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Being on the DASH Diet is a Great Means to Eating Heart Healthy

June 23, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

Advice for eating heart healthy is mostly in the form of general guidelines. Eat less saturated fat, replace refined grains with whole grains and eat more fruits and vegetables. But when it comes to implementing these guidelines, it’s often the individual who has to translate these guidelines into an actual menu for the day.

But don’t forget that not only eating right but taking part in any number of cardiovascular exercises is an even better way to take charge of your health and move towards a better way of life.

Lowering blood pressure and the risks of heart disease and stroke are important to staying healthy, and the DASH Diet has been shown to help with this. Here are the basic goals of a heart healthy diet plan and tips for turning them into everyday meals (these goals are based on a 2000 calorie per day diet):

Eating Grains
Eating 6-8 servings per day is the goal. One serving equals 1 slice of bread, 1 oz of cereal, or ½ cup of cooked pasta or rice. To implement the grain goal try eating one serving (1/2 cup) of oatmeal or one serving of cold cereal for breakfast, a sandwich with two slices of whole grain bread for lunch, dinner with 1 cup of rice, pasta or other grain, and an optional snack with a few crackers.

Eating Vegetables
Eating 4-5 servings of vegetables per day is the goal. That sounds like a lot but if you can make a habit of adding veggies to meals and snacks, the goal gets easier to reach. Try adding some spinach, tomatoes or other favorite vegetables to every sandwich, make stews and soups with extra vegetables and beans, and stock up on bags of frozen vegetables which are convenient for last minute meal planning. To reach the vegetable goal, eat 1 cup of frozen vegetables in a stir fry for dinner, ½ cup of raw veggies with lunch and plenty of veggies on your lunch sandwich.

Eating Fruits
Eating 4-5 servings of vegetables per day is the goal. To get there, drink a cup of 100% fruit juice at breakfast, add a banana or berries to your morning cereal and have a piece of fruit as a mid-morning snack. Another place to add fruit on days you are low is with dessert. If you are going to indulge in dessert, choose one with fruit like bananas with ice cream, strawberry parfait, or apple pie.

Consuming Milk Products
2-3 servings of low-fat or fat-free milk products is the goal per day. One cup of low-fat or fat-free milk and 1 cup of yogurt is enough to meet your daily goal. If you don’t eat milk products, try to include other sources of calcium, magnesium and potassium like fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds and certain meats.

Lean Proteins
The goal is to eat six ounces or less of lean meats. Lean meats include lean cuts of beef, pork, chicken and seafood. One egg counts as one ounce of lean meat but it is advised that you eat four egg yolks or less per week. If you eat meat, it may take more effort to eat only six ounces in a day than is to reach or exceed that amount. To keep moderate your meat intake, try using nut and bean spreads on sandwiches in place of meat, using beans in place of meat in stews and soups, and giving up breakfast meats like bacon and sausage.

Nuts, Seeds and Legumes
4-5 servings per week of nuts and seeds is the goal. One serving equals 1/3 cup of nuts, 2 tablespoons of nut butters or seeds, and ½ cup of beans. Nuts and seeds make tasty and filling snacks and beans can be used in dips, spreads and in many main dishes like soups, stews and Mexican cuisine.

Fats and Oils
The goal is to eat 2-3 servings per day. One serving equals 1 teaspoon of margarine, butter or oil, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of salad dressing. Fats and oil help make many foods more palatable and can go a long way in helping you reach your diet goal for vegetables as well.

Sweets and Added Sugars
A limited number of added sugars will help keep your calorie intake in check. The goal is eat 5 servings or less per week. One serving equals 1 tablespoon (12 grams) of sugar, 1 tablespoon of jelly or jam, and 1 cup of sweetened beverages.

Lastly, a major goal of the DASH Diet is to keep sodium at 2300 mg per day or less. Blood pressure lowering was shown to be even greater when the DASH Diet is accompanied by a sodium intake of 1500 mg or less. All of these suggestions will help in lowering your risks of heart diseases and in the long run make you feel much better, physically and mentally.

Ten Vegetables You Should Eat To Improve Your Health

June 20, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

Have you ever wondered what exactly the “healthiest vegetable” is? Well, that question popped into my mind the other day and I decided to research it. I saw some people claim that broccoli was the best, others argued that spinach does the most for the body, and still others were claiming that swiss chard held the top spot! All gave solid reasons for their chosen veggie, and while they didn’t all agree on which is the healthiest, it’s pretty safe to say that each one has its own wonderful benefits for your body. Here I’m going to list ten vegetables that, when all added to your diet, can make a drastic change in your health!

1. Collard Greens. With large, deep green leaves rich in Vitamin E, Calcium, and Beta-carotene, this member of the cabbage family is very nutritious on top of being delicious southern cuisine. Collard Greens provide more than a good meal and healthy nutrition, however – they have also been used in anti-cancer research. Their leaves contain diindolymethane, selenium, and sulforaphane, which have all been shown to have effects that can combat cancer.

2. Onions. Onions have been shown to have great health-promoting benefits. Onions contain a flavanoid (Antioxidant) called “quercetin”. Quercetin has been found to be the most active of the flavanoids. Containing not only antioxidants that fight free radical damage, it has also been shown to have incredible anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.

[spin]3. Red Peppers. (Bell peppers) These colorful vegetables not only make a lovely accent to any meal; they’re also quite good for you. Red peppers are rich in antioxidants, reducing damage done in your body by free radicals.

They are also bursting with vitamins A and C, and have been shown to reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke, due to their high levels of vitamins B6 and folic acid.|3. Red peppers. (Bell Peppers) Whether they are being used as a colorful display on the dinner table or adding a perfect flavor to the food itself, these beautiful peppers are known for their ability to add a certain zest to a meal. What most people don’t know, however, is that they contain plenty of Vitamins C and A, and because they are loaded with vitamin B6 and folic acid, they can seriously reduce your risk of heart-related illnesses and stroke. But they don’t stop there – these sweet veggies have loads of antioxidants, which make them another vegetable that fight off the aging effects of free radicals.[/spin]

4. Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are absolutely bursting with vitamins A (Almost twice the recommended daily dose!) and C, as well as having plenty of protein, calcium and iron. They also rank well in their amount of dietary fiber. Beta-carotene and vitamin C work very well together as antioxidants to reduce free radicals in your body. And they taste wonderful, too!

5. Broccoli. Broccoli is very well known for being an incredible anti-cancer food. Broccoli contains sulforaphane, an anti-microbial and anti-cancer compound that helps your cells to create cancer-fighting enzymes. It is also rich in vitamins C and A.

6. Carrots. Unfortunately for all 10-year-old boys, carrots won’t actually give you binocular vision. They will, however, help improve your vision, and are great for your eyes. The source of this is their rich quantities of beta-carotene. Your body naturally converts this substance into Vitamin A, and without enough of this nutrient one’s eyesight suffers horribly. Healthy amounts of Vitamin K are also included as well as being a plentiful source of Fiber. So be like Bugs and toss them into your soups, stews, smoothies, or eat them fresh and raw!

7. Eggplants. Eggplants are really fascinating, as they’re very good for you in numerous different aspects. Not only are they loaded with copper, potassium, vitamin B1 and fiber, but they’ve also been shown to have great impact on the health of your heart. – It’s thought they can even help reduce your risk for heart-related illness in the future! The rich purple skin of the eggplant is also loaded with antioxidants.

8. Spinach. While spinach’s fame comes from its supposed “amazingly high” iron content, the truth is that while spinach does have an above average amount of iron in it, it has many other nutritional benefits that are just as important if not more so. It has plenty of magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin C, making it a very nutritionally dense vegetable. It may not make you as strong as Popeye, but it will definitely improve your health!

9. Celery. Celery often seems overlooked as far as “healthy vegetables” go. It’s used plenty as low-calorie snack substitutes but it’s often not the first veggie to come to mind when thinking health-wise. True, it’s great for weight-loss and dieters, as it’s extraordinarily low in calories, but it’s also a good source of calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium, making it surprisingly more nutritious than most would think.

10. Asparagus. Asparagus is one of the few vegetables loaded in vitamin E, making it great for skin health, and it also contains a lot of potassium, vitamin B6, and fiber as well. Another really cool thing about asparagus is two antioxidants it has called “glutathione” and “rutin”. Glutathione has been shown to have cancer-fighting qualities, while rutin is great for strengthening the walls of your capillaries.

All of these vegetables have been shown to be extraordinarily healthy, and by adding these into your diet you’re ensuring the health and wellbeing of yourself and your entire family! Don’t go for just the “healthiest”! Go for all of these healthy veggies as they’re all tasty and different enough to give a lot of variety to your foods!

If you’d like to learn more about health and nutrition, take a look at Himalayan goji Juice. People everywhere are falling in love with the delicious goji berry juice! Take a look here at Goji GoChi health juice and learn for yourself about it today!

Fish Oil Can Help Stop The Spread Of Varicose Veins

June 19, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

For ladies, there is an eventual physical occurrence that is just as bad as zits or wrinkles or crow’s feet. I’m talking about varicose veins.

For many women, varicose veins are as inevitable as aging. You can slow down their development with vitamins. You can conceal their effects with lotion and makeup. You can even pretend they’re not there by wearing jeans or leggings all the time.

But if you belong to the 85% of females who are suffering, and who will suffer, from varicose veins, then you need a permanent solution to stop their growth.

How can this be done?

Two words: fish oil.

Allow me to explain…

Varicose veins are effects of circulatory disorders that enlarge and twist the veins in the legs (though varicose veins can occur anywhere in the body, though they are most prevalent in the legs). Such circulatory disorder often pertains to valve failure of the veins. The legs are supposed to pump blood back to the heart via their leaflet valves. When these leaflet valves fail, blood will pile up which will cause the aforementioned enlargement of the veins.

How can we stop the spread of varicose veins? We have to clear up the valves so that they don’t stay stagnant to collect the blood that they should be pumping back to the heart.

This is where fish oil can help.

Regular intake of fish oil will guarantee the following:

* Better blood circulation. Varicose veins are caused by poor and uneven blood circulation that causes those lockups that make the valve leaflets fail. One of the main benefits of fish oil is improved blood circulation that will not only prevent, or stop, the growth of varicose veins, but will also improve your total wellbeing.

* Improves the body’s ability to break down fibrin. Fibrin is a substance that causes clotting. Fish oil helps in breaking down this compound to minimize coagulation of blood in the veins. Fibrin is likewise responsible for scarring. Hence, by getting rid of this substance, fish oil can also help your skin recover once the veins normalize from their enlarged state.

* Makes the skin smoother. This may not be directly relevant to remedying varicose veins, but who doesn’t want softer, smoother legs?

If you’re suffering from uncontrollable spread of varicose veins, don’t resort to surgical solutions just yet. Fish oil can help you get rid of these unsightly growths.

Fish oil comes in the form of pills so including them in your diet will be very easy and less painful than laser removals of enlarged veins.

Healthy Family Nutrition – What You Must Know

June 03, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

It’s the universal truth – You are what you eat and a good diet is key to overall good health. However, the realm of good nutrition is riddled with fad diets that promise to help you lose weight overnight and it’s easy to mistake a healthy, nutritious diet for one that is simply focused on weight-loss without any thought to nutritional requirements. The truth is, the body requires food from all the five food groups in order to meet its nutritional needs and carbohydrate-free, fat-free and other extreme diets can have an adverse affect on your health in the long run.

Take a look at the five major food groups and why it is important to include each one of them in your daily diet.

Carbohydrates
The body’s main source of energy, carbohydrates can be found in bread, cereals, potatoes, rice and pasta. Interestingly, apart from potatoes, all the other carbohydrate-containing foods started life as a grain. Unrefined grains that still contain the bran and germ have higher fiber content and are a healthier alternative to the refined versions. Examples of unrefined carbohydrates include whole grain rice, whole meal bread, porridge oats and whole wheat pasta.

Protein
Essential for building and repairing the body, protein is an indispensable part of healthy nutrition. Because the body cannot store protein, it is particularly important to include some amount of protein in your daily diet. Non-vegetarian foods that contain protein include fish, eggs, poultry and meats whereas vegetarian foods include soya products, pulses, nuts, beans and seeds.

Vitamins & Minerals
Rich in vitamins and minerals, brimming with fiber and low in calories, vegetables and fruit are an important part of healthy nutrition and are largely responsible for lowering the risk of several ailments including some cancers and heart disease. Though fruits and vegetables are best eaten fresh; the cooked, tinned, juiced or dried varieties do offer nutritional value too. Citrus fruits, melons and berries give the body much needed Vitamin C and carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkins are good sources of the all-important Vitamin A. Vitamins B-complex, E and K can be got from a variety of green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Calcium
Found abundantly in all milk and dairy products including yoghurt and cheese, calcium ensures the smooth functioning of the muscles and nerves; helps strengthen the teeth and bones and is essential for overall growth. Inadequate intake of calcium is the primary cause of osteoporosis, wherein the bones lose their density and become increasingly brittle. The good news is, by choosing low-fat dairy products it is fairly easy to get your daily calcium requirement without those extra calories. So even if you are on a weight-loss program, there is no need to skimp on the milk. Besides an abundance of calcium, dairy products also provide the body with many different types of essential nutrients that promote health and well-being. Never mind what diet, just drink up; it’s good for you.

Fats and sugars
Not as bad as they are commonly made out to be, fats and sugars are an important source of energy and do contribute to good health. However, they are best eaten sparingly because of their high calorie content. Unsaturated fats, which are obtained from oily fish and vegetable oils are a healthier alternative to saturated fats that are found in whole milk, butter, cheese and lard.

The best way to ensure that you and your family are eating healthy is to cook your food from scratch at home. This can be daunting and time consuming BUT there is a solution. The crock pot.

All you need do is set aside a few minutes in the morning for preparation and then by evening you will have your evening meal cooked. Don’t get hung up that the crock pot is just for stews because I’m hear to tell you it can cook a whole lot more. Don’t believe me – then go and check out Lisa’s site a-crock-cook.com for the most amazingly simple home cooked crock pot meals. Take a look at the range of crock pot recipes she and her husband have cooked and then do yourself a favor and try one. Her crock pot lamb shank recipe is ‘to die for’.

We Can Preserve Optimum Health

June 03, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

Aging is not a natural consequence of time. It begins in adulthood, continues into middle age and accelerates after the age of fifty. Aging is a disease and anti aging is slowing down if not controlling the disease of aging. Time does not age you but abuse does. All degenerative diseases are signs of free radical damage to your cells. Delaying or slowing down that damage is termed anti aging. One can achieve optimum health through proper nutrition and a change of lifestyle inclusive of daily exercise.

Reasons why we age:

Assimilation of nutrients is lessoned due to depletion of enzymes and lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Build-up of toxins in the body from foods and the environment
Reduction in metabolism, causing over weight, which further aggravates the situation by causing inactivity.
Reduction in breathing capacity, restricting oxygen supply to the cells of the body
Free radical damage to the cells of the body

Aging is a result of how you have lived. Aging is like a bank account . You draw out in later life exactly what you have put in along the way. However ,it is never too late to renew both your body and mind with anti aging strategies. Dying is inevitable but we can grow old with out the aches and pains of aging. So I encourage you to become aware and do something about your aging..
Disease is not a consequence of aging but rather of poor choices and lifestyle, and it begins at the cellular level, so feed your cells with proper nutrition and regenerate them .Only you can make that decision to make the lifestyle change, in your eating habits ,in your exercise programme and in taking a proper anti aging supplement for your health., and in avoiding abuse to the body like smoking, excessive drinking, and drug usage.

Breathing gives you invisible food. Maybe that is why you do not pay much attention to it because you cannot see it. Breathing may have become so natural and spontaneous to you that you seem to have taken it for granted all along.

Oxygen from your breathing is transported through blood, providing each one of the cells and organs in your body with invisible food. What gives life, ironically enough, also brings about death - a mastery stroke of your Creator to make sure you will not be immortal. In the very process of living, death is simultaneously created in the form of deadly toxins (carbon dioxide), which are then exchanged for the life-giving oxygen derived from your breathing

Conscious deep breathing may calm and integrate your body and mind. Your body is always breathing, and so are you. Each conscious, deep, and cleansing breath helps you release all negative thoughts and sadness from you. Proper breathing is anti-aging because it de-stresses you. The secret is to take your lungs wherever you go, wherever you are, and whatever situation you may find yourself in - and breathe deeply and slowly.

Doing everything in moderation is always a great attitude to adopt. Never over eat, and try to avoid environmental stress like extreme heat and cold. Do not tire your self out. Have adequate sleep and rest. Stressing your self out destroys the immune system. Is it really worth it to achieve great success at the expense of your health? Learn how to relax and be a channel for the energies of the universe. Learn how to open yourself to these forces through relaxation and meditation.
There are many anti-aging factors that may help you live longer and stay younger, however, genes play an important role in anti aging but you can still make up for it if you don’t have good genes by adopting a healthy anti aging lifestyle

Optimism is anti-aging. Don’t worry and be happy. This is simple and down-to-earth wisdom that holds the key to longevity. All long-lived people are optimistic, and don’t let troubles make them depressed, passive, or inflexible. Stress is a real killer, and it really ages a person fast. Go after good stress like sexual excitement and sport thrills and other physical challenges..

Humour is not only great medicine for anti aging but some say it also burns calories. It helps you to change your attitude from a negative one to a positive one. Develop a sense of humour in life. Laugh at yourself as well as others. Laughing in the face of adversity, even of death, relieves your stress and lightens your mood. Humour is the way of life, especially for those who are aging. An individual who has a sense of humour and who laughs all the time lasts and lives longer.
Always try to keep your mind active.
Keep on studying, or playing games to challenge and develop your mental capacity.

Keep your relationships healthy. Learn to forgive, Release all negative feelings towards others. It’s always better to have a friend than an enemy. Imagine that you have a huge eraser and erase unpleasant memories or imagined or real injustices towards yourself. Don’t hold on to bad experiences , rehashing and rehashing them in your mind. It harms no one but you. Learn to release them. Contribute to making a relationship a happy one. Instead of itemizing what the other person is not doing for you, try to make a list of things you can do for him or her.

Companionship does not have to always be with a partner, so if you do not have one , develop companionship with your co workers, neighbours, friends. Sharing thoughts and feelings with others is anti-aging healing in itself.

The Healthy Lifestyle Benefits Supplements

May 30, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

Adding fish oil supplements to your daily nutritional program may be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make – especially if you’re among the millions of people who don’t (or won’t) eat fish. Nutritional guidelines recommend everyone eat fish at least two or three times a week, but very few people do.

Nutritional guidelines recommend everyone eat fish at least two or three times a week, but very few people do. And if they do eat fish, it’s usually battered and deep fried which destroys the nutrient value.

Fish, particularly wild salmon, is recommended because it’s low in calories and saturated fat, yet makes an excellent source of dietary protein. But more importantly, salmon is your best source of health promoting omega 3 essential fatty acids – EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

Essential means the body can’t produce these fatty acids. They must be obtained from food or from omega 3 capsules. And wild-caught cold water fish, like salmon, are higher in omega 3 oils than any other plant or fish source.

Why are omega 3 fish oils so important? These essential oils, EPA and DHA, can help lower cholesterol, triglycerides and excessive blood clotting, improve circulation, inhibit hardening of the arteries, lower blood pressure and help reduce the risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease. That’s an excellent start, don’t you think?

And guess what? Omega 3 oils also help reduce the inflammation associated with such conditions as arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and migraines.

What’s more, omega 3 is good for your brain too. Research has proven that omega 3 DHA can help make you smarter, as well as reduce the risk and provide effective natural treatment for depression, bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s.

So, it makes great sense to include fish and omega 3 capsules as part of your daily nutritional program.

But you don’t want to take just any old fish oil supplement that’s sourced from either whatever comes up in the net or from some waste product leftover from the cat food or fertilizer industry. Nor do you want to use flaxseed oil. Flaxseed may be an omega 3 oil, but it contains almost none of the important EPA or DHA factors which come from fish. Another name for flaxseed oil is linseed oil. That’s right, the same oil that’s used in paint thinners furniture polish.

Instead, look for pure, potent fish oil capsules that are sourced from a specific species of fish such as wild caught, health screened North Atlantic salmon. And be sure it contains no oil from shellfish, bottom feeders, shark and scavenger fish. The formula should also be complete and contain all eight members of the omega 3 family and not only DHA and/or EPA.

Since the early 1980s, omega 3 fish oil had had an outstanding history of helping millions of people from all over the world to get relief from the pain of arthritis and psoriasis, support for optimal brain, nerve and eye functioning and lower their risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Omega 3 fish oil can make a world of difference for you too.

The Many Benefits Of The Alfalfa Herb

May 28, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

The Chinese use it to treat kidney stones, the ancient Greeks bladder and kidney conditions. It has been called Buffalo Herb, Lucerne, and Purple Medic. But it is best known as alfalfa herb, Arabic for ‘father of all foods.’ For 1500 years it has been used as a food and herbal medicine. So what makes alfalfa so good?

Following are just some of the alfalfa benefits. First, alfalfa is rich in vitamins A (eye health), E (heart and cardiovascular health), U (treats peptic ulcers), B6 (stimulates protein and fat metabolism), K (blood clotting and liver functions), and D (regulates the use of calcium and phosphorus in the body). Second, alfalfa contains many valuable minerals such as calcium and phosphorus (bone and teeth health), iron (needed in hemoglobin), manganese (lowers blood sugar levels), potassium (muscle tone and nerves), chlorides (regulates fat, sugar and starch metabolism), sodium (regulates fluid balance), and silicon magnesium (stimulates brain function).

Alfalfa also contains eight essential enzymes: Amylase (acts on starches), Coagulase (clots blood), Emulsin (acts upon sugar), Invertase (converts cane sugar to dextrose), Lipase (fat splitting), Pectinase (forms vegetable jelly), Peroxidate (oxidizing effect of the blood), and Protase (digests proteins). These in turn help in digesting all four classes of food: proteins, fats, starches and sugars. Alfalfa is also rich in protein and fiber.

Alfalfa helps lower cholesterol by attracting it to itself before the cholesterol can stick to vessel walls. The chlorophyll, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins all aid digestion and help stimulate appetites. As a mild diuretic and laxative, it may improve appetite and relieve some causes of swelling. The chlorophyll in alfalfa helps fight bad bacteria. Alfalfa may help reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels which can benefit heart health. It is used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, as well as problems with the prostate, kidney, and bladder. Alfalfa has anti-inflammatory qualities and thus can relieve pain associated with arthritis and bursitis.

Alfalfa’s richness is especially beneficial to health needs related to child birth. It will relieve morning sickness, anemia, heartburn, and constipation. The vitamin K both reduces postpartum bleeding and increase the K level in the baby. Alfalfa will also reduce swelling, balance blood sugar levels, and increase and sustain lactation. Menopausal women have found alfalfa reduces hot flashes as well.

The nutrition of alfalfa may be ingested as bulk herbs, in liquid, tablet, or capsule form, as well as ingesting the raw leaves in food or as a tea. One caution: because if its potential blood thinning effect, alfalfa is not recommended for people with lupus. An herb with such potential for beneficial health surely deserves a try, wouldn’t you say?

How Countertop Water Filters Compares To Others

May 27, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

The need for pure water is world-wide. In some countries, the mortality rate is very high because of diseases spread through impure water. Even city water that meets minimum standards contains impurities so small they cannot be tasted or seen with the naked eye. Yet they are still present. One way to remove these impurities is to purchase and install a countertop water filter.

Countertop water filters are often the most convenient and trouble free. Unlike filtering pitchers, the countertop water filter has instant access to pure water 24/7. There is no waiting for water to pass through the filter since the filtered water is ready to be dispensed. Installation usually takes minutes and no special tools are needed. Simply remove the aerator and screw the attachment in its place. The filtering unit usually rests next to the sink, out of the way.

Countertop water filters like the Travel Berkey work by running the water through a series of filters before returning it to the reservoir for use when you need it. Because of the amount of time the water is in the filter, a greater amount of contaminants are removed.

In this case, the Black Berkey filters remove chemicals like chlorine, lead, organic chemicals, but leave minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium that add taste to the water. These filters also remove algae by-products and other sources of bad taste or odor sometimes found in well or municipal water.

Some countertop water filters require that you change the filters every so often. This is because the filters, after removing so many impurities, can become clogged. When that happens, the filters aren’t working as well. The result is impure water, which defeats the purpose of having a countertop water filter. So check the filter’s documentation to see when to change the filters. Some models come with an extra change of filters but others require one to buy them so check to make sure an extra set is always on hand.

Countertop water filters have several advantages. In spite of the cost of replacement filter(s), the overall savings over bottled water is significant. Also, the convenience is a great selling point. Flip a lever and fresh filtered water for cooking or drinking pours from the faucet. Flip it back, and unfiltered water is available for washing.

If you’re looking for a filter with great value, look no further than the Berkey Water Filter. The filters included with the Berkey filter can purify up to 6000 gallons. Learn more about their effectiveness in cleansing your water of harmful bacteria while leaving in minerals that benefit you at http://www.berkeywaterfilterstore.com

Better Nutrition With Raw Food Diets

May 27, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

These days, people are becoming more aware of the correlation between good nutritional choices and the consequences of making poor food choices, in terms of excess weight issues and a multitude of other health problems that plague our modern population.

As a result, raw food diets are being looked at more closely because they give people a plan to follow that provides good daily nutrition, while at the same time reducing the amount of preservatives and additives that are consumed, which can also contribute to weight and health problems.

The organic and fruitarian diet has become a central part of many eating strategies for those who recognize the benefits that can be derived from eating living foods, or rather foods in their natural form. Many say that this is the way God or nature intended for people to eat, and is a fundamental principal to this approach of eating food raw.

fruitarian diet
One of the greatest benefits of eating raw food diets is that when food is eaten in its raw and natural form, all of the vitamins, enzymes and minerals are retained. It is a fact that a significant amount of these nutrients are lost when fresh and living foods, such as fruits and vegetables are cooked.

A “go raw” diet encourages people to simply eat food as it is, either out of the ground, off the vine, or from the tree, in order to reap the most benefits. And, naturally grown, organic foods are also recommended, as well as fresh grown produce that is harvested in it’s prime and consumed right away.

raw food detox
It is also very important to the success of a cleansing diet to know how the raw food in the meal plan was grown. If these living foods were grown in environments that were steeped with harmful pesticides, then this factor can counteract the benefits of living raw. Because it is a common practice for farmers to use chemical pesticides to protect their crops from bugs and to enhance growth, it is important to know the raw food sources.

Because a diet of this type increases the volume of fresh foods that you will be eating, this factor is even more important than it is for someone who is eating only a few daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables.

When you increase the quantity of foods that are in their raw and natural state in order to enjoy a raw living foods diet, you will also be increasing the chemicals that you ingest and put into your system, unless you diligently seek out organically grown produce.

eating raw food
The good news is that organically grown foods are more in demand these days and are more readily available than even a few years ago. More and more farmers are using innovative new ways to avoid using pesticides, or are returning to farming practices from the era before chemical fertilizers and insecticides. This makes it easier to raw food recipe and have a good supply of high quality, organic foods to use as the foundation of a raw food diet for yourself, or for the whole family.

Many people who follow raw food diets choose to grow much of their own produce, to guarantee a steady supply of fresh living food to enjoy. They want to know exactly what type of preparations will be made to the soil and how pests will be controlled.

Many people who live in warm climates, or who have greenhouses, are often able to enjoy their own fresh garden produce all through the year.

Fish Oils And The Advantages Of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

May 14, 2008 By: PF Category: Nutrition No Comments →

Did you know Fish Oil and Fish With Omega 3 Oils are the most natural, effective and potent anti-inflammatories and are shown to be less expensive, safer and possibly even more effective than the top three best selling pharmaceuticals?

Fish Oils vs. Pharmaceuticals

Yet, here in America, anti-inflammatory headache and arthritis pain relievers, high blood pressure drugs and antidepressants are an enormous $30 billion dollar business and the fish oil supplement industry earns less than $300 million. Like all pharmaceuticals, these three are possibly harmful and surely controversial. The truth is these three drugs have never cured a single disease and only bring limited relief for a very small group of people that use them. Just like any other drug, these three also have serious side effects and, if at all possible, should be avoided or taken as a last resort after trying more natural treatment first.

Fish With Omega 3 Oils

So let’s take a look at the evidence for eating fish and taking daily fish oil supplements to prevent and relieve depression, high blood pressure and inflammatory pain.

Research has discovered low levels of omega 3 in depressed people and major benefits after less than a month of treatment. In other studies, omega 3 fatty acids were found to be an effective treatment for bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder patients.

Blood pressure can also be lowered with fish oil. That’s why eating at least two servings of fish a week is recommended by both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The AHA and NIH also recommend people with heart disease symptoms (for example, high blood pressure) take daily fish oil supplements providing at least one gram of combined omega 3 DHA and EPA fatty acids.

And, if you have inflammatory arthritis or headaches and you want a more natural, safer and just as effective alternative to over the counter NSAIDs such as Motrin, Aleve, Advil or Nuprin, fish oil omega 3 is your best choice. In fact, in many research studies, after beginning an omega 3 fish oil program, patients were able to significantly lower and even completely get off prescription pain drugs.

And don’t let yourself worry about fish oil toxicity. The benefits for your health from fish oil outweigh the threat of mercury or any other toxin in fish by more than 500 to 1 - according to the authorities at the School of Public Health at Harvard University. Besides, if you look, you can find high quality omega 3 fish capsules that are fully guaranteed to be absolutely pure and totally free of all toxicity.

Get More Omega 3 In Your Body

So if you’re starting or already taking one of these pharmaceuticals, think about eating salmon a couple of times a week and/or taking omega 3 fish oil capsules. It’s possible you can get better (or at least same) results at the same time you stay away from side effects and save some money. That sounds pretty good, don’t you think?