General

Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet is a diet plan that promises not only detoxification and weight loss, but also blood pressure control and energy replenishment. The main plan consists of a full twenty one day detox process, but there are two other smaller options of two days and a week’s tune up. The diet consists of high density anti-oxidant berry drinks, the herbal cleansing formula, vegetable and green powder juice, lots of herbal tea, aloe Vera supplement, enzyme capsules, home made detox soup and of course, lots of water. The instructions are all easy to find on their site but the real question is the diet’s reliability. De Luz’s book has the diet mentioned as ’21 pounds in 21 days’, the promising diet has promising signs with its recommendation of lymphatic massages, colonic and coffee enema. The experts however refer to the fact that such cleanses in general, don’t have a clinical or medical certificate to back up their claim, in fact they also mention that it is quite natural for anyone to feel better if the person breaks away from bad eating habits and starts taking in healthy food and lots of water, the real question is that how the diets affect them when used on a long term basis. A good thing that can be said about Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet is that she says it is not only her own recipe that will detox the body, but even small ‘mini detox’ plans can also help the body, for example, a single meal consisting of cleansing foods and berry drinks through out the day, for some period of time can show a healthy and positive change as well. Source by David J. Young

The health of your food is determined by a). its nutritional value, and b). the absence of metals and chemical toxins in it. Would you have ever thought your cookware plays a major part in both these aspects? Let’s see how the choice of cookware determines the health of your food: 1. The health of your food is determined by how pure or contaminated the food is Conventional cookware made from metals, ceramics, glazes, and enamels are full of toxins that react to food while cooking and contaminates it. Lead, Arsenic, Nickel, Molybdenum, Cadmium and other metals & chemicals are commonly found in most cookware, which start accumulating in your body when you eat food cooked in them. Over time they start taking a toll on your body functions and compromise the immune system – this causes health problems ranging from minor illnesses to chronic diseases. 2. The health of your food is determined by how nutritious it is You may choose your ingredients wisely but your cookware can destroy most of the essential nutrients in them by cooking it with harsh heat. The food’s delicate nutrients need to be cooked with gentle heat so the nutritional value of your food stays intact. 3. The health of your food is determined by how much steam stays inside Releasing steam through vents may seem like a common occurrence if you are using conventional metal or ceramic pots but very few people know steam is essentially water-soluble nutrients. The body needs these on a daily basis as they can’t be stored like fat-soluble nutrients. But the steam pressure created in conventional pots is so high, the pot might explode if the steam is not released constantly. 4. Pure Clay Cookware: A Healthy Viable Alternative Switching to pure clay cookware can greatly improve the health of your food. Pure clay is an all-natural 100% non-toxic material that is tested negative for all kinds of toxins found in most conventional cookware. It doesn’t contaminate food and cooks with far infrared heat that is gentle on delicate nutrients – cooks by preserving them intact. They also naturally condense steam – steam is condensed on the inner surface of the lid (as it stays cooler than the pot during cooking) and keeps falling back into the food so water-soluble nutrients are preserved right inside the pot. The food cooked in pure clay is extremely healthy and nutritious when compared to the same food cooked in metals or ceramics. When you eat such food regularly, your body is nourished with essential nutrients on a regular basis and the toxins, which are already accumulated, are cleansed out by the body naturally… when it is not bombarded with more toxins. Improve the health of your food by switching to pure clay cookware today! Source by Sharon Ray

For a healthy heart drinking a pint of milk a day can improve your hearts healthiness. This really is good news for all of us and especially for my family, and myself as I have always loved dairy products and have never skimped on them. I have only ever eaten and used butter mainly because there are generally no additives apart from salt, where as in many margarine or butter substitutes I do not actually know some of the listed additives and also the fact that I have never managed to find one that I liked the taste of. For quite a while now dairy products have been labelled as bad for our health, but new studies by researchers show and claim the complete opposite. They say that dairy products actually help to protect our bodies against a wide variety of serious health conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and strokes. The study found that by having a regular consumption of dairy products, and this does not matter whether it is cheese, yoghurts or any type of milk, actually halves the chances of developing metabolic syndrome, which in the UK affects up to a quarter of the population. Metabolic syndrome is also known as and called insulin resistance, which affects the body’s metabolism by increasing cholesterol, body fat, blood glucose levels and blood pressure. People that suffer with this condition have almost double the risk of coronary artery disease and have four times more chance of diabetes than those with out metabolic syndrome. Also more alarming is that these people are fifty per cent more likely to die earlier; a twenty-five year study has shown. During the past twenty-five years milk consumption has plummeted, thought to be about concerns of the effect of the high saturated fat content may have on the heart and general health. Growing evidence suggests this is false, as reviews worldwide on dairy products and vascular disease, show there are benefits also includes rates of heart disease and strokes. The evidence has shown that there is a very powerful effect that totally goes against today’s public perception that milk and dairy products are bad for your heart. There has been over 300 publications from this study and they all point in the same direction, and the evidence shows that the effect is the same for both men and women. On the study it was found that those who ate and drank dairy products regularly were far less likely to have the syndrome than those who drank and ate little or none. By drinking a pint of milk a day they were also 62 per cent less likely to have the syndrome, and if they ate other dairy foods regularly 56 per cent less likely. Researchers have also found that milk is more effective than anything else including water and expensive special formula sports drinks, for replacing fluid and salts that are lost through sweat. So after any type of exertion such as sports, keep fit and manual labour, a glass of milk is the best for re-hydration. Tests show that milk keeps the body re-hydrated for at least four times longer than water or powerade – Cola’s sports drink. Milk is naturally rich in potassium, sodium and other vital salts that the body loses in vast quantities through sweating. The combination of the protein, sugar and fat found in milk is the reason that it is removed much slower from the body than other drinks. Milk really is an excellent drink and is so versatile, I know many people do not actually like milk but you can always make it into custard, rice pudding or semolina etc: to get your daily intake. Our youngest daughter was always against drinking a glass of milk, and still is today, but she actually consumes more milk than the rest of the family. She absolutely adores cereals, eating up to four bowls a day and of course this is with milk, summer or winter. She also loves chocolate milk shake and fruit smoothies with a blob of ice cream, but the smoothies are often left for me to prepare, as she does not like clearing up the blender afterwards – teenagers! It is a shame that schools do not give out the daily milk drink that as a youngster was a great part of the school day. I believe if this was still the case in primary schools, more children would be happy to drink milk and less likely to go for the fizzy drinks that are available. I hope you find this interesting, and now not so worried about eating dairy products. Think of all the great sauces you can make to enhance your culinary skills and know they are actually good for you. My favourite has always been cheese sauce, but I am equally partial to white sauce with fish or over broad beans. Cheese on toast is a staple part of our daughter’s diet, so much so that cheese is one of the first things that runs out in our kitchen, and now they laugh and say they can eat even more now! Pity they do not know where Sainsbury’s is. Remember to eat good food for good health Source by Ted Wosko

Here is a list of the 10 healthiest foods that experts believe will slow down the aging process and protect yourself from degenerative diseases and other illnesses. These super foods also contain vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. They are also known to be energy boosters. Without further ado here is our top 10 healthy foods list: 1. Broccoli – Broccoli is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It helps fight cancer, especially colon, breast and lung. It is also known to boost your immune system. Contains more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirement and nearly 200 percent of your recommended daily allowance for vitamin C (essential bone building nutrients). All this from just one medium stalk of broccoli. 2. Citrus Fruits – These citrus bioflavanoids found in grapefruit, lemons, limes and oranges contain antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Consuming just one lemon provides more than 100 percent of your recommended daily allowance for vitamin C. It is known to strengthen bones and increase your so called “good” HDL cholesterol levels. They also act as an anti-inflammatory that will slow down the growth of cancer cells with inhibiting blood clotting properties. 3. Beans – Legumes (peas, beans, lentils) are excellent sources of vitamin B, protein and fiber. Also a good source of iron and zinc. Beans have been found to lower bad cholesterol (LDL), regulate blood sugar and reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease. 4. Spinach – Spinach is high in antioxidants which will destroy the free radicals that cause your body damage. Spinach is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, immune-boosting antioxidants that lower the risk of macular degeneration (poor eyesight). Loaded with fiber, Vitamin C and calcium. In the fruit and vegetable group, Spinach is one of the most effective when it comes to fighting cancer. It is also rich in folic acid, which is known to help lower blood pressure. 5. Organic Eggs – Not only are eggs an incredible source of high quality nutrients, but they are also remarkably inexpensive for those of you who are on a tight budget (who isn’t these days). Some experts recommend that you eat the eggs raw to preserve it’s rich nutritional value. When you cook the eggs it loses most of it’s nutritional value. 6. Raw Nuts – Raw nuts are rich in protein, vitamins B and E, minerals manganese and copper. Walnuts consist of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce cholesterol. Almonds help reduce cholesterol as well. Nuts have found to have both anti-heart disease and anti-cancer properties. 7. Berries – Berries are one of the best fruits there is. Nearly all berries are rejuvenating tonics for your blood and heart. They are high in fiber and low in sugar. Will help protect the cells in our body and help to reduce the risk of diseases like cancer. Several studies have shown that a daily serving of berries, rich in potassium, can decrease your risk of stroke. Also an excellent source of Vitamin C. Blueberries for example are rich in antioxidants. 8. Garlic and Onions – Garlic and onions, both members of the allium family, might well be called ‘miracle’ foods. Why? Both contain allicin, the active constituent which produces medicinal benefits such as lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol and blood-pressure levels. Garlic is a powerful disease fighter that can inhibit the growth of bacteria. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic. And research is mounting that garlic reduces your risk for various forms of cancer. 9. Fish Oil – Loaded with beneficial omega-3 fats including DHA. Helps prevent heart disease, cancer and many other diseases. Increases your energy level and provides greater resistance to common illnesses such as flu and cold. Some experts believe that fish is contaminated with mercury and dangerous PCBs so many recommend that fish oil should be taken in liquid form from a high-quality reputable brand. 10. Avocados – Helps to protect against heart disease and stroke. Lowers bad cholesterol levels, but also increases good cholesterol. Avocados also helps to increase the absorption of nutrients. It has shown to prevent and protect against different forms of cancer. Source by Bob Thie

If you want to shed excess body fat you have to remove some food items from your diet and you have to replace those foods with more healthy food choices. In this article we shall be looking at the following different healthy foods that you can add to your weight loss diet plans to help you lose weight and at the same time stay healthy: -Salmon This fish is a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids which are very good for the body. Salmon also contains lots of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. It is recommended that you eat more of wild salmon as it contains more nutrients. -Blueberries This berry is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants which help to fight heart diseases and cancer. -Kale Kale is a green leafy vegetable that has anti-cancer and detoxifying properties. It is also a rich source of vitamin A and beta carotene which help to improve vision and prevent certain serious eye diseases like glaucoma. This vegetable also supplies the body with lots of vitamin C. -Apple This fruit is rich in fibre and due to the fact that it derives its rich taste from its fructose content which is broken down into sugar at a slow rate by the body, it does not lead to sudden spikes in blood sugar. This fruit helps to keep blood sugar levels within normal limits and it also helps to control your appetite. Eat at least one apple with its peel a day to stay fit, lean and healthy. -Almonds This natural fruit is rich in monosaturated fats which help to lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart diseases. If you eat this fruit with your major meals it will decrease your post meal sugar levels. -Organic beef Beef from cows that were fed on grass only is a very healthy food choice. This type of beef is usually lean and it is very rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids and beta carotene. -Beet The chemical substance that gives beet its red colour has strong anti-cancer properties. Beet also helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and protect the heart against heart diseases. This natural food also contains lots of anti oxidants. -Avocado This fruit is particularly rich in potassium and folate. It increases the level of good cholesterol in the blood and it also aids the absorption of fat soluble vitamins from vegetables. -Garlic This pungent smelling food helps to lower blood pressure and it is rich in vitamin B6, selenium, and manganese. However, it is preferable that you use fresh garlic instead of using garlic powder or pre chopped garlic sold in jars. -Carrots These cheap food items are one of the richest natural sources of carotenoids and they have some anti-cancer properties. You can either eat carrots raw or you can eat cooked carrots. Take note however, that most of these foods are to be used as adjuvant to your main weight loss diets; you should not consume only these natural foods if you want to lose weight as you will only end up with different types of nutritional deficiencies. Source by Perry T Goody

Healthy food can help your child to grow. The right kind of food can help your kids in developing a good body, make their minds alert, and help them improve in their learning. A common factor, which often encourages children and adults to buy junk food, is advertisements and TV commercials which claim to sell delicious and mouth watering snacks that are good for the health. In reality, it is not true, and it is very difficult to find a substitute for nutritious food. Parents should encourage their kids to eat healthy food. A few suggestions may help you in encouraging good eating habits for your children. Tips to promote healthy eating in children • Take regular family meals, do not skip them. If possible, try to have the meals together, at a fixed time. Knowing that dinner is going to be served at a particular time, and everybody will be waiting for you to join them can not only create strong family bonds, but also encourage the youngsters to consume a full meal. Also, make sure you have some breakfast. It is medically found that having breakfast is good for your health. Kids who have breakfast tend to do better at school. • Make it a practice to cook meals at home. Homemade cooking is much better for health. You tend to limit the usage of butter, fats, and cooking oils which is good for healthy living. You stop the accumulation of body fat, and keep you physique in good shape. You can dine out on special occasions. • Involve the kids with housework and shopping while buying groceries. Kids love to help their parents in carrying things from the supermarket to the parking lots. Also, ask them what kind of food they would prefer to have in their lunch box. Asking them can get your children interested in what they eat. In addition, you can also educate them regarding food habits and nutritive value of foodstuffs. It’s a great way to teach them good eating habits. • Go in for a variety while preparing snacks and dinner. Children tend to get bored eating the same kind of food every day. Keep the food interesting and different to ensure they always ask for it, rather than you having to force them to eat. • Try to include low calorie food in your daily diet. Make sure you have plenty of fruits in your kitchen, in addition to whole grain preparations, vegetables, and beverages such as milk, fruit juices, water, etc. • Don’t force you kids to eat food. The more you force them, the more resilient they are likely to become while eating. Rather encourage them in the correct manner, and if they still don’t agree – simply leave it at that. Source by Urvi Tandon

The benefits of eating healthy cannot be over emphasized. Many have ignored the benefit of healthy nutrition and have continued to put unhealthy foods into their stomachs. Experts have shown that those who eat what is known as a healthy diet are more successful in life and live therefor longer lives than those who don’t. Parents should teach their children to eat healthy and make sure that it becomes part of their lifestyle. One reason why many find it hard to adjust to healthy eating is because they been having unhealthy diets from childhood. So if you teach your children the benefits of healthy eating it will help them in the long run. It will make them happy and healthy. What Women eat during pregnancy! Diet can go back to the days before we are born. This can have an effect on the baby. It has been well noted for centuries that pregnant women should choose their food selectively because what they eat in pregnancy determines the baby’s health. Not only women, the food men eat before and during conception also affect the baby. The intergenerational link is interesting when considering the fathers diet around conception has implications for future generations. It is not only what the mother eats at the time of conception, also what the father eats at the time and even before. The benefits of eating healthy! Let us take a look at the benefits of eating healthy. Eating healthy will help to boost your metabolism. Foods that contain excess and unsaturated fats are not good for the body. They slow down the body’s metabolism and you are at risk of gaining too much weight. These foods contain chemicals such as preservatives and toxins, therefore healthy foods promote better metabolic rates. By reducing the fats you put in to your body you will protect yourself against weight gain, obesity, as well as cardiovascular disease. Fighting diseases! Healthy food can help fight against many diseases. Lots of people are suffering from various diseases because their body lacks anti-biotic to fight these diseases. We are talking here about the anti-biotic the body produces, not the type the doctor gives us. Stay clear as much as you can from that type of anti-biotic. Eating healthy will help to boost your energy level, improve your immune system and bodily functions. Healthy foods contain nutrients that are vital for the body, thereby helping you to meet your daily nutritional needs. In other words, healthy eating will improve your stress level and the risk of cancer and diabetes and many other health issues. Lose weight without hunger! People who are overweight or obese can benefit a lot from healthy eating. A healthy diet will help you to lose that weight, pounds or kilos and stay that way. The benefits of eating healthy are big. Crash diets never work. Don’t go cold turkey in denying yourself the food you liked over years. Just make the meal smaller in size at the beginning and eat smaller portions more often. If you are hungry between meals have a hand full of mixed nuts or some fruit. Making changes gradually to replace bad food with good food. By making these changes within weeks you will notice more energy and the lethargy will also disappear. Goals and targets are great, but action steps are a must to have success in your health. So, why not start now? Source by Josef Bichler

Healthy cooking is in nowadays when people are becoming more and more conscious of what they eat. Of course, eating healthy is one of the important things that you have to remember always if you don’t want to suffer later from diseases and other health problems. Indeed, opting and switching into cooking healthy recipes can be of big help for your health. If you are starting to have that change in your lifestyle into a healthy one, you can actually start from small steps. Hera are simple tips that you might find useful in your quest to stay healthy with your food. – Make sure to get fresh ingredients for your recipes. If you are looking for the healthiest, go for organic vegetables, as this would mean no pesticides or chemicals that can ruin your healthy recipes. If organic vegetables and ingredients are not available in your area, make sure to wash your vegetables thoroughly before using them to get rid of chemical residues. – Cut down on salt. This can be one of the important tips in cooking healthy recipes. You can also increase or add more herbs to your recipe as an alternative to salt and you will be surprised that it does not show any change in flavor. – Increase vegetables into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of nature’s vitamins, minerals and many other important nutrients needed for the body. Eat in variety as you can never get most of the nutrients you want in just a single vegetable or fruit. – Avoid fats as possible. Go for more fibrous foods. If you can’t totally avoid fats, go for the unsaturated ones. If you need to use oil, use olive oil or canola oil as these are the healthier forms of oils. Check labels of processed foods as well. These are places where saturated fats may be hiding. – Find alternatives. If you do not want to put meat on your cooking, you can also find alternatives to meat. Among the healthy alternatives to meat are soy protein, or TVP, also known as textured vegetable protein. – Watch your process of cooking. Aside from the ingredients, you also have to take into consideration the process whereby you cook your food. Cooking healthy recipes should not just be about ingredients but also the manner of cooking. Among the healthy ways to cook healthy food are baking, steaming, broiling, baking, grilling and braising. Although it may not be good to grill your food regularly. – Cut down on processed foods. They are usually those that are high in sodium which is a culprit in high blood pressure and other problems as well. – Use natural herbs and fat-free sauces to help you make a healthy recipe. Indeed, herbs can replace other processed spices in the market. Go for natural ones as well. These are just a few on the many things you can do to practice cooking healthy recipes. Indeed, you have a choice and as soon as you have learned what to look for in your healthy cooking, you will eventually make it a habit to go for healthy ingredients, healthy recipes and healthy methods of cooking. Source by Carolyn Anderson

Chomping down on Chinese food while watching TV might seem like the ideal evening at home. Some Hakka noodles, Chilli Chicken, Schezwan Fried Rice and Veg Manchurian… fantastic deliciousness. But if you get on that diet, your body will look more a ball than a javelin. Nutrition analysis of Chinese dishes show that they are extremely high in calorific value, sodium content, high fat content and high in simple carbohydrates (which behave like sugar in your body). Many Chinese dishes are high on soy, which increases sodium content drastically in the food. Excess sodium leads to increase in blood pressure and retention of water, which increases your weight and makes you look bloated and fat. So, whats a solution? Clearly, not eating Chinese food is a bad solution. But you can make healthy choices while ordering Chinese food. Lets start with everyone’s favourite.. those little steamed eatables called Dim Sum- You think its healthy because its steamed. But Dim Sum is primarily made of maida (refined flour), which causes your blood sugar to spike (watch out diabetics) and promotes fat storage. For starters, go for stuff that’s stir fried, chicken satay, flavored veggies, or a clear soup with veggies and/or meat in it. Or you can skip the starters and go for the main course. The main course is like a mine field of bad health bombs. Stir Fried dishes are good, since they are relatively low on sodium, are cooked fast and in lesser oil (since its not deep fried). Stay away from that Manchurian. First its wrapped in maida (refined flour), then its deep fried. Then its soaked in a high sodium sauce. Is there a better way to spell HEALTH DISASTER. Basically, stay away from anything that’s served as dough wrapped balls in sauce. All sauces, from Black Bean to Sweet and Sour are drowning in sodium. And some of them have loads of sugar added, like Sweet and Sour or Garlic. For your starch options, there’s another mine field. The noodles are all made from refined flour and then they are soaked in oil and flavouring (including soy)- you know what that does, so stay away from it. The fried rice is a slightly better option, since its rice based, but again, lots of oil and soy, since rice soaks both of them fast! The best option is steamed rice. Besides, the relatively lower calories, it reduces your sodium intake. Also, it gives you a chance to really taste the flavour of the dishes. Try jasmine rice, it smells fantastic. In dessert, I’m yet to find a true Chinese dessert. All the standard Indian versions of Chinese dessert are pretty unhealthy- darsaan (fried dough with sugar), sugar coated walnuts, fried ice-cream. Do I even need to get into why these aren’t good choices. Chinese joints aren’t known for their chocolate based delicacies. Stay off it, even its on the menu Our advice, go for the fresh fruits for a light and a sweet finish. Don’t forget to get some of that green tea or jasmine tea. It takes some questioning the wait staff, to solve the health mystery of a new dish. But don’t be shy – eat this way while watching the sports channel and you’ll be 1 step closer to looking like those athletes on TV. Source by Dhruv Gupta

Healthy fast food are hard to find and very tedious. Try to learn on how to eat smart, fast, nutritive and cheap. Fast food restaurant and drive through are the most accessible venue to feed our desire to eat. This are the easiest way but be wise enough to choose what to buy from them. Look for the food that does not contain a lot of fats and cholesterols. Take a lot of time when eating them; make sure you don’t finish your food as if you’re running out of time. Eating a healthy fast food will also help to loss some weight. The best fast foods are salads, grilled chicken and a fish sandwich. When you eat or buy from a fast food restaurant, make sure that your sandwich or salad should not mix together with the dressings. Avoid some creamy toppings and sauces. Have them pack or serve in a separate order. Just take a few dip or mix in your food. You can consider burger but a few bites will do. Set aside the fries and nuggets, they contain a lot of fats from dip frying. When you want some soup, do not order the creamy base soup and it will make them a healthy fast food. Easy healthy recipes give us good health and the right food to eat. Make sure it will taste delicious and rich in food nutrients compare to the one we buy or take out from any fast food restaurant. There are some quick healthy recipes available and easy to prepare, yet they are rich in minerals, vitamins and protein that our body needs. Find some fruits and vegetables that available for the season. You can even save money and get the full nutrients that you want. Consider mixing vegetable and fruits to make a perfect salad of your taste for a healthy fast food. The freshness the fruits and vegetables are the better, try to avoid cooking them. Check some available websites that will give you tips on how to prepare them correctly. Make sure that when you prepare your recipes; you will get the equivalent food nutrients that your body needs. The low calorie foods make us stay healthy and helpful to our body system. The green vegetables contain lot of vitamins and other food nutrients. It helps the digestion process and feels full at the same time. Fruits consider as a healthy fast food, it contains high water that makes it an ideal choice as an anti oxidant. It is also best supplements for your snacks or in between meals. It has also full of vitamins and minerals that our body needs. The whole grain foods such as; rye, brown rice, pasta and oatmeal is fiber and carbohydrates. It controls our blood sugar level. Plain pop corn, almonds and walnuts is also low in calories, it contain fats, protein, minerals and micronutrients that burn calories. Low fat dairy products are rich in calcium that prevents the release of calcitrol. They are also considered a healthy fast food. Fatty fish contains omega 3 fatty acids that boost our metabolism rate and lessen the cholesterol and its protein breaks the fat cells. You don’t have to be a cook to make a healthy cooking for a healthy fast food. No need to use all the condiments or any food additives to have a healthy food. The more freshness of fruits and vegetables the better it taste. If you want to make some salads out vegetable or fruits try to avoid boiling or cooking them thoroughly. It will get rid of the food nutrients, if possible put them after cooking is done and just cover it. The steam or the heat from the pan will cook it and the food nutrients will remain. Make some research on the net for a good tips and advice to make a healthy fast food more valuable to our health. Source by Carl Sanders