Healthy Food

By Richelle A Rily

Eating regularly is not all we want, eating healthy is important. While going for healthy eating the most important thing to keep in mind is to make sure of what you are eating and, whether your diet is meeting the nutritional requirements of your body or not.

Since birth till death, complete life span of any living being, is a process of growth and development and various functions keeps on taking place within our body. And for proper functioning of our body we need proper nourishment as very specific nutrient has its role in the development of our body.

Healthy food guide will help you to analyze you diet and its nutritional requirements.

First of all you need to be well aware of types of nutrients. There are six types of nutrients responsible for the development.

Calories: calories provide energy, but too much calories lead you nowhere other then gaining useless weight. You need to switch to low calorie diet as complete stoppage of calorie intake will be hazardous to your health. Lo calorie diet includes low fat milk and dairy products, lean meat, fishes and poultry with added calories. You can monitor the amount of calorie you are taking by regulating the method of preparation as you can avoid too much of added calories and also by regulating the portion size of you meal intake.

Proteins: protein helps in the development of the body. It is very important for the formation of tissues. They contain a great amount of amino acids that are essential for our body. Essential amino acids are those amino acids that are not synthesized inside our body and are taken from outside as apart of our diet. If they are not taken in the diet results in poor development of our body. Animal meat, eggs, fishes and poultry provides huge amount of essential amino acids. These amino acids are not present in the cereals hence proteins from cereals cannot alone support the development. However dries beans etc have these amino acids and can supplement animal protein.

Fats: fats are the store house of energy in the body. When we eat fats, they burn inside the body and act as fuel to keep you working. They also help in development of nervous tissues. Some fat is also deposited in the body so that it can be used in future when needed. If the fat metabolism fails in our body then this fat is deposited in the cells and causes obesity and other problems like atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, hypertension etc.

Minerals: different minerals have different role in our body. Minerals are important for the development of bones, teeth, the help in normal functioning of heart by maintaining the heart rhythm and muscle contractibility, they regulate the acid-base balance of the body and accelerates normal neural conduction. They facilitate cellular metabolism and are an essential part of hormones and enzymes. The intake of minerals should be regulated. They are not produced inside the body and excessive intake can exhibit toxic effects.

Vitamins: vitamins are not synthesized inside our body and are taken from outside. They are important and vital in almost all the functions of our body. Be it immune system, hormonal or nervous system vitamins plays important functions in all the processes of our body. Keeping in mind, healthy food guide, if a diet is planned, it will surely provide you a healthy life.

By Richelle A Rily

Eating regularly is not all we want, eating healthy is important. While going for healthy eating the most important thing to keep in mind is to make sure of what you are eating and, whether your diet is meeting the nutritional requirements of your body or not.

Since birth till death, complete life span of any living being, is a process of growth and development and various functions keeps on taking place within our body. And for proper functioning of our body we need proper nourishment as very specific nutrient has its role in the development of our body.

Healthy food guide will help you to analyze you diet and its nutritional requirements.

First of all you need to be well aware of types of nutrients. There are six types of nutrients responsible for the development.

Calories: calories provide energy, but too much calories lead you nowhere other then gaining useless weight. You need to switch to low calorie diet as complete stoppage of calorie intake will be hazardous to your health. Lo calorie diet includes low fat milk and dairy products, lean meat, fishes and poultry with added calories. You can monitor the amount of calorie you are taking by regulating the method of preparation as you can avoid too much of added calories and also by regulating the portion size of you meal intake.

Proteins: protein helps in the development of the body. It is very important for the formation of tissues. They contain a great amount of amino acids that are essential for our body. Essential amino acids are those amino acids that are not synthesized inside our body and are taken from outside as apart of our diet. If they are not taken in the diet results in poor development of our body. Animal meat, eggs, fishes and poultry provides huge amount of essential amino acids. These amino acids are not present in the cereals hence proteins from cereals cannot alone support the development. However dries beans etc have these amino acids and can supplement animal protein.

Fats: fats are the store house of energy in the body. When we eat fats, they burn inside the body and act as fuel to keep you working. They also help in development of nervous tissues. Some fat is also deposited in the body so that it can be used in future when needed. If the fat metabolism fails in our body then this fat is deposited in the cells and causes obesity and other problems like atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, hypertension etc.

Minerals: different minerals have different role in our body. Minerals are important for the development of bones, teeth, the help in normal functioning of heart by maintaining the heart rhythm and muscle contractibility, they regulate the acid-base balance of the body and accelerates normal neural conduction. They facilitate cellular metabolism and are an essential part of hormones and enzymes. The intake of minerals should be regulated. They are not produced inside the body and excessive intake can exhibit toxic effects.

Vitamins: vitamins are not synthesized inside our body and are taken from outside. They are important and vital in almost all the functions of our body. Be it immune system, hormonal or nervous system vitamins plays important functions in all the processes of our body. Keeping in mind, healthy food guide, if a diet is planned, it will surely provide you a healthy life.

By Richelle A Rily

The concept of diet is not separable from the principles of body building. Some people wonder how the link between diet and bodybuilding exist. Fact of the matter is that you are what you eat. This means that what you eat has a lot of influence on what you become mentally, emotionally and even physically, etc. Training without the proper diet is as difficult as swimming against the current. Diet and health are two intertwined concepts. Let us at this point not overlook the importance of defining the term diet.

Diet simply refers to the assortment of food stuffs that one feeds on a daily routine. Now the diet of a body builder with outlined objectives can not be just like any other. Body building demands that one commits to a diet that will certainly help to repair and grow from the rigorous and strenuous work outs that as a body builder you are involved with on a daily basis or on whatever frequency according to your custom schedule. The diet has to create an environment that will facilitate both fat burning as well as muscle gaining.

Experts state that a feasible bodybuilding diet must consist of 40% carbohydrates, 20 % healthy fats, 40 % carbs. The kind of balanced diet is well set to facilitate the essential processes of losing body fat while at the same time it facilitates the building of muscle. Now the other most important part is that you have to adjust your calories. Your adjustment of calories will depend on the kind of objectives that you have to set to achieve. If you want to gain muscle or just bulk up and even lose body fat you will have to adjust your calories upwards or downwards depending on what you want to achieve.

What you need to know is that carbohydrates are the human body's main source of energy. In the your body building diet these must come from complex as well as simple and slow releasing sources such as oatmeal, grits, sweet potatoes and brown rice. You will also benefit a lot from integration of fibrous sources of carbohydrates such as green beans and broccoli. Now proteins form a critical part in the build up of muscles. What you need to know about proteins is that these are building blocks for all the body tissues, in other the word, your body does not exist without protein. This means that protein is also critical for process of repairing damaged body parts and sustaining all body tissues. Meats are not recommended for the number of diseases that are associated with them but those who do not mind eating meat will get their proteins from lean red meats and other protein coerces like beans.

Fats are used by the body to produce hormones as well as lubricate the joints as well as facilitate critical brain functions. As a body builder you have to consider that your body building lifestyle demands more of these nutritional components and hence you have to ensure that your diet has all these critical nutrients in abundance.

By Piter Smith

We are what we eat'! Everyday various researches are conducted which have similar outcomes, that eating a healthy and balanced diet, rich in nutrition, promotes good overall health. Unhealthy food habits lead to an unhealthy and diseased body. The food that we eat contains essential nutrients that support our body's metabolism. Deficiency of nutrition can lead to accumulation of toxins in our body. This can result in chronic diseases in the long run. A well balanced and nutritious diet not only helps in maintaining an over all well being but also helps in maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). It reduces the risk of many incapacitating diseases like diabetics, osteoporosis, cardiovascular ailments, cancer and stroke. Not only developing healthy eating habits is important, but also eating the right food is extremely crucial. Eating the wrong kind of food, like fried, greasy and junk food with zero nutritional value, can also lower your nutrition count. Thus, a nutritious diet is very important for preventing or curing various health problems and diseases.

Nutritious Food Groups:

No single nutritional group can fulfil our body's nutritional needs. It is highly important that we add a variety of healthy foods to our meals, to derive all types of nutrition required by our body. There are five main categories of food that are highly nutritious in nature:

• Vegetables
  
• Fruits
  
• Cereals and Pulses
  
• Dairy products, and
  
• Poultry, Fish and Meat products
  

These above mentioned five groups, when consumed in a healthy balanced diet, ensures a balanced supply of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre to the body. However, the food group serving will vary from person to person, as it will depend upon factors like age, body size, and gender and activity level. It is important to consume a variety of food items within a group and across the groups. This is because; each food item belonging to each food group provides different quantity of nutrition. Some food product of a food group provides more nutrition than other food item belonging to the same food group. This eating pattern will ensure that you get maximum recommended nutrition from every food group. Moreover, a large food variety will also make an interesting and delicious meal!

Adapting the above mentioned eating habits will ensure that your body is protected against many health problems and diseases. This will not only help in prevention but will also help in curing many ailments. Remember, prevention is better than cure. You must note that medicines only treat the symptoms of a disease, not its root cause. The root cause of most of the diseases and ailments we suffer from are caused by wrong eating habits. This leads to accumulation of toxins in the body system, which further worsens the condition.On the other hand, a well balanced and nutritious diet rectifies the root cause of diseases and restores the overall well being of the body.

By Sean Jordan

Everyone is into the health craze these days. Nobody wants to be obese much less fat anymore. There is a more conscious effort on the part of each individual to look better, get into shape and stay healthy. Times are hard after all, so it is of utmost importance to be able to stay as healthy as you can so that you do not get sick. Staying healthy is not just about going to the gym to lose all the excess weight. It is also about eating a balanced meal that consists of healthy foods. Working out will prove to be nothing if you just keep on eating junk food instead of eating the healthy foods which would help speed up your weight reduction.

When the subject of healthy foods comes to mind, one automatically thinks of bland, steamed flavorless vegetables, fruits and no meat. This is actually a big misconception as eating healthy foods do not necessarily mean they have to be bland or always steamed and flavorless or that it always has to be vegetables and fruits. There are many restaurants that offer healthier options of foods for those who are trying to lose weight or lead a healthier lifestyle. One just has to be able to pick the right type of food to eat in order to get the results that one wants.

If you are a picky vegetable eater, there are a variety of vegetables that are considered healthy foods that you may like. Cauliflower for one is considered as a healthy food. You may use this for your salads or you may eat it with a dip. Other vegetables that are considered as healthy foods are potatoes, yams, Romaine lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, carrots, celery and a whole lot more. The secret to getting vegetables taste good is really in the way that you cook or flavor them.

There are in fact a lot of spices and herbs that are also considered as healthy foods that one can use with vegetables. Some of which are the following: basil, pepper, thyme, oregano, rosemary and cilantro to name a few. Experiment when cooking your vegetables and you'll get to love eating them in time.

Meat lovers do not have to fret as there are certain meat and poultry products that are also considered as healthy foods. The main trick here is to cut down on the fat and eat only lean meat. Lean meat is healthier and has less cholesterol that is bad for your body. Other meat products that are healthy are lamb, chicken, turkey and venison. Try to cook them differently aside from the usual frying or barbecue so that you lessen the risk for heart problems caused by too much cholesterol.

Eating healthy foods need not be something dull or boring like what many people think it is when one wants to lead a healthier lifestyle. The secret is really in the way that you cook them or add flavor to them without having to sacrifice the natural content of the ingredients.

By T. Alline

Learn how you can reduce your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has the truth. The world's most widely recognized, peer-reviewed clinical nutrition journal. In order to have a comprehensive overview of the permitted nutrition claims and of both permitted and rejected health claims, the Commission has established a Register which will be regularly updated. Good nutrition - an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity - is a cornerstone of good health.

Information needs no branding

The CDC has compiled a variety of resources with healthy eating tips and information. Get more information about the effects of trans fats » Top Searched Nutrition Terms: facts, kids, sports nutrition, vegan, definition, healthy eating guidelines, labels, pregnancy, teenage, vegetarian, obesity.

The information does not mention brand names, nor does it endorse any particular products. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. The internet has provided a wonderful medium for searching for and finding great free diet plan information and even offering free weight loss consultation tips.

Healthy Eating is #1

Healthy eating can prevent most cases of heart disease and dia. Healthy diet for women includes more calcium and iron compare to the healthy diet for man. In general, we're eating too much food that isn't healthy and not exercising enough.

Good nutrition is vital to good health, disease prevention, and essential for healthy growth and development of children and adolescents. If you eat a healthy diet and exercise, you can keep your body strong and fit. Proper nutrition is a powerful good: people who are well nourished are more likely to be healthy, productive and able to learn.

Learn how to keep your child healthy with the right foods and exercise. In contrast, most "healthy diets" recommend calories be distributed as 55-60% carbohydrate, 12-20% protein and 20-30% fat and encourage snacking when hungry. The key to healthy and successful weight loss is a healthy diet and implementing an exercise plan. The role of banks in healthy economic conditions is very different. Your healthy body weight is that weight at which you are strong and healthy. It's easy to maintain a balanced, healthy range of foods.

There's almost no counting or calculating. The eating pattern it teaches can be followed for life, without feeling deprived. You can entertain or have a night out without breaking the diet, and no one will even notice.

Nutrition is the intake of food, considered in relation to the body's dietary needs. Nutrition counseling specializing in child and adult weight management, food sensitivities sports nutrition and general wellness. Diet plans for teenagers need to be chosen with care. Healthy diet for women is even more important than healthy eating for men. Nutritionists are professionals trained in dieting and they will be able to work with you to see where you are lacking in nutrition and what foods you should be avoiding and including in your diet.

By Benilda Velasco

Being sick these days is a big deal for us, besides from the medicine are being so expensive, also the hospital and medical services are big hassle and not affordable than before. Getting away from sickness can be as simply as maintaining the right balanced diet and eating the right foods for you and your body. Foods you must eat to complete a proper diet.

-FRUITS

Fruits are very nutritious and can be eaten at any time; fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, they help the body to gain healthy cells and help the immune system to function well. Fruits have a fewer calories, one of the reasons why many slimmer choose to eat fruits than any other food.

-VEGETABLES

This is very advisable food to eat especially those green leafy vegetables because it helps your digestive system to function regularly. Vegetables are best cooked with chicken or fish. The best method of cooking the vegetables would be steam as this keeps the most nutrition in the food.

-WHOLE GRAIN

As a vegetable whole grain, it is also good for our digestive system especially the colon. They contain fibers, which easily burn up the food inside our intestine, and they serve as a cleaner inside our digestive system, it also contains nutrients for our body.

Now that you know what foods you "must" eat on the list of proper diet, here are the lists of 'must not' to eat foods:

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

If you want to live longer stay away from beer, liquor or any other alcoholic drink that may be a cause of your illness. Alcohol will not help your body to be healthy instead; it will be the enemy of your internal organs like liver and lungs. Aside from killing your internal organs you can also gain weight because alcohol is a source of carbohydrates and lots of sugar. Now you must learn to avoid them.

PROCESSED FOOD

Same as alcohol drinks, they are fatty foods, which are sources of high carbohydrates mean that this food is not advisable for you to eat. There are no nutrients in these foods, only fats and carbohydrates that will lead you to illness.

JUNK FOOD
These foods contain preservatives and other ingredients that are not useful to our body; you need to stop buying these junk foods to avoid your body from being harmed.

Living a healthy life with your family is in your hands; always remember the foods that you must eat on the list and the food you must to avoid.

By Christine Delareya

Why are low fat raw vegan recipes better than other diet recipes?

Diets are generally not good for your health. You gain a short term weight benefit, perhaps, but the diet puts stress on your body. You are creating an imbalance. Long term, your cholesterol is no different, your weight may well have returned to the previous level. You need to change your lifestyle.

Think of your drainer at home. You know if you put fat down the sink, it'll block it up. So why eat food that's bad for you? Your insides are blocked up from eating high cholesterol food. They need cleaned out or detoxed to gain the maximum benefit.

Cutting your Cholesterol

Getting protein from animal products and the protein involves taking in cholesterol, which our bodies aren't well-equipped to break down. It coats our stomach with grease, making absorption difficult. It constipates us. When it is absorbed into our blood, cholesterol makes our blood thick and it clogs our arteries. It kills more Americans than anything else.

Dairy products are full of saturated fats and "bad" cholesterol. Often the body will develop allergies to fight the dairy invasion. We are the only species on the planet that drinks milk as adults.

To cut cholesterol, what should be included in your low fat raw vegan recipes?

As long as you are eating enough green vegetables and fruits, you don't have to worry about limiting your intake of the good fats, but don't overdo it. The "good fats" include mono-unsaturated fats, which you can find in avocados, almonds, and olives, Omega-3 fatty acids, which are in flax seeds and walnuts.

The "good fats" also include polyunsaturated fats, which can be found in walnuts, flax, hemp, sesame, sunflower and other seeds.

Within reason, you will not get fat by eating avocados, sprouted nuts and seeds, and other plant fats. Everything in moderation of course, but eating this daily is not an issue for most people with respect to weight.

The raw vegan diet works best by embracing it as fully as possible. But you can gain benefit by starting to adopt the low fat raw vegan recipe ideas gradually. Perhaps a day a week initially. Perhaps a meal a day. Whichever approach you adopt, it will undoubtedly help to reduce cholesterol and lead to weight loss.

Try out some low fat raw vegan recipes and learn more about the good and the bad of high protein diets.

By Vanessa Cyrus

Wondering how to shop for truly healthy eating food at a grocery store? You should be extremely cautious as there are many "rotten" products out there which claimed to be healthier than the natural version! We have highlighted some of the most common ones found in the market.

Case 1: Low Fat Peanut Butter Claiming to be Better Than Original!

Most healthy peanut butter is nothing more than a combination of peanuts and little bit of salt. Unlike the fake peanut butter which contains a ton of junk that will ruin your health. They also remove the healthy fat which is needed by the human body to satisfy its appetite, control cravings and stabilize its blood sugar levels.

Case 2: Fortified Egg Whites Claiming to be Better The Real Eggs!

Basically, they remove the yolks which are the healthiest part and replace it with chemical colorings, flavorings and other artificial vitamins! The truth is most vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and trace nutrients are found in the yolks, unfortunately most people did not know the fact.

In addition, the bioavailabilities of the protein found in the yolks are much higher than in the whites. Also, the cholesterol naturally found in eggs actually helps you to raise your good cholesterol thus improving your overall profile.

Case 3: Margarine claiming to be better than butter!

You will be surprised to know that margarine is filled with highly processed and toxic Trans fats which can easily clogged your artilleries and turn your health upside down! Also do not go for low quality butter which may contains pesticides and hormones from improperly raised cows!

You should go for organic or grass-fed butter which can be very healthy for you. In fact, grass fed butter contains higher beneficial conjugated linoleic acid in its natural form which is essential for the human body.

Finally, when you are ready to shop for healthy eating food, always remember to keep a lookout for this crappy stuff on the grocery store. Buy only natural unprocessed food closest to its original state as possible!

By Lolita Hanks

Many online food blogs, health advocates and even this nurse practitioner believed that agave nectar would be a better alternative to white sugar. A recent study trial using diabetic participants who consumed agave nectar suffered severe side effects and the trial was stopped. The site fails to report what these issues were and how much agave was ingested by participants. In speaking with a representative of an agave manufacturing company there are questions about whether or not sucrose in the form of maple syrup was used in addition to the agave.

I have been quietly reviewing information on agave and have become increasingly concerned that it may not be the sugar alternative panacea that people believe it to be. It is primarily a fructose syrup that is made from agave not corn. Most of us are familiar with high fructose corn syrup which is a processed sugar as well. It takes a lot of processing to make any syrup from a plant that is a cactus or from corn for that matter.

The syrup contains not only fructose (purported to be 55% to 92% with some glucose), but inulin (not insulin), which is a chemically manufactured fiber combined with fructose that can increase the concentration of sugar in the agave.

You might be wondering why fructose syrup is bad, because fruit contains fructose and fruit is good for us. This is true, but the natural form of fructose found in fruit is levulose. It is replete with enzymes, fiber, pectin, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Individuals with blood sugar stability issues will have difficulty with homemade fruit juices because the sugar becomes separated from the fiber resulting in blood sugar elevations. High fructose corn syrup is consumed by many Americans in mass quantities as this substance is found not only in beverages but the majority of processed foods. It is a cheap sweetener making it attractive to food manufacturers. It also tends to be genetically modified (GM) and it is questionable what the long term (20 years or more) outcome of continual use of GM foods will be.

Fructose syrup ends up being processed by the liver and is one of the leading reasons there is a rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The liver has to process the constant stream of corn syrup leading to fatty liver deposits and over time these will cause liver cell death and organ failure. Fructose syrup also gets turned into excess body fat, causes inflammation in the body and vessels and turns into blood fats called triglycerides. An all around bad thing to ingest, and it lacks nutrients. This is considered wasted calories so if you are trying to lose weight dump the sugary drinks. If agave is also a fructose syrup there is no reason to expect it won't cause the same detrimental effects that have been observed by corn syrup.

Americans are extremely dependent upon and addicted to sugar. For people who are dependent on sugary foods, it is vital that you come to terms with this addiction. Find a way to replace those foods with better choices. An apple is a better choice than a soda pop in the afternoon, especially if a protein and/or a fat is added, like nut butter. You will get a little sweet taste and energy as well. Fat in the nut butter will provide energy as well as slowing the absorption of carbohydrates into your system. It is wise to avoid the elevations in blood sugar levels, and this simple food combining technique is one way to do this.

If you are diabetic you must end all sugar consumption. Eat lean proteins, vegetables and no fruits except berries, a scant ½ c. a day, or a green apple, until blood sugar control is achieved with minimal medication. If good control is obtained through this method, then work with your health care practitioner to evaluate if you can tolerate more carbohydrates like tomatoes and fruits. Counting carbohydrates will continue to make your pancreas work over time until it can no longer make any insulin. Lastly, consuming diet soft drinks has been found in a study to increase the likelihood of developing diabetes with elevated blood sugar elevations and weight gain. It was speculated that these individuals overindulged on sugar laden foods, but I suspect it has to do with the increased concentration of sweetness from these chemical additives. Aspartame is an excitotoxin, meaning it excites the taste buds, stimulating a stronger taste. This may tell the body via the taste buds that something sugary is coming into the digestive tract. The body responds and may be releasing insulin in response to the stimulus even though the sugar is not actually there. There are many other reasons to avoid these artificial chemical additives.

Agave is preferable to high fructose corn syrup any day. Be judicial in your use of agave. Since it is sweeter, you should use less. Honey is also fructose and glucose. It can be used as well but again very small amounts and not on a constant, high amount basis.

An alternative sweetener that you can use daily is Stevia. Xylitol, erythritol and Malitol are sugar alcohols. Be aware that these (sugar alcohols) sweeteners are also processed. These will allow you to have the occasional cake or cookie, use it cup for cup for granulated sugar in recipes. Be wary of using large amounts as it can cause gas and bloating. Stevia can be used in beverages, dressings and some desserts quite well. If you use higher doses than a few drops, a few times a day, or if you use several packets, then Stevia can lower blood sugar or blood pressure to uncomfortably low levels. If you are on medication you may need to monitor or reduce your use. Stevia is a concentrated natural sweetener so, a little goes a long way. It has a long history of use, over 200 years without ill effects on humans.

Lolita Hanks, RN, BSN, MS, FNP-C

By Benilda Velasco

Being sick these days is a big deal for us, besides from the medicine are being so expensive, also the hospital and medical services are big hassle and not affordable than before. Getting away from sickness can be as simply as maintaining the right balanced diet and eating the right foods for you and your body. Foods you must eat to complete a proper diet.

-FRUITS

Fruits are very nutritious and can be eaten at any time; fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, they help the body to gain healthy cells and help the immune system to function well. Fruits have a fewer calories, one of the reasons why many slimmer choose to eat fruits than any other food.

-VEGETABLES

This is very advisable food to eat especially those green leafy vegetables because it helps your digestive system to function regularly. Vegetables are best cooked with chicken or fish. The best method of cooking the vegetables would be steam as this keeps the most nutrition in the food.

-WHOLE GRAIN

As a vegetable whole grain, it is also good for our digestive system especially the colon. They contain fibers, which easily burn up the food inside our intestine, and they serve as a cleaner inside our digestive system, it also contains nutrients for our body.

Now that you know what foods you "must" eat on the list of proper diet, here are the lists of 'must not' to eat foods:

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

If you want to live longer stay away from beer, liquor or any other alcoholic drink that may be a cause of your illness. Alcohol will not help your body to be healthy instead; it will be the enemy of your internal organs like liver and lungs. Aside from killing your internal organs you can also gain weight because alcohol is a source of carbohydrates and lots of sugar. Now you must learn to avoid them.

PROCESSED FOOD

Same as alcohol drinks, they are fatty foods, which are sources of high carbohydrates mean that this food is not advisable for you to eat. There are no nutrients in these foods, only fats and carbohydrates that will lead you to illness.

JUNK FOOD
These foods contain preservatives and other ingredients that are not useful to our body; you need to stop buying these junk foods to avoid your body from being harmed.

Living a healthy life with your family is in your hands; always remember the foods that you must eat on the list and the food you must to avoid.

By Faviano Torres

Eating healthy foods are very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, times have changed and more and more people are prone to eating unhealthy foods because they find easier to eat at restaurants and fast food chains. Choosing foods that are heart-healthy should be everyone's goal. Not-so-fatty foods can actually be tasty.

Here are a few steps to lessen your fat intake:

1. Know your fats and limit them. Saturated fats and trans-fats contribute to your cholesterol levels. Go for unsaturated fats instead.

2. Choose lean meats without the skin and cook them without saturated fats. Most meats have the same cholesterol amount, getting rid of the skin will help lessen the fat content. Grill, bake, or broil meats for a healthier twist.

3. Substitute meat for fish. Fish fat is healthier than meat's. Research also shows that eating fish oil can provide the body with omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Skip partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Replace hard margarine and shortening with vegetable oils and soft margarine instead.

5. Cut back on dietary cholesterol foods like whole eggs, shellfish, organ meats, and whole milk.

6. Cut back on sweet beverages and alcoholic drinks.

7. Prepare and cook your food with little to no salt. Foods rich in sodium can give you a risk of heart problems and high blood pressure.

8. Eat more fiber to help reduce the risk of diabetes and certain cancers like colon cancer.

9. Read labels of the foods you buy from the supermarket. This will help you choose foods more wisely.

10. Shop alone. Leaving your kids at home when shopping can lower the possibilities of you bringing home sweets and preserved foods.

By Marina Ortiz

Our daily environment is full of agents that increase our risk of cancer. Chemicals or other substances in the air we breath, the water we drink, even the food we eat, lower our ability to fight off cancer or are even directly linked to the disease. However, the foods we eat, the proper kinds, can also strengthen the immune system, detoxify the body, and help keep us cancer free.

Of course, as the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. In other words, fresh fruits and vegetables or the juice from these foods have important health benefits by lowering your cancer risk.

Speaking of that proverbial apple, research has shown that eating one apple a day, or one glass of fresh apple juice, can lower the risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Apples also have been linked to a lower incidence of liver cancer and colon cancer. The fiber and pectin in apples and whole-apple juice stimulates the digestive track, lowering cancer incidence by up to 43 percent.

Tomatoes are another delicious way to lower your cancer risk. Tomatoes eaten in salads or as juice during breakfast contain the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene, which gives tomatoes that bright red color, also neutralize the effects of environmental carcinogens, acting as a shield against cancer. Apricots and watermelon also contain lycopene and help guard against skin, stomach, and bladder cancer.

Green leafy vegetables are fundamental foods for lowering your risk of cancer. You can eat spinach or kale as a salad or, with the use of a quality home juicer, as a delicious, fresh juice. Spinach is high in vitamin E as well as luitin and antioxidants. This food lowers your risk of liver and ovary cancer.

Beta-carotene, the substance that makes carrots and pumpkins orange, is another powerful antioxidant. High as well in vitamin A, these vegetables are believed to help prevent cells from mutating into cancerous forms. So, eat that extra slice of pumpkin pie, or have another glass of carrot juice, and stay healthy.

Some cancer have been linked recently to inflammations in the body, the swelling of muscle or organ tissues. A substance found in pineapple juice or fruit, bromelain, is known as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Not only will bromelain lower your cancer risk, it can help with gout and arthritis as well.

Hot peppers are a spicy way to lower your risk of cancer by blocking the production of cancer cells. As an additional benefit, hot peppers contain capsaicin, which works as a natural appetite suppressant and metabolism stimulator. Add them to meals or vegetable juices for weight loss and lowering your cancer risk.

Finally, there are certain raw vegetables-broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage-that have been shown in large studies to help the body fight cancer and lower your exposure to carcinogens. These foods will give you the nutrition you need to stay healthy and fit, while keeping your risk of cancer low.

By Audrey J

If you want some advice about making healthy food choices, you have come to the right place, but you might have to dust off your cookbook, in order to take my advice. Like many other natural health experts, I believe that it is the convenience foods that are making us fat and destroying our health.

I think that it is also companies that promote their diet pills, which could more accurately be called caffeine pills. If you are like most people, you get enough caffeine as it is.

Fast foods have not done much for our health, either. Leading sedentary lifestyles is another reason that obesity is on the rise and more people are overweight than ever before.

Of course, it is possible to be overweight or even obese, while eating foods that are good for you. You have to be wary of some of the so-called health foods, such as granola bars, because they often contain large amounts of sugar, which can pack on the calories and cause detrimental changes in hormonal levels.

In other words, while what you eat is very important, how much and when you eat is also important. The foods that you eat together are another factor. But, let us look, for a moment, at the psychology of making healthy food choices.

Your brain has a lot to do with what and how much you eat. If the food does not look appealing, your brain will not turn on its hunger switches. By the same token, if it looks good and is something that you have enjoyed eating before, your mouth will start to water. You can use this to your advantage.

By looking at how gourmet foods are prepared. You will see that the portion sizes are generally smaller than what you find in an average American restaurant. The plate is usually packed with healthy food choices. The sauces are flavorful and the colors are appealing.

Even though the portion size on a gourmet plate seems small, it is loaded with variety. A combination of "tastes" is included on the plate. So that your bodies desire for salty, sour, sweet, bitter and spicy are all satisfied. All it may take is the inclusion of a small piece of fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth and allow you to skip desert.

So, what is the easiest way to make healthy food choices? I call it substitution. Instead of eating red meat, pork or fried chicken, eat baked or grilled salmon, seafood and lean chicken. Instead of cooking with corn, peanut or sunflower oil, use olive or canola. Instead of eating corn flakes for breakfast, eat oatmeal. Instead of buying potato chips or even the healthier "sun" chips, keep fresh carrots, celery sticks and pickles for snacking.

People are different, as you probably know. Because of that, two people following exactly the same diet may see different results. So, you will need to learn to gear your healthy food choices towards your own personal preferences and your bodies metabolism. But, remember, as a general rule, extremely low calorie diets do not work.

By Graeme Renwall

The Basics:- A calorie measures energy given by food and energy made with movement. If you burn off the exact amount of calories you consume then your weight remains the same. Eat more calories than you burn off and the body stores the excess away in the fat cells to be used later. Burn more than you eat and these fat cells use the reserves stored meaning you could lose a little weight.

Kids generally tend to eat too much fat, saturated fats and sodium. Fibre is usually lacking too. As long as the children are over the age of two, improving the family's diet need not become a logistical nightmare. Each member will benefit from exactly the same balanced diet although a watchful eye on the kids' plates wouldn't hurt!

Studies have shown that most children do not consume enough iron. Lack of iron can lead to a lack of energy which in turn affects concentration at school. By serving cereal (with iron), bread and orange juice each day for breakfast and lean red meat on a few occasions per week for supper, you can make sure they are receiving the necessary intake.

Fat should not be restricted in kids under the age of two as these extra calories give the vital energy required to support the growth of the babies' brains, which grow rapidly in these early stages.

Although some experts disagree on the subject of fat restriction in children over the age of two, the following guidelines seem to provide a sensible plan for the whole family.

Limit consumption of saturated fats e.g. from meat.

Limit consumption of trans fatty acids e.g. snack foods.

Provide some leeway for children in their consumption of unsaturated fats (as the majority probably won't be affected by receiving up to 40% of their calories from fat).

Experts do agree that to control the weight in kids, exercise is the key - so less time spent watching television or using the computer means more time spent being active.

Girls in their teens are more likely to crash diet or fast even when their weight is normal. These behaviours all too often lead to eating disorders. In the United States for example the average teenage girl is lacking in several important nutrients including calcium and iron. Parents can help by offering teenagers a selection of low-fat foods, dairy produce and lean meat at family meal times.

Family food for thought:-

It's very important that parents try and get the message across that eating sensibly and exercise will last whereas dieting for a few weeks or not eating at all won't and could make you ill. There is more to life than looking like a fashion model. What about education, self-esteem and ambition! Okay, I know this is not going to be easy and YES I was young once.

By Rob Donner

The classification of foods with omega 3mainly or primarily focuses on two groups, namely fishes and vegetables. With regard to fishes, the fish oil derived from it contains fair to high levels of the omega 3 EFA or essential fatty acid. With regard to vegetables, beans and the green leafy ones are abundant with this essential fatty acid. Daily consumption of these foods is thereby recommended in order to cope up with the body's needs and preferences with regard to omega 3.

Some examples of vegetables that have high amounts of omega 3 include beans, raw broccoli, lettuce, mustard, cauliflower, radish and spinach. Eating these vegetables can provide a portion of the recommended daily allowance for this EFA or essential fatty acid in a daily basis. Typical examples of fishes that are good sources include catfishes, eels, mackerels, anchovies, salmons, sardines, tunas and trout. As with vegetables, eating these fishes can also provide good amounts of the omega 3 EFA.

The main problem with these foods is that people, whether young or old, male or female, tend to ignore it. These people prefer red meat and other processed foods instead of eating vegetables and fishes. As such, they do not get their much needed amount of this essential fatty acid in a daily basis. Good thing for these people since there are now sources of pure omega 3 EFA in the form of tablets and capsules manufactured and developed in order to satisfy all of the cravings, needs, tastes and preferences of people with regard to the omega 3 essential fatty acid as of today.

By AJ Cocco

One of the best ways to improve your health is to eat more fruits and vegetables. According to the American Cancer Society, eating up to five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day can actually help to reduce your risk of cancer. Overall health can be improved by also consuming other plant sourced foods like whole-grain cereals, breads, pasta and rice on a daily basis. Fruits and vegetables are considered a feel good food that provides the body with energy, essential vitamins, fiber, minerals, antioxidants and disease preventing phytochemicals.

A single serving of fruit can be measured in several different ways. A medium-sized piece of fruit is a good reference for a single serving. To add variety, try a quarter cup of dried fruit or 4 ounces of 100 percent vegetable or fruit juice. One half cup to one cup of cooked, canned or even raw vegetables is also a good option.

Some fresh produce alternatives would be frozen fruits and vegetables, fruits packed in their own juice or low-sodium canned vegetables. These alternatives to fresh produce provide essentially the same health benefits. Whether homemade or store bought, dried fruit is a great option for use as a portable snack. For some added flavor, try dipping fruit in a low-fat yogurt or pudding. If you prefer a tangy dip then try a dry-mix salad dressing in low-fat sour cream.

Make fruits and vegetables an integral part of your daily diet and reap the numerous health benefits. Plus, you will feel great.

By John Lansing

Healthy eating and healthy life. That is the topic of this article. As most of us are probably aware, obesity is a major issue in America today. Over 30% of the U.S. population from kids all the way up to older Americans have what doctors like to call a "little bit of a weight problem".

What is the cause of this? Do people simply have an aversion to healthy eating? Or is that our society has become too sedentary? Or is it a combination of both? The issue of obesity and health is a complex one.

Some of the factors contributing to this epidemic of enormous proportions is that today in society it is normal that both mother and father are working. This leaves little time with which to prepare healthy meals at home. Instead, parents tend to often opt to simply stop at the nearest fast-food drive thru window and pick up things such as burgers, fries and shakes, or other fattening foods.

This is on the one hand understandable, but it is also unfortunate. Millions of our children today are starting out so young with not a healthy life but rather an unhealthy life. We as a nation must do more and do better. We are Americans and we can do anything that we put our minds to. Certainly we can reach the goal of a better life and a more healthy life for our children - can't we?

Of course we can, and we must. Our future is dependent on it.

By Ray Chowdhury

Vitamins are crucial for your overall health, and the best place to get natural vitamins is through the foods you eat. Learn which foods are the best source for vitamins:

A (retinol)

Has a positive effect on skin, overall immunity, tooth and bone growth, vision and reproductive fertility. You can find vitamin A in foods like mangoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, pumpkin, butternut squash, tomato juice and even beef liver.

B1 (thiamine)

Your body needs B1 for improved energy metabolism as well as for nerve functioning. It's found in many foods, such as: sunflower seeds, lean pork, spinach, tomato juice, green peas and soy milk.

B3 (niacin)

B3 is good for metabolism, healthy skin, nerves and your digestive system. To improve your intake of B3, eat plenty of potatoes, chicken breast, liver, spinach, tomato juice, lean ground beef, tuna and shrimp.

B6 (pyridoxine)

This vitamin is necessary to create new red blood cells as well as amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. It's found in foods like broccoli, acorn squash, potatoes, bananas, tomato juice, watermelon, white rice and chicken white meat.

Vitamin B12

Your body uses B12 to help create new cells, metabolize fatty acids and amino acids. It also supports the maintenance of your nervous system. B12 is found mostly in animal products such as meat, fish, milk, poultry, eggs and shellfish.

Biotin

Biotin aids in the metabolism of amino acids, synthesis of fats and overall energy metabolism. Biotin is found in too many foods to list.

C (ascorbic acid)

The health benefits of vitamin C include an improved absorption of iron, amino acid metabolism and collagen synthesis. It also helps your immune system and is an antioxidant. You will get vitamin C when you eat oranges, strawberries, snow peas, tomato juice, red bell peppers, broccoli, spinach and mangoes.

Vitamin D

The main function of vitamin D is the promotion of bone mineralization. It's found in milk that has been fortified with vitamin D, egg yolks, fatty fish and beef liver. Fortified vitamin D used in processed foods is lab made synthetic substance. They have been proven to be not safe and effective.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it also supports the stabilization of cell membranes. For extra vitamin E, you should eat sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, avocado, tofu, shrimp, wheat germ, cod fish and polyunsaturated plant oils (such as corn, canola or soybean).

Folate

Folate's main role in the body is the synthesis of DNA as well as the formation of new cells. It's found in many foods, including: green beans, spinach, asparagus, lentils, pinto beans, okra, tomato juice, broccoli and black-eyed peas.

Vitamin K

You need vitamin K to help maintain blood-clotting functions and to keep the levels of calcium in your blood stable. Foods like spinach, broccoli, cabbage, liver and other leafy green vegetables all contain vitamin K.

Pantothenic Acid

This final vitamin compound is directly involved with overall energy metabolism and is found widely in too many foods to list out.

A Note on Food Safety

Because of harmful and questionable practices of conventional farming and food processing methods, locally, naturally and organically grown foods should be consumed whenever possible.

Fish, especially tuna has mercury and other industrial waste contamination. Deep-water fish like wild Alaskan salmons are much safer to consume.

By Audrey J

There have always been the naturalists and the vegans. People sometimes looked at them as if they were some sort of alien being. But, research has proven that many of their beliefs and eating patterns are good choices.

Of course, there are some vegetarians that are overweight, particularly the ones that do not exclude dairy products. And, it is still possible to suffer from low nutrient intake, even if you eat a great deal of fruits and vegetables.

Over the last four to five decades, food crops have been "bred" to be more attractive and disease resistant. Farmers focused on increasing yields and paid no attention to what was happening to the nutritional content of the foods they were producing.

Research has proven that it is getting even harder to get all of the nutrients that the human body needs to thrive, even if you eat healthy food. So, choosing the foods mentioned here and in some of my other articles is a good idea. But, you are still likely to benefit from a good all-natural multi-nutritional supplement.

Why is natural important? Petrochemicals (byproducts of the petroleum industry) are used to create synthetic vitamins. That is how they can be produced so cheaply. But, some petrochemicals are known carcinogens; they cause cancer. It is hard to believe that molecules derived from the same source could either be good or bad for your health, depending on the way the scientists chain them together.

If you want to eat healthy food, you will avoid artificial preservatives, colors and flavorings. Many of those things are derived from petrochemicals, too. Research has proven that attention deficit disorders, autism, psoriasis, irritable bowel and other conditions benefit from a diet that excludes artificial "anything".

The less processing the better it seems. Processed and packaged foods are more likely to contain added calories and fat. They are also more likely to contain artificial additives. Plus, they are usually very low in nutritional value. If you have been thinking about buying some of those frozen dinners that are supposed to help you lose weight and be healthier, do not waste your money.

You can eat healthy food, easily. It does not take that much time and it costs a lot less than buying convenience foods. Use your freezer compartment for storing extra chicken breasts or freeze your own fresh fruits and vegetables. Make stews and soups over the weekend if you are pressed for time during the week.

Research has shown that the societies with the least amount of heart disease and cancer, as well as those that live the longest healthiest lives, are those that eat healthy food. If you have problems controlling your weight, learn how to properly combine those good foods and stop starving yourself. You' will feel better and probably live longer, too.

By Vijay K Shetty

You can slim down by burning your fat. Natural food products combined with exercise will help you burn your fat. You don't really have to shed a lot of money in order to cut down on your calories, it is simple to gain control over your increasing weight. There is no need to get psyched up, simple yet cost effective tips will help you. Walking is a great exercise; one reason being is that it carries very little risk of injury.

Your body makes use of energy in order to digest the food products you eat. Therefore, you must eat food that your body finds hard to digest. In turn your body makes use of more energy in order to digest this hard food. You will lose weight in this process. Eat food products which are natural instead of resorting to tablets or unnecessary fat burning supplements. Whole grains, wholemeal rice, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal bread and potatoes will make you feel fuller and at the same time will require a lot of energy to digest them. Carbohydrates are essential to make you feel sumptuous and it will last longer in your stomach.

Add good quality protein found in lean meat, low fat chicken breasts, fish, turkey breasts, eggs and other sea food. Fibre rich food products and vegetables stay longer in your stomach too. They are also hard to digest and will require more energy thus helping you to cut down on your fat. Green beans, peas, broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus and cabbage, in addition to this, salads which are eaten raw are also good for your skin and also in fat reduction. Most often, popular vegetables which are eaten raw must be consumed in the same state to retain the vitamins and enzymes in them. They not only have nutritional value but also help lose weight. In addition to this, you must follow normal exercise regime, little work out at home should help.