Nutrition – Juice Health Benefits & Recipes

25 Jul

Chlorella: A Superfood With Endless Potential

What is Chlorella?

chlorella algae

Chlorella is a type of single-celled algae that contains the largest amount of chlorophyll of any plant on Earth. It grows in fresh water and is capable of quickly multiplying itself using a process that requires only sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and minerals. Scientists believe that Chlorella has been around for over 2 billion years, thanks to its simple and easy to sustain life pattern. The name “chlorella” is derived from the Greek words “ella” and “chloros,” which together mean “small green.”

Why is Chlorella Considered a Superfood?

Chlorella contains all of the amino acids required by the body, as well as a good amount of essential fatty acids and other nutrients. The vitamins and minerals that can be found in chlorella are folic acid, calcium, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, phosphorous, and many more. On top of all this, chlorella also contains a special phytonutrient called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). CGF is what allows chlorella to reproduce itself at such a rapid rate, and it is also demonstrating the potential to revitalize cells within the human body. Researchers are discovering that CGF may be able to help the body remove impurities and enhance the strength of the cells.

What Else Can Chlorella Do For The Human Body?

Aside from the obvious good things that come from ingesting any nutrient-dense food, Chlorella can help the body in a number of other ways. In Asian countries, Chlorella has been used as an energy-booster for many centuries, but it is only now being discovered that it can help to lower cholesterol. In a Japanese study, 16 high-cholesterol patients were given 20 chlorella tablets a day for twelve weeks. At the end of the study, all of the patients experienced a drop in their cholesterol levels. Chlorella may also be capable of promoting healthy blood pressure and more relaxed arteries.

Another way that chlorella can help the human body is by encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria within the digestive system. Unhealthy gut flora can contribute to a number of diseases, including ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, food sensitivities, depression and a poor immune system. Chlorella can help by stimulating the growth of lacto-bacilli, a type of bacteria necessary for properly functioning intestines.

Perhaps most importantly, chlorella has the potential to help cancer patients, especially those who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. The nutrients in chlorella can possibly protect white blood cells from chemotherapy-induced problems and sooth the lining of the stomach, which can sometimes become damaged during cancer treatment. It can also aid digestion, guard against DNA damage due to radiation treatment, reduce the unpleasant side-effects of chemotherapy and even help the tissues in the body to repair faster, something that cancer patients desperately need.

What is The Best Way to Take Chlorella Daily?

There are a number of exciting and fun ways that you can introduce chlorella into your diet. The common form of chlorella is powder. You can try adding this powder to salad dressings, sprinkling it on top of a freshly cooked stir fry, mixing it into mashed potatoes or scrambling it with your morning eggs. For an even simpler approach, consider starting your day with a green chlorella smoothie. A banana, a few slices of pineapple, a handful of your favorite berries and a heaping spoonful of chlorella powder will blend into a delicious and nutritious dark green health shake that will be sure to give you energy throughout your work day.

Chlorella powder on a spoon

Even though you use the powder in small amounts it can give a bit of taste to the foods so if you don’t like that consider taking chlorella in tablet form. 2-4 tablets a day in a morning with some water and you are ready to go..no taste, no fuss.

27 Jun

Coconut And The Healthiest Oil on Earth

Coconut is one of the more famous fruits. A palm tree a few coconuts and you are already transported to an exotic sandy beach with clear blue water. But coconut is also a nutritious source of meat, juice and milk for many cultures around the world and on top of that it provides many health benefits. But first a few interesting facts…

Things You Did Not Know About Coconuts

The word coconut comes from the term “cocos nucifera.” Coco means “monkey face,” and refers to the three eyes or depressions on the hairy nut which resemble the head of a monkey. Nucifera means “nut-bearing.”

Monkey face

The coconut grows on coconut palm trees in coastal beach areas near the equator including Brazil, New Guinea, Thailand, Hawaii, the Philippines, and many other countries. They are grown in more than 80 countries around the world.

Even though it is called a “coconut,” the coconut is not a nut, it is a drupe, which is a fleshy fruit enclosing a hard-shelled stone or seed and is composed of an outer, middle, and inner layer, while a nut is a dry fruit consisting of a kernel or seed enclosed in a woody shell.

After a coconut palm tree has been planted, it takes seven years before it will produce coconuts.

Approximately one-third of the world’s population is dependent on the coconut in some degree for their food and economy.

The coconut has been used as part of traditional and folk medicine by people around the globe for thousands of years. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat: asthma, bronchitis, colds, constipation, coughs, flu, gonorrhea, pneumonia, sore throat, tuberculosis, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, wounds, and several other maladies.

In the Pacific Islands, the coconut palm tree is called the “Tree of Life” because it holds so much value as a source of both food and medicine.

In Thailand and Malaysia, schools exist to train pig-tailed macaques (monkeys) to harvest coconuts. There are even annual competitions held to find the fastest harvester.

In Maldives, the coconut is the national tree and considered to be the most important plant in the country. The country’s national emblem and coat of arms features the coconut tree.

Coconut, a super food?

Hard shell & soft white meat.

Coconut oil is called “the healthiest oil on earth” because it contains lauric acid. The lauric acid is converted by the body into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoal properties. Thus, the coconut is very effective in supporting the immune system.

Coconut also contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT), which are a healthy form of fat. It is believed that coconut is “nature’s richest source of MCTs.” Even though these MCTs are a form of saturated fat, they are easily digestible, which makes them ideal for people with problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis.

It is also believed that these MCTs may boost the levels of thyroid hormones, which are essential to metabolism, converting calories quickly into energy, burning fat more effectively, and increasing energy levels.

Coconut oil is also thought to have the ability to slow down the effects of Alzehimer’s disease. This is due to the fact that it contains saturated fat, which provides the brain with ketones, an alternate energy source. Ketones are high energy fuels that nourish the brain. After consumption of coconut oil, the medium chain fatty acids (MCTs) are converted by the liver into these ketones.

Health benefits of the coconut

It improves heart health.
It supports the immune system.
It protects against cancers, HIV and other infections.
It aids with upper and lower GI tract problems.
It strengthens the liver.
It reduces the incidence of epileptic seizures.
It eases neuropathies and itching from diabetes.
It deals with symptoms connected with prostate enlargement.
It promotes bone health.
It prevents osteoporosis and reduces joint and muscle inflammation.
It increases metabolism.
It helps treat diabetes.
It improves cholesterol level.
It may slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s.

Other benefits

Nutritional source of quick energy
Excellent hair conditioner and offers dandruff relief
Superb skin conditioner
Protects the skin from the sun
Anti-aging moisturizer
Coconut water has more potassium than most fruit juices, with enough potassium to aid in the correction of blood pressure-boosting effects of sodium
Coconut water is healthier than fruit juice with half the calories
Helps to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease
Prevents wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin

How Much Coconut Oil A Day?

An adult should consume around 3 1/2 tbsp. of coconut oil daily. If you’re not used to having coconut in your diet, you should start out with a lesser amount to see how your body reacts. There are no known side effects, but if you’re used to a diet that’s low in fat, you might have diarrhea as an adverse reaction. Therefore, it’s best to spread the recommended amount over the course of a day gradually to see how it affects you. If you’re pregnant and used to a low-fat diet, it’s recommended that you not add coconut oil to your diet.

Coconut Fruit Smoothie

Servings: 1
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

1 cup coconut milk or regular whole milk
1/2-1 whole banana
1/4 cup frozen fruit: berries, peaches, etc.
2 tablespoons fresh ground flax seeds
2 tablespoons fresh ground nuts: almonds, pecans, etc
1 tablespoon dry coconut (flakes, etc.)
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

Place all ingredients except coconut oil in blender and blend. Slowly pour coconut oil into blender while blending. Blend until smooth and serve.

20 Jan

Hemp Seeds, Discover the Hidden Benefits of this Nutritional Powerhouse

Hemp seeds are a plant-based protein source that provides many essential nutrients in a small, nutty-tasting package. Though many people are still confused about plant proteins, food-grade hemp has become more mainstream in recent years. Both individuals and food manufacturers are beginning to recognize the benefits of this nutritional powerhouse.

Hemp Facts

Hemp is a fast-growing, highly renewable plant that is grown around the world for a variety of uses. Though often associated with drugs, most hemp is very low in THC, making it suitable for use as a food. Many countries including Spain, France, the UK and China grow hemp legally for this purpose as well as for fiber production. One of the earliest cultivated plants, hemp was even grown by the Aztec and Mayan civilizations.

Hemp contains all 21 known amino acids, including the 9 that the human body needs to build proteins, making it a “complete” protein source.

Over the last several years, hemp has grown in popularity as a food ingredient. This is likely due to its nutritional profile. Vegetarians, vegans and raw foodists have shown particular interest in hemp seeds and other hemp-based foods as sources of important nutrients that are otherwise obtained from animal sources.

A Nutritional Superfood

Hemp contains all 21 known amino acids, including the 9 that the human body needs to build proteins, making it a “complete” protein source. Hemp is also an excellent source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)—the omega-3 and omega-6 fats that your body needs to function properly. Steriadonic acid (SDA) and gamma linolenic acid (GMA) help the body make use of these, promoting an anti-inflammatory environment and helping to control metabolism, hormonal symptoms and LDL cholesterol levels.

Hemp contains a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which is considered the optimal ratio for human health. In addition, the forms of SDA and GMA found in hemp are delivered as direct metabolites, meaning that the body doesn’t have to convert the fats from one type to another before using them.

Antioxidant vitamin E appears naturally in hemp along with minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc and phosphorus. Hemp is low in saturated fat when compared with the typical American diet and contains no cholesterol. These properties help you maintain a good balance between unsaturated and saturated fats in your diet while delivering nutrients that your body needs.

Though often associated with drugs, most hemp is very low in THC, making it suitable for use as a food.

Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, hemp seeds can do a lot to benefit your health. They’re also a good source of phytonutrients and antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals in the body that can cause cell damage. Phytonutrients are known for being protective against disease. Together the nutritional elements of hemp seeds work to improve your skin, strengthen your immune system, help nerve function, support brain and heart health and even boost energy levels. Best of all, hemp has no known allergens. A study made in Spain also confirmed that hemp oil can help curing cancer, if you want to read more about that click here.

How to Eat Hemp

There are many delicious ways to enjoy hemp seeds, the simplest being to incorporate them into foods that you already eat. Hemp seeds are light in flavor, so you can sprinkle them on your morning oatmeal or your after-dinner salad without much of a change in taste. You can also bake hemp seeds into your favorite breads and muffins to add nutritional value.

The recommended intake of hemp seeds is 2-4 tablespoons daily. However, the health benefits aren’t limited to just the seeds. Many hemp foods including non-dairy hemp milk, hemp seed butter, hemp oil and hemp protein powders are available at health food stores and online. Hemp is even beginning to appear in cereals, trail mixes and sprouted breads.

Here Ani will show you how to make a Hemp Protein Shake that’s great for post workout using hemp protein powder and hemp seeds:

With hemp seeds, it’s easy to add superfoods to your daily diet. Whether you sprinkle them on cereal, blend them into a smoothie or mix them into your favorite muffin batter, these super little seeds will bring you a boost of the nutrients you need from a 100 percent plant-based source.

14 Jan

Parsley – Herb,Spice,Vegetable and Medicinal Plant, 10 Reasons Not To Miss It

What Is Parsley?

You’re probably most familiar with parsley as that swig of green on top of your favorite casserole. If you’re only using parsley as a garnish, though, you’re selling this versatile herb short. Parsley can be used as an herb, a spice, a vegetable and a medicinal plant.

Parsley belongs to the family Apiaceae, and is related to such other culinary herbs as dill, fennel, cumin, caraway and anise. There are three varieties of parsley:

• Curly parsley, sometimes called French parsley, which has a slightly bitter taste, and is mostly grown as an ornamental.

• Flat leaf parsley, or Italian parsley, which is the herb most often used in cooking.

• Hamburg parsley, which is grown for its root and is a common ingredient in Eastern European cuisines.

Parsley is chock full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin K, several B vitamins, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper and iodine. Parsley has more vitamin C per gram than most citrus fruits, with 166mg per 100g (4oz), which is three times as much as an orange. Parsley also contains more beta-carotene than a large carrot.

Parsley has been used to help relieve menstrual cramps as far back as the Middle Ages.

Why Is It a Superfood?

Parsley has been elevated to the pantheon of superfoods because it’s packed with nutrients that team up in synergistic ways. Parsley’s B vitamins work together to revitalize your nervous system functions, which makes the herb a great stress reducer. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, essential to over 300 bodily functions.

Since the times of the ancient Greeks, parsley has been used as a digestive aid.

Parsley, the Stress Reducer and Other Health Benefits

Parsley can be used to maintain health and to combat specific illnesses.

Parsley is one of the best breath fresheners around, instantly ridding your mouth of unwelcome memories of that garlic pizza you had for lunch.
The Vitamin C in parsley boosts your immune system, safeguarding against colds and other types of infection.
Vitamin C is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, which means parsley can reduce the pain and joint stiffness associated with arthritis.
Vitamin C also assists with calcium absorption, which means parsley promotes bone and tooth health.
Parsley is a natural diuretic that can help prevent water retention and bloating. It flushes out the kidneys by stimulating urination. It can also help heal bladder and urinary tract infections.
Parsley has been used to help relieve menstrual cramps as far back as the Middle Ages. The secret ingredient? An essential oil called apiol that is still a widely used folk medicine to treat amenorrea. In fact, pregnant women should not eat parsley because it can induce miscarriage.
Since the times of the ancient Greeks, parsley has been used as a digestive aid. Though no scientific evidence has yet confirmed these results, parsley has been used for centuries to eliminate excess gas and stimulate bowel movements.
Parsley contains flavonoids, and flavonoids have anticarcinogenic properties.
Parsley also contains an essential oil called myristicin, which has been found to inhibit tumor growth in animal studies.
Parsley contains large quantities of the B vitamin folic acid, an essential nutrient that slows the arterial wall thickening characteristic of atherosclerosis. Folate also reduces levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that increases the risk of heart attacks, blood clots and strokes.

As most herb, fruit and vegetables, parsley is best used fresh.

How To Take Parsley

When used for medicinal purposes, parsley is most often juiced. Alternative health care practitioners recommend drinking no more than two ounces of parsley juice every day.

Parsley tea can also be brewed from either the fresh or dried herb. The recommended serving is six ounces a day.

Parsley is also available in supplement capsule form. The safest supplements are those made from dried parsley. Refer to the label for dosing information.

The ingestion of parsley oil is controversial. While some sources say it promotes optimal health, other sources point out that the active ingredients in parsley oil, myristicin and apiol, can be toxic to the liver and are a known abortifacient. Individuals taking diuretics, blood thinning medications and lithium are cautioned to avoid taking parsley in large amounts as a health supplement, though small amounts in food carry no risks.

Here is a cool recipe for making parsley juice. Since parsley has a very strong taste it is usually added to other juices. This one teaches you how to make carrot, apple and parsley juice (don’t mind the scary music :) ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOfsTL2PKxc

30 Sep

Anti-Aging Minerals

The Baby Boomer generation has turned into a growing market for any products that can be construed as anti-aging. So the makers of nutritional supplements are presenting many of their products in a new way to entice that market into buying. Vitamins and minerals that were once advertised as being essential to the health of a growing child and young adult are now being touted as anti-aging minerals and vitamins that are essential to not only slow down aging but to start feeling healthier and young again.

Fortunately, this is not just a marketing ploy. It is true that minerals are essential for good health as we age and do help to slow down the aging process and help us to maintain good health. But minerals are largely overlooked in the diet of Americans. In fact nutritional reports often speak of “mineral starvation”. A doctor at the National Academy of Science puts a lot of emphasis on minerals like potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous as being essential in order to properly use all of the body-building proteins that we eat. Dr. Cannon’s research team has found out that without enough potassium in the diet, congestive heart failure could be a result.

Minerals and proteins are actually more important than vitamins in our diet. But vitamins seem to get all of the attention. There are probably many more people taking vitamin supplements than the individual minerals they need, especially after they age of 40. Minerals along with protein are the main things required for good nutrition. Not that vitamins are not required as well. They are responsible for activating the minerals we take.

The Benefits of Minerals

The following are examples of essential minerals that the body needs and what their benefits are:

CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM

Many Americans, especially women, don’t get enough calcium. But there is that group who take too much calcium. While it is important for maintaining strong bones it is not the only mineral that is involved with bone density. Calcium should be taken with magnesium at a ration of about 2 to 1. This makes the calcium more effective. Magnesium helps the body absorb the calcium and can protect the heart if sudden changes in blood pressure occur.

ZINC

Zinc helps in supporting the enzyme function in the body. It can keep your immune system as well as cardiovascular system stay healthy.

BORON

Boron is a trace mineral that helps the body better metabolize all minerals that we eat or take as supplements. It is also important in the function of the membranes of cells. Like magnesium and calcium, it is valuable part of bone health. It helps the body absorb and retain calcium. For men, Boron also plays a part in the regulation of levels of testosterone.

Side Effects of Mineral Supplements

A few mineral supplements do have side effects, but they are usually related to taking too much. For instance, there is such a thing as zinc overdose. A dosage of 40 milligrams of zinc is considered to be safe by FDA. Anything more than that can be dangerous.

Can You Get the Right Amount of Minerals from Diet?

While it is true that essential minerals like these and other such as potassium, phosphorous, and selenium can be found in small quantities in the food we eat, food sources don’t usually provide the amount we need. In fact, agricultural scientists believe that our croplands are so depleted of important minerals that it is contributing to poor nutrition in our country.

Other Uses for Anti-Aging Minerals

The use of anti-aging minerals has even made it into the cosmetics industry. Minerals taken from the floor of the Dead Sea like Bromine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iodine, boron, and iron have been included in a variety of skin care products. These minerals are usually combined with herbal extracts, essential oils, and combinations of vitamins that contain anti-oxidants.

30 Sep

Super Green Foods

These days, it is difficult to go anywhere without being reminded of the necessity of eating healthy. As we continue to be bombarded by fast food where more emphasis is placed on making it as cheap as possible than trying to make it in any way healthy, and the trend in home cooking is toward prepared meals using preservatives and artificial flavors, it is becoming more important for individuals to take steps on their own to ensure that they get healthy foods into their diet. Fortunately, doctors have identified a number of super green foods that are extremely healthy and provide numerous nutritional benefits. Unlike other green foods such as vegetables, these items are grasses and grains that can be served as ingredients in a meal. Increasingly, men and women are finding the benefits of taking dietary supplements including these organic products to obtain the benefits to their health without having to work them into an everyday diet.

Wheatgrass

One example of these perfect food products is wheatgrass. When broken down nutritionally, wheatgrass consists of over twenty percent protein. This makes it an excellent supplement for people who need more protein in their diet, which includes a significant portion of the population. It has been used as an organic supplement for people suffering from low energy problems. Some people with gluten allergies who have restrictions on the wheat products they can eat think that they are not allowed to take wheatgrass supplements. This is not true, however. Wheatgrass does not contain the gluten that wheat grains have, making it perfectly safe for gluten allergists.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa is another one of the super foods, a nutritional heavy hitter that is seeing increased popularity as a dietary supplement. It has been discovered as a natural cholesterol reducer and has been shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque when added to the diets of monkeys, making it potentially helpful for people suffering from clogging arteries. One doctor listed the organs that are assisted by the inclusion of alfalfa in a diet as including the kidney, the liver, the prostate, the digestive organs and the reproductive organs.

Green tea

Another green superfood that is showing up in guidelines for improved dietary health is green tea. Green tea has been shown to have cancer-fighting effects. This is because green tea is full of a number of items that can not only attack cancer cells at the molecular level, but can offer protection to the DNA of healthy cells in the body, preventing them from getting cancerous. Green tea is also believed to have benefits in cardiovascular health as well, and is also listed as helping with a laundry list of concerns, including dental health, skin care, and osteoporosis.

These and other super green nutritional aids are gaining momentum in the dietary supplement industry as a natural alternative to chemical additives that may do more harm than good in the long run. Nutritional experts everywhere agree that adding natural ingredients into your food and dietary supplements is vital to improving your long-term resistance to disease and overall heath. By adding these and other super green foods to your dietary intake, you can ensure that you too reap the benefits of an increasingly green diet.

30 Sep

Benefits of Whole Food Vitamins

Whole food vitamins are one of the best supplement choices that an individual can make for their health because these vitamins are made from actual food and not from synthetically formulated chemicals manufactured in a lab. Recent studies have shown that supplements made from real food are more easily absorbed by the body and contributes greatly to the individuals overall nutrition. The continued depletion of our natural food supply has made natural vitamins not only an important addition to our lifestyles, but also a necessary addition to our modern lifestyles.

The Importance Of Whole Food Vitamins

Whole food vitamins are important because they contribute not only natural vitamins, but they also contribute a number of other substances that are important to our health. These substances are found naturally in food and can’t be obtained through a daily multivitamin or any other supplement for that matter. One of these these important substances are a little thing called probiotics. While vitamins are very important to the proper health of an individual, probiotics are also necessary because they provide the “friendly bacteria” that our body needs in order to properly digest and assimilate the nutrients from food.

Another benefit of whole food vitamins is that they provide a full spectrum of nutrients to the consumer. Recent scientific research has clearly shown that the human body is not designed to absorb isolated vitamins and minerals. The human body is designed to absorb nutrients in full spectrum. Let me give you an example:

If a person eats an orange they are not only getting vitamin C, but they are also getting a full spectrum of other nutrients that allow the vitamin C to be properly absorbed. A person taking vitamin C by itself does not get the supporting nutrients that allow them to properly absorb this nutrient. The whole food vitamin does give the consumer the supporting spectrum of vitamins that are needed to properly absorb it.

Why Take Whole Food Vitamins, Why Not Just Eat Normal Food?

Tomatoes are a source of lycopene

Now I know that many of you may be asking why you shouldn’t just eat the right food and not bother with the whole food supplements (by the way – check out the definition of whole foods – what foods are considered as whole foods). While it is certainly preferable to get your nutritional needs met in this way, it is often not very practical. Once again, let me give you an example:

To get your daily dose of lycopene you would have to consume ten tomatoes each and every day. Even if you could do that, it wouldn’t be very practical would it? But what if those tomatoes were dried ground up and placed in pill form? It would certainly be easier and that is the premise behind whole food vitamins. They allow you to meet your nutritional needs without excessive calories or having to eat an enormous amount of food.

The Price – How Expensive Are They?

When people hear the words “whole food vitamins” or “organic vitamins” one of their initial concerns is that the product will be prohibitively expensive. Whole food vitamins are generally slightly more expensive than synthetic vitamins due to the manufacturing process takes longer to extract the essential nutrients from the food. But it is not prohibitively expensive and the consumer can rest assured that they are receiving a product that has higher purity standards and nutritional value than regular, over the counter vitamins.

In our hectic, fast paced society it is becoming quite clear that more and more people are turning to whole food vitamins to ensure that their nutritional needs are met and their health is protected against the various diseases that are caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

30 Sep

Superfoods For Super Health – Which Foods Are Superfoods?

Many people wonder which foods are the most nutritious and which foods to consume on a regular basis to improve health. The answer is simple: Superfoods.

As the saying goes, you really are what you eat.

Superfoods

A superfood is any food that is living, rich in vitamins, minerals, high in fiber, low in calories and produces an alkaline pH in the body, as disease cannot survive when the body is in an alkaline state.

So which foods are superfoods?

Here is a simple guideline to follow:

Living, whole foods are the most nutritional and most easily digested foods because of the enzymes they possess. Basically all fresh fruits and vegetables when eaten raw are living foods, with living enzymes and have high nutritional value, especially if they are grown in organic soil. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain lots of fiber, are low in calories, have many vitamins and minerals, are high in anti-oxidants, and almost all produce an alkaline pH in the body, thus helping to combat disease.

A good guideline to follow with fruits and vegetables is to try to consume as many different colors as possible.

For example:

Red fruits and vegetable superfoods are pink grapefruit, tomatoes, red bell peppers, and watermelon. The red varieties contain lycopene, a substance that has been praised for its many cancer fighting properties, especially prostate cancer in men.

The purple variety contains concord grapes, blueberries, red cabbage, and prunes. All of these contain high amounts of antioxidants and help reduce heart disease.

In the green shade, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, bok choy and kale are good choices, as they contain lutein, folate and sulforaphane which has been shown to reduce heart disease and macular degeneration by aiding the body in detoxification.

In orange shades, carrots, mango, pumpkin, and oranges work well. The orange superfoods contain beta-carotene which fortifies the lungs, esophagus, stomach, eyesight, and helps boost the immune system.

Whites contain cauliflower, mushrooms, bananas, onions and garlic. These foods contain high amounts of allicin and anthoxanthins which aid in keeping blood pressure low and help balance the “good” bacteria in the digestive tract. Proper digestion is a key to good health as many maladies in the body originate in the intestines.

The benefits of eating living, whole, superfoods are immense. So get over to the produce section and make as many meals as colorful as you can.

30 Sep

Anti Aging Foods And Nutrition

Growing old is inevitable and the consequences of age are bound to show on our bodies. But these consequences and the time when they appear are greatly influenced by our lifestyle. Unhealthy lifestyle leads to premature aging. Alcohol, smoking, unhealthy diet, and too much exposure to the sun are the main reasons for premature aging. We are what we eat – this is so true. Through healthy eating and healthy lifestyle we can delay the effects of ageing and live a better, more active, and fulfilling life. There are basic foods that are considered healthy and then there are foods that can even be called Anti Aging Foods. These are foods that contain substances that work in a way of slowing down our aging or repairing the damage done by everyday life. Including anti aging nutrition in our everyday diet can therefore be another step in the direction of a better healthier life.

On this page you will find a list of articles containing information about the anti aging foods and nutrition. Which foods are considered healthy and which foods can actually help you stay younger and why. What are whole foods and why should you eat them and more. We urge you to read through these articles and follow at least some of the advice given. And of course – check out the main anti aging recipe on the homepage of this website.

We wish you a long and healthy life!

17 Feb

Health Benefits of Tangerine Juice

Aside from being sweet and flavorful, tangerine juice has many benefits for your health. In terms of nutritional value and disease-fighting properties, tangerine juice has several advantages over orange juice. From protecting you from diseases and cancer to keeping you fuller longer, this juice has a health benefit for nearly everyone.

Nutritional Value – The Source Of The Health Benefits Of Tangerine Juice

Tangerine juice has all of the tangy flavor of orange juice but with added nutrition. This juice is an excellent source of many antioxidants, such as hesperetin, xanthins, lutein, beta-carotene, and narigenin. Anti-oxidants eliminate free radicals that can cause cancer, as well as fight aging. The anti-oxidant beta cryptoxanthin may reduce inflammation from arthritis. Lutein protects the eyes and helps you keep your eyesight sharp. The flavenoid tangeretin is a powerful agent that has been shown in studies to prevent skin cancer and helps stop the spread of breast-cancer cells. The flavonoids tangeretin and nobiletin have blood thinning and anti-inflammatory properties, which may reduce your risk of heart attacks.

Additionally, tangerine juice is chock-full of vitamin C, which boosts your immunity. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin C helps your body fight infections from the common cold to the flu. In addition to helping increase your immune function, vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, and helps boost wound healing.

Tangerine juice contains folic acid and potassium, and it is also an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which promotes regularity. Being regular has been proven to reduce your risk for developing some forms of cancer, such as colon cancer. The fiber also helps prevent your body from absorbing cholesterol. Fiber whisks some of the cholesterol content from your food out of your system, which can lower your blood levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.

One serving of tangerine juice provides 20-percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. This is 10-times as much vitamin A as orange juice. Vitamin A is instrumental in protecting your eyesight, promoting immune function and bone and tissue health. The vitamin A in tangerine juice may also stimulate cell growth and cell division.

Antiseptic Properties

Tangerines have natural germ-fighting properties. Tangerine juice may help your body defend itself against an infection from the staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is highly contagious and causes painful lesions and boils on the skin, particularly on the face or in other tender areas such as the groin or the armpits.

In addition to fighting harmful bacteria, the pectin in tangerine juice has been proven to help increase the number of beneficial bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria improve digestion and increases your body’s ability to defend against harmful bacteria which can cause inflammation and intestinal disorders. When harmful bacteria enter the gut, beneficial bacteria help usher the bad bacteria out of your system before they can cause an infection.

Diet Support

Tangerine juice is an excellent way to start your day if you are dieting. The fiber and carbohydrates in the juice help keep you feeling full, which will prevent over-indulgence later on. Additionally, the sweet finish of the tangerine flavor can help prevent the cravings for sugar that can derail a diet.

Starting your day with tangerine juice is a tasty and healthy way to boost your immunity, bolster your digestive and tissue health and protect your body against the ravages of cancer. Tangerine juice is powerful enough to do all of those things, yet it is so tangy-sweet and flavorful that you will forget all about its many health benefits and simply enjoy the flavor.