healthy

What exactly is healthy living?

Posted on April 4, 2020

Healthy living can mean different things to different people. To most, healthy living means both physical and mental health are in balance or functional in a beneficial way for the person.

This article is not meant to be all inclusive but will include some major components that are considered to be parts of a lifestyle that lead to good health. In addition to the tips about what people should do for healthy living, the article will mention some of the tips about avoiding actions (the don’ts) that lead to unhealthy living.

Quit Smoking

Pick and set a date for quitting. If you can, plan to have a friend quit smoking with you or to hold you to word and be a support. It’s best to pick a day within the next month. A date too far off in the future will give you a chance to procrastinate and postpone, while a date too soon may not allow you to make a plan for medications or support systems.
Watch yourself. Notice when and why you smoke. Try to find the things in your daily life that you often do while smoking (such as drinking your morning cup of coffee or driving a car).
Change your smoking routines: Keep your cigarettes in a different place. Smoke with your other hand. Don’t do anything else when you are smoking. Think about how you feel when you smoke.

Healthy eating (diet and nutrition)

All humans have to eat food for growth and maintenance of a healthy body, but we have different nutrition requirements as infants, children (kids), teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors. For example, infants may require feeding every 4 hours until they gradually age and begin to take in more solid foods. Eventually, they develop into the more normal pattern of eating three times per day as young kids. However, as most parents know, kids, teenagers, and young adults often snack between meals. Snacking is often not limited to these age groups because adults and seniors often do the same.

Tips:

Eat three healthy meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); it is important to remember that dinner does not have to be the largest meal.
Do not eat excessively late, before bedtime.
The bulk of food consumption should consist of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.
Incorporate lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts (with emphasis on beans and nuts) into a healthy diet.
Choose foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars; look at the labels because the first listed items on the labels comprise the highest concentrations of ingredients.
Control portion sizes; eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger and then stop eating.
Healthy snacks are OK in moderation and should consist of items like fruit, whole grains, or nuts to satisfy hunger and not cause excessive weight gain.
Avoid sodas and sugar-enhanced drinks because of the excessive calories in the sodas and sugar drinks; diet drinks as well since they make some people hungrier and increase food consumption.
Think of it not as a diet but as a lifestyle change
Avoid eating a large meal before sleeping to decrease gastroesophageal reflux and weight gain.
If a person is angry or depressed, eating will not solve these situations and may make the underlying problems worse.
Avoid rewarding children with sugary snacks; such a pattern may become a lifelong habit for people.
Avoid heavy meals in the summer months, especially during hot days.
A vegetarian lifestyle has been promoted for a healthy lifestyle and weight loss; vegetarians should check with their physicians to be sure they are getting enough vitamins, minerals, and iron in their diet.
Cooking foods (above 165 F) destroys most harmful bacteria and other pathogens; if you choose to eat uncooked foods like fruits or vegetables, they should be thoroughly washed with running treated (safe to drink) tap water right before eating.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked meats of any type.

Tips for special situations:

People with diabetes should use the above tips and monitor their glucose levels as directed; try to keep the daily blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.
People with unusual work schedules (night shifts, college students, military) should try to adhere to a breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine with minimal snacking.
People who prepare food should avoid using grease or frying foods in grease.
People trying to lose weight (body fat) should avoid all fatty and sugary foods and eat mainly vegetables, fruits, and nuts and markedly reduce his/her intake of meat and dairy products.
Seek medical advice early if you cannot control your weight, food intake, or if you have diabetes and cannot control your blood glucose levels.

Thanks for reading.

This entry was posted in Health, nature, tips and tagged anti - aging, diet, food, fruit, health, healthy, healthy lifestyle, heart help, nourishing meals, vegetarian.

Take Deep Breaths to Lower Blood Pressure

Posted on November 5, 2015

“Take a deep breath”—it’s a phrase we’ve all heard countless times. But it means more than you may realize, according to Dr. David Anderson of the National Institutes of Health. Anderson says a few minutes of deep

breathing daily can drop blood pressure levels. He believes how we breathe may alter how our bodies regulate blood pressure.

Studies also show that focusing on your breathing can alleviate stress levels… stimulate brain growth… and reduce your risk of heart attack. Nonetheless, many of us neglect to address breathing habits as part of our overall health strategy.

“We take our breath for granted the way we take our heart beat for granted,” says Carla Ardito, a breathing expert at the Integral Yoga Institute in Manhattan. But, explains Ardito, the difference is fundamental, because unlike our heart beat, ” we can work on our breathing.”

The Steep Risks Of High Blood Pressure

Statistics indicate as many as 65 million Americans have hypertension (dangerously high blood pressure). Hypertension brings an elevated risk of…

Heart attacks
Strokes
Kidney damage
Blindness
Dementia

Individuals with hypertension are often unaware of their condition—which is why it’s often called “the silent killer.” By the time symptoms appear, serious, irreversible damage may already have occurred.

Deep Breathing Offers Answers

Anderson and other doctors believe deep breathing offers answers—and a 2002 study suggests they’re right. In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a device designed tolower blood pressure by teaching users to slow their breathing. The device, called RESPeRATE, measures your breathing pace by sensing chest or abdominal movements.
Users follow a series of chimes signaling inhales and exhales to slow their breathing from a typical rate of 16 to 19 breaths per minute to 10 or fewer. Clinical trials found blood pressure drops of 10 to 15 points for individuals who used the device for 15 minutes each day for 2 months.

Dr. William J. Elliot, who headed some of the research, was surprised by the magnitude of slow-breathing’s impact on blood pressure—even though no one can quite explain why it works. It “is still a bit of a black box,” he says.

Health’s Hefty Price Tag?

More than a decade has passed since the FDA approved the RESPeRATE, but many are still unaware of the connection between slow-breathing and blood pressure. Part of the problem may be the high cost of leading slow-breathing devices. But the fact is, you don’t need to spend money to slow your breathing and improve your health.

Simply by focusing on your breathing, you direct energy into the parasympathetic nervous system, says Ardito. You send your whole body into a state of “relax and receive.”

Don’t Count Your Breaths

For best results, experts say you should never count your breathing or watch the clock. Counting or tracking the time impedes relaxation, which is key to the benefits of slow-breathing. Instead of a stopwatch or timer, some experts suggest using music as a regulator. Select a song (or set of songs) with a slow, regular rhythm, and allow your breathing to automatically adjust to the beat.

This entry was posted in growing old, sunlight and tagged air, breaking, breath, easy, fresh, health, healthy, life, lifestyle, living, natural, outside, simple, take a breath, talk.

Acai Berry

Posted on August 3, 2015

Direct from Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet, deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil, healing acai berries dangle from acai palm trees. Recognizing the curative powers of acai centuries before it was introduced to the West, the Yanomani tribe refers to the acai palm as the “Tree of Life.”

Impressed with its restorative properties, which work from the inside out, Brazilians have dubbed acai “The Beauty Berry,” and the West is finally catching on.

In his New York Times #1 bestseller, “The Perricone Promise,” celebrated nutritionist / dermatologist, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, lists acai health benefits as the #1 Superfood.

“Superfood” is the health food industry’s stamp of approval for low-calorie, antioxidant-rich foods that lower your risk for life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Acai, pronounced (ah-sigh-EE), isn’t your typical antioxidant-laden fruit. It is also high in essential fatty acids, amino acids and fiber, making it perhaps the most well-rounded, edible fruit on the planet.

This small but mighty fruit measures approximately 1-inch long and is colored varying shades of dark purple. Made up of 90% inedible seed, acai’s 10% edible pulp packs in more grams of protein than an egg and contains 15 times the amount of antioxidants as red grapes and 30% more antioxidants than blueberries.

In fact, its ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)–the scientific measurement of a nutrient’s antioxidant magnitude–is over 3500, the highest capacity of any fruit!

The Low-Down on Antioxidants

You’ve probably heard the buzz about antioxidants, but just what are they, and what role do they play in your health?

Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that prevent oxidation from occurring in your body. To understand oxidation, just imagine what happens to a cut apple when it is left uncovered for a couple of hours. It begins to brown and rot. The same process happens inside your body if it is not protected by antioxidants.

What causes the oxidation? Your body produces harmful byproducts called free radicals–unstable molecules that scavenge your tissues looking for electrons to steal. In the process, healthy tissues are destroyed, leading to aging and disease.

Unfortunately, we have entered an age of free radical overload, as our bodies are also attacked from the outside in via pollution, cigarette smoke and toxins from cleaning products and herbicides.

Antioxidants interrupt this destructive cycle by volunteering one of their own electrons, satisfying the voracious free radical before it can damage your cells.

Fortifying your body with antioxidant rich foods, particularly acai berries, halts the aging process, restarting long-lasting health and protecting against the oxidative stress that triggers diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Acai’s Unique Composition

Acai health benefits have all the typical vitamins and minerals found in popular fruits, but also contains unique, never-before-seen plant compounds. Acai contains the potent antioxidants flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are responsible for acai’s rich color and thought to be the key to acai’s remarkable restorative and preventative powers.

Scientists have still not figured out the exact makeup of this Superfood. Dr. Stephen Talcott of the University of Florida discovered 50-75 active natural molecules in acai that have yet to be classified.

The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry published Talcott’s study, which showed that acai health benefits were able to trigger apoptosis (cell death) in 86% of leukemia cells tested in vitro. Talcott was realistic but hopeful, explaining, “This was only a cell-culture model and we don’t want to give anyone false hope,” Talcott said.

“We are encouraged by the findings, however. Compounds that show good activity against cancer cells in a model system are most likely to have beneficial effects in our bodies.”

Antioxidants alone are enough to encourage indulgence in this decadent fruit. Add omegas 3-6-9 to the mix and acai health benefits truly earns its Superfood status. This perfect balance of omegas improves the look and feel of hair, skin and nails, and reduces inflammation inside the body.

Inflammation is recognized as one of the primary causes of life-threatening illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Acai health benefits also contains a healthy dose of fiber, amino acids and carbohydrates that boost your immune system and your metabolism, thereby slowing aging and promoting longevity.

This entry was posted in Beauty, Health and tagged acai, age, anti, anti - aging, beauty, berry, black, eat, food, health, healthy, lifestyle, snack, young, youth.

Only Sugar Causes Tooth Decay

Posted on May 1, 2015 Updated on May 1, 2015

Research as found that Sugar is the ONLY cause of tooth decay! I’ve always told my family this and not it’s proven.

On the heels of a UK study that declares sugar is the ONLY cause of tooth decay, we’re sounding the alarm on the deleterious effects of sugar once again.

Researchers from University College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analyzed public health records from around the world, and what they found was unequivocal: sugar, in any form, decays your teeth, which in turn erodes your health.

Tooth Decay Around the World

The study, published in BMC Health, showed that during World War II, when sugar was rationed, tooth decay in Japan was “hugely reduced.” However, once the war ended and sugar imports to Japan picked back up, tooth decay picked right back up, as well.

Also important were the findings on Nigeria, where sugar consumption is extremely minimal:

Only 2% of Nigerians have tooth decay
92% of American adults have tooth decay
60—90% of American children have tooth decay

America is the land of sugar, after all, with the majority of sugar coming from sodas and fruit juices.

How Dental Decay Can Ruin Your Health

Tooth decay ranks among the most common non-infectious diseases in the world. It doesn’t just cause gum disease; it has a major impact on all aspects of health.

Eating a high sugar diet…

Leaves you susceptible to yeast infections

Exacerbates arthritis and asthma

Raises triglyceride levels

Increases your risk for obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes

Scientists believe that oral bacteria in your mouth enter into your bloodstream and attack all your major organs. Ultimately this can cause heart attack… dementia… rheumatoid arthritis… and, for pregnant women, premature birth.

For this reason, researchers are advocating for a disciplined cutback in sugar consumption. They conclude: “This means that it is now even more important to develop a radical prevention policy with a marked reduction in sugar intake since the use of fluoride on its own is insufficient to reduce substantially the burden of [cavities] over the lifetime of individual.”

They recommend limiting sugar consumption to 3% of total daily calories (which is just 60 calories out of 2000). In comparison, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests limiting sugar intake to 5% of total calories, with a 10% maximum.

You can measure your daily sugar intake using an online nutrient assessment tool, such as myfitnesspal.com, and then adjust your sugar consumption accordingly.

This entry was posted in Health, Weight Loss and tagged avoid, bad, decay, health, healthy, life, loose, natural, ruin, sore, sugar, sugary, sweet, teeth, tooth, weight loss, weigth, white poison.

How to Avoid Angioplasty or Bypass

Posted on March 31, 2015

With the rise of obesity and availability and cheapness of fast food, procedures like an angioplasty and bypass are becoming more common.

But, there are ways to avoid getting it and I found a nice graphic to share with you guys that might help.

Remember, natural remedies are always the best. Keep yourself fit and healthy from the beginning and things will never come to this.

Let me know if you guys know any good ways to keep your veins healthy and clean.

This entry was posted in Health, Weight Loss and tagged angioplasty, bypass, clogged, closed, diagram, fat, graphic, health, healthy, image, obesity, open, veins, viens, weight.

Fennel and it’s Benefits – Digestive Solution

Posted on March 28, 2015

In the United States, fennel was once a widely prescribed drug for treating digestive issues. But that was before drug companies’ focus on patents and profit pushed natural remedies to the wayside.

It’s time for a fennel revival, especially if you suffer from any sort of digestive ailment—cramps, heartburn, indigestion, stomachaches, bowel irregularities, bloating, gas—you name it!

Make IBS Symptoms Vanish with Volatile Oils

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects the colon. In the United States alone, IBS afflicts between 25 and 45 million people! If you or someone you know is plagued by IBS, then fennel might ease your suffering. Replete with volatile oils, fennel helps to prevent and relieve the symptoms of IBS (along with other gastrointestinal conditions) by first revving up the production of digestive enzyme secretions so that digestion kicks into gear. It also helps regulate contractions of the intestines, thereby alleviating cramps and trapped stomach gas.

Fennel contains the following volatile oils:

Anethole
Fenchone
Estragole

Together, these volatile oils lend their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties to fennel. Better yet, these volatile oils render fennel anti-spasmodic, which means regular consumption of the herb helps to relax the muscle lining of the digestive tract.

How Do You Take Your Fennel?

The higher the volatile oils, the more effective fennel is for digestion. For this reason, you might want to consider getting your fennel dose via a high volatile fennel tea.

If you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer, you may purchase crushed fennel seeds from your spice store—or whole fennel seeds that can be crushed via mortar and pestle—and then brew as a tea.

Or, you can chew on a whole fennel seed. Daily ingestion of fennel can help prevent digestive issues from flaring up, but if you’re already suffering symptoms, fennel can help solve the problem.

Other Benefits
When you add fennel to your daily diet, be on the lookout for the following health benefits (some positive side effects if ever there were any!):Detoxification—fennel is a mild diuretic and can help flush water and toxins from the body

Pain relief—the anti-inflammatory properties of fennel help subdue joint pain

Cold cure—fennel is a phlegm fighter, a sore throat soother, and a fever reducer

Blood pressure regulator—fennel has been shown to help lower blood pressure

Breath freshener—a quick fix for bad breath

This entry was posted in Health and tagged blood pressure, cold, cure, digestion, digestive, east, fennel, health, healthy, help, natural, oil, pain relief, plant, regulate, relieve, seeds, volatile oils.

Grape Seed Oil to Reduce Cholesterol

Posted on March 26, 2015

Did you know…that 2 tablespoons of grape seed oil benefits a day helps lower LDL cholesterol?

Europeans have been using grapes, as well as their sap and leaves, to treat a variety of health conditions for 1000s of years. Grapes grabbed the attention of the West in 1991, when CBS’s “60 Minutes” reported on “The French Paradox.” How in the world are the French able to eat a high fat diet made up of cheese, chocolate and wine, and still have such low rates of cardiovascular disease?

skin-care-with-grapeseed-oil Some experts believe the answer to the riddle lies in the French people’s high consumption of red wine, known to contain heart-healthy antioxidants, such as resveratrol. And where does red wine come from? Grapes!

You can get the same cardiovascular protection from just 2 tablespoons of grape seed oil a day.

Grape Seed Oil’s Slow Rise to Fame

Grape seed oil isn’t quite as well known as its more popular counterparts, olive and canola oil. The oversight is certainly not due to lack of merit, as many experts believe grape seed oil benefits to be the healthiest oil of them all. Perhaps it is not as popular because grape seed oil is more difficult and expensive to extract than the oil of other seeds and nuts.

Even so, grape seed oil benefits won’t break the bank and makes for a wonderful all-purpose cooking oil used for baking, frying and sautéing. It has a higher smoke point than olive oil, which makes it ideal for cooking. Its light, neutral taste doesn’t compete with food’s natural flavors and is a delicious addition to salad dressings.

Grape seed oil becomes even tastier when you add all its health-enhancing properties to the mix. Studies indicate that grape seed oil benefits and grape seed extract heal a variety of health issues, including heart disease.

An Antioxidant Powerhouse

Grape seed oil is rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene. Antioxidants are important because they defend against free radical damage, which leads to premature aging and chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis.

Of particular interest to researchers is a highly potent group of chemicals in grapes known as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs). Research suggests that it may be the powerful antioxidant properties of OPCs that render grape seed oil benefits such a heart-healthy option. One study found that healthy subjects who took grape seed extract (made from the ground-up seeds of red wine grapes) daily showed increased levels of antioxidants in the blood.

Dr. Ralph Feder, author of “The Bonus Years Diet,” explains that when you cook with grape seed oil you can raise your HDL (healthy cholesterol levels) by as much as 13% and lower your LDL (unhealthy cholesterol levels) by as much as 7%.

Lower Your Cholesterol the Safe and Natural Way

If you suffer from high cholesterol, then you probably take a statin drug, which unfortunately comes with many harmful side effects. Grape seed oil delivers the same benefits, without the unwanted side effects.

In addition to a rich supply of antioxidants, grape seed oil benefits contains linoleic acid, an omega-6 essential fatty acid that makes up 76% of the fatty acid in grape seed oil. With superior anti-inflammatory properties, linoleic acid is the only essential fatty acid proven to raise HDL levels and lower LDL cholesterol levels.

High levels of LDL cholesterol threaten your heart because when LDL cholesterol oxidizes, it sticks to your arteries. This plague buildup manifests as arthrosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a primary cause of heart attack and stroke.

Linoleic acid protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation, thereby helping your arteries stay clean so that your blood flows freely to your heart. Studies have shown that when taken as a pure extract, grape seed oil benefits can reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation by as much as 90%!

Another promising study analyzed the effects of grape seed extract, chromium, a combination of grape seed extract and chromium, or a placebo on the cholesterol levels of 40 volunteers with high cholesterol. Results showed that a combination of grape seed extract and chromium proved most effective.

Another study, made up of 24 healthy male smokers 50 years or older, found that subjects who consumed grape seed extract twice a day for 4 weeks had substantially lower LDL cholesterol levels.

This entry was posted in Health and tagged antioxidant, arthritis, cholesterol, grape, health, healthy, heart, living, lower, lower cholesterol, natural, oil, seed.

Get the Beet Back Into Your Life

Posted on March 16, 2015

Beets may well be one of the least frequently consumed vegetables in America. Perhaps they’ve fallen into disuse in our hurry-up, everything-instant frenzy of life because they require some prep time. And beet greens probably find their way to the table even more seldom than the root that sprouted them.

But with a growing awareness of health and nutrition, the popularity of beets and their greens also seems to be on the rise.

Beets have been around for thousands of years and flourish in all kinds of climates. Their speedy rate of growth makes it possible to harvest two crops per year even in many northern regions.

Beets are making their comeback in three primary forms: beet juice, beet greens, and beet roots, each with its unique set of benefits.

Beet Juice

If you’re looking for a pre-workout energy drink to boost your stamina, beet juice does just that. The juice is high in nitrates that help promote blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Beet juice also contains betalain, a powerful antioxidant that is an anti-inflammatory, fungicidal, and aids in the detoxification of the body. Beet juice promotes eye and liver health, prevents anemia, and helps heal gout, kidney and gall bladder issues.

Beet Greens

Beet greens rank as one of the richest food sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber and contain more beneficial nutrients than its root. Beet greens boast healthy amounts of:

Vitamins K, A, C and B1, 3, and 6
Minerals: copper, potassium, manganese, magnesium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus
Carotenoids: lutein and beta-carotene

These nutrients strengthen the immune system, fight cancer and heart disease, help prevent osteoporosis, boost bone strength, and may even help ward off Alzheimer’s.

Beet Roots

In bygone eras, beet greens were eaten, while the roots were reserved for medicinal purposes. Today, we’ve all but forgotten the leaves and eat the root.

Beet roots also contain healthy amounts of the nutrients listed above. The root is low in calories and high in fiber. Additionally, raw beets provide an excellent source of folates necessary for DNA synthesis in our cells.

The deep crimson color in beets stems from betalain and other antioxidant phytonutrients. These vary from vegetable to vegetable, not only creating a beautiful array of colors, but a host of health benefits. So a colorful presentation of vegetables on the table translates into a cornucopia of nutrients as well.

The secret is out. Beets and their greens offer a double-dose of nutrients and minerals all combined in one beautiful package. Now it’s up to you to experiment with a thousand different ways to enjoy their rich flavor and healthful benefits.

This entry was posted in Health and tagged 3, a, antioxidant, b1, beet, beta-carotene, betalain, c, calcium, copper, crimson, fit, healthy, iron, juice, k, lutein, magnesium, manganese, most, phosphorus, potassium, root, vegetable, vitamin k.

Brussels Sprouts and their Anti- Cancer benefits

Posted on March 15, 2015

Did You Know…that Brussels sprouts contain a substance that causes cancer cells to self-destruct?

The idea of Brussels sprouts may not immediately set your taste buds tingling, but this vegetable’s health benefits are guaranteed to tantalize. Brussels sprouts brussel_sprouts_par_boiled contain more glucosinolates—a kind of anti-carcinogenic compound—than any other cruciferous vegetable.

Glucosimolates Fight Cancer
Glucosinolates are special phytonutrients that serve as the chemical source for a large number of cancer-protective substances.

All cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, however, recent research indicates that the combination of compounds found in the Brussels sprout are especially potent and valuable. The anti-cancer benefits of Brussels sprouts stem primarily from four specific glucosinolates:

Glucoraphanin
Glucobrassicin
Gluconasturtiian
Sinigrin

Sinigrin, in particular, appears to cause cancer cells to self-destruct.

Of all the the studies on the Brussels sprout available in PubMed, the health research database at the National Library of Medicine in Washington, D.C., more than half connect it to cancer prevention. Brussels sprouts provide nutrients that support the three processes in your body most intricately involved in cancer development—and cancer prevention:

Detoxification
Antioxidant deployment
Anti-inflammatory activity

Chronic issues with any of the above processes increase your risk of cancer. When malfunctions occur simultaneously, your risk of cancer increases substantially.

Sprouts Prevent a Multitude of Cancers and Stop DNA Damage

Research so far shows Brussels sprout intake can decrease your risk of bladder cancer… colon cancer… prostate cancer… ovarian cancer… breast cancer… and lung cancer. Evidence from a study conducted in the Netherlands points to a possible reason for the
Brussels sprout’s broad-spectrum cancer protection. It appears the sprouts keep the body cancer-free by protecting DNA from damage.

For the three-week study, researchers analyzed the effect of Brussels sprouts on two groups of healthy men. One group ate 300 grams of Brussels sprouts each day, while the other group ate a diet devoid of all cruciferous vegetables. Testing at the end of the study showed the daily dose of Brussels sprouts led to a 28% decrease in measured DNA damage.

Your Daily Dose of Vitamin A Through Zinc

Along with anti-carcinogenic glucosinolates, Brussels sprouts provide a wealth of other nutrients. They offer significant quantities of crucial nutrients, including…

Folate

Manganese

Choline

Copper

PotassiumMagnesiumPantothenic acidCalcium

Phosphorus

Zinc

Brussels sprouts are also good source of vitamin A, vitamin B2 and B6, vitamin C, and vitamin K. In addition to all that, they deliver your daily dose of fiber and protein, with a side of disease-fighting phytochemicals.

The World’s Healthiest Food

To extract maximum health benefits, experts recommend that you steam your Brussels sprouts. The George Mateljan Foundation, which runs The World’s Healthiest Foods site, recommends this Five-Minute Method:

“Fill the bottom of a steamer pan with two inches of water. If Brussels sprouts are cut into quarters, steam for 6 minutes. If you have chopped them into smaller pieces, steam for five minutes.” When perfectly cooked, the sprouts should have a “crisp, dense texture” and a bright, “green,” mild sweetness.

This entry was posted in Cancer, Health and tagged brussel, brussel sprout, cancer, detoxify, healthy.

Let Dark Chocolate Help You Get Fit

Posted on March 8, 2015

When you go on a traditional “diet” it seems that everything even remotely delicious is removed from your menu. Most people cut their caloric intake too far, consume tasteless food that rabbits would avoid, exercise until they drop and make themselves utterly miserable.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

You want to maintain a healthy weight – you want to be fit. You know that excess pounds can lead to heart disease, diabetes and depression just for starters. So how do you get there?

Stop “Dieting”

Good nutrition can still taste fantastic! In fact, fresh foods prepared well are much more delicious than the high-fat, high-sugar, high-additive pre-packaged choices. Most of those frozen and prepared foods taste awful!

When you start making “real” food part of your life you will never want that artificial stuff again.

Instead of giving yourself less food or no food – you need to give it the right foods more often. Make choices – such as green smoothies – that give you tons of fiber and nutrition with less fat and sugar.

68% of the American population is overweight – half of those people are obese.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Exercise shouldn’t scare you. You don’t have to enter a triathlon to get results. Low impact and no impact exercises and strength training will give you measurable results while also making your bones and muscles strong.
Yoga, tai chi, walking, water aerobics and light strength training with resistance bands are inexpensive ways to get moving without feeling like you’ll need a week to recover.

How Dark Chocolate Can Help You Lose Weight

Over the last several years scientists have been examining the benefits of dark chocolate. While milk and white chocolate are still a no-no, the mix of good stuff in varieties with 70% cacao or higher are irrefutable.

Top 5 Benefits of Dark Chocolate

1. A study published in

Science Daily

found that dark chocolate slows digestion so you feel full for a longer period of time – which may curb your calories by as much as 15% at the next meal.

2. The Journal of Proteome Research reported that dark chocolate actually alters the human metabolism in a good way. The monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) in dark chocolate boost your metabolism which stimulates your body to burn fat.

3. People who eat dark chocolate have fewer cravings for foods packed with sugar, salt and fat.

4. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, dark chocolate does not stimulate insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes. When your body is resistant to insulin, your cells go into starvation mode because they aren’t getting the fuel they need. The result is more weight gain.

5. Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure, stress cortisol levels and reduce the LDL “bad” cholesterol in your body. All of this is due to the antioxidant-rich cacao content not duplicated in other forms of chocolate. Harvard Medical School found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate reduce your risk of coronary heart disease.

Can You Eat Chocolate and Weigh Less?

Eating chocolate actually helps lower your body mass index (BMI) – the measurement that pinpoints how much of your total body weight is actually fat.

One all natural variety – which is also part of the – contains all the antioxidants dark chocolate is known for with no gluten and high fiber.

Getting Healthy and Being Happy

Getting fit and meeting your weight loss goals doesn’t have to be frustrating or depressing. Improving your health can go hand-in-hand with happiness and positivity. You don’t have to deprive yourself of the foods and flavors you love most.

– and why they are dangerous to your health.

Did you know…that certain foods contain a hormone that causes your fat cells to expand – thereby making your body look bloated?

on the Beverly Hills Mega Weightloss System on how you can lose weight working with your body’s natural biochemistry instead of working against it.

This entry was posted in Health, Weight Loss and tagged benefit, chocolate, dark, dark chocolate, delicious, diet, eat, healthy, loose, lower blood pressure, skinny, slim, treat, weight.

HealthyDad

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