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.

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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
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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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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.

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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.

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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