8 Chinese New Year Food Symbols for Happiness, Prosperity and Health

"Lucky" Chinese New Year symbols are an important part of
celebrating the Spring Festival.

Afterall, it is the start of spring -- a perfect time to
have your New Year wishes come true!

And what better way to usher in happiness, prosperity and
health than to enjoy "auspicious food" with family and
friends?

Here are the Top 8 auspicious food symbols for Chinese New
Year.

Top 8 Auspicious Food Symbols for Chinese New
Year

1. Hot Pot

A steaming hot pot (or chinese fondue) with meat, seafood
and vegetables) is a must.

Huo3 in hot pot huo3 guo3 火锅 is the same word as huo3 in
hong2 huo3 红火 "prosperous and booming".

2. Fish

Another must-have dish if you want to experience abundance
in the new year.

Fish yu2 鱼 is the most popular dish served during Chinese
New Year.

In Chinese fish has the same sound as "surplus" and
"abundance" 余.

A whole fish is served on Chinese New Year's eve for the
reunion dinner.

Usually the fish is steamed.

It is a good omen to leave the bones and head and tail
intact.

This symbolizes surplus/abundance and a good beginning and
end in the new year.

Best served whole.

3. Shrimp

Shrimp xia1 虾 in Mandarin and ha in Cantonese sounds
like someone laughing.

Eat shrimp for happiness and well-being.

4. Boiled dumplings

A Chinese New Year tradition is eating boiled dumplings.

These are shaped like gold ingots.

Dumplings jiao3 zi 饺子 sounds like jiao1 zi3 交子which
means the hour of transition into the New Year.

Hence, in northern China, dumplings filled with meat are
eaten on Chinese New Year's eve to usher in good luck and
wealth in the New Year.

Sometimes a coin is placed in one of the dumplings. Whoever
bites on it will have plenty of wealth in the new year.

When dumplings and yellow noodles are cooked together they
mean "golden threads through gold ingots".

In the eastern cities of China, like Shanghai, Hangzhou and
Suzhou, egg dumplings are eaten as they look like gold
ingots.

5. Oyster

Hao2 sounds like hao3 shi4 好事 which means "good
things".

In southern China, it is served with thin rice
noodles.

6. Green vegetables

For close family ties, serve some greens.

Qing1 cai4 青菜 sounds like qing1 亲 as in qin1 re 亲热 mea
ning "close/intimate"

7. Sticky rice cake

Nian2 gao1 年糕.

Nian2 means year and cake gao1 sounds the
same as high gao1 高.

So eating this steamed cake made of rice flour and topped
with red dates has the meaning of attaining greater
prosperity and rank in the new year.

8. Noodles

Known as chang2 shou4 mian4 长寿面 meaning "longevity
noodles".

A wish for good fortune -- Good Luck, Prosperity, Longevity,
Happiness and Abundance -- is central to the Chinese way of
life.

Even more so during Chinese New Year!

For more auspicious Chinese food symbols and DIY Chinese recipes, visit www.living-chinese-symbols.com.

Want to discover the culture of Chinese symbols and characters and enhance your life? LIOW Kah Joon is your guide. Read his Chinese New Year Special and sign up for his free monthly Chinese Symbols ezine at Living Chinese Symbols.

Health Food Stores Battle Food Allergies

At health food stores, customers are complaining about food allergies more often now with statements like, "I can't eat this", or "I can't eat that." Why do so many people, especially those who frequent health food stores, believe they have food allergies? It's funny, I've never heard anyone say, "I'm allergic to coffee, cookies, cakes, popcorn, pizza or candy", and yet these are things that people ingest regularly without a second thought. So, what's up with all these health food store shoppers who have food allergies?

Food allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a protein molecule in the offending food. This can happen even with those who stick to food from health food stores. The body is unable to break down that particular protein molecule, so it reacts by trying to "get rid of it". It produces a chemical called 'histamine' and symptoms appear in the form of rashes, hives, itching, wheezing, breathing problems, and lots of mucus being expelled through the mouth, nose, ears, lungs, or sexual organs. More serious reactions from food allergies are: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, drop in blood pressure, or even death.

Intolerance to certain foods is different than true food allergies, and this is a more common complaint at health food stores. With food intolerances like lactose intolerance, where a person has difficulty breaking down the sugar in the milk, the symptoms are much milder. One may have some bloating, excess gas, cramping or diarrhea. While food intolerance is unpleasant, it is not life threatening like food allergies can be in some severe cases. The usual distresses are intolerances to wheat, soy, dairy and anything at health food stores that the shopper feels is too expensive.

The question that customers at health food stores ought to ask is not, "What food am I allergic to?" But rather, "Why is my immune system reacting to what should be health food?"

When determining specific food allergies and intolerances, some factors to consider are:
1. What is the trigger food?
2. When am I eating the trigger food?
3. Am I improperly combining fruits and vegetables or grains or meat and dairy?

The list can be quite exhaustive to hunt down the offending trigger food and how it is being consumed. In fact, most food allergy experts will tell you to keep a diary of everything you eat, and when you find the trigger food to just avoid eating it. Well, that sounds simple, but if you react to many things, including those that should be health food, it's not so simple? Of course, you can eliminate the most common triggers to food allergies like: corn, wheat, eggs, dairy, and peanuts, but if that doesn't work, then what? The truth is, your immune system can overreact to many substances. The best way to address food allergies is to strengthen your immune system and get in balance with all the systems of the body. Shop health food stores for specific foods to feed your 5 main systems equally: immune, endocrine, digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems. This may be difficult at typical health food stores, but searching online will produce results.

When you feed all your body parts with healthy, whole food nutrients, and eliminate the fake, processed foods in your life, your 5 systems can come into a perfectly natural balance. Then you can eat what you know you should be eating. It is better to strengthen the body's systems with properly combined health food and ward off illness and disease the natural way. When you consume the right nutrients, the body operates at optimum levels for a more relaxed, healthy life. You have access to so much good nutrition at health food stores and plenty of options for avoiding food allergies or intolerances that it's a shame to limit your choices unnecessarily.

Cliff Smith is the owner of an online health food store specializing in properly combined, concentrated whole food formulas that nourish, cleanse and balance the body. Many of his customers have overcome their food allergies and intolerances with health foods that are not sold in typical retail stores. Visitors to the online store are encouraged to take the free alkaline food test, request catalogs, sample products, and discover more nutrition facts.

How Does Our Food Intake Affect Our Health?

When mapping out some of the healthier foods, we can begin to advise others on which food combinations make us healthier at the end of the day. In order to live a long and fit life, one needs enough servings from the right items in the food pyramid to meet their individual needs combined with an hour or so of productive exercise.

This formula may be different for a 15-year-old girl than it would be for an 80-year-old man. Unfortunately, everyone's individual calorie intake can differ just as much as which foods are best for our bodies. Can you see how someone slight and thin may need to adapt their food pyramid differently than someone solid and muscular? The guideline that outlines the food pyramid is so general, it is up to each person to discover which foods work best for them and come up with a plan.

It's true that the items listed in the food pyramid are necessary for our daily health, but in what quantities do they work the best? The answer is different for everyone. Which foods make different people healthy are unique to each person.

A plan that works for me may not work for everyone. Nutritionally, we're all different, and so are our levels of appropriate calorie consumption.

Once we have decided which food plans work for us, it's only a matter of memorizing it. We factor in what benefits it has for us, and incorporate it into our daily routines as necessary. And don't forget how important exercise is to each of us. For us to keep our bodies functioning and healthy off the good food we eat, we need it to stay in shape. This can be done through proper exercise.

Your calorie needs are just as unique as you are, according to recent studies by the USDA. So how can you figure out what those needs are? One way is to keep a food journal. Determine what your daily calorie needs are, and check with a nutritionist to find out which vitamins and minerals can help you fulfill those needs. Now take your nutritional requirements, combine it with your calorie intake, and reference the food pyramid to choose which foods you love that can also fulfill your daily requirements. Now you have a healthy eating plan that's right for you.

And this plan works only for the unique guidelines that surround you. While it won't necessarily work for your friends or family members, you can help them on the road to healthy lives using the formulas you applied to yourself. It is here where we need to pick up where government-regulated schooling left off. These are the types of techniques someone should have learned in school. Perhaps learning this would give young people today the groundwork they need to begin the process on their own, practice it all their lives, and pass it on to their own children. Whatever the formula turns out to be, which ever foods you need to take and what calorie contents work best for you, what it comes down to is a plan like this can improve your general health every day of your life. Obesity is caused by overeating, and anemia can be brought about by not eating too much. Take the time to find the guide that works right for you and get to planning for your new, healthy life!

If you are looking for workouts to lose weight author and personal trainer Anu Morgan has excellent information for you. Get a copy of her free report, "The Seven Personal Trainer Secrets to Weight Loss" by visiting AnuMorgan.com.

Effects of Junk Food on Health

The phrase "junk food" itself speaks of endangerment to health. Junk foods are deemed to be trash foods as they are high in fat and sugar components regardless of how they are labeled by manufacturers. The apparent effect of junk food on health administers when there is excess in intake. Teenagers comprise the higher bulk of junk food fanatics and they seem to be unhealthy with such a lifestyle of munching in chips, fries, crackers and other snack foods in front of the television. Majority of junk food choices do not deliver beneficial nutritional values, but you could actually integrate a few junk foods in your diet with an assurance that it is of moderate amount.

Regardless of age, the effect of junk food on health settles as bad as it could be especially when you eat too much of some. You will end up easily getting exhausted by being a junk food fanatic. Because it doesn't balance the appropriate levels of energy you ought to consume, you have tendencies of craving for more food when you eat junk foods. Also, you can be less focused with anything you undertake at work and home because what you are acquiring from junk foods are mere fats, not healthy ingredients. Also, you will experience lack of important oxygen that eventually result to poor brain functioning.

In the long run, your heart cannot function as it should because of too much cholesterol absorbed in the body as an effect of junk food on health. If there's too much plaque in the arteries, your heart has to assert more effort in pumping blood which may cause you to be in fatigue. The excess amount of cholesterol in your body can destroy the liver as well, leaving you overweight at the same time. Most of obese kids have acquired their overweight dilemma because of too much junk food intake. Most of those who are junk food eaters are likely to get diabetic at any point in their life because of high presence of sugar in the body. High blood pressure due to great amount of sodium from junk foods can also occur.

As they always say it, whatever is avoided comes so tasty. Ice cream, chocolate, junk foods, fries, burgers, potato chips and shakes are all tempting. You can perhaps be disciplined in indulging in these types of food because they are initially unhealthy to have. Too much of anything sweet or salty is health threatening. Not only will you have a bad effect of junk food on health, you will also largely embrace mood swings, decreased enthusiasm to handle workouts, weight gain and constipation problems if you eat junk foods unstoppably. In lieu of them, you can pick fruits and high-fiber food for good snacks and meals.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about junk food effects visit Healthy Foods Today for current articles and discussions.

Uncover Valuable Information on Urinary Tract Health Cat Food

Ever wondered how your cat develops urinary tract health problems to begin with? By definition, UTI is a bacterial infection that affects the bladder and urethra of little miss kitty. (Or Mr. Kitty) As this infection spreads throughout the pet's body, it gets progressively worse, as minerals start to clump together in the urethra, which will prevent urine from passing easily or perhaps at all. Why does this condition happen? There's no definitive cause, and the problem has been linked to several probable causes, including old age, lack of water, stress, obesity, genetics, allergies and food. Cat food for urinary tract health may not be sufficient for the cat's urinary health to improve to the level wanted. The cat must usually change its lifestyle to promote easier digestion and release. Since kitty doesn't understand the intricacies of urinary tract diagnosis, it is left up to you to convey the message. The best way to convey that message to kitty (who already knows you're up to something) is to change the cat's diet to urinary tract health cat food instead of commercial food.

Is this really necessary? Yes, especially if you have been feeding your cat dry cat food for a number of years. Food determines the pH of the urine, so you owe it to your cat to buy only the best quality cat food, especially after you get the diagnosis of UTI. When you first take your cat to the veterinarian, if the condition is severe, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic treatment, or recommend some other type of medicine for immediate relief. However, after this initial visit it will be up to you to prevent further flare ups of UTI, and one of the best ways to do this is by buying specially formulated urinary tract health cat food.

Now this does not necessarily mean that all urinary tract health cat food or any type of "special diet food" for cats will be appropriate. In fact, some believe that special dietary cat foods may actually cause certain types of crystal formation, even while they inhibit the formation of other crystals. One thing is for sure-you have to cut out the dry, generic quality cat food you buy from the grocery store. This type of cat food is so unhealthy, that some experts are actually blaming the cat food for starting urinary tract infection in the first place. Some sources state that because generic quality cat food is high in carbohydrates, low in water and contains nutrients that a cat cannot comfortably digest, this type of food does far more damage than it does good. Since your cat is attempting to recover from UTI, you need to eliminate this threat-not only until full recovery but also for the rest of its life. It's a small price to pay for significantly extending the years of your furry friend.

Beyond Urinary Tract Health Cat Food

Obviously, you're not going to only feed antibiotics or homeopathic formulas to your cat for the rest of its life. Cats want to eat what they enjoy, and they enjoy cat food. What type of diet should you be looking for? Besides accepting the vet-recommended urinary tract health cat food after your first pet hospital visit, try buying canned food. Canned food has more water in it, and your cat will require a far larger water intake in the coming months. As far as planning healthier foods, know that your cat will require plenty of protein. Since cats are carnivorous creatures, they need a steady supply of protein, not to mention some essential nutrients that can only come from meat. They also should have a low carb diet during this difficult time, which means the less dry cat food you given them the better.

In conclusion, remember that your cat is recovering from a major illness and needs some time to heal. Make sure you make this healing time as comfortable as possible with cat food for urinary tract health. Urinary tract health cat food is part of your cat's treatment for recovery and prevention.

To read more, go to http://www.pet-bladder-treatment.com

My name is Einar Eskeland. I am a Norwegian medical doctor, and a yoga and meditation enthusiast since youth. I promote several high quality sources of knowledge and products for self improvement, health, evolution and growth as a part of my practice as a doctor, and as a help for my patients in their struggle to regain health and balance.

http://www.pet-bladder-treatment.com

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.

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.

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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.

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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?

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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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