Your Health and the Effects of Food Additives

Food additives can have harmful affects on one's health when consumed on a regular basis. In the late 1950s, a law was passed identified as the Delaney Clause that has forced companies to keep from putting chemicals into different food products which are fully understood to be harmful to humans. While the latter law is indeed a positive move, there are still additives and preservatives put in food that have been linked with the onset of certain diseases, disorders, and health related issues.

It is imperative that consumers review the ingredients in the foods that one consumes. The labels offer information about the vitamins, nutrients, and other additives and preservatives that have been used to process the food and to keep it fresh. Ingredient labels let consumers know precisely what they are consuming, provided that the consumer reviews the labels with great care. It is also important for the consumer to consider the fact that labels suggesting that that foods are absent of preservatives and additives are not necessarily 100 percent truthful.

It is helpful for consumers to know what kinds of chemicals they are looking for if they want to limit their consumption of additives and preservatives. Common additives and preservatives include things like Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrite, Butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydrozyttoluene, Aspartame, Propyl Gallate, Monosodium Glutamate, Trans Fats, Acesulfame-K, Food Colorings, Olestra, Potassium Bromate, White Sugar, and Sodium Chloride.

Sodium Nitrate/Nitrite has been associated with the development of certain cancers, just as butylated hydrozyttoluene, Butylated hydroxyanisole, Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Food Colorings, and Propyl Gallate have also been associated with the development of certain cancers. Foods like hot dogs, deli meats, potato chips, certain cereals, and a variety of gums contain the latter preservatives and additives. Potassium Bromate has been associated with the development of cancers in a variety of animals.

Aspartame is associated with a number of health risks. Aspartame is found in products known as artificial sweeteners. People that have used Aspartame that have had a bad reaction to the preservative have complained of a variety of health problems including headaches, vertigo, muscular issues, skin irritation, mood swings, fatigue, anxiety attacks, respiratory issues, sleep problems, tinnitus, and memory loss. More severe issues have also been reported by some individuals including epileptic seizers, birth defects, and the onset of fibromyalgia.

When consumers dine out frequently or eat a lot of fast foods, they are exposing themselves to a lot of Monosodium Glutamate. The latter preservative is used to make foods taste better and many fast food establishments utilize this particular preservative. Fast foods are also loaded with trans-fats. Meanwhile, fast snacks like potato chips are filled with things like Olestra which makes it difficult for the body to properly absorb vitamins and nutrients.

The best thing that a consumer can do is to place a strict limit on the amount of consumed additives and preservatives one consumes. A conscious effort to minimize one's exposure to harmful preservatives and additives will ensure a healthy future. One can begin bettering one's diet by fully examining food content labels of all products purchased for consumption.

Robin's Wellness Resource Center is "Your go-to source for natural health and wellness information." http://www.wellness-bee.com

Robin Reichert is a natural health writer and has been studying natural health for the past 10 years. She is an AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant and holds a Master of Science degree in Natural Health. She is also working on a Personal Trainer certification through AFPA. Her passion is lifelong learning and educating others about natural health.

Alaska Chinook Beats Out the Latest Health Food Craze

Americans are always getting caught up in the latest health fad or diet trends, from the acai berry craze to Dr. Atkins carb starve diet. They are looking for ways to be healthy, live longer and look good. Most people forfeit the pleasure of eating in such pursuits because they have the expectation that what is healthy does not taste good, and that what is unhealthy is always delicious. While this is true for many foods, healthy and unhealthy alike, it is the opposite when it comes to Alaska chinook salmon. This is one superfood that has longevity to outlast the fads and trends and it also dismisses the myth that healthy food can't taste good.

Many people are looking to healthy seafood like Alaska chinook as an alternative to the latest food and diet craze. People are beginning to recognize how many proteins, vitamins and healthy fats they can get from this kind of fish. It contains Omega-3 fatty acids which scientists have discovered is the key to a healthy diet. These kinds of fats are the kind that are good for your body. They are simple fats that are not saturated like the fats found in beef and poultry. They offer the kind of fatty acids and proteins that are necessary to maintain a healthy form and also to live longer.

Contrary to the idea that healthy foods taste bad, Alaska chinook is a rich and delicious fish that can be prepared in a variety of ways to meet anyone's tastes. It is more substantial than your average whitefish which means it can be prepared more like a steak. Its consistency also means that it has a lot of variability depending upon what you are in the mood for. It can be anything from a small portioned light appetizer, to a main course accompanied with a glass of red wine. It is versatile and delicious, and best of all its good for you!

So if you are someone who is always jumping on the bandwagon of the latest superfood trend, consider making a permanent switch to the lifelong benefits of consuming Alaska chinook and other fresh fish.

Great tasting Alaska seafood is a healthy way to feed the whole family. You'll find a ton of great nutrition information at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute's website.

Check out the ASMI Facebook page for more information on Alaska Seafood!

7 Steps to Health Foods Supplements and Good Nutrition

In a perfect world you would be able to get all the vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids from our food that our bodies need.
The fact is almost 90 per cent of us do not eat the three servings of wholegrain a day which we should eat.

Good nutrition is very important in achieving an optimal healthy body. With the hectic lifestyle most people lead these days; we never always get to have a proper balanced and healthy diet.

Health certainly is the most crucial aspect of ones life. Dietary supplements when taken properly can help towards having that healthy life.

A list of tips and benefits from health foods supplements are as follow.

• People like body builders, and other such athletes are supposed to take extra intake of recommended nutrients, and where the normal sometimes fails to provide them with the extra amount of vitamins they require, they take health food supplements.

• Pregnant women need supplements also such as iron, and calcium. Children also do not always consume enough iron.

• To-day more than ever supplements are a necessity to providing ones body with the proper minerals including nutrients in order to strengthen the immune system and create healthy cells.

• Dietary supplements such as herbs consist of natural products. They are extracts from plant foods such as seeds, stems, roots, flowers and leaves.

• One should always consult their doctor before starting a supplement routine.

• Never purchase cheap supplements and always purchase in a health food store, not in a supermarket.

• Who benefits from health food supplements mainly? People on diets. Body builders. Athletes. Vegetarians older adults, almost every body when taken properly.

Are you interested in learning more on health foods and supplements?

If so I have just created a free new e-course called "10 Simple Step Guide to Health Foods & Supplements" To get your free e-course go here: http://www.foodhealthsupplements.com

Does Food Affect Our Health?

With the advancement of technology came the ability to generate enormous amounts of food through various methods of processing and packaging. For the last 50 years people have mostly been concerned about taste and convenience. Thus, a lot of energy was spent finding ways to make our food tastier (like adding saturated fat and salt) and making it more convenient (fast food chains).

During this last 50 years as the food industry was evolving down this path, the medical industry paid very little attention to the importance of foods in relation to one's health and well-being.

Our scientists thought they knew it all and concentrated on creating different drugs to combat all the various ailments and diseases.

Big mistake!

It is now commonly known that proteins, vitamins, and minerals are critical to good health. Our bodies manufacture 200 billion red blood cells each day, replacing all the blood in our body every 120 days. Skin is completely replaced every 1 to 3 months. It takes 90 days for old bone to be broken down and replaced by new bone.

Guess what your body uses to regenerate itself? Proteins, minerals and vitamins!

Not drugs.

Without a daily supply of proteins, vitamins, and minerals, no matter how much energy we get in the form of calories, our bodies and minds deteriorate because we are not able to fully replace the dying cells in our internal and external organs.

Did you know that the cause of most ailments and diseases are directly correlated to what we eat?

Food should be considered an offering to your body. You can get everything you need in order to live a very healthy life from good wholesome foods such as plants, nuts, fruits, seeds, grains, etc.

All that processed food that Americans are consuming on a regular basis is doing more harm than what most people can imagine.

It is time for the wellness revolution to take place. You can be one of the wellness entrepreneurs that save many lives and help others live longer, happier lives.

To Great Nutrition and Quality Life!

Crystal Herbelin is a Professional Internet Network Marketer with over 10 years experience in both Traditional Network Marketing and Internet Marketing. She is interested in helping the average network marketer by giving them the knowledge and resources needed to use the power of the internet for the rapid growth of their business.

For more information on the Internet Marketing System that she has found the best results with you can visit http://www.crystalherbelin.com

How to Give a Health Or Grocery Store Tour to Clients

Nutrition, health, and fitness coaches provide an invaluable service to their clients. Clients who have a coach are much more likely to improve their health on a permanent basis due to the amount of support and motivation they receive from their coach. There is a huge demand for health coaches, and more nutrition and fitness coaches have entered the job market.

As a new health or fitness coach, a popular service is to take clients to the grocery or health food store to demonstrate how to shop for healthy foods, make wise food choice decisions, read a label, and determine the difference between a good choice and choices which don't support a healthy body. A successful and helpful tour requires a few elements.

1. Variety: The health food store tour should cover all the sections of the store, produce, meat, fish, bulk, dairy, condiments, snacks, cereals, sweeteners, flours, bread, cookies, etc.

2. Advice: The client should be advised how to make their own determination between a healthy and not so healthy choice. Illustrate how to read a label and what to look for when making decisions.

3. Choices: Be sure to show the client which healthy foods you and your other clients have found to be both healthy and delicious as alternatives to foods they may be currently eating. Give them tips for transitioning to a healthy diet.

4. Reference: A grocery store tour can be an overwhelming amount of information for a client to digest in one hour. Be sure to have a reference guide to give to clients to refer back to at a later date.

The health food store tour is one of the most enjoyable and effective tools a health coach can utilize to support a client in transitioning to a healthier lifestyle.

Cheryl Heppard is a business and marketing coach to other health and wellness coaching professionals. Visit her website at http://www.MichiganHealthCoach.com to claim your free report "40 Simple Strategies to Make Your Website a Client and Profit Machine" as well as other free resources and tools.

Food for Healthy Nails

Nails are a protective horn at the end of our most sensitive extremities: fingers and
toes. They can often become injured from accidents or crushing weight such as
heavy walking or running. They can also become infected from bacterial or fungal
infections as well as separated from the nail bed or chipped from harsh weather.

The nails are often a reflection of our overall health or nutritional deficiencies. Some
ways to listen to what your nails are trying to tell you are:

o Iron/Protein/Calcium Deficiency = brittle, concave, ridged, white half moons

o Too much salt = external fibrous growths

o Nervousness / hyper thyroid = separation of the nail bed

o Respiratory Difficulties = bluish discoloration

o Bronchial Difficulties = yellowish discoloration

o Anemia = pale nail beds

o Vitamin A Deficiency = peeling nails

o Zinc Deficiency = poor nail growth

o Vegetable Quality Oils Deficiency = thin, brittle nails

o Consumption Extremes in Diet (especially meats and refined foods) = washboard
ridges

What we eat actually does affect the appearance of these external parts of our
bodies. Start paying attention to your hands (and feet!) and feeding your body right.

The food we put IN the body affects the health of our nails, but that doesn't mean to
completely ignore the food we put ON the body either. Contrary to many fabulously
smart marketing campaigns you don't need to spend a lot of money on chemically
enhanced products to experience strength and beauty on your outside.

Natural oils are an excellent way to treat the external condition of the finger and
toenails. Different oils affect the body differently. A great way to determine what oil
would suit your body best is to examine your heritage and connect to the
predominant oil in that part of the world.

Once you have determined which is best for your particular body's need use some
time in the evening to take a "nail bath" (remember ... the skin is our most
absorbent organ ...)

1. Allow your nails to soak in a small bowl of oil or gently rub the oil into the nails

2. Cover with cotton gloves, cotton socks

3. Sleep

Top Three Oils to Treat Your Nails Right

1. Coconut Oil: one of the few significant plant sources of lauric acid. This medium
chain fatty acid, which is also found in human milk, enhances brain function and the
immune system.

2. Palm Kernel: when unrefined, this high saturation oil is the one of the most stable
of oils providing strength and ultimate saturation to the skin.

3. Olive Oil: the most stable vegetable oil, high in vitamin E, provides support to the
liver and gallbladder (yes, no matter how you take it into the body).

Now, take a minute and think about how those chemically enhanced skin and nail
products are affecting your body ...

To your energy and success, Heather

Heather Dominick, “The Energy Expert” is an energy and nutrition specialist with over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience. Heather’s primary focus is in helping others identify sources for increasing physical energy and making permanent lifestyle changes. To sign up to receive your free chapter of the famed e-Book "Get EnergyRICH™", for her freebie how-to articles and no-charge teleclasses on creating your most energized life, visit http://www.individual-health.net [http://www.individual- health.net]

Chocolate- the Newest Health Food?

There are now even more reasons for chocolate lovers to rejoice! As more amazing research news comes in about chocolate, the substance is moving from a bad-for-you candy to an important health food. Those of us who had always continued to indulge in occasional chocolate treats can stop feeling guilty and now easily justify our cravings.

You may have already heard that chocolate contains beneficial flavonoids and antioxidents. Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in plant foods that are full of recognized health benefits. There are more than 4,000 flavonoid compounds, which are a subgroup of a large class called polyphenols. Phenols are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease by helping prevent atherosclerosis. The flavanols in chocolate appear to help the body use nitric oxide, which is crucial for healthy blood flow and blood pressure, which means that chocolate might help reduce hypertension as well.

Red wine is know for its high phenol content, but an average bar of dark chocolate contains more phenols than 8 ounces of red wine. Scientists at Cornell University and Seoul National University examined the cancer-fighting antioxidant content of hot cocoa, red wine, and tea, and found that cocoa had nearly double the antioxidants of red wine and four to five times more than tea.

Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment found that dark chocolate contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins are the powerful antioxidants that fight against cancer and help prevent heart disease). By contrast, a cup of black tea contains only about 14 mg of catechins and green tea has about 30 mg of catechins.

A study at University of California Davis found that participants who ate chocolate showed a reduction in platelet activity. This means that chocolate has an anti-clotting, blood-thinning effect that can be compared to aspirin.

A Harvard University study of 8,000, with an average age of 65, revealed that those who consumed chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who did not. Those who ate one to three candy bars per month had a 36 percent lower risk of death (compared to the people who ate no candy), while those who ate three or more candy bars per week had a 16 percent lower risk.

A study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its chocolate, showed that those who ate the most chocolate, an equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day, had lower blood pressure and a 50 percent lower risk of death. The researchers also noted the men eating the most cocoa products were not heavier or bigger eaters than the men who ate less cocoa.

And it's not just dark chocolate that is the only healthy type of chocolate. Most studies talk about the benefits of dark chocolate, but some of the most recent news about chocolate includes good news for milk chocolate lovers, who have been left out in the past.

The Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia did a study that shows that milk chocolate seems to boost brainpower. The groups in the test consumed, on different occasions, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, carob and nothing. Then they were tested for cognitive performance including memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving.

According to Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, "Composite scores for verbal and visual memory were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the other conditions." The study also found that consumption of milk and dark chocolate was associated with improved impulse control and reaction time. It seems that by consuming chocolate you get stimulating effects from substances found in chocolate, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, which then lead to increased mental performance.

Chocolate really does make you feel good, too. It is known to stimulate the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles. Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin that acts as an anti-depressant. Studies in England show that even the aroma of chocolate gives a bout of euphoria and will help lift the spirits.

And now people are looking at chocolate for skin care. According to Marlies Spinale, director of Tru Spa, "Like many other antioxidants, cocoa polyphenols are thought to offer the skin protection from free-radical damage caused by sun, pollution, stress, alcohol consumption and other factors. I believe that we will hear more about the benefits of chocolate in skin care."

Some people have been avoiding chocolate because one of the main ingredients of chocolate is cocoa butter. It was thought that it was an unhealthy fat, but actually cocoa butter is not unhealthy. It is made up of the beneficial fatty acids-- oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are healthy forms of saturated fat. Plus chocolate contains vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E, as well as potassium, sodium, and iron.

So go ahead and indulge in a little chocolate, in moderation of course. I would recommend that you try to find organic chocolate, and stick with darker chocolate because it has more chocolate flavonoids and less sugar. (Sugar weakens the immune system; so don't consume sugar if you are ill.) And a little bit of milk chocolate is alright when you need an occasional milk chocolate brainpower boost, such as before a test. All you students take note!

Chocolate as a health food-- can life get any better?

By Dianne Ronnow, 2006 Mohave Publishing.

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Making Effective Hoodia Health Food Supplements

Hoodia is a succulent plant from the Kalahari Desert; it is currently taking the diet industry by storm with its appetite suppressant abilities. It has captivated the minds of diet manufacturers who are all keen to leverage its properties.

How do you make an effective Hoodia supplement?

Firstly you need the finest Hoodia Gordonii plants. Phytopharm owns the patent to the P57 extract from Hoodia and as such, they have bought up much of the Hoodia Gordonii and are growing it in massive government run farms in the Kalahari Desert.

Hoodia Gordonii is also a protected plant, which means unless you are government issued you cannot export it. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) rarely issues permits.

Secondly the centre of the Hoodia Gordonii plant should be used. The San People of the Kalahari do not eat the skin or the spines of the Hoodia plant. Extracting the pure herbal extract is a really difficult process. It takes about two thousand pounds of Hoodia Gordonii plants to make one hundred pounds of powder. It is expensive, but produces an extremely effective supplement.

Thirdly, there are ethical business practices to consider. The Western drug companies are keen to squeeze every penny of profit out of everything they produce. Sadly, this is at the expense of the indigenous tribes and their rights. As the just way to legally get Hoodia Gordonii from the Kalahari Desert is by the government run farms, it's very easy for the government to track which companies must pay royalties, if the company supplying your Hoodia supplement is not paying any sort royalties to the San People, they are not using genuine Hoodia Gordonii.

You also need to ensure quality control is in place. Many companies may be tempted to dilute the pure extract with a filler in order to conserve the pure extract and maximise their profits. The best way to ensure the extract works and does what it says it on the cover is to test it yourself. Use the supplement and notice the difference, if it is not working then stop using it.

Due to costs there is little chance of finding it in pill form at the moment. However, liquid extracts are accessible and you can buy them from a number of known suppliers online. The nice thing about liquid extract is that it is absorbed by the body quicker, it is more natural, and can be mixed with juice to make it taste better.

If your keen on utilising this revolutionary diet product and would like to know where to buy hoodia, then I suggest you check out: Where To Buy Hoodia or http://www.wheretobuyhoodia.info/

Acai Berry Vs Maqui Berry - Can This New Health Food Beat Acai?

Acai berry has won the coveted place of being the darling of millions for over a decade now. The food is especially favored for the wide range of health positives that it singly delivers. Acai is after all a natural product that counters aging, boosts overall health, improves digestion, counters obesity, improves skin tone and complexion, all at once. But there has been recent buzz that Maqui berry could replace acai as the ultimate "superfood". Does the speculation really hold water? Well, let's find out:

1. About The Maqui Berry First...

If you are a health enthusiast, you would know of acai for sure. Maqui berry being a comparatively recent discovery in the niche, let me explain a bit about it to you. The maqui berry belongs to the same family as acai, gogi and pomegranates.

2. The Maqui Edge

Quite expectantly then, the food has great antioxidant potential too. This Amazonian fruit in fact is touted as the next biggest sensation in the health foods niche on that very basis. The maqui berry scores higher beating even acai berry on the ORAC scale. That is really commendable but does that give this berry the ultimate edge over acai? Keep reading to know the reality.

3. Why Acai Still Occupies The Favored Spot?

Having been acquainted with the maqui berry's advantage of having an ORAC value of 2500 as against 1027 for acai, the fact that the latter still qualifies to give maqui a competition ( and beat it at it too ) cannot be denied either. Let me explain how. Maqui could possess this natural edge over but acai still remains the "most nutritious and powerful foods in the world". This is because it contains omega 3 oils, which are extremely essential for inducing weight loss but are unfortunately amiss in maqui. Acai therefore eliminates the need for additional omega oils supplements consumption for the users.

4. What Makes Acai The Favored Choice?

Apart from the above mentioned positives, there is another aspect that puts acai in a favored position. That pertains to the popularity and easy accessibility which acai is invested with. Needless to mention, the technology for acai processing, handling and marketing is much more advanced than that of the maqui berry and therefore it can be expected to be entailing better positives health wise. As for maqui, maybe it would take another 5-6 years to give acai a cut-throat competition.

It must be clear then that while maqui could technically be labeled superior (courtesy, its ORAC ranking), acai still makes for a better health package.

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Your Morning Cup of Joe - A Health Food?

Where do you stand on caffeine? Like so many other innocent, naturally occurring effects from a food substance, this one has been demonized. Others have been the calming effects of tryptophan in turkey, the endorphin rush from really hot peppers. But I digress, I'm hear to defend your morning cup a joe.

I guess from that first sentence you can tell where I stand. I am firmly on the side of love it, use it, wouldn't live without it. Now I didn't say couldn't. I can, and I have given up coffee, and all other caffeine delivery systems at times. Once I switched to decaf coffee thinking it would help me remain calm while running a 185 seat restaurant in NYC in 80s. Lucky for me I hated the decaf and went right back to my old friend. It seems that I was instinctively pumping up the brain cells with my morning mug and by only having one, I was able to stay calm and alert.

I read this recently in Dr. Julian Whitaker's newsletter and it's pretty funny. He is pro-caffeine too and says, "If coffee were harmful then emergency rooms all over the world would be chocked with people suffering the ill effects of their favorite morning beverage.

Hadn't thought of it that way had you, you anti-caffeine folks?

In recent decades, some 19,000 studies have been done examining coffee's impact on health according to WebMD supporting the idea that caffeine is not the devil and in fact does lots of good for some.

First coffee improves concentration and alertness, and boosts mood. In fact just the smell of coffee can relieve stress in animals. Coffee can also stop a migrain, curb appetite, and increase the effectiveness of aspirin and analgesics. Excedrine and Anacin as well as some prescription meds contain caffeine.

Now here's some really interesting news, drinking coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease as much as 80%!

But wait, there's more.

Compared to those who fear and shun coffee, those who drink at least 2 cups a day are 80% less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver even if they drink a lot of alcohol.

We are half as likely to get gallstones and 25% less likely to get liver cancer.

Though it is often cited as a risk factor for breast cancer a recent study spanning 22 years and involving 86,000 women found a weak inverse association between the two in postmenopausal women only.

And maybe some of the best news of all for those with type 2 diabetes are at risk of it just came out of Harvard. After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders. Now that's a lot of caffeine and more than many of us can tolerate without getting jittery, not to mention the too much acid being loaded into our systems. The point here is that coffee with caffeine can be a part of a disease prevention meal plan.

What makes coffee so healthful first of all is the protective antioxidants-in the average daily consumption, which is 1.65 cups, coffee provides 1299 mgs of antioxidants. Tea, the second richest source of antioxidants supplied only 294 mgs. And believe it or not, coffee contains 2 mgs fiber per cup. Again, these facts came via Dr. Whitaker's latest newsletter.

On the flip side, it's clear that coffee isn't for everyone. Its legendary jolt in excess doses -- that is, more than whatever your individual body can tolerate -- can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Coffee may also raise cholesterol levels in some people and may contribute to artery clogging. But most recent large studies show no significant adverse effects on most healthy people, although pregnant women, heart patients, and those at risk for osteoporosis may still be advised to limit or avoid coffee.

I didn't even cover the benefits coffee in particular can give your workout-especially those who work out for long periods of time. Suffice to say there is nothing devilish about caffeine or coffee as long as it works for you. My hope here was to give you back a beverage you might have at one time loved but threw under the bus because the food police led you astray.

Now we can wake up, smell the coffee, drink the coffee and bow to the coffee for its health benefits as well as how it makes us feel.

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Health Benefits Of Cucumber

When the cucumber became important as a health food in the eighteenth century, it did not take long for people to forget those medical properties which had been well-known first of all to the Greeks and Romans and then later to the Arab physicians.

Today we see the cucumber as a provider of a very healthy juice beneficial for its properties as an increaser of the flow of urine and as a complement to the effects of celery and carrot juice for rheumatic conditions, while at the same time being a soothing skin lotion.

Japanese research in the first half of this century indicated that there was a valuable substance present in the cucumber juice for the treatment of the whole intestinal tract. Sad to say this work has not been pursued and the active factor still retains the secret of its identity.

Other health benefits of cucumber is derived from the fact that it is very low in calories, about 4 per ounce (54KJ per 100g) being an average figure. Very high potassium contents have been claimed for the plant which from the most up-to-date analyses available would seem to be an exaggeration. The vitamin content is also generally to be found between low and average for the edible vegetable.

Nevertheless, cucumber juice is certainly beneficial the treatment of rheumatic conditions. It does not matter too much that the reason for this effect is not clear. What is important is that it helps many sufferers.

Although the whole juice is the best skin lotion it is worth remembering that the peel itself, like lemon peel, should always be retained and used on the hands especially after they have been in a strong detergent or in very hot water. It is not necessary to rub hard - indeed skin care with cucumber should be a gentle, fragrant art.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and some guidelines on the benefits of different fruit and vegetables.

What Is Noni Juice - An Ancient Health Food

What is Noni Juice and what makes it work so well? That question has been asked by alternative health professionals for years. There is no simple answer to the question of "What is Noni Juice and what makes it work so well?" but there are many theories floating around that may lead to an answer in this burning debate.

What Is Noni Juice?

The first half of the question is fairly easy to answer. Noni Juice is the juice of the Morinda citrifolia plant grown in many tropical climates like Hawaii, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands. While the plant is native to the South Pacific, it has transplanted quite well to many other warm, moist growth climates. Most companies who sell Noni Juice sell a variety of other Noni based products, including one hundred percent pure Noni Juice, organic Noni Juice, and fresh Noni fruit leather. For the past two thousand years, natives to Southern Pacific Islands have been using the fruit to heal all sorts of ailments. Natives suggest that Noni Juice can be used to keep the infection out of open wounds and prevent more serious illnesses from forming in the body.

What Makes Noni Work So Well?

This is much harder to answer than the simplistic "What is Noni?" question. As with most alternative medicine products, modern science simply hasn't completed enough research yet to answer this question. Dr. Ralph Heinicke suggested that the alkaloid xeronine makes Noni work well, and that could be the case. There are, however, many other possibilities. One idea that has been presented is that Noni works so well because it, like many fruits and vegetables you can find on your local store shelves, is packed with powerful antioxidants that are natural to fruits. These can help your body to fight infection. This is exactly why scientists have been telling you for years to eat a balanced diet. Noni can certainly be a part of that balanced diet. Another idea that has been presented is that Noni works well because of the kinds of soils it naturally grows in. Most Noni grows in climates that are free of pollution. Moreover, most growers have the opportunity to plant it in nutrient-rich soil, increasing its capacity to contain the vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive.

Figuring out the answer to "What is Noni Juice and what makes it work so well?" is a tough road. Hopefully, scientific research will have a solid answer soon.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of NoniJuiceAdvisor.com providing unbiased hawaiian noni juice information including noni fruit juice benefits, testimonials and products.

Chocolate - Nature's Own Health Food Treat

Pure, fresh chocolate is one of the healthiest treats on earth! Not the highly processed, mass produced, cheap, sugary junk you find in most supermarkets.

Good, pure chocolate is chock full of flavonoids, which are some of the most powerful antioxidants on earth. And that's the key to their natural goodness. Take a look at these facts:

CHOCOLATE FACT #1: High in antioxidants. Ounce for ounce, chocolate is one of the richest food sources of these crucial substances. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals--rogue oxygen molecules that can accelerate aging and the problems that come with it.

CHOCOLATE FACT #2: Rich in valuable micronutrients. Chocolate supplies meaningful amounts of potassium, zinc, magnesium and iron.

CHOCOLATE FACT #3: As a safe, mild stimulant. Chocolate actually has relatively little caffeine, but many people notice a quick increase in alertness and improvement in mood that can last hours after eating.

CHOCOLATE FACT #4: Cholesterol neutral. Chocolate has been found to help promote healthy cholesterol levels. And, believe it or not, the fat found in chocolate is "cholesterol neutral," meaning that it doesn't have a negative effect on cholesterol levels.

CHOCOLATE FACT #5: Good for blood pressure! People who ate just over 3 ounces of premium quality dark chocolate each day for two straight weeks had an easier time maintaining healthy blood pressure, according to one study. And, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, chocolate helped promote healthy blood pressure levels in the subjects studied. Chocolate helps relax blood vessels so blood can flow through them easier.

For more information and tips, visit us at http://fatlossandfitnessinfo.blogspot.com/

Budget Friendly Tips For The Health Food Shopper

It's really strange how all the healthy items at fast food places and in grocery stores are more expensive than the junk food or unhealthy items. Well, regardless of how it happened we can no longer use this as an excuse for not eating right. Eating healthy and staying on a budget may seem difficult in this economy, but if you keep a few simple rules in mind it can be done.

• Eat before you go shopping
• Shop the perimeter of the grocery store
• Stick to your budget

I know, these rules seem too simple right. Well it's easy to fall off track if you don't practice them each and every time you go shopping. Let's look at number one for example. I forgot to eat before I went to the grocery store one day and I came home with so much junk food, microwave meals and box dinners it wasn't even funny. I started planning my meals the next day and when I read the nutrition labels on the boxes I was floored at how much sodium and sugar was in the products that I bought! Needless to say, some of those meals made me sick and I gained a lot of water weight that week. Surveys have shown that people who don't eat before they shop tend to impulse shop more that people who eat before a shopping trip. After my experience, I make sure I eat before any shopping trip, even when I got to buy clothes. This tip really works.

Next I make sure to shop the perimeter of the store. Let's take a look at what products are on the outside of the store; fresh bread, produce, meat, and dairy products. These items are on the outside because they have a shorter shelf life and have to be changed out more often if not purchase in time. Shopping in these areas every week will guarantee that you'll be eating foods that are fresh and healthy, but they can be expensive if you decide to buy the organic items. This is where the last rule comes into play. Stick to your budget. If the steak looks good, but you have chicken in your budget this week, then get the chicken and put steak in your budget for next week. If you ate a little something before you went shopping, then the steak shouldn't temp your taste buds that much. Try just one of these rules for a month and watch what happens. You'll save a little money, start to eat healthier and lose weight all at the same time.

Felicia B. White is a photographer, song writer and poet. She graduated from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale and moved to Georgia with her husband 12 years ago. Felicia and her husband found a church home at Berean Christian Church in 2005 and they have been using their ever growing faith in God to lose weight and build a better marriage. Felicia is writing poetry and weight loss articles to help her win her battle with weight. Hope you enjoy the articles. To read other articles please visit http://healthylivingdietplans.com/

Bananas Are a Great Health Food

If you're looking for something that is easy to eat that also tastes good and is good for you, you can't go wrong eating a banana! Every banana is naturally packaged with the peel, so they are easy to store or take with you on the go, then you can just peel and eat one when you're ready.

One of the best things about bananas is the fact they have lots of potassium. This mineral is important to help maintain proper functioning of all the body's cells, tissues and organs. Potassium not only helps maintain cell health, but it is also an important electrolyte in the human body. That means potassium will conduct electricity in the human body, along with other minerals like calcium, chloride, magnesium, and sodium.

Potassium works hard to provide good muscle functions too. It is downright vital to heart function. It also plays a major role in other muscle contractions, both smooth and skeletal. That means potassium plays a role in both normal digestive function, which uses smooth muscles, and body movement using skeletal muscles.

But bananas are full of more healthy substance than just potassium! They are also a good source of vitamins B6 and C, plus they have a lot of fiber. And if that isn't enough, bananas are also full of antioxidants. Since the level of antioxidants increases as a banana ripens, that means the riper the banana, the more antioxidants it has.

Besides eating this healthy fruit fresh, bananas can also be used for cooking and baking. They can be combined with all kinds of other foods. For instance, lots of people add bananas to smoothies to add more nutrition and give the drink a fuller body and texture. Bananas can be sliced over a bowl of cereal, cut up and put in fruit salads, or baked in muffins or other quick breads. There are just a diverse number of ways to eat bananas.

Bananas are just a super healthy food! Isn't it great they also taste good?

By the way, you can learn lots more about healthy foods at http://www.healthycookbook.org site. Discover all kinds of great tips for a healthy diet right now!

Acai - The Amazon Health Food

Acai berry is a small purple blue fruit, but don't dismiss this berry due to size, it's a natural medicine cabinet growing on a palm tree. This fruit is packed with a range of healing properties and health benefits. From being high in fiber content, to the essential B vitamins and antioxidants, Acai is quickly becoming a well known and desired supplement. 

Fiber, sometimes known as the roto- rooter for the digestive system, is necessary for good intestinal health and physical well being. Acai berry is rich in fiber, which promotes a healthier heart, better condition of the skin, reduction of cholesterol levels and better sleep. 

Essential B vitamins are part of the advantage to including Acai into a healthy diet plan. Vitamin B1 is known for supplying a burst of energy. Vitamin B 2 helps maintain healthy skins and eyes. Vitamin B 3 is the source that helps to convert carbohydrates into necessary energy.

The antioxidants found in Acai fruit helps by fighting off free radicals that cause oxidation and stress on the body. Like rust that builds up on a car, oxidation wears down cells causing ageing. Antioxidants, works like a buffer to help polish and remove old oxidation from cells.  These antioxidants then work to protect cells from further damage.

Products containing this wonder fruit in smoothies, juice, instant drink powers, and tablets but don't rule out trying the juicy fruit right from the tree. Go shopping for acai berry rich supplements on the web, at heath food stores, and markets specializing in health and physical well being.

Nigel Dylan

Acai is the number one Superfood in America today. It has been used by many famous Americans. but it's use hase been supported by people such as yourself. For more information on The Berry, Visit my website.

http://www.buy-acai-berry-now.com

Health Food Shopping List - Alkaline Foods

Living according to an alkaline, healthy diet low on calories makes sense in many ways, especially regarding the reduced intake of animal protein and fatty acids. Eating on the run, consuming hot dogs, muffins, pizzas etc., is extremely unhealthy, because these are ALL acid forming and acid producing foods!

Studies have shown that an acidic, anaerobic body environment encourages the breeding of fungus, mold, bacteria, and viruses. As a result, our inner biological environment shifts from a healthy oxygenated, alkaline environment to an unhealthy acidic one (having acidic pH levels on the pH scale).

75% Alkaline Foods

It is a lot of "hard work" for the body to neutralize and detoxify these acids before they can act as poisons in and around the cells, ultimately changing the environment of each cell. Therefore, one should consume at least 75% of alkaline foods, like green vegetables, and never more than 20-25% of neutral and acidifying foods, like burgers or sandwiches. Eating foods that are alkaline transforms the body's balance from dangerously acidic to slightly above neutral.

However, one might feel confused or unsure about what kinds of alkaline foods to buy. This sample shopping list helps one to know what kinds of healthy alkaline foods typically stock the fridge:

Refrigerated:
Borage Oil, Fresh salsa (no vinegar), Flax seed oil, Hummus, Sprouted Wheat Tortillas, Tofu, Udo's Choice-Perfected Oil Blend

Legumes:
Adzuki, Black, Black-eyed, Cranberry, Garbanzo, Kidney, Lentils, Mung, Pinto

Produce:

Avocado, Beets, Bell peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cucumber, Dark lettuce, Eggplant, Garlic, Herbs (fresh), Jicama, Kale, Leeks, Lemon, Lime, Onion, Parsley, Red, new potatoes, Seasonal fruit (only when in acid-alkaline balance), Spinach, Squash, Tomato, Zucchini

Nuts/Seeds:

Almonds, Brazil nuts, Flax seeds, Filberts, Macadamia nuts, Pecans (seasonal), Pine nuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts (seasonal), *all nuts/seeds should be raw and unsalted

Freezer:

Boca burgers (vegan), Manna bread (Sun seed or Whole Wheat)

Seafood/Meat:

Salmon, Trout, Free range turkey (only on rare occasions)

Salts:

Bragg's Amino Liquid, Sea Salt, Real Salt Brand

Health Food Section

Almond butter, Almond milk, Amaranth, Basmati rice, Brown rice cakes, Buckwheat, Dulse flakes, Flours (spelt, millet, amaranth, etc), Grape Seed Oil, Kamut, Millet, Olive oil, Quinoa, Rotini (quinoa,spelt), Soba noodles (rice or buckwheat), Spelt, Soymilk, Sprouts (any), Sun-dried tomatoes (in olive oil), Tahini, Vegetable broth (yeast-free), Wild rice

The entire metabolic process depends on an alkaline environment. When we consume too many acidic or acid-producing foods, excess acid corrodes tissues and organs and thus provides a favorable environment for harmful bacteria and other micro organisms that can damage glands and organs.

New Levels Of Healthiness & Energy

A healthy diet with alkaline food supports vital cellular activities and functions and will create new levels of healthiness and energy. Alkaline foods are rich in nutrients for the body and an excellent source of the substances that are anti-yeast, anti-fungal, and anti-mycotoxic. Alkaline green foods are some of the lowest-calorie and lowest-sugar foods you can get and are very cleansing and loaded with fiber.

Balance-pH-Diet.com informs people about the over-acidification of the body due to fast paced and unhealthy lifestyles, which is the reason for many diseases and weight gain.

Get information about Alkaline Food and Alkaline Diet

Click here to learn more about How to Alkalize & Lose Weight.

Acid-Alkaline-Food-Chart

Calcium Supplements and Health Drinks Simplify a pH Balance Diet

Maintaining proper pH balance is confusing, but adding calcium supplements and health drinks to your diet is a smart way of simplifying the issue. It is extremely challenging for even the most health conscious person to reach the recommended proportion of alkaline foods to acid forming foods each day. That recommended ratio is 80% alkaline to 20% acid. While most of us eat plenty of acid forming foods without even trying, it takes some conscious effort to consume more alkaline forming foods.

Take a good look at your own diet and you will see that proper pH balance is not easy to accomplish without some help. Understand that we are talking about the acidity or alkalinity of your blood when discussing pH balance. Things like:

• Coffee, sodas, alcohol, chocolate, white and wheat flour, cheese, meats, rice and beans are common acid forming foods.




• Alkaline foods are more likely to be fresh fruits and vegetables.

As we all know, most people don't stick to a diet of 80% alkaline foods, so let's take a look at how calcium supplements and health drinks can assist. First, it is imperative to understand that the best sources of calcium come from whole foods. Dandelion root and alfalfa are two excellent whole food ingredients rich in this valuable mineral. When calcium is attached to a source of this nature, the body is better able to absorb it and put it to use.

• How does the body use calcium to regulate pH balance?

Think of it this way: The human body starts out in a slightly alkaline state, but over time becomes more and more acidic. When the intake of alkaline foods is not high enough to neutralize acidity, then the body must use whatever calcium is available to maintain pH balance. Usually, the next best source of something alkaline is the calcium in your bones. It only makes sense, then, that a calcium supplement will help you preserve bone strength while also maintaining the pH level of your blood for other issues.

If you also regularly consume health drinks with high alkalinity levels, you will be giving all that acid forming food, the one, two punch.

• What kinds of health drinks are alkaline?

This is easy to remember. Since most fruits and vegetables are good for pH balance, it stands to reason that health drinks made from whole foods are naturally alkaline. However, it is key that the health drinks you choose do not include added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup, as those are acid forming. What is most important is that the health drinks contain whole food ingredients such as real lemons, peaches, cinnamon, and/or herbal teas, as these are alkaline forming foods.

You will not find advanced health drinks in a convenience store, the local supermarket, or even your typical health food store. The best place to find higher quality alkaline forming foods and drinks is on the Internet. Search for all natural health drinks that are not sold in stores.

When shopping for calcium, remember to choose a natural whole food calcium supplement. Look for alfalfa and dandelion root in the ingredients. Also, check that Vitamin D2 is present as that provides the necessary component to work with calcium for improved bone strength and density. Vitamin D2 is crucial to aid the body in absorbing calcium.

By adding more alkaline forming foods and health drinks to your daily diet, you will find that your body responds. Many people have enjoyed fewer aches and pains, better sleep and numerous other health benefits simply by addressing the issue of calcium deficiency with a good calcium supplement. In any case, payng attention to your pH balance and the number of alkaline foods or acid forming foods in your diet is a positive step toward perfect health.

Cliff Smith is the owner of an online health food store with all natural foods and health drinks not sold in other stores. Discover a whole food calcium supplement or take the alkaline food test at BestHealthFoodStore.net.

Good Food Good Health-Salt

Hi everybody

Are you like me, confused from the amount of information we have been given recently about the amount of salt in our food and how it can affect our health. We are told having too much salt causes health problems but then again too little can also be detrimental to our health

Salt consists of about 40 per cent sodium and is a mineral, in virtually all-basic foods - from fruits and vegetables to common tap water, sodium is present in small amounts.

For maintaining good health we all do need some sodium in our diet, but too much, and especially continuous high amounts causes high blood pressure, this greatly increases the risk of developing heart disease and strokes.

I believe more and more of us are aware of these health risks due to recent media coverage, but lesser known is that it is also linked to stomach cancer and brittle bones. Water retention is also a side effect.

The latest information we have been given is that consuming too much salt in out diet can give you ulcers, according to new research carried out. Ulcers affect one in eight people's health in Britain, and salt has been found to help nurture the bacteria behind most stomach ulcers, leading to symptoms ranging from mild burning sensations to actually vomiting blood.

Many of these cases are caused by the Heliobacter pylori bacterium, which tricks the stomach into the over production of acid, hence causing ulcers and ill health. Researchers at the American Health Sciences University, found that high levels of salt are causing genetic changes in this bug making it all the more powerful, and warned that we should all learn about the health risks associated with too much salt.

The food Standards Agency recommends that adults should eat no more than 6g of salt, which is equivalent to around 2.5g of sodium. For children, obviously it varies with age as shown in the table below

salt sodium

up to 6 months old - less than -- 1g -- 0.4 mg

6 - 12 months -- 1g -- 0.4mg

1-3 year olds -- 2g -- 800mg

4-6 year olds -- 3g -- 1.2g

7-10 year olds -- 5g -- 2g

Children over 11 years -- 6g -- 2.4g

An easy way to calculate salt from sodium, is to multiply the amount of sodium by 2.5, this can be very helpful when calculating the amount of salt on some food products where labelling is confusing.

Naturally, parents should not add salt to children's food and definitely not to babies as their kidneys are unable to process high levels of it, and in fact it has been known that too much of it has been fatal in children under the age of one.

We are becoming aware that for good health we should know exactly what salt we are consuming in our diet, but it is difficult today to know just how much as more and more people today eat ready meals and processed foods, and these products do not always have clear and precise quantities shown.

Food manufacturers are adding sodium to many types of food that we would never have dreamt contained it, or of the quantity, because apparently our palette 'taste buds' have changed over the years saying that consumers expect this 'taste' now. Our taste buds are generally a good guide to how salty our food is, but manufacturers also frequently use sugars in these foods that disguise the saltiness and fools our taste buds!

Experts now say that generally only 6 per cent of salt is actually added to food at the table, 9 per cent added while cooking and a whopping 75 per cent of all what we consume comes from processed foods and this includes bread, puddings and breakfast cereals.

Health professionals have been campaigning for clear labelling of the quantity used in the manufacturing of foods and for greater awareness of the health concerns with eating too much salt, and I hope after reading this article you will be more familiar with the health concerns attributed to high salt consumption.

So now we all need to get used to scrutinising product labels, and remember not to confuse salt with sodium when doing this. A high salt product is one with 1.5g (0.6g sodium) or higher content per 100g of product, so anything with a lower level is a much healthier choice, and obviously the lower the content all the better for your good health.

If you are a fan of the salt cellar and regularly add it to your food, the best way to cut down on this is to give your taste buds an alternative healthier flavour enhancer. There are many you can try, garlic is one, black pepper freshly ground is excellent, try using lemon juice or fresh herbs and spices to add great taste. Chilli is also another good one to try but is an acquired taste.

Another way to wean yourself of too much is to gradually reduce the amount you are adding to your food, allowing your taste buds to adjust.

Hyponatremia is a condition when someone has a lack of sodium, and when this is left untreated can cause dizziness, confusion and unexplained tiredness.

Hyponatremia is more likely to affect the elderly, especially if they are using diuretics. Diuretic drugs are used to treat problems such as high blood pressure and heart conditions, reducing the level of excess fluid in the body that can affect the essential body salt (or electrolytes) levels that are needed to maintain good health and vital functions.

Only this year a marathon runner died not long after finishing his race, and the diagnosis was due to drinking so much water, that by urinating and sweating profusely he had lost too many body salts.

So obviously there is a worry that some over zealous health conscientious people might cut down too low on salt intake and cause problems for themselves. Eating a healthy balanced diet is always best for good health.

So like myself now, do not forget to make it a habit to read your food product labels including bread whether you purchase it from a bakery or supermarket as it is always included in the ingredients, to make sure you are only eating the healthy required amount. I know this can be confusing and tedious but it is for our advantage.

Sandra and Ted Wosko

This article was composed by Sandra & Ted Wosko. We have always been interested in health issues especially having children, and as with most people, we all suffer with some type of ailment. We are always researching on more and more topics in the endless task of gaining more knowledge to increase our expertise, benefiting ourselves and other people alike.
http://www.goodfoodgoodhealth.com
http://www.thetalkingbooksite.com

Alfalfa Extract - What Are the Health Benefits?

The health benefits of alfalfa grass, its history of use and the value of alfalfa supplements is what we will briefly discuss.

What is alfalfa grass?

It is actually a member of the pea family, a legume. It is an important crop for cattle and other animals, because of its high protein content, much higher than what is found in most grasses. People do not typically eat alfalfa grass, because the high fiber content. However, a young tender alfalfa sprout is a favorite health food.

The mature plant resembles clover, with clusters of small purple flowers, but it typically grows much taller than clover grass will grow. The alfalfa sprout is harvested long before the plant reaches maturity, which accounts for the relative high price of the food, when compared to other vegetables.

Health Benefits

Some of the alfalfa health benefits have been known for 1500 years or more. It was a popular herbal medicine among many traditional healers. It is native to a number of different countries in temperate climates throughout the world.

Modern scientists have confirmed some of the benefits of alfalfa. It has been used to treat anemia, which is likely due to its iron content. It may be beneficial for preventing some of the damage from diabetes and high blood sugar levels, because of its antioxidant and phyto-nutrient content. It has also been used to treat bladder disorders and as an estrogen replacement, to increase breast milk and reduce pre-menstrual syndrome. Alfalfa grass is a known phyto-estrogen, compounds produced by plants that act like the hormone in the human body.

Supplements

Alfalfa supplements are fairly common, these days. They may help relieve the symptoms of menopause, lower unhealthy cholesterol levels; help prevent arthritis and prostate problems. The quality of the supplements varies greatly.

They should be composed of the alfalfa sprout, the leaves or the flowers. Some manufacturers use the entire plant including the roots and seeds. The seeds have the potential to decrease amino acid enzyme activity, which could cause health problems that weight out the benefits of alfalfa.

Supplement Source: Very Important

In order to get the alfalfa health benefits in supplement form, you need to choose a good manufacturer. It is difficult to tell, but the cheapest alfalfa supplements will be of the lowest quality and may include the seeds.

In the best supplements, the extracts from the leaves and sprouts are used as an ingredient; not the only ingredient, just one of many. You get the best value for your money if you shop for a multi-nutritional supplement that contains your basic vitamins and minerals, as well as a number of beneficial extracts.

Alfalfa Synergy

Some of the extracts to look for include gingko biloba, green tea, black cumin, olive leaf, resveratrol and turmeric. These help reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease, our two big killers.

If you strive for optimal nutritional intake, you may live a longer healthier life. The benefits of alfalfa extract are great, but it's not the only nutrient that you need. For more complete details on Alfalfa Extract and other herbal extracts and their synergistic value, please see my website listed below. Larry L. Taylor

Please visit http://www.HealthyBodySupplements.com for Larry's recommended Nutritional Supplements that contain Alfalfa Extract and many other Herbal Extracts.

Raw Food Health Solutions For Diarrhea

Diarrhea and Raw Foods

Known by a number of different names such as 'Delhi belly', 'jippy tummy' 'the runs', 'runny tummy' which reflects the need to explain to friends and family why we have the sudden and urgent need to go to the toilet. Some people find that an excess of spicy food (hence the first name for it) or excessive alcohol can bring on diarrhea and it can be quite a common experience when traveling in less developed countries where the water supply is suspect.

What is it?

This is the name given to a condition when you pass frequent runny stools. You might also feel cramps in the stomach and feel sick. In most cases this is a temporary situation but if it lasts more than two weeks or if you pass blood then you should go to the doctor.

What are the Causes?

It is caused by irritation of the lining of the intestine leading to increased water being passed in the stools. This irritation can be triggered by an infection from infected food or water or it can be passed direct through physical contact often by hands. Sometimes it can cause by emotional upset or anxiety.

Some children get diarrhea as a result of poor toilet hygiene when they are being potty trained. This can be very upsetting for them but bananas are a great hand held convenience remedy that can be popped in the handbag for outings or easily purchased in an emergency.

What lifestyle changes can you make?

In order to prevent diarrhea, make sure you practice good hand hygiene remembering to wash your hands after using the toilet, playing with pets or gardening. If you have diarrhea, do not share towels and avoid preparing food until it has cleared up for fear of passing it on to the rest of the household.

Long term use of aspirin and ibuprofen can cause diarrhea so if you can, try to find a raw food anti inflammatory such as turmeric that you can add to your cooking.

To be safe, it's probably best to buy bottled water away from home to avoid any problems.

Raw Foods to Eat

As dehydration results from diarrhea you should make sure you drink plenty of water. It is a good idea to add some honey to it as this works wonders on the intestinal tract to kill off the bacteria. Grapefruit seed extract and freshly squeezed lemon juice also work well in water before a meal as prevention. Barley water is also a good tonic for diarrhea. Foods that are high in carbohydrate are advised but if you don't feel like eating you could take these as soup.

Other foods that work as antibacterial agents in the intestinal tract are:

* Arrowroot

* Tapioca and semolina

* Black currant - found to stop the growth of E. Coli

* Blueberry

You should avoid the following, as these will have the opposite effect:

* Apples

* Bran

* Coffee

* Olive oil

Diarrhea can be most unpleasant especially when traveling in a foreign country, as it's best to be near a private toilet at times like these. If you are planning to travel, take a note of some of these remedies and put some honey in your suitcase or backpack. If you tend to be prone to diarrhea keep a stock of dried blackcurrants or blueberries in your cupboard and crush them into water for an instant remedy.

To your health,

Omid

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Our mission is clear and straightforward. We want to bring the most accurate, high-quality and well-researched information about Raw and Living Food and Sustainable Living. Achieving good health should be easy and accessible for everyone and we want to make it easier for you to have access to it. The more we know, the more we can take charge of our life and take steps towards a healthier one!

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Good Food Good Health - Diabetes And Vitamin D

Are you like me and finding it more and more confusing with the information we are given about vitamins. One-day vitamin supplements are the way to go - the next day we should drop them like a hot potato and stay clear.

The best way to get all the vitamins we need is by eating a good varied diet of nutritional food, as we always say 'good food is good health', this should be as fresh as possible as storage depletes the values as well as over cooking.

Sometimes, as when taking drugs or medication they do have a negative effect on some parts of the body such as the liver, but the consequence of not taking them could be of greater significance.

So when taking vitamins - even though you can pick them up readily at any grocery store and health food shop, it is always recommended to ask your Doctor or health adviser opinion before taking.

Recently there has been speculation that Vitamin D could greatly cut the chance of Type 1 diabetes developing later in life if supplements are taken in early childhood.

The research showed that children who were given the additional Vitamin D were up to 80 per cent less likely to go on and develop the disease compared to those not given the supplement.

It was noticed that the higher the dose and the more regularly taken, the lower the chance of developing the condition.

Another study found that those who took any amount of Vitamin D had a lower rate of diabetes than the group that took no supplement.

Vitamin D is believed to help by acting as an immuno-suppressant agent, as Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, and may prevent an over-aggressive reaction from the immune system - when the immune system destroys it own cells.

Type 1diabetes develops when insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas are destroyed.

Vitamin D is only found in a few natural food sources such as eggs (the yolk), fish and shellfish. Salmon, tuna, herring, halibut, shrimps and oysters are excellent sources.

Often foods are already enriched or fortified with vitamin D - milk being a good example, some breakfast cereals, soy drinks and some varieties of margarine.

Obviously it is better if you can reach your daily requirement from your diet - the RDA is not the same in all countries so check with a pharmacist or your health centre who will be pleased to advise you.

There are many supplements of Vitamin D readily available; I know that I reach my required RDA as the cod liver oil supplement I take daily includes vitamins A, D and E, even though I make sure I eat fish at least twice a week and generally eat eggs on almost a daily basis.

So if Vitamin D can cut the chance of us developing diabetes in later life, it really is important that we do eat a wide variety of foods to attain it and all the other vitamins and minerals to stave off other illnesses and diseases.

Eating a healthy diet can only benefit us, and the earlier in life we start the better. Therefore we all need to look to our diets and see if we are lacking in any area or over indulging in others.

Us as parents need to instil early in life a good varied diet to our children - before they become 'faddy and picky' and only want to eat the latest 'in' food.

Granted this can be quite difficult with children, but perseverance usually works and by introducing a small amount of a new food regularly helps.

So remember 'good food is good health' and that 'we are what we eat'.

Sandra & Ted

This article was composed by Sandra & Ted Wosko. We have always been interested in health issues especially having children, and as with most people, we all suffer with some type of ailment. We are always researching on more and more topics in the endless task of gaining more knowledge to increase our expertise, benefiting ourselves and other people alike.

http://www.goodfoodgoodhealth.com
http://www.thetalkingbooksite.com
http://www.quantum-mind-power.com

The Health Benefits Of Tofu Food

Vegetarians have long reported the benefits of tofu food - a soy product that is often used as a meat alternative in a variety of dishes. But the benefits of tofu food have reached beyond the vegetarian community as more and more health-conscious eaters have turned their attention to this versatile product. Tofu food lends itself to a variety of delicious uses and, as such, continues to be a staple in many household kitchens.

Made from soybean curd that is pressed into blocks, tofu food has a variety of uses depending on its different moisture content. Derived directly from soy milk, soft tofu contains the highest moisture content of all varieties of tofu. Its texture is likened to custard and as such it lends itself to a multitude of dessert recipes. Firm tofu contains less moisture than its soft counterpart and because it can hold its shape better is often used as a staple in most tofu food recipes. Dried tofu is extremely low in moisture likening it to cooked meat. Most cooks use this tofu food crumbled, sliced, or formed into noodles. Tofu food also has the ability to be frozen - or made into a puree - so that it can be used anytime throughout the week in whatever capacity it is needed.

But the versatility of tofu food ultimately lies in its flavor - or lack thereof. Tofu actually has very little of its own natural flavor. Instead, it absorbs the flavor from the other ingredients in the dish. Served in soups, as a filling or stuffing, raw, stewed, fried, or grilled, tofu food can be used in a multitude of cuisines.

But most importantly, the health benefits of tofu food are difficult to ignore. Low in calories and high in protein, tofu contains no cholesterol and in some cases has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. It's no wonder that more and more people have begun to include tofu food as a part of their healthy lifestyle.

For easy to understand, in depth information about tofu food visit our ezGuide 2 Tofu.

Vitamin C - The Most Common Health Food Supplement

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid was first isolated from lemons in 1932. The C in this very important vitamin is debatable and may stand for citrus, cold, or collagen for the following reasons.

Fruits found with the highest concentration of Vitamin C are citrus fruits, rose hips, cherries, papayas, cantaloupes, and strawberries. Common vegetable sources are red and green peppers, broccoli, sprouts, tomatoes, asparagus, parsley, dark leafy greens, and cabbage.

The most important function of Vitamin C is the formation and maintenance of collagen, the basis of connective tissue, found in skin, ligaments, cartilage, vertebral discs, joint linings, capillary walls, bones, and teeth.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin. It blocks the oxidation of water-soluble molecules, which lead to the creation of free radicals, the culprits responsible for making our bodies prone to cellular injury and disease.

A most popular disease associated with Vitamin C deficiency is scurvy. Lack of Vitamin C in the body impedes collagen formation, causing reduced health of the tissues. Early symptoms are poor resistance to infection and very slow wound healing. In addition, many medical problems have been found to be associated with low blood levels of Vitamin C. These are common infections, colds, depression, high blood pressure, arthritis, vascular fragility, allergies, ulcers, and even cholesterol gallstones.

The RDA for adults is 60 mg. Only 10 to 20-mg. of Vitamin C are required to prevent scurvy, and there is more than that in one portion of most fruits or vegetables. For most people the minimum dosage is between 100-150 mg. daily.

Vitamin C is the most commonly consumed nutrient supplement and is available as regular or chewable tablet or as time-release capsule, as well as in powder, effervescent, and liquid forms.

For information regarding nutritional supplements visit http://www.supersupplementguide.com where you can gather advice regarding what is best for you and find out where to purchase.

Milk Makes You Lose Weight - A Pure and Perfect Health Food

When you receive the Seal you begin to care about the health of your body. You want to eat a healthy diet. Studies have shown that milk is good for you, and cultured milk is even better.

Milk is one of nature's better foods. It may not be a "complete" food but it is nearly complete. And yes, milk can--as it has been advertised--help you burn fat.

Researchers who studied dieters for 6 months found that those who had 3 servings of dairy high in calcium lost more belly fat than those who went without the dairy products in their diet.

Those same researchers also found that taking calcium supplements does not help you to lose weight as much as eating or drinking dairy products which are high in protein and other nutrients.

The protein in milk builds muscle while you lose fat. Milk protein is 4 parts whey and 1 part casein. Both of these proteins are considered high-quality proteins, and both are complete proteins.

Whey is a fast protein, because it is digested so fast into the basic building blocks of protein your body uses--amino acids. So it is ideal to replace protein in the body (as well as other nutrients needed) after vigorous exercise.

Casein is broken down slowly by your body. But that means it gives you a "slow and steady" supply of protein over a longer period of time, an important balance of the faster whey protein.

There is a debate about whether it is healthier to drink skim or whole milk. Whole milk is natural (the way God made it) and is considered by some health food experts to be the healthier of the two kinds of milk.

Most studies about it show that whole milk actually lowers bad cholesterol in spite of its high saturated fat content. Of course skim milk is better if you have high cholesterol and you want to treat that.

Other researchers have found that drinking a few glasses of milk a day cuts your risk of heart disease and stroke, again in spite of the high saturated fat content of whole milk if that is the kind of milk you choose.

If you eat or drink a milk culture it is even better for you. Milk culture includes yogurt and kefir and a host of new products considered to be "probiotics."

Probiotics promote the growth of friendly bacteria within your digestive tract. These friendly bacteria aid digestion so you absorb more nutrients. And they bring back nutrients previously destroyed by the process of pasteurization.

Probiotics also boost your body's immune system. The friendly bacteria also fight against bad bacteria so you will not get sick as often. Who cares about a little cold or the flu now and then? If you are elderly that cold or flu might be what kills you.

God made milk the mainstay of the diet for the very young. It is the sole nutrition of the young and for them it is a perfect food. It is perfect for adults too when it becomes a milk culture, a living food that is a much better source of protein than most meat.

When you are sealed you will begin to take care of your health. Replacing some of the meat in your diet with milk (and especially cultured dairy) will help you lose weight and become healthier. And you will want to become healthier when you receive the Seal.

Come Celebrate the Spirituality of Tea.

Beginner's Quickguide to the Health Food Store

If you've never stepped foot inside a health food store before, you may find the array of products, labels and promises daunting. As with most things, some research first may help ease the confusion.

1. Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice from the people working in the store. If you know
exactly what you won't they will point you in the right direction. If you're not sure they will usually give you advice on one or two products. Remember though that they are there to sell products so if you're not sure about making a purchase, don't do it. It is better to visit a few different stores and get more than one lot of advice than making a mistake with your wallet and products.

2. Always read the labels. Most products will tell you exactly what they're used for, but be conscious of what you want them for. If you have allergies or sensitivities, it is always wise to make sure the ingredients list is safe, and if you're not sure, ask the storepeople.

3. Wheat and dairy free alternatives can usually be found in the health food store. You will be surprised by the variety available. Know what you want before you go in as some items are better for different uses and flavour varies greatly. For instance, rice milk, soya milk, oat milk and almond milk are all dairy alternatives, but they don't all taste the same. Rice milk tends to be sweet and watery, while soya milk is creamier and easier to drink straight. I use rice milk in porridge and find that has enough flavour that I don't need to add any sweetener. However, I wouldn't drink it otherwise. Of course, every person's preferences are different. If you are switching from dairy to any of the alternatives you will need time to get used to the tastes.

With the flour products, no one type is a straight switch for wheat flour. Potato, rice and buckwheat come close, but some experimenting with measurements and other ingredients will be necessary before you can bake the perfect cake or loaf of bread.

There are now plenty of wheat free breads available. To start with, try those loaves that feel and look most like ordinary bread. You won't find any "white" bread, but the multigrain versions are quite light.

4. If you are interested in shifting to more alternative remedies without a major change in diet or going on an intense detox, then take a look at products like essential oils and flower remedies. These really do work, but make sure you get 100% pure oils not fragrances and do read the instructions. Flower remedies, such as Bach and Australian Bush Essences, are taken as drops under the tongue morning and night, and are helpful for dealing with stress, concentration problems, hormone fluctuations and a host of other issues that effect our daily lives.

5. Not all vitamins are equal and I would advise you do lots of research before deciding on a course to suit your needs. First, know what you need the vitamins for and then look up the minimum doses required. When you check the labels in the store, make sure that the minimum dose is present and don't bother with the product if it is not. It is generally considered that the cheaper brands aren't the best quality or dosage. My advice is to go to a Naturopathic practitioner. They will help you with whatever health issues you are dealing with, advise on vitamins or remedies to take, and advise on diet. In many cases, they can also prescribe herbal remedies that are good quality practitioner only products and make them up to suit you and your needs exactly. If you are taking other medications, always advise the practitioner so they can ensure anything they give you will be complimentary and not harmful to your health.

If you're not feeling as well as you should, if you're worried by an increasing list of other drugs that you're taking to no apparent effect, perhaps it's time you sought some alternatives and trod your own path to better health. Always follow instructions on any medications you're taking and, if you're on a particular course of drugs for a specific condition, talk to your doctor and/or naturopath before making changes.

~~~~~~~

Trish is a freelance writer for hire. Read more of her articles and pick up a copy of her new e-book, Plan to Write Plan to Succeed, for free at [http://beginningsmiddlesends.blogspot.com/]

Health & Safety Code Requirements of a Salad Bar Or Buffet and How to Prevent a Food Poisoning

Except for the high end establishments, just about every type of restaurant these days has some form of customer self-service buffet or salad bar serving ready-to-eat foods. Even El Pollo Loco and other Mexican style restaurants allow you to pick and fill up from a choice of salsas. Asian style all-you-can-eat restaurants are another big one with many popping up in most big cities. Then there are of course the restaurants that focus entirely on buffets and salad bars.

The health and safety laws governing these displays have developed over the years to address the uniqueness of this type of set up and some of the unique hazards or risks to consumers. Noted below are most of those requirements as well as my own recommendations from years of experience inspecting restaurant buffets and salad bars:

--One obvious requirement is that all open exposed ready-to-eat food must be shielded so as to block a direct line between the customer's mouth and the food on display. This shield is generally known as a sneeze guard for the larger displays of food and is usually glass or transparent plastic, angled above the food enough to block possible contamination coming from a customer's mouth (saliva from sneezing, coughing, talking, etc.). The shield can also take the form of a container with a tight fitting securely attached lid, normally with hinges. If there is no evidence of a shield or lid then the display is most likely not approved and should be avoided.

--A separate utensil with a handle is required for each food displayed for self-service. No customer is allowed to touch any of the exposed food with their hands.

--There must be clean plates and other tableware at or adjacent to the buffet or salad bar and customers should be reminded, or notified if need be, that only clean tableware is to be used when returning to the buffet.

--The proper temperatures must be maintained. The food is usually displayed on ice (and actually should be buried in ice), or the containers are sitting either in a refrigerated unit or warmer, or the food is sitting under a heating lamp. Look for steam coming from the warmer or steam table and even the food itself. Do not trust a chafing dish for long term holding (more than 2 hours) of foods. You will generally only see chafing dishes at a temporary buffet setting. They are large shallow metal platters with one or two canned gas lighted flames underneath, attempting to keep the food warm. They are maybe good for short periods of time only, and are not to be trusted or definitely not approved for a more permanent buffet setting. Heat lamps usually fall into this same category. They also are not the best means of maintaining hot holding temperatures for long period of times.

--Employees should be constantly monitoring and maintaining the buffet or salad bar. They should be doing everything from replenishing it to cleaning and checking temperatures frequently.

--No sulfites or sulfating agents. Sulfites used to be a common preserving agent especially in fruits, maintaining a fresh appearance. Most if not all states prohibit any food facility from applying sulfating agents to fresh fruits and vegetables intended for raw consumption, or to any potentially hazardous foods. Sulfites are still allowed on fruits and vegetables not sold in the raw state, such as dried fruits and grapes used for wine.

--Absolutely no flies or other types of vermin (cockroaches, rodents) can be present. Contrary to what you may have heard, there is no acceptable number or amount of vermin allowed in a food facility. Vermin are strictly illegal in all areas of the establishment. They harbor and can transmit dangerous microorganisms as well as general filth to your food and should not be tolerated.

-- No leaking and pooling waste water on the floor area, either from melting ice, or the refrigeration or warmer unit.

--Most foods should have a label identifying the common name of the food, sauce, dressing, condiments etc.

Learning the requirements and potential hazards of a buffet or salad bar is just good consumer awareness and can give you the advantage in preventing a serious food borne illness.

Michael Doom has worked as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) for Los Angeles County since 1987. His experience within Los Angeles County has taken him to some of the smallest "mom and pop" restaurants and markets in the poorest areas of south Los Angeles, as well as to the largest facilities and affluent areas on the west side. He has literally conducted thousands of inspections of numerous types of restaurants, food markets, warehouses, events, and more; educated hundreds, if not more than a thousand, food facility owners, managers and employees on food sanitation and food safety, and preventing food poisoning hazards; has supervised more than 50 field inspectors that were responsible for an inventory of food facilities larger than many U.S. states. To learn more visit http://www.FoodPoisoningPrevention.com

Chewing Your Food Completely is More Important Than You Think

Chewing your food completely is an often overlooked part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you are like most people, you lead such a busy life that meal time is cut down to a fraction of what it should be. Have you ever timed yourself when eating? How long does it take you to finish a meal? Is it ten minutes? Twenty minutes? Five minutes? If you fall into these time frames, chances are you are not chewing your food properly. Read on to uncover the reasons why chewing your food completely is so important to good health.

Most people think that digestion begins in the stomach. This is not true. Digestion actually starts in the mouth. Saliva in your mouth contains enzymes that are important to food digestion. One of the enzymes that your saliva contains is called alpha amylase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down the starches that you eat into smaller molecules that the cells in your body can use for energy. When your food is not chewed properly, the alpha amylase in your saliva does not have the opportunity to break down these starches, leaving body cells starved.

Another important enzyme in your saliva is lingual lipase. This enzyme is secreted by glands located under the tongue. Lingual lipase starts digesting the fat content found in the food that you eat.

Do you find yourself feeling bloated and gassy after eating? You are not chewing your food properly. When you do not chew your food thoroughly, this will result in incomplete digestion. Large particles of food will pass into the colon and become a breeding ground for bacteria. This can lead to bacterial overgrowth, indigestion and flatulence. Not chewing your food completely will also result in just a portion of the nutrients being released from your food.

Properly chewed food is important for a healthy lower GI tract. There is a muscle that sits at the bottom of your stomach. This muscle must relax to enable food to pass from the stomach and into the small intestine. When your food contains large amounts of saliva, this will help the muscle to relax and the food can pass into the small intestine easily.

So how many times should you chew a bite of food? It is impossible to give an definitive answer to this question. There are plenty of variables that would come into play. For example, you would need to chew a piece of meat a lot more than you would need to chew a piece of bread. A good way to tell if your food has been chewed properly is to chew until you can no longer recognize the food by the texture. If you are chewing a carrot and are still able to tell it is a carrot by the texture in your mouth, then you need to chew it a lot more before you swallow.

Not only does chewing your food completely lead to a healthier lifestyle, it will also bring out the flavor in the foods that you eat. Chewing your food completely will make all of your meals more enjoyable.

Chews 4 Health
http://www.1thinkhealthy.com/chews4health.html

Getting Cheaper Health Food!

I live in Houston. With Gustav approaching the gulf coast, everyone is trying to prepare for the unexpected. During my lunch hour, I went for some grocery shopping just to ensure that there will be sufficient water and food in case all commercial places will be closed or it will be flooding so much that I can not go out of the house at all.

The supermarket was not as packed as I expected. I guess because most people had gone to the mega store to stack up their supplies. Most of my coworkers have changed to shop in Sam's, Costco to save on per unit cost for their food, especially if they have a big family. I can not afford the higher-than-affordable price from Whole Foods, so I usually shop at my nearby Kroger.

I have been surprised by the level of increment in food price. Skim milk has gone from $2 something to over $3 now. Vegetables have also followed the big trend. Romaine lettuce no longer sells below $1. So much so that I find the packed organic salad mix that sells at a discount of $4 something a great deal. I can never find whole chicken selling at $.99/lb anymore. Instead, I will have to wait for the chicken go on discount and hopefully can get it close to $1.19/lb.

I start to wonder: where are the cheaper health foods? With commodity price turns north without any sign of going back, I have since changed some of my food shopping / eating habits:-

1) Get the fish! With those 6oz frozen fish selling at over $5 a pack, I learn to get my fish in the perfectly price reasonable place - the Chinese buffet! You can get about 3 to 4 pounds of fish in the to go box for a price of less than $10 (when you get it at lunch hours). The fish are perfectly cooked - they are steamed with mild seasonings - so they have kept good nutrient value.

2) Drink water! When dining out at restaurant, I no longer order any beverage. Instead, I order water with lemons. When adding those sugar free sugar, it tastes perfectly like a lemonade. At the same time, it saves you $2 for the drink.

3) Find the right protein! I find that the store has its own brand of beef patties. It's 91% fat free. A 12-patty pack costs about $10. When eating too much chicken can bore you, those patties can be a great choice for a wheat bread burger.

4) Read the Sunday newspaper! Yes, I was introduced and taught by my friend to go through the Sunday newspaper for food coupons. I was not a believer before. However, when seeing the receipt of saying that I save over 30% per food shopping trip. I am in!

Food is one of the biggest pleasures! It's worth to take some effort to make it healthy, make it worthy, make it right!

Always welcome you to share any health and food ideas at my health and food room: [http://health-food-room.blogspot.com/]