Striving4Zen

Although asparagus’s peak season is considered to run from April to May, in warmer climes, the green spears can appear as early as February. In addition to being easy to prepare – steamed, grilled, oven roasted… the choice is yours! – asparagus packs a whopping 114% of recommended daily allowance (RDA) per 1 cup serving of vitamin K, which is important for bone health, and nearly 66% RDA of folate, which helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

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Labels: asparagus, folate, healthy diet, nutrition, vegetable, Vitamin K

Labels: bacteria, digestion, fermented, flora, healthy diet, kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt

A cup of coconut water contains about 600 milligrams of potassium (that's more than a banana), as well as some calcium, magnesium, sodium, and sugar.

The liquid found inside young green coconuts is thin, almost clear, and can have a slight almond flavor. Coconut water should not be confused with coconut milk. Coconut water contains no saturated fat and has only 45 calories per cup to coconut milk's 552.

The coolest thing about coconut water is that it has the same electrolyte balance as blood. Dubbed the "fluid of life," it was used as a substitute for intravenous plasma during World War II.

Drink up!

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Labels: coconut milk, coconut water, drinks, electrolytes, nutrition

Green leafy vegetables Eat them raw, throw them into a broth, add them to juices. Their chlorophyll helps swab out environmental toxins (heavy metals, pesticides) and protects the liver.

Lemons You need to keep the fluids flowing to wash out the body and fresh lemonade is ideal. Its vitamin C, considered the detox vitamin, helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that's easily flushed away.

Watercress Put a handful into salads, soups, and sandwiches. The peppery little green leaves have a diuretic effect that helps move things through your system. And cress is rich in minerals too.

Garlic Add it to everything -- salads, sauces, spreads. In addition to the bulb's cardio benefits, it activates liver enzymes that help filter out junk.

Green tea This antioxidant-rich brew is one of the healthiest ways to get more fluids into your system. Bonus: It contains catechins, which speed up liver activity.

Broccoli sprouts Get 'em at your health-food store. They pack 20 to 50 times more cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity into each bite than the grown-up vegetable.

Sesame seeds They're credited with protecting liver cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other chemicals. For a concentrated form, try tahini, the yummy sesame seed paste that's a staple of Asian cooking.

Cabbage There are two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver; this potent veggie helps activate both of them. Coleslaw, anyone?

Psyllium A plant that's rich in soluble fiber, like oat bran, but more versatile. It mops up toxins (cholesterol too) and helps clear them out. Stir powdered psyllium into juice to help cleanse your colon, or have psyllium-fortified Bran Buds for breakfast.

Fruits, fruits, fruits They're full of almost all the good things above: vitamin C, fiber, nutritious fluids, and all kinds of antioxidants. Besides, nothing tastes better than a ripe mango, fresh berries, or a perfect pear.

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Labels: detox, detoxify, fruits and veggies, Green veggies, greens, Holistic Health, liver, nutrition, Vitamin C

Fermented soybeans have been a tradition in Japanese cuisine for more than 1,000 years. The nutritive value of natto, for example, was so high that Samurai consumed it daily, and even fed it to their horses to increase their speed and strength.

Nonfermented soy products, on the other hand, are NOT health foods, even though manufacturers of soy products have been allowed to label them “heart healthy” since 1999. The “health benefits” of nonfermented soy were simply created through slick marketing by the edible oil industry in the US; invented to create a profitable market for the otherwise unusable byproducts of the soybean oil industry.

The deceptive heart health claim originated from the low rates of heart disease and certain cancers seen in East Asian populations. However, in reality, Asians do not consume nearly as much soy as has been generally assumed, and what they do eat has been fermented for long periods.

Read more on Mercola.com...

Labels: fermented, Mercola, Myth, nutrition, soy, tempeh

Whole grains or foods made from them contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver approximately the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed.

List of whole grains

The following, when consumed in a form including the bran, germ and endosperm, are examples of generally accepted whole grain foods and flours:

• Amaranth
• Barley
• Buckwheat
• Corn, including whole cornmeal and popcorn
• Millet
• Oats, including oatmeal
• Quinoa
• Rice, both brown rice and colored rice
• Rye
• Sorghum (also called milo)
• Teff
• Triticale
• Wheat, including varieties such as spelt, emmer, farro, einkorn, Kamut®, durum and forms such as bulgur, cracked wheat and wheatberries
• Wild rice

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Labels: definition, grains, listicle, nutrition, Whole grains

Labels: fruit, healthy diet, nutrition, pineapple, Vitamins

Traditional Greek yogurt, made from sheep or cow’s milk, is strained to remove much of the whey (liquid), which makes it thicker than regular yogurt. It doesn’t need the pectin or other thickeners found in many yogurts. Some Greek yogurt is imported, but domestic “Greek-style” yogurts are increasingly available.

Greek yogurt has about 50% more protein than regular yogurt: 20 vs. 13 grams per 8 ounces in nonfat versions (all numbers here are averages). And it’s lower in carbohydrates and thus lactose, the milk sugar that some people have trouble digesting. Greek yogurt tends to have less calcium than regular yogurt—150 to 200 milligrams vs. 300 to 450 milligrams per 8 ounces—but it is still a good source.

Compared to regular whole yogurt, whole Greek yogurt has significantly more fat (20 vs. 7 grams per 8 ounces) and more calories (280 vs. 140), so be sure to select nonfat (120 calories) or lower-fat versions (130 to 150 calories). Because they are all thick and creamy, you may not notice the difference.

Plain Greek yogurt is classically paired with honey and nuts or used to make tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber sauce). It’s a good substitute for sour cream on top of a baked potato. And because there’s less whey, it stays fresh longer and is less likely to separate or curdle when heated. You can make something like Greek-style yogurt by straining plain yogurt through a cheesecloth or coffee filter for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally. Further straining will produce even thicker “yogurt cheese.”

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Labels: greek yoghurt, health food, nutrition, yogurt

If You Knew All That Your Skin Did For You On A Daily Basis - You'd Treat It With VIP Care....

YOUR SKIN:

• Protects your internal organs from injury and infection.
• Helps detoxify wastes through perspiration. It absorbs and excrete both nutrients and toxins through its pores.
• Provides an important line of immune defense against infections — your healthy skin creates a barrier to viruses and bacteria.
• Protects you against extreme changes in temperature, through its thermoregulatory effect of controlling heat flow between you and your environment.
• Produces and stores vitamin D, which is important to your immune system.
• Rich in receptors, it allows you to sense conditions around you — like hard/soft and hot/cold — and send information to your brain so you can react to it for self-preservation.
• Protects your body from sunburns.
• Protects you from dehydration.

Put simply, your skin plays a major role in your health.

So Give it Some TLC!

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Labels: detoxify, Holistic Health, skin, vital organ

A hidden cancer-causing petrochemical has been found in dozens of children’s bath products and adults’ personal care products, at higher than acceptable levels.

Laboratory tests released today revealed the presence of 1,4-Dioxane in products such as Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies Baby Wash, Johnson’s Baby Wash, Scooby-Doo Bubble Bath and Sesame Street Bubble Bath. The tests also found the carcinogen in Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, Olay Complete Body Wash and many other personal care products, including those labeled natural like JASON and Nature's Gate.

To avoid 1,4-Dioxane, the OCA urges consumers to search ingredient lists for indications of ethoxylation including: "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "eth," "PEG," "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol," in ingredient names. In general, the OCA urges consumers to avoid products with unpronounceable ingredients. "When it comes to misbranding organic personal care products in the US, it's almost complete anarchy and buyer beware unless the product is certified under the USDA National Organic Program," says Cummins.

READ YOUR LABELS!

Source & Source

Labels: 1, 4-Dioxane, cancer, chemicals, organic, personal care, toxic

Labels: brown rice, healthy diet, nutrition, Whole grains

Labels: catechins, drinks, green tea, healthy diet, nutrition, Vitamin C

GT Dave, a former student of Beverly Hills High School, started his company—Millenium Products in his kitchen at age 16. At 29 years old today, his GT’s Raw Kombucha and Synergy beverages are a nationwide phenomenon.

How it all began:

Raised by spiritual parents as a vegetarian, his family are clean food advocates, drinking fresh juices and raw kombucha.

When GT was 15, his world came crashing down. His mother, Laraine Dave, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The doctors found a tumor the size of a golf ball and assumed that it had already metastasized. Doctors determined the age of the tumor to be approximately 4 years; they immediately ordered bone marrow transplants for Laraine.

After further testing, the oncologists were amazed to discover that the tumor had NOT metastasized. Later investigation into Mrs. Dave’s lifestyle and dietary habits revealed that she had been drinking homemade Kombucha daily for two years prior. Her doctor encouraged her to have the traditional lumpectomy and chemo treatment—but also to continue drinking the Kombucha.

Laraine was give an 85% chance of recurrence. It has been 12 years and Mrs. Dave is still cancer-free. She faithfully consumes a delicious GT Dave’s bottle of Kombucha daily.

GT credits his mom’s good health today to her lifestyle, a positive attitude, and the alkalinizing effects of the Kombucha.

GT’s inspiration was the positive benefits the Kombucha had on his mother. Literally, “It touched my life,” he reminisces.

Not many teenagers find their calling in life and actually become a success so young. But GT eloquently states, “I felt inspired. Kombucha resonates with Food is Medicine.”

Going on, GT explains how he views the environment and our bodies. “Obesity, cancer, and candida are epidemics. We are bombarded by toxins. People have to pay attention, but they aren’t, at least not at the rate they need to be.”

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Labels: alakaline foods, drinks, elixir, food as medicine, GT Dave, healthy diet, Holistic Health, kombucha

To add great flavor and nutrition to your spring menu, try our top 10 picks for springtime foods that will leave you feeling refreshed, renewed and revitalized:

Asparagus: No vegetable says "Spring" better than asparagus. Today, we know asparagus is a great source of folate. Despite its wide availability in food, folate deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world. Just one cup of cooked asparagus, which provides 67% of the daily value for folate, takes us a long way to fulfilling our daily requirements for this important nutrient, essential for heart health and the prevention of birth defects.

Apricots: Apricots are the true fruits of spring. Not only do they help satisfy that sweet tooth, but apricots' red, orange and yellow hues signal their rich supply of carotenoids, phytonutrients that provide powerful antioxidant protection. Apricots are especially rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, two carotenoids important in reducing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, (the cause of plaque build up in arteries) and maintaining a healthy heart.

Green Peas: Green peas are an especially rich source of B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B6 and folate, which are essential for the proper metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Green peas are also rich in health-protective carotenoids, including lutein and zeaxanthin, which act as powerful antioxidants, promote healthy vision and protect against age-related macular degeneration.

Spinach: While spinach is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals, it is an especially rich source of vitamin A (one cup of cooked spinach provides 294% of the daily value), which is important for cardiovascular health, and over 1000% of the daily value for vitamin K, an important vitamin for bone health! Researchers have also identified at least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as powerful antioxidants and anti-cancer agents, as well as carotenoids, such as lutein, which are important for preventing age-related macular degeneration.

Romaine Lettuce: Because all lettuce is not nutritionally equal, we recommend selecting romaine for your salads. While known to be a great low calorie food, romaine is not as well recognized for the many nutrients it contains. Romaine is a heart-healthy green as its vitamin C and beta-carotene content work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, thus helping to prevent the formation of arterial plaques. And romaine is also one of only a few vegetables that contain a measurable amount of chromium, an important mineral in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Green Beans: Green beans, which are picked when they are still immature and the inner bean is just beginning to form, are one of only a few varieties of beans that can be eaten fresh. Green beans' supply of vitamin A (through its concentration of beta-carotene) and vitamin C is part of the sine qua non for a healthy immune system. Beta-carotene and vitamin A are fat-soluble antioxidants, while vitamin C functions as an antioxidant in the water-soluble areas of the body. So, between their beta-carotene and vitamin C content, green beans help cover both of the body's internal environments against damage from oxygen free radicals.

Collard Greens: Like their cousin broccoli, collard greens are a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables and share their many unique health-promoting properties. Scientific studies now show that cruciferous vegetables are extremely important for their health-promoting sulfur compounds. It's the sulfur compounds in these vegetables that appear to be particularly responsible for decreasing the occurrence of a wide variety of cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers. Collard greens also concentrate lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoid phytonutrients important for protection against age-related macular degeneration.

Avocados: Although we enjoy this delicious, versatile food as a vegetable, it is actually a type of tropical fruit. Since we now know that some types of fats are actually necessary for good health, those individuals who have been avoiding avocados because of their fat content can now enjoy their smooth, buttery texture and rich distinctive flavor with the knowledge that they are a rich source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that can actually help lower cholesterol. And ounce for ounce, avocados provide 50% more potassium than bananas.

Swiss Chard: Today, we know that calorie for calorie Swiss chard is one of the most nutritious vegetables around. It is an excellent source of vitamin A and E, two fat soluble vitamins that act as powerful antioxidants, along with a wealth of other vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and protein. Swiss chard is also a great source of carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, and flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, which help protect cell structures (including DNA) from the damage that can be caused by free radicals.

Basil: Today, basil remains a popular herb that can enrich the taste not only of your favorite pasta sauce, but the health benefits and flavor of your favorite spring salad. A very good source of vitamin A, basil contains a unique array of flavonoids that protect cell structures, as well as chromosomes, from radiation and oxygen-based damage.

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Labels: cruciferous vegetables, fruits and veggies, healthy diet, nutrition, Spring 2008

While Popeye's love of spinach catapulted that vegetable to stardom, there's a veritable cornucopia of green fruits and vegetables that pack many nutrients but hardly fly out of the produce section.

Here's a sampling of some green foods UT Southwestern dietitians recommend:

-- Avocado The avocado is a good source of monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, said Dr. Vickie Vaclavik, clinical assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern. Avocados also are good sources of both vitamin E and lutein, a natural antioxidant that may help maintain eye health.

-- Broccolini A cross between broccoli and Chinese kale, broccolini is sometimes sold under the name asparation. It's packed with the cancer-fighting nutrients isothiocyanates, sulforaphane and indoles all linked with reducing the risk of breast, prostate, cervical, lung and other cancers and offers as much vitamin C as orange juice, said Dr. Jo Ann Carson, professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern.

-- Brussels sprouts Part of the cabbage family, brussels sprouts are another cruciferous vegetable with cancer-fighting phytochemicals. "They're also high in vitamin C and are a good source of folate, vitamin A and potassium," said Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Look for small, compact, bright green sprouts for the best flavor." Ms. Sandon said the vegetable can be boiled, braised, steamed or microwaved. Just avoid overcooking, as they get mushy.

-- Kale A good source of vitamins K, C and beta carotene, kale is a form of cabbage in which the central leaves don't form a head. A half-cup of cooked kale packs 1.3 grams of fiber but just 20 calories, said Cindy Cunningham, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern.

-- Okra This staple of Southern cuisine is naturally low in calories and a good source of soluble fiber. It also provides some vitamin A. "It can be cooked whole until tender, then marinate it for about three hours in a small amount of vinegar in the refrigerator," said Joyce Barnett, clinical assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern. "Top the drained okra with chopped onions and tomatoes for an out-of-the-ordinary salad."

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Labels: Green veggies, healthy diet, nutrition, vegetables

Apples ... fight both blood clots and cancer and also help to lower cholesterol levels.

Avocados ... are high in fiber and potassium, making skin soft. They also help prevent high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers, especially colon cancer.

Bananas ... contain high levels of potassium, magnesium and folate, helping fight high blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes. Folate is vital for tissue growth, and is important in combating heart disease and cancer.

Eggs ... are rich in choline, protein and arytenoids, which are thought to help retain memory and be able to prevent cataracts, as well as age-related macular degeneration.

Fennel ... is high in vitamin A, calcium, potassium and iron and helps alleviate digestive problems, while the iron and vitamin A in the plant help maintain healthy skin and nails and prevent fatigue and anemia.

Garlic ... is an excellent source of antioxidants and acts as an anti-coagulant in the blood, which reduces the risk of strokes.

Kidney beans ... are full of fiber, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system. This may help prevent colon cancer and diabetes, while also lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar.

Red wine ... is made from purple grapes, which help destroy free radicals and in doing so help prevent cancer. They can also lower cholesterol levels in the body, and reduce the growth of skin melanomas.

Salmon ... Oily fish such as salmon contains omega-3 fats that reduce blood clotting. Salmon is a source of good quality protein, vitamins and minerals. Eating oily fish reduces the risk of heart attacks, helps prevent depression and protects against dementia.

Spinach ... is an excellent source of folic acid and vitamins A and C, fighting cancer, heart disease and mental disorders.

Walnuts ... are a true superfood, with just a handful of walnuts having as much omega-3 fatty acid as three ounces of salmon. Omega-3 fatty acid helps to dissolve blood clots and heart disease and may prevent arthritis and depression.

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Labels: fruits and veggies, healthy eating, Nuts, superfoods, Vitamins

If you really are what you eat, then some women will take seconds of whatever Gwyneth Paltrow's having. At least that's the business model behind Broadway East, a new restaurant in the no-man's land between Chinatown and the East River, helmed by Paltrow's former private chef, Lee Gross.

Now that he's taking his skills public, the toque is expanding his macrobiotic repertoire to include dishes like Nasketucket Bay oyster gratin and roasted chicken à la Stras Square. When possible, the kitchen will use only organic and seasonal ingredients sourced within 500 miles of New York.

Gross spent two years studying macrobiotics at the Kushi Institute in Beckett, Mass., which is where Paltrow's assistant found him and commissioned him to work for her boss. "Gwyneth was into yoga, heard about macrobiotics and was looking for someone to prepare food for her," he explains. "I interviewed on a Friday and by Tuesday I was cooking lunch for her and Madonna."

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Labels: Chef Lee Gross, cool new place, Gwyneth Paltrow, healthy dining, Kushi Institute, macrobiotic, NYC, restaurants

Although there are three types of asparagus: green, white and purple, the green variety is the most common.

Not only is the veggie loaded with antioxidant vitamins A and C, its vitamin K is off the charts. In fact, one cup contains 114% of your daily value requirement of K.

Plus, asparagus is a natural diuretic and might help reduce water retention during PMS. While we are on women's health, you might be interested to know that asparagus is high in folate (the naturally occurring folic acid) content, asparagus is considered a birth defect fighter.

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Labels: asparagus, folate, nutrition, vegetable, Vitamin K

A nutritional All-Star — one of the best vegetables you can eat. They're loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Bake and then mix in some unsweetened applesauce or crushed pineapple for extra moisture and sweetness.

Labels: carotenoids, healthy diet, potassium, Sweet potato, vegetable

Vitamin D

This fat-soluble vitamin is clutch--your bones can't absorb calcium as well without it.

Great sources:
3.5 oz salmon = 360 IU
1.75 oz sardines = 250 IU
4 oz shrimp = 172 IU
8 oz D-fortified milk or orange juice = 100 IU

Vitamin K

You don't hear much about vitamin K, though vitamin K isn't a direct bone-builder, it does enable certain bone forming proteins to do their job, says Sarah Booth, Ph.D., director of the Vitamin K Laboratory at Tufts University in Boston.

Great sources
1 cup kale = 547 mcg
1 cup broccoli = 420 mcg
1 cup Swiss chard = 299 mcg
1 cup spinach = 120 mcg

Potassium

It's already linked to lower blood pressure, and now, a recent study has found, potassium may also neutralize acids that suck calcium out of the body, making it a skeleton saver, too.

Great sources
1 sweet potato = 694 mg
1 white potato with skin = 610 mg
8 oz plain nonfat yogurt = 579 mg
1 medium-size banana = 422 mg

Labels: bones, healthy diet, potassium, strong bones, Vitamin D, Vitamin K

This article in Newsweek explains how exercise can help your brain!

Exercise does more than build muscles and help prevent heart disease. New science shows that it also boosts brainpower—and may offer hope in the battle against Alzheimer's.

Labels: brain, exercise, healthy living

Labels: healthy living, hygiene, overall health, teeth

Labels: citrus fruits, grapefruits, healthy diet, lycopene, Vitamin C

Labels: copper, fiber, iron, protein, quinoa, Whole grains

Throughout the world, amateurs, experts and the media agree that prolonged jogging raises people's spirits. And many believe that the body's own opioids, so called endorphins, are the cause of this. But this has never been proved until now.

Researchers at the Technische Universität München and the University of Bonn succeeded to demonstrate the existence of an 'endorphin driven runner's high'.

In an imaging study they were able to show, for the first time, increased release of endorphins in certain areas of the athletes' brains during a two-hour jogging session. Their results are also relevant for patients suffering from chronic pain, because the body's own opiates are produced in areas of the brain which are involved in the suppression of pain. The researchers, some of whom are also members of the German Research Network of Neuropathic Pain, which is also funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, thereby show that jogging not only makes you high, but can also relieve pain. The results of the study have now been published in the scientific journal Cerebral Cortex.

Read more....

Labels: endorphins, exercise, healthy living, runner's high, running, study

BOTTOM LINE:

Bananas are a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and manganese.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Banana.

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Labels: bananas, healthy diet, nutrition, potassium, vitamin B6

Labels: cosmetic cop, Neutrogena, Paula Begoun, product review

Labels: cashews, fats, healthy diet, monounsaturated fat, nutrition, Nuts, unsaturated fat

When a person is sapped by fatigue, the last thing he or she wants to do is exercise. But new research shows that regular, low-intensity exercise may help boost energy levels in people suffering from fatigue.

Fatigue is one of the most common health symptoms and can be a sign of a variety of medical problems. However, about one in four people suffers from general fatigue not associated with a serious medical condition.

“Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out — especially when we are already feeling fatigued,” said researcher Tim Puetz, PhD., who recently completed his doctorate at the university and is the lead author of the study. “However, we have shown that regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy — particularly in sedentary individuals.”

Why exercise helps fatigue isn’t clear, but Dr. Puetz said his findings suggest exercise acts directly on the central nervous system to increase energy and reduce fatigue. Notably, the improvements in energy and fatigue were not related to increases in aerobic fitness.

“A lot of people are overworked and not sleeping enough,” said Patrick O’Connor, PhD., co-director of the university’s exercise psychology laboratory. “Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic. There’s a scientific basis for it, and there are advantages to it compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks.”

Source

Labels: energy, exercise, fatigue, healthy living, study

Fruit juice, though tasty and refreshing, is not as healthy as whole fruit.

When a whole fruit is pressed or squeezed to make juice, some of the nutrients, most notably fiber and the water-soluble vitamins, are lost in the process. While 100% fruit juice is not completely devoid of nutrients, it is undoubtedly less nutrient dense than the whole fruit that it came from.

Orange juice makes a good example of the health difference when you focus on the issue of its pulp. The white pulpy part of the orange is the primary source of its flavonoids. Flavonoids are colorful pigments that support numerous metabolic processes in the body. The juicy orange-colored sections of the orange contain most of its vitamin C. In the body, flavonoids and vitamin C often work together, and support health through their interaction. When the pulpy white part of the orange is removed in the processing of orange juice, the flavonoids in the orange are lost in the process. This loss of flavonoids is one of the many reasons for eating the orange in its whole food form.

Additionally, many fruit juices that are sold in supermarkets contain only a small percentage of real fruit juice, and contain added sweeteners. As a result, it is easy to consume a large amount of calories without getting any actual nutrition when you consume these beverages. Turn over on the back of the jar or bottle, and look over the ingredient list - you may be surprised to see exactly where the fruit itself fits in!

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Labels: flavonoids, fruit, fruit juice, healthy diet, Whole Foods

Want a sugar pill to work really well? Charge more for it.

A study published yesterday shows the well-known "placebo effect" works even better if the dummy pill costs more.

Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist at Duke University, and researchers at MIT found subjects said they felt better after taking the more expensive placebo.

Source

Labels: Dan Ariely, mind-body, placebo, study

When it comes to eating your omega-3 fatty acids salmon often seems your best choice. It is high in omega-3s and easy to come by as well as easy to cook.

A new study reveals that wild salmon is more heart healthy than its farmed cousin. Not only is farmed salmon higher in environmental contaminants, but is lower in beneficial fatty acids like omega-3s. In the Norwegian study, participants who ate a diet high in wild salmon, which contains pure fish oil, had better health profiles in terms of biomarkers for heart health as well as blood vessel health when compared to study participants who ate farmed salmon. Farm salmon is high in vegetable oil, which is increasingly found to be used in fish feed.

If you are eating salmon for the fatty acids, go wild!!

SOURCE

Labels: fish farming, heart healthy, Omega-3s, salmon, Wild vs. Farmed

Labels: healthy diet, lycopene, skin cancer, skincare, sunscreen, sunshine, tomatoes, Vitamin D

Dr. Oz says the positive effects of getting enough fiber will happen "almost immediately." The fiber can help move things through your system—including toxins—very quickly. And that's not all. "Bile, when it gets absorbed through the bowel, turns into cholesterol. So when you take a lot of fiber in your diet, you suck the bile out of you, and your cholesterol drops automatically. It also gets rid of sugar, which helps the diabetics. And it's a great tool if you want to lose weight because it makes you feel full."

Do you need to get more fiber in your diet? Most likely, Dr. Oz says. The average American gets just seven grams of fiber a day. But women need about 25 grams a day, and men need 35 grams a day. "That's somewhere between seven and nine helpings of fruits and vegetables," he says.

If you radically increase your intake of fiber, though, you may feel gassy. "Your intestinal tract isn't ready for it," Dr. Oz says. "The fiber in the bowel is permeated by all these bacteria, the bacteria eat the fiber, and they make gas. That's their waste product. So you've got to slowly build up when you add fiber to your diet. But at the end of the day, you're going to have some gas. But it's a good sign because you're digesting food that's good for you."

Source

Labels: digestion, Dr. Oz, fiber, healthy diet, healthy eating, Oprah

Labels: Airborne, controversy, CSPI, David Schardt, lawsuit, Vitamin A

Nike and Apple are partnering with major gym equipment manufacturers, including Life Fitness and Precor, to make their cardio equipment Nike + iPod compatible. That means gym members will be able to track workouts by plugging their iPods into the equipped treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes and stair climbers.

At participating gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness nationwide and Virgin Active Health Clubs internationally, members will be able to use the technology to track their workouts and log their data on nikeplus.com. The data converts to "CardioMiles" so exercisers may set goals and participate in challenges with runners and with users of other cardio equipment, and the information also can help personal trainers at gyms.

Source

Labels: exercise, gym, innovative, iPod, Nike

Labels: citrus fruits, fruits and veggies, healthy diet, Vitamin C

Labels: clean air, formaldehyde, Houseplants, living holistically, toxins

Going against the opinion of America’s top public health agencies, John McCain has suggested that autism may be linked to thimerosal, a preservative containing mercury that used to be common in children’s vaccines.

“It’s indisputable that autism is on the rise among children,” McCain (pictured) reportedly said while campaigning recently in Texas. “The question is, What’s causing it? And we go back and forth, and there’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines.”

The New York Times reported on the comment this morning; an ABC News blog reported it a few days ago.

Some vocal parents’ groups, among others, have argued that thimerosal is linked to autism. But most medical experts say the evidence doesn’t suggest such a connection.

“No scientific data link thimerosal used as a preservative in vaccines with any pediatric neurologic disorder, including autism,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics. The CDC has come to a similar conclusion, as did a a report by the Institute of Medicine.

Nevertheless, partly in response to parents’ concerns, use of thimerosal in children’s vaccines has been radically reduced in recent years.

Source

* I'd rather be safe than sorry! I'm with McCain!

Labels: autism, McCain, mercury, thimerosal, vaccines