October 28th, 2008 by admin
Acai Berry Juice
Acai berries and acai berry juice products are some of latest supplements to enter the health food category as a superfood. Residents and natives of Brazil are very familiar with this berry and its products. Residents have been enjoying acai fruit juice beverages and bowls for some time. Once you have tried the juice you will probably find ways to add it to you favorite smoothie or add it to recipes. Acai freeze dried powder actually goes well in yogurt. The flavor is something to be experienced and it tastes like blueberries with a touch of chocolate and is not over powering.The locals and natives of the Amazon rain forest of Brazil are familiar with acai berries and have been using them in their diet both as a staple and for making beverages. The powerful little berries grow to be about the size of a blueberry and look much like them in color, size and shape. They grow on the acai palm in swampy floodplains from where they are harvested.Acai berries have one of the highest ORAC ( Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity ) which is a measurement of antioxidant capacity of foods or supplements. Due to the benefits and its ORAC value these berries have gone up in price in a short time.Many people may see improvements by using acai berry products or acai pills including those dealing with various illnesses. Athletic trainers know the importance of antioxidants and supplements that supply protein and lasting energy.Health issues that a person has may seek relief by using acai berry products for anti inflammatory, antioxidant and improving immune function. The conditions that people may be seeking relief are, detoxing and cleansing, high blood pressure, heart issues, cholesterol reduction, losing weigh inflammation, arthritis and dry or oily skin conditions.What makes these berries so amazing. They are loaded with protein and fiber and contain minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium and potassium. Also contains B1, B2, B3, C and E essential fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 9 respectively Linoleic acid and Oleic acid which research indicates helps maintain normal cholesterol levels. When you looking to buy acai berry juice look for pure organic products. Some products claim to be acai berry juice but are actually a mix of other juices such as blueberry, mango, or pomegranate juice.
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October 27th, 2008 by admin
Nutrition: Eleven Superfoods You Ought To Know About
There’s a lot more to foods than just the nutrition they contain. Some can act as medicines, helping to tame inflammation in the body, or protect cells from DNA damage. Others can act as aphrodisiacs (see number 2 below). Still others can protect your memory. Superfoods are super precisely because they offer more benefits than what you can find on the nutrition facts label. Every one on this list qualifies!1.BlueberriesThese amazing berries are on anyone’s list of superfoods. Recent research shows that they’re brain food– feeding blueberries to rats actually slows their age-related mental decline. Blueberries contain pterostilbene, a plant compound recently shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Their ORAC value (antioxidant rating) is the highest of any fruit. And blueberries are rich in fiber. Tip: try them frozen. They taste like sherbet!2.MacaBased on a long history of traditional use in Peru, maca has recently become known as a natural Viagra, and is popular as an aphrodisiac, and for increasing fertility and stamina. (I talked about it in my book The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth as part of a natural treatment for restoring sexual potency.) But maca’s also a superfood from a nutrition point of view. It’s an important staple for the Andean Indians, has been around since 3800 BC and is rich in sugars, protein, starches and essential minerals, especially iron and iodine. You can buy it as a supplement, or, even better, as a powder which you can add to shakes. 3.CherriesCherries are absolutely loaded with anti-inflammatory, antiaging, anticancer compounds that don’t show up on your average nutrition facts label. These include quercetin, a member of the flavonoid family which has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Cherries also contain anthocyanains which act like natural COX-2 inhibitors, reducing pain and inflammation. That’s one reason why they’re so great for gout. My favorite healthy desert- frozen cherries mixed with full fat yogurt. Tastes like Cherry Garcia only way better for you.4.GuavaAmong the superfoods of the world, guava is a sleeper. With a taste that’s been described as part strawberry part pear, one low-calorie cup of this vitamin rich fruit contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber. And in one widely used nutrition lab test for antioxidant power, guava scored second only to blueberries, and right behind kale. Guava also contains cancer fighting lycopene.5.KaleKale is a member of the brassica family, vegetable royalty that boasts cabbage and broccoli among it’s relatives. It’s simply loaded with nutrition. It’s rich in potent cancer fighting substances called indoles, and loaded with bone-building vitamin K. Kale also contains sulforaphane, a powerful nutrient that helps the liver detoxify carcinogens and other toxins. Kale has the highest antioxidant rating of any vegetable and is ridiculously low in calories. Try it tossed with olive oil, a few dried cranberries and some pine nuts.6.SardinesThese are the best kept nutrition secret in the world when it comes to health foods and the secret weapon of travelers looking for a cheap, portable, easily available source of protein. Sardines are rich in omega-3 fats, and one of the least contaminated of any seafood since it’s so low on the food chain. Eat them out of the can or throw them on some salad.7.Coconut oilThis superb oil has been long neglected as a healthy oil because it contains saturated fat. But not to worry: the saturated fat in coconut is a very healthy kind called MCT (medium chain triglyecerides) which is easily burned by the body for energy. Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, a natural anti-viral and anti-microbal. And today’s excellent virgin coconut oil- unlike the inferior products of a few decades ago- doesn’t contain trans fats. Note to skeptics: The Puka Puka islanders consumed 80 % of their diet from coconut products and had virtually no heart disease.8.Green teaHere’s a superstar beverage if there ever was one. Green tea helps with weight loss and helps fight against cancer. It contains EGCG, a catechin (plant compound) which stimulates metabolism and has anti-cancer properties to boot. Green tea also contains theanine, a natural relaxant which helps explain why the caffeine in green tea doesn’t make you nearly as jittery as coffee.9.FlaxseedsFlaxseed oil is one of the only plant sources of omega-3 fats, but the flaxseeds themselves provide the added nutrition benefit of fiber along with the omega-3’s. Flaxseeds can be thrown on salads, tossed into smoothies, or sprinkled on vegetables. They also contain lignans, a group of plant nutrtients that have been studied by the National Cancer Institute for their cancer preventive properties.10.EggsThe protein source against which all others are judged. And for goodness sake, stop with the egg white omlettes. The yolk is loaded with good stuff! Half of the measly 4.5 grams of fat are actually monounsaturated fat, the same heart-healthy fat that’s in olive oil. The yolks are also one of the best sources of lutein, the superstar of eye nutrition. Plus they contain choline, which helps support brain function and help keep harmful homocysteine levels down. Look for the new designer eggs with increased omega-3 content.11.Pomegranate juice If you’re wondering if all the hype about pomegranate juice is for real, stop wondering: it is. Animal studies suggest that pomegranate juice combats artherogenesis (hardening of the arteries) as well as other cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks. It’s rich in antioxidants and has a higher amount of polyphenols- heart healthy plant compounds– than even red wine. Look for the pure pomegranate juice (not the watered down cocktail). You can always dilute it with water or mix it with other juices.In the long run, the rules for healthy eating are a lot simpler than you might think: Eat food that your ancestors could have hunted, fished for, gathered or plucked. If it’s food your grandmother would have recognized as food, it’s probably good for you. And if it doesn’t have a bar code, so much the better.
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October 22nd, 2008 by admin
Good nutrition plays an important part in protecting us from the free radicals in our environment. The ageing process is associated with cell damage caused by free radical molecules. Free radicals can cause the break of down cells in our body and make us age faster. The effect of this can be skin wrinkling and mottling, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and coronary heart disease. Free radicals are also associated with the development of cancer cells in our bodies.. Antioxidants are natural anti-aging substances which can neutralise the free radicals in our bodies and protect us from cell damage. It is believed that antioxidants help reduce the aging process and protect us from the diseases of old age. Many fruits and vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants which protect us from free radicals. ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) units are the new way to measure the antioxidant goodness of fruits and vegetables. ORACS were developed by the National Institute on Aging in the US. If food has a high ORAC value, it provides better protection against damaging free radicals. Fruits and vegetables with high ORAC scores include bananas, blueberries, broccoli, raw carrots, cranberries, pecan nuts, red kidney beans, kiwis, oranges, prunes, red cabbage, red peppers, spinach, strawberries and tomatoes. We all know that we should eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day for a healthy diet. Some health advisors now recommend that we eat 8 to 10 portions a day. You can easily include these healthy fruits and vegetables into your diet. Try adding blueberries, prunes or strawberries to your breakfast cereal, and a banana or orange as a mid morning snack. Add kidney beans and grated raw carrot to salads, chilli con carne and stews. Try baby leaf spinach in place of lettuce on your salad, and add to pizzas. Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Ideally, 3 out of 5 of your daily portions should be vegetables, as they contain more fibre and less sugar than fruit. With our hectic lifestyles, we often eat convenience foods to save time on preparation, and many people are deficient in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found naturally in food. If you smoke, drink excess alcohol, live in a built up area with pollution from cars and factories, or suffer from stress, then you are more at risk from the damaging effects of free radicals. If you find it difficult to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, then consider taking a nutritional supplement. Here are some anti-ageing supplements which you can buy from health stores: Lycopene is a powerful natural antioxidant, which helps to neutralise cell damaging free radicals. Pyconegol is an extract from bark of the French maritime pine tree. It contains a natural blend of bioflavonoids and helps combat the harmful effects of cell damaging free radicals. Selenuim is seen as one of the best natural antioxidant sources. It is often combined with vitamins A,C and E. The most important change we can make to improve our health and reduce the risk of age related diseases is to improve our nutrition. More and more people are concerned not only with staying healthy, but looking younger as they get older. Someone in their fifties who has a healthy lifestyle and high quality nutrition can look as if they are in their thirties. Author Lin Parker researches anti ageing beauty treatments and skin care products available to help women look younger and feel more confident. For more advice on anti-aging and tips on looking years younger, visit Face Lift Advice
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