Your Health and the Effects of Food Additives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alaska Chinook Beats Out the Latest Health Food Craze

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 Steps to Health Foods Supplements and Good Nutrition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does Food Affect Our Health?

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

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

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

Big mistake!

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

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

Not drugs.

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

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

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

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

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

To Great Nutrition and Quality Life!

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

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

How to Give a Health Or Grocery Store Tour to Clients

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food for Healthy Nails

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

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

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

o Too much salt = external fibrous growths

o Nervousness / hyper thyroid = separation of the nail bed

o Respiratory Difficulties = bluish discoloration

o Bronchial Difficulties = yellowish discoloration

o Anemia = pale nail beds

o Vitamin A Deficiency = peeling nails

o Zinc Deficiency = poor nail growth

o Vegetable Quality Oils Deficiency = thin, brittle nails

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Cover with cotton gloves, cotton socks

3. Sleep

Top Three Oils to Treat Your Nails Right

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

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

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

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

To your energy and success, Heather

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

Chocolate- the Newest Health Food?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Dianne Ronnow, 2006 Mohave Publishing.

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