Top Health Benefits of Tea

Prior to the health benefits of tea being well understood, the history of tea began in 2737 B.C. when camellia leaves fell into a vat of boiling water. The alluring fragrance enticed the inquisitive Chinese Emperor Shennong to sample the brew. He pronounced that the elixir was medicinal and imparted vigor to the body. 

Tea began its worldwide conquest in teahouses throughout China, Korea and Japan. In the 16th Century, tea stormed the shores of Western civilization, frequented the inner sanctum of Europe's aristocracy and lit the fuse that ignited the American Revolution. Today, tea is second only to water which refuses to relinquish its title as the world's most consumed beverage.

Global Tea Production
Tea is a mountainous crop grown in 36 countries. The predominant tea-producing regions are China, Japan, Russia, Ceylon, Formosa, India and East Africa.

There are thousands of distinct varieties of tea that fall into four principal categories. They are black tea, green tea, white tea and oolong tea. Every variety of tea originates from one plant, the Camellia Sinensis. The soil, climate, altitude and manufacturing process imparts the unique characteristics and flavors of tea with the length of oxidization during processing giving rise to several different types of tea.

Nutritional Facts
Tea's meager nutritional facts conceal it status as one of the top superfoods that has caught the eye of many researchers who are investigating the health benefits of tea. One 237 gram serving provides 2 calories and 0% of your daily requirements for minerals, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, cholesterol and fat.

The caffeine level of tea is influenced by several factors, such as brewing time, temperature, grade and variety. It is estimated that tea releases large quantities of its caffeine within half a minute of brewing. If you wish to reduce your intake of caffeine, you can quickly pour out this brew and add fresh water.

How to Use Tea
The most popular way to enjoy tea is as a beverage. You can steep it in hot water as either a teabag or as loose leaf tea, use an instant powder or buy a prepared drink in a can or bottle. It is also available as wine, hard candy, jelly and a pastry.

Health Benefits of Teas
As Emperor Shennong surmised nearly 5,000 years ago, tea is a health tonic. The Camellia plant is a rich source of polyphenol and flavonoid antioxidants. These are naturally occurring substances that prevent and reverse the DNA and cellular membrane damage inflicted by free radicals.These molecules are linked to a wide range of diseases, such as cancers, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's and premature aging. Tea has 800 to 1000% more polyphenols than vegetables and fruits.

One cup of white tea has the equivalent amount of antioxidants as 80 ounces of apple juice. The longer fermentation period of black tea reduces its level of antioxidants. Green tea has a higher level of antioxidants than black tea. Research indicates that brewing tea for 1 to 5 minutes is the best way to obtain its health benefits.

Heart Disease
The antioxidants in tea are believed to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke by lowering cholesterol levels, oxidative stress and improving blood vessel dilation. Tea also significantly reduces atherosclerosis and triglycerides.

People who consistently drink three to four cups of black tea have lower rates of stroke and heart disease. A statistical analysis of multiple studies demonstrated that drinking three cups of tea a day decreased the risk of heart attack by 11%.

A 5-year study of 805 men showed an inverse relationship between the dose of tea and the incidence of death from stroke and lethal and non-lethal first heart attack.

Cancer
Tea reduces the incidence of cancer by fighting free radical damage, reducing abnormal cell growth and aiding normal cell death. Regular tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk for lung, ovarian, oral, skin and digestive cancer.

A study of smokers who consumed 4 cups of decaffeinated green tea a day had a 31% reduction in oxidative DNA damage when compared to a control group that drank 4 cups of water.

Drinking black tea dramatically lowers the risk of a form of skin cancer. A population-based study revealed an inverse relationship between tea consumption rectal, colon and pancreatic cancers.

A 1998 Stage I and II breast cancer study demonstrated that Japanese women who drank more than 5 cups of green tea per day were less likely to have disease recurrence and were disease-free longer.

Oral Health
The health benefits of tea extend to its role in oral health. The polyphenols in tea reduces plaque and the growth of bacteria that causes bad breath. They also inhibit the germs that cause strep infections and cavities. Tea collects fluoride in its leaves. Some believe that this is beneficial for building resilient tooth enamel. For people concerned with teeth staining, white tea is a better option than its black or green counterparts. It has more polyphenols and is less likely to stain teeth.

Liver and Kidney Health
People with hemochromatosis are unable to properly metabolize iron. This results in iron overload and damage to major organs. According to a German study, one daily cup of tea contains enough antioxidants to block iron absorption and prevent the lethal accumulation of iron.

Daily tea consumption reduces the risk for developing kidney stones. A study of 81,093 women lowered their risk by 8% for each 8 ounce cup of tea consumed each day. The results were replicated in an earlier study of 46,289 men who reduced their risk by 14% for each daily cup of tea.

Obesity and Fat Metabolism
Initial research indicates that tea increases the metabolism, breaks fat into smaller components for use by the body and reduces your appetite. Tea also increases the body's ability to use insulin, glucose and produces more heat. The cumulative effect of these physiological changes is enhanced weight loss and increased exercise tolerance.

Osteoporosis
Tea appears to play a crucial role in bone health. A study of older female tea drinkers had higher bone mineral density (BMD) results than women who didn't drink tea.

Drinking tea also helps younger adults. In a study of habitual tea drinkers, adults 30 years and older experienced a significant improvement in their BMD. The benefit was especially noticeable in people who drank tea for more than six years.

Caffeine Alert
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have anxiety disorders, stomach ulcers or kidney disorders should not consume caffeine. It can also interact with antibiotics, Echinacea and theophylline, a bronchial dilator.

Summary
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world after water and the health benefits of tea come from it being a rich source of antioxidants that can contribute to optimal health in a wide variety of ways.

Jeff K Andrews

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Health Benefits of Honey

Not only does it taste great, but the health benefits of honey are amazing! Isn't it good to know that you can enjoy sweet treats and be healthier at the same time? Let's see what honey has to offer for your health...

Weight Loss

Losing weight is just one of the many health benefits of honey. One tablespoon of honey contains approximately 700 calories, now that's 40% less calories compared to the same amount of sugar. Taking 2 tablespoons of honey will supply you with the energy you need to do your activities for 2-3 hours.

However, although it gives you energy, it does not cause you to gain weight! Why? Because you won't be hungry during the day since you have sufficient energy supply in your body. Not hungry = eat less. Try taking 3-4 tablespoons in the morning, and 2 more before dinner. If done regularly, you will see the results. It works wonders!

Energy Booster

Another health benefit of honey is that it contains natural sugars which act as energy booster for the body. The glucose contained in honey is easily absorbed by the blood to give instant energy,and the fructose will be absorbed slowly by the body to sustain energy.

This is why honey is a great source of energy for people who are active in sports and outdoor activities. Taking honey can help athletes regain their stamina. Products such as energy bars with honey and honey milk are very popular meals among athletes.

Antibacterial Effect

Honey has a powerful antibacterial effect due to several components:

1) Osmotic effect

A high level of water and sugar contained in honey (especially fructose) causes it to have a high osmotic effect. This effect will prevent the micro organisms in the body to spread.

2) Hydrogen peroxide

The presence of sugar and water, along with free oxygen in honey, will create gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Both of these elements are beneficial to kill microorganisms inside the body.

3) Acidity

The acidity of honey is one of the factors that contribute to its antibacterial effect, antioxidant activities, and stability against microorganisms. The pH level of undiluted honey varies from 3.2 to 4.5 and this low acidity level inhibits the growth of bacterial pathogens, as some types of bacteria require a pH level of 7.2 to 7.4 to grow. Honey acidity is due to organic acids, especially gluconic acid which is a result of glucose oxidase in honey on glucose. This acid is produced when nectar is transformed into honey and it increases on storage.

One type of honey that is known for its antibacterial properties is Manuka Honey. A recent research has found that Active Manuka Honey has another powerful antibacterial property known as UMF (Unique Manuka Factor). The combination of both hydrogen peroxide and UMF has been proven to have an astounding healing effect.

Home Remedy

The amazing health benefits of honey makes it a popular home remedy for cold, flu and sore throat problems due to the presence of its antibiotic property.

People have used honey to soothe sore throats for years and it has been proven to be very effective. In fact, Italian opera singers are known to have used honey to relieve sore throats so that they can sing well.

In treating common cold, honey is definitely my top choice. Drinking a warm glass of water mixed with squeezed lime juice and a teaspoon of honey really helps to treat cold. Other than these ailments, studies and researches have also found honey to be useful for serious diseases and disorders such as diabetes, cancer, heart problems and insomnia. It's very effective in healing wounds too! Besides that,honey is an excellent source of nutrition to be taken during pregnancy.

So, knowing all these wonderful health benefits of honey, who says sweet treats cannot be healthy?;)

Nur Radzi

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Foods That Build Muscle - 5 Muscle Building Foods For Skinny Guys and Girls

Skinny guys and girls, or "hardgainers" as we're known to bodybuilders, struggle to gain muscle mass generally for one of two major reasons:

a) Insufficient diet and nutrition plan, or

b) Incorrect weight training routine

Due to a hardgainer's naturally fast metabolism it is often very difficult for them to put on any kind of weight whatsoever, especially muscle mass, and so in this article I'm going to be looking at the first point a) and showing you 5 foods that build muscle that you should definitely look to incorporate into your daily diet and nutrition plan.

But first a word about how your daily calorie intake and how it should be split...

In order to gain muscle mass you need to create a caloric surplus, i.e. take in more calories than you burn, kind of makes sense don't you think? To find a rough estimate, multiply your current bodyweight in pounds by 24 and this will give you your daily calorie goal to build muscle.

However, what is critically important for skinny guys and girls is to spread your calories out throughout the day to ensure a constant supply of energy to your muscles and a consistent metabolic rate, and consuming a lot of foods that build muscle will help you do that.

If you go for long periods of time without eating and then binge, your metabolism will be all over the place and you're not doing yourself any favours. 6 meals per day every 3 hours is what you should be aiming for.

Your intake should be around 25% Protein, 50% Carbohydrates, and 25% Fats. This will ensure high energy levels, and the right building blocks to ensure maximum muscle growth, and choosing the right foods that build muscle are going to really help you achieve this.

5 Foods That Build Muscle

Here are my top 5 foods that build muscle. While you won't be able to eat all of them every day, they should become a staple part of your diet plan to build muscle. The key is to increase your daily calorie intake while minimizing the your exposure to high sugars and saturated fat contents. In other words, we're looking for a number of protein-rich, healthy foods that build muscle and not simply a super-sized burger with fries, right?

1/ Oatmeal - I swear this is literally the only food that can keep me going from breakfast...nothing else matches up. Its power lies in it being a complex carbohydrate which keeps your metabolism consistent and prevents you getting hungry too quickly. This kind of slow release is essential to build muscle.

2/ Lean Meats - white and red meat are some of the ultimate muscle building foods...and so they should be, heck after all you're literally eating muscle aren't you? Some folks get turned off by red meat because they think it's too fatty. I disagree, as long as you buy lean trimmed meat you should be fine. Venison is fantastically lean and super tasty too.

In saying that, try to get more white meat than red meat (such as chicken and turkey), but a great lean steak every now and again will do wonders for your muscle and satisfaction. It goes without saying that you should try and buy organic wherever possible - there'll be less fat, better quality protein and less additives.

3/ Egg Whites - these are very protein-rich and a staple of any good bodybuilding diet. Removing the yolk and just eating the whites on their own will allow you to consume a large number of eggs without suffering the consequences of high fat and cholesterol that comes from the yolks.

4/ Tuna - Tuna is one of the meatiest fish you can get your hands on. Combine this with its high protein content, natural fish oils, and versatility and you have yourself a winning food that builds muscle.

Fresh tuna is ideal but can be expensive. Tinned tuna will give you most of what you need, but make sure you buy it in brine (salt water) to reduce any excess fat intake. Also, try to make sure it comes from a sustainable source and reputable companies...certain species like bluefin tuna are currently being overfished, so let's all try to do our bit, yeah?

5/ Green Vegetables - green vegetables like broccolli, green beans etc. may seem like a strange one to include on a list of foods that build muscle..."they're not a protein-rich food" I hear you say. Well, that may be true, but they are a super food since you can literally eat loads of them and not worry about consuming excess fat.

Eating loads of green vegetables is a fantastic way to increase your calorie intake per day without adding unnecessary fat.

While the 5 muscle building foods above are a great start, the trickiest thing is knowing how to combine them into daily meal plans that meet your calorie goals. Remember, you'll need to eat 6 meals per day so it will take a lot of planning and preparation.

John Wheeler

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Diet Food - Aren't All Foods?

Diet food has become a term used to describe foods specific to a particular diet(s). Pre-packaged foods with the diet plan's name on them have become a popular item. Food manufacturers, not wanting to miss out on a dollar, have joined in the game, also. "Diet" versions of most popular foods can be found on every grocery shelf. There are many forms of "diet" foods; such as "Low-fat", "Fat-free", "Sugar-free", "Low-Carb", "Low-calorie", or even "(Fill in your diet plan) Approved Food." So, what is a diet food really?

In reality, all foods are diet foods. Diet, by definition, is simply a way of eating. A person's diet is what they eat on a regular basis. Anthropologists use diet patterns to study people around the world. A vegetarian diet means consuming no meats. One who eats only seafood would be on a seafood diet (no not the classic; See Food diet.). A person eating only foods commonly found in the Mediterranean area would be on a Mediterranean diet. Someone who only consumed liquids would be on a liquid diet. Foods become a tool when they are used to manipulate the body's responses, such as weight loss.

Most low calorie foods today are processed food substitutes, often synthetic, making the food low-fat or fat-free, sugar-free, wheat- or gluten-free, or free of some other product deemed unhealthy by someone. Some diet foods are exactly like their non-diet counterparts with a simple substitution to lower the calorie and sugar content. A classic example is the use of artificial sweeteners in diet sodas. Another common substitution is the use of sugar and other sweeteners to improve the flavor in fat-free and low-fat foods. This leads to foods packed with empty calories (and often not much less than the original) but with less fat.

Many diet food companies use common tricks and sleight of hand to entice buyers to pick their product. Cutting portion size to reduce caloric content per serving is a common practice. An even sneakier approach used by some is the changing of the serving size on the package. This one gets a lot of people. A fat-free food package might list the serving size at 2 pieces equaling 20 calories while the regular version of the food lists 10 crackers as a serving for 100 calories. In this scenario, each unit only has ten calories but the lower serving size decreases the calorie content per serving so that it can be called a diet food. It is essential to read nutritional labels, don't just trust the big "Fat-Free" or "Low Calorie" on the front of the package. Low fat and fat free foods are lower in fat but may contain more calories because of the added sugar. A big deception for many is the "No Sugar Added" claim. This claim leads many to believe that this is a low sugar food. However, sugar itself can claim "No Sugar Added" because extra sugar was not added in the processing, but it is surely high in sugar.

Natural, whole foods make the best diet food. They can be incorporated into a diet easily and have plenty of essential vitamins and minerals. Diet food includes; fresh, tasty vegetables and fruits, lean cuts of meat and eggs, whole grain flour and oats, and other fibrous foods. The grocery store is full of diet foods that can be bought inexpensively. A food becomes a diet food once it is used in your diet plan. If a ten broccoli heads are called for in a diet, then broccoli becomes a diet food. The best diet foods are natural whole foods that the body must process and use as it was intended.

The '7 Day Kick Start Diet' is a free diet plan that will help you kick start your weight loss. If you just got to lose a few pounds or if you have dozens of pounds to lose doesn't matter. This is a great way to initiate your weight loss in the most effective and healthy way.

Jennifer Olsen

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Why You Want to Avoid Genetically Modified Food

More than ten years ago the consumers of Europe eliminated GMO foods from being sold. There was no government ban. People quit buying the anything genetically modified so there was no profit. Instead they lost money. Why do the people in Europe believe Genetically Modified food to have such major negative health consequences? If these substances are that bad, why does the US still allow them?




What's Wrong with Genetically Modified Organisms?

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has major concerns about the safety of food and animals which have DNA that has been tampered with. To those of us who don't have training in genetics, substituting a small gene for another may not seem major until you realize that humans and apes have about 98% similarity in their genes. There are just a few genes, comparatively speaking, which make a huge difference between a monkey and a human.

Here are some of the problems found with genetically modified food the bio-tech industry doesn't want you to know about:

•     Mice who ate GM corn as a staple of their diet had fewer and smaller babies.

•     In rats fed GM soy, more than half the babies died by the time they were three weeks old. The cells in the testicles also changed.

•     When hamsters were fed GM soy for three generations, most of those in the 3rd generation could not reproduce.

•     Taking larger animals, in India, thousands of sheep, goats and buffalo died after eating genetically modified cotton. True, we don't eat cotton, but there is something dangerous going on.

•     Other problems include greatly elevated levels of allergies, pre-cancerous cell growth in the lining of the stomach, lesions or sores in various organs, changes in the cells of the pancreas and liver among other problems.

Follow the Money

If this stuff is so bad for humans, why would the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allow it? The answer, I'm sure, doesn't surprise you. It is simply money. The bio-tech industry is huge. The FDA ignored their scientists, the ones they hired to advise them, who told them there needed to be long-term studies. Their very own scientists said you can't know what happens over the years when genetically modified organisms are introduced into the food chain.

The bio-tech industry pulled out its muscle well supplied with money and the FDA caved in. They essentially said, "Of course our scientists don't know as much as these wealthy corporations."

What You Need to Do

You need to avoid putting anything genetically modified into your mouth. Unfortunately, almost all the corn and soy in the US is GM. Protect yourself and your children by not buying it any more unless the label says "Non-GMO." Eat organic meat and drink organic milk. You want food and drink to be raised in organic hormone free and antibiotic free conditions.

Read, become informed and say "No" to drugs in milk, meat, eggs and chicken as well as any other food which is genetically modified.

Cathy Chapman, Ph.D

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Genetically Modified Foods - Americans Should Be Very Concerned

Genetically modified foods, or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO'S) are now a very real part of your diet whether you know it or not. If you eat corn, cornmeal, cornstarch, corn oil or other corn based ingredients, soybeans, soy milk, tofu, soybean oil, and other soybean based products, canola oil, cottonseed oil, sugar beets, papaya from Hawaii, and some zucchini, and yellow squash, then genetically modified foods are making up a significant percentage of your overall food consumption.




 
Over half of all Americans who were polled said that they were not aware that they were ingesting these GMO's and if they knew it, they would not do so. Many even expressed shock over the fact that they were not the slightest bit aware that they had been ingesting this very questionable and probably downright unhealthy stuff. The simple reason that we were not aware is because in the USA manufacturers and producers of such (food?) are not required to let us know that the food has actually been altered at the level of the DNA. In contrast, many other countries demand that GM foods be clearly labeled as such.

Genetically modified foods are produced by inserting genes from some other species into the very DNA of the food. Almost two thirds of all products on the shelves of your local grocer contain at least one element that has been genetically engineered (altered). When engineers manipulate food crops in order to make them produce their own insecticide, or make them resistant to chemical herbicides that kill other plants, a genetically modified organism which would never occur in nature is created.

The question is: Are these GMO foods safe for human consumption? The common sense answer to that question as far as this writer is concerned is NO. At the very best, it should be noted that nobody has any idea as to the potential health problems associated with eating such food. Despite many warnings of health dangers from its own scientists, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided to allow genetically modified foods into the marketplace without labeling or safety testing. The genetically modified seeds that are a product of such manipulation are now planted commercially so that at this writing the majority of the soybeans, corn, cottonseed (oil), and canola (oil) that you buy are actually genetically modified, and you would have no way of knowing which products are and which ones aren't since there is no law that requires that they be labeled as such.

Studies conducted on rats have produced evidence that should alarm consumers as to the possible dangers associated with GM food. Rats which were fed genetically modified corn were compared to their parents who had been fed non-genetically modified corn. Rats that had been fed the GM food produced signs of kidney and liver problems, as well as problems associated with the heart and spleen. The parents who were not fed the GM food did not seem to have any significant rate of problems in these areas. Other studies conducted on test rats which were fed GM food have produced evidence of various health related problems. At this juncture we really can't tell all of the health related problems that these foods might cause, since we ourselves are the rats in which the experiments are being conducted.

In my personal opinion, apart from mounting evidence that we have been heading down a very slippery slope, is the innate sense that is resident in me that anytime scientists alter a God given resource such as food, that this manipulation carries with it a host of problems. I personally am fully persuaded that a Creator God made all things perfectly, but suppose you are one who believes that all things have evolved naturally, then even if that were true, scientist have no business altering that which nature has produced. In my opinion and based on my firm beliefs, scientists certainly cannot now, nor will they ever improve on God's creation and we have no business manipulating the food we eat at the level of DNA. Certainly from a health perspective nothing good can come of this.

Steps To Avoid GMO's
1. Only buy products labeled 100% organic, or products which are certified organic since these products cannot knowingly contain any GMO ingredients.

2. Find products that carry a "Non-GMO Project Seal."

3. Avoid products such as corn and corn based products, soy beans and soy based products, canola (oil), cottonseed (oil), sugar beets, Hawaiian Papaya, zucchini and yellow squash if they do not boast the 100% organic label or do not carry the NON-GMO Project Seal.

4. Do not consume dairy products from cows injected with bovine growth hormone.

In the end it is up to individual consumers to recognize this dangerous problem and take precautions to insure that they and their families are not placed at risk by this genetic engineering of our food supply. It only takes a small percentage of people who refuse to buy genetically modified foods to effect a change at the level of the largest food companies. When major food business begins to see that offering GMO's does not pay, they will begin to pull these dangerous foods off of the shelves, or at least begin to clearly label foods that have been thus modified.

Since there is absolutely no regulation in place regarding the disclosure of GMO's in the marketplace, nor any regulation regarding their sale, we as consumers must take the initiative and effect a radical change in big food business as usual. Greed and the bottom line will continue to be the only concern of major food companies and the government is historically very easy to buy off, so your health and the health of your family will continue to be the least of their worries. By realizing the sad truth that big food business and the government are willing to sell your health for their gain, we must stand up and say NO to genetically modified food in the marketplace. Make your voice heard by refusing to buy the above listed products if they are not clearly labeled organic or if they are not carrying the Non-GMO Project Seal. We must stand together and stop this madness before it progresses even further. Please do your part and make your voice heard.

I am passionate about health issues, and the state of the health of our wonderful America. I believe the American diet is literally killing us and that a steady flow of money and perks from the meat, egg, and dairy industries to the U.S. government is the reason we have had a long sustained brainwashing campaign that has precipitated the shift from a predominantly plant-based diet to an animal-based diet. The result has been an unprecedented increase in heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancers of all varieties. I believe Americans are suffering from a lack of truthful information concerning our diets. I enjoy writing motivational articles that will help to correct the problem regarding this lack of information and also examine the prevailing misinformation in the light of truth.

Mark Brohl

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Healthy Eating Tips For Any Diet Plan

Feeding your family a healthy diet can be a daunting task. There are so many different ways and ideas to eat healthy that it can be difficult to decide what path to take. Regardless of what eating plan you choose to follow, here are some healthy eating tips that are simple to accomplish and will work for whole family.

1. Eat From Small Plates Such as a Salad Plate.
When my little children started eating table food, I brought plastic kid size plates to preserve my china. What I did not realize is that I would also eventually be eating on the adult version of the small plate. It can be hard to put too much food on a small plate. Because I do not like eating from plastic or paper plates, my husband and I eat from the salad plates that are part of our everyday dish set. Of course this smaller plate idea may be a ploy from my husband to do less clean up work after dinner.

2. Easily Measure Your Portion Size Using Your Hands.
I admire people who weigh and measure their food to ensure they have the right portions. If I had a food scale in my kitchen, my five year old would use it for a science experiment involving wooden blocks, a stuffed animal, and some maple syrup. I'm not the type of person who has the time, energy or inclination to measure food portions, so I use the following system: A serving is the size of my fist, and an ounce of something such as cheese, is approximately the size of my thumb. I use these guidelines to help me understand what makes up a reasonable portion of food, but I don't ever believe this type of measurement is an exact science. Beyond that, if the food can't fit on my plate, then I probably don't need it.

3. Clean the Kitchen As You Go.
After I finish my food and think that I might still be hungry, I sit for a few minutes just to be sure. Some nutritionists suggest it takes 20 minutes for your body to feel full. I tried to sit this long this once while my five year old kept asking, "Are you done yet? How much longer? Are three minutes up yet? Mommmmm, why are you just sitting there?"

Since the recommended 20 minute meal time is out of the question, I adopted the "clean as I go" food preparation strategy. I fix the appropriate portion of healthy food, and then put the food away. If I really am hungry after I finish my first serving, I'll take the food out and prepare some more. Chances are I am not hungry and I don't want to clean the kitchen again just to overeat. Being tidy can have its role in keeping you fit and healthy.

4. Listen to Your Body.
On days when I feel life is spiraling out of control, and I am on the brink of not keeping it together, I want to just sit. And eat. But I learned to ask myself, "Am I really hungry?" Ask your body if it is really full, and listen to its response. You might indeed be hungry, or you just might want a cold glass of mineral water and five minutes to yourself with the newspaper. Or maybe you are nervous or anxious and just need to sit and breathe.

5. Eat in One Place In Your Home.
But back when I was first married, I ate in all parts of my house and left a trail of crumbs everywhere I went. My husband banished me to the kitchen table to sit down with a napkin in my lap. But I realized that by eating in one place, I was actually eating less and enjoying it more. I now eat by myself or with my family at our kitchen table. I sit in a chair, put my fork down between bites, and place a napkin in my lap and a glass of water on the table. How civilized.

6. Turn off the Television to Foster An Emotionally Healthy Environment.
After we had our second and then third child, my husband and I were both tired at the end of the day. I convinced him that if I was really careful I could enjoy healthy meals on the sofa while watching television. We began to park ourselves on the family room sofa and have dinner in front of the television. We did some work on our house, and we were forced to disconnect our television for several weeks. And back to the dinner table we went.

Our conversations at the dinner table became longer and more interesting. We ate more slowly and enjoyed our food. As a mother I realized my family bonds when we eat together at the table. I know television is not good for small children, but I never realized how much turning off the television could foster an emotionally healthy environment for my whole family. To this day, I still believe that turning off the television is of the best healthy eating tips around.

Mary Rentoumis writes about her humorous adventures in feeding her family a healthy diet on her website, http://www.healthy-diet-mom.com Although Mary cannot cook, she endures kitchen disasters and grocery store mishaps to create a healthy diet program that can be adapted to fit a whole family, or just a single person. With an Ivy League degree in History and Chemistry, Mary Rentoumis is comfortable understanding on a molecular level why some foods are not healthy choices. Mary regularly uses her scientific background to explain to her youngest son why he can't have candy bars for breakfast.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2085915

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Foods to Eat and foods to Avoid for Diabetes

People with diabetes should be very careful in choosing healthy foods to eat, which must choose a special Recipes Foods for diabetics. Food is very influential in this disease, if people with diabetes either in choosing healthy foods can cause illness and even worse could result in over fatally.

In addition Diabetics should also know what foods to avoid and dangerous for this disease. The following is a brief description of the food should be eaten and which should be avoided by diabetics.



Foods to Eat for Diabetics:
People suffering from diabetes need to eat healthy in order to keep their blood sugar levels under control. Though they are not left with much variety, as far as food is concerned but the vegetables prescribed for them are not all that awful.

The French bean, also known as the kidney bean is a good option. If cooked with care, it tastes awesome and no less than a delicacy. The beans have a greater fiber content and are rich in carbohydrates. Thus, it is prescribed to patients suffering from diabetes.

A suggested natural remedy could be, juice extracted from French beans mixed with the juice of Brussels sprout. This is good for the health as it stimulates production of insulin.

Bean decoction is another effective medicine. For this you require 60 grams of fresh bean pods, weighed after removing the seeds. This has to be boiled in four liters of water for four hours. The decoction must necessarily be prepared on slow fire. Then the potion has to be sieved through a muslin cloth and let to cool for eight hours. It is advised that this decoction be taken a glassful after every two hours for 4-8 weeks at a stretch. This must be prepared fresh everyday as it loses its medicinal qualities after 24 hours.

Dr. James Anderson of the Human Nutrition Research Centre of the US Department of Agriculture deduced that foods with low cholesterol content help prevent heart ailments. Also, the beans being rich in soluble fiber reduce the sugar level in blood and thus are healthy for diabetics who are greatly prone to the risk of heart disease. Lettuce has 3% or less of carbohydrates. People who wish to cut down on their weight can have plenty of tomatoes as it has low carbohydrate content and also does control levels of sugar in the urine.

Soya bean is very nutritious and helps to keep a check on blood sugar levels. Studies as early as 1910 has shown that Soya bean is rich in protein and fat and low in starch. It helps regulate and reduce the quality of urinary sugar in diabetics.

Onion, be it raw or cooked is also an effective home remedy. It reduces the sugar levels in blood and the more it is eaten the faster it would help lower blood sugar. Around 1960’s, there was discovery of anti diabetic compounds in onion. These were similar to anti-diabetic pharmaceuticals which help synthesis of insulin and its release, namely, allyl, propyl, disulphide and allicin.

A balanced diet, well supplemented with vegetables, fruit and juices should be ideally taken. One needs to cut down on the intake of fat based food and sweets. Also, you should indulge in an active lifestyle. Walking is a must on regular basis. Smoking and drinking must be avoided. The blood sugar should be measured at regular intervals and body weight should be maintained. This would enable a diabetic to live a healthy life.


Foods to Avoid for Diabetes:
When the cells of the human pancreas don’t generate insulin, it creates Diabetes mellitus. Actually, insulin is useful to split sugar into a form in blood that body can efficiently store and apply to produce energy later. This disease compels you to forget some foods and it demands your diet to be something that is high in soluble fibers and low in saturated fats. A doctor can advice such a patient to consume less carbohydrate products because it might contain high glycemic index.

The rapid increase of this disease has pressed food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies to make products considering the need of such patients. It’s also true that the doctors often prescribe not to buy such products at random and the products are often very costly as well. Such products might contain more fats and may be that the products just don’t have anything that can be help you.

If you want to keep your blood glucose levels in control, a slight change in your food habit can be the best option. Being a new patient of this disease, doctor may advice you to collaborate with a dietitian or nutritionist, who can endow you with a proper meal and snack plan. You might need to calculate your carbohydrates by pointing out your eating of sugary or starchy foods. Then, you have to adopt new food habit.

The prescription usually suggests the consumption of whole grains and starchy vegetables as the main part of your meal. It demands you to eat a minimum of two servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The prescription then states to have proteins available in lean meat, legumes, and cheese. You must consume them in smaller quantities. A slight amount of non-fat or low-fat dairy is fine but it shouldn’t cross the limit for it has fats and sugars. This is a general prescription.

To have a perfect diet for your diabetic case, please consult with a dietitian or nutritionist. Try to consume proper foods but you must also avoid foods such as very salty ones. This is so because high blood pressure is something common in such patients. Not only consumption of fats causes high blood pressure, sodium is largely responsible for this. To avoid this problem, either lessen the salt in your food or buy non-sodium or low sodium salt replacements. Also, avoid foods like crackers, chips, processed or conserved meet products, or canned foods like sardines or soups because they contain extra sodium and salt.

Fats can be really harmful. Cardiovascular diseases often follow diabetic cases. So, avoid dairy products, solid vegetable fats, and butter because they have saturated fats. Before chicken preparation, get the skin off. Also, strive to avoid butter and margarine. Oils obtain from canola or olive can be good. Choose skimmed, low-fat, or non-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt than full cream products. Avoid fried foods and rather boil and bake or simply broil it.
Alcoholic products are not good in such cases. Such food habit is not really difficult provided you have the patience to change.

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Tea for Health

Tea is a beverage that has been widely known in the world. Brown beverage is a drink common guest host. A fragrant aroma and distinctive taste make this widely consumed beverage. Besides the advantages above, there are many substances that have a lot of very useful benefits for health.

Benefits of Tea

Benefits include tea as an antioxidant, repairing damaged cells, smooth skin, slim body, prevent cancer, prevent heart disease, reduce cholesterol in the blood, the blood circulation. So, do not be surprised if the drink is touted as a beverage rich in benefits.

Substance in the Cup of Tea Benefit

Therefore, in addition as soft drinks, tea can also be used as a therapy for health. If we drink a cup of tea, then we at least know what the best substance that is in a cup of tea we drink. Any substance contained in tea making is known as a beverage rich in benefits? Here are some key beneficial substances contained in a cup of tea.

Polyphenols
Polyphenols in tea form of catechins and flavanols. These compounds act as antioxidants to capture free radicals in the body is also effective in preventing the growth of cancer cells in the body. Free radicals in our bodies due to environmental air pollution and also from the food we eat.

Vitamin E
In one cup of tea contains vitamin E as much as about 100-200 IU a day which is a necessity for the human body. This amount serves to maintain heart health and make your skin smooth.

Vitamin C
This vitamin serves as an immunity or resistance to the human body. Besides vitamin C also functions as an antioxidant that is necessary for the human body's resistance to disease.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A which is in tea form of beta-carotene is a vitamin that the body needs can be met.

Substances in tea are Not Good
In addition to the benefits of tea, there are also substances contained in tea that results are not good for the body. Substance is caffeine. Caffeine in tea (tehine) can cause food absorption process becomes inhibited. Limit caffeine is safe to consume in a day is 750 mg / day, equivalent to 5 cups of tea a 200 ml.


Avoid inappropriate moment Tea

There is also a must you consider when you drink tea for a useful substance in the body does not disappear, among others:

• Do not drink tea during or after meals because they contained substances in food can be stolen by the substance stimulant tea.

• Do not drink tea on an empty stomach because it can increase stomach acid production.

• Avoid drinking tea laced with sugar because it causes the substances they contain to be reduced.

• Do not drink tea all night because it had a lot of substances are oxidized and stale so the impact is not good for the body.

• Avoid drinking tea during pregnancy and lactation. Because caffeine and stimulant substances in tea can stimulate uterine contractions. In addition to nursing mothers would disrupt production of milk-producing glands or breastfeeding mother

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Healthy Foods Recipes for Diabetics

It is commonly misconceived that when you are suffering from diabetes you should be wholly dependent on a strict diet including fruits and vegetables which is not necessary. However, the diabetics are bound to be careful on what they should eat and what they shouldn't. In spite of this restriction we have a good many alternative healthy food recipes for diabetics.

Chicken Breasts - Dinner
Marinade Skinless chicken breasts in Italian dressing can be preserved in your fridge fresh for about eight to ten hours. As soon as you step in for cooking you should apply your favorite herb mix, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese. Place them in the oven for about 30 to 35 minutes above 300 degrees. Make it sure that your chicken is cooked well to ensure a healthy diabetic food recipe before putting off the oven. If it is ok, you can serve it with fresh side dish, probably your favorite salad or even steamed vegetables.

Spanish Egg Roll - Lunch
Among many of the healthy food recipes that are preferred by diabetics, Spanish egg roll is another one. It is very simple that can be prepared at home in varied tastes. You have to scramble some eggs in the way you usually do, and add in some onion and diced peppers to your taste. After this, just adding some grated cheese at the top of the scramble, and spooning can give you a tortilla wrap. It can be rolled up to have a delicious, tasty, and funky recipe. It is also a healthy lunch that can be enjoyed by the family as a whole.

Raw food recipes - Breakfast
Another one of the healthy food recipes for diabetics you can make for breakfast at home is raw fruit cereal. Simply by using natural grains, and small cut pieces of your favorite fruits with nuts added to milk or mere water, you will get dramatically a delicious recipe. It's so simple and economic to cater your need. You can have such raw recipes preferably to substitute your regular food when you are in any journey near around. In case you cannot have specific fruit to your taste, you need not get back as you can add any fruits that are available at your reach.

If you browse online you will find many of such food recipes for diabetics. Just being diagnosed with diabetes does not imply that you stay locked to specific diabetic foods but you have lots of healthy food recipes serving to control blood sugar.

Controlling blood sugar is really an art. If you want to be an expert and hundred percent safe, you should know the description of foods to eat and foods to avoid.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3777492

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Colon Cleanse Supplements

Using a colon cleanser can lead to a lot of positive benefits for your body. To learn more about colon cleansing, there are many on-line portals and sites that will give you the information you need. Some of these websites even give you step by step instructions for cleaning the colon. One of the wonderful things you should know is that your colon is like a sponge, and is capable of absorbing a large amount of toxins in a given time.


  
Colon cleansing Type:

Colon cleansing, or detoxification, it is essential to overall health and wellness. Lots of colon cleansing products have proven effective and available on the market today. Here are some examples of popular types of colon cleansing on the market:

1. Colon cleanse herbal

2. Colon Cleanse

3. Natural Detox

4. Powder colon cleansing Oxy

Colon cleansing rinse the material from their digestive tract. This process greatly contributes to their health by eliminating toxins and undesirable elements from your body. Detoxifying also eliminates the buildup of plaque in the intestinal wall. Many medical experts have shown that colon cleansing is the best way to restore your digestive system to its superior status.

On a side note, some serious diseases like colon cancer has decreased public demand for artificial colon cleansing and brought to the natural detoxification methods. In fact, many people have discovered that expensive medical procedures are not necessary if you naturally cleanse your colon by eating a balanced diet and regular consumption of foods rich in fiber.

Natural Colon Cleanse Procedures

To kill the nasty bacteria and purify the body of its waste, it is imperative that you keep eating a balanced diet and natural herbal supplements. These herbal supplements promote digestion by stimulating the effectiveness of stomach acids. Others are useful for restoring healthy function of your internal organs. Good health practices suggests that the natural detoxification procedures are better and more effective when it comes to cleaning your colon.

Some people may think that being chronic constipation is a joke. But it's no joke when you start suffering from symptoms like headaches and constant fatigue, because of it.

I must admit I'm one of those people who used to take toxic accumulation colon very seriously. Now I know otherwise. Sure, I've seen those disgusting images of what a guy Butthole left after taking a colon cleansing treatment and safe, looked pretty dang ugly (all brown and slimy and toxic - and certainly bad smell), but not how they relate it had something to do with me personally.

I always considered myself to be quite healthy. But then I started going through a phase where I felt tired all the time (no reason), and I started having horrible headaches. I also realized I had a couple of kilos, plus a few inches from the waist - I did not like at all - know what I'm saying?.

It was around this time that I became very constipated. Suddenly, with what we might call a regular bowel movement became a problem for me. He had always suffered from constipation a bit, so it was nothing new. But this time was different. Constipation went on and on, and I began to feel bloated - and very tired. Not quite could put my finger on it, but I just generally felt tired and summary. And the only Danged headaches do not go!

So I went to the doc for a check, but could find nothing wrong with me. I told him I was constipated and told me to add more fiber to my diet and eat more fruits. That was almost a waste of consultation rate as I'm concerned. After visiting the doctor, the symptoms persist.

And then one day I was a little idle browsing on-line when I came across this site all about colon cleansing and the Acai berry. I started reading about colon cleansing. The first thing that struck me were the symptoms of a blocked colon:

• Constipation constant

• Chronic Back Pain

• Bad breath

• Bloating / flatulence

• Fatigue

• Weight Problems

• Stomach

I could not believe my eyes! They were talking about me! These were all symptoms that are experienced (except for bad breath...). I read more about this company and colon cleansing seems that if you do not have regular bowel movements, chronic constipation or if you have what they call 'for a long period of time, your body begins to absorb toxins through the bowel thick (the colon) in the bloodstream. Apparently, this can cause some very serious and unpleasant diseases like colitis, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and mucous colitis - including colon cancer. Scary stuff.

I was so tired and grumpy for so long, I decided to give colon cleansing thing a try. Moreover, it was an offer a little sweet. You get a free trial of colon cleansing, plus Aloe Vera Colon Cleanse supplements. I thought I had nothing to lose, so I went for it.

To cut the story, not tell what finally came out of my butthole after starting the colon cleanse program - Believe me, I want to know! But I will say that immediately after starting the colon cleansing therapy, my headaches went away and started to feel like my old self again. There was a bounce in my step again, because suddenly I had my energy back! I felt a little revived, if you know what I mean. Just do not know if I can put all that to detox colon, because I took it along with the capsules of Acai Berry. As you probably know, they call Acai Berry (Brazil is) a kind of miracle health Superfruit. I do not know much about it. All I know is that the Acai berry combo and colon cleansing supplements did the trick for me. In spades!

I guess you could say I'm living proof that the maintenance of properly functioning colon gives you a lot of extra energy and is beneficial for your health. And with Acai berry supplement, which is a real winner.

Why do not you go visit and Colon Cleanse Tablets for more information and grab yourself a free introductory offer colon cleansing and Aloe Vera Colon Cleanse Tablets like I did? Believe me, you'll thank me for later!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3598453

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Food and Drinks Stress Relief

Food that enters the body does not only affect to one's physical health. Nutrients in food that enters the body, it can affect a person psychologically. If you often feel stressed, try to check what food you eat. Because the job may not be a problem or problems at home that makes you stress, but stress caused by food consumed.

Food and Beverage Stress Triggers
 
Foods high in salt and fat is a food trigger stress. The reason is because these foods stimulate the production of stress hormones are hormones kartisol. The hormone will inhibit the action of serotonin, which acts to affect mood or mood, due to its calming and controlling anxiety. Another effect of kartisol is causing the release of hormones neuropeptide Y and galanin hormone that makes people want to consume fatty foods and sweet foods. As a result, a person will experience a bad mood continued.

Fast food such as nuggets, corned, canned sausage or processed foods are foods that can trigger stress because these foods contain lots of salt and fat. Simple carbohydrates such as bread or noodles and trans fat foods are also a cause of stress.

Besides food, beverage choice is selected also can cause stress. Liquors and beverages, coffee, and drinks with high caffeine levels are not good for your mood. Reduce the drink in order not to trigger your stress.

 
Food and Drinks Stress Relief

The content of B vitamins, omega 3, folic acid, magnesium and vitamin C can make a meal of food classified as stress reliever. Choose foods that contain antioxidants that will help launch a memory function.

Avocados, bananas, tuna, salmon, sardines, milk, and yogurt contain lots of vitamin B. While folic acid may be obtained from oatmeal, orange or asparagus. Magnesium, which can help you sleep soundly, many found in almonds, spinach or tofu that will help the body produce dopamine. While foods with vitamin C can be more easily found in fruits such as oranges, kiwi, guava or strawberry.

To obtain the desired benefits, your diet should be combined. At meals, select foods with protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. A good combination would create a stable blood sugar and reduce the desire to eat a snack.

After learning of food stress reliever, it is also necessary to know the drinks that can reduce stress. Drinking enough water, which is about 2 liters per day or sipping a cup of tea will help calm the heart. Especially if you drink tea with the family and in a pleasant atmosphere, will definitely keep you from stress.

After learning of food can trigger stress, so now choose a diet with a smart order not to disturb your emotions. Eat quietly, slowly, enjoyed while saying thank you, you can still obtain a healthy diet. Thus, the food will help you gain peace of mind.

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Healthy Foods Helps You Burn Fat

Healthy Foods Helps You Burn Fat. Undoubtedly, burning fat is about consuming healthy foods. When we eat right, eat healthy food, we do not have to bother about burning fat anymore. Working out at the gym for hours burning calories will not reduce your weight and burn enough of your fat when you do not consider what you consume. It means that burning fat by only doing exercise is not enough. Yes, you can burn fat and lose some of your weight by doing exercise but if you do not maintain what goes in from your mouth, soon you will get back the fat you burn. The root problem is controlling what goes into your body. And consuming healthy food is the solution.

  
What does it mean by consuming healthy foods? The term healthy is very much dependent on the amount and frequency in consuming the food. There is no single food that contains all the nutrition our body needs. Thus, consuming healthy food actually talks about series of eating healthy foods over time, in other words, having healthy eating lifestyle. You do not get healthier right after you eat a lettuce; neither do you get significantly higher cholesterol by eating a piece of fried chicken. It is the series of eating those foods that affects your health. It is the constant action of eating the food you choose that affects your body. Thus, healthy eating lifestyle is what is important.

How to choose healthy food? There are two common characteristics of healthy food. First, the food is unprocessed. Second, the food is organic.

First, the food is unprocessed. It means we eat what the nature gives. Most of the food is provided on our table after several processes. They are boiled, fried, grilled, or preserved. Most of these processes do not make the food healthier. The unprocessed food includes fresh fruits and fresh vegetable. To name some, whole grains, legumes, raw nuts, fresh sprouts, etc. Probably the only process that the food can go through is the process of cleaning. The food has to be made fresh on our table as if we eat it directly after we pluck them.

Why do we avoid processing food? After processed, the food may lose the very nutrition that our body needs; lose entirely or some in quantity. For example, we lose healthy vegetable nutrients after we cook them. After processed, the food may contain ingredient that is dangerous for our body. For example, higher concentration of heterocyclic amines (HCA) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) after grilling process. HCA and PAH can cause cancer. PAH is also found in tobacco smoke.

Second, the food is organic. It means we eat pesticides-free food. The food is natural, not genetically engineered, and irradiated. This kind of food offers you the highest nutrition and the purest taste of all the food available. Choose the organic food when you go to restaurant. Include organic food in your monthly shopping list. Select packaged food that has organic label, although you might need to check further on this one. Go organic.

Not only the selection of kind of food that are concerned, but also the nutrition that the food contains. Among carbohydrates, protein, and fat, protein is the one that uses more calories to burn. What does it mean? It means when you consume more protein, your body burns more calories. When your body burns more calories, your body is using more energy. It is identical to have you run in a longer period on your treadmill. It burns more of your body fat. Thus, the food that you consume determines how you will burn fat and lose weight.

Finally, your dream to burn more fat is not only about exercise. Exercise is, by all means, really good. But you also need to watch the food that you eat. By having healthy eating lifestyle, rest be assured that it avoids the fat you burn to come back filling up your body again. Consider healthy food as your daily menu. Filter your food choice. Get rid of those unhealthy foods. Make eating healthy food your lifestyle; choose unprocessed and organic food. You will be amazed how this can work in your progress of losing your weight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5617170

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