Tempeh - The Super Healthy Probiotics Food

If you are a person who concerns about health, healthy food should be in your family's daily menu. For your today's menu, why don't you cook something delicious with probiotics contents and have many health benefits to reduce cancer risk, good for diabetic diets, lower cholesterol, boost immune system, and even help weight loss program? 'Is there one single food that have all those benefits?' Yes, that is tempeh, a traditional food made from fermented soybean!

In my country, Indonesia, tempeh has been our traditional food from maybe hundreds of years ago. We can find tempeh in almost all markets, even in small villages. Tempeh has been a part of our life. Whether we cook for daily meals (served with rice), or when we have a fine dining in restaurants, we can always find tempeh. It is because tempeh can be processed into many delicious foods. But not as many of its health benefits!

Probiotics
Tempeh is one of many probiotics food sources. Rhizopus Oligosporus, good bacteria contained in tempeh, produces natural antibiotic that inhibits some harmful bacteria. Rhyzopus can also improve your intestinal digestion health, as well as your skin health, from atopic dermatitis, pimples, cellulitis, etc. On the other hand, the fermentation process that change whole soybeans into tempeh, produces an enzyme called phytase. This enzyme can break down phytate acid, and therefore increase body absorption of minerals like iron, calcium, and zinc. Good news for you who have anemia, as tempeh is also claimed of having 4mg iron/100 gram!

High Protein - Low Calories
Tempeh, being processed from soybeans, becomes a high protein food, even highest among other plant foods. Daily consumption of 166 gram tempeh contributes around 60% of our protein daily needs. And with the fact that tempeh has less than 329 calories, it is safe to assume that tempeh can be your perfect choice of healthy food!

As a plant protein source, tempeh can provide healthy diet for diabetes mellitus patient too. Diabetic people can use tempeh as a substitute of animal protein foods like milk and meat.

Isoflavone
Now you can get many healthy benefits of isoflavone from tempeh, which is including :
· Improve bone mineral content, reduce the risk of osteoporosis
· Antioxidant to fight free radical that cause cancer
· Lower cholesterol (lower LDL and increase HDL)
· Lower heart disease risk
· Relieve menopause symptoms

High Fiber
The high fiber content of soybeans which is found in tempeh can help diabetic patient to control sugar level in their blood. It can also prevent colon cancer, improve kidney health by replacing animal protein to soybeans, and prevent diarrhea in children.

Boost Immune System & Health
The amino acids can improve the superiority of tempeh in boosting immune system. Tempeh is also an important source of vitamin B12, which vegetarians can use to replace meat, and an excellent source of calcium.

Low Calorie & Low Carbohydrate
And last but not least, tempeh is a suitable food for weight loss diet. Being low calories and low carbohydrate, including tempeh in your dietary food list, will help you to reduce the amount of fat stored in your body. If you combine this perfect diet with exercise, you will increase lean muscle mass that will help you to burn fat. And what make it more perfect, tempeh has its high protein you can use to regain your energy after having your weight loss exercise session.

So, I don't need to underline, that tempeh is definitely a super healthy food for healthy people, with healthy budget, which, with a little creativity can turn into a super delicious food!

Fanda is the owner of 1st Probiotics. http://www.1stprobiotics.com will help you to know more about probiotics, the good bacteria. From the health benefits, to recipes to serve probiotics to your family. You can also learn more about tempeh and other probiotics source food in http://www.1stprobiotics.com

Food for Healthy Nails

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

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

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

o Too much salt = external fibrous growths

o Nervousness / hyper thyroid = separation of the nail bed

o Respiratory Difficulties = bluish discoloration

o Bronchial Difficulties = yellowish discoloration

o Anemia = pale nail beds

o Vitamin A Deficiency = peeling nails

o Zinc Deficiency = poor nail growth

o Vegetable Quality Oils Deficiency = thin, brittle nails

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Cover with cotton gloves, cotton socks

3. Sleep

Top Three Oils to Treat Your Nails Right

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

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

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

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

To your energy and success, Heather

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

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

8 Tips For The Healthy Selection And Preparation Of Food For Optimum Health

Optimum health begins with a healthy diet. A healthy diet, on the other hand, starts with the healthy selection of food to give your body what it needs to serve you for years to come. Additionally, the healthiest components in a meal can quickly become unhealthy if the ingredients in your meal are prepared in an unhealthy manner. Here, then, are 8 tips for the healthy preparation and selection of foods to help you on your way to good nutrition and vital health.

Food Preparation

When Preparing Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Keep Them Whole.

When preparing your fruits and vegetables for consumption, keep them whole or cut them into large pieces. Keeping your fruits and vegetables whole during preparation and cooking helps to maintain their nutrients and flavor. Many vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower and celery are more beneficial when they remain whole. Served whole, they are full of natural vitamin C, vitamin A, Calcium and other nutrients.

Stir-Fry Your Vegetables Instead Of Boiling Them.

Often, in many dishes, stir-frying your vegetables instead of frying or boiling them is a much better option in cooking. By stir-frying your vegetables in a minimal amount of oil, broth, water, or soy sauce, you can eliminate much of the fat in your food. And, of course, less fat in your food is less fat on your hips! Additionally, this method of preparation not only helps to seal in the flavor of the food, but it also preserves the nutrients, as well.

Bake Meat At A Low Temperature.

When baking meat or poultry in an oven, cook them at low to medium temperatures instead of high temperatures. This helps to preserve their tenderness and flavor. Additionally, slower methods of cooking also help to preserve the nutrients in the food.

Roast Meats And Poultry On A Rack.

Whenever you roast meat in the oven, roast it on a rack rather than in a pan. Roasting meats on a rack allows the fat to drain off the meat which ensures less fat in your food.

Stew, Steam Or Simmer Your Food Instead Of Frying.

The process of frying your food causes the fat content to increase. Instead of frying your food, try stir-frying in a wok instead. Alternatively, food can also be cooked in a small amount of broth, soy sauce, or bouillon. Poultry, meat and fish can be prepared by stewing, steaming or simmering in vegetable juices until tender. Not only do these methods maintain the flavor of the food but they also preserve the vitamins and the nutrients as well.

Food Selection

Whenever Possible Buy Range-Fed Meats And Poultry.

Often, before chickens or other animals are slaughtered and brought to the supermarkets, they are kept in extremely inhumane conditions. Additionally, these animals are sometimes given large doses of antibiotics and hormones to fatten them up quickly. In contrast, range-fed animals and poultry are allowed to roam freely and have a much healthier life. Furthermore, they also have a normal diet without chemicals and antibiotics. This translates into meat that is much healthier for human consumption and more flavorful and tender meat.

Buy Seeds And Nuts In Their Shell.

Although nuts and seed are available pre-shelled in the markets, it's preferable to buy them in their shells. The reason for this is that many seeds and nuts are very sensitive to light and oxygen and turn rancid rather quickly without us knowing it. The good old fashion way is the best way to eat nuts and seeds, cracking them open yourself and eating them fresh. This preserves their freshness and their nutrients.

Buy Produce In Their Season.

Buying produce in their season assures you of a wider selection of foods to choose from, since they will be available in greater abundance. Additionally, produce which is purchased in season will usually be fresher, more tender and more flavorful than produce that has been shipped in from other locations.

Patricia is a health focused content author. For more detailed health information please visit her site that discusses the importance of adding Nutritional Supplements to your diet.

Cat Health Food To Stay Healthy

Cat food health requires some knowledge of what a cat needs in their diet and how much they need in one day. When a cat receives the proper food, they tend to stay healthier and livelier as they grow up. Different cat foods have different ingredients and many manufacturers make cheaper brands that might not meet the daily-recommended needed nutrition.

Back in 2004 the total sales for pet food was over fourteen billion dollars. The industry supplies food for over one hundred and forty-seven dogs and cats in the United States alone. This alone allows many different pet food manufacturers to produce different varieties of cat food with or without the proper nutrition's required.

Feline health food depends on the quality of the food and what the food contains as far as nutritional values to determine if it is healthy or not. Who controls what cat food needs to have in it? The industry falls under control of the government with voluntary compliance to the standards. The labeling of the food falls under the AAFCO rules. This organization sets the standards for what the food must contain, but does not enforce this regulation like the FDA does with human food for consumption. Officers of the AAFCO consist of universities, the FDA and the department of chemistry and agriculture.

Labeling, manufacturing and the sale of cat, dog and livestock food falls under the watchful eye of the officers of the AAFCO. Officers from different agencies unite to safeguard the pets health by developing polices that need enforcement in the manufacturing of pet food. This organization upholds the standards of quality of cat health food policies, making the market safe for pets and provides the needed nutrition.

The part of the FDA in pet food manufacturer industries is because they monitor the food, drug and cosmetic manufacturers and pet food does fall under this heading. The CVM falls under the FDA because they are a center for veterinary medicine. The CVM sets the standards for pet food and medicines or drugs. Cat health food needs monitoring to ensure the proper manufacturing of these foods and drugs follow the proper guidelines. All pet food must meet the standard of pure and wholesome to be considered healthy for pets to consume.

Although, the sad truth about cat and dog food is it has additives such as diseased animal meat, road kill meat and dog and cat meat from euphonized dogs and cats. This does not sound like cat health food, but the practice continues. To add to this truth, downer cow meat finds its way into the mix of pet food as well. If a company makes a new type of cat food, no guidelines are set to that say they need approval before selling to the consumer. More guidelines need to curb the use of such additives that are harmful for pets and may lead to health problems and create cat health food pets can safely eat.

You can also find more information at Cat Domestic Health Problem and Cat Health Heart Murmur.Aboutcathealth.org is a comprehensive resource to find more information about cat health.