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Acai Berry Diet – Adding meals to your Acai Berry Diet

Apr 8

Posted by Eli in Food, Nutrition | 1 Comment

acai-berry2Adding meals to your Acai Berry Diet

We have put together several tastey meals that include the acai berry in them. As every resource continues to talk about the benefitis of the acai berry its important that we use the information practically in our lives. This way we can help our children and familes maintain their health by just including the acai berry in their diets.
We have taken existing foods and modified the recipes to include the acai berry.

Acai Berry Shortcake
Ingredients
* 3 pints fresh Acai Berries
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/3 cup shortening
* 1 egg
* 2/3 cup milk
* 2 cups whipped heavy cream

Directions
1. Slice the Acai berries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.
3. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
4. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
5. Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the Acai berries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining Acai berries and cover with the whipped cream.

Acai Berry Pies
Ingredients
* 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
* 4 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup white sugar
* 4 cups Acai berries
* 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Place bottom crust in piepan. Set top crust aside, covered.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine tapioca, salt, sugar, acai berries and extracts. Let stand 15 minutes. Turn out into bottom crust and dot with butter. Cover with top crust, flute edges and cut vents in top. Place pie on a foil lined cookie sheet — in case of drips!
3. Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown.

These are just a couple of the thousands of wonderful things you can make for your family. They are incredibly healthy by including antioxidants, vitamins and minerals in the food. They are sweet super health treats. Your family will enjoy them, and its up to you to tell them that they’re eating health food.

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Acai Berry Diet – How to Lose Weight on Acai Berries for Adults

Apr 7

Posted by Eli in Dieting Tips, Food | No Comments

How to Lose Weight on Acai Berries Diet for Adults
We have been researching and monitoring the new super food called acai berry and how they are used for weight loss. We decided to look a little deeper before just jumping on board. The large number of companies claiming this made us a little skeptical at first.
Well the jury is in, and we have discovered that Acai Berry is rich with minerals and vitamins that do aid in weight loss, building muscle and raising energy levels. It is also very rich in antioxidants, fatty, acids, fiber and other natural structures found in plants that can help you be healthy.acai-berry1
We also do not think that Acai Berries are “supernatural” and will just wash the weight away, although they do help you stay healthy. The key to maintaining your health is to keep your diet well balanced; this allows you to reach that perfect weight.
Here is a step by step to enjoy the perks of Acai Berries.

First
Often health food stores will carry fresh, frozen or dried Acai berries. You can also buy this from online stores. These are nutrient rich food that you can cook or use it to spice up recopies like cereal, ice-cream, yogurt and low fat muffins.

Second
Often online you can find the Acai in the liquid extract. These can easily be worked into your Acai berry diet, by putting them in foods you already eat in your day to day. Also if you are living in an area where Acai berries are not grown thisc an be the most efficient way to get a good supply of Acai berries.

Third
Acai berries can also come in a capsule form, these can be taken with a morning shake, or any beverage. The goal is to work the benefits of acai berry diets into your everyday life with as minimal impact to your routine as possible.

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Think You Are Doing Your Body A Favor By Ordering A Salad?

Oct 13

Posted by mreed in Dieting Tips, Food, Health, Nutrition | 4 Comments

Lettuce in a FieldMany of us believe that eating salad at a restaurant is good for us. Sometimes we may be right but in most cases it is far from the truth. Most coffee shops serve a salad made from iceberg lettuce. This lettuce has no nutritional value, it is very basically fiber held together by water. In the digestive system iceberg lettuce has the nasty habit of turning into a slime that your body then has to break down.

On top of this leafy non-nutritional plate or bowl full, we pour all sorts of different types of salad dressings. Most of these dressings are a creamy sort that is full of fat and sugars. Why do we use these dressings in such large amounts on this particular salad? Because by itself iceberg lettuce has very little taste and this is because, as I said before, it is simply fiber and water.

So next time you think you are going to suffer through a salad in order to feel like you’re doing your body some good, consider this article and maybe decide to go with soup instead. The soup may not be all that good for you but at least you are getting some good flavor for your trouble and you aren’t telling yourself stories.

If a salad is available that has deep green vegetables of all kinds, that one will be healthy for you, but again, dousing it with a large dollop of dressing will negate it’s value to a degree.

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Best Fast Food For Weight Loss

Oct 12

Posted by mreed in Dieting Tips, Food, Health, Health Tips, Nutrition | No Comments

BurgerWe live in a fast paced world where food is often consumed while driving down the highway over the speed limit and watching for police vehicles. Fast food restaurants have figured this out and are stepping up to the challenge of providing healthier food to all of the patrons that go whizzing by their drive up service windows.

Panera Bread came in first place for their comprehensive menu offering multiple healthy choices for every meal. Panera Bread also received top honors for their kids menu.

Jason’s Deli, located in the Midwest, came in second. This particular deli has a penchant for organic foods and with this in mind, approximately one fifth of all of its ingredients are organic.

Third place belongs to Au Bon Pain, which has been a pioneer in the idea of healthy fast foods. They serve sandwiches, soups, salads and even hot entrees made with whole grains, veggies and even hormone free chicken.

Noodles and Company doesn’t sound like a name you would expect to make it in a top ten healthy fast food list however this Asian food court eatery makes healthy its business, cutting out all the grease and using soybean oil in their cooking. Which puts them in fourth place.

Corner Bakery Café is a Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern based café that has a breakfast menu full of healthy choices. It also has healthy salads, sandwiches and soups. They use whole grains, lean meats and vegetables. They also practice portion control. They land solidly in fifth place.

Chipotle takes sixth place followed by Atlantic Bread and McDonald’s takes a surprising 8th place. Einstein Bagels takes ninth place followed by Taco Del Mar. That rounds out the top ten. As with any menu, you will find more and less healthy items in every location.

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Men There Is A Reason You Are Still Fat!

Oct 11

Posted by mreed in Food, Health, Mens Health, Nutrition | 1 Comment

Man Reading 21. Your best friends are Ben and Jerry and Mr. Haagen-Dazs. Face it, we all love ice cream and if we could figure a way to live on it, we probably would.

2. Fat is your favorite food group. Fat in most variations tastes good. Why do you thing marbling is desirable in steak? It’s the fat running through the tissue that gives it taste. We love the taste of fat, pure and simple.

3. Fried is your second favorite food group. Fried food is fried in… fat so refer to number two. Fat is good, we love the taste of fat, therefore fried food is good.

4. Sugar is made from a plant so you figure you’re eating your vegetables. Most of us have at least one sweet tooth and if it’s only one, it’s the biggest one in our mouths. Sometimes it gets so big we have a hard time closing our mouths around it.

5. You believe that pizza covers all the major food groups. After all, the crust is basically grain, since it’s made with flour. You have peppers and onions and other green things to cover the veggie group. The cheese covers the dairy group and some even have pineapple to cover the fruit group.

6. You can make reservations with the best of them. Eating out means all sorts of fatty foods and pastas and your sweet tooth will be waiting impatiently for dessert to arrive.

7. Exercise takes time and energy that could be used sitting in front of a TV with a beer watching other people exercise. That’s why football and baseball are so popular.

8. Rice cakes and granola or bacon, eggs and pancakes, which would you rather have for breakfast?

9. You believe that if your food won’t kill you, something else will.

10. You don’t believe that the human race climbed all the way up to the top of the food chain only to be reduced back down to green plant grazers.

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“Healthy” Snacks That Aren’t Good For You

Oct 9

Posted by mreed in Dieting Tips, Food, Health, Nutrition | 1 Comment

SnacksWe’ve all been taught to believe that yogurt is very good for us and in truth; the plain yogurt has a lot to offer us including calcium, protein and even healthy bacteria. It is basically pretty good in the calorie counting department as well, however most of us won’t eat plain yogurt, we want the yogurt that contains fruit and other tasty things. Yogurt that contains fruit is another story, with the addition of fruits and other items, the calcium, natural protein and bacteria remained however it was joined by between 14 and 40 grams of sugar per serving. This tends to deplete the health value of the food.

Baked chips are healthier for you than the fired alternatives however, they are still cooked in unsaturated fat. On top of that, a potato is a potato is a potato, no matter how you cook it. Potatos are high in the glycemic index, this means that they absorb fast and are much more likely to be stored as fat.

When looking for healthy foods, don’t be fooled by advertising. Look at the base food itself, is it a healthy food that is good for you? Then look at any additives that have been put into the food, are they healthy for you? If not, you may want to just pass them by in favor of something that is truly good for you.

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Make Your Skin Happy With The Food You Eat

Sep 30

Posted by mreed in Anti-Aging, Food, Health, Health Tips, Nutrition, Skin Care | 1 Comment

Olive Oil 1Your skin is the largest organ of your body, the question is, why do we treat it so badly at times. We expose it to harsh conditions without protecting it. We don’t take the time to exfoliate it so new cells can come forward and we don’t nourish it properly, yet we expect it to be healthy, soft, clear and without issues. It’s easy to rub lotions and potions on our skin to make it appear softer and younger but why not nourish it from the inside.

Extra virgin olive oil contains essential fatty acids that help to keep our skin moistened from the inside. Olive oil and other seed based oils help to prevent flakey skin. It also helps reduce wrinkles. If you want to do your body a favor, remove the butter and switch to olive oil whenever possible. Olive oil is wonderful on bread instead of butter.

Dark leafy greens have long been known for their antioxidant properties and they generally also contain zinc. Zinc helps with the renewal of collagen and helps clear up acne problems.

Water is the least touted ingredient to good healthy skin, most people are dehydrated to some extent, they have dull, ashen skin. Be consistant with your water intake and be sure you are taking in enough for your body weight, location and exercise level.

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Eat Your Way To Better Looking Skin & Fewer Wrinkles

Aug 23

Posted by James in Food, Skin Care | No Comments

sexyskinSome of the best skin wrinkle reduction products can be found it the grocery store and offer other health care benefits. Several foods not only help to make your skin look younger and smoother, but also help to preemptively protect our skin from damage.

If you want to protect your skin from the elements, promote anti-aging, and make you look as good as you ever have, then there are several natural ingredients that you can add to your skin care regime.

One of the best ways to reduce wrinkles is to eat foods high in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants help to protect your skin from the number one cause of signs of aging, free radicals. Free radicals are extremely harsh on skin and other cells in your body, and have even been linked to some cancers. Eating foods high in anti-oxidants help to protect your skin from the damage that free radicals can cause. Green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of anti-oxidants, especially spinach and broccoli. Other greens such as collards and kale also offer free radical protection, helping to reduce the effects of aging and reducing the chances for unsightly wrinkling.

  • Fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon are vitally important to the health of skin and your general health. The nutrients provided by salmon, tuna, and other Omega-3 fatty acid rich foods provide an excellent source of protection in the battle for better skin, especially the effects of aging.
  • Other “healthy” fat enriched foods, such as certain nuts, especially cashews are not only great for the skin, but also provide the body with much needed fats without having to resort to “unhealthy” fats such as are found in processed foods and trans-fat fast foods. Getting enough fat in your diet is essential to health, but unfortunately most people get too much of the unhealthy fats, and not enough of the fats that provide energy without damage to a person’s overall health.
  • While not often seen as food, the skin creams that offer the best chance of benefits to the skin without unneeded side effects are mainly natural food items, or have these included in the ingredients. Your skin is the largest organ of the human body, but few people care for it as such. Using natural ingredients in the care of your skin is probably the best thing a person can do to protect it, improve its appearance, while at the same time avoiding the harsh and often chemical solutions that many might apply to their skin without a natural alternative.

As we age, our skin has a tendency to become thinner and more brittle, allowing us to bruise more or even tear easily. This is usually due to the reduction of elasticity and collagen in the system. In addition to the foods above, One such food additive is within common Japanese sea kelp, which can be eaten regularly to promote skin health. Phytessesnse Wakame, the main ingredient, is also extracted and used in several effective skin care products. It is proven to help in the reduction of wrinkles as well as promoting the natural and healthy glow that many people are looking for without resorting to the use of harsh drugs or chemicals that might eventually be more damaging to the skin than beneficial.

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This Is Your Brain On Coffee

Aug 21

Posted by James in Food, Health, Nutrition | No Comments

coffeeAs millions people consume caffeinated beverages in ever increasing amounts, the effects of caffeine on the system needs to be better understood. Recent studies have shown that the stimulant in our coffee, teas, and ever more popular by the day, energy drinks is a complex chemical that has a myriad of effects both in the immediate and long term.

Caffeine is a stimulant, and as such, has serious influence over the central nervous system. Mental alertness is found to be sharpened in the short term, with a lowered ability to concentrate and focus present as the effect of the drug wears off, or when caffeine addiction pushed the body into withdrawal in its absence. The duration and power of the stimulant effect is in direct relation to the amount of caffeine ingested. Though considered a mild stimulant, overuse can lead to insomnia, irritability, and even moderate signs of physical addiction. The recent popularity of energy drinks including guarana as a caffeine source has been of particular notice, as the amount in caffeine contained in this South American Fruit is up to 4 times as potent as the coffee bean and 3 times as strong as stout tea. These drinks also contain high levels of simple sugars, especially fructose, which are horrible for health, and should be considered when evaluating them for use.

While the adverse side effects of caffeine addiction can usually be reversed with discontinued use, the mildness of its effects make addiction hard to take seriously by most people, and the will to discontinue its use low. Longer term side effects do not seem to have an overall negative impact on health in general, but the existence of certain health conditions or the taking of particular medications might make the taking of caffeine a more risky endeavor. While usually considered safe in moderation it is always advisable to talk over dietary and medication conflict over with your health care professional. For now, caffeine is seen to increase temporary mental alertness with minimal negative results. Abuse of any drug increases these results, and caffeine is not different in this matter, and should be respected as the stimulant it is. If you have a history of drug abuse, especially stimulants, then drinking coffee can actually help to trigger this addiction, so precaution is to be taken. Minors, pregnant women, and those with sleep sensitivity issues are recommended to choose caffeine free alternatives because of its stimulant properties.

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Carbohydrates: The Body’s Edible Food Factories

Aug 19

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition | 1 Comment

carbsCarbohydrates are needed for proper body function. They are the main source of fuel used foe energy in a person’s diet. As carbohydrates are introduced into the body, the body breaks them down into sugars that are then used as food for cells in the body such as the muscles and other organs, including the heart. While the emphasis in diet trends over the last few years has focused on a low carbohydrate intake, how the body processes carbohydrates in relation to blood sugar levels and weight gain would be better approached by looking at the type of carbohydrates in the diet as well as their amounts.

There are two types of carbohydrates, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates process into sugars very quickly as well as having very little nutritional benefits. One example is fructose. Fructose, usually eaten in the form of processed grains or sweetener, rapidly floods the blood with sugars that are above and beyond the processing ability of insulin in the system. Excess sugars are instead stored in the body as fat, and the binge leaves the body with too much too fast, with complete absence nutrition in its wake.

Complex carbohydrates on the other hand go through a more gradual and balanced processing, are usually part of foods with the added vitamins and minerals that provide the body with much needed nutritional support, and provide the body with needed energy at a more reasonable level over a longer period of time. Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables often are great sources of complex carbohydrates, though some fruits do contain sucrose and fructose in higher levels than vegetables and whole grains.

This is the very reason that it is easier for a person with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels with complex carbohydrates than with simple carbs. With society pushing for faster and faster food on the go, and the emphasis on cheap production in large quantity the norm in commercial food production, the amount of processed foods and simple carbohydrates consumed by the general population, and intake of complex carbs and other nutritional food on the decrease. Many diseases that top the charts for fatality every year could be significantly decreased if this trend could be reversed, even if the amount of food consumed did not change. The absence of nutrients in our diet, combined with forcing our bodies to respond to the rollercoaster of chemical reactions involved in digesting the unhealthy food we do eat has created an environment prone to imbalance and extremes. Carbohydrates are our friends, and we have turned them into our enemy.

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Are you drinking enough milk?

Aug 18

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition | 1 Comment

milkAre you drinking enough milk?

To remain active and healthy, your body needs calcium. Without it you would lose bone mass and weaken, increasing your chances of injury while making it harder for you to maintain the strength needed to exercise. Drinking milk is a great way to get the calcium you need on a daily basis. Drinking milk helps to protect teeth, protect against heart disease, and allow muscle contractions.

Many people have dairy for breakfast, if they eat breakfast. The bad news is that many Americans skip breakfast on a weekly basis at least once, and out of the ones that faithfully get up and eat a healthy meal in the morning, a certain percentage of them either eat the wrong types of foods, or forget to get the other 2/3 of their recommended daily intake of calcium for good bone and muscle health by carrying on the habit during other meals. Dietary guidelines recommend at least 3 servings of calcium rich products each and every day, with dairy products and green leafy vegetables the best sources of natural calcium.

What is at stake?

Osteoporosis affects 1 out of every pair of people on the planet after the age of 50. Lack of calcium in the diet and lack of physical activity can increase your chances of osteoporosis later on in life, but that does not mean that you have time to waste. Bone development in young adults is usually completed by the age of 25, and up to this point, calcium is important to the development of bone tissue and the strengthening of it. after this point calcium is needed to replenish calcium leaving the body and to decrease the amount of bone mass lost as we get older. The first half of life is important to build out defenses, and the second half to preserve them.

Falls become more of a concern for older adults. This is quite reasonable when you consider that a large percentage of older adults who have a fall that results in a broken hip do not live longer than a year after the fact. Getting enough calcium now and in the future can help hedge your chances of not becoming a statistic, and enjoying the ability to remain active and in tip top shape for many years to come.

If a person is lactose intolerant, other foods other than dairy products that are rich in calcium as well. If needed, there are lactose free calcium supplements that can be taken to make up in deficiency.

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Wipe Out Bad Sugar In Order To Wipe Out Bad Health

Aug 16

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition | No Comments

sugarA regular can of soda contains the same amount of sugar that you would find in 10 teaspoons of table sugar. While sugar is a carbohydrate, and the body needs carbohydrates to function, other types of carbohydrates are available, such as whole grains and many fruits and vegetables. The amount of sugar, especially in the form of glucose, as is found in soft drinks and candy is an extremely unhealthy and high percentage intake compared to what is actually needed on a daily basis for good health. Glucose enters the bloodstream at a very fast rate, and is especially hard for the body to utilize in any efficient fashion. Processed foods, especially bleached or otherwise ‘enriched” breads and pastas produce high amounts of glucose when digested and present the same problem.

Simple carbs are sugars that are formed previous to digestion, and can be found in fruits and vegetables and milk products. While both naturally occurring sugars and processed carbohydrates and sugars are considered simple carbohydrates, the two are not the same. The naturally occurring sugars are accompanied with all of the other nutrients, vitamins, and fiber that the sugar host provides, while processed foods are usually deprived of any nutritional value upon taking their processed form. This state of nutrition-less processing labels these as “bad carbs” and contribute to obesity and other health problem while offering little or no benefits.

Eating processed foods and sugars are not only an easy way to flood the body with an excess supply of simple sugars with no real nutritional benefit, there are also other negative factors that need to be considered when considering the effects of processed foods on the average person’s health.

  • The chances of becoming obese is increased literally exponential to the amount of sugars consumed and the amount of nutrition value absent due to processing.
  • In pastas and processed breads, the carbohydrates and sugars added significantly increase the chances of tooth decay as they tend to advance damage and change to sugar more rapidly that have complex carbohydrates.
  • Flooding the system with simple sugars at regular intervals can actually result in sugar addiction, making the risk of developing serious health related issues and the inability to control intake often lost without the help of an physician or mental health professional.

In order to protect yourself from the harmful effects of processed carbohydrates and sugars, knowing the other terms and names that these added ingredients go by can be quite helpful. Look for all forms of the word sweetener, as in corn or the words glucose, fructose, and syrups such as malt or maple, any honey, molasses, and even white grape juice (which is almost pure fructose).

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Water: The Building Block of Life

Aug 15

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition | No Comments

waterWithout water there would be no life on planet Earth. There is probably no substance on the face of the planet that is more valuable, contributes more to health, and sadly, is the most under-utilized natural preventive remedy for many of today’s health problems.

With two thirds of the earth’s surface covered by water and the human body consisting of 75 percent of it, it is evidently clear that water is one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth. Water circulates through the land just as it does through the human body, transporting, dissolving, and replenishing nutrients and organic matter, while carrying away waste material. Further in the body, it regulates the activities of fluids, tissues, cells, lymph, blood and glandular secretions.

While it is possible to live without food for a little over a month, a few weeks without water and you would be a drying corpse. While we constantly talk about how important good diet and exercise is to our overall health, correctly so, we should be spending more time talking about the benefits of getting adequate amounts of the very building block of life itself, good old H2O.

The average person should be drinking about 8-10 glasses of drinking water a day. Coffee and tea, though they contain water, are actually counterproductive to hydration, as the caffeine content of these drinks can actually be a source of dehydration. Similarly, high sugar drinks such as sodas and Kool-Aid are little help either, as the detrimental effects of high fructose corn sweetener and other simple sugars far outweigh any benefit you get from the actual water content.

Water is a great source of weight control power also. Studies have shown that some people simply over eat because they do not know the difference between being thirsty and hungry, and so they continue to eat when they are in fact simply dehydrated. People who drink high amounts of sweetened drinks and even certain fruit juices are often dehydrated and do not even know it due to the fact that they feel that if they are taking in liquid that this is impossible. Also sweetened drinks that contain fructose do little to curb thirst while dehydrating the body at the same time, creating a vicious circle of continued consumption and dissatisfaction. A few glasses of water and some fruit instead of a six pack and a burger is often much more satisfying, will give you more energy, and healthier for you in the long run.

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Soda: The Worst Food Imposter On The Planet

Aug 14

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition | No Comments

sodaWant to know the solid facts?

1/2 of us will die from heart disease; about a 1/3 from cancer;2/3 of us will die obese; and 1/4 of us will get diabetes. All of this is because of our love of behaviors and products that eventually killed us. I will not argue that genetics plays a part in medical propensities for certain diseases, but nothing in my family history could prepare use for a three Big Mac, 2 milkshakes and a diet soda consumer demand driven society. Many people do not even know that the amount of food, and especially the types of food they eat, could be directly increasing their chances for ailment and actually robbing them of the very nutrients they were thought to be providing. One huge, pseudo food market is the soda pop industry. This liquid is manufactured, canned and bottled for distribution worldwide at a rate of 150mg of high power fructose for every person on Earth daily.

Soda pop is liquid high fructose corn syrup and/or artificial sweetener mixed with water and carbonated soda, allowing for an immediate flood of simple, processed carbohydrates and sugars to overwhelm the bloodstream and insulin processing systems in crashing waves. This can serious erode health and contribute to an imbalance in the body’s ability to handle energy usage and storage management efficiency, leading to diabetic problems or the excess storage of fat. Fat storage of the sugars contained in sodas is quite common as the body cannot possible utilize the amount of sugar rushing into its system during consumption, and thus is instead turned into fat and sent to all of your “unsightly” places. A soda usually contains in excess of 150 empty calories each. People who consume 2 sodas a week will gain ten pounds a year throughout their lifetime if these calories are not burned off. Also exacerbating weight is the fact that the main sugar in soda, fructose, when processed by the liver, is often turned into fat and stored instead of burned off as energy calories. Combined with the fact that fructose also has a tendency to create craving but leave little satisfaction for hunger makes for an equation for weight gain disaster.

Not only does soda’s extra calories and lack of nutrients contribute to higher risk of obesity, these products have also been known to strip the body of much needed calcium, weakening or even causing the wasting away of bone mass. The kamikaze style of entry and processing by the body can further complicate the risk of diabetes or other maladies associated with the body’s resistance to insulin.

Some researchers have even contended that soft drink beverage consumption might even contribute to a person’s risk of contracting certain types of cancers. While the sugars in soft drinks can be avoided with the use of artificial sweeteners, studies have shown them to carry and even higher incident of cancer and other serious ailments that fructose. My suggestion would be to avoid the soda altogether, and make all natural, calorie free, water your main beverage and favorite drink. Your body will thank you for it.

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Nutritional Value of The Acai Berry

Aug 13

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition, Supplements | No Comments

acaiThe Acai Berry is a bi-annual fruit from South America that has been hailed as the best super food alive on the planet today, and a “miracle fruit”, correctly pronounced as “ah-sa-ee” and is in actuality a simple palm fruit of amazing nutritional benefit.

The actual fruit of the Acai palm is similar in size and shape as the blueberry with a purple hue. It is rich in antioxidants and is often used in juices and other drink forms as a health shake. The berries are also great in cooking and can be added to breads, or added as topping on desserts. The Acai berry is extremely tasty and has been even been said to have a hint of chocolate in its flavor.

One of the major benefits of the Acai berry is that it is so rich in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are known for their free radical fighting properties are known to damage cells and reduce the body’s ability to fight off infections and disease. Free radicals are also connected with skin disease, so their elimination is excellent for dermal health.

Acai berry not only helps the body cleanse itself of unwanted toxins and promote healthy immunity, but the wide range of nutrients and vitamins it contains adds to the nutritional value of this wonder food.

Nutrients in Acai berry.

The Acai berry is bursting with amino acids known to regulate efficient metabolic levels and promote weight control, as well as a host of beneficial vitamins such as C, A, and Iron. Fiber, calcium, and potassium, as well as ample amounts of protein is also packed into this button sized berry. The nutritional impact of Acai berry alone can help a person stave off the effects of aging, skin problems, eye and bone deterioration prevention, and help in the fight against anemia.

A heart healthy food with a powerful nutritional and anti toxin punch, the Acai berry has recently been entered into research to determine its effectiveness in the fight against cancer. Now that a lot of good from one little palm berry.

Acai berry is available in some health food stores and from reputable online vendors. It can be found in whole fruit, juice, and even powdered supplement form. Convenient, good tasting, natural, and good for you, Acai berry has no negative side effects and does not carry either the inconvenience or the risks associated with other dietary supplements, being simply a super healthy fruit.

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What’s The Difference Between Organic And Natural?

Jul 23

Posted by mreed in Food, Nutrition | No Comments

natural organicMany people think that there is no difference between organic and natural food. But this is not true. Organic food refers to food items that are produced, manufactured and handled using certified organic means, such as defined by the USDA under its Organic Food Products Act. Natural food refers to food items that are not altered chemically or synthesized in any form. They are derived from plants and animals. A natural food item is not necessarily organic, and vice versa.

Why do some people prefer natural food while others prefer organic food? Those who believe that synthesizing foods results in loss of nutrients, demand natural foods. Organic food fans want their food to be free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives.

Basic differences in organic foods and natural foods are the following:

Stringent standards for organic food production, handling and processing exist throughout the world. Stringent standards do not exist for natural foods.

A manufacturer is required to follow specified rules and regulations before he can use the organic label. Natural food labels are used freely by manufacturers due to a lack of adequate guidelines.

The demand for organic foods is greater than the demand for natural foods.

There is no evidence to prove that organic food is healthier than non-organic food, but people who prefer organic food feel it is safer than conventional food because chemicals are not used in its production. Other people prefer natural food because they believe that excessive processing of food disturbs their health benefits.

Both organic foods and natural foods are priced higher than non-organic food items.
The shelf life of organic food is more than that of natural food. It can be stored for a longer duration.

Organic food is sold in almost every super market. There are special stores that sell organic food. Organic food can be purchased online as well. Natural food is available in many stores that also sell organic food. Some special stores sell natural food. Many stores selling health food items also sell natural food products.

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Read The Label! What Are You Feeding Your Kids?

Jul 19

Posted by mreed in Food, Health, Nutrition | No Comments

kids foodLearning to decipher food labels might seem complicated at first, but it can help you make smart choices when shopping for your family. The FDA and the USDA require nutrition information labels on almost all packaged foods. Nutrition facts are also displayed near fresh foods – fruits, vegetables, and fish – in grocery stores.

Nutrition labels include a “% Daily Value” — that shows the amount of daily recommended nutrients in the product, based on a 2000 calorie diet. Also included are the serving size and information about total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, fiber, and other nutrients. Additional information includes claims, such as “light” or “low-fat,” health claims, and an ingredients list.

Reduced fat means that a product has 25% less fat than the same regular brand. Light means a product with 50% less fat, and Low fat means a product with less than 3 grams of fat per serving. Even a food low in fat may not be low in calories. A low-fat food can be high in sugar. The “no-cholesterol” claims do not necessarily mean it is low in fat. Too much fat can contribute to health problems, including heart disease. Dietitians recommend that in a daily diet of 2000 calories, no more than 30% of that total should come from fat. This applies to adults and to children over the age of two.

The amounts of saturated fat and trans fat are listed separately on the food label. These two fats are often called “bad fats” because they raise cholesterol, thus increasing the risk for heart disease. Both saturated and trans fats are solid at room temperature. Saturated fat usually comes from animal products (butter, cheese whole milk, ice cream, and meats. Trans fats, naturally found in these foods, are also in vegetable oils that have been hydrogenated to be solid at room temperature. Saturated fats should account for less than 10% of calories that kids consume each day, and trans fats should be kept to less than 1% of total calories.

Unsaturated fats are often called “good fats” because they do not raise cholesterol levels. These are fats that remain liquid at room temperature. Foods high in unsaturated fats are vegetable oils, nuts, and fish.

Reading the ingredient list is especially important if someone in your family has a food allergy. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that nearly 8% of kids in the United States are affected by food allergies. The eight foods that account for 90% of food allergy reactions are: milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts.

Food labels also list amounts of cholesterol, sodium, sugars, protein and fiber, as well as, vitamins and minerals; a good working knowledge of all nutrients is important in planning healthy, well-balanced diets. Good nutrition directly contributes to our kids’ achievements in school, as well as dramatic differences in home life and in the over-all benefits to good health.

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All-Natural Disease Fighting Food List

Jul 17

Posted by James in Food, Nutrition | 1 Comment

foodbasketWhen people think of medical advice to fight off disease, they usually think of medicine. The problem with this mindset is two-fold. One, medication is usually only administered in response to an disease, and very rarely active in providing preemptive benefit, and two, the negative side effects of most medications should put them at the bottom of our medical care choices and not first.

Most disease is due to incorrect diet, lifestyle choices, or heredity. There is no pill to cure family history. Lifestyle choices are still controlled by the individual, though medication might help in the behavior modification process. Diet, though often aided with herbal or even pharmaceutical supplementation, can never be replaced by these alone. Eating the right foods is the simplest way to fight off disease, aid in healing the body when sickness is present, and is absent of the negative side effects and health risks involved with non culinary intervention. The foods we choose to put into our bodies should be the first suspect for modification, though is usually only discussed as an afterthought or secondary issue.

Many of what ails the body is a direct result of which nutrients we have deprived it. Knowing which foods to eat in order to boost the body’s ability to fight heart disease, high blood pressure, bone weakness and wasting, and even cancer is probably the smartest thing a person could do if they wish to remain healthy and to avoid dependency on drug or other methods of controlling diseases that a healthy might have helped you avoid. I have listed the top ten foods that will do just that. They are all low carb, high nutrient, widely available foods that can help you live a longer and healthier life.

Acai berry- High in antioxidants and vitamin C and A, Acai berries are known as one of the most nutritious foods on Earth. Found in both whole fruit and juice form, Acai berry can cut your risk for heart disease as well as improving the cleansing properties of the body, such maintaining superior colon health.

Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are also high antioxidant veggies, contributing to the fight on cancer and boosting immunity.

Oranges and other citrus fruits such as grapefruit contain not only vitamin C but have also been shown to aid in blood clotting and immunity.

Garlic is a pungent herb that has excellent health beneficial properties. Garlic has shown promise in the reduction of harmful LDL cholesterol levels as well as an excellent home remedy to prevent high blood pressure. It has a long history of herbal medical use as well as being delicious.

Eat nuts instead of simple carbohydrates or fatty meats such as chicken. The Omega 3 fatty acids in nuts are carried into the blood stream and converted to energy much more efficiently than processed breads and pasta, and contains enough protein to act as a meat replacement.

Oats and oatmeal are praise for the ability to lower cholesterol and are a great source of grain in a diabetic diet due to the time released method of affecting blood sugar levels.

Salmon is a natural anti-coagulant as well as a superb source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are shown to help prevent heart disease while providing the body with the much needed supply of fat that it needs without the adverse effects of other fats.

One of the best foods to consume in the war against eye disease is Popeye’s favorite, Spinach. The nutrient leutin has the positive effect of lowering the possibilities of cataracts and other eyesight loss causes.

The antioxidant lycopene, contained in tomatoes protects your body from free radicals and the cell damage that they cause. Though labels on catsup bottles might claim it is an excellent source of lycopene, it is also a severely high source of sodium. Fresh tomatoes are a much better way to get lycopene in your system.

There is one meat that makes the ranks as one of the healthiest foods, turkey. Compared to most meats, turkey is low in fat and calories, but still rich in protein, and in some studies was shown to beneficial as a cancer avoiding super food.

As you can see from the foods mentioned above, there is no need to go hungry, and plenty of healthy choices are available right in your local supermarket that can help lead the way to a longer and healthier life with a lowered chance of future disease.

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Are Mangoes the next Anti-Aging miracle food?

Jul 12

Posted by James in Anti-Aging, Food, Nutrition | No Comments

mango

The everyday mango, with its often multi-colored exterior and succulent, rich, and oh so sweet may actually be the next great thing in anti aging. Of course it is not actually the newest trend on the market, as mangoes have been grown domestically and eaten for over 4000 years, but new medical research has shown, that the main vitamins and minerals in this delectable treat, Vitamins A, C, and beta-carotene are not only good for you by themselves, but also help the body with the reduction of free radicals. Free radicals have several negative effects on the human body, including cell destruction, premature aging, and have even been linked with the growth of certain cancers and other health problems.

While use for medical purposes is not widespread, the health benefits of eating mangoes has been acknowledged by the people of the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years. This fruit is used extensively in the Indian diet, from eating them ala carte as whole fruit, to incorporating into other dishes as the main ingredient in the popular condiment, chutney.

It is easy to care for and readily available fresh in most supermarkets. While it can be refrigerated, it is best left to ripen at room temperature, canned, or combined with spices for longer keeping, as in the case of Indian chutney.

This rather sweet fruit is the perfect addition to any meal, makes a great appetizer, or can be offered as a dessert. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the health benefits of the mango, as well as its flavor, is to drink 100% mango juice, or add it to other ingredients and concoct smoothies that would temp anybody’s taste buds.

Mangoes are an alkaline, helping to reduce acidity of the blood and other body fluids as well as helping with anti-aging. Mangoes are super for those on a low sodium diet or anyone looking for a super healthy source of fiber that also tasted great. Simply add a little orange juice for some added vitamin D, and you have one of nature’s most nutrient complete food sources.

If you want to get the edge on Father time, and feel as well as look younger, then before you run off to see your doctor, try the supermarket first. The answer you have been looking for might be as close as the fresh fruit aisle.

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Why Protein Is Not a Bodybuilders Best Friend

Jul 12

Posted by mreed in Exercise, Food, Nutrition, Supplements, Toning, Weights | No Comments

protein bodybuildingProtein is a wonderful thing for your body, it helps you build lean muscle and helps build muscle strength, but protein isn’t a one man show, it needs help, by itself it won’t do your body much good. In order for your body to fully utilize the protein, you need to take in a balanced number of carbohydrates. Only with the carbohydrates can your body use the protein to it’s full extent.

There are many protein drinks, protein bars, protein cereals and a score of other protein things on the market and you will buy them and continue to buy them with no effect until you get frustrated and quit, unless you also take in your fair share of carbohydrates. Without the help of the carbohydrates, you can eat all the protein you want and you will still feel weak and listless because that wonderful and expensive protein is going right through your body without doing you any good at all.

The key to good nutrition is to eat in moderation. Eat your protein, but make sure you eat an equal amount of carbohydrates so you can effectively use the protein you ate. Carbohydrates will also give you the energy you would otherwise lack. If you do utilize the protein drinks and bars on the market, realize that they are likely to be filled with all sorts of things such as artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners can trick your body into thinking it has taken in sugar and it will act accordingly, use these in a pinch, but don’t substitute good, real nutrition for manufactured food substitute. Your best bet will always be to eat natural proteins such as is found in lean meat, nuts, beans, and other natural foods. Again, measure your protein intake by your carbohydrate intake; don’t have more of one than the other.

Body building is much more about good nutrition rather limiting yourself to an excess of one type of food. Supplements that artificially purge your body or build your body will eventually also be your undoing. There are plenty of unnatural ways available to build your body and for a while you will look healthy and strong, but time will tell the difference. You can build a house of cards that looks substantial from the outside, but if it has no inner support, it will be only a matter of time before it falls.

Your eating habits also very important. Eating small amounts at two to three hour intervals are much better than eating large meals four or more hours apart. Eat often and exercise just as often eat smart and eat healthy, that is how you build a lean, muscled, healthy body.

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