STAY HEALTHY BY EATING RIGHT & GOOD LIFESTYLE

HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN WHITE SUGAR

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 06:56:00 +0000

Many years ago I have heard about what damages the innocent looking white sugar or refined sugar can cause to our health, but not until recently I ran across some articles about white sugar and stunningly found out that the
chemical ingredients contained in white sugar can do such a tremendous disruption to our metabolism and eventually cause detrimental effect to our overall health and weakens our immune system.

White Sugar can be poisonous to our body

The relationship between white sugar and diseases is obvious and all the chemicals ingredients contained in white sugar can cause several diseases like heart disease, cancer , stroke, hypertension, diabetes, pancreas disorder, liver disease, ashma, just to name a few. White sugar is simple sugar that has a nickname called empty calorie food, because in the process of making white sugar, all vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients have been taken out or destroyed, and the following additives and chemicals are added, among them: calcium hydroxide, white mud, activated carbon, diatomite, ion exchange chromatograpy, styrene, divinylacetylene benzol, benzol peroxide, polyvinyl alcohol, bentonite, concentrated sulfuric acid, methacrylic acid, sodium hydroxide, methyl chloride, diethylenetriamine (DETA), etc.

Besides, sugar refining industry often uses bone char (calcinated animal bones) and activated carbon for decolorizing.

The above-mentioned substances are mainly for industrial use and are considered lethal toxin. For example, polyvinyl alcohol is used in covering light bulb to make color light. Styrene is used for coating materials, Sodium hydroxide is used in making soap, Bone meal is known to be toxic and can cause mad cow disease if it is fed to cows, while Bentonite is used to absorb protein molecules from liquid solutions during refinery process, it could be toxic if it is contaminated or is industrial grade and not refined.

Effect of White Sugar to Our Health
White Sugar does not contain Vitamins and Minerals. Depletion of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in White sugar processing can lead to symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiency. Our body needs variety of enzymes, vitamins and minerals to break down sugar to release energy during the chemical process to turn sugar into energy, and one of the essential elements is vitamin B1, which is vital for brain function, so if a person eats sugar but do not eat enough Vitamin B1, the sugar cannot effectively process in the body thus a person become fatigue and lack of energy.

White sugar has no Calcium in it, and when we eat foods which contain white sugar, our blood becomes acidic and calcium in our bones is drained as a result. During metabolizing processes, sugars turn into water and carbon dioxide, the latter is carried into blood to be carried out of body through lung, it will make our blood acidic, in the meantime if our metabolism slows down due to lack of minerals, vitamins and exercise, in order to neutralize the acidity in blood, our body saps out calcium from our bones and teeth, which inturn cause osteoporosis and cavities. Weakened bone due to food acidity also translate into weakens immune system.

Overeating sugar also destroys essential amino acids which are vital to form protein in our body, even if the milk is boiled with refined sugar will also break down amino acid such as lysine and arginine rapidly. If a person takes over 200g of sugar daily, the activities of white blood cells become sluggish, and hence weakens our immune system too. we sometimes heard people said that they have pain in their joints similar to arthritis after they drank two glasses of high calcium milk each day after a period of time, this is mainly caused by calcium loss and the accumulation of acidity in the joints, since milk can cause calcium and protein loss if mixed with refined sugar.

The excessive refined sugar which is are not properly utilized and/or stored will also causes blood to become sticky, and can cause inflammatory which in turn cause the blood pressure high. Refined sugar also effects our brain and when combines with refined (white) flour and butter or magarine, it could be deadly.

The Difference between Refined Sugar and Raw Sugar

White (refined )sugar is different with sugar in raw fruits, vegetables and whole foods, because the latter is natural with all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes in them, but the refined sugar is artificial with no nutrients at all.

In most of the processed foods sold in supermarket (see what is in processed food), are not only packed with refined sugar, they also contain white (refined) flour, preservatives, coloring, flavor enhancer, and of course mostly trans fat.

some chemical additives or substances are highly toxic when consumed and accumulated in a body and when it exceeds a certain amount or limit of which our body can handle, our body will fail to eliminate or detoxify the toxic substance and eventually our body will be poisoned by those ingredients, our organs will be damaged or will not function as it should, eventually will cause many kinds of diseases.

Substitute For Refined Sugar

Replace Refined Sugar with natural sugar such as coconut sugar, palm sugar, evaporated cane juice, milled cane sugar or molasses. A kind of plant called Stevia is also a good natural sweetener, and can be used for cooking, baking and making sweet foods. Eat whole grain and use more sweat natural ingredients while cooking, such as beet roots, sweet potatoes, dates, carrots, etc. For craving, take nuts and seeds, prunes, dates, raisins, fresh fruits instead of candies, milk chocolate or sweet pastries.

Make Healthy Snacks and Juices At Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:15:00 +0000

Making Healthy Snacks and Juices for your family and kids is easy, so instead of buying snacks and beverages in the stores or supermarkets, you can make them at home. I am going to give you my recipes for some healthy snacks, as well as Hazelnut spread and fruit jam, and juices that to keep your heart healthy and lower cancer risk. No preservatives, no colorings, no white sugar or food additives. These simple easy homemade healthy snacks and juices recipes are packed with nutrients, besides they're portable and you can snack as much as you can and still keep you healthy and energetic all day.

HEALTHY VEGGIE MIX JUICE

Ingredients:

½ Cucumber (can be Japanese or English cucumber)

½ cup Celery (chop)

½ cup Broccoli

½ cup Carrot

1 lemon (juice)

¼ cup of ice or almond milk

Directions: put all ingredients (except lemon juice) in a blender and blend until smooth, then pour it into a glass, squeeze one lemon juice into the mix, and drink it immediately.

Cucumber is known to have the benefit of lowering blood pressure, while celery has diuretic effect and contains some minerals. Broccoli and carrot provide you with antioxidants to prevent diseases. Lemon is known to have vitamin C which can prevent digestive tract diseases and also acts as antioxidant.

ANTIOXIDANT MIXED FRUIT JUICE

Ingredients:

¼ cup Strawberries

¼ cup Blueberries

½ cup Apple (peeled and sliced)

½ cup Mango or pineapple (peeled and sliced)

½ cup of ice cubes

Directions:

Blend strawberries, blueberries ,Mango (pineapple) and ice cubes first , then add apple slices and blend until smooth, you can also add some soybean milk if you like.

Apple and blueberries ranks the best when it comes to fighting heart disease and blood clotting.

Apples provide you with vitamins, minerals, and the most important , the antioxidants —these are what keeps your body strong. They contain pectin which lower LDL cholesterol , and also Quercetin, and fiber which interacts with other phytonutrients to combat oxidative stress that can lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems. Apples are anti-inflammatory which helps support vascular health.

VITAMIN BOOSTER

Ingredients:

½ cup Honey dew melon

½ cup Black grapes

¼ cup Watermelon

¼ cup Almond milk

Directions:

Peel and cut the honey dew melon into small pieces, for the black grapes, just wash them with clean water and use the whole fruit, peel the water melon and discard outer green layer of the skin but retain the white inner layer, then cut it into small pieces. Put the first three ingredients into the blender, then add almond milk when mixing, blend until smooth.

The white inner layer of the water melon is believed to have the phytochemicals which can help cure diabetes.

Fresh grapes or even frozen grapes are rich in nutrients and fiber, the grape seeds, too are loaded with healthful nutrients.

Almonds are packed with cardioprotective nutrients including fiber, vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium and monounsaturated fat.

CHOLESTEROL BUSTER

Ingredients:

½ cup apple (cut into small pieces)

½ cup cucumber (peeled and cut into pieces)

¼ cup celery (coarsely chopped)

¼ cup fresh orange juice

Directions:

First put all the celery and cucumber and orange juice into a blender and blend for a few seconds, then add apple and blend until evenly mixed and nearly smooth.

Celery is good to prevent

HAZELNUT CHOCO SPREAD

Ingredients:

1 cup Hazelnut (ground)

½ cup Dutch cocoa powder

¼ cup Brown sugar or molasses

3 tablespoons Olive oil

Directions:

Mix hazelnut, chocolate powder, brown sugar and olive oil until smooth and even, and it is ready to be used with toast or bread.

Dark cooking chocolate can be used as substitute of Dutch cocoa powder, but reduce the olive oil to 1 tablespoon.

Epidemiological studies found that regular consumption of nuts (including walnut, brazil nut, pecan nut, etc.) was associated with a 37 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease and can help stabilize blood pressure.

TASTY FRUIT JAM

Ingredients:

1 whole pineapple (cut into small pieces) or 3 cups of strawberries.

2 tablespoons of brown sugar (optional)

Some organic vanilla powder for taste

Directions:

Blend the pineapple or strawberries and then add sugar and vanilla powder, you can cook the mix in a pan in medium heat until it is boiled and turn off the stove, and then scoop them into an airtight jar after it gets cooler and it can be stored in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks.

NATURAL DETOX DIET CLEANSES THE BODY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:26:00 +0000

DETOX LIVER AND COLON AND MAKE YOU HEALTHIER AND SLIMMER

This detoxification program described below is a general one, suitable for those who feel sluggish and need to rejuvenate or revitalize themselves. Detox can cleanse the liver as well as the colon, besides, the diet can make you slimmer too. For those who have certain illness or on regular medication, should consult their doctor first, and their detox diet will be slightly different and should be customized.

You are free to choose 1-day or 2-day program as follows:

1-DAY DETOX PROGRAM

Fasting detox: Take either water melon juice or plain water (mineral water) for 1-2 days.

1) Drink 2 glasses (about 500 ml.) of mineral water in the morning at about 6 – 6:30am

2) Just drink water or water melon juice from 7am until 7pm, water contained in water melon has been purified by the plant itself, and it is as good as mineral water

3) Go to bed the latest at 9pm.

Note: if water melon is not available, use coconut water instead

2-DAY DETOX PROGRAM

6:00am Drink 2 glasses of water (about 500ml.)

6:30am Take blended mixed fruit

7:30am Breakfast: cooked mixed grain

8:00am Drink a glass of water

9:00am Snack: a glass of pineapple + kale + carrot juice

12:00noon Lunch: energy soup with cucumber

1:00pm Drink a glass of water

2:00pm Snack: a glass of mixed berries smoothie

3:00pm Drink a glass of water

4:00pm Snack: a glass of pineapple + kale + carrot juice

5:00pm Drink a glass of water

6:00pm Dinner: vegetable broth + a piece of steamed tofu (6cmx6cmx2cm).

7:00pm Drink a glass of water

8:30pm Prepare to go to bed

9:00pm Have a good night sleep, at least 7 hours.

Do it for two days. As for the snacks, either mixed berries smoothie or pineapple kale carrot juice can be taken as often as you like.

BLENDED MIXED FRUIT

First a cup of papaya in the blender and blend it, then add a cup of pineapple, then one green (granny smith) apple (sliced), finally add one tablespoon of flaxseeds in a blender, and blend until smooth. No need to add water.

COOKED MIXED GRAIN

Ingredients:

- ½ cup lentils

- ¼ cup mung beans
- ¼ cup red beans
- 4 pieces pitted prunes
- 4 pieces pitted dates
- 1/2 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds

Directions:

First cook red beans for about 20 minutes, then add lentils and mung beans and cook until tender, then add molasses and set aside, add prunes, dates and sunflower seeds and serve.

This healthy recipe gives you protein to maintain your muscle tissue as well as fiber to stimulate bowel movements.

PINEAPPLE JUICE + KALE + CARROT JUICE

Ingredients:

- 1 cup pineapple

-       4 cups chopped kale leaves
-       2 carrots
-       ½ cup chopped celery
-       1 lemon, squeezed

Directions:

Use a juicer to obtain the juice, or instead use a blender, add 1½ cups of water and remove the pulp with a strainer.

This juice is good for digestion because pineapple contains digestive enzymes, and Kale helps the liver to cleanse the toxin with its enzymes .

MIXED BERRIES SMOOTHIE (250ml)

Ingredients:

- ¼ cup blueberries

-       ¼ cup strawberries
-       ¼ cup blackberries
-       ¼ cup black grapes
-       ½ cup ice

Directions:

Blend the ingredients until smooth with a blender.

Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and grapes are powerful antioxidants, and also increase the number of enzymes in the liver. Blueberries are rich in manganese and vitamins C and E that provide protection on a cellular level, it helps lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

ENERGY SOUP WITH CUCUMBER

Ingredients:

- 1 cup sprouts (bean,vegetables,alfalfa) or microgreens

-       2 pieces seaweed (each piece of about 6-7cm, if dried seaweed, soak them in water first)
-       ½ cup avocado
-       ½ cup cucumber
-       1 tablespoon sesame seeds
-       1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
-       1 lemon, squeezed

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

This energy soup will give you enough calorie with vitamins and minerals for the day. The enzymes in the sprouts will also help your body to detox.

VEGETABLE BROTH

Ingredients

2 quarts water
2 carrots – cut into pieces of about 1.5cm-2cm thick
1 white Radish – cut into pieces of 1.5cm-2cm thick
2 onions, sliced or chopped
2 stalks leek – cut into 4cm long
2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
4 pieces of shiitake caps (sliced)
¼ tsp. sea salt
10 sprigs parsley, chopped

Directions

Put the ingredients in a stainless steel pot, cover and bring to a boil for about 10 minutes, then simmer for an hour, after that take out the vegetables and use a strainer to squeeze a bit then discard the pulp, it will be enough for 2 meals.

For those who expose to radiation which comes from electronic equipment, appliances (computer, router, etc.) and gadgets, detoxification with baking soda and sea salt will help reduce the radiation in our body, the formula is:
1. Use a small bathtub a big basin which can contain about 20 liters of water or enough to accommodate the body;
2. Fill the bathtub or basin with water;
3. Put three tablespoons of baking soda and three tablespoons of natural sea salt in the bathtub or basin
4. Stir them in the water until they are completely dissolved;
4. Soak yourself in the water for about 15 minutes, your head has also to be soaked or showered with the solution to get the maximum result.

HOW TO GROW SPROUTS AND MICROGREENS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:02:00 +0000

HOW TO GROW SPROUTS AND MICROGREENS

Sprouts and Microgreens can be grown at home, and it is guaranteed no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, and it is also a fun to see those plants growing.

Sprouts are germinated seeds and can be produced in a container, the container should have high moisture and humidity levels. The seeds are not actually planted but they are soaked in water and rinsed twice to three times a day. The seeds used to germinate can be Mung Beans, Red Beans, Kale, Cabbage, Cress, Radish, Alfalfa, Celery, Pumpkin, Bok Choy seeds, and other vegetable and herbs seeds.

The seeds, stems, underdeveloped leaves (of which color is pale) or leaf buds, and roots can be consumed after 3-5 days more depends on the variety of the seeds.

Microgreens or Micro Greens are grown by planting the vegetable, herbs seeds or other seeds in a shallow box or container and thinly covered with soil, and they will produce tiny form of young edible greens after a few days or a week, and then they are harvested by cutting the stem just above the soil line. It usually consists of two pairs of leaves – one pair of very small leaves and one pair of fully developed cotyledon leaves at about 1-1¹/₂” in height. This means that they need some sunlight during their growth, and their leaves are greener than the sprouts, and are harvested before they develop into larger plants.

How to grow sprouts

- Prepare a clean wide-mouth glass jar or stainless steel container, and a piece of unbleached plain cloth or non woven cloth which is big enough to cover the top of the jar.

- Put the seeds into the jar, just enough to cover 70% of the bottom of the jar to allow some room for the seeds to sprout, and rinse them with water twice, then cover the jar with the cloth and drain the water.

- Keep the jar covered with the cloth and place it in the room where the temperature is about 75-80^oF.

- Do the rinsing at least twice a day, but if the seeds are in crowded condition on the second day, do the rinsing three times a day.

- Always check if there are dead seeds or spoilage among the seeds, immediately take them out and discard them to prevent it from being rotten that will allow bacteria or fungi to grow.

- Slightly shake the jar after rinsing so that the seeds will not stick to the bottom of the jar and evenly get the water and humid. If there are seeds which stick together, use a toothpick or fork to separate them.

- The sprouted seeds are ready for consumption after 48 ~ 96 hours.

How to grow Microgreens indoor

- First you have to get a box or container of about 2-2¹/₂” deep and as large in diameter as you want with some (organic) soil in it;

- Scatter the seeds so that they are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart and cover thinly with soil (about 1/8 inch) . There are a large variety of seeds available, you can either start with a pre-packaged seed mix, or look for specific Microgreen mixes (see the list of seeds below);

- Place the box or container in a spot where it can get at least four hours of sunlight;

- Water them twice a day, morning and evening;

- When they are sprouting, keep them away from any worms, insects or any harmful pests;

- When they are about 1-1¹/₂” in height, and have at least a set of true leaves, it is harvest time. When harvesting, snip them just above the soil line, and leave the roots behind, those roots can be used as organic fertilizer for the next seeds planting.

Commonly grown varieties of microgreens :

Mesclun or Baby Greens, Lettuce, Basil, Endive, Spinach, Tatsoi, Amaranth, Arugula, Beets, Cabbage, Celery, Chard, Chervil, Cilantro, Cress, Fennel, Kale, Mustard, Parsley, Radish, and Sorrel, sunflowers, Mung Beans, Romano beans, Coriander.

7 TIPS TO COOK HEALTHY FOODS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:36:00 +0000

Here are 7 Tips to Cook Healthy Foods and Meals at Home.

Being healthy should be both physically and mentally, and the way we think and what we can do to improve our health, plus the determination and consistency to do or change something, say your habit, the food you eat, the way you prepare or cook the food also part of the healthy lifestyle.

There are many ways and many articles on how to cook simple tasty healthy foods, and you may have read some of them before, and I would like to suggest that healthy foods should be cooked using good kitchen cookware or utensils, such as sauce pan, frying pan, pot, steamer, roaster, skillets, etc. should be made of stainless steel, not aluminum and avoid using non-stick pan which is coated with Teflon, unless you are one hundred percent sure it is totally free from fine and tiny scratches, because any small damage on the pan surface will allow toxin to come out and contaminate your food.

Recently there are some cookware or frying pans which have marble-like surface inside, but I still wonder what exactly the material is used, and there are some layers of the pan are made of aluminum or alloy, and some are also coated with non-stick coating similar to teflon, so I would rather not to take the chances.

Here are some tips to prepare the healthy foods:

1. Choose fresh vegetables (or fruits), if possible go for organic veggies, otherwise select those which with less pesticides from your reliable farms or markets, or look for some veggies which have tiny holes or something which indicate the present of veggies eating worm, and some web inside the cauliflower or broccoli should not scare you away. Besides, you can also grow your own sprouts or microgreens at home .

2. First wash away the dirt or any impurities on the vegetables under running water, then soak them in salt & lemon water (2 liters of water + 1 tablespoon of sea salt + 2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice) for 5-6 minutes, then rinse them with fresh clean water twice , by this way we can get rid of worms, bacteria and chemicals which comes with the veggies.

3. if you prepare vegetables for more than one day meals, and would like to keep some of them for later use, then keep them in an airtight container or wrap them with food grade plastic wrapper. Some veggies can be stored in chiller or freezer to keep them fresh for several days.

4. Prepare a clean stainless steel pan or pot to cook the food, try to cook the food as less oil as you can, such as stir-fry, sautee are better than deep frying, and cook, boil or simmer can be done without oil or margarine. As nutritional expert always recommend to use water to “fry “ the foods without using cooking oil at all, or otherwise steam the food, it is not only good for your health, and help your body to detox, but it can also decrease dark spots or freckle on the skin, and make your skin look cleaner and brighter.

5. Raw food – some experts say we have to eat raw food (or at least 80% raw) instead of cooked foods, because cooking or heating the vegetables or any food will cause the loss of most nutrients ad sometimes even no benefit at all. You can prepare easy and simple salads using lettuce, bean sprout, alfalfa sprouts, kidney beens, large cucumber, or even apples, pineapples, chick peas, beetroot, almonds, cashew nuts, or any combination you like, make your own dressing by using lemon juice ,olive oil, and a few drops of sesame oil, olive oil gives you monounsaturated fat which your body needs. The grown veggies which are to be eaten raw should be cleaned thoroughly, see point 2 above.

6. Cooked food - do not overcook the food, the nutrients, especially vitamin C and water soluble vitamins will reduce significantly or totally disappear if the food is cooked too long or with high heat. So the best way to cook leafy greens or broccoli or cauliflower is: put some water in the pan or pot with cover and heat it, before the water boils, put the veggies into the pan (pot) and stir a bit to let the water cover the veggies, and once the water is boiling, cover the pot and turn off your stove and wait for about 7-8 minutes, and then serve it after adding some salt, cayenne pepper, one table spoon of olive oil and a few drops of sesame oil if you like. By this way the heat inside the pan(pot) will cause the veggies cooked evenly without causing the loss of nutrients. Otherwise, cook the vegetables or leafy greens by steaming for about 6-7 minutes, and take them out from the steamer while they still look greenish or about 70% cooked.

7. For fresh salad dish, it is better to make a fresh one for every meal, squeeze some lemon juice just before you are going to take it and finish it within 20-30 minutes after preparation. Some cooked food can be store in the fridge a bit longer, but be sure not to heat it over and over again as the nutrients will be gone under the process of heating.

HEALTHY EATING PREVENT AND HELP CURE DISEASES

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:28:00 +0000

As I already talked about hypertension was the major cause of heart disease, and several kinds of food and other factors which can cause hypertension. I would like to go further about what kind of healthy foods we should eat and those we should avoid or limit the intake.

It is important that you should know your limit, if you know that you have had too much of something, then you have to stop, indulging or intemperance is nothing good because anything which is too much is as bad as too less. If you cannot refuse the temptation of the tasty, delicious but not-so-healthy food or drink, or some bad habits, then think about if someday when you or one of your family member gets sick, think about the agony and pain, and how much time and money you have to spend for regaining health (if the disease can be reversed), or the worst someone may have to say goodbye to your precious health or beloved family forever. Healthy people may not have any symptoms for a period of time though they have bad lifestyle for years as their bodies still can get rid of the toxins, but the time will come though. As for the people with the symptoms or disease, there is no time for procrastinating, they have to change their habit and lifestyle immediately.

As we say you are what you eat, this is particularly true about the food and our health, that is easier and better to prevent the disease rather than to cure it later, but if it happens that you have some kind of disease, there is still a hope to get better or cured. Here are a few tips about the foods and beverages you should not eat or drink, and those you should limit the intake to help you healthier or regain your health:

1) Not to eat: Junk food or fast food – it is a big temptation for almost everyone, the fast food vendors have the right to sell the food to earn a living, and you have the right to choose, it is up to you whether you want it or not, and just remember this food is usually packed with something which is not so healthy. For those people with heartdisease, diabetes or cancer, indulge yourself just because you already have the prescribed medicine on hand is a big mistake, you should still avoid taking this food especially if it is fried or barbecued in which there is a lot of trans fat .

What to eat: home-made whole grain bread sandwich with turkey or fish fillet, make your own veggies salads with leafy greens, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, and the dressing made of olive oil and lemon juice. It is worth to take some of your time to prepare your own meal and take it with you when you go out for a walk or to the office, so you can avoid being tempted to eat the food that you should not eat or when you are too hungry to wait.

2) Not to eat: Snacks and bakery products which are made of white flour and margarine or butter, and sometimes with a lot of sugar, salt and eggs, which make these foods high in trans fat as well as saturated fat. You can make your own fruit jam or hazelnut carob-choco spread instead of purchasing the commercial products.

What to eat: make your own healthy snacks, whole meal pancakes and cookies or simply snack on some nuts and seeds, snack on fresh fruits instead of processed or canned fruits, and use brown sugar or molasses instead of white sugar.

3) Limit: the intake of red meat, eggs, cheese and full cream milk because these foods, especially meat and egg yolks are high in saturated fat. Replace milk with almond milk or soybean milk, and cheese with plain yogurt or Greek yogurt.

What to eat: replace red meat with sea fish, take not more than 2 eggs per week, choose non fat milk or plain yogurt (Greek yogurt) over full cream milk, or use almond milk as substitute for cow milk.

4) Not to drink: carbonated drink or other soft drink. These products always high in sugar which will increase your cholesterol level, and they contain no nutrients.

What to drink: fruit juice or mixed berries smoothies with some ground flax seeds or chia seeds, or green tea with lemon juice. Omega 3 in flax seeds is good for heart and catechin in green tea help reduce fat in our body.

5) Limit: Sweets and chocolate products. According to the researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), sugar and sweeteners are toxic to human body, they make blood pressure and cholesterol go up, along with the risk for liver failure, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Chocolate not only has sugar in it, it also contains theobromine which has similar effects to that of caffeine.

What to eat: snacks on fresh and dried fruits such as raisin, prunes, cranberries, figs and dates, and you can make your own tasty snacks or cake using carob powder instead of chocolate, the taste and color of carob powder are similar to those of chocolate, but does not contain theobromine, also use palm sugar or molasses for making snacks instead of white sugar.

6) Not to drink: alcohol and coffee. Alcohol may increase cancer risk though it is said to have some heart-healthy benefits. Caffeine and sugar in coffee are not good for your heart either.

What to drink: make your own beverages such as fruits and vegetable juice, or green tea with brown sugar, or you can replace green tea with non-caffeine mulberry tea or chrysanthemum tea.

7) Limit : fried food and barbecued food, frying or barbecue turns a good protein into bad protein （especially Lysene) because of high heat, besides it can increase cholesterol level and increase risk for heart disease as well as cancer disease as barbecued and charred food always contain carcinogens.

What to eat: try to cook the food in low heat and with less oil, such as stir fry, sauté, or steam the food.

8) Finally, be consistent and do exercise, and avoid stress, try to meditate for 15-20 minutes a day will be very helpful, keep in mind that your health is priceless. Have a medical check-up at least once a year to monitor your health condition. I personally also experienced of having high cholesterol levels five years ago, and not knowing until I had a medical check-up, then I decided to change my eating habit and it worked for me. (it should work for you too). Detoxification also helps to get rid of extra fat in the body and thus keep your heart healthier.

If you would like to know more about food categories, you can also see the http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health about go, slow and whoa foods chart.

EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:57:00 +0000

HEART DISEASE AND HOW TO PREVENT IT

Heart Disease or Cardiovascular Disease can be caused by :

The disruption of blood supply to the heart itself and the whole body due to the narrowing of arteries and blood vessels of the heart. The plaque (cholesterol deposits) builds up in the arteries, and causes the heart to work harder to pump the blood, this will also cause the liver to produce more cholesterol ( a fat-like substance in the body), and if this cycle continues it will cause the arteries become less and less elastic, and contribute to hardening of the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis, and also there will be blood clot in the arteries. The higher the force of blood pushing against the blood vessel walls the higher is the blood pressure, in this condition, if not treated timely, there is a risk of having heart attack or coronary artery disease and higher risk of having stroke. This is even more so if combined with high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes and smoking.

There are two types of hypertension:

Primary (essential) hypertension
This type of hypertension tends to develop gradually over many years in most adults, though no identifiable cause of high blood pressure.

Secondary hypertension
This type of high blood pressure is caused by an underlying condition and can cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension.

Health problems such as diabetes or kidney disease, adrenal gland tumor and certain drugs or medications as well too much alcohol, salt consumption, older age and lack of physical activity can lead to secondary hypertension,

The ways to prevent heart disease

Prevention is better than cure, preventing heart disease also means that it will help prevent other diseases, such as heart, liver, kidney and colon diseases. Here are the ways to prevent heart disease, but it require persistency as well as consistency.

·         High blood pressure may have no symptoms; the best way to prevent it is have your blood pressure checked, and keep it under control if you already have.
·         Exercise regularly
·         Don't smoke and avoid drinking alcohol and coffee
·         Closely monitor your blood sugar levels and get tested for diabetes regularly
·         Monitor your triglycerides and cholesterol levels and keep them under control
·         Eat healthy meals everyday, with a lot of fruit, vegetables, and some seeds and nuts
.          Make your own healthy snacks and juices at home instead of eating junk food.
·         Limit intake of foods which contain high saturated fat and trans fat (see the list below)
·         Maintain a healthy weight, and take more healthy foods, see detox.
·         Keep your stress level low and get enough sleep.
·         Drink sufficient amount of water, it is good to have 7-8 glasses of water per day
·         If you have any sympton or feeling something (dizziness, tiredness, chest pain), talk with your            doctor about your health problem and about treatment options.

Major sources of saturated fat include:

·         Red meat with fat or lard
·         Dairy products, especially full cream milk and cheese
·         Palm oil and other hydrogenated oils
·         High calorie and high cholesterol foods
·         White sugar, salt and white flour
·         Fried foods and charred foods
·         High saturated food, such butter, eggs, animal fat
·         Smoking (cigarette) and drinking (alcohol)

Major sources of trans fat include:

§ Deep-fried foods
§ Unhealthy fast foods
§ Bakery products which contain margarine and hydrogenated oils
§ Packaged snack foods including crackers, cookies which are mostly made of sugar, salt, white flour and margarine
§ Margarines or butter in fried or baked foods

Keep positive thinking and good mood
Studies reveal that a person who always worries or has a serious trauma , or individual who has bad temper or gets irritated and angry easily is more likely to have heart attack that those with mild temper and positive thinking.

6 TIPS FOR PREVENTING CANCER

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:04:00 +0000

6 TIPS TO HELP YOU PREVENT AND CURE CANCER

In my previous post I talked about the cause of cancer and the prevention, now here are tips to help you prevent cancer, or even cure it and regain your health. As cancer is caused by free radicals which damage our cells in our body, these damaged cells also need oxygen and nutrients to survive and multiply, so if we cut off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to these free radicals by supplying antioxidants to the good cells in our body and boost immune system, then the cancer cells or bad cells will die out and the chain reaction of damaging good cells in our body will finally end, and leave our body will recover from time to time.

According to some research and studies, cancer cells can be eliminated or cured, and the earlier it is discovered, the higher rate of recovery it will be, so see your doctor and have a medical check-up if you feel something unusual with your body, discover it at an early stage plus determination to change the lifestyle is the key to fight it and regain your health. Some preliminary studies on the benefit of veggies, beans, legumes and nuts have suggested that soy help to cure prostate cancer, and this may suggest a more important role for food in the treatment of cancer in the future.

Here are tips to help cancer sufferers to help restraint the spread of bad cells and to recover faster:

1. Change your diet - become a vegetarian or vegan is good for both healthy individuals and cancer sufferers. Studies results show that processed meat and fresh meat, charred and deep fried foods, or even poultry and contaminated fish can increase cancer risk, so become a vegetarian will help boost the immune system by increasing antioxidants in our body. I became aware of the benefit of whole grains, fruits and vegetables since 15 years ago, but not until two years ago that I fully understood why a vegetarian could be healthier than a meat eater. That was when I met someone who has been totally vegetarian, she suffered from ovarian cancer, back bone cancer and her vocal cord was damaged due to the spreading tumor several years ago, and after she had undergone surgeries and medication, she decided to become a vegetarian and change her lifestyle, joined detoxification program, and she survived, then she got better and better and became active in her church and community, now she is a speaker and health promoter and help people to enhance health and recover from serious illness.

The main reason that make fruits and veggies the best for our body is that not only they contain antioxidants which inhibit oxidation of molecule and terminate the chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, they are also rich in plant protein and nutrients which can be easily digested and absorbed by our body, that is about 90~99% of the plant protein we eat can be absorbed, compared to 70~80% of animal protein.

2. Try detoxification – after we have changed our daily menu from a not-so-healthy one to a healthier one, we need to detoxify our body to optimize the benefit of whole foods and veggies and boost metabolism. Detoxification is total cleansing to get rid of toxins in our body, it is not only good for cancer sufferers, but also good for sufferers of other diseases such as liver, kidney and heart disease, and it is great for everyone who wants to stay healthy. Detoxification can be programs of two days and 21 days, first try a one-day, or can also try a two-day program, this let us get used to the new eating habit before trying a much heavier detoxification program. As for 21-days detoxification program each individual should have different daily menu depends on his or her health condition. Detox not only good for body cleansing, it has the effect reducing waistline, and make the body slimmer.

If you are interested and would like to know more about the 2-day detoxification program for free, just leave your comment and email address in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

3. Cut down refined salt, white sugar, white flour - replace them with natural sea salt, palm sugar or brown sugar, whole grains or whole mea了 flour, it is necessary for a cancer sufferers to limit the intake of salt and sugar since salt is water retention and can raise your blood pressure, and sugar is toxic to our body, while white flour can increase your blood sugar.

4. Stop drinking alcohol and quit smoking - drinking alcohol can make the already vulnerable body even more susceptible to cell damage because alcohol can resolve the toxins and make it easily absorbed and transferred to the whole body and organs. Smoking is known as the main cause of lung cancer, also avoid second-hand smoke since it has the same or even more dangerous level. Some experts always suggest that we drink plenty of water or mineral water each day is good for health.

5. Cook healthily - if you used to cook your food by baking, frying or microwaving, now it is the time to change your way of cooking by steaming, low heat sautee, quick stir fry with less oil, and eat raw food as much as you can handle (about 70-80% raw is the best), you can make veggies salad with french dressing, or blender them with your favorite fruits. I will talk about these healthy cooking foods in other post in future, ask for it or subscribe this blog to get updates.
For those with cancer it is better to eat organic leafy greens just to avoid intake of toxins from pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizer. In case you cannot get organic veggies, you can grow some in your own garden, or grow microgreens in containers (will talk more about this in my next post ).

See also: Good Food and Habit Help Reduce Cancer Risk

6. Positive thinking - usually if a person discovers that he or she has cancer, the feeling of hopeless and fear will take control and this actually worsen that person’s health condition. Cancer is actually not that bad, considering that it is only good cells turn into bad cells which can be reverse under a certain condition, thus you still have a chance to fight it and regain your health and survive for years.

7. Do not forget to do exercise and avoid pollutant - choose one or two kinds of sports you like and do it routinely. Avoid polluted environment while you go out, and look for clean open air space for doing exercise, brisk walking, swimming, or any exercise that suits you. If you cannot go the sports center or gym, you can do it at home, even 25 to 30 minutes three or four times a week will do, and keep your house well ventilated.

Keep in mind that nutrition for the person with cancer is important and it enables the body to fight at full strength, and it is necesarry to bolster the immune system, and the diet may be adjusted to cope with various symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea or nausea. Extra protein may be needed to help prevent loss of muscle from weight loss.

GOOD FOOD AND HABITS HELP REDUCE CANCER RISK

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:15:00 +0000

THE CAUSE OF CANCER

There are various kinds of cancer, and it is a kind of disease that makes most people feel horrible or scared, however if we have a better understanding of the causes of cancer and the way to prevent it, then we can reduce the risk, and hence avoid a lot of troubles and perhaps help us save a huge sum of money too.

What causes cancer?

Cancer is caused by free radicals, some free radicals are formed normally in our body during metabolism, that is when our immune system purposefully create free radicals to neutralize viruses and bacteria which attack our body. Environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals. Carcinogens in foods, such as moulds and char-grilled food also increase the cancer risks.

What are free radicals?

A normal body cell consists of atoms of protons(positively charged particles) and electrons(negatively charged particles), when one of the electrons is missing because of one or more of the above-mentioned factors and leaves a molecule with an odd, unpaired electron, then free radicals are formed, and the good cell becomes a bad one. The unstable free radicals can react quickly with other compounds, and attack another nearest molecule to “steal” its electron to gain stability, and thus beginning a chain reaction because the "attacked" molecule which loses its electron becomes a free radical itself. If there are antioxidants available in our body, the body can handle free radicals, otherwise the free-radical production becomes excessive, and finally damaged cells will spread and form a tumor.

HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK AND PREVENT CANCER

The foods we eat or bad eating habit and lifestyle, can affect our risk of developing certain types of cancer.

First we look at the foods that may increase cancer risks:

§ Burnt or charred meat or barbecued foods
Animal protein in meat, poultry and even fish can turn bad if not properly processed. Burnt or charred meat may increase cancer risk. Carcinogenic substances can be produced if foods are overheated or burnt, and the protein in the food will be damaged and turn into bad protein. it’s best to use relatively low temperature methods such as boiling, stewing, steaming, casseroling, braising and stir-frying wherever possible.

§ Fatty processed red meats and highly processed foods that are low in fiber
High-energy, high-fat and low-fiber diets are thought to increase the risk of some cancers including bowel, lung, prostate and uterine cancers. World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) recommends that people avoid eating processed meat, including any meat preserved by salting, smoking or by adding chemical preservatives such as sausage, hot dogs, ham, bacon and burgers. Other food additives such as artificial coloring, flavoring and food enhancer should be avoided.

§ Fresh red meat, poultry and farm fish
In this modern time some feed for livestock, poultry and farm fish always contain antibiotics, hormone and other chemicals which are dangerous to our health. Besides, there is convincing evidence that red meat can increase bowel cancer risk, therefore if you are a meat eater, you should also limit the amount of fresh red meat you eat to 500g of cooked (or 700g uncooked) red meat a week.

§ Cured and heavily salted meat .

These foods contain nitrate and are generally high in fat and salt. Salt not only has been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer, but also can increase blood pressure which will also increase the risk for heart disease.
Limit the consumption of salt to 2300 mg/day is the rule of thumb.

§ Peanuts
unlike other nuts such as almond, pecan, brazil nuts, it takes longer for our body to digest peanuts, and some studies show that animals that consume peanuts which are contaminated with toxin-producing moulds can develop cancer.

§ Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and cyclamate could be dangerous if consumed too often or in huge amounts.

§ Alcohol, cigarette and coffee

Drinking alcohol if combined with smoking can be deadly, consuming alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colon, breast and liver. The risk is even greater in those people who smoke. If you can quit smoking and stop drinking then you can improve your health significantly. Otherwise it is suggested that drink moderately one or two standard drinks a day, but no smoking. Coffee and tea contain caffeine that can cause irregular hearthbeat and sleeplessness, it is better to stop or reduce the consumption of these two beverages if you feel something wrong.

The new studies on alcohol , conducted in conjunction with researchers in the U.S., Canada, and France, shows that the cancer risks of alcohol far outweigh any heart-healthy benefits.

As according to Dr. Timothy Naimi , an alcohol researcher at Boston University's School of Public Health and a physician at the Boston University Medical Center "Alcohol has long been known and recognized as a human carcinogen, so even some alcohol consumption raises your risks.”

STAY SLIM AND FIT NATURALLY WITH HEALTHY DIET AND EXERCISE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:14:00 +0000

How to Stay Slim Naturally with Healthy Diet Combined with Exercise and Fresh Air.

Most people know the importance of doing regular exercise, doing the warm up before you start your day, do some exercise or sports or to lift something heavier than usual. But people always have too many reasons for not doing exercise – too busy, too tired, no spare time after work, household chores, can not find convenient or nice place or gym center, no friends to do it together, or simply lazy to do. Remember that exercise can burn extra calories, eliminate toxins from your body, speed up metabolism and help to lower your blood pressure and stress, and make you more energetic and naturally slimmer.

Here are some simple ways to keep you moving and healthy:

1)    Choose one or two kinds of activities or sports which you like, and do it regularly. You do not really need a sports center or gym center to do exercise, unless you like outdoor sports such as swimming, playing tennis or basket ball, otherwise you can do it at home anytime, make a schedule for your workout, for example in the early morning or in the afternoon when you can spare some 20 to 30 minutes, three or four time a week, is better than nothing.

Some useful outdoor exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, or Tai Ji or even gardening are good and would not cost you any money. If you prefer a weight loss solution offered by an expert, you can follow the Weight-Loss Plan by Doctor Oz too.

2)    Remember to do some warming up before a workout, whatever sports or exercise you do, you have to start slowly. Even when you get up in the morning, before you leave your bed, stretch your body like a cat and do it several times from left to right, and turn your neck a bit too, with your arms stretch above your head.

3)    If you have more serious health problem, or if you suffer from osteoarthritis, bone fracture, spine problem or osteoporosis, it is better that you consult your doctor or chiropractor before you do any exercise.

4)    Get sunshine and fresh air whenever you can
As we know our body needs sunshine to make vitamin D for strong bones, and recent studies have shown a link between low levels of vitamin D and a higher risk for colon, breast, prostate, ovarian cancers and heart disease. Actually 10-15 minutes in the morning or afternoon of sunshine will do, but make sure you get the sunshine early in the morning before 8am, so you will get extra infrared ray which is good for blood circulation without getting burned by ultraviolet ray. Otherwise get some sunshine in the afternoon after 3pm. Energy from the sunlight also keeps your eyes healthy.

If you do not have enough time to do the outdoor exercise, keep your house or work place well ventilated and let the sun shine into your house if possible. Fresh air is important to keep your lung healthy and make you feel refreshing.

5) Watch your diet
Your body is what you eat, so if you want to be slimmer, take more fresh fruits and vegetables, there are many great recipes for fresh green vegies and microgreens salads and juices that you can take any time and as much as you desire, besides try detox to flush out toxins and unwanted or excessive fat from your body.

6) Drink water to keep you hydrated
We are told to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day, but personally I feel that our body will tell us when it needs (you will feel thirsty and dry) and when it is enough, especially if you do not do much exercise or sweat a lot, or during cool weather you may need less than that. For health reason, to drink 2 glasses of water, that is about 600 cc. of water early in the morning right after you wake up, to flush out the toxins in your body is highly recommended.

7) Your meal can be vgetables, fruits plus nuts and beans, to maintain proper body weight, the best way is to avoid taking too much foods which contain carbohydrate and sugar, vegetables and fruits give you more fiber to stimulate metabolism while nuts and beans also provide minerals and protein and some fiber.

Stay Healthy by Eating Whole Foods, Vegies, Fruits, Nuts & Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:21:00 +0000

When we talk about healthy, it should be inside out, as everyone wants to look and feel healthy, younger and even slim naturally without a crash diet, and there are so many ways to improve your health. Whether you're improving your diet or do some exercise, small steps can make a big impact and could be a healthy change for the better. I would like to share some experience and knowledge how to pick healthy foods and incorporate the healthy lifestyle in your daily living. First start with the food we eat.

Eat natural whole foods: take whole grain instead of processed cereal and cut down intake of white flour and white sugar

Eating whole-grain oatmeal daily - your cholesterol and blood sugar will be lower significantly. Whole grains not only provide carbohydrates and protein, but also the fiber which forms a gel that slows down your body's absorption of sugar as well as cholesterol. Instant cereal or processed food is lack of fiber and sometimes contains additives and substantial amount of sugar, white flour can raise your blood sugar too. Try oat meal, quinoa or other whole grain with prunes, cranberries, banana ,seeds (pumpkin, sunflower) and molasses for your breakfast, you will like it.

Take fresh veggies and fruits

Try to take at least five kinds of different veggies and two or more servings of fruit per day. Do not overcook the vegetables, or eat them raw as salads, because vegetables contain cancer-protective flavonoids, vitamins and minerals, some of them may be destroyed if cooked at high heat or too long , if you like, stir fry or sautee them for a few seconds in low heat, or steam the veggies for 3-4 minutes, and do not use microwave oven to cook vegetables.

During winter time when fresh veggies are hard to find, fermented sauerkraut can be a good substitute. A Finnish study found that cancer-fighting compounds are produced during the fermentation process of sauerkraut, and it has probiotics that can help break down toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. If you consume the canned sauerkraut instead of homemade one, rinse it to reduce sodium content before eating.

Nuts Nuts contains selenium, iron, zinc, trace minerals, protein , fiber and cancer fighting compounds. Almonds are known to help lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, Brazil nuts are rich in selenium, that can help to kill cancer cells and help repair DNA, and can decrease cancer risks, others such as cashews, pistachios, macadamia, hazelnuts, walnuts are also good for you, for the best effects, eat them raw instead of baked or fried. Beans and legumes Beans and legumes contain a lot of protein, iron, fiber and some vitamins and minerals. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, regular intake of three or four kinds of beans and legumes daily is good to prevent lack of protein in your body. Soy bean, lentils are good source of protein, while chick peas, kidney beans, small red beans provides you with more iron. The fiber contained in beans and legumes also help to increase bowel movements and hence help strengthening your body’s detoxification system.

Seeds
Seeds are source of oils, minerals and fiber and can help to prevent diseases. Flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants which can lower cholesterol and hence have cardioprotective effects , flaxseeds also contain chemical compound called Lignan, which is one of the major classes of phytoestrogens, could help reduce the risk of hormone-associated cancers (breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate), while grape seeds, sunflower seeds and safflower seeds are high in Omega-6.

Tips: Better to eat the seeds raw, I routinely take one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with blended fruit in the morning before having breakfast.

Berries
A new study says that people who take at least three servings per week of berries, especially strawberries or blueberries may reduce the risk of heart attack by one-third compared with those who incorporated fewer of the colorful berries into their diet.Dietary flavonoids called anthocyanins are found in berries and are known to counter the buildup of that causes atherosclerosis.

Blueberry, cranberry, goji berry, strawberry and cherry are classified as super fruits, they are packed with nutrients and antioxidants which help fight free radicals that damage or kill cells.

Herbs and spices

Herbs : fresh parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano and pepermint have certain phytochemicals that may help prevent cancer and other diseases and fight inflammation. Parsley which its high levels of apigenin can inhibit tumour growth and delay its formation, and it is also believed to act as a diuretic.
Spices: garlic, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, capsicum which are used to enhance the food flavor provide health advantages that may range from lowering blood sugar to reducing joint inflammation.

Do not eat between meals
We need digestive enzymes to digest food that we eat, and our body can only produce limited amount of enzymes and it decreases along with age, meaning we get less and less enzymes as we get older, that is why people who like craving and snacking (especially sweet and fatty ones) will take more enzymes to digest, and eventually will have indigestion problems.

Regular exercise and sleep well

Do not be a cough potato, your body is a dynamic structure and is meant to move, any exercises from walking, swimming, station cycling, to stretching exercise like yoga and pilates are good to keep our body flexible and more energetic, and it can also help us to sleep better at night.

It is recommended that 7 to 8 hours sleep is necessary to keep us in good shape, although some people may feel good to have just 6 hours deep sleep.