Strawberries

The strawberry (Fragaria) is a genus of plants in the family Rosaceae and the fruit of these plants. There are more than 20 named species and many hybrids and cultivars. The most common strawberries grown comercially are cultivars of the Garden Strawberry. The strawberry is an accessory fruit; the seeds are the actual fruits of the plant and the flesh of the strawberry is modified receptable tissue. It is whitish-green as it develops and in most species turns red when ripe.

The Health Benefits of Strawberries

Strawberry is one of the most delicious and nutritious fruit. It has the ability to remove harmful toxin in the blood.

Strawberries are low in calories and a good source of many vitamins and nutrients that a healthy body needs. Strawberries are high in iron and Vitamin C; hey also have less than 60 calories per cup. eight strawberries will provide 140 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vit C for children. Strawberries are also a good source of folic acid, fibre, potassium and cancer fighting anti-oxidants.

It is also recommended for sluggish liver, gout, rheumatism, constipation, high blood pressure, catarrch and even skin cancer.

It is highly rated as  skin-cleansing food, even though the skin eruptions may appear at first in some cases.

It has been reported to help cases of syphillis.

The strawberry, when cut in half and rubbed on the teeth and gumes, removes tartar from the teeth and strengthens and heals the gums. The juice should be allowed to remain on the teeth for as long as possible to dissolve the tartar. The mouth may then be rinsed with warm water.

In addition to being consumed fresh, strawberries are a popular addition to dairy products, as in strawberry flavoured ice-cream, milkshakes and yoghurts. Strawberry pie is also popular. Strawberries can also be used as a natural acid/base indicator.

Strawberries may be the most effective of the five most commonly-consumed berries at eliminating cancer cells, according to a recent study conducted at the UCLA Centre for Human Nutrition. The researchers tested extracts of Six berries - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black raspberries, blackberiies and cranberries - to determinetheir ability to induce cancer cell death.

Strawberries and other berries contain high levels of the phyto-chemicals that are believed to be responsible for the protective effects of diets high in fruits and vegetables against chronic ilnesses.

Strawberry Nutrition information (based on 1 cup (8-10) fresh strawberries)

Calories: 50
Protein: 1g
Fat: 0.6g
Carbohydrates: 11g
sugar: 7g
Fibre: 3.5 g
Iron: 0.6mg
Sodium: 2 mg
Calcium: 22mg
Phosphate: 30mg
Riboflavine: 0.1mg
Vitamin C: 85mg
Potassium: 240mg
Zinc: 0.2mg
Niacin: 0.4mg
Vitamin B6: 92mcg
Folate: 34mcg

Olive oil

Olive oil is a fruit oil obtained from the olive (Olea europaea), a traditional crop of the mediterannean basin. it is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and soaps, and as a fuel or traditional oil.

Olive oil is healthier than other sources of alimentary fats because of its high content of monounsaturated fat (mainly oleic acid) and polyphenols.

The International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) is an inter-governmental organisation based in Madrid, Spain, with 23 member states. It promotes olive oil around the world by tracking production, defining quality standards and monitoring authenticity.

Types of olive oil:

• Extra virgin: Considered the best, least processed, comprising the oil from the first pressing of the olives; contains no more than 0.8% of the acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste. There can be no refined oil in extra-virgin olive oil.
  
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• Virgin: From the second pressing; has an acidity of less than 2%, and judged to have  a good taste. There can be no refined oil in virgin olive oil.
  
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• Pure: undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining; usually a blend of refined olive oil and one of the above two categories of virgin olive oil.
  
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• Extra light: Undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavour.
  
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• Olive-Pomace: A blend of refined pomace olive oil and possibly some virgin olive oil. It is fit for consumption, but it may not be called olive oil. It is rarely sold in grocery store and used in some exotic cookings in restaurant.
  
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• Lampante Oil: it is used as fuel in oil-burning in lamps and not to be eaten. it is mostly used in the industrial market.
  

Health Benefits of Olive oil:

The beneficial effects of olive oil are due to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and anti-oxidative substances. Most people do quite well with olive oil since it does not upset the critical omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and most of the fatty acids in olive oil are actually and omega-9 oil, which is monounsaturated.

Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL ("Good") levels. No other naturally-produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as olive oil - mainly oleic acid.

Olive oil is very well tolerated by stomach. In fact, Olive oil's protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Olive oil activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones and much more naturally than prescribed drugs. Consequently, it lowers the incidenc of gallstone formation.

While all types of olive oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil contains higher levels of anti oxidants, (vit E and Phenols), because it is lessed processed.

Spanish researchers suggest that including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention.

Medicinal Uses of Olive oil

Olive oil is unlikely to cause allergic reactions, and as such is used in preparations for lipophilic drug ingredients. It does have demulcent properties, and mild laxative properties, acting as a stool softener.

Olive Oil is also a potent blocker of intestinal contractions, and is used to treat excessive Borborygmus. Oleocanthal from olive oil is a no-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) similar to classical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.

Care for Your Olive Oil



Light and heat are the NO.1 enemy of olive oil. Keep olive oil in a cool and dark place, tightly sealed. Oxygen promotes rancidity. Olive oil is like other oils and can easily go rancid when exposed to air, light or high temperatures.

The Health Benefits of Tofu

What is Tofu and How is it made?

Tofu is soybean curd, made from soymilk in much the same way that cheese is made from cow's milk. Most large-scale maufacturers of tofu make their own soymilk, to which they then add an agent to cause coagulation, usually a salt or an acid.

When a coagulant is added to the hot-boiled soymilk, it causes curds (made of protein and fat) to form. The excess liquid is squeezed out and the remaining solid curds are presed into blocks. There are typically three main varieties of tofu. firm, soft and silken.

Firm Tofu

Firm tofu is dense and holds its shape easily. It's best for slicing, stir-frying, marinating and grilling. It has the highest protein, calcium and fat content of all tofu.

Soft Tofu

It is more gelatinous and it works well in soups and as an egg replacer, since its consistency is similar to that of a har-boiled egg-white.

Silken Tofu is curdled in its package and not drained, resulting in a creamy tofu with a high moisture content. Its great for blending and can be used in many recipes that require dairy products.

Benefits of Tofu

1. Cholesterol-free
2. High-quality protein
3. Has essential vitamins and minerals (iron, calcium and magnesium)
4. High in fibre
5. Good for people who are dieting
6. Contains omega-3 fatty acids.
7. Soy protein helps lower blood pressure
8. It has low glycaemic Indexes (GI) compared to other foods.
9. A phytochemicals called isoflavones have been linked to reduced risk of several cancers including colon, breast and prostate.

Eight Important factors

A Healthy body is freedom, a Sick body is a prison - Francis Bacon

To achieve health, there are several factors that we must consider and put into action.
Which are:

1. Nutrition:
 - the benefits of good diet and nutrition will be enhanced when it is complemented with other healthy habits: Clean air, water, sunshine, exercise and a healthy state of mind. By putting all of them into action, living in this earth will almost be felt as living in the heaven.

Food and diet merely will not benefit us in its simple from, we must also consider how, when and our action when we eat.

2. Air:
-we may be able to survive for a few weeks without food; a few days without water, but we will never survive more than three to four minutes without air. Oxygen is needed to 'burn' our food in the cells to produce energy for life.

we must be able to breathe freely, in a clean air of course. The correct breathing posture must be maintained (upright chest) to ease breathing. And remember, when you breathe in a room with a smoker, you also smoke. It is a wise decision to begin our day by taking a deep breath in an open area. Make it a habit to always get the opportunity to go outside to take a breath 
in clean air. Our brain will only function optimally in the state of enough oxygen.

3. Water
- water is a universal dilute. 60% of us is made from water. our kidneys need water to filter our blood and to excrete unwanted materials and toxins from our body, so does our digestive system.

Our skin needs water to keep it supple and tight, our bones need it to maintain its elasticity and hardness. We need water both for our inwards and our outwards. Try to drink at least 6 glasses of milk every day. 2 before breakfast - to clean the mucus that has been accumulated throughout the night while we were sleeping. 2 before lunch and 2 before dinner. Prioritize plain water more than any other drinks.

-water taken from outside proves a great benefits, if not why people go to saunas and hot water springs? in ancient times, hydroteraphy proves to be a  great aid for curing or diminish the effect of sickness. At times, choose to take a bath with epsom salt and try to relax before sleeping.

4. Sunshine

-sunshine! how nice you are..have you ever thought why sun is always associated with smiley face? its because sunshine has the ability to do so. Solar ray is very important to maintain life and health. Sunshine will help our skin to synthesize Vitamin D. The Ultraviolet rays will kill the bacterias on our body. It also acts as a tonic to stimulate our body processes. Can you think why the winter gloomy and depress? its because during that period, there is less sunshine to enjoy with.

-Nevertheless, recently it has been found that excessive exposure to sunshine can lead to many skin conditions - due to the thinning of the ozone layer in our atmosphere. So moderation is the key!

5. Exercise

- Our body is designed to move! immobility will results in muscle wastage and  organ inefficiency.
Try to exercise at least 4 times per week - 40 minutes each session. It will lower the risks of contracting cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, and circulation problems. The best exercise so far is -guess what? - Brisk walking.

6. Rest

A body without rest can be compared to a car that is driven without stop. The end result: Wreckage. The most likely period for someone to get heart attack is between 9 to 12 p.m. on a busy and stressful day -with lost of coffee and tobacco consumption. Why? A body is like a machine-it needs rest.

We must make it a practice to make sure our body gets enough rest. While we are sleeping, our neurons  will by themselves clean all the metabolic toxic accumulated throughout the day. Cells need enough time to recover - minimum 7 hours for adults.

Apart from daily rests, our body also needs periodical rests, weekly and yearly. We must have at least one day per week to rest. The French Revolution do the talking: they tried to make a 10-day working week but it is unsuccessful - why? more and more people getting sick at the end of the 'week'and production dropped drastically. Rest is always a good habit.

7. Stay away from toxins
-Toxins here are caffeine, alcoholic drinks, tobacco and drugs. If having a healthy and energetic mind is our aim, then we must stay away from all this toxins. Artificial stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, cocaine etc) will put our body into stress and then will destroy our world and the world itself.

-According to WHO, Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of diseaseor infirmity. The usage of drugs initially will cause the consumer to fell healthy, but in the long term the dependence to the substance is greatly enhanced to the point that the consumer will unable to maintain daily life without a heavier 
dose of the particular substance.

8. Good mental condition
- Make it a habit to accept all things calmly: not overly worried about ourselves, not keeping revenge among others and ourselves, smile with confidence when you face problems in life.

It is shown that well-balanced mental habit is a prerequisite towards good health. Do you know that cancer can affect more to those who
are easily angered and stressed? It is not an easy task to achieve a well-balanced state of mental in this rude and harsh world but it is, on the other hand, not unattainable.

- most people seek freedom and refuge in reading the Holy Scriptures, Bibles and enhanced with
prayers and meditation. Confidence and Faith contributes a lot to a good mental state - not only mentally though but physically as well. This occurs because people who believes for a good future  and the confidence and faith in that there is Someone who cares, understand and loves him or her.

- a good mental state and a calm and serene soul will surely enhance our body to function with greater effiency and optimally.

Bedtime Snacks that Help You Sleep

By Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

One of the best natural sedatives is tryptophan, an amino acid component of many plant and animal proteins.

Tryptophan is one of the ingredients necessary for the body to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter best known for creating feelings of calm, and for making you sleepy.

However, the trick is to combine foods that have some tryptophan with ample carbohydrate. That’s because in order for insomnia-busting tryptophan to work, it has to make its way to the brain.

Unfortunately, all amino acids compete for transport to the brain. When you add carbs, they cause the release of insulin, which takes the competing amino acids and incorporates them into muscle…but leaves tryptophan alone, so it can make its way to the brain, be converted to serotonin, and cause sleepiness.

Serotonin-producing bedtime snacks should be no more than 200 calories and should be eaten at least 30 minutes prior to bed.

Here are a few great ideas:

Bedtime Snacks for Adults

--6-8 oz container of non-fat, flavored yogurt topped with 2 tablespoons low-fat granola cereal
--Sliced apple with 1-2 teaspoons natural peanut butter
--3 cups low-fat popcorn – sprinkled with optional 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Bedtime Snacks for Teens
--One cup healthy cereal with skim milk
--Low-fat granola bar
--Scoop of vanilla or strawberry low-fat ice cream

Bedtime Snacks for Children

--1/2 cup low-fat vanilla pudding
--1/2 banana with 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
--One cup skim milk with a bunch of grapes (or other fruit)

I found that this article is helpful..it can be found here

Happy Sleeping!

Bedtime Snacks that Help You Sleep

By Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

One of the best natural sedatives is tryptophan, an amino acid component of many plant and animal proteins.

Tryptophan is one of the ingredients necessary for the body to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter best known for creating feelings of calm, and for making you sleepy.

However, the trick is to combine foods that have some tryptophan with ample carbohydrate. That’s because in order for insomnia-busting tryptophan to work, it has to make its way to the brain.

Unfortunately, all amino acids compete for transport to the brain. When you add carbs, they cause the release of insulin, which takes the competing amino acids and incorporates them into muscle…but leaves tryptophan alone, so it can make its way to the brain, be converted to serotonin, and cause sleepiness.

Serotonin-producing bedtime snacks should be no more than 200 calories and should be eaten at least 30 minutes prior to bed.

Here are a few great ideas:

Bedtime Snacks for Adults

--6-8 oz container of non-fat, flavored yogurt topped with 2 tablespoons low-fat granola cereal
--Sliced apple with 1-2 teaspoons natural peanut butter
--3 cups low-fat popcorn – sprinkled with optional 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Bedtime Snacks for Teens
--One cup healthy cereal with skim milk
--Low-fat granola bar
--Scoop of vanilla or strawberry low-fat ice cream

Bedtime Snacks for Children

--1/2 cup low-fat vanilla pudding
--1/2 banana with 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
--One cup skim milk with a bunch of grapes (or other fruit)

I found that this article is helpful..it can be found here

Happy Sleeping!

7 Food You Should Not Eat Very Often

Actually the title of the post is
7 Foods U Should NEVER Eat!

But I rather re-titled it as 7 Food You Should Not Eat Very Often..because I know we will never resist the temptation to eat them.

This article is originally written
By Jaclyn Johnson
eDiets.com Staff Writer and I would like to elaborate them here.

There will always be those fattening foods that are easy to make, easy to get, and easy to crave. You think "OK, I know this is bad but it can't be that bad!" Think again. Here are the top seven foods you should never ever feed your family or yourself!

1.Doughnuts
It's hard to resist the smell of a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which is why I never step foot in the store. Doughnuts are fried chock-full of sugar and white flour and loads of trans fat.

According to the Krispy Kreme website, an average 3.5 ounce sugar doughnut weighs in with about 400 calories and contains few other nutrients besides fat. These sugary treats may satisfy your craving but it won't satisfy your hunger as most of the calories come from fat.

"Eating a lot of refined sugar contributes to blood sugar 'swings' or extreme fluctuations," eDiets Chief Nutritionist Susan Burke said.

- This will make your blood sugar highly elevated and the excess sugar will be transformed into fats


2. Cheeseburger with fries
The age-old classic may be delicious but think twice before sinking your
teeth into that Big Mac. The saturated fat found in cheese burgers has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer.

"In fact, fast-food portions are gargantuan, almost double the calories per meal compared to 20 years ago," Susan says. "Twenty years ago the average fast-food cheeseburger had about 300 calories. Today's BK Whopper with cheese has 720. To burn the excess 420 calories, you'd have to run for 40 minutes. For example, in 1985 a medium French fry had 240 calories, 2.4 ounces. Today's 'medium' is 6.9 ounces and 610 calories.

"This fast-food meal of cheeseburger and fries has way too many calories and fat grams, not to mention grams of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and sodium."

Let's break down this meal. First, take the white-flour bun (refined carbohydrates), then add some processed cheese (saturated fat and trans fat, plus lots of additives and preservatives) and then top off with fried red meat (cholesterol and saturated fats). And let's not forget about the condiments such as the always fattening mayonnaise.

Not soun din g so appetizing anymore, huh? Oh, and let's not forget about the infamous side dish. You cheeseburger will most likely come with a side of French fries, which is sadly the most popular vegetable dish in the U.S. Don't kid yourself, French fries are not vegetables, they are extremely high in fat and contain a tiny amount of nutrients.

3. Fried Chicken and Chicken Nuggets

With the recent class-action lawsuit between The Center for
Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and KFC, the health risks posed by fried foods are becoming more public. The CSPI is suing the food chain for their use of cooking oil cont aini ng unhealthy trans fats. The lawsuit seeks to order KFC to use other types of cooking oils and to inform customers how much trans fats KFC's food contains.

Foods cooked in highly heated oils (most notably partially hydrogenated oil) have been known to cause cancer, weight gain and other ser ious health risks if ingested regularly. A 10-piece chicken McNugget from McDonald's has 420 calories, 24 grams of fat and 1120 milligrams of sodium... One Extra Crispy Chicken Breast from KFC has around 420 calories and eight grams of saturated fat. So unless you want to super size yourself, it's best to make a clean break with fried foods.


4. Oscar Mayer's Lunchables

Sure they are convenient and easy, but boy are they unhealthy! These kid-marketed lunches are loaded with saturated fat and sodium.. They usually contain highly processed meats and cheeses, white flour crackers and sugary treats... Lunchables get two-thirds of their calories from fat and sugar. And they provide lopsided nutrition since they contain no fruits or vegetables.

"They insidiously promote obesity by making kids think that lunch normally comes in a cellophane-wrapped box," Susan says. "Parents are promoting their children's obesity by buying these items. They're expensive, too. Pack a sandwich and save dollars and health."


5. Sugary Cereal

Not all cereals are created equally. And while your kids might beg for the latest cookie or marshmallow chocolate surprise cereals, it is a safe bet they are about as healthy as a dessert. Keywords to look out for are puffed, dyed and sweetened.

Most kids' cereals are so highly processed they no longer look like the grains they were originally made from. A healthy alternative is oatmeal. Although, if you are buying pre-packaged oatmeal make sure to check the label and see ho w much sugar it contains, you might be surprised.

"A little sugar isn't a problem but when the first ingredient on the box is sugar, then watch out," she said. "There is no fruit in Froot Loops. But the unsweetened original Cheerios or Rice Krispies are fine, and you can sweeten them naturally with blueberries and strawberries."


6. Processed Meats.
What falls under the category of processed meats? Hot dogs, sausage, jerky,
bacon, certain lunch meats and meats used in canned soup products. Almost all processed meats have sodium nitrite added as a preservative.

A recent study conducted at the University of Hawaii found that sodium nitrite can act as "a precursor to highly carcinogenic nitrosamines -- potent cancer-causing chemicals that accelerate the formation and growth of cancer cells throug ho ut the body." So eliminate these meats from your diet before they eliminate you!


7. Canned soup.
Sometimes regarded as a healthy food, soups can be very deceiving. You must stay on your guard because many canned soups have high levels of trans fats, sodium and artificial pre ser vatives such as MSG. Just one serving (which is roughly one cup) can have almost 1,000 milligrams of salt. Also, steer clear of soups that are cream-based, they can be high in calories and fat.

Susan says it is important to "read labels from back to front. Ignore the health claims, and instead focus on the ingredients and ser ving size. Watch out for hydrogenated fat (trans fat) and sodium. If you're buying bread to go with you soup, the first ingredient sho uld be wholegrain -- either wholewheat, rye or other grain. If it just says 'wheat bread,' that doesn't mean wholewheat."

We all want our family to be healthy and happy, so steer clear of these foods. Think it's difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle? Think again!

- This article is from Jaclyn Johnson from e-diet.com, The blogger deemed that this writing is very informational to readers and decided to publish it for the benefits of mankind.

Remember, it is always your choice!
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