you hit the gym? Everyday activities burn the most calories; walk more, play more, weigh less!
Pack a lunch and eat dinner at home, instead of out at restaurants or fast food joints.
Incorporate all these easy life changers, and you’ll shed almost 1,500 calories per day, and lose more than a pound every week. So start fighting parka body right now.
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