The Truth About Protein Intake

We have all been hearing the same story from just about every single trainer, body builder, and internet marketer on the subject, you have to eat protein and you have to eat a lot of it.

If it were that simple this article would come to an albeit brief conclusion, but there is a little more to it than that.

First, the real reason why it is critical to your diet is because it is the building block of all muscle tissue in your body. You are building your muscle tissue by eating animal muscle tissue because that is essentially what it is.

Protein gives us branched-chain-amino-acids that our body cannot produce and they are essential to ensure that we can rebuild our muscle tissue after we over-work it. These BCAA's are only found it animal-based protein foods and there are nine of twenty-two that our body cannot produce which makes it that much more important to get quality sources of protein into our daily food intake.

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3 Tips For Healthy Weight Loss - The Key To Lifelong Success

Have you ever been disappointed that after trying diet after diet, you found that you had actually gained weight? Losing weight requires a new way of thinking and hard work; it is never easy.

Losing weight in a healthy way, fortunately, will help you to keep it off. I am going to explain three tips for healthy weight loss and how it is the key to lifelong success in your weight control program.

Now let's get started!

Exercise Some Creativity with Your Diet Plan

When you think about dieting for a moment, what do you think is going to happen if you try a strict diet regime when you have become accustomed to eating whatever you want whenever you want? What do you think your chances of success will be with that type of strict diet?

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Vitamin D: Benefits and Sources

Vitamins are complex compounds which are essential for normal functioning of your body's metabolism. Most of the vitamins can be consumed directly. However, vitamin D can be synthesized by body with the help of ultraviolet rays of sun. For a number of years, the importance of this vitamin has been overlooked. However, with leaps in research, new studies have shown that deficiency of vitamin D in diet can lead to premature aging of bones besides other problems. This happens because lack of optimum levels of vitamin D inhibits necessary calcification of bones and they become weak and worn with time. In order to fulfill the normal calcium in blood, the body mechanism removes calcium from bones. This causes bone softening and abnormal bone structure which causes aging.

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The Many Great Benefits Of Following A Raw Nutrition Plan

Many people looking for ways to eat healthy and improve their weight turn to raw nutrition. This type of nutrition plan is a way to improve your overall health and get the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. The diet not only consist of fruits and vegetables but also foods such as grains, nuts, beans and seeds. These nutrients are also needed in a healthy diet plan.

When making the decision to change your diet, it is important to get the advice of your health care provider. Some people who have compromised immune systems may have problems with the bacteria that are often found in raw milk. It is a good idea to explain to your health care provider your goals and why you have chosen to change your diet.

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Is Coffee Healthy?

What is coffee?

Coffee is a drink made from coffee beans, which are the roasted fruit of the Coffea arabica bush. Also coffee is an addictive drink. The more coffee you drink, the more you depend on it. Majority of coffee drinkers are more than aware of this and rely on it to help them get a start to their day.

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9 Common Myths About Your Digestive Health

You might think that living in The Information Age would mean that our incredible access to knowledge would easily dispel myths that abound about our health. But in fact, it seems that so far, the internet has only helped propagate some of them. Hopefully, reading this will help set you straight on a couple doozies you might not have been aware were actually untrue.

1. The Ulcer-Causer. This is a big one for untrue myths: that spicy foods and stress cause ulcers. In fact, they can aggravate your ulcers, but the most likely cause of ulcers is infection by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (aka H. Pylori), a commonly occurring bacteria in your stomach. Another likely suspect for most people is the overuse of NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen).

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Chlorophyll: The Wonder Green of Life

Chlorophyll has numerous health benefits. And while mostly forgotten over the last 70 years, the wonders of this 'green magic' are slowly but surely reemerging.

Chlorophyll Is The Root of Life

Deep within every photosynthesizing plant cell on this planet is the green pigment, chlorophyll. It's used by plants to harness the sun's power, split water molecules and recombine them with carbon dioxide to create stored energy in the form of carbohydrates.

We depend on this green magic for the very food we eat as well as to produce the life-giving gas we breathe, oxygen.

But food and oxygen may not be all that we have chlorophyll to thank for...

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Water And Its Health Benefits

Water is very essential to our health. The body needs water to function properly. Adequate consumption of water everyday plays an important role in our health and adds no calories, fats, carbohydrates or sugar. Approximately 70 % of our body's mass is made up of water. It is important to drink about 8 glasses of water everyday to fulfill the water requirement of the body. The health benefits of water are priceless and include the following.

WEIGHT LOSS: Water is an appetite suppressant so it limits your food intake. If the body is getting enough fluids, it does not try to retain water. Water rids the body of toxins and prevents constipation. It also helps the liver to efficiently metabolize stored fat.

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Special Nutrients in Kombucha

The total health effects of any single food are the result of synergistic interactions between its constituents. When it comes to kombucha, the mixture of a wide variety of enzymes, probiotics, vitamins, and acids contributes to its overall benefits. While not every component has been identified, the key ones that have are quite powerful, and as kombucha is studied further other compounds may be discovered as well. For now, everything that is known strongly suggests that kombucha possesses many different types of healing properties, and these conclusions will likely be further confirmed as more research is done.

Acetic acid

A significant constituent of vinegar, acetic acid is one of the simplest organic acids. In fact, it is acetic acid that is mostly responsible for vinegar's sharp flavor, which is why many people combine it with some kind of sweetener. But when it comes to health, acetic acid is anything but simple. It possesses many powerful healing abilities, chiefly antiseptic and antibacterial. A 2009 study in the journal Burns found that acetic acid has excellent bactericidal properties for a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, and even concluded that acetic acid may be a better alternative to currently used antiseptics.

Many recent studies also indicate that acetic acid is useful for controlling blood sugar. Dr. Carol Johnston, the head of nutrition at Arizona State University, discussed how acetic acid can control glucose levels and can even accelerate weight loss when consumed with meals.

Glucuronic Acid

This powerful acid is responsible for assisting with liver detoxification, by binding to waste molecules and transferring them to the kidneys. It is one of the most important single molecules when it comes to detoxification, and kombucha is rich in it. In fact, a 2007 study in the journal Food Chemistry found that glucuronic acid concentration could reach up to 2.3g/L in fermented black tea. Kombucha's powerful combination of acetic and glucuronic acids makes it perfect for killing bad internal bacteria and then detoxifying your body.

Probiotics

The true power of kombucha stems from the fact that not only does it eliminate harmful pathogens, but it replaces them with high-quality, potent probiotics. The strains in kombucha are a mixture of yeasts and bacteria, but almost always include Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which is responsible for producing many kinds of organic acids and ezymes, including acetic and glucuronic acids, among others like lactic acid. Of course, in addition to manufacturing those beneficial chemicals, the bacteria also assimilate into the intestines, where they help digest nutrients and crowd out bad bacteria from occupying the same space.

Since far more research is needed on kombucha, there is no telling what other chemicals may also be in play. For now, what's certain is that fermented tea is an excellent health drink that more people should be including in their diets.

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Special Nutrients in Kombucha

The total health effects of any single food are the result of synergistic interactions between its constituents. When it comes to kombucha, the mixture of a wide variety of enzymes, probiotics, vitamins, and acids contributes to its overall benefits. While not every component has been identified, the key ones that have are quite powerful, and as kombucha is studied further other compounds may be discovered as well. For now, everything that is known strongly suggests that kombucha possesses many different types of healing properties, and these conclusions will likely be further confirmed as more research is done.

Acetic acid

A significant constituent of vinegar, acetic acid is one of the simplest organic acids. In fact, it is acetic acid that is mostly responsible for vinegar's sharp flavor, which is why many people combine it with some kind of sweetener. But when it comes to health, acetic acid is anything but simple. It possesses many powerful healing abilities, chiefly antiseptic and antibacterial. A 2009 study in the journal Burns found that acetic acid has excellent bactericidal properties for a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, and even concluded that acetic acid may be a better alternative to currently used antiseptics.

Many recent studies also indicate that acetic acid is useful for controlling blood sugar. Dr. Carol Johnston, the head of nutrition at Arizona State University, discussed how acetic acid can control glucose levels and can even accelerate weight loss when consumed with meals.

Glucuronic Acid

This powerful acid is responsible for assisting with liver detoxification, by binding to waste molecules and transferring them to the kidneys. It is one of the most important single molecules when it comes to detoxification, and kombucha is rich in it. In fact, a 2007 study in the journal Food Chemistry found that glucuronic acid concentration could reach up to 2.3g/L in fermented black tea. Kombucha's powerful combination of acetic and glucuronic acids makes it perfect for killing bad internal bacteria and then detoxifying your body.

Probiotics

The true power of kombucha stems from the fact that not only does it eliminate harmful pathogens, but it replaces them with high-quality, potent probiotics. The strains in kombucha are a mixture of yeasts and bacteria, but almost always include Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which is responsible for producing many kinds of organic acids and ezymes, including acetic and glucuronic acids, among others like lactic acid. Of course, in addition to manufacturing those beneficial chemicals, the bacteria also assimilate into the intestines, where they help digest nutrients and crowd out bad bacteria from occupying the same space.

Since far more research is needed on kombucha, there is no telling what other chemicals may also be in play. For now, what's certain is that fermented tea is an excellent health drink that more people should be including in their diets.

Read More

Special Nutrients in Kombucha

The total health effects of any single food are the result of synergistic interactions between its constituents. When it comes to kombucha, the mixture of a wide variety of enzymes, probiotics, vitamins, and acids contributes to its overall benefits. While not every component has been identified, the key ones that have are quite powerful, and as kombucha is studied further other compounds may be discovered as well. For now, everything that is known strongly suggests that kombucha possesses many different types of healing properties, and these conclusions will likely be further confirmed as more research is done.

Acetic acid

A significant constituent of vinegar, acetic acid is one of the simplest organic acids. In fact, it is acetic acid that is mostly responsible for vinegar's sharp flavor, which is why many people combine it with some kind of sweetener. But when it comes to health, acetic acid is anything but simple. It possesses many powerful healing abilities, chiefly antiseptic and antibacterial. A 2009 study in the journal Burns found that acetic acid has excellent bactericidal properties for a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, and even concluded that acetic acid may be a better alternative to currently used antiseptics.

Many recent studies also indicate that acetic acid is useful for controlling blood sugar. Dr. Carol Johnston, the head of nutrition at Arizona State University, discussed how acetic acid can control glucose levels and can even accelerate weight loss when consumed with meals.

Glucuronic Acid

This powerful acid is responsible for assisting with liver detoxification, by binding to waste molecules and transferring them to the kidneys. It is one of the most important single molecules when it comes to detoxification, and kombucha is rich in it. In fact, a 2007 study in the journal Food Chemistry found that glucuronic acid concentration could reach up to 2.3g/L in fermented black tea. Kombucha's powerful combination of acetic and glucuronic acids makes it perfect for killing bad internal bacteria and then detoxifying your body.

Probiotics

The true power of kombucha stems from the fact that not only does it eliminate harmful pathogens, but it replaces them with high-quality, potent probiotics. The strains in kombucha are a mixture of yeasts and bacteria, but almost always include Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which is responsible for producing many kinds of organic acids and ezymes, including acetic and glucuronic acids, among others like lactic acid. Of course, in addition to manufacturing those beneficial chemicals, the bacteria also assimilate into the intestines, where they help digest nutrients and crowd out bad bacteria from occupying the same space.

Since far more research is needed on kombucha, there is no telling what other chemicals may also be in play. For now, what's certain is that fermented tea is an excellent health drink that more people should be including in their diets.

Read More

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are chemicals that come from food used to support the health. Minerals make and break down body tissues, and regulates metabolism. There are many varieties of vitamins and minerals, for example foods containing vitamins A, C and E contain antioxidants, which can help to reduce the ageing process. The Mineral Magnesium helps to convert food into energy. Unfortunately vitamins and minerals can only be sourced by food. This is the reason it is important to have a balanced diet, to ensure essential vitamins and minerals are met.

There are many vitamins and minerals available, but it would be too long to describe each mineral and each vitamin. Below is a summary of the main vitamins and minerals that are popular at the moment.

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Top 5 Sources Of Vitamin D

Vitamin D has become an incredibly popular topic, as it is very important to our health. Proper Vitamin D levels have been linked to all sorts of health benefits, including strong and healthy bones. Here are the top five sources to get more Vitamin D.

5. Wild Salmon: Fish is a great source of vitamin D, and salmon is one of the best options. The American Heart Association recommends eating oily, fatty fish like salmon about twice per week. Seek out wild salmon if possible, as farm raised salmon has significantly lower levels of vitamin D.

4. Bacon: Yes, everyone's favorite breakfast side is actually good for you! Good quality, organic bacon (preferably from free range pigs) tastes good and has nutritious vitamin D.

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Eat Your Way to a Stronger Immune System

Winter months bring the dreaded and inevitable cold season. Recent research has unearthed a great deal of information and evidence linking our immune systems to our intestinal health. Colds are most often synonymous with a wide array of medicinal and chemical treatments, despite there being no cure. Focusing on cold prevention and overall immune system strength through our food can also have impressive results.

First in line: garlic. This potent onion relative contains allicin, a sulfuric compound with amazing antibacterial properties that is extremely useful in fighting infections both topically and internally. When garlic is ingested, it travels through your digestive system and is absorbed into your bloodstream. By this method, it helps to create an "inhospitable environment" for both bacteria and viruses alike within cells. It is most beneficial in its raw form, and daily consumption can aid in prevention and treatment of the cold virus. Can't stand the thought of eating raw garlic? It is readily available in an extracted capsule form that may still have a slight taste, but can be much easier to stomach.

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Foods to Avoid to Prevent Bloating

We all know the most common culprit: beans. It is true that beans can cause bloating and flatulence due to their high fiber content, however most people can tolerate beans in proper portions with no side effects. Other foods that are high in fiber such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lentils, brussels sprouts, onions, whole grains and cereals may also cause increased bloating and flatulence when consumed in large amounts. Since vegetables and whole grains are a healthy part of the diet, do not go out of your way to avoid these foods, but increase your intake gradually and monitor your symptoms to determine which foods could be causing bloating.

Keep in mind that tolerance of high fiber foods varies per person, however many people tend to feel more bloated after eating foods with insoluble fiber that is artificially added into packaged products like yogurt and granola bars, not from foods with natural fiber such as fruits and vegetables.

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The Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

For many years, health experts and doctors have recommended that their patients consume fish oil supplements because of the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

This is based on the many years of research into these essential fats and because they believe that the supplements are beneficial to lowering the potential of heart disease, stroke, death and even sudden death caused by heart disease among others.

Omega-3 fatty acids refer to a category of necessary fats including ALA, DHA and EPA.

These essential fats in the omega-3 category are considered essential because they do not have the ability to be synthesized in the body.

In fact, these DHA and EPA fats are essential to healthy living.

A deficiency of these fats shows symptoms of poor circulation, cardiovascular problems, fatigue, dry skin, memory problems, depression and mood swings.

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Potatoes and Health

Potatoes are a very popular vegetable, consumed by at least a billion people worldwide. They come in many types, including maris piper and King Edward. Sweet potatoes are also becoming very popular. Despite the varieties of them potatoes have recently received some negatively, due to the fact that they contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates contains energy which we need to move constantly.

Potatoes also contains other important nutrients:

· Fibre, this contributes to making the body feel fuller for longer. It can also contribute to helping to prevent constipation, which is caused by lack of fibre. Consuming potatoes with the skin on has more fibre in comparison to consuming potatoes without the skin. However it is advised to ensure that potato skins are not discoloured or marked before consumption, as it can cause ill health in large amounts.

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Digestive Enzymes - Health 101

Digestive enzymes break down our foods into absorbable & utilizable components. Each enzyme has a very specific function - it is necessary we get all the enzymes - they are not interchangeable. Poor digestive health is rampant, and unfortunately undetected & underemphasized in western medicine. Digestive health is critical to disease prevention & recovery.

We have 2 main ways of getting our digestive enzymes:

The food we eat: cooking denatures enzymes, so we need to eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables. Another issue here is soil depletion - our foods can be filled with toxins which destroy enzymes & because the soil is over tilled can be depleted in precious nutrients.

Good foods to eat:: Pineapple, papaya, sea vegetables, greek yogurt (un flavoured please), mango, wheat grass, shitake mushrooms, sprouts, cabbage, apples, cherries, peppers, unpasteurized honey, apple cider vinegar - which is great as a salad dressing!

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The Benefits Of Juicing, How To Tap Into Them For Great Health

Many people fail to get the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables and often the reason is that they just don't like them and the bulk is quite extensive. On the other hand if you juice them, you can drink all your requirements in as little as an 8 oz glass and tap into the health benefits of juicing.

Adding juicing to your diet is also a way to enhance your health to levels you may not have thought possible. Juice can level out nagging health problems that you may have, it can also help heal many chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, even cancer, not to mention the energy boost you will get.

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Chocolate Milk Is NOT a Good Post Workout Drink!

Chocolate milk is high in sugar, saturated fat and calories. The second ingredient is sugar. The carbohydrates it contains are not the good kind. The protein it claims to have is about 1/4 the serving of a single scoop of most protein powders. Did I mention it's mostly sugar? Even the caramel coloring used to give it that rich creamy chocolate look are more heated sugars and starches. Just because a commercial tells you something, does not necessarily mean it's true. I would not encourage you to drink chocolate milk as a post workout

protein aid or a carbohydrate boost.

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Proteins for Vegetarians

Protein - A Vital Nutrient

Protein is important for good health. It is present in large quantity in non-vegetarian foods like chicken, meat, and pork. However when vegetarians are considered, the protein rich foods are less in number. Extra care has to be taken for people who decide to change from non-vegetarians to vegans. The lack of proteins will decrease the muscular strength and make you look weak. Proteins have amino acids and help the bones and tissues to grow. It also helps in repairing the worn out tissues. Thus increasing care has to be taken so that the body gets sufficient amount of protein. Below are the list of food items rich in proteins which you can consume every day. You can select your favourites and make your diet rich in proteins.

Milk - Two glasses a day

Drinking milk two glasses a day, one in the morning and one in the night is compulsory as it has ample amount of protein content in it. Besides having protein in it, it also has rich quantity of calcium and vitamins. The milk products also tend to be rich in protein content. The yogurt and cheese have good amount of proteins in them. Greek yogurt is very rich in protein and topping that with nuts will provide half the enough protein required daily. Some vegetarians consume egg, which is highly recommended for increasing the protein quantity in the body.

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Going Organic, Is It Worth The Bother?

My parents told me, once upon a time all food was naturally organic, then "they" (the 'evil' food companies) started using pesticides and preservatives and they said "you can eat fruit all year round" and "this stuff is better because it lasts longer", and charged us more for it.

Now they take the pesticides and preservatives away and call

it organic, and you guessed, charge us more for it!

Okay firstly what does organic actually mean?

A food label stating that it is organic is giving you a promise that the product was created naturally and was not subject to any type of hormones, antibiotics, chemicals etc.

With regards to organic meat, you know that the animal has lived in good natural conditions, this helps to promote healthier animals who are less prone to illness for the duration of their life.

If an animal becomes ill and needs to be treated with antibiotics it must be removed from the organic farm and sold as it has lost its organic status, according to government regulations to ensure that the product is organic.

Of course organic food is more expensive but I'd rather pay a pound or two more so I can be safe in the knowledge that the food was natural and didn't contain chemicals!

Pesticides sprayers leave what's called pesticide residue on your fruit/veg. In the olden days they used to wash fruit before you ate it, mostly because it may have some mud or cow dung on it! We are supposed to do this today, to get rid of some of the pesticide residue, but few people do as the fruit looks ready to eat.

Practicalities

When I started to try and eat organic I would drive my wife crazy, shopping was taking her an extra half an hour as she was having to find the organic versions of what we used to eat.

Since then I have learnt that you simply cant live 100% organic.

In the beginning when I started only some supermarkets carried any sort of organic products, and it was expensive (it put about £40-50 extra on a weekly shop if i remember right). Now they are more common and more competitive on price.

You can't get everything you want organic - all the time - you have to accept that.

However strategies I have used when not buying organic are:

Buying as good a quality food as possible. 

Buying from the local greengrocers/farm shops and ask them where the stuff is from. 

Buying seasonal, this means more fruit in the summer and less in the winter, which is in my opinion natural. 

Grow your own. 

Ask people who grow - potatoes, vegetables and salad - to give anything that's left over to you!

The Day I Decided to Go Organic

The day I learned that the toxic load inside my body was causing me to feel like I had chronic fatigue, I decided that I wanted to stop as many chemicals entering my system of possible.

For me personally this meant my food, water and personal products had to change, from the chemical laden to chemical free.

These changes didn't happen overnight, it was over a period of many months, I changed one or two things at a time.

Why Bother?

To be honest with you there are a few reasons why I eat organic food when possible.

The main one is the food is natural and makes me FEEL great. It doesn't contain any/many chemicals, it tastes nicer, and another big reason is that I feel like I'm investing in my health and the future, looking after myself.

To use the car analogy, the fuel you put in will determine how the car performs, and the lifespan of the car/engine, that's my approach with food, put good in get good out.

As mentioned, sadly much of the normal fruit, vegetables and other food products the food chain (especially the imported stuff) have been tainted with unhealthy chemicals which are no good for our health.

Obviously eating these products is better than no fruit and veg at all but you should always try to eat food in its most natural form.

In most cases the perfect shaped food in the supermarket is often the end product of 40 years of food science and genetic engineering.

Big Benefits of Organic Eating

1. Increased Health - Non organic food products are grown using pesticides and chemical fertilizers which harm our health - FACT. By going organic you don't have to worry about these harming your health. These chemicals are especially harmful for children, pregnant women and people with sensitive immune or digestive systems. The problems which may be linked to over exposure in pesticides include: birth defects, nerve damage, and cancer.

2. Nutritionally Stronger Foods - Organic foods are produced differently to non organic foods, it is a much more natural process which means that organic fruits and vegetables can contain up to 50% more minerals, vitamins and other health boosting nutrients than non organic products!

3. Environmentally and Animal Friendly - Our environment is important, no one can deny that. So it is such a sad thing that so many things go on in the world today that ruins it! At least by making little changes such as eating fresh organic foods you are cutting down on soil, air and water pollution. Eating this way will also ensure that the animals used to produce the food lived a nicer healthier life. I know I'd much rather eat beef from a cow that was able to roam around fields for his life rather than being cooped up in a cage! We have to start somewhere. All of these little changes can help to maintain a safer world for our future generations

4. Tastier Food - Obviously this is a big plus. Not many things can beat the taste and freshness of natural fruit, or the crunchiness of good quality vegetables, well a juicy steak would, organic of course! The natural organic farming creates healthier plants which gives better taste.

Common Barriers to Eating Organically

Yes there are a few barriers to eating organic as with everything. These are the main ones:

Price - Clearly organic food is going to cost more, you get what you pay for and in a tough economic climate paying extra for organic food may not be top of people's priority list.

Availability - In supermarkets there is often not a very large range of organic products so this makes organic eating harder again.

Is the organic label always reliable?

The more organic we can get the better, in supermarkets you have probably noticed labels such as 'organic', 'made with organic ingredients'.

The mention of organic is a lot better than not organic, so do what you can. 'Organic' labelling means that the product is 95% organic whereas made with organic ingredients will be around 70% organic.

Jumping On The Band Wagon

Organic is the fastest growing sector in the food industry, which means big money. Lots of companies are jumping on the band wagon, its good in one way as us consumers seem to be asking and they, the big food manufacturers are supplying.

I would be over the moon if you could let me know what you think below, I will respond to every comment as soon as I can.

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Nutrition: The Health Industry and Its Practices

The process of providing food necessary to support life is called nutrition. It is both a science and a practice and being in nutritional balance involves consuming the right amount of micronutrients, macronutrients, and calories from a diet. As a science, it focuses on how a healthy diet can lessen or prevent health problems, conditions, and diseases.

Nutrition Has Biblical Roots

The Book of Daniel in the Bible contains the first recorded nutritional experiment. Daniel refused to consume fine foods and drink offered by the King of Babylon, opting instead for water and vegetables. After ten days, Daniel and his friends

were healthier and more physically fit than the men in the King's court so they were allowed to continue their diets while serving the ruler.

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Are Anti-Oxidants Really Good For You?

It's easy to believe that free-radicals are "bad" and anti-oxidants are "good." At least that's what they tell us. But, do you know why?

It's tempting to go along with health trends, but lasting change and a happy lifestyle that works for you personally must be fueled by the "why!"

If you don't know why you fuel your body with "healthy" foods and supplements, it's unlikely that overtime you will stick with it. In this case, ignorance is NOT bliss.

I'm here to help you uncover and discover long-term joy in your life... so, here are some basics that will hopefully be the foundation for making life choices that work for YOU.

FREE RADICALS: What are they and why are they "bad?"

Free radicals operate on the molecular level. The simplest way to understand it is to think in terms of your skin health. Some occur in normal metabolism, but others are created by unhealthy influences (pollution, sun, chemicals) that seek to find a home and become strong by finding weakness in your cells. If they find a way into the healthy cells, they can then enlist other weakened cells to help them stabilize. Once these unhealthy cells are stabilized, can become age spots, pre-cancer and other bridges to aging and disease.

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Healthy Snacks for School

You can grab a bag of ready to eat snacks and that would be cheaper, no time to prepare, and your kids are happy because they just saw a commercial watching happy kids eating this snack. What is wrong with this? There are a lot of things to overcome when you decide that you want better nutrition for your kids. You must overcome a fierce marketing machine aimed at your kids, you must overcome an already lack of time, and you must overcome cost.

This is a tall order, but I you must know that it is worth it. Kids who eat junk food can fall into complications such as obesity, chronic illness, lack of energy and focus, lack of self esteem, and even depression. There was an incident when I was growing up when I was trying to lose weight. I was a very husky boy and I went jogging in a purple jogging suit I got for Christmas and there was a group of boys yelling "the big purple grape from the fruit of the loom commercials is coming to eat us". This made me a bit uncomfortable and a little sad.

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Health Benefits of Natto Polypeptide

Natto is a form of fermented soybeans. It has long been recognized as a unique health food because it is highly nutritious and rich in protein. During the fermentation process a beneficial bacteria, Bacillus natto, is added to the soybeans. Not only does this enhance the nutritional benefit but also is responsible for the unique flavor and texture. When the bacteria break up the soy protein it creates a natto polypeptide chain which is a natural enzyme known as Nattokinase. This natto polypeptide chain offers numerous health benefits.

The natto polypeptide contains a form of collagen which can be used to improve skin texture, softness, and elasticity. It achieves this by improving blood circulation which promotes healthy skin growth. Natto also contains vitamin PQQ which is important for healthy skin as well. In humans, PQQ is derived primarily from diet.

Natto also include pyrazine and tetramethylprazine. Pyrazine is a well-known compound which has shown to effectively reduce the likelihood of blood clotting by both the direct dibrinolysis of clots as well as inhibiting the plasma protein which is primarily responsible for clot formation. Medical professionals believe this may help people avoid thrombosis, particularly in heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolism's.

The natto polypeptide enzyme nattokinase has shown to be a popular and effective dietary supplement due to its fibrinolytic properties. A unique characteristic of this polypeptide is it remains active following ingestion which can result in improved blood pressure by reducing renin activity in the body.

Natto contains a variety of chemicals which have shown in some studies to reduce the risk of cancer however many of these chemicals can also be found another soybean products. The problem with other soybean products is all of the nutrients and valuable chemicals are stored in the thick fiber surrounding the soybean. Only by fermenting the soybean can the thick fiber surrounding be avoided while still gaining the nutritional benefits.

It is important to note that natto has a different nutritional makeup than Ross soybeans. This is because it loses vitamin A and several other vitamins and minerals during the fermentation process. At the same time, the calorie content is significantly lower than raw soybeans. The unique fermentation process allows natto to include the health benefits of soy without the high sodium content present in other popular raw soy products. It also contains no cholesterol and is a valuable source of iron, calcium, magnesium, protein, potassium, and a multitude of vitamins.

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The Buzz on Caffeine: Not Totally Harmless

Do your parents or teachers start the day with a cup of coffee? There's no question that coffee is a popular drink-the National Coffee Association estimates that Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee a day. It's the caffeine in coffee that provides the energy boost that many people claim they need to function. Caffeine has that perk-up effect because it is a stimulant. It blocks a brain chemical, adenosine, which causes sleepiness.

Caffeine is found in tea leaves, coffee beans, cacao (used to make chocolate), and cola nuts (which come from the plant that gives soda its flavor). Caffeine is also found in many foods and drinks-non-cola sodas like root beer and orange soda, hot cocoa, and ice cream-and some medicines. The latest place to find caffeine is in energy drinks.

Caffeine's Effects-Not Totally Harmless 

Caffeine is a mild stimulant and not a drug, so its use isn't regulated like prescription drug use is. Still, consuming too much caffeine can make you feel jittery or jumpy-your heart may race and your palms may sweat.

If caffeine is taken in combination with other substances, like alcohol, it can really be dangerous because mixing a stimulant and a depressant like alcohol confuses the brain. A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that emergency room visits for high doses of caffeine have increased sharply. The likely cause is caffeine-infused energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Those most affected? Young people between 18 and 25 years old.

So What's a Body To Do?

Everyone needs to perk up in the middle of a long day from time to time, but a jolt of caffeine isn't your only option. Here are a few alternatives you can try to feel energized without overdoing the caffeine:

• Sleep. This may sound obvious, but getting enough sleep is important. Teens need 9 hours of sleep a night.
• Eat regularly. When you don't eat, your glucose (sugar) levels drop, making you feel drained. Some people find it helpful to eat four or five smaller meals throughout the day instead of fewer big meals.
• Drink enough water. Since we are more than two-thirds H₂0, our bodies need at least 64 ounces of water a day.
• Take a walk. If you're feeling drained in the middle of the day, it helps to move around. Do sit-ups or jumping jacks. Go outside for a brisk walk, ride your bike.

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The Number 2 Vitamin Deficiency: Magnesium, Are You Getting Enough?

Over 300 enzymatic processes, including all of those in ATP production (how we produce energy) use magnesium. It builds bones and enables nerves to work correctly. It is also the second most common vitamin deficiency behind vitamin D.

Many people are already low of the recommended daily allowance of magnesium, and its intake has decreased over the years. Deficiencies can lead to serious problems like depression and anxiety. Poor dietary habits, pharmaceutical drug use, soil depletion and poor farming practices are the most common reasons for a deficiency.

The Many Benefits

Less Stress, Better Sleep - Melatonin, the sleep regulating hormone is disrupted when magnesium deficient. Stress and tension are common reasons some people don't sleep well. Magnesium doesn't induce sedation but it can cut inappropriate excitation from a deficiency.

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Eating Healthy - How Do We Maintain Changes?

It can be difficult to make changes in your diet, let alone maintain those changes throughout your lifetime. Over the past 40 years total calorie consumption has increased considerably, partially attributable to greater average carbohydrate intake and increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. It is imperative that we make changes now to prevent future diseases like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.

How should we go about making changes in our diets? 

This depends on what types of changes you are planning on making. Based on research studies, interventions have been least successful with increasing fruits and vegetables. Reduction in sodium intake is most effective when there is extensive counseling and extended support. The interventions that have been most successful at reducing fat intake typically consist of motivated individuals who set intensive dietary goals. Better results have been reported among people aiming to increase fiber intake. However, most of the literature has focused on middle-aged, well educated, and motivated people with a high-risk of disease (e.g. heart disease). The good news is that less-intense, community-based interventions seem to be appropriate for helping people make smaller changes. Self-monitoring, such as keeping a log of what you eat throughout the day, is associated with improved dietary adherence. It appears that just paying close attention to behavior helps with making changes.

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