Healthy News posted a blog this morning with tips to help you go to the bathroom more often. IBS, constipation and other digestive problems often have to do with what we eat and what we don't eat.
Elderly, toddlers, pregnant women and all of us can suffer from constipation from time to time. What you eat and the amount of fiber in your diet can have a significant effect on how often you go to the bathroom and how easy or difficult it is.
Read this post on constipation:
http://healthynews.today.com/2008/05/19/foods-that-fight-constipation/
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Diet Menu Planning Benefits and Tips
Planning your menu when dieting or doing a healthy lifestyle change is an essential task. If you're trying to lose weight or get healthy the most important advice you can follow is to plan your diet menu. If you set a schedule about what you're going to eat and shop in advance for several days meals you will be less likely to cheat and overeat which will clearly put your eight loss efforts behind. Many people who fail on their diets do so because of lack of planning which leads to cheating and overindulgence. Here are some helpful planning tips:
Shop a few days at a time. This way your food will be fresh and you'll be more likely to eat what you've bought as well as be able to take advantage of sales.
-Make a list when you shop. This way you know what to buy and won't get home and realize you don't have the makings of healthy recipes.
-Don't shop hungry! Eat before you shop and have your list ready.
-Stay OUT of the junk food isle and resist the urge to buy items while in line. Read tabloid mag covers to keep your mind off the candy bars if you must ;)
-Join healthy website recipe sites to help you come up with creative diet menu planning ideas. Surfing for ideas can be a lot of fun.
-Get support! If you aren't planning to diet with a buddy, find an online support group or community forum. Swapping recipes and success stories is a great idea.
-Track your caloric intake and exercise. Fitday.com is a great resource for letting you do both for free.
-Go for variety! Changing your recipe selection a little will make your dieting more adventurous. Diets don't have to be bland. Experience new flavours with spices and be adventurous.
A bit of planning and experimenting can help you increase your chances of losing weight or getting healthier with great eating habits.
The Fat Loss 4 Idiots or, Idiot Proof Diet> includes an online generated menu based on healthy food choices that trick your metabolism, engage fat burning hormones. There's a lifetime membership *here*.
Shop a few days at a time. This way your food will be fresh and you'll be more likely to eat what you've bought as well as be able to take advantage of sales.
-Make a list when you shop. This way you know what to buy and won't get home and realize you don't have the makings of healthy recipes.
-Don't shop hungry! Eat before you shop and have your list ready.
-Stay OUT of the junk food isle and resist the urge to buy items while in line. Read tabloid mag covers to keep your mind off the candy bars if you must ;)
-Join healthy website recipe sites to help you come up with creative diet menu planning ideas. Surfing for ideas can be a lot of fun.
-Get support! If you aren't planning to diet with a buddy, find an online support group or community forum. Swapping recipes and success stories is a great idea.
-Track your caloric intake and exercise. Fitday.com is a great resource for letting you do both for free.
-Go for variety! Changing your recipe selection a little will make your dieting more adventurous. Diets don't have to be bland. Experience new flavours with spices and be adventurous.
A bit of planning and experimenting can help you increase your chances of losing weight or getting healthier with great eating habits.
The Fat Loss 4 Idiots or, Idiot Proof Diet> includes an online generated menu based on healthy food choices that trick your metabolism, engage fat burning hormones. There's a lifetime membership *here*.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Connections: Candida and Food
What you eat can directly impact your ability to have problems with Candida or yeast infections. Conversely, it can also help you by creating an environment where healthy flora flourish and bad bacteria perish. I wrote about this recently for a friend and business contact.
Our bodies house good bacterium and can have bad bacteria as well. Yeast infections or candida can happen when the bad bacteria levels get high. This can happen for many reasons and can result in unpleasant symptoms in the genital area or the mouth. In order to deal with this, you often need to have treatment that kills off the negative bacteria but the problem with this is that treatment can also kill the healthy flora living in your body.
Candida can happen frequently and it can become a pain. We don’t want to overdo it on antibiotics and risk developing a tolerance to them which makes getting well when we really need antibiotics difficult. We also want the positive bacteria in our bodies to thrive as they can help us in many ways. Candida doesn’t just cause yeast infections, oral thrush and diaper rash. It can impact your health in many ways including headaches, mood swings, and sinus problems and is reported as suspected of being linked to other problems as well.
There are foods you can eat to encourage healthy bacteria to flourish in your body and to keep unhealthy levels of yeast from rising. There are probiotic foods which encourage the healthy bacteria to grow and antibiotics which are intended to kill off harmful bacterium. The problem is that when we need to take antibiotics, the antibiotics cannot tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys so they wipe out everything in sight! If your body has a tendency to produce too much yeast and you are prone to yeast infections, you should be cautious about what you eat and drink to help prevent the overgrowth of that yeast. In fact, your diet alone could be the culprit.
There are many types of flora living in our bodies and the culprits for the yeast infection occur when there’s a proliferation of albican yeast growth. Prevent albican yeast growth by eating healthful unprocessed foods. Probiotic yogurt and cheese can be very helpful. Eating junk food and refined carbohydrates is not helpful as it will feed the bad bacteria. Eliminating sugar and bleached white flour is a very good idea and you should avoid all fermented foods like alcohol, cheese and yeasts and fungi such as mushrooms. Instead, eat plenty of live cultures like yogurt and unsweetened kefir. Organic apple cider vinegar can also be helpful for restoring balance in the digestive system.
Opt for food with fast transit times for your food so that it won’t sit and rot in your intestines creating new bacteria. A special diet is typically used for two to four weeks so that symptoms can subside and people who have recurring problems with yeast may decide to stay on this diet as a regular rule. Use oils for cooking such as virgin coconut oil offers great antifungal properties.. Garlic, clove oil, oregano oil and spices like cinnamon, curry and cayenne can also be very beneficial.
If you want bread during your candida diet, opt for whole grain bread that isn’t leavened with yeast. Probiotic or lactose reduced cheese can be taken in lieu of regular cheese. Albican yeast free cookbooks or resource sites exist which help you find more recipes that incorporate great foods without harmful yeast.
Eating well, exercise and good digestive health are all factors for treating and preventing candida yeast infections.
This article was written for my colleague and friend Matthew Bredel. Matt owns the helpful website Candida Solutions.
Resource:
Yeast-Free Cookbook
Our bodies house good bacterium and can have bad bacteria as well. Yeast infections or candida can happen when the bad bacteria levels get high. This can happen for many reasons and can result in unpleasant symptoms in the genital area or the mouth. In order to deal with this, you often need to have treatment that kills off the negative bacteria but the problem with this is that treatment can also kill the healthy flora living in your body.
Candida can happen frequently and it can become a pain. We don’t want to overdo it on antibiotics and risk developing a tolerance to them which makes getting well when we really need antibiotics difficult. We also want the positive bacteria in our bodies to thrive as they can help us in many ways. Candida doesn’t just cause yeast infections, oral thrush and diaper rash. It can impact your health in many ways including headaches, mood swings, and sinus problems and is reported as suspected of being linked to other problems as well.
There are foods you can eat to encourage healthy bacteria to flourish in your body and to keep unhealthy levels of yeast from rising. There are probiotic foods which encourage the healthy bacteria to grow and antibiotics which are intended to kill off harmful bacterium. The problem is that when we need to take antibiotics, the antibiotics cannot tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys so they wipe out everything in sight! If your body has a tendency to produce too much yeast and you are prone to yeast infections, you should be cautious about what you eat and drink to help prevent the overgrowth of that yeast. In fact, your diet alone could be the culprit.
There are many types of flora living in our bodies and the culprits for the yeast infection occur when there’s a proliferation of albican yeast growth. Prevent albican yeast growth by eating healthful unprocessed foods. Probiotic yogurt and cheese can be very helpful. Eating junk food and refined carbohydrates is not helpful as it will feed the bad bacteria. Eliminating sugar and bleached white flour is a very good idea and you should avoid all fermented foods like alcohol, cheese and yeasts and fungi such as mushrooms. Instead, eat plenty of live cultures like yogurt and unsweetened kefir. Organic apple cider vinegar can also be helpful for restoring balance in the digestive system.
Opt for food with fast transit times for your food so that it won’t sit and rot in your intestines creating new bacteria. A special diet is typically used for two to four weeks so that symptoms can subside and people who have recurring problems with yeast may decide to stay on this diet as a regular rule. Use oils for cooking such as virgin coconut oil offers great antifungal properties.. Garlic, clove oil, oregano oil and spices like cinnamon, curry and cayenne can also be very beneficial.
If you want bread during your candida diet, opt for whole grain bread that isn’t leavened with yeast. Probiotic or lactose reduced cheese can be taken in lieu of regular cheese. Albican yeast free cookbooks or resource sites exist which help you find more recipes that incorporate great foods without harmful yeast.
Eating well, exercise and good digestive health are all factors for treating and preventing candida yeast infections.
This article was written for my colleague and friend Matthew Bredel. Matt owns the helpful website Candida Solutions.
Resource:
Yeast-Free Cookbook
Monday, November 5, 2007
Getting Benefits out of Lemons
When life gives you lemons you can make lemonade and you can also benefit from the lemons too. Lemons are a very important fruit and have some serious cleansing power. Not only can lemon bleach freckles, cleanse your skin and clean your house, it can also cleanse you internally. Lemons have a high amount of vitamin C and have potassium and magnesium too.
A glass of hot lemon water a day can do so much! Instead of artificial lemon flavour or lemon flavoured cold medicine when you’re ill, add some fresh lemon juice to a cup of tea or hot water. This can help fight off the bacteria in your body, soothe a sore throat and loosen phlegm in the chest. A lemon wedge in a glass of warm water is not only refreshing but cleansing for the body and good for the metabolism. Where I live lemons are three for a dollar and I use the rind for cooking and the lemons for baking, cooking and cleaning.
You can find a lot of information online about the vitamins, minerals and benefits of lemon. The master cleanse diet makes use of lemons as well. It can help detox your body, clean your digestive tract and boost your immune system. Those who suffer from heart burn and palpitations may find that having a glass of lemon water in the evenings can dramatically decrease their discomfort and even ward it off before it begins. Citric acid is also great for heart health. So if life gives you lemons make the most of them and use them for your good health!
A glass of hot lemon water a day can do so much! Instead of artificial lemon flavour or lemon flavoured cold medicine when you’re ill, add some fresh lemon juice to a cup of tea or hot water. This can help fight off the bacteria in your body, soothe a sore throat and loosen phlegm in the chest. A lemon wedge in a glass of warm water is not only refreshing but cleansing for the body and good for the metabolism. Where I live lemons are three for a dollar and I use the rind for cooking and the lemons for baking, cooking and cleaning.
You can find a lot of information online about the vitamins, minerals and benefits of lemon. The master cleanse diet makes use of lemons as well. It can help detox your body, clean your digestive tract and boost your immune system. Those who suffer from heart burn and palpitations may find that having a glass of lemon water in the evenings can dramatically decrease their discomfort and even ward it off before it begins. Citric acid is also great for heart health. So if life gives you lemons make the most of them and use them for your good health!
Monday, August 20, 2007
How To Take Off The Baby Weight
So you've had a baby and you're ready to get your body back. Don't beat yourself up for not fitting into your skinny jeans six weeks after baby; it can take a lot longer to take weight off than it can to put it on! Start slow and follow some common sense rules to help your body get back in shape slowly. Here are some facts and tips to help:
-Many women hold onto some reserve weight for six months to ensure they have fuel to make milk for the baby. A lot of women feel like the weight starts to melt off at around the point baby begins the transition to solid food
-Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories a day. Many women find that if they breastfeed past the six month mark, they accelerate their weight loss. Do you know how much exercise you'd have to do to burn 500 calories a day? Another reason to breastfeed!
-Count your calories. Use a calorie counter and after you've stopped lactating, try to scale back to 1500 calories a day. Try something to jump start you like the special K diet or the sacred heart that can help you accelerate weight loss (these are quick fix diets though and shouldn't be used long term!)
-Pilates and Yoga. These are low impact sculpting exercises. They can really help you tighten your abs again and get rid of the junk in your trunk.
-Baby exercise classes. Many gyms are now doing strollercize and exercises where you use your baby's weight for resistance training. it's bonding, it's an outing and can help you get tone and trim again.
-drink water! Stay away from the soda pop, switch to skim milk or 1% and drink lots of water. You might be surprised at how many empty calories come from what you are drinking!
Most of all, persevere. Little changes like reducing your meat and potatoes and increasing your vegetables on the plate will give the illusion of loads of food but cut your caloric intake while increasing your nutrient intake. Many vegetables and fruits are actually negative calorie foods that can help you lose weight. Taking off the baby weight can be a lengthy process but you can do it for your health and your body image.
*****
Buy direct from the manufacturer and Save Big on Home Exercise Equipment today at ProForm.com
-Many women hold onto some reserve weight for six months to ensure they have fuel to make milk for the baby. A lot of women feel like the weight starts to melt off at around the point baby begins the transition to solid food
-Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories a day. Many women find that if they breastfeed past the six month mark, they accelerate their weight loss. Do you know how much exercise you'd have to do to burn 500 calories a day? Another reason to breastfeed!
-Count your calories. Use a calorie counter and after you've stopped lactating, try to scale back to 1500 calories a day. Try something to jump start you like the special K diet or the sacred heart that can help you accelerate weight loss (these are quick fix diets though and shouldn't be used long term!)
-Pilates and Yoga. These are low impact sculpting exercises. They can really help you tighten your abs again and get rid of the junk in your trunk.
-Baby exercise classes. Many gyms are now doing strollercize and exercises where you use your baby's weight for resistance training. it's bonding, it's an outing and can help you get tone and trim again.
-drink water! Stay away from the soda pop, switch to skim milk or 1% and drink lots of water. You might be surprised at how many empty calories come from what you are drinking!
Most of all, persevere. Little changes like reducing your meat and potatoes and increasing your vegetables on the plate will give the illusion of loads of food but cut your caloric intake while increasing your nutrient intake. Many vegetables and fruits are actually negative calorie foods that can help you lose weight. Taking off the baby weight can be a lengthy process but you can do it for your health and your body image.
*****
Buy direct from the manufacturer and Save Big on Home Exercise Equipment today at ProForm.com
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Are Artificial Sweeteners Dangerous?
Are artificially sweetened products safe? They never tasted quite 'right' to the few times I tried aspartame or sucralose. It was like my food or drink contained something too 'fake'. One day, I came across the website www.aspartamekills.com. I've also read a lot of information on mercola.com that also suggests that artificial sweeteners are dangerous to your health. I won't rehash it all here but have a look at these sites for more information.
If you're suffering from health problems and drink a lot of artificially sweetened diet softdrinks, try going cold turkey for a month. You might be surprised at what you no longer have as symptoms.
If the government has approved it, it's ok. Right? Not necessarily. Last I heard, one popular artificial sweetener is approved in Canada and not in the states and and another is improved in the U.S. but not approved in Canada. Canada and U.S. have similar laws about safety of food and drug products so that's an odd occurence. We also know that many food and other products that were deemed safe many years ago are no longer safe.
I have a relative (in-law) that worked in the lab of a major soft drink corporation when their 'diet' version was just created and didn't go into a lot of detail but told us that anyone who drank that stuff was not doing their bodies any favours.
I know sugar isn't great for you either. In an ideal world, you should avoid sugar as much as possible but in a world where many health problems appear to be arising from the use of artificial sugar substitutes, I'd rather stick to sugar and try to minimize it.
Honey is a great alternative and I've recently read that honey is the only substance that is **completely** used up by your body. Many benefits to honey are readily discussed online.
If you're suffering from health problems and drink a lot of artificially sweetened diet softdrinks, try going cold turkey for a month. You might be surprised at what you no longer have as symptoms.
If the government has approved it, it's ok. Right? Not necessarily. Last I heard, one popular artificial sweetener is approved in Canada and not in the states and and another is improved in the U.S. but not approved in Canada. Canada and U.S. have similar laws about safety of food and drug products so that's an odd occurence. We also know that many food and other products that were deemed safe many years ago are no longer safe.
I have a relative (in-law) that worked in the lab of a major soft drink corporation when their 'diet' version was just created and didn't go into a lot of detail but told us that anyone who drank that stuff was not doing their bodies any favours.
I know sugar isn't great for you either. In an ideal world, you should avoid sugar as much as possible but in a world where many health problems appear to be arising from the use of artificial sugar substitutes, I'd rather stick to sugar and try to minimize it.
Honey is a great alternative and I've recently read that honey is the only substance that is **completely** used up by your body. Many benefits to honey are readily discussed online.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Wondrous Coconut Oil
Is coconut oil bad for you?
Surprisingly, No. There are stories that suggest it was a bit of a ploy to raise cash crops. If you look at recently released research, there's great news about coconut oil and all the associated benefits.
There was a time, that I heard that anything with tropical oils was bad for you. Palm oil and coconut oil should be avoided like the plague. A few months ago a client had me research and write an article about organic coconut oil and I was astounded to the point that I decided to use it as much as possible and have been telling everyone I can about the many benefits of organic coconut oil.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid which a component of human breast milk that is known for boosting the immune system. Coconut oil also can withstand much more heat before burning. I started using it and couldn’t get over how well stir fry dishes turned out as well as roasted potatoes. The oil didn’t burn and the food turned out beautifully. Coconut oil has a huge amount of health benefits that are definitely worth checking out. The types I’ve used didn’t even taste like coconut which was a plus for my spouse who really doesn’t like strong coconut flavour.
I can’t get as in depth as I’d like due to the fact that my research was for a client and I ghostwrote the article but one point to mention is that there was a man who lived on coconuts alone for almost a month following the boxing day tsunami a few years ago and he survived unscathed despite being surrounded by bacteria filled waters and rotting corpses. Coconut oil can do wonders for your immune system and I’ve read great things about your metabolism, skin and that it’s antibacterial as well as increases your energy levels.
Organic is best due to the processing. Although organic can be rather expensive, the health benefits make it very worthwhile.
I am looking into more coconut related news due to recent discoveries about coconut water and coconut kefir that I've stumbled upon. More on those subjects later.
Cheers to your health,
Dana
Surprisingly, No. There are stories that suggest it was a bit of a ploy to raise cash crops. If you look at recently released research, there's great news about coconut oil and all the associated benefits.
There was a time, that I heard that anything with tropical oils was bad for you. Palm oil and coconut oil should be avoided like the plague. A few months ago a client had me research and write an article about organic coconut oil and I was astounded to the point that I decided to use it as much as possible and have been telling everyone I can about the many benefits of organic coconut oil.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid which a component of human breast milk that is known for boosting the immune system. Coconut oil also can withstand much more heat before burning. I started using it and couldn’t get over how well stir fry dishes turned out as well as roasted potatoes. The oil didn’t burn and the food turned out beautifully. Coconut oil has a huge amount of health benefits that are definitely worth checking out. The types I’ve used didn’t even taste like coconut which was a plus for my spouse who really doesn’t like strong coconut flavour.
I can’t get as in depth as I’d like due to the fact that my research was for a client and I ghostwrote the article but one point to mention is that there was a man who lived on coconuts alone for almost a month following the boxing day tsunami a few years ago and he survived unscathed despite being surrounded by bacteria filled waters and rotting corpses. Coconut oil can do wonders for your immune system and I’ve read great things about your metabolism, skin and that it’s antibacterial as well as increases your energy levels.
Organic is best due to the processing. Although organic can be rather expensive, the health benefits make it very worthwhile.
I am looking into more coconut related news due to recent discoveries about coconut water and coconut kefir that I've stumbled upon. More on those subjects later.
Cheers to your health,
Dana
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Grab Some Blackberries Even While Using Your BlackBerry
Has the harried lifestyle got your eating habits at a less than stellar level? Don’t abuse your body by eating garbage. Even if you’re a busy exec who’s always on the run, take good care of your health.
Here are some tips for the busy bee who’s always buzzing with the blackberry.
-Buy good food that makes life easy. Even though it’s best to prepare food from scratch, there are some great healthy quick entrees that re available. Your grocery store might also do prepared fruit and vegetable platters that are done up and can go right in your fridge so you can assemble some healthy snacks to drop in your briefcase. While working, nibble on fresh fruit or vegetables or grab a salad with lean protein instead of a greasy burger and fries
-Grab some yogurt & berries for breakfast. Toss them together with a handful of granola or trail mix and you’ve got a delicious breakfast.
Speaking of blackberries, did you know that blackberries are full of antioxidants so can almost be considered like the fountain of youth? Throw some berries into some probiotic yogurt to not only feel like you’re eating dessert but to feed the healthy flora in your tummy as well as zap those free radicals that cause premature aging and cancer.
They also have lots of vitamin E and folic acid.
Here are some tips for the busy bee who’s always buzzing with the blackberry.
-Buy good food that makes life easy. Even though it’s best to prepare food from scratch, there are some great healthy quick entrees that re available. Your grocery store might also do prepared fruit and vegetable platters that are done up and can go right in your fridge so you can assemble some healthy snacks to drop in your briefcase. While working, nibble on fresh fruit or vegetables or grab a salad with lean protein instead of a greasy burger and fries
-Grab some yogurt & berries for breakfast. Toss them together with a handful of granola or trail mix and you’ve got a delicious breakfast.
Speaking of blackberries, did you know that blackberries are full of antioxidants so can almost be considered like the fountain of youth? Throw some berries into some probiotic yogurt to not only feel like you’re eating dessert but to feed the healthy flora in your tummy as well as zap those free radicals that cause premature aging and cancer.
They also have lots of vitamin E and folic acid.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Spice Up Your Life, Rev Up Your Metabolism and More
Spicy food has the ability to help you burn more calories. Many studies suggest that for a few hours after you eat a dish with lots of hot spice like mustard or chili, you can expect your metabolism to be revved up.
Not only might you end up with a trimmer waistline but hot and spicy foods can keep you healthier overall as many spices act as antibacterial agents so when mixed with food that could be contaminated with a food borne illness or a parasite, you may be less likely to get sick. National Geographic published a great article about this study that referenced people in certain climates having different spice habits due to the potential for food borne illnesses. Cold climates had much fewer spice and much fewer food poisoning cases over tropical climates.
Chili, which contains capsaicin has a whole laundry list of health benefits including anti-arthritic properties, cholesterol lowering, fights headaches, sore throats, muscle pains and more.
Worried about heartburn or ulcers? Spice can aggravate these symptoms but does not actually cause ulcers.
So, adding a bit of spice can do a lot for your health and well being as well as your waistline.
Worried your kids won't eat spicy food? Start them off early. Many kids won't eat variety due to not being offered a variety in their diet. It's never too late to institute the "try one bite" rule which can increase your child's ability to expand their horizons beyond mac & cheese and hot dogs.
Not only might you end up with a trimmer waistline but hot and spicy foods can keep you healthier overall as many spices act as antibacterial agents so when mixed with food that could be contaminated with a food borne illness or a parasite, you may be less likely to get sick. National Geographic published a great article about this study that referenced people in certain climates having different spice habits due to the potential for food borne illnesses. Cold climates had much fewer spice and much fewer food poisoning cases over tropical climates.
Chili, which contains capsaicin has a whole laundry list of health benefits including anti-arthritic properties, cholesterol lowering, fights headaches, sore throats, muscle pains and more.
Worried about heartburn or ulcers? Spice can aggravate these symptoms but does not actually cause ulcers.
So, adding a bit of spice can do a lot for your health and well being as well as your waistline.
Worried your kids won't eat spicy food? Start them off early. Many kids won't eat variety due to not being offered a variety in their diet. It's never too late to institute the "try one bite" rule which can increase your child's ability to expand their horizons beyond mac & cheese and hot dogs.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Eaten Garbage? Just wash it down with Apple juice.
Eaten Garbage? Just wash it down with Apple juice.
Will that cure you of all the ill effects of the garbage food (such as high fat fast food or convenience meals)?
Not likely but it might help somewhat as suggested by medical evidence.
Apparently, an apple's pectin acts like an antioxidant against bad cholesterol so it reduces the harm of the bad food that you ingest.
Apple pectin also helps maintain your internal plumbing by cleaning out your intestinal tract which can decrease
the instances of colon cancer.
It can help reduce gallstone, reduce insulin requirements
Apple pectin was even suggested once on a forum I visited to take the day before a 'drug test' in order to completely
clean your system out of all the toxins. I do not know nor do I profess any validity to this statement whatsoever and thankfully have never
needed a drug test OR worried about passing one :)
Apparently it binds and cleans intestinal metals and toxins and many people choose it to use for colon cleanses.
A quick Google on the web for Apple Pectin and you'll find dozens of links of companies trying to sell you the capsule form of this.
I also found a recipe online for making it yourself by boiling down apples and then simply straining them through cheesecloth or
through a clean white t-shirt in order to obtain the pectin.
Another reason to eat jam....COOL!
Will that cure you of all the ill effects of the garbage food (such as high fat fast food or convenience meals)?
Not likely but it might help somewhat as suggested by medical evidence.
Apparently, an apple's pectin acts like an antioxidant against bad cholesterol so it reduces the harm of the bad food that you ingest.
Apple pectin also helps maintain your internal plumbing by cleaning out your intestinal tract which can decrease
the instances of colon cancer.
It can help reduce gallstone, reduce insulin requirements
Apple pectin was even suggested once on a forum I visited to take the day before a 'drug test' in order to completely
clean your system out of all the toxins. I do not know nor do I profess any validity to this statement whatsoever and thankfully have never
needed a drug test OR worried about passing one :)
Apparently it binds and cleans intestinal metals and toxins and many people choose it to use for colon cleanses.
A quick Google on the web for Apple Pectin and you'll find dozens of links of companies trying to sell you the capsule form of this.
I also found a recipe online for making it yourself by boiling down apples and then simply straining them through cheesecloth or
through a clean white t-shirt in order to obtain the pectin.
Another reason to eat jam....COOL!
Watermelon, More Health Benefits Than You Might Think
Some think it's mostly water and not all that great for you. Wrong.
As a kid we loved getting all sticky biting into the juicy fruit but how much of a pain was it to constantly spit the seeds out.
We bought our first watermelon of the season last week and we love it so much that I took a quick look online for some nutritious information.
At only 48 calories a cup it has such a filling effect that I ate a plate of it yesterday morning and didn't feel hungry until dinnertime.
The fruit that originated in Africa is a leader in lycopene for fruit.
It's fat free and a good source of vitamins C & A.
Watermelon helps helps fight high cholesterol, macular degeneration, arthritis, and is full of antioxidants to fight free radicals.
It's an abundant source of potassium which is great for athletes and pregnant women as it helps prevent muscle cramps
It's got a big quantity of vitamin B6 also (helps with feeling of well being, and serotonin levels)
If you haven't yet tried the seedless variety..please do! you're in for a treat.
As a kid we loved getting all sticky biting into the juicy fruit but how much of a pain was it to constantly spit the seeds out.
We bought our first watermelon of the season last week and we love it so much that I took a quick look online for some nutritious information.
At only 48 calories a cup it has such a filling effect that I ate a plate of it yesterday morning and didn't feel hungry until dinnertime.
The fruit that originated in Africa is a leader in lycopene for fruit.
It's fat free and a good source of vitamins C & A.
Watermelon helps helps fight high cholesterol, macular degeneration, arthritis, and is full of antioxidants to fight free radicals.
It's an abundant source of potassium which is great for athletes and pregnant women as it helps prevent muscle cramps
It's got a big quantity of vitamin B6 also (helps with feeling of well being, and serotonin levels)
If you haven't yet tried the seedless variety..please do! you're in for a treat.
Acai, The Superfruit. Berry Nutritious & Very Delicious
I try to stay up to date on the latest in health news. I find myself fascinated by all the news about foods of the world that aren't present in many countries that benefit the locals greatly. This morning I came across info on the Acai berry. It's got huge antioxidant punch and is described as being a taste combination of berries and chocolate. Did I say chocolate? Yes, I absolutely did.
Can't wait to try it!
We know that we need antioxidants to fight off those free radicals and antioxidants can actually help reverse the aging process. By filling your diet with them, you'll be younger both inside and out.
It does more than fight free radicals, too. It can contribute to better cardiovascular health, works like olive oil in terms of good fats, is filled with amino acids which are vital to muscles and has antibacterial properties as well as help immensely with digestive functions.
Acai is yet another example of why we need to protect the rain forests. This powerful berry grows in the Amazon and in its organic state is the most nutritious and beneficial to your health.
Many healthfood stores now carry acai and you can buy it online as well.
Here's to your good health.
Cheers,
Dana
Can't wait to try it!
We know that we need antioxidants to fight off those free radicals and antioxidants can actually help reverse the aging process. By filling your diet with them, you'll be younger both inside and out.
It does more than fight free radicals, too. It can contribute to better cardiovascular health, works like olive oil in terms of good fats, is filled with amino acids which are vital to muscles and has antibacterial properties as well as help immensely with digestive functions.
Acai is yet another example of why we need to protect the rain forests. This powerful berry grows in the Amazon and in its organic state is the most nutritious and beneficial to your health.
Many healthfood stores now carry acai and you can buy it online as well.
Here's to your good health.
Cheers,
Dana
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Maximize Your Fruit Intake With Smoothies
Yum. It's a like a healthy and guilt free milkshake without leaving you feel like you're being cheated. You can pack a lot of punch into a smoothie. I often use it to take my greens plus but it's a healthy snack that does a lot for my taste buds and is also a healthy way to snack without racking up calories and fat.
Here's my basic smoothie and you can mix this around any which way you like. If something is in season, load up on extra and freeze it (like berries!) or if you're running out of room in your fridge and don't want all that fruit to go to waste, make a pitcher of smoothies and serve them with breakfast.
This is really versatile depending on the type of fruit, yogurt or juice you use. If you want a calcium boost for you or your kids you can also toss in a few teaspoons of fat free powdered milk which is a great thickener too.
1 banana (per person)
your favourite yogurt (I like to use probiotic ones like Activia or Bio Best)
a glug of any kind of juice or milk
as much fruit as you like.
You can throw supplements in there if you are on them and put in some ground flax seed for an extra omega boost as well.
Here's my basic smoothie and you can mix this around any which way you like. If something is in season, load up on extra and freeze it (like berries!) or if you're running out of room in your fridge and don't want all that fruit to go to waste, make a pitcher of smoothies and serve them with breakfast.
This is really versatile depending on the type of fruit, yogurt or juice you use. If you want a calcium boost for you or your kids you can also toss in a few teaspoons of fat free powdered milk which is a great thickener too.
1 banana (per person)
your favourite yogurt (I like to use probiotic ones like Activia or Bio Best)
a glug of any kind of juice or milk
as much fruit as you like.
You can throw supplements in there if you are on them and put in some ground flax seed for an extra omega boost as well.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Apple Cider Vinegar Tastes Awful And It Just Might Work
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Quite possibly.
Apple cider vinegar is supposed to speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight, obliterate heart burn & acid reflux, clear up acne, help detox your body and so much more but it tastes pretty nasty.It's also said to fend off food poisoning if you take it right after an 'iffy' meal.
I buy the organic type (Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar)with the 'mother' (aka a nasty looking cloud in the stuff) and it isn't expensive either (under $4 a bottle)
Apparently the non-organic Apple Cider Vinegar is practically useless for medicinal purposes.
I have found that mixing it with apple juice works or orange the best so far for stomaching it. I have heard great things about mixing it with organic honey to get extra health benefits as well.
You can buy ACV in tablets if you hate the taste and I'm told that it can cause decay of your tooth enamel so do not brush your teeth immediately after using it.
Apple cider vinegar is supposed to speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight, obliterate heart burn & acid reflux, clear up acne, help detox your body and so much more but it tastes pretty nasty.It's also said to fend off food poisoning if you take it right after an 'iffy' meal.
I buy the organic type (Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar)with the 'mother' (aka a nasty looking cloud in the stuff) and it isn't expensive either (under $4 a bottle)
Apparently the non-organic Apple Cider Vinegar is practically useless for medicinal purposes.
I have found that mixing it with apple juice works or orange the best so far for stomaching it. I have heard great things about mixing it with organic honey to get extra health benefits as well.
You can buy ACV in tablets if you hate the taste and I'm told that it can cause decay of your tooth enamel so do not brush your teeth immediately after using it.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Goji Berries...Live To Be 100
Tibetan Goji berries are said to be a secret to longevity and good health.
I'm anxious to try some.
Apparently they taste like something in between a cranberry and a cherry which sounds delicious.
I'm planning to order some soon to make into smoothies and add to our cereal every day.
I came across a banner ad for these when researching a writing assignment I had to do and upon further investigation found a few facts that make me very anxious to try them.
-They contain 500x more vitamin C than an orange.
-They are so chocked full of vitamins that they are being given to elderly people who report return of many body functions, even sexual functions, improved appetite and excellent test scores for blood work.
-They have even more amino acids than bee pollen!
Goji berries are fat free, low calorie and increase positive outlook and vitality in people who took them into their regular diet.
People's lifespan in Tibet where these are grown is reportedly very high with many living to one hundred years old.
I'm sold!
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