Green Tea Diet Review

Due to the popularity of recent findings, green tea has almost become synonymous with weight loss and diet. The addition of green tea diet into diet pills and weight loss supplements is perhaps spurred by reports of harmful side-effects of other drugs like ephedra.

Why choose green tea diet?

For four thousand years, green tea diet has been used all throughout Asia as a beneficial health and medicinal drink. Green tea diet is different from all other tea diets because its liquid is extracted by steaming the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant as opposed to full oxidation. In this way, green tea diet manages to preserve a lot more antioxidants and keep them intact for the body to use.

Green tea diet is an excellent source of polycatechin polyphenols, a group of antioxidants that act on free radicals. These free radicals have harmful effects on the body since they are the major causes of diseases and aging. With green tea diet’s polycatechin polyphenols, a person has a better chance of avoiding ailments and keeping himself healthy for a much longer period of time.
Another antioxidant in green tea diet is also being studied as a potential cure for cancer. Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG found in green tea diet has been discovered to destroy cancer cells while keeping surrounding healthy cells unharmed.

The EGCG in green tea diet also acts with another compound, caffeine (a small amount of this is found in green tea). The interaction of these two compounds causes green tea diet to promote thermogenesis in the body.

It has been noted by a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that with the consumption of green tea diet, the body’s total 24-hour energy expenditure is increased by up to four percent. This is roughly equivalent to losing more than 10 pounds of weight a month.
Green tea diet helps increase the body’s metabolic rates. With its thermogenic properties, it is only natural that green tea diet can also promote faster metabolism of fats and sugars. Excess glucose found in the body is turned into fats by the hormone insulin. Because green tea diet has an inhibiting effect on insulin, green tea diet therefore helps keep sugar from being stored as fats and instead, send them directly into the muscles for immediate use.

The downside to a green tea diet

Although green tea diet has a reputation for boosting health, scientific proofs of its health benefits are still somewhat mixed. However, in an article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, American researchers collaborated with their Chinese counterparts to discuss the beneficial effects of green tea diet on cholesterol levels.

Using 240 men and women (average age 55) who possess mild to moderately high LDL cholesterol levels, the researchers instructed them to retain their usual low-fat diet, green tea diet intake, and activity levels. After twelve weeks, it was found that those who consumed green tea diet extract with their regular meals lost more than fifteen percent of their total LDL cholesterol levels.

Although the researchers never explained how green tea diet may influence cholesterol levels, previous studies have shown that certain compounds in green tea diet play a role in reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body, increasing amount of cholesterol excreted, and thus keeping cholesterol from being stored in the liver.

Subsequent studies were made to test the findings of the first group of researchers. Their results were contradictory. They found that green tea diet has no significant effect on the cholesterol profiles of their subjects.

There is no such thing as a miracle diet. Green tea diet, like all other diets, needs a lot of work and input from those who enroll in it. Green tea diet required both discipline and heart for it to make any significant impact on your weight loss goals.

Green Tea Diet Supplement

Green tea diet supplements are all the latest rage in the weight loss industry today. With its countless health and weight loss benefits, green tea diet supplements are fast replacing ephedra as the leading weight loss product in the market.

So what makes green tea diet supplement different?

For one, green tea diet supplement provides its user with an organic alternative to losing weight. Taken from the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea diet supplement contains ingredients that are beneficial to the body.

Several studies have been made on the effects of green tea diet supplements. It has been shown that the green tea extract found in green tea diet supplements contains a high amount of polyphenols. These substances in green tea diet supplements are natural bioflavonoids that act on the harmful free radicals that are the major causes of aging and diseases. By destroying the free radicals, the polyphenols in green tea diet supplements thus helps protect you from aging and diseases.

Green tea diet supplements are also great appetite-suppressants. In fact, this attribute of green tea diet supplements is one of the main reasons why it was made into a diet supplement in the first place. Green tea diet supplements affect how the appetite hormone noradrenaline acts. By suppressing noradrenaline, green tea diet supplements help reduce the occurrence of hunger pangs and make sure that you do not take in more food than you actually need.

Green tea diet supplements are also known for their major fat-burning attributes. Green tea diet supplements contain a significant amount of caffeine that accounts for its reputation as a great metabolic rate enhancer. Studies have show time and time again that caffeine in green tea diet supplements can cause a four percent increase in the body’s total energy expenditure. But unlike other diet products, green tea diet supplements increase metabolic rates without necessarily affecting the person’s heart rate. This is due to the fact that green tea diet supplements contain less caffeine than the average caffeinated drink or caffeinated diet products like ephedra. This makes green tea diet supplement a safer, healthier choice.

Aside from burning calories and increasing metabolism, green tea diet supplements are also highly valued for their ability to lower down cholesterol levels in a person. The antioxidants found in green tea diet supplements targets the bad cholesterol found in the body and in the process help maintain the ration between LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.

Green tea diet supplements contain substances that have great thermogenic effects on the body. Thermogenesis is the process by which the body converts fat and calories into heat energy. The process is usually occurs when polyphenols interact with other substances, causing heat to be released. With the high amount of polyphenols in green tea diet supplements, it is not avoidable that thermogenesis occurs.

A study on the thermogenic effects of green tea diet supplements was recently concluded at the University of Geneva. The scientists found that of the ten healthy young men that served as their experimental subjects, only those who were given green tea diet supplements showed an impressive four percent increase in their total 24-hour energy expenditure. From their findings, the researchers surmised that green tea diet supplements can promote weight loss.

Information on Green Tea Diet

For centuries now, the benefits of green tea diets have been the subject of countless writings and scientific investigations.

More than four thousand years ago, green tea diet has become a staple beverage for most Asians because of its countless health and medicinal benefits. It is said that the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was the first one to have discovered green tea diet. Emperor Shen Nung was reported to have been boiling water when some leaves of a nearby plant fell into his pot. The leaves actually came from Camellia sinensis, the herb from which green tea diet is extracted.

Having a green tea diet is associated with several health benefits. One of the benefits of having a green tea diet is providing a potential cure for cancer. According to some studies, certain substances in green tea diet can destroy cancel cells without harming any neighboring healthy tissues. This substance in green tea diets is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

The results of the study on the cancer benefit of green tea diets were astounding and it led to further more researches that investigate other aspects of green tea diet. In a study conducted by American and Swiss scientists in the University of Geneva, it has been found that the EGCG found in green tea diets can increase the 24-hour energy expenditure of the body. They concluded that this is due to the ability of antioxidants present in green tea diet to stimulate thermogenesis, otherwise known as fat metabolism. According to their findings, people who were on a green tea diet exhibited a significant four percent increase in their normal metabolic rates. This led the scientists to conclude that green tea diet has a major contributing factor in weight loss.

Another study conducted in China was designed to investigate further on green tea diet’s weight loss benefit. They decided that since green tea diet can significantly increase fat metabolism, then green tea diet probably would help lowering down cholesterol levels as well. Their hypothesis was proven when they introduced green tea diet on 240 people with mild to extremely high cholesterol levels. After only twelve weeks, they observed that those on a green tea diet dropped sixteen percent in their cholesterol levels.

Based on the above study, it can also be hypothesized that green tea diet can cure obesity. Green tea diet’s catechin polyphenols can delay the reaction of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the body. These enzymes are the ones responsible for storing calories into fats in the body. By delaying these enzymes, green tea diets can therefore lessen fat concentration and prevent obesity in people.

A truly remarkable beverage, green tea diet is used to improve the body’s health in many ways. Further studies were made on the benefits of green tea diets. The latest ones were able to prove that green tea diet can effectively protect the skin from damage due to ultraviolet light radiation.

Green tea diet is also widely recognized as a substance that can protect against many different cancers such as stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the colon, oral cancer, prostate cancer, and breast and cervical cancers.

The Health Benefits of Green Tea

How do you fit a miracle in a cup?

For 4,000 years, the Chinese people have been using green tea as treatment for everything from headaches to depression. Today, studies are conducted in Asia and the west in order to produce hard evidence of the health benefits of green tea.

In the 1994 edition of the Journal of National Cancer Institute, the results of an epidemiological study stated that one of the health benefits of drinking green tea is that it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by up to 60%. The rich presence of catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the reason why green tea has so much health benefits.

A powerful antioxidant, EGCG can not only inhibit the growth of cancer cells but can also destroy them without harming healthy cells. The University of Purdue has also concluded a research on how a certain compound present in green tea can stop cancer cells from growing. Still another health benefit of green tea is its ability to lower down cholesterol levels and improve the ratio between good (HDL) cholesterol and bad (LDL) cholesterol.

The EGCG in green tea is a health benefit substance that can lower down LDL cholesterol levels and stop blood from forming abnormal clots (thrombosis), a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Green tea has more health benefits compared to other Chinese teas like oolong and black tea, all of which come from the plant Camellia sinensis. What makes green tea different is the process by which it is made.

Green tea owes much of its health benefits to how the Camellia sinensis leaves are steamed. The steam process keeps the EGCG health benefit of green tea from oxidizing. With oolong and black teas, however, the leaves are fermented instead of being steamed, thus causing the EGCG health benefit to transform into another less medicinally potent form. Aside from medicinal value, green tea can also offer other health benefits, especially in the fitness field.

Drinking green tea can cause a person to burn down more calories. A recent study on the health benefits of green tea shows that the drink can help dieters. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999, men who take both caffeine and green tea burn down more calories than men who only take caffeine or a placebo.

Another health benefit of green tea is its bacteria-destroying properties. The health benefit of green tea in this area is that it can help prevent food poisoning and also prevent tooth decay. The substances found in green tea kill the bacteria causing food poisoning and those that cause dental plaque to form.

Well known for its countless medicinal and health benefits, green tea is nothing short of a miracle.

You Say "Tomato, "I Say "Deadly Poison"

Legend has it that a hardy Colonel named Robert Gibbon Johnson, tired of his superstitious and uninformed countrymen’s refusal to touch or eat tomatoes, sat in front of the Salem, New Jersey Courthouse with a basket full of the little red fruits. To the shock, horror, and eventual awe of the 2,000 person crowd, he consumed every last tomato without dropping dead.

Of course this isn’t true, nor are any other claims of American leeriness of tomato consumption. But there are plenty of foods we don’t eat because we think they’re bad for us when in reality they’re not. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some misunderstood foods!

The Egg: harbinger of doom?

The humble egg, a baking and dietary staple nearly everywhere on earth, has hit its share of rough times. Though it’s an incredible source of protein and choline, an egg’s yolk also contains a large amount of cholesterol—cholesterol which was thought to be utterly terrible for the body. However, there’s endless dissent, with some researchers claiming that an egg’s cholesterol actually lowers “bad” cholesterol and raises “good” cholesterol, with other scientists claiming the opposite. Combine this hotly-contested nutritional value with the salmonella scare (how many times did mom tell you not to eat cookie dough?) and you get one woeful reputation for such a delicious and useful food.

Sure, you shouldn’t pig out on eggs every day, but by using them properly you can enjoy the taste—and the protein—without having to resort to egg whites in a carton!

Some good egg recipes include:

Scrambled Eggs in Baby Brioches with Smoked Salmon and Asparagus
Eggs Sardou
Egg Puff-Muffins
Old-Fashioned Egg Noodles

Coffee: those jitters are just the caffeine.

You remember the turning point. Suddenly health experts everywhere started talking about the perils of coffee and the dangers of caffeine. Gloomily, coffee drinkers everywhere switched to decaf or learned to get more sleep at night (God forbid). But while too much coffee is certainly bad for your health (go here to see some alternatives), drinking a moderate amount actually helps with more than your fatigue!

Coffee is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and other important nutritional components. Drinking three to five cups daily, researchers say, can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, kidney stones, Parkinson’s, depression, and suicide. And to think, it keeps you awake, too!

Chocolate: well, maybe...

The bane of overindulgent foodies and fat kids everywhere, our favorite sweet has caught a bad rap, but is it fully deserved? The jury’s still out on this one, because while studies have shown chocolate has a positive effect on HDL cholesterol and plenty of antioxidants, it’s still, well, chocolate. Just like red wine, chocolate can offer some nice health benefits, but make sure you moderate intake. A few ounces per week ought to do it!

Try some of these chocolate recipes:

Chocolate Chestnut Mousse
Easy Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate Brownies
German Chocolate Martini

But of course, while we’ve certainly got some much-maligned foods given an unfair rap by the public, there are other foods. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, if you will. These started out “healthy,” but eager consumers got more than they bargained for. It's fascinating, watching the tide turn from public approval to public shun. First on the list and perhaps most infamous is…

Margarine: healthier than butter! We think.

Margarine first appeared on the scene in 1870, when Emperor Louis Napoleon III offered a reward to any man who could devise a substitute for butter. Louis himself wouldn’t be eating this, of course; it was meant for feeding soldiers and the poor. A Provencal man named Hippolyte Mège-Mouriez invented the first margarine, it since then the spread—based on an emulsification of natural oils in water—has proliferated and developed all around the world.

Proponents of margarine pointed out its lower saturated fat content and fewer calories than butter, and many an American child remembers his mother buying margarine to make healthier chow. Of course, there was an unforeseen downside to the partial hydrogenation process used to make margarine: trans fats. Unlike saturated and unsaturated fats, which at least hold some nutritional value, trans fats are completely devoid of anything remotely resembling health benefits. They are literally worthless, and it was only relatively recently that margarine cleaned up its image and dropped the trans fats. Same goes for margarine’s harder, whiter cousin, shortening.

Coca-Cola: cures what ails you! Including proper body mass.

Though it’s now criticized as a sweet indulgence riddled with unhealthy ingredients, Coke started out as a cure-all. When it first hit the market in 1885, its creator John S. Pemberton marketed the bubbly drink as a cure-all health tonic utilizing the “properties of the wonderful Coca plant and the famous Cola nuts.”

Yep, coca plant, as in the source of cocaine. At one time the company’s secret recipe actually contained several milligrams of the drug, which was eventually dropped in favor of non-narcotic coca leaves. To this day, Coca-Cola is the only company allowed to import coca leaves into the United States. Fortunately, people quickly realized that while Coke was delicious, it wasn’t exactly healthy. Of course, we still drink it by the millions of gallons, but at least we don’t think it’s good for us.

Olestra: finally, fatty taste and no [major] consequences!

Consumer goods megacompany Proctor and Gamble’s invention Olestra, originally developed to help premature babies absorb fat, quickly showed a more commercially viable use. Its fat molecules are so huge and its compounds are so active that it passes unabsorbed through the digestive tract. Think of the implications: endless savory snacks, all tasting great but completely fat-free!

Unfortunately, the stuff turned out to have some deeply unpleasant side-effects, including the infamous “anal leakage” which Proctor and Gamble fought desperately to downplay. Olestra chips (including brands like Fritos WOW) remain on the market today, but are quickly vanishing from shelves, and it ain’t because we’re buying them.

So, dear readers, what have we learned? Simple: next time someone claims a food is all bad or all good, don’t take that claim at face value. Just imagine: what if someone claimed broccoli made your hair fall out?

3 Healthy Benefits Of White Tea

It is not just chefs but also medical researchers who are praising the benefits of white tea for your health. In fact there are many different kinds of benefit of white tea that a person can have and we will look at some people.

But first we will provide you with a brief explanation as to what white tea is. It is made from the immature tea leaves that will be picked before the buds have fully opened on the plant. The name comes from the silver fuzz which still covers the buds and this in turn then turns the tea white as it dries.

There are many different varieties of white tea available and this all depends on the amount of leaves to buds that are used in each mixture. The White Peony for example has one bud for every 2 leaves in its mixture whilst Silver Needles (the crème de la crème) is made entirely from the down buds and these are normally picked within a 2 day period during early Spring.

So we have now looked at what White Tea is we will now go on to the different benefits a person can gain from using this particular product.

1. Anti-Viral and Anti-Bacterial Effects

Studies carried out at Pace University have indicated that White Tea extract may have prophylactic applications which can help to retard the growth of bacteria which can cause Staphylococcus infections, Steptococcus infections, Pneumonia and Dental Caries. It was also found that White Tea is more effective than Green Tea at inactivating bacterial viruses as well as having an anti-viral effect on human pathogenic viruses.

2. Anti-Fungal Effect

There have been studies carried out which indicate that this has an anti-fungal effect on Penicillium Chrysogenum and Saccharomyces Cerervisiae. It was found that in the presence of White Tea extract these were totally inactivated.

3. Skin Cancer and Cell Damage Protection

Scientists have now found that the White Tea extract can protect against the Langerhans cell obliteration. It was found that not only the extract protected skin after exposure to sunlight but also a person's immune system was restored also. They also found that the DNA damage which occurs to cells after exposure to sunlight was limited. It is believed that the anti-oxidant properties in the White Tea extract are the reason for it being so effective. It is also suggested that the extract may provide a person with anti-aging benefits.

So as you can see from above there are many reasons as to what the benefit of white tea can have for a person in order to help them live a much healthier and happier life.

Your Vegetables May Be Laced With Antibiotics

Careful what you eat, especially if you are allergic to certain antibiotics. Recent studies have shown that some vegetables absorb the antibiotic chemicals from the soil they are grown in. Why? Animal manure.

In our vast food chain, it seems that we have come across the ultimate irony. Humans are now being punished by their own attempts to optimize the animal and plant food industries. Instead of people being superior to animals and plants in the food chain, we're now being "kicked in the pants," so to speak.

Here's the explanation: Animals raised for human consumption are often fed antibiotics in order to make them stronger and larger, making them more marketable animals, according to the Journal of Environmental Quality's report on antibiotic infused crops. In raising these animals, their manure is also collected to be used for soil in raising crops. This manure, used as soil, has now been found to transfer the antibiotics put in the animal feed to the very plants that grow in this soil. In other words, by feeding animals antibiotics to capitalize on the market, we are actual introducing a potential danger in human consumption.

Devastated reactions have come from slow food movements, driving home the point that it is important to know where your food comes from. If you have an allergy to certain antibiotics, it could be very dangerous to consume a potato laced with antibiotics. But, with the way America sells its food in grocery stores, it would be hard to know, wouldn't it? Not only is it hard to figure out which crops have these problems, but it is known that animal manure is very commonly used as soil across the world.

So far, the animal antibiotics have been found in such foods as corn, lettuce, and potatoes. Potatoes have been found to have the highest amounts of these antibiotics because its actual food closely encounters the soil. Actual dangerous effects of this problem have not yet been fully analyzed. In the meantime, it has been advised by study conductors that those with allergies to any sort of antibiotics should be careful.

Why Fruits And Vegetables Are Important!

No single food can provide all the essential nutrients that the body needs. Therefore, it is important to consume a wide variety of foods to provide adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, which are important for health.

8 guidelines for a healthy diet

• • Enjoy your food
• • Eat a variety of different foods
• • Eat the right amount to be a healthy weight
• • Eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre
• • Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• • Don’t eat too many foods that contain a lot of fat
• • Don’t have sugary foods and drinks too often
• • If you drink alcohol, drink sensibly

Fruit and vegetables

Fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables all count. Also, 100% fruit or vegetable juice and pure fruit juice smoothies count. Beans and pulses, such as baked beans and lentils also contribute to this group.

Choose a wide variety and aim to eat at least 5 different portions a day. A portion is approximately 80g (e.g. 1 medium apple, a cereal bowl of salad or 3 heaped tablespoons of peas). Servings of fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothies can only count as one portion per day no matter how much you drink. Beans and pulses (i.e. haricot, kidney, baked, soya and butter beans, chickpeas and lentils) only count once per day no matter how many different types you eat.

We do not and can not digest cellulose. This is a carbohydrate used by plants to make their cell walls. It is also called roughage. If you do not eat foods materials which contain fibre you might end up with problems of the colon and rectum. The muscles of you digestive system mix food with the digestive juices and push food along the intestines by peristalsis; if there is no fibre in your diet these movements cannot work properly.

MSM - The Key To Good Health

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is essential in maintaining optimum health. It nourishes our hair, skin, muscles, joints and nails; it can reduce pain and inflammation; it also has been shown to increase blood circulation, strengthen capillary walls and thus heal varicose veins; and it can be helpful in treating many other conditions such as arthritis, asthma, emphysema, tendinitis, diabetes, acne, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, constipation, digestive disorders, parasite infestations, allergies, toxic build-up and ulcers.

One well-known advocate of MSM, Stanley W. Jacob, M.D., co author of "The Miracle of MSM," records having cared for over 18,000 patients with MSM. Some of the conditions that he claims to have successfully treated with MSM include myasthenia gravis, lupus, fibromyalgia and snoring. Another prominent spokesperson for MSM, Robert M. Herschler, Ph.D., has found MSM to be an effective "ameliorating agent" against many of the physiological responses to stress.

In experiments that have been performed with mice, MSM effectively reduced arthritis related joint deterioration, deformities and swelling. Other animal studies have shown that MSM has a potential for treating breast cancer, colon cancer and anemia. Studies done on humans showed MSM comparing favorably against a placebo when tested for effectiveness against such ailments as osteoarthritis of the knee and also hay fever.

MSM is a naturally occurring organic sulfur compound. It is present in fresh fish, meat, plants and fruit. That being the case, is there any need for MSM supplementation? Herschler states that the MSM that is in those substances is lost with even a modest amount of processing such as drying or heating. Since most people who live in North America rely heavily on processed foods, there may be little or no MSM in their diet. And as it is a crucial component in one’s health, the need for supplementation becomes clear.

Why is MSM so conducive for good health? It is a sulfur compound and sulfur is an essential mineral for the body. Sulfur is a component of bones, teeth and collagen (the protein in connective tissue.) The sulfur mineral is needed in the manufacture of many proteins, including those that form hair, muscle and skin. Thus all of those body parts are strengthened through the use of MSM.

How much MSM does one need to take and how often? Some of the research that has been conducted on MSM indicates that one needs to take a steady supply of it for it to help maintain one’s health. Phyllis and James Balch, in their book "Prescription For Nutritional Healing," recommend that one should start with a dosage of 1,000 milligrams of MSM a day. That should eventually be raised to 2,000 milligrams a day. There has been no evidence of any toxicity build up or harmful side effects from the regular use of MSM at those dosages. However, it is generally advised that pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid MSM.

MSM is available for use in capsules and tablets. It is also available for application to the skin as a lotion, cream or gel.

About the Author

This article was written by Jacob Mabille, sponsored by http://www.healthguidance.org

Vitamins And Minerals – Are You Still Living In The Dark Ages?

It is well known and scientifically proven that vitamins and minerals are not only an essential part of our diet, but help prevent all kinds of health problems. A deficiency of vitamins or minerals can lead quickly to a variety of alarming illnesses.

Multi vitamins can provide a convenient way to obtain a good range of supplemental nutrients from a single source, which could prevent vitamins or minerals deficiencies, as well as to attain higher intakes of beneficial nutrients.

Another factor that is important to take into consideration is poor nutrition. Poor nutrition can actually lead to a variety of problems into the digestive system. It is important to meet the standard recommended daily amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs. It is also a good way to help you have a better digestion, which leads to an improved assimilation and a superior health.

Making sure that you are achieving the recommended daily intake of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is one of the best things that you can do for your overall health and well being. Naturally, paying close attention to the amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that you consume daily is crucial. Trying to develop good nutritional habits is highly important for keeping your body and mind functioning well.

Not being informed is no excuse nowadays. Information is everywhere and it takes only a few minutes, a little bit of motivation and willpower to find it. Libraries are a great place to discover information about vitamins but sadly they are kind of deserted these days. Indeed, where is your library card? Luckily, the Internet offers a nice alternative. But you have to invest a bit of time. It is your health after all. You are the one that should take this matter in your own hands. Prevention is the key.

The vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that we consume daily support all the processes of the body and the mind. You have to eat a balanced and a quality diet to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Vitamins of the B and C complex are water-soluble and are not stored in our body organs and usually pass through our bodies very quickly, in the form of urine. B complex vitamins have an important role in the production of red blood cells including: Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, Vitamin B9, also called folate in its natural form, Vitamin B12, which is also called cobalamin due to its cobalt content. The vitamins that make up the powerful and very important Vitamin B complex are a major factor in the production of red blood cells in the body. This is why it is important to eat fresh food to get those vitamins.

The Antioxidant vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are very important to healthy skin. The vitamins share the function of controlling the damage that free radicals, by-product of energy, produce within the body. We sure can include the environmental contaminants, such as air pollution, as a threat to our health. Vitamins certainly help a lot, while being surrounded by pollution, to keep us healthy.

Children may not always eat right, especially with all the easy fast food access. An effortless way out would be giving them vitamins without improving their diet. It may offset some of the problem or lack of vitamins, however, it is better to be safe and use caution. It is always better to check with a pediatrician before making any adjustments to your child's diet.

What about liquid vitamins? There is no doubt that there are certain questions raised against the effectiveness of liquid vitamins. They do not carry enzymes in a viable form for more than a day, which, as a result, reduces their potency as compared to pills.

Vitamins and minerals are a part of good health. But remember that there is also exercise and a good attitude towards life, which can bring a lot of benefits to your health. Don't rely solely on vitamins and minerals to solve all your problems. The secret is to be well balanced in all area of your life.

The better way to attain balance in your life and your health is by being well informed first. Welcome to the Information Age!

About the Author

Paul is studying health related topics since the early 70s. He invites you to learn more about vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and your health now.

All About Vitamins - For Better Nutrition And Life!

For those who want to find out more about vitamins, it can be confusing, especially when you are trying to figure out the right type of supplements that one needs to take. In spite of all the times that we’ve been told, at one point of time or another, that if we ate a nutritionally balanced meal three times a day, then there is no need for dietary supplements or the prerequisite to know about vitamins, but for sure, this just isn’t realistic in our society.

A great number of us are stressed out everyday, and don’t always find the time to eat at all let alone a nutritionally balanced meal (and three of them?!). Vitamins should never be substituted for good nutritional intake. Your body needs fuel to carry out all the tasks you have to attend to in a day.

A good diet is one that comprises with lots of calcium, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber supplemented by vitamins as required for specific health concerns. A lot of food items are enriched with vitamins and minerals, like breads, pastas, and cereals. One can find information regarding vitamins listed on the packaging; this includes the percentage of the daily recommended allowance of each, which will give you a pretty good idea on how much you are getting of a certain vitamin or mineral. Calcium is an important mineral especially for women, and most sources about vitamins state that women should consume at least 1200-1500 mg of calcium daily. Most calcium supplements only include 30-50% of the recommended daily amounts and must be supplemented by diet intake of other sources, such as cheese, yogurt, milk, and ice cream.

About vitamin D, this is a important vitamin and is essential to bone health. This is included in some calcium supplements or can be absorbed through the skin via sunlight. However for people living in northern states, or for the elderly, this is not always an option, therefore a vitamin supplement is the answer.

If you are really interested in taking care of yourself, then part of it lies in learning about vitamins and minerals that our bodies require for optimal health. There are a number of sources that are available to you to learn more about vitamins and how certain vitamin deficiencies and excess intake can be harmful to your health. Every person needs to take an active role in one’s health, be familiar about vitamins in one’s cabinet and also in finding the vitamin that is right for you. Additionally to searching on the web, you can find loads of information about vitamins in various health publications, or you can even consult a nutritionist or naturopathic physician for advice about vitamins and supplements, and how you can implement them into your diet. All the best to your good health!

About the Author

John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for health, wellness as well as other related information.

Health Savings Account Can Be Beneficial To You

Health savings account can be defined as a tax-free saving account. It is very similar to an individual retirement account. The account is specially designed to pay off medical expenses incurred by an account holder. The expenses paid by health savings account are tax-deductible for self-employed account holders. One can easily withdraw cash from these accounts via a check or debit card. The account is helpful in paying off routine medical expenditure for the account holder. The process is tax-deductible.

The major attractions of a health savings account are lower deductibles and options. Here, one can benefit from 100% of the amount deduction that is contributed to a health savings account. This plan is designed in a fashion wherein almost everyone will be benefited from this account.

If you hold a health savings account, you can easily pay for substantial routine medicinal expenditure and the cost of the account is surprisingly low with the benefit of high tax-deductibility.

If your health savings account consists of amount that has not been used to pay bills, it gets accumulates and continues to collect interest as per the plan. The amount keeps on growing each year. You can also use this amount as additional income during retirement.

As an account holder, you can split the money you have currently spent on a conventional health plan via putting a part of it towards a policy having low cost and higher deductible benefits. You can deposit the rest of the amount in to a tax-deductible health savings account. Remember that health savings account should be utilized to pay small medical expenses on a daily basis.

If the money present in the account is not adequate enough to clear your bills, you can use the high deductible insurance policy to pay your outstanding medical bills. The whole idea to have a health savings account is to replace a conventional health policy. A health savings account plan is more flexible. It provides the option to the account holder to select his or her own physicians imposed by other medical plans.

A health savings account or HSA can be categorized in to two parts. The first part is a health insurance policy that covers large medical bills and is high-deductible. The second part of this type of savings account is an investment account. It can also be considered as a retirement account. You easily withdraw money for medical care from this account. The money withdrawn from this account is tax-free. In case, you don't utilize this money, it gets accumulated with tax-free interest until you are 65. This is the time when you can withdraw this money for any purpose. You can also pay normal income taxes via this money.

Eligibility criteria for health savings account:
If you are under age 65 and have a qualified high-deductible health insurance policy, you can open a health savings account. You will not be considered eligible by the company if you are covered by another health insurance policy that is not a qualified high deductible plan.

To qualify for an HSA, your health insurance plan must have a deductible of at least $1100 for individual coverage. For family coverage the deductible should amount to $2200.

Health savings account is highly beneficial to you if you require an assistance to pay your routine medical bills.

Six Stealth Health Foods

The secret to eating better? Fill your diet with healthy fare that tastes good.

Pork Chops

Per gram of protein, pork chops contain almost five times the selenium - an essential mineral that's linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer - of beef, and twice that of chicken. And researchers at Purdue University in Indiana, the US, found that a 170g serving a day helped people preserve their muscle while losing weight.

Iceberg Lettuce

Conventional wisdom suggests this salad staple is nutritionally bankrupt, but as it turns out, half a head of iceberg lettuce has significantly more alpha-carotene, a powerful disease-fighting antioxidant, than either Romaine lettuce or spinach.

Mushrooms

This fungi's metabolites - by-products created when mushrooms are broken down during digestion - have been shown to boost immunity and prevent cancer growth, report researchers in the Netherlands.

Vinegar

Scientists in Sweden discovered that when people consumed two tablespoons of vinegar with a high-carb meal, their blood sugar was 23 percent lower than when they skipped the antioxidant-loaded liquid. They also felt fuller.

Red Pepperflakes

A Dutch study found that consuming a gram of red-pepper flakes - about half a teaspoon - 30 minutes before a meal reduced kilojoule intake by 16 percent. Plus, new research suggests its active ingredient, capsaicin, may help kill cancer cells.

Cheese

This dairy product is an excellent source of casein protein - one of the best muscle-building nutrients you can eat. What's more, Danish researchers found that even when men ate 280g of cheese daily for three weeks, their ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol didn't budge.

Essential nutritional foods are a key to effective dieting

A healthy body can lose weight faster than a malnourished one. So it is worth remembering that there are 22 vitamins and minerals which are essential for weight control and maintenance of a healthy metabolism. The most important ones are: Vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, Vitamin C, choline, inositol, chromium, manganese and zinc. All of these are available in our regular healthy diet foods. A healthy diet plan helps reduce the risk of disease and boosts recovery. It helps in maintaining a healthy metabolism, so food is converted into energy as efficiently as possible. This is the reason why healthy bodies tend to lose weight faster. Healthy eating is especially important in mid-life and later life. In addition, a healthy diet maintains a healthy digestive system which helps us enjoy a wide variety of foods as well as reduces the risk of indigestion and other gastrointestinal complaints. There is no single healthy diet, meaning there is no set percentage of fats, carbs and proteins. That said, the healthiest diet includes foods from all the main food groups. In general, the healthiest: Fats are unrefined vegetable oils

Proteins include fish, lean beef and chicken, beans and soy foods

Carbohydrates include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans

Dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble, comes from beans, apples, oats, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Dos and Don’ts while dieting Too often, diets focus on denial, banning “unhealthy” foods and restricting food choices. Limiting food choices and severely under fueling one’s body can trigger binge eating, defeating all weight loss goals. So the best attitude would be to keep an open mind on the “Don’ts” but concentrate on adopting and inculcating the “Do” philosophy with complete passion and enthusiasm. Processed foods must be eaten in moderation because they have a lot of “empty” calories. The result is that you will end up eating a lot more calories than you are supposed to. In addition, most of the processed foods are flavored which means your body will crave for that food even if you are full. One should try to eat foods that are natural and low in sugar, saturated fat or trans fats which most people who are unaware of weight loss and obesity facts tend to indulge in. Foods that speed up the metabolic rate and that actually help in weight loss are: High Fiber Vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grain foods - This helps the body use more calories digesting them than there are calories in these vegetables.

Non-Farmed Fish – It is high in Omega-3 and proteins. Farmed fish do not have as much Omega-3.

Berries – These are good for weight loss because they are low in calories but high in fiber and nutrition. If you crave sweets, then Berries are an excellent substitute.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - This increases the testosterone level which indirectly speeds up the metabolic rate.

Egg Whites - High in slow digesting protein known as casein, protein feeds the muscles and muscles burn fat.

Water - It prevents you from feeling empty and hungry. Also, remember that cold water helps you burn more calories. This is because the body will have to spend energy to bring the water up to the normal body temperature.

Skin less chicken and lean meat.

You should avoid: Refined foods such as white bread, white rice etc.

Ready made meals and junk foods

Foods containing preservatives or coloring

Chocolates, cakes, biscuits, ice creams etc.

Sauces that are high in calories

Alcohol, especially Beer as it has a lot of empty calories

Some information on high calorie, protein and vitamin food Calories are needed to provide energy so that the body can function properly. The number of calories in a food depends on the amount of energy the food provides. The number of calories a person needs depends on age, height, weight, gender, and activity level. People who consume more calories than they burn off in normal daily activity or during exercise are more likely to be overweight. High Calorie foods include: Cornflakes

Pasta

Breakfast wafers

Potatoes

Bread

Raisins

Rice

Proteins should account for 10-20% of the calories consumed each day. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are found in a variety of foods. Proteins are essential for the: Structure of the red blood cells

Proper functioning of antibodies resisting infection

Regulation of enzymes and hormones

Growth

Repair of body tissue

Protein containing foods include: Meat, milk, cheese, and eggs (complete protein foods with essential amino acids)

Whole grains, rice, corn, beans, legumes, oatmeal, and peas

Peanut butter

Vitamins are required for the regulation of the body’s metabolic functions, and are found naturally in the foods we eat. Many foods are fortified in order to provide additional nutrients. Vitamins come in two varieties: fat soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the body for long periods of time, while excess amounts of water-soluble vitamins are excreted in the urine. Vitamin containing foods include: Cheese

Roast beef

Mozzarella

Tuna fish, sardines

Peanuts

Vegetables

Fruits

Margarine and butter

Importance of eating high fiber (roughage) food Fiber is an integral part of the eating right puzzle. Eating foods that are rich in fiber is essential to the health of your digestive tract. Fiber works in several ways to aid with the removal of waste from the body. Fiber also works to soften stools and with constipation being a concern for many people, this is very important. There are many foods that are naturally high in fiber and incorporating these into your diet is a good idea. Whole grains are rich in fiber. These should be consumed each day to increase your daily fiber intake. Another group of foods that are good sources of fiber are fruits and vegetables. Berries are especially rich in fiber. This includes raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. Pears and apples with their skins left on can also add to your daily fiber intake. If you prefer to add dry fruits to your diet than you'll want to look at items such as dried apricots and raisins. Sprinkling these in a salad or eating them as a snack is beneficial and contributes to your fiber intake. Vegetables can also be full of fiber. Many types of beans can add a substantial amount of fiber to your diet. Broccoli, green peas and spinach all contain fiber too. Eating one or two servings of these vegetables each day helps you ensure that you are getting the fiber that your body needs. Another way that some people add to their fiber intake is through fiber rich drinks that are available easily. Fiber is important to your diet regardless of your age. Choose fiber rich foods that you enjoy and you will automatically reap the benefits of a fiber rich diet.

The Best Antioxidant Supplement

The best antioxidant supplement is not an additive at all. Brewed teas, especially those popular in Asian countries are said to process the highest degree of antioxidant. Much has been written about green teas and their health benefit but some researchers have found that an even rarer variety of white tea may be the best source of antioxidant tested so far. White tea is only made from the tea flowers and the most delicate leaves and was used for royalty in ancient Chinese ceremonies. Studies have found that tea is especially preventative of gastric and esophageal cancer.

One drawback to using tea is that it should be consumed soon after brewing as the polyphenols break down and bottled teas do not have the same health attributes. It also needs to be consumed repeatedly and on a daily basis in order to maintain its antioxidants levels in the body.

The phytochemical with the best antioxidant effect is hydroxytyroso which is the polyphenol that gives extra virgin olive oil its place as the best antioxidant available in most western grocery stores. Blueberries, blackberries and red wine are commonly available and good sources of antioxidants. There is also a lot to be said about lycopene found in high quantities in tomatoes and tomato products. Lycopene has been found especially helpful in preventing prostate and breast cancer.

Antioxidant properties exist in vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and beta carotene which are said to be fat soluble. Vitamin C has water soluble characteristics and the polyphenols that exist in dark vegetables and fruit are said to be surface active antioxidants.

Vitamin E or alpha-tocopherol is found in nuts but more so in sun flower seed kernels and almonds than in other varieties. Whole grains, those with less processing, are also high in many antioxidants. In years past scientists believed that antioxidants were only present in large amounts in fruits and vegetables but recent findings have found that the bran and germ, which is normally removed in processed flours, actually have higher amounts of major antioxidants than very healthy vegetables. They further believe that this antioxidant content may account for previous health benefits that were once associated with whole grains high fiber alone.

It is estimated that one-third of cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented through implementation of appropriate dietary changes. Most evidence today suggests that there is a definite interaction between various phytochemicals which produces their health benefits including but not limited to, their prevention of cancer. In other words it does little good to eat only carrots. It does no good to limit eating to just a few foods even if these are considered to be healthy foods. For any positive cancer fighting to occur in the body a wide variety of foods should be consumed. If that is not possible then supplementation of one or more nutrients may be necessary.

The United States Department of Agriculture releases new dietary guidelines every five years and 2005 was the most recent of these. The food model was replaced with a new pyramid that very closely resembles earlier models.

by :

The best antioxidant supplement is not an additive at all. Brewed teas, especially those popular in Asian countries are said to process the highest degree of antioxidant. Much has been written about green teas and their health benefit but some researchers have found that an even rarer variety of white tea may be the best source of antioxidant tested so far. White tea is only made from the tea flowers and the most delicate leaves and was used for royalty in ancient Chinese ceremonies. Studies have found that tea is especially preventative of gastric and esophageal cancer.

One drawback to using tea is that it should be consumed soon after brewing as the polyphenols break down and bottled teas do not have the same health attributes. It also needs to be consumed repeatedly and on a daily basis in order to maintain its antioxidants levels in the body.

The phytochemical with the best antioxidant effect is hydroxytyroso which is the polyphenol that gives extra virgin olive oil its place as the best antioxidant available in most western grocery stores. Blueberries, blackberries and red wine are commonly available and good sources of antioxidants. There is also a lot to be said about lycopene found in high quantities in tomatoes and tomato products. Lycopene has been found especially helpful in preventing prostate and breast cancer.

Antioxidant properties exist in vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and beta carotene which are said to be fat soluble. Vitamin C has water soluble characteristics and the polyphenols that exist in dark vegetables and fruit are said to be surface active antioxidants.

Vitamin E or alpha-tocopherol is found in nuts but more so in sun flower seed kernels and almonds than in other varieties. Whole grains, those with less processing, are also high in many antioxidants. In years past scientists believed that antioxidants were only present in large amounts in fruits and vegetables but recent findings have found that the bran and germ, which is normally removed in processed flours, actually have higher amounts of major antioxidants than very healthy vegetables. They further believe that this antioxidant content may account for previous health benefits that were once associated with whole grains high fiber alone.

It is estimated that one-third of cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented through implementation of appropriate dietary changes. Most evidence today suggests that there is a definite interaction between various phytochemicals which produces their health benefits including but not limited to, their prevention of cancer. In other words it does little good to eat only carrots. It does no good to limit eating to just a few foods even if these are considered to be healthy foods. For any positive cancer fighting to occur in the body a wide variety of foods should be consumed. If that is not possible then supplementation of one or more nutrients may be necessary.

The United States Department of Agriculture releases new dietary guidelines every five years and 2005 was the most recent of these. The food model was replaced with a new pyramid that very closely resembles earlier models.

by : Vincent Platania

The Top High Fiber Foods And Health Drinks Are Not In Stores

Consuming fruits, vegetables and water every day is important, and now, superior fitness can be achieved with high fiber foods and health drinks not found in grocery stores. Even if you can digest the recommended 25-35 grams of fiber in food and half your body weight in ounces of water every day, as experts recommend, you may not be getting the best nutrition available. Most people find this prospect hard to swallow, and give up quickly on ever reaching perfect health and fitness. It takes too much time, effort and energy to buy, prepare, and devour that much produce, and who can guzzle that much water every day without craving some kind of flavor or enhancement?

The good news is that there are now some very beneficial high fiber foods and health drinks, which are concentrated, so that small amounts help you reach those powerful fiber and water amounts. You won't find these concentrated health foods and drinks on the shelves at your local grocery store, and certainly not in the refrigerator section of the convenience store. We're not talking about so-called "enhanced vitamin water" beverages that are filled with fructose and isolated vitamins, or energy drinks boosted with caffeine and sugar. Instead, we are referring to naturally produced health drinks, concentrated with real whole food sources such as cocoa, strawberry, lemons, peaches and raspberries. These health drinks are loaded with natural antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, and some have several grams of soluble fiber, plus protein from plants. Your body understands how to process these natural drinks better than man-made chemically produced, artificial drinks being sold in stores, and you achieve better results.

The best way to get ample amounts of fiber each day is to eat raw fruits and vegetables. The challenge, though, is how to eat 25-35 grams of fiber in five servings of raw fruits and vegetables every day. Fortunately, you don't have to consume mass quantities of plants to achieve the results that high fiber can offer for keeping your digestive system running smoothly. There are now some delicious high fiber foods available in natural, tasty shakes that you can mix with water or other liquids for much of the fiber you need. Throw in a few frozen banana pieces or berries to mix with the powdered shakes and you are quickly on your way to the fiber and nutrients you need each day with all the complex carbohydrates and essential vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables Best of all, the shakes taste good, and some contain FOS, fructooligasacharides, a pro biotic soluble fiber found in foods like garlic, onions or barley. Who wants to have garlic or onions for breakfast when it is easier to have a quick, tasty shake made with real strawberries or cocoa? That makes it so easy to get more essential fiber, complex carbohydrates and natural antioxidants for breakfast than most people get all day.

Drinking diet sodas or high fructose, caffeine and sugary energy drinks to get fit is like lifting 12 oz cans of beer to build muscle up. Those types of drinks only tear your body down, while health drink formulas made from all natural ingredients give your body the nutrients it needs to keep going strong. Water is good, but if you find it incredibly tasteless and boring to drink half your body weight in ounces of plain water every day, look for some new ways to make your water wetter and better. When you can drink a quart of water enhanced with all natural antioxidants and complex carbohydrates for better taste and more benefits, why wouldn't you? It makes no sense to spend more than a dollar for a bottle of sugar water when you can spend the same to super boost that water with natural energy, fat flushing and anti aging properties. Again, we're not referring to loading up on caffeine, sugar, or vitamin water beverages with isolated vitamins and minerals. Instead, we are talking about enhancing your beverages with natural fruits and whole vitamins and minerals from real foods found in nature. It is so easy now to find these carefully produced, powerfully charged health drink formulas that you don't need to shop every health food store or grocery store. You won't find them there, but you will find them on the Internet. You have to step out of your comfort zone, change the way you think about nutrition, and change the way you shop for high fiber foods, health drinks, and other essential nutrition.

Some people think juicing is the best way to get fiber from fruits and vegetables. However, many people find it difficult and disappointing to spend hours cleaning and preparing the piles of produce needed for a small glass of juice. While juicing may have been good for Jack Lalanne, it is not necessary today in order to consume enough high fiber foods and health drinks. Again, you just have to search the net for all natural high fiber foods and health drinks that are not sold in stores. You will find that there is an easier way to get complex carbohydrates, natural antioxidants and soluble fiber, just as you would from a glass of fresh juice, but without the expense or hassle.

Changing my diet to a more contemporary way of eating high fiber foods and increasing the benefits of drinking water with super concentrated health drinks has worked quite well for me. I lost thirty pounds in the first month of my new diet without even trying very hard, and I have easily kept that weight off for more than six years by using the same high fiber shakes and health drinks referred to in this article. I hardly ever shop at the grocery store and get more nutrition for about three dollars from a quickly made, concentrated, all natural shake than most people get in a week. When you find the keys to perfect health you will wonder how you ever lived without them, much the way we wonder how we ever lived without computers and cell phones. So, get out of the kitchen, get on the net, get your nutrition, then go out and live life to the max!

by : cliff smith

Eating Spinach is Actaully Good for You

Spinach seems to be able to lessen our risk for many of the most common diseases of the twenty first century. Overwhelming research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between spinach consumption and the following:

• Cardiovascular disease including stroke and coronary artery disease

• Cancer including colon, lung, skin, oral, stomach, ovarian, prostate and breast cancer

• Age related macular degeneration (AMD)

• Cataracts
In addition, preliminary research suggests that spinach may help prevent or delay age-related cognitive decline.

What makes spinach and its related veggies such powerful health promoters? The list of compounds that have been discovered in spinach is truly impressive. Spinach contains carotenoids, antioxidants, vitamin K, coenzyme Q10, B vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, polyphenols, betaine and, interestingly, plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids. This is a condensed list and it's hard to convey the powerful impact of these nutrients as they work synergistically to promote health.

Spinach and its related leafy greens, are important in the prevention of macular degeneration because of their rich supply of the carotenoids lutein/zeaxanthin and, coupled with dietary marine-based omega 3 fatty acids, can offer a powerful reduction in the risk of AMD. It's interesting to note that all of the lutein and a significant percentage of the zeaxanthin found in the macular come from the diet, thus reinforcing the prescription to eat the best sources of lutein - spinach and kale - regularly. For those who just can't do green veggies or fish, the DHA eggs, found in virtually every market, supply very bioavailable amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin and DHA.

It's not surprising that spinach is a powerful ally in the fight against cancer. A number of studies have shown an inverse relationship between spinach consumption and almost every type of cancer. Researchers believe that it's the rich supply of vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytonutrients that do the job. For example, spinach offers a rich supply of glutathione and alpha lipoic acid - two critical antioxidants. These substances are manufactured in the body but as we age our ability to produce them subsides. That's when spinach can make an important contribution with its ready-made supply of both glutathione and alpha lipoic acid. In addition to these two antioxidants, spinach supplies the carotenoids lutein/zeaxanthin and beta-carotene which play an important role in our body's anti-cancer defence systems.

As well as its significant contributions to the promotion of eye health and prevention of cancer, spinach (and other leafy green vegetables) also promotes cardiovascular heath. Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other nutrients in spinach, work together to prevent oxidized cholesterol from building up in the blood vessel walls. We can't forget about the fabulous folate in spinach. Folate is an important contributor to heart health as it works, along with B6 and betaine, to lower serum levels of the dangerous amino acid homocysteine. We are learning more every day about the dangers of homocysteine and its association with heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and age-related cognitive decline.

Finally, we can't forget the potassium and magnesium in spinach which also make significant contributions to heart health. Both work to lower blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

by : jill sabato

Eating Yogurt Promotes Good Health

One of the most important aspects of yogurt as a health benefit is the synergy of two health-promoting substances it provides: prebiotics and probiotics.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the gut by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or more beneficial bacteria in the colon, thus improving health. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are one of the many classes of probiotics and they're found in legumes, vegetables, and cereals as well as yogurt. These non-absorbed fibres inhibit potentially pathogenic organisms as well as increase the absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

Probiotics are defined as live micro-organisms that, when taken in adequate amounts, can be of benefit to our health. The evidence for the role of prebiotics and probiotics in promoting health and fighting disease is increasing on a monthly basis and is now supported by many double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials. What used to be folklore has become scientific fact. This mounting body of very recent news simply confirms ancient wisdom.

Like all of the Superfoods, yogurt works synergistically to promote health and fight disease: it provides a range of health benefits that include live active cultures, protein, calcium, and B vitamins, which work together in such a way that the sum is greater than the parts. Yogurt's primary benefit-as a probiotic-is something that at first glance runs counter to the trend in modern medicine. With the success of antibiotics beginning shortly after World War II, doctors and the public have come to view micro-organisms as evil disease-promoters, which must be relentlessly eradicated. In fact, however, the key to health is balance: the goal is not to eradicate all micro-organisms, but rather to promote the health of the beneficial ones. Yogurt plays a primary role in this promotion by encouraging the growth of "good" bacteria and limiting the proliferation of 'bad" ones.

Yogurt has multiple immune stimulating properties both inside and outside the gastrointestinal (Gl) tract. An interesting study has shown that if you eat yogurt with live active cultures, you decrease the amount of a common pathogenic bacterium - Staphylococcus aureus - in the nasal passages. This is a clear sign that the yogurt is stimulating the immune system.

Our gastrointestinal tracts are home to over five hundred species of bacteria-some helpful and some harmful to our health. We rely on these beneficial microbial partners for a number of important functions, including carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid synthesis, vitamin K synthesis, and the processing of various nutrients. Yogurt is a source of beneficial bacteria, and the positive results that are ascribed to introducing this bacteria to our system are not relegated to the digestive tract.

While a host of beneficial health effects are linked to yogurt, those that have attracted the most attention include its anti-cancer properties, its ability to lower cholesterol, and its ability to inhibit unfriendly bacteria.

One of the great benefits of the probiotics in yogurt is its ability to strengthen the immune system and thereby help the body prevent infection. In an era of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and seemingly new infectious threats like SARS and West Nile virus, the value of boosting one's immune system becomes immeasurable.

There are three basic types of yogurt, depending on the milk used to make it: regular yogurt, low-fat yogurt, and non-fat yogurt. Yogurt made from whole milk has at least 3.25 percent milk fat. Low-fat yogurt is made from low-fat milk or part-skim milk and has between 0.5 and 2 percent milk fat. Non-fat yogurt is made from skim milk and contains less than 0.5 percent milk fat.

Ultimately, it's yogurt's activity in the gastrointestinal tract that argues most conclusively for its inclusion as a Superfood. The bottom line is that a healthy digestive system is critical to good health. Our ability to absorb nutrients from our food depends on our GI health. Even if we eat the most nutrient-dense foods in the world, if our digestive ability is impaired, we won't be able to benefit from those foods. As we age, our digestive ability is often diminished. All the more reason to rely on yogurt as a food that will promote and help preserve intestinal health.

The list of the health-promoting abilities of probiotics is quite long. Some benefits have been proven conclusively while others require more study. Here is a summary of the conditions where yogurt has efficacy:
Probiotics absorb mutagens that cause cancer, particularly colon cancer, though there's also evidence that they're effective on breast cancer. They stimulate the immune system, partly by promoting immunoglobulin production, and help lower the risk for cancer by decreasing inflammation and inhibiting the growth of cancer-causing intestinal microflora.

Probiotics are helpful in alleviating atopic eczema and milk allergies. In relation to eczema, it's important to remember that probiotics work to promote healthy skin as well as a healthy digestive tract. Indeed, probiotics affect all surfaces of the body that have interaction with the external world, including nasal passages, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin and so forth. There's some evidence that babies who are exposed to probiotics (after the age of three months) will have a better chance of avoiding some allergies later in life.
Some people cannot tolerate milk because they lack the enzyme to break down milk sugar (lactose). In fact, only about a quarter of the world's adults can digest milk. This condition eliminates an important source calcium from the diet. Probiotics in yogurt digest the lactose for you, thus helping to relieve this condition. Yogurt is also a calcium- and vitamin-rich food that's easily digestible by those who suffer from lactose intolerance and is therefore an excellent addition to their diet.

Probiotics help regulate the body's inflammatory response, which relieves the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The probiotics in yogurt have been accepted as a form of therapy that can actually help maintain remission in people suffering from IBD. A 2003 review of human studies on probiotics concluded that 'the use of probiotics in IBD clearly will not provide a magical cure, but it does offer hope as an adjunct form of therapy, specifically in maintaining a state of remission."

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Probiotics alter both the populations and the activities of the microflora in our gastrointestinal systems, possibly relieving the symptoms of IBS, though probiotics may prove to be more effective in prevention than in effecting a cure.
For hypertension, probiotics stimulate the production of drug like substances that act in the body like pharmacological blood-pressure-lowering medicines.

Over thirty years ago, scientists were intrigued to find that the Masai tribesmen of Africa had low serum levels of cholesterol as well as low levels of coronary heart disease, despite a diet that was extremely high in meat. The distinguishing characteristic of their diets, aside from high meat consumption, was an extremely high intake of fermented milk (or yogurt)-up to 5 liters daily. Research has now confirmed that yogurt is beneficial to those trying to reduce cholesterol. The probiotics in yogurt reduce the bile acids, which in turn decrease the absorption of cholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract. This effect seems to be seen most reliably in people who already have elevated cholesterol.
Yogurt even helps with ulcers. Probiotics help to eliminate the pathogen Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that is one of the main causes of ulcers and may also be a cause of gastric cancer.

Yogurt has potential benefit in relieving what, in many countries around the world, is a serious threat to the health of millions; Diarrhea. It fights diarrhea by stimulating the immune system, crowding out negative microflora in the intestines and stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics in yogurt are also helpful in treating diarrhea associated with antibiotic use, and some doctors are amazed that yogurt is not routinely recommended to all patients who are being treated with antibiotics.

Most people are surprised to learn that in the United States, nine out of ten women and seven out of ten men don't meet their daily requirement for calcium. What's even more troubling is that nearly 90 percent of teenage girls and 70 percent of teenage boys don't meet their daily calcium requirement. For many, soda has replaced the old "milk at every meal" custom. This portends disastrous future health consequences for large numbers of people. A single 1-cup serving of nonfat plain yogurt supplies 414 milligrams of calcium-an amazing 40 percent of your daily calcium needs and at a cost of only 100 calories. This compares favorably with nonfat milk, which has only 300 milligrams of calcium. The rich amount of potassium in yogurt combined with the calcium also plays a role in normalizing your blood pressure.

Yogurt is also a better source of B vitamins (including foliate), phosphorus, and potassium than milk. Of course, the calcium in yogurt is of great benefit to pre and postmenopausal women and to men and women in their struggle against osteoporosis. A rich source of calcium to begin with, the milk sugar in yogurt actually aids in calcium absorption. Moreover, dairy foods are a source of IGF-l, a growth factor that promotes bone formation, which benefits women over and above the bone-preserving contribution of calcium.
Yogurt is a great source of readily digestible protein. In fact, yogurt supplies double the protein of milk because it's usually thickened with non-fat milk solids, increasing its protein content. Some people, particularly the elderly, just don't consume enough protein or calcium. Studies have shown there's a positive association between protein intake and bone-mineral density of older women and men when they're supplemented with calcium. The lesson: optimum bone health and prevention of osteoporosis depend not just on calcium supplementation, but on sufficient protein intake as well. Yogurt, with its easily digestible protein and calcium, is the answer.

by : jill Sabato

Health Benefits of Honey

Honey is much more than just a liquid sweetener. One of the oldest medicines known to man, honey has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, skin ulcers, wounds, urinary diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff. Today, we know the validity of these timeless treatments, as research has demonstrated that honey can inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, fungi, and viruses.

The power of honey comes from the wide range of compounds present in the rich amber liquid. Honey contains at least 181 known substances, and its antioxidant activity stems from the phenolics, peptides, organic acids, and enzymes. Honey also contains salicylic acid, minerals, alpha-tocopherol, and oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides increase the number of "good" bacteria in the colon, reduce levels of toxic metabolites in the intestine, help prevent constipation, and help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

The key point to remember with honey is that its antioxidant ability can vary widely depending on the floral source of the honey and its processing. The phenolic content of the honey depends on the pollen that the bees have used as raw material. There's a very simple way to determine the health benefits of any honey: its colour. In general, the darker the colour of the honey the higher the level of antioxidants.

There can be a twenty fold difference in honey's antioxidant activity, as one test revealed. For example, Illinois buckwheat honey, the darkest honey tested, had twenty times the antioxidant activity of California sage honey, one of the lightest-coloured honeys tested. Overall, colour predicted more than sixty percent of the variation in honey's antioxidant capacity.

Maintaining optimal blood sugar levels has a positive effect on overall health, and honey seems to contribute to this goal. In one recent study of thirty-nine male and female athletes, following a workout, the participants ate a protein supplement blended with a sweetener. Those who ate the supplement sweetened with honey, as opposed to sugar or maltodextrin, enjoyed the best results. They maintained optimal blood sugar levels for two hours following the workout and enjoyed better muscle recuperation.

There are more than three hundred kinds of honey in North America, such as clover, buckwheat, and orange blossom. Light-coloured honeys are generally mildly flavoured, while dark honeys are more robust.

Perhaps honey's most important health-promoting benefit is its antioxidant ability. We know that daily consumption of honey raises blood levels of protective antioxidants. In one study, each day participants were given about four tablespoons of buckwheat honey while eating their regular diets for twenty-nine days. A direct link was found between the subjects' honey consumption and the levels of protective polyphenolic antioxidants in their blood.
In another study, twenty-five healthy men drank plain water or water with buckwheat honey. Those consuming the honey enjoyed a 7 percent increase in their antioxidant capacity. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the average U.S. citizen consumes about 68 kilograms of sweetener annually. Substituting honey for at least part of this amount would make an impressive contribution to our overall antioxidant status and would no doubt be a significant health promoter.

An important note: Never give honey to children younger than a year old. About 10 percent of honey contains dormant Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism in infants.

Honey, long recognized as a wound healer, has been used for centuries as a topical antiseptic for treating burns, ulcers, and wounds. A study in India compared the effectiveness of honey with a conventional wound-healing treatment, silver sulfadiazine, on patients suffering from first-degree burns. Amazingly, in the honey-dressed wounds, early subsidence of acute inflammatory changes, better control of infection, and quicker wound healing were observed. Some researchers attribute this effect to the nutrients in honey that promote skin growth and to the antibacterial substances present in honey. While I'm not recommending that you consider using honey topically, its power in this role is further evidence of its wide range of health benefits.

An additional benefit of honey is found in the oligosaccharides it contains. They increase the numbers of good bacteria in the colon, reduce levels of toxic metabolites in the intestine, help prevent constipation, and help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.

by : jill Sabato

Health Benefits of Onion

While onion's health promoting abilities have long been recognized, it's only recently that their considerable curative abilities have been conclusively demonstrated and thus their elevation to Superfood status.

Onions are a major source of two phytonutrients that play a significant role in health promotion: flavonoids and the mixture of over fifty sulfur-containing compounds. The two flavonoid subgroups found in onions are the anthocyanins that impart a red/purple colour to some varieties, and the flavanols such as quercetin and its derivatives that are responsible for the yellow flesh and brown skins of many varieties of onions. The flavonols are concentrated in the skin of most onions where they contribute to the colour of the vegetable.

We now know that the health promoting compounds in onion, like those in garlic, are separated by cell walls. Slicing an onion ruptures these walls and releases the compounds which then combine to form a powerful new compound: thiopropanal sulfoxide. In addition to mitigating various diseases, this substance also gives cut onions their pungent aroma and their ability to make us cry.

To get the most health benefits from onions, let them sit for five to ten minutes after cutting and before cooking. Heat will deactivate the thiopropanal sulfoxide and you want to give it time to fully develop and concentrate before heating.

While chopping onions may make you cry, their considerable cardiovascular benefits should bring a smile beneath your tears. Like garlic, onion consumption has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Onions, along with tea, apples and broccoli --the richest dietary sources of flavonoids- have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by 20% in a recent meta-analysis that reviewed the dietary patterns and health of over 100,000 individuals.

From a health promotion standpoint, the most pungent onions pack the biggest wallop. In one test of the flavonoid content of onions, shallots had six times the amount found in Vidalia onions, the onion with the lowest phenolic content. Shallots also had the most antioxidant activity. Western Yellow onions had the most flavonoids - 11 times the amount found in Western White, the type with the lowest flavonoids content. All types of onions are good additions to your diet but try to choose the stronger tasting ones when appropriate to your recipe.

Regular consumption of onions has also been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. It's believed that the flavonoid quercetin in onions is the protective factor as it's been shown to stop the growth of tumours in animals, and to protect colon cells from the negative effects of some cancer-promoting substances. There's also evidence that onions may lower the risk of cancer of the brain, oesophagus, lung and stomach.

By : Jill Sabato