Health Nutrition

With the fast-paced, technologically driven world people are now living, who would have the slightest idea that the most important rampart of normal living is being neglected?

Undeniably, because of the busy courses of people's lives, people tend to forget some of the vital fragments in maintaining a healthy lifestyle diet and nutrition.

THE CONVERGENCE

The terms "diet" and "nutrition" are defined into two different sentences but are greatly connected. By definition, "diet" refers to the food and liquid intake of a person while "nutrition" pertains to the science of dealing with food and nourishment. When these two are combined, an entirely new meaning can be derived. More than the issues of food and liquid intake and the science of food and nourishment, diet and nutrition can revolve around nutritional information on various dietary supplements and the benefits vitamins and minerals to a person's body.

Making yourself familiar with latest diet and nutrition topics, trends, and tips can lead you to the renewal of your health and well being commitment inside your home. You must remember that it's never too late to redirect your eating habits, but before you take that drastic change, learn what are the common diet and nutrition mistakes so you can avoid them.

1. Careless assumption that the food choices you have are better than they actually are. Experts say that people who are very particular about diet and nutrition have larger tendencies of thinking and believing that their food choices are healthier than they really are. Make sure that you eat whole, fresh, and unprocessed foods whenever possible.

2. Confusion over carbohydrates. Although many people say that low carb diets are effective, experts say that there are excellent carbs that make people eat less. So before you cut down on carbs totally, make sure that you have consulted your dietician if this diet will be good for you.

3. You think you're eating too much when you're not. Experts say that one of the most common mistakes people make is that they overestimate and underestimate the amount of food their body needs. Make sure that you monitor the portion sizes of your food.

4. Not eating enough food or not eating often. Overeating and under eating may put the person at risk because it disrupts disrupting blood sugar and insulin levels. Make sure that you eat something every three hours and don't starve before eating the next meal.

5. Neglecting the value of regular exercise. Making exercise a regular part of your life can definitely contribute to great diet and nutrition.

6. Taking in a lot of dietary supplements. A vitamin or dietary pill is a supplement that is meant to complement a person's diet; therefore it should not be considered as substitutes for the foods you're supposed to be eating. Experts say that one all-purpose multivitamin a day is enough to complement the nutrients you don't get from the foods you don't eat.

7. Following nutrition and weight loss guidelines by the book. Since people are different, it is only natural for them to have individual needs. Although diet and nutrition plans work for the majority of people, not everything can help you improve you overall diet and nutrition.

One of the major reasons why people get overweight or suffer from minor and major health risks is that they don't practice having a healthy diet. Healthy diet which include eating balanced amount of food from all food groups along with exercise or regular physical activity can lessen people's inclination to health problems.

PLANNING ON A HEALTHY DIET

Experts say that though basic principle of healthy diet is simple, most people are having a hard time sticking to it. Major reasons may include a super busy lifestyle, work that causes a lot of stress or even an environment that is not conducive to having a healthy diet.

Although it is hard to start and maintain a healthy diet, nothing is impossible if you really want to achieve a healthy mind and body. For starters, it is advisable to mix up food choices from each food group. Eating a large variety of foods and veggies can also serve as a warm up in avoiding the foods that contribute to drastic weight gain. Having a balanced intake of calcium-rich foods, whole grains, and protein-rich products will also keep you in track.

To be able to maintain eating a healthy diet, you must also know your restrictions of fats, salt and sugars levels, and intakes. Lastly, you must monitor your body weight regularly for you to know if your body is absorbing all the nutrients it needs.

Here are more tips for eating well and achieving a healthy diet:

1. Meals based on starchy foods are a good start to a healthy diet. Experts agree that people should eat more starchy foods such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes because they are a good source of energy not to mention being the main source of a range of nutrients of a person's diet like fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B.

2. Load up a lot of fruits and veggies. Eating at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day is an ideal way to maintain a healthy diet. But, it is sometimes hard to achieve because people do not want to waste time peeling or chopping certain fruits and veggies. The best way to keep up with the recommended fruit and veggies intake if to eat a variety of fruits that are either fresh, frozen, canned or dried and picking out veggies that can be finger delights such as celery, broccoli, carrots, beans and peas.

3. Be more "fishy" Despite of the so-called "high mercury content" of fish, nutrition experts say that eating more fish especially oily fish is an important component of a healthy diet because it is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

4. Try to cut down on saturated fats and sugars. Do not totally cut down on fats because your body needs it to stay healthy. Basically, fats are categorized into saturated and unsaturated fat. The former has high amount of cholesterol and the latter has lower amounts that lowers blood cholesterol. Cut down only on foods that are high in saturated fat such meat pies, sausages, hard cheese, butter and lard, pastry, cakes and biscuits, cream and the like. Also monitor your sugar intake because aside from causing decay, sugary foods can also be high in calories that contribute to weight gain.

5. Eat less salt. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure.

6. Drink lots and lots of water to keep your body well-hydrated.

By: Low Jeremy

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health

Acai has been identified as a super berry on the market because it contains everything your body can possibly need. For starters, acai berry provides Vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, E, Potassium, Fiber, Proteins, Phosphorus, Calcium, ideal fatty acids like Omega 9, Omega 6 to help in reducing high cholesterol level.

Still another benefit: Acai offers you the biggest degree of anti-oxidant on the market, with up-to-date studies showing up to 33 times the antioxidant power in comparison to red wine grapes. Acai provides your body amazing energy as from your teenage years, and the life force and greater stamina you felt when you were younger. Consider trying the Acai product brand that we have successfully taken and you too will experience its natural power.

Acai contains two central fatty acids recognized as Omega 9 and Omega 6. Omega 9 fatty acids decrease LDL and help keep HDL levels. Further research proves that Omega 6 actually aids in reducing LDL, the damaging cholesterol.

Acai's Anti Oxidant elements have a big role in maintaining the vascular cardiac system; this is essential for smoother blood circulation.

Acai's dark purple color exists because of polyphenolic compounds present. A major plant chemical in Acai gets much attention; this compound is known as anthocyanin. Anthocyanins are a cluster of Flavonoids which is broadly distributed in plants; it also gives a red to purple color to fruits such as grapes, raspberries, and blackberries. Furthermore, it contains the usual minerals and vitamins that are carried in most fruits.

Anthocyanins has been classified in the "group" of plant compounds known as Flavonoids. In fact, Flavonoids are a division of plant polyphenols which might have potential antioxidant abilities; researchers are currently studying Anthocyanins for their anti-aging and anti-cancer potential. They are also now under investigation for their unique ability to stop LDL cholesterol, reduce blood clotting, and even guard cells against harmful carcinogens.

Anthocyanins counteracts enzymes which damage connective tissue. Their antioxidant ability helps in preventing oxidants from hurting connective tissues; it also aids in fixing the damaged proteins in your body's blood vessel walls.

By the prevention of tyrosine nitration, the Anthocyanins found in Acai could assist in safeguarding against neurological illnesses. In fact, the central Anthocyanins found in Acai--recognized as Cyanidin-3-glucoside--have been discovered to aid in reversing age-related neurological problems.

Anthocyanins' ability to fight oxidants gives them a favorably potent status in the battle against arteriosclerosis. Anthocyanins safeguards the soundness of your body's endothelial cells which keep blood vessel walls in a line and assist in maintaining the integrity of micro capillary.

In the case of Diabetes, the protection offered through Anthocyanins could help stop damaged capillaries from leaking, as well as help in preventing massive atypical protein production.

By: George Alarcon

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health

By choosing high fiber foods, you can become part of the legend of those who have the nutritional wisdom which ensures better health, counteracts disease, and produces greater vitality. Ask not what your high fiber diet can do for you, but what you can do for your high fiber diet. Camelot? Spamalot? Fiber--alot.

Fiber lady is the new Guinevere. She's come to share the wealth about your health. One of the main reasons for the emerging trend of high fiber foods is the ongoing quest for weight loss. Even the Knights of the Round Table have discovered that their armor fits better than ever.

The average American consumes about 5-13 grams of fiber daily, but nutrition experts recommend a daily intake of 20-35 grams. Here's what you can do in the quest for your high fiber diet. Start by replacing white bread with whole grain bread, white rice with brown rice. Add more beans and legumes, veggies, fruits, seeds and nuts. Any foods with more than 4 grams per serving are categorized as high in fiber.

People are moving away from the low-carb diet fad towards eating foods that are high in fiber. New products making high-fiber claims has nearly doubled in the past few years. For example, Sara Lee (bless her heart) has developed a white bread with all the fiber and many of the nutrients of whole wheat bread. And wonder of wonders, Wonder has made a bread with a special 100% whole wheat flour milled from white wheat. These products make the new USDA Food Pyramid much easier to scale.

A diet rich in high fiber foods is essential for your ultimate health. Dietary fiber is vital for prevention or treatment of diverticulitis, diabetes, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. Studies have shown that certain conditions such as constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis and high blood pressure respond favorably to a high fiber diet. Those who need a gluten free diet can still benefit from a variety of high fiber foods. Certain types of fiber can even lower blood cholesterol levels.

One of Fiber lady's greatest concerns is the alarming trend for today's children to be overweight. The new Food Guide Pyramid recommends that children consume 1 to 3 servings of whole grains daily. It's probable that most children don't even eat 1 serving a day of whole grains. Dietary fiber has a powerful impact on children's overall health. After eating fiber-rich foods, there is a feeling of fullness which helps to control overeating. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar which is vital to childrens' energy and digestive health. High fiber foods are as important to their health as it is to yours.

Fiber lady knows how easy it is to raise your high fiber IQ. Educate yourself and those you love about high cholesterol, diabetes, types of cancer, high blood pressure, and other ailments that can be drastically improved or controlled by including high fiber recipes and high fiber menus on a regular daily basis.

Camelot was the beginning of the Quest for the Holy Grail. It could be considered a state of mind, but the quest for high fiber health is most assuredly the starting point to a state of good health!

By: Stephanie Shank

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health

Health nutrition from food you eat and drink is your health and strength. What you eat is part of what you are and what you will become. What you choose for a meal has an impact on our body either positively or negatively. The quality of food you take affects the length and quality of your life. Many life threatening diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers, are often, at least in part, linked to poor nutrition. Much of these diseases could be prevented with sufficient health nutrition intake.

We are often told that we must eat a balanced diet to obtain health nutrition for our well being. However, what is a balanced diet? How do you know you are achieving the correct balance? Many of us do not eat enough healthy carbohydrates. Many of us are unaware of a diet which is very low in fat can cause as much harm to our body as a high-fat diet. Many of us do not know that we eat more protein than we really need, and that too much can be bad for us. Many of us fall short on the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals that our body need.

A perfect diet should contain all needed health nutrition such as carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, fibre, in the right quantities. The WHO suggests at least fifty per cent of calories in our diet should come from complex carbohydrates, no more than thirty five per cent comes from fat and up to fifteen per cent comes from protein. The allowance for alcohol consumption is no more than five per cent.

To get fifty per cent or so of carbohydrates you need to ensure that at every meal you have a good portion of starchy carbohydrates food such as rice, pasta, potatoes, or bread. At most meals, you need good portion of vegetables and/or fruits. You should also include small portion of low- or moderate-fat protein such as fish, poultry, pulses and lean meat in our diets. High-fat protein such cheese, dairy product and fatty meats should be eaten less frequently and in even smaller portions. As all fat is a calorie-dense food, ideally you should include only small quantities of oil such as olive or corn oil in your meals. The majority part of your daily calorie needs have been taken up. There is only little room for alcohol and for the sugars. So, add these to your diet in moderation, if at all.

A variety and a balance intake of health nutrition is the most important element of a healthy diet for life. To ensure adequate amounts of all necessary vitamins, minerals, fat, protein, carbohydrates and fibre, eat as wide a variety of foods as you can. You should eat different sources of carbohydrates, varying types of protein, lots of different vegetables, salads and fruits.

There is no need to worry too much about the exact nutritional content of every morsel of food you eat. The fact is that almost any kind of meal can be adapted to form part of a healthy diet if you follow the above mentioned guidelines.

By: Casey Yew

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health

Whenever we get too stressed out, many of us tend
to make poor food choices that actually increase stress and cause other problems.

Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your food and avoid stress.

1. Always eat breakfast. Even though you may think you aren't hungry, you need to eat something. Skipping breakfast makes it harder to maintain the proper blood and sugar levels during the day, so you should always
eat something.

2. Carry healthy snacks at all times. Keeping some protein rich snacks in your car, office, or pocket book will help you avoid blood sugar level dips, the accompanying mood swings, and the fatigue. Trail mix, granola bars, and energy bars all have the nutrients you need.

3. Try green tea instead. The caffeine in coffee and sodas can have stress-producing effects on your system. Try to gradually wean yourself off of caffeine drinks (going cold turkey can leave you with a headache, usually on the second day). Replace that coffee urge with a cup of green tea, which is soothing to the senses and contains lots of antioxidants.

4. Replace bad munchies with healthy ones. If you like to munch when you're stressed out, you can replace chips or other non healthy foods with carrot sticks, celery sticks, or even sunflower seeds.

5. Drink your water. That means at least 8 cups a day. This helps filter stress-induced and stress-producing toxins from your system, and can also keep you energized. Being dehydrated can actually cause fatigue.

6. Bring your lunch to work or school. Although a lot of people prefer to eat fast food for lunch, you can save a lot of money and actually eat healthier if you take a few minutes and pack a lunch at home. Even if you only do this a few times a week, you'll see a much better improvement over eating out.

7. Stock your home with the good stuff. As important as it is to get the bad food out of your house, it's even more important to get the good food in! The best way to do this is to plan a menu of healthy meals, including healthy snacks, at the beginning of the week, list the ingredients you need, and then go shop for them. This way, you'll know what you want when you need it and you won't have to stress over what to eat.

By: Andrea Arnold

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health

Imagine feeling great, having tons of energy, and enjoying incredible health all the time. If you eat the following healthy, great-tasting foods regularly (while avoiding unhealthy processed foods and sugar) you will be amazed at how incredible you'll feel. Try it for a week and see what happens!

Almonds -- Possibly the healthiest nut in the world, almonds are packed with good stuff like protein, fiber, magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamin E and monounsaturated fat. Eating a handful of raw almonds every day will boost your energy and help to lower your "bad" cholesterol levels.

Broccoli -- When it comes to healthy vegetables, it's tough to beat broccoli. This delicious green veggie has been shown to help prevent numerous health problems and will provide you with everything from fiber to calcium to cancer-fighting phytonutrients!

Red Beans -- Red bean varieties (such as pinto beans and red kidney beans) are great sources of healthy protein, fiber, and antioxidants. They're also full of important minerals like iron and magnesium. Beans are powerful "prevention" foods that have been shown to help fight cancer, stroke and heart disease. Plus, due to their high-fiber content, they're great for anyone trying to lose weight and keep hunger in check.

Sweet Potatoes -- Forget plain white potatoes. They're simply not that healthy. Start eating great-tasting sweet potatoes and you'll get a huge boost of beta-carotene, vitamin C, fiber and B vitamins. Plus, sweet potatoes rank much lower on the glycemic index than white potatoes so they're less likely to spike your insulin and blood sugar levels (which can make your body store extra fat and zap your energy).

Salmon -- This high-fat fish is one of the healthiest types of animal protein you can eat. It's got the important omega-3 fatty acids everyone needs for optimal health and disease prevention. Always remember to choose grilled fish (not fried!) and, when possible, choose wild salmon as it is less likely to contain high levels of mercury.

Blueberries -- All berries are healthy, but blueberries may be at the top of the list in terms of ounce-for-ounce nutrition. These nutrient-dense fruits are loaded with powerful antioxidants and phytochemicals, not to mention fiber and healthy carbohydrates. If you want to stay young, there may be no better "anti-aging" food than blueberries... so eat a handful every day!

Apples -- The common apple is an incredibly powerful health food. Apples contain lots of important vitamins and minerals, including significant amounts of vitamin C. But the apple's most important nutrient may be pectin, a type of fiber shown to help lower cholesterol levels, maintain healthy blood glucose levels, and even help you lose body fat. The other great thing about apples is that they're very portable and can be used as a quick snack just about anywhere you go.

By: Jamie Clark

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health

When it comes to healthy aging, nothing is more important than proper nutrition. To be sure, exercises and an active lifestyle are important but they will do you no good if your nutrition pattern prioritizes coffee and donuts over fruits and vegetables.

Luckily, there are many healthy foods that you can include into your diet to help you face old age with dignity rather than misery. Proper food is critical for healthy aging and in this article, you are going to learn what foods you can make a regular part of your diet if healthy aging is on the agenda.

First of all, it is important to understand that, in your 40s, your body needs fewer calories than it did in your 20s. Not only has your muscle mass started shrinking, but you probably also lead a much more passive lifestyle, spending more time in the office and at home than playing football or exercising. For this reason, it is very important that you choose low-calorie foods to reflect this new balance.

Now that we have decided we are going to cut down on our caloric intake as part of a healthy aging nutrition regimen, it is time to see what we can actually eat. Just like any other low-calorie diet, look for traditionally healthy foods, such as fish, salads, fruits and vegetables. Fast-foods and junk foods are taboo though they may taste nice, but they also contain an alarming amount of fat. You may have indulged yourself with those kinds of foods at 20 but now is the time to get serious about your health.

Complex carbohydrates are key to healthy aging, so it is important to focus on foods that contain those in abundance. Whole grains such as brown rice, oats and barley are terrific for this purpose, so try to include them into your diet as much as possible.

Nuts are great for their protein content, but do not each too much. They have a very high caloric content. Cutting down on alcohol, sugar and caffeine is also important as one ages, but these things in moderation are tolerable. After all, we do not want to take all the fun out of life. Quitting smoking, however, is essential to good health.

Water is the most essential element of proper nutrition when it comes to healthy aging sadly, it is often also the most overlooked. As you grow older, your kidneys will struggle to keep your body hydrated, which is why the FDA recommends that everyone drink at least six to nine glasses of water a day. Not only will it contribute to healthy aging in general, it will also make your skin look younger. Be sure to increase the amount of water you drink every day if you exercise which is another important element of healthy aging.

Your level of physical activity will determine the nutritional choices you make for healthy aging. Regular exercise, whether resistance or aerobic training, is essential for healthy aging, and your diet especially the amount of proteins and carbohydrates you consume should be suited to those needs.

For optimum health, the American Medical Association recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. The more active you are physically, the more calories you are going to need, but they should still come from healthy, low-fat foods.

As you can see, maintaining a proper pattern of nutrition for healthy aging is not all that difficult. As with any successful diet, the key is consistency and commitment. Remember that this is no longer about winning the Battle of the Bulge, but rather about winning the battle for a dignified and comfortable retirement that you can enjoy without the illnesses and diseases that afflict so many members of our aging population.

By: Reuben John

Labels: acai berry diet, benefit health, benefits health, flax seed, flaxseed, health, health benefits, health diet, health food, health foods, health tea, nutrition, skin health