Health Freaks Hotspot

Eating Healthy for your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:18:00 +0000

Your heart is one of the most important organs in the body, and the foods you put into your mouth effect how your heart operates. If you want your heart to be strong and able to pump blood as well as possible all over your body, it is important for you to eat a healthy diet. Heart-healthy foods are readily available in the supermarket, so choose some that work for your personal likes and you should be able to help prevent heart disease in your own body.

Cholesterol is the most important thing when it comes to eating heart-healthy foods. There are both good cholesterols and bad cholesterols. Good cholesterols are called HDL, and their job in the body is to take excess bad cholesterol (LDL) to the liver, where it can be broken down and then will leave the body. LDL is actually not needed by your body at all from foods. Our bodies make enough of this kind of cholesterol on its own. It is the LDL cholesterol that hurts our hearts, not the HDL cholesterol, which actually helps our hearts be reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol in the body. Read more.....

Looking for Cod Liver Oil tablets!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:55:00 +0000

I have been looking out for some good quality cod liver oil tablets. Living in Spain it is not that simple to find them so I have been looking online. They are for my husband, they help with his joints as well as the problems with arthritis and also, believe it or not, for our dogs who have joint problems, it is amazing how good they are for them.

The last batch I got my husband's sister brought with her from the UK but as no-one is coming over soon I have been on the lookout. There are of course some really cheap ones out there but in all honesty, you really get what you pay for. I have found the solution and it was staring me right in the face so to speak, I found them on Amazon, I am always amazed at how much they sell now!! So check out the ad within this post and you can get them directly from Amazon as I have. Oh and if you are into knowing all about health and nutrition I sincerely recommend the book below.

High Cholesterol Levels and what to do!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:14:00 +0000

People have to eat in order to have energy to do certain things. Some are able to make three or four trips to the buffet table while others are satisfied after one round. Either way the types of food being brought to the table can be healthy or harmful and the choice is really up to the person at the buffet table.

Those who love to eat red meat and other dishes that are fatty or oily are at risk of causing long term harm to their bodies without even realising it. This could even be life threatening because of the amount of bad cholesterol being taken into the body through certain kinds of foods.

High levels of cholesterol in the body are appearing more and more often nowadays. This is caused mainly by the types of food being offered, both in the grocery and restaurants. Luckily it is still possible to make a complete recovery from high cholesterol levels by changing diets and eating foods that are not high in saturated fats.

Is there one particular food product that we can eat in order to lower cholesterol? Unfortunately the answer is no, the only way to change our cholesterol levels is an adjustment in diet. It is vital to have a well balanced diet made up from all of the food groups.

Some changes can be made quite easily, for example instead of using full cream milk with your cornflakes or cereals, try to use non fat milk. The taste is almost the same, is much healthier, and believe me after a while you will not notice any difference at all.

Instead of having steak at the next barbecue, how about cooking up some lean meats instead. They don’t have as much fat within the meat or around the edges and taste just as good.

One of the healthiest things for a main meal, whetherlunch or dinner,is fish. In fact either fish or shellfish is good as they are known to carry Omega 3, which is very effective in lowering high levels of cholesterol.

Eating a candy bar or a slice of cake doesn’t seem so bad, but unfortunately these things are rich in fat. If you feel a need to eat something sweet or tasty as a snack then try nuts or fruits instead. They are rich in fiber as well as having vitamins and minerals that are much healthier, and easier for the body to digest.

It is important, with each meal, to try and include vegetables and fruit. Salad is a nice easy option in the summer, having said that try not to make it too boring or you will soon tire of it. As a vegetarian I tend to add all sorts of different things to my salads, such as olives, nuts, fruit just to perk it up and make it a little more colourful as well as nice and healthy. In the winter the options are a little more difficult but there really is a huge variety of different vegetable available, again it is all about making it look appetising, especially when cooking for others. The important thing is to make things tasty without adding to the cholesterol count.

Chicken is great but not if it is fried. If you really love it then eat it now and then and remove the skin - where the access fat lies. Chicken can also be steamed which is a healthier way of cooking although it can be quite boring if you don't liven it up a little, so check out some healthy sauces to go with it.

There are thousands upon thousands of cookbooks available as well as lots of recipes to download online to enable you to think up lots of delicious ways to prepare your meals and those for your families while lowering cholesterol levels.

Check out some cool cookery books here - the vegetarian ones show some brilliant ways to cook vegetables to make them appetising as well as healthy, and have fun, try not to make it too much of a chore. It really is never too late to make lifestyle changes in order to live a longer and much healthier life.

Gentle Ways to Detox the Body

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:12:00 +0000

When your mind is drained, your body aches and your energy levels are close to zero, its time for a body detox.

Imagine yourself having clearer skin, sharper mind, energy revitalized, stronger immune system and feeling healthy inside out - - these are the things that you can enjoy by undergoing a detoxification program.

Detoxification basically means blood cleansing through eliminating impurities from the blood in the liver, through kidneys, lungs, intestines, lymph and skin.

Taking your first step:

First, you have to reduce toxins in your body. Try to cut down on the following: cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, eating foods with saturated fats and refined sugars (cola and ketchup contains a lot) - these acts as toxins in your body and as a hindrance to your healing development.

The use of household cleaners that are chemical-based and personal health care products such as shampoos, toothpaste, deodorants and cleansers should be reduced as well. These chemicals are inside us; we never really fully eliminate them unless going to a process of detoxification.

There are many ways to detox the body. It’s up to you to choose which suits your lifestyle and preference.

• Juice fasting

Drinking only fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrot, spinach, celery, cabbage, apple, pineapple and cranberry (avoid citrus fruits). An effective way of discharging toxins, it also provides loads of nutrients as well as enzymes to lessen the intensity of the cleansing process to an easy stage.

Fast weight loss is the main benefit from juice fasting. A person may drop 30-40 lbs on a 30-day juice fast. By juice fasting, a person gains self-confidence and feels light and clean.

Duration of juice fasting is usually 1-3 days. Medical administration and careful assessment is required for longer fasting.

• Water fasting

Only water is consumed during a water fast. Water lets the digestive tract and organs to rest completely, allowing all of your energy to self-repair and strengthen damaged organs. It also eliminates toxin build-ups.

Water fasting not only eliminates obstruction and aids in self-healing, it is also revitalizing and motivating to make a fresh start.

• Gentler way to detox the body:

Here are gentler and safer ways to detox your body that you can try out or incorporate different methods as part your routine.

1.Change in diet.

Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables instead of packaged and fast foods that are high on fats and sugar can become part of your daily lifestyle in maintaining good health.

2.Sauna.

The sauna is widely used by many cultures as a regular part of detox. It is a great method of removing chemicals buildups in fat cells. Saunas are usually combined with diet, exercise and nutritional supplements.

3.Skin brushing.

Again, with the combination of diet, exercise and nutritional supplements, skin brushing is also a gentle way of detoxing. It removes old skin cells, stimulates the lymph system and draws out toxins through the skin. A dry skin brush made of soft vegetable bristles should be used.

Before taking a shower, lightly brush your feet in circular motion towards the chest area for a minute or two.

4.Yoga.

Through breathing exercise, the bloodstream thoroughly oxygenates thus giving energy and improves the body’s physical process. Different positions lightly massage the internal organs and stimulate them to slowly discharge toxins.

These cleansing methods are just a guide to what it can do to improve your health. It is necessary to know why detox is important and understand the different ways on how to detox the body before you begin with the different programs.

Colour Your Way to Daily Health

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:46:00 +0000

It’s important that we eat plenty of different fruits and vegetables every day. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, fibre, and other substances that are important for good health. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling.

You’ve probably heard about the 5 A Day for Better Health program. It provides easy ways to add more fruits and vegetables into your daily eating patterns. It’s vital that we eat a wide variety of colourful orange/yellow, red, green, white, and blue/purple vegetables and fruit every day. By eating vegetables and fruit from each colour group, you will benefit from the essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre that each colour group has to offer alone and in combination.

There’s several different yet simple ways to start incorporating vegetables and fruit into your familiar and favourite meals. You can begin your day with 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice, slice bananas or strawberries on top of your cereal, or have a salad with lunch and an apple for an afternoon snack. Include a vegetable with dinner and you already have about 5 cups of fruits and vegetables. You may even try adding a piece of fruit for a snack or an extra vegetable at dinner. Don’t be afraid to try something new to increase your vegetable and fruit intake.

There are so many choices when selecting fruits and vegetables. Kiwifruit, asparagus, and mango may become your new favourite. Keep things fresh and interesting by combining fruits and vegetables of different flavours and colours, like red grapes with pineapple chunks, or cucumbers and red peppers. Get in the habit of keeping fruits and vegetables visible and easily accessible – you’ll tend to eat them more. Store cut and cleaned produce at eye-level in the refrigerator, or keep a big colourful bowl of fruit on the table.

Of course the most important thing is to enjoy!!

Why do we need a balanced diet??

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:26:00 +0000

We need a balanced diet to produce the energy needed for life.

• Energy is needed by the body to stay alive, grow, keep warm and be active.ç

• Energy is provided by food and drink and comes from the fat, carbohydrate, protein and alcohol that they contain. Food and drinks provide different amounts of energy.

• Different people need different amounts of energy.

• Some activities use more energy than others.

• To maintain body weight, it is necessary to use as much energy as is derived from food.

• To lose weight, you need to use up more energy than produced by food intake.

So what is energy?

In this instance energy is a power which our body uses to enable us to work, breathe, function and even produce heat to keep our bodies at an even temperature. Energy has many forms and is used in many different ways. You cannot create or destroy energy but you can change it from one form to another. So when we eat certain foods the vitamins and minerals contained within are released into our bodies to produce the energy we need. Another example of energy use is when a piece of wood burns, the energy locked up in the formation of the wood is converted to heat and light.

Where does energy come from?

There are many different energies. Energy comes from the sun and is called solar energy. Living plants are able to convert solar energy to chemical energy by a process called photosynthesis. This chemical energy is used to make other substances such as carbohydrate, fat and protein, all of which provide energy (as well as conveying other properties e.g. protein is necessary for growth and repair). Animals cannot use solar energy directly but can use the chemical energy contained in food (either plants or other animals). They can oxidise carbohydrate, protein, fat (and alcohol) to produce energy, carbon dioxide and water.

Why do we need Energy:

• To maintain all bodily functions which we take for granted such as breathing, warmth, blood flow etc. - to keep the body alive

• For active movement - muscle contraction

• For growth and repair which require new tissues to be made.

Remember, when using energy, there will always be a generation of heat.

How is this very necessary energy measured?

There are two ways to measure this energy - joules or calories. A joule (J) can be defined as the energy used when 1 kilogram (kg) is moved 1 metre (m) by the force of 1 Newton (N). A calorie (cal) can be defined as the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 14.5 to 15.5ºC.

Usually both types of units are used it is just a different measurement just as there are pints and litres to measure liquids. The best thing to do is use the one that you are most comfortable with. One calorie is equivalent to 4.184 joules.

I will finish the rest of this next time, keep watching!

Is Organic Worth It?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:27:00 +0000

When you head to the grocery store, shopping for products like eggs, meat, fish, milk, and produce it can be very tricky. Signs are posted everywhere labelling food as natural, organic, and a number of other things—but what’s the difference, really? Learning what specific names mean can help you decide if you should shell out extra money on a product, or if it is simply a marketing ploy.

Natural is a turn associated with a number of fruit and vegetable products. Typically, this is simple marketing ploy to convince you to buy the product. After all, all fruits and vegetables are natural, right? Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural.

What you probably want is organic. Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. There are two main benefits to organic foods. Firstly, you are helping the environment because those chemicals are not being introduced into nature. Secondly, you are avoiding ingesting chemicals and are therefore healthier. However, organic products are usually more expensive. If you’re on a budget, skip over any organic fruits or vegetables that you can peel, like oranges and bananas. After all, once you’ve discarded the peel, you’ve also discarded the chemicals. Instead, opt for organic items like apples, where you eat the peel.

No matter what fruit or vegetables you buy, make sure that you rinse off the food when you get home.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:06:00 +0000

In recent times it would appear that fats and carbohydrates have both been given a bad name. First it was fat that was the culprit in all dietary ills, and low fat diets were all the rage. Then the two switched places, with carbohydrates being the bad guys and fat reigning supreme.

As we all know both fats and carbohydrates play an important role in nutrition, and both are vital to a healthy diet. It would be impossible and very unwise to remove all fat from the diet, since fat is important for the production of energy, and carries valuable fat soluble vitamins like vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K, throughout the body. In addition, fat plays a very important role in regulating various bodily functions.

Even though some fat is essential to a healthy body, too much fat can be harmful. Excessive levels of dietary fats have been implicated in heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol levels and even some cancers. Most nutritionists suggest limiting daily fat intake to less than 20% of calories, although taking that level lower than 10% is not recommended.

The type and amount of fat in the diet makes all the difference. A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol has been associated with a variety of ills, including heart disease, stroke and other related diseases. In addition, many long-term chronic problems, such as obesity, are associated with high levels of dietary fats.

Food labels do make the complex process of choosing the right fats somewhat easier. For instance, trans fats will be listed on the ingredient list of foods that include them. In general, trans fats are found mainly in processed foods. When limiting your daily intake of fat and cholesterol, it is good to have an understanding of nutritional labels. These government mandated labels can be a huge help to those who take the time to read and be aware of them.

Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet as well, and are necessary for providing energy and many vital nutrients. Carbohydrates are found in fruits and vegetables, in grains and in milk and dairy products. It is important to choose carbohydrates carefully, however, since not all are equally healthy.

Keeping saturated fats and trans fats to a minimum is important to a healthy diet. Trans fats, which are solid at room temperature, are most often found in highly processed foods like cookies, cakes and other baked goods. In addition, trans fats are often found in fried foods and in salty snacks like potato chips. While these foods are fine in moderation, it is best to avoid large quantities of such snacks.

As with many products, less is often more when it comes to choosing foods rich in carbohydrates. For example, less refined whole grain bread is generally more nutritious than white bread, which has gone through a greater amount of refining. That is because the refining process tends to decrease nutrient content over time.

Of course, there are some elements in the diet that should be limited. Two of these elements are sugar and salt. Most Americans consume too much salt and sugar, and this has led to epidemics of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other ills. Limiting sugar and salt, while choosing good fats and unrefined carbohydrates, is a great way to make the most of the nutritional value of the foods you eat.

There's a lot to understand about fats and carbohydrates and I will try and bring you more information over the coming weeks and months.

More foods to keep you healthy!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:40:00 +0000

Some more foods to keep you healthy. Once again my apologies for the long time away, so much work - will try and keep up a little more regularly in future. I think I possibly need to keep a 'blog day' each week so that I can add info to all of my blogs. Anyway here are a few more interesting facts about everyday food and how they can be of help to you.

Salmon

Although all fish is good for you salmon is even better because it is very oily which makes a big difference. It contains omega-3 oils to fight heart disease as well as calcium, magnesium, protein and B-vitamins.

Soya Beans and Tofu

Lowers "bad" LDL cholesterol levels in bloodstream which reduces heart disease risk. Studies have shown that people who regularly eat soya products have reduced risk or lower rates of prostate, colon, lung, rectal and stomach cancers.

Spinach

Contains vitamins A and C, folic acid and magnesium which help control cancer, reduces heart disease and stroke risk, blocks free radicals and may help prevent osteoporosis.

Strawberries

Contains ellagic acid, which contains anti-cancer properties and higher levels of vitamin C than any other berry.

Sweet Potatoes

One of the best vegetables you can eat. They're loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Bake and then mix in some unsweetened applesauce or crushed pineapple for extra moisture and sweetness. Can be eaten sweet or sour as you please. I love them baked with olive oil and veg.

Tomatoes

Contain lycopenes - an antioxidant more potent than vitamin C. Stimulates immune function and may slow degenerative diseases. They are also a good source of carotenoids and potassium and useful source of vitamins C & E.

Nature's Pharmacy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:09:00 +0000

I have been writing about the foods containing phytochemicals and how good they are for you. I will carry on now with the next part and apologise for taking so long this time between postings, am trying to get three new websites up and running so there is a lot of work going on for me at the moment.

Anyway lets carry on with these

OATS
One small bowl of oats or oatmeal a day (about one ounce) will significantly lower blood pressure so the more you eat then the lower your blood pressure. Did you know that they are also natural aphrodisiacs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OLIVE OIL
This is something I use every day - of course I am living in the right place where there is an abundance of olives - and I love it, but I must say that I only use the virgin olive oil, which is considered the best quality and therefore the most beneficial. It is high in monounsatured fat, good quality olive oil has been shown to significantly decrease your production of bile acid which reduces the risk of cancers and in particular colorectal cancer. Olive oil is also highly recommended for reducing the risk of heart disease, strokes and even mental conditions such as autism.

ONIONS
Onions are part of the garlic family and help to ward off infections as well as being high in antioxidant flavinoids. A good way to encourage mucus production when you have a cold ( which is in fact the way the virus is flushed from your system) is to eat home-made onion soup.

Ok more from me soon on this subject, until then, keep healthy, wealthy and happy.

More on Food for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Were you aware that the vitamins A C and E are the superheros of the nutrient world. They protect your cells from disease by fighting off free radicals (oxidants). It is so important to get the right antioxidants because when the oxidants, caused mostly from pollution and poor nutrition, take hold and outnumber the antioxidants your body has to fight really hard to ward of illness.

Here are a couple of good foods which contain phytochemicals to help your body keep healthy naturally.

Molasses
A thick black syrup, molasses is extracted when cane sugar is refined. I actually contains large amounts of vitamin B as well as the minerals iron and calcium. Just a couple of teaspoons every day are enough for general health as it lubricates the lungs and intestines, helps against constipation, sore throats and dry coughs. Apparently it is said in India that it is especially good as a tonic for the liver, in particular when recovering from hepatitis or jaundice. If you are diabetic, overweight or suffering from hypoglycemia it is suggested that you do not use molasses.

Nuts
Yet again a favourite of mine. Most nuts are highly nutritious but unfortunately, as I love these, if they are salted or dry roasted they are not very nutritious, for obvious reasons. Almonds and walnuts are full of essential fatty acids while brazil nuts are packed with prime antioxidant - selenium. Peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fat which is very beneficial to your health. It is interesting to note that nuts are also very high in magnesium which boosts energy levels as well as reducing chest pains, warding off free radicals and maintaining healthy bones. Unfortunately they are also quite high in calories, but five small handfuls of nuts per week have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and some cancers.

More from me tomorrow on yet more yummy fruits and vegetables that are also extremely healthy!!

More on Foods for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:43:00 +0000

Sorry such busy days recently, lost total track of time. Here are a few more interesting facts about the properties of certain fruits and veg. If you are just reading have a look in the archives as I have been giving information about the phytochemicals and their benefits in fruits and veg over the past few posts.

Here are a few more:

Garlic
WOW, the potential of this little bulb is enormous. From time immemorial the humble garlic has been praised for its benefits to health. It can ward off colds and flu and is a natural antiseptic. - Living in Spain I do tend to eat lots of this - I love it - You can actually cut down the length of time you have a cold by eating garlic. It is excellent for thinning the blood and apparently useful in preventing strokes and deep vein thrombosis. It has also been linked to cutting down the risk of heat disease. A word of warning though, if you suffer from any form of inflammation, especially gastric ulcers or gastritis do not take garlic, it will aggrevate it and make it worse.

Ginger
Added to a stir fry is great - gives it an extra 'kick'. A bulbous root which is excellent for cold days, it has a wonderful warming effect. Ginger tea is lovely on a cold day. It eases digestion and releases trapped wind. It is also good for alleviating the symptoms of travel sickness. Recent research has apparently shown that ginger can be as effective as conventional painkillers for arthritis sufferers.

Honey
Another favourite of mine, this sweet natural food is great as a pick-me-up after exercise of even a hangover. It is also very effective on open wounds, it can ward off infection.

Ok I will try and get back again tomorrow with another batch of incredibly healthy foods for you.

Food for Thought "C's"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Sorry I did not get around to posting yesterday it was my birthday and I was celebrating - all day - so cool. Now back to 'business' here are a few more very interesting fruits and veg.

Carrots
Another of my favourites, an excellent source of the antioxidant beta carotene, just one carrot a day can cut the risk of a stroke by a massive 68% - wow!

Cauliflower
This amazing vegetable is incredibly nutritious and extremely versatile. It is high in cancer-fighting glucosinolates, as well as phosphoruis, folic acid and vitamins A and C. Apparently one medium sized serving of califlower actually contains half of the daily requirement of vitamin C.

Cranberries and Cranberry Juice
It has been strongly suggested by reasearch published in the British Medical Journal that just 50ml of cranberry juice a day, taken over a six month period halved the rate of urinary infections (such as cystitis) in women. Cranberries are also very rich in prime antioxidant vitamin C and flavinoids.

It is amazing to see what a difference ordinary fruits and vegetables can in fact make to your life!!

Foods for Thought "B's"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:54:00 +0000

Ok so today here are four fruits and veg beginning with B that contain phytochemicals.

Barley
Just half a cup of barley contains 50% or the daily requirement for selenium in the diet and believe it or not almost 20% of the recommended daily Vitamin E allowance. In case you did not know both of these nutrients, selenium and Vitamin E have been found to be powerful allies when combating cancer.

Beetroot
This wonderful bright red salad vegetable I am very pleased to say, as I love beetroot, packs a nutritional punch, whether pickled (not my favourite way) or otherwise. Even the green part of it is good for you (I didn't know this - you learn something every day); both parts contain high levels of folic acid, which can help prevent some types of cancer and birth defect. Apparently research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition a couple of years ago linked folic acid deficiency to the development of Alzheimers. Beetroot also has an excellent source of Vitamin A and potassium.

Berries
Another favourite of mine, no matter what sort, I love them. Blueberries can actually act as an antibiotic by blocking the bacteria that causes urinary tract infections, amazing. Raspberries and strawberries, yummy, have very high levels of the antioxidant substance - flavinoids.

Broccoli
Yet another favourite. Studies continually single out broccoli as a 'wonder food' because of its incredible amount of nutrients, in particular folic acid which helps prevent many cancers and Alzheimers. Of course it is also high in fibre which in itself cuts the risk of bowel cancer.

Ok that's it for the "B's" today, it is great to know as a vergetarian just how many yummy things are so good for you. Will be back tomorrow with some "C's".

Food for Thought "A's"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:47:00 +0000

Carrying on from yesterday here are some interesting facts about some foods beginning with 'A'.

Apples
Did you know that according to researchers at University of California eating two apples or drinking two glasses of apple juice over a period of six weeks can reduce the risk of heart disease, apparently by lowering cholesterol levels. There are strong antioxidant compounds in apples that prevent cholesterol from building up in the arteries and of course they are high in fibre which keeps the digestive process running smoothly.
Apricots
Dried apricots, which I love, are an unbeatable source of beta carotene (Vitamin A) which is an antioxidant necessary for healthy eyes and skin.
Artichokes
A very neglected vegetable which is an excellent liver cleanser - good to remember after any celebrations of the liquid kind!! If you don't like the taste of this vegetable or can't be bothered to find them and cook them, most good health food shops will stock artichoke supplements.
Avocados
Another favourite of mine, these amazing vegetables contain monounsatured fat which lowers the 'bad' type of cholesterol (LDL cholesterol). Monounsaturated fat has been demonstrated to cut down the risk of heart disease, stroke and arthritis.
Ok so that's the "A's" for today - be back with the "B's" tomorrow!!

Food for Thought!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:46:00 +0000

It is interesting to see that mainstream science is turning more often to the truths of ancient folk medicine in order to find remedies for our modern day diseases. For many years now scientists have been recommending a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and until recently it was believed that these foods kept people healthy because of their vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. However, nowadays there is more and more evidence to the fact that it is the high content of 'secondary plant compounds' is the real power within fruits and vegetables and that they are what keeps us healthy. Known as phytochemicals these 'secondary plant compounds' are plant chemicals that contain protective, disease-preventing components. There are more than 900 different phytochemicals that have been identified as components or food and they are in fact still continuing to discover more.

It is estimated that there could be as much as 100 different phytochemicals within just one serving of vegetables and that these disease-fighting nutrients are thought to have a protective effect against many of today's chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease and even cancer.

Scientists have know that these phytochemicals play an important role in protecting plants from the severity of their own environment whenever necessary but only recently have they discovered the possibilities within these components that could play an essential part in protecting the human race from disease.

What is even better is that most of these important phytochemicals are to be found in inexpensive and ordinary foods.

Over the next few weeks I will put up some of these foods and how they can help you.

Something New and Exciting!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:42:00 +0000

Hi every,
I must apologise for not appearing for quite some time. After the death of my father I found it really hard to go on as before, somehow life had taken on a new perspective for me. I changed direction and began work on a brand new website. It was something I had been thinking about for some time and had put if off and put it off as you do. Dad dying made me realise that I needed to get my act together and do something productive that I enjoyed doing and that would benefit so many other people.

Over the years I have accumulated so much information on health and wellness, alternative and natural medicine that I thought it was time to share it with the world. I have created a website - for members - at a very small monthly fee where they can download free ebooks on a variety of subject from health to self development, read articles and print them out, advertise their therapies, health products etc. and be able to comment on the forum. There is also a free daily horoscope available.

So now is the time to open this website up to the world - it's called www.soulenergyrising.com
and I would love it if you would take a look and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you all, thanks.

Mood Foods!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:48:00 +0000

I have just read some very interesting information and thought I would share it with you.

Did you know there are foods you can eat that will actually change the way you feel?? Well I did to a certain degree but was not sure what had what effect.

This is what I found out today:

If you are feeling angry, grumpy and generally hostile then apparently it is linked to a low level of selenium. This can cause anxiety and irritability hence the bad mood! So they suggest that you eat things like sunflower seeds, brazil nuts with raisins and almonds to give you a boost.

If you are nervous or worried about something important and want to feel happier about it then you need a release of dopamine to give you pleasant feelings. So next time you are going on a first date or a party have yourself a quick pick-me-up - bananas and milk would be good in a smoothie or some leafy greens!!

Maybe you are suffering from anxiety which is keeping you up at night. Well it is suggested for this that a small, carbohydrate-based snack will do the trick and have you sleeping in no time at all. What your body is crying out for is serotonin and that can be boosted by eating carbohydrates which then produce a calming effect and have you sleeping like a baby in no time at all.

I thought that was quite interesting and wanted to share it with you all. Sorry about the haphazard way I am posting at the moment - up to my eyes in a huge project - more on that much later - but it is really cool!!

Trouble Sleeping?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Recently I was having trouble sleeping, too much on my mind I thought, or perhaps the muggy heat we have here on the island at the moment was the cause. Whatever it was, I was looking for something to relieve the stress of not sleeping. I have been troubled by this before but not for years so I was initially at a bit of a loss as what to do. I do not like medication of any sort so that was out of the question. So I thought before I do anything I need to look at what was causing it rather than trying to relieve it, if you know what I mean. I know from experience that it was not what I would call insomnia, for me that is more habitual, repeated night after night for a long time, so I had to have a look at what was causing this problem in order to relieve it.

I did not think I was particularly stressed or anxious about anything, I had not changed my eating habits so it was neither of these things. However, and this I found quite strange really, our daily habits had changed over the past few weeks, as we had had quite a bit of rain, unusual for May in Mallorca, my husband's work was rained of - landscape gardening is quite difficult in the rain, so my husband had been walking the dogs. Now I would normally walk them twice a day, for between three quarters of an hour to an hour, and I am quite sure that this change and the lack of this exercise took its toll. Although I did not feel, or even notice any difference, my body obviously did and in its own way protested. Well he has now been back at work for the past week and guess what I am sleeping soundly again, in fact I am out like a light when my head touches the pillow.

This was just another indication to me as to how important every aspect of keeping ourselves healthy is. The three most important factors walk hand in hand and when one is missing it causes problems in the other. We need good nutrition, exercise and sleep and just by missing out on one of these - exercise - caused a problem with another - sleep.

Well I will know where to look first in future should I have problems sleeping.

Cholesterol - silent but deadly!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:34:00 +0000

I believe I have touched on this subject before but it was brought back into mind after something my husband said.

A colleague of his, from the Phillipines, has recently been diagnosed with extreme levels of cholesterol and must change his eating habits.

Now we live in Mallorca and the mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest around so I could not understand how this could happen to his colleague. Apparently, his story is quite common. He has been living on Mallorca for four years now, before that he lived in the Phillipines. The diet there was rice, vegetables and fish, no meat as this was widely unavailable and when it was, it was far too expensive. This proved to be a very healthy diet.

What happened when he came to Mallorca was due to the availability and the price of meat!! Never having been able to afford this 'delicacy' he has admitted to eating meat all the time with very few vegetables or rice. The consequences of this very unbalanced almost all meat diet is that he now has an extremely high cholesterol level. As he said to my husband - it is time to turn back the clock and revert back to his old healthy diet, but he did say that he would also eat meat, every now and then, with vegetables and rice as part of a balanced diet.

The Importance of Healthy Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:43:00 +0000

You are what you eat!! Heard this before? I am sure most of you have and I have to say that in more cases than ever this is true, if you eat unhealthy food then you are more prone to be an unhealthy person. What we eat is important in order for us to grow, maintain our bodily functions and to prevent illness. So if you value yuour health it is imperative that you learn as much as possible about eating healthily.

Eating a healthy diet is important from the day we are born. Children grow rapidly if they have a good healthy diet. Foods contain all of the nutrient that we need to provide us with the energy to live our daily lives along with all of the vitamins and minerals necessary to build our bones, muscles and organ tissues. If at any time during our lives we do not get enough of these nutrients then it can cause our body various different problems causing illnesses or even stunting our growth. Mothers nursing their babies need to make sure that they are getting all of the necessary nutrients so that they keep their own bodies healthy as well as being able to produce a nutritious breast milk for their babies to grow and develop as they should providing them with all of the nutrients to be found in the foods we eat.

As we grow older we can find most of the necessary nutrients in the foods we eat and we need to remember that healthy eating is still important for growth, even after puberty. The body breaks down and regenerates cells continuously so growth is actually occurring in your body every day you live.

Maintaining normal bodily functions without healthy eating is impossible. Every day, every hour, every moment we are using energy to think, walk, talk, breathe, and perform any other necessary action. The energy it takes our body to do these things comes from two places: fat reserves in the body or our daily food intake. If you do not eat healthy foods, you will find that you are storing more fat that necessary or that you are not getting enough and you feel sluggish or weak. As well as energy-providing nutrients, like fats and carbohydrates, we also need other nutrients to allow our organs to do their jobs. This is why a healthy balanced diet is necessary. Hormones and other substances in the body make sure that everything is working properly. If you don’t eat the right nutrients, your body cannot produce these hormones and, as a result things do not function properly.

Healthy eating is also important in preventing illness. If we do not get the right nutrients, our body’s natural defense system, our immune system, weakens, which allows viruses and bacteria to attack the body. It’s a bit like a well-trained army—if the army doesn’t have enough to eat, it will not do well in battle.

Without healthy foods and plenty of water, our bodies simply cannot operate on a day-to-day basis. Learning how to eat healthy foods is therefore an important lesson, and one which we should begin learning as children.

Looking after your body as you age.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:52:00 +0000

Strange title I can almost hear you say! As someone who is aging beautifully and healthily I cannot stress enough how much more care you need to take of yourself as you get older. Unless you help yourself you will become ill and dependent, you will lack the energy and enthusiasm to do or feel anything. You will distress your family and friends and become a burden. I know this is something that I do not want and I strive to make sure that I eat properly, exercise enough and more than anything enjoy each day as it comes.

So what happens to the body if you do not feed it properly? It cannot cope, it is a bit like putting the cheapest oil into the engine of the latest Mercedes and expecting it to drive as well as it would when using an expensive first class oil. It is a fallacy that you need to eat less as you get older. You need to adjust your eating habits perhaps and make sure you have a well balanced diet, making sure you eat enough to keep your body in tip top condition. I would strongly recommend taking vitamin and mineral supplements. One of the consequences of not eating properly is that the brain does not function as well as it should, as well as your body and all of your vital organs. This can lead to forgetfulness, which then leads to things like forgetting to eat, forgetting why you went to the shops and so on. Sounds like such a simple thing, remembering to eat, but for many people who do not look after themselves this can become very difficult.

I am focussing on memory loss as I have just lost my father and one of the problems that he had was forgetting. Forgetting to eat, forgetting why he went shopping, forgetting to take his medication. It is a vicious cycle - by, initially, not eating enough or looking after himself properly his memory started to play him up, which then led to him forgetting to eat, not eating properly or remembering to take his medication and therefore his condition deteriorated slowly but surely. No matter how old you are you need to take care of your body and make sure you are putting the right 'oil' in so that it can function as its very best.

You alone are responsible for keeping the wonderful body that you possess in tip top condition.
more in a few days about why we need regular exercise as we age.

Cholesterol, how much do we know?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:06:00 +0000

Although it has been in the spotlight for several decades cholesterol is still one of the most contentious aspects of factors that make a difference to our health. Cholesterol has nothing to do with weight or size. Your liver automatically produces blood cholesterol which is used in the creation of some hormones and helps to make vitamin D and bile acids which aid digestion and is essential for the body's metabolism. It is therefore a vital part of our make up and with most people the liver automatically produces less cholesterol when levels from foods in the diet become too high.

However, if you have a family history of heart problems or high blood cholesterol levels then it is advisable for you to be aware of your dietary cholesterol intake. By lowering the intake of saturated fats the blood cholesterol levels will be reduced. Eating foods that contain soluble fibre such as pectin-rich foods (grapefruit) or dried fruit can also lower the cholesterol level.

It is fortunate for us that the average healthy person is not at risk becasue our liver functions so well and can compensate for rises in dietary cholesterol even when levels from foods in the diet become too high.

One of the most important things to bear in mind with cholesterol is that a healthy balanced diet can make a substantial difference to protect against excessive levels of blood cholesterol as well as helping to lower those that may already be too high.

If you are worried about your cholesterol levels, have a check-up and then, if necessary, make changes in your diet and lifestyle.

Cellulite - what's that?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:28:00 +0000

Ok I thought today I would talk about cellulite - so many of us have it, hate it and wonder where on earth it came from. Wierdly enough you do not have to have extra weight to have cellulite.

We really do need to look into how we treat our bodies and the effects that our diets and exercise regimes have on it. Here is an example of the effect a diet can have if not done properly.

When Ian turned 65, he was 25 pounds overweight. By strict dieting, he shed the extra pounds, but he lost more weight; he also lost his energy and vitality. He was always exhausted, and his friends, seeing his gaunt, drawn face, worried about his health.

Now doing it right.

By the time he volunteered for a particular fitness program two years later, he had put 25 extra pounds back on. After 6 months of exercise and some willpower at the dinner table, Mike slimmed down again. This time he felt better than he ever had, brimming with energy and glowing with good health.

What made the difference?

The first time Mike lost weight; the second time he lost fat. The distinction is important. According to research, a large portion of the weight lost by dieting alone is active tissue, such as muscle and connective tissue, while a smaller fraction is excess fat. Exercise has the opposite effect. It increased his lean body mass and decreased his excess fat.

Same thing goes with cellulite. Most people tend to think that cellulites are only present in people who are obese. That is why they sometimes associate cellulite with fats and obesity.

Actually, cellulite refers to the chain of wrinkled “fat cells” and “subcutaneous connective tissues” beneath the layer of the skin, it should never be associated with people who are fat or obese. In fact, there are many people who have cellulite but are not fat at all.

In reality, nobody knows the main reason why certain people accumulate cellulite. However, there are some factors that health experts are considering, such as the structure of the fat cells or the toxins that enter the body. Some experts say it could be caused by hormonal changes in the body. But none of these things has been proven to cause cellulites.

However, most doctors and scientists agree that the dimpled fat is just ordinary fat and an entirely normal process.

The reason why so many women, even slim ones, get cellulite on the hips and thights, is because the female hormone ostrogen makes women acquire fat there. Unfortunately women store their fat just under the skin's surface whereas men store some of their fat internally, underneath their muscles.

Be careful those of you lured by the wonderful sunshine - cellulite is made worse by sunbathing, since you are exposing your skin to sunlight which causes the skin to lose its eleasticity. If you want a tan, take a walk on a sunny, ideally windy, day, and catch the sun without prolonged exposure to it. This is a real win, win situation as you get a much healthier tan and you are exercising at the same time - perfect to make you look and feel so much better while working against cellulite.

Health, What Is It?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:33:00 +0000

I need some help here, this is a big question. This is one of the biggest things around at the moment. Health, Healthy Living, Healthy Lifestyle and the list goes on.

The big question is - 'what is health'

My answer is - a body that performs and functions perfectly, a mind without stress and the ability to think clearly and creatively, and a spirit that is totally content with life as it is.

This is just my interpretation - should you have any other answers I would be more than happy to hear them.

So if I know the answer, why am I asking the question? In all honesty I was wondering what to write about and health is so diverse, I didn't know which way to go. I have, in the past few weeks, spoken on exercise, nutrition, the effects of stress, herbal remedies etc. but the criterea for health is so vast it is difficult to know where to go next. I could make it quite personal for some and touch on certain illnesses and how to help, or the make up of certain foods, or the effects that some foods have on or bodies, or exercise with diabetes. Or I could go off, on a tangent, and look a how life affects our health. It was then that I started to think about what health was. You see we are such complicated creatures that one thing alone does not make us healthy. Just having a body that performs and functions perfectly does not necessarily make us healthy. We have many facets to take into consideration; without a mind that thinks clearly and creatively what good is the perfect body? Without a deep sense of contentment and happiness are we really healthy?

I think for the moment I will leave these questions hanging, I would love to hear what you think.