Showing posts with label Fruits and vegetables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fruits and vegetables. Show all posts

Friday, March 29, 2013

Less Microwaving - Push for Fresh Fruits for Better Health

Let's be honest no one thinks that popping a frozen dinner into the microwave is the best way to go about improving his or her health. The larger problem is that microwaving is just too easy a notion mothers in the 1950s would've been all too happy to test out. Invented the mid-60s to make things just that easy they've become a crutch for a society that is today too busy and too tempted to make healthy eating choices. It doesn't hurt that many microwavable food items, like Pop Tarts, are designed to make us crave them.

Vitamins and nutrients

Fruits have long been known to provide vitamins and nutrients that processed foods just don't offer, and they do it with a portability that many microwavable food items are only now beginning to rival. According to the United States government, a diet rich in fruit may reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke, as well as various types of cancers. High-fruit diets provide fiber, which can help with obesity and type 2 diabetes, while the potassium content in some fruits may help lower blood pressure. The risk of developing bone loss and kidney stones is also shown to decrease with a high potassium diet.

Unlike microwavable fare, fruits are generally low in not only calories, but also sodium and fat as well. If you have cholesterol be concerns, you should be aware that no fruits contain it. While many processed foods have nutrients added, fruits naturally contain vitamin C and other often under-consumed nutrients like potassium and folic acid.

Make the effort

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to eating a diet rich in fruits is cost and availability. In cold weather states, fruits have in the past been difficult to come by, and at an increased cost. Fortunately, stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes are increasing their reach, providing shoppers with greater opportunity to buy. Improving technologies in plant biology are also helping keep fruit on the shelves longer.

In the end, however, fruits biggest selling point is their taste. From apples and oranges to peaches and bananas, the vast array of fruits available are sure to leave most any person with some that please their palate. Even if you don't wish to just grab an apple and bite in, fresh fruits can often be made into sauces and jellies with relative ease. And even if you're putting them in a pie, they provide the same nutrients, albeit with additional calories.

While it may make sense to have a granola bar packed along with you on a hike, processed foods are a disastrous temptation when kept in the household. Make an effort to keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand at all times to help model behavior for children, and to keep them healthy. Without adult support, children often gravitate toward sweeter, more fattening foods, which can manifest itself in health problems sooner than later. For a healthy diet, fresh fruits are the way to go.

Matt Anton is a partner in the online marketing venture BacklinksVault, and has extensive experience with nutrition and fitness, including health and diet concerns.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Proper Diet for Pregnant Women

Proper nutrition during a pregnancy is vital to the development of the child within, allowing it to grow and develop properly. There is a reason why women should consume about 300 more calories daily to offset the extra nutrients required by the child. Nausea and feeling sick will be part of the first few months of a pregnancy, however the need for a well-balanced diet is undeniable no matter how one feels. There are plenty of good foods out there and in this article we will cover some of them. We hope you will have a better idea what to eat thanks to our tips as your child develops:
  • Eggs
Offering more than 12 vitamins, minerals and plenty of protein, they will help your baby's cell growth. As your pregnancy progresses you will need to address the growing needs of your own body as well and eggs are an excellent addition to your diet. They are also rich in choline which boosts the growth and health of the central nervous system of your child as well as vision development.
  • Salmon
A source of much high-quality protein and an exceptional source of omega-3 fats. It has low levels of methylmercury, which is usually harmful to a developing nervous system like the one of a developing infant. Regardless of the fact that it has low levels of mercury it is still recommended you don't eat great quantities of it during your pregnancy.
  • Beans
They offer an incredible variety that offers a lot of fiber and protein. The extra fiber is necessary as your gastrointestinal tract slows down its functions because of your pregnancy. Fiber will help you deal with problems such as constipation that are inevitable without the proper diet. Beans are also rich in vital nutrients such as iron, calcium, zinc and folic acid.
  • Sweet potatoes
Rich in carotenoids, which are later converted to vitamin A as our body processes them, sweet potatoes are a very useful addition to your diet. Carotenoids are safe to consume In large quantities as they are not as dangerous as the preformed vitamin A of animal sources. Liver, milk and eggs contain it too, however over-consumption of those can have unpleasant results. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamin C, folic acid and fiber. Much like beans they are useful and easy to cook.
  • Whole grains
With a high content of fiber, vitamin E, selenium and other nutrients, these are an excellent and important part of any diet. They are especially useful for a pregnant body as much of what they offer is extremely important to your overall health and that of your child. You can eat popcorn, whole grain bread, oatmeal, quinoa, barley and more during your pregnancy. Whole grains are easily added to many recipes as they are very flexible.
  • Greek Yogurt
Because of its concentrated form, Greek yogurt has about twice the amount of protein and other nutrients. It is a wonderful source of calcium that you'll want to have in your diet. The way your body is wired is that it will provide calcium to your baby if you have no excess of it in your body. This may lead to your body willingly giving away its own calcium supply to your growing baby, weakening your bone structure and teeth if you don't have a good supply of it in your diet.
  • Leafy vegetables
Plants such as kale, spinach, Swiss chard, collards, turnips, lettuce, broccoli and so on are a major source of vitamins and nutrients. Vitamins A, C, K and folic acid are present in their ranks. They promote eye health and your overall sense of energy.

The article has been submitted by Battersea Relocation Options

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

How to Help Children Eat Healthier

Child obesity is becoming a more and more serious problem now, more than ever, and it is vital for you to teach your children proper eating habits. They need to be learned from the youngest of age. Once a kid does get used to eating healthy, these habits stick for a lifetime. And if they do it without a problem at home, they will surely do it not only at school too, but everywhere else as well.

All problems, connected with children's bad eating habits are usually rooted in the household. When a parent rarely prepares homemade dishes, but rather buys takeaway meals from fast food franchises, this is when kids start developing these ill eating habits. It's a proven fact, that children are constantly exposed to all sorts of junk food, but it is their parents duty to keep their sons and daughters away from them and to help them lead a healthy diet. Here are a couple of useful tricks on how to do so.

1.Guide the choice of food, don't dictate it
Have a big variety of healthy foods at home. Without any junk food in the house, there is simply no way the kids could consume such. Leave everything that is not healthy in the store.

2.Provide healthy alternatives
It is vital that you have alternatives to all the products that are considered not healthy to you and your family. For example, kids are known for craving sweets almost constantly. There is a way of getting round this problem - fruits. Always have lots of different fruits in store - apples, grapes, peaches, etc. A different option would be for you to make healthy homemade snacks, for example, such made of oats, honey and various dried fruits.

3.Encourage the kids to eat slowly
Fast eating could be the cause of many health disorders. Plus, fullness and hunger can be better detected when one eats slowly. And that is how the second serving could be avoided. You can achieve that by eating together as a family as often as possible and making the meals a pleasant experience? How can this help? Well, one thing is for sure, your children won't be in a hurry to finish their dish as fast as possible and leave the table.

4.Involve kids in the shopping and cooking process
Shopping for healthy foods together will teach your children a thing or two, and when they are already old enough to go to the store on their own, they will know how to do proper shopping. Same goes for the cooking. Cooking healthy meals together is not only quality time spent together, but also something like lessons for the future when your son/daughter will have to cook on his/her own.

5.Do not allow eating meals or snacks in front of the TV
Watching TV while eating can be really distracting in the sense that the eating becomes the secondary action, and one does not pay attention the whether s/he is full. This often leads to overeating.

6.Prepare your child's school meals
Having control in the household is relatively easy, but what happens when the kids are out of sight?
The school cafeteria offers a decent amount of junk food to be distressed about. And if you would like your son or daughter to stay away from them, prepare him/her tasty meals to take to school.


7.Make the change "from the inside"
Instead of forcing any changes upon your child, rather make him/her realize the necessity of these changes. Explain, in a calm manner, that healthy eating is the way to a long and healthy life.

The change for good happens slowly, especially when it comes to children. This is why you will need to be as patient as possible.

The post has been submitted by : Acton ManAndVan

Monday, September 3, 2012

Acid Reflux Cause Natural Remedies

Acid reflux, also called heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), happens when stomach acid rises into the esophagus due to a weakened esophageal sphincter, according to doctors at the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology clinic. Chest discomfort, a burning sensation in your upper stomach or lower throat and occasionally a bad taste in your mouth characterize the disease. If you're tired of buying a new pack of antacids every day, perhaps a diet change can do the trick.

Complex Carbs
Eat breads and grains that are low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, recommends Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Try to avoid heavily processed breads that are high in fat and low in nutrition. Writers at Health Castle recommend eating multiple small meals every day instead of large meals since a large meal on your stomach requires additional stomach acids. Make sure you eat plenty of rice, pasta and breads. These help ensure that the acids in your stomach have complex foods to break down.

Vegetables/Fruits
Avoid processed fruits and vegetables or foods that have a high citric acid content, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Its doctors recommend eating apples, bananas and other fresh fruit. Apples are high in complex carbohydrates, and researchers at HealthCave.com say that they contain chemicals that help strengthen the sphincter muscle that causes acid reflux. Bananas are natural antacids, according to the website. Another helpful tip is to take 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar with lukewarm water daily. Researchers at HealthCave.com say the solution helps prevent acid buildup.

Dairy Products
Milk, cheese and other dairy products are naturally high in calcium, a natural inhibitor of stomach acid, according to HealthCave.com. Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology notes that you should choose skim or other low-fat dairy products because foods that contain high fat content will remain in your stomach for a longer period than low-fat foods. You should also avoid eating at fast food chains, since many of the products found in fast food restaurants are high in fat content.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Healthy Food for Growing Muscles

Did you just picture Olive and Popeye? Yes, they are the classic cartoon characters. Popeye is the character with rich muscles and gets his strength from eating spinach, and Olive is a skinny lady who is Popeye's love interest.

Listen to your body
Our body tells us if we are living a healthy diet. Our skin, our eyes, our hair, and even our finger nails can tell what we are not eating and we have been doing to keep either a fit or fat body. The ultimate manifestation of a great wealth in health is our figure, the contours of our body tells us if we had been eating and moving right since the growth of our first tooth.

Figure, contour, shape, muscle formation and skin color. These are outward proof of a good discipline and healthy routine. A well-toned skin and a firm muscle is basically everyone's dream to have, but unfortunately 99% just dream about it and fail. Only 1% of us persistently and successfully gets to the finish line.

You shouldn't read huge custom research papers to find out the benefits of eating healthy food and going in for sports. It's too obvious.

The power of proteins
Now going back to Popeye, did you really think that's spinach? I'd say partly yes, partly no, and here's something new. Spinach is rich in iron which aids protein for the formation of muscles so to speak. Body figure is formed by muscles, muscles are formed by protein, and gaining such figure needs doses of healthy food for growing muscles.

Protein is broken down to amino acids, and to build ample protein it needs to grow more muscle cells. Does that mean we should to eat a lot of pork or beef muscles to add meat to our body? No! Wrong, absolutely wrong. But that's a common perception, a common mistake.

The top sources of protein are legumes, some grains, and some vegetables. You can easily find protein rich foods at the supermarket, check and see the following: chicken and turkey, lean beef, fish and other seafood, eggs, cottage cheese and other low-fat dairy, beans, nuts, avocado, peas, plain yogurt, and milk.

High protein die
High protein diet is a typical body builders' diet that defines healthy food for the muscles. However, there is one more addition to the list of healthy food for growing muscles. Somehow related to Spinach, its name is "Moringa" in English, "Malunggay" in the Philippines, "Sojina" in the Indian Subcontinent, or "Moringa Oleifera" its scientific name.

Study shows that it is 25 times richer in iron than Spinach, 7 times richer in Vitamin C than Orange, 17 times richer in Calcium than Milk, 10 times richer in Vitamin A than Carrots, 15 times richer in Potassium than Banana, 9 times richer in Protein than Yogurt, 4 times more protein than eggs, and 2 times richer in protein than milk.

Sure, go ahead and count "protein". It is simply an amazing green leafy vegetable which is cultivated in Himalayas in India, Honduras, Madagascar and the Philippines. So if you can grab a bunch of this veggie today, you're on your way to great wealth and great muscles.

Written by Sonia Jackson. Welcome to my web-site www.writing-research-papers.org

Friday, August 24, 2012

Hair Fall Remedy

Biotin! Biotin (also called hair growth vitamin) is a water soluble vitamin found in many foods. It is one nutrient that keeps skin, hair, eyes and a few other organs healthy!

An adult needs 30 mcg of Biotin per day.

FOOD Sources

1. Liver
2. Egg
3. Sardines and Salmon
4. Poultry
5. Avocado, cauliflower, mushrooms, raspberries, bananas, dairy, nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pecans, soybeans,beans and legumes, whole-wheat bread.

A combination of Biotin and other Vitamins like Folic Acid, Vitamins A, C and D are said to be beneficial for hair problems.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

7 Healing Foods to fight common cold

1. Chicken soup
why: It's been called nature's penicillin and is at the top of the list for its curative powers. Hot chicken soup helps clear clogged airways,

2. Hot and spicy food
Chilies or spicy sauces to help ease congestion. Cook Indian or other ethnic foods that contain
these ingredients, or simply add a spicy sauce to foods for extra zip

3. Garlic
This fragrant bulb contains a flavoring agent called alliin which acts as a decongestant. Garlic is also believed to act as an antioxidant and destroy free- radicals, the active oxygen molecules that damage cells

4. Fluids
To keep you liquefied.

5. Citrus fruits
Reach for citrus fruits to increase your vitamin C intake. Drink orange juice for breakfast, snack on half a grapefruit, or add tangerine slices to a lunchtime salad. Getting an increased
amount of vitamin C is especially important if you smoke, as smoking increases both your risk
of catching a cold and your body's need for this protective vitamin.

6. Ginger
Many people find fresh ginger root helps treat the coughing and fever that often accompany colds and flu. Try making a ginger tea:

7. Vitamin C sources
Citrus fruits aren't the only foods high in vitamin C. Potatoes, green peppers, strawberries and
pineapple can help as your daily cold-fighting food arsenal.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Weight loss tips

Weight loss is counted amongst the biggest concern of every individual these days. There hardly exists a single person who will claim not to be concerned about his growing fat. Experts suggest that you don't need big plans to get rid of the unwanted fat. Sometimes incorporating small changes in your life lead to perfect YOU.

Aim behind loosing weight:
  • Loosing the extra fat accumulated all over your body.
  • Getting a lean toned body with perfect abs.
Three essential ways those accomplish your target:
  • A healthy blooming diet plan.
  • Cardiovascular exercises.
  • Strength workouts.
Tips that lead to a guaranteeing weight loss:
  • Calculate exactly how many kilos are required to be lost. Abrupt start to weight loss is considered a crime if you really determined to cutting off the extra kilos.
  • Make a habit of eating less from outside. Learn to cook healthy food at home and enjoy it.
  • Grabbing junk food on every alternate hours gobs unnecessary calories and nothing else. Avoid it as much as you can.
  • Fruits and vegetables are a big no-no for majority of people. There is a huge difference one surely experiences if you amalgamate in your daily lifestyle.
  • Foods that are high in protein source such as meat, milk, eggs are considered as fat burners. Make sure you take plenty of them.
  • Avoid sticking to three heavy meals. Instead, having 5-6 small serving meals have an advantage of boosting up the metabolism.
As explained by Truth About Abs Review that weight loss alone cannot serve the purpose of a lean gangly body until you don't workout over the muscles of your entire body.

Exercise to loose weight:
High intensity cardio and strength training are two factors that ultimately lead to the perfect ideal figure everyone has on top of their wish-list. Cardio exercises are a continuous set of workouts that targets quicker approach towards burning fat. This includes running, jogging, swimming, climbing, etc. Strength training refers to a short induction training period that focuses on individual muscle of body. They are done to bring body into shape, hence resulting in a perfect six pack along with lean toned body. For a detailed counseling read Truth about abs review and experience a healthy access towards weight loss.

By Ali Ahmed