Buy Flax Seed to Fight Disease and Live Longer

Posted by tk in Nutrition on 08-10-2009

Because of the healthy components found in flax seed, it is gaining endorsement from a variety of health pundits. These components include, but are not limited to: omega-3 fatty acids, phytochemicals and antioxidizing lignans. As such, many choose to buy flax seed to fight critical ailments and reap good health.

If you decide to buy flax seed, it is important to learn what is in it that makes health buffs so excited. As mentioned, flax seed contains lignan, a widely praised antioxidant. Antioxidants are anti-aging compounds with considerable health benefits. In the case of lignans, they can strengthen the immune system as well as reduce the risk of diabetes and certain kinds of cancer.

People who buy flax seed also express excitement over its high Omega-3 fatty acid content. Present diets in industrially developed countries are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. While these are necessary to proper health, they are usually consumed in excess, resulting in cardiovascular risks and the inflammation of internal organs. Omega-3 fatty acids help counterbalance the pro-inflammatory effects of Omega-6 and help alleviate those aforementioned cardiovascular risks.

Flax seed is also very high in fiber, which aids in digestion by easing bowel movement and reducing the risk of constipation. Furthermore, fiber can prevent hemorrhoids and other forms of diverticular disease. However, one must exercise caution when you buy flax seed. It must be consumed in moderation as excess fiber can result in cramps and/or intestinal blockage. As such, experts recommend introducing flax seed into your diet slowly in order to allow your body to adjust.

On that note, the proper consumption, storage and preparation of flax seed is crucial to enjoying its health benefits. As mentioned, overconsumption of flax products leads to fiber-related gastrointestinal problems. One way to avoid this is to not only introduce it slowly into your diet, but ground it into a meal form supplement. In this form, flax seed can be placed in yogurt and cheese or used to substitute eggs in baked goods. Incorporate ground flax seed into your diet with imagination.

If you buy flax seed, be wary of whatever nutritional differences retailers and suppliers tell you. These purported differences are mostly born from imaginative marketing, and the health benefits between all varieties are generally similar. You can expect every 100 grams of ground flax seed to contain 450 kcal, 20 grams of protein, 28 grams of fiber and 41 grams of fat.

When you buy flax seed, it doesn’t matter whether you choose brown, yellow or golden flaxseed. They are all rich in health-promoting components, which is why health buffs of all stripes favor this miracle grain. With its abundance of phytochemicals, antioxidants, lignans and Omega-3 fatty acids, flax products can help stave off critical ailments and promote good digestive health.

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Isaac Robert Toussie Pardon Me But Did Somebody Say Celery?

Posted by tk in Nutrition on 29-09-2009

Celery is a stiff long vegetable with leafstalks that may be eaten raw or cooked. Full-grown, celery plants may reach anywhere from twenty to thirty inches high. Being of the umbelliferae family, celery is a popular biennial vegetable related to dill, fennel, parsley, and parsnips. It thrives in moist fertile soil, but grows quite slowly. Farmers and gardeners often soak celery seed in lukewarm water so as to hasten sprouting. The seeds can then be sown in greenhouses or outdoor seedbeds. Within eight to twelve weeks, the plants can be transported to the field, placed six inches apart in rows of eighteen to thirty-six inches apart.

Celery has an ancient and prestigious pedigree in human history, apparently as medicine first. It was mentioned as medicine nowhere other than in The Odyssey. Its use as food may have begun with the Romans, who first used it as seasoning, to which task celery’s distinct aromatic fragrance certainly well lends itself. The tradition has survived down to this day, as this vegetable is often used as a flavor enhancer or garnish in everything from soups and stews to salads and dips.

Celery provides quite a number of nutritional and health-promoting benefits, proving its age-old reputation. It contains the antioxidant compounds called coumains, which our immune systems’ ability to eliminate potentially harmful cells. Celery’s power to reduce blood pressure had long been recognized by traditional Chinese medicine; it contains plenty of pthalides, which may help to reduce blood pressure by relaxing the tiny muscles of the arteries, allowing the vessels to dilate. It also contains the flavonoids apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin. Celery is a good source of potassium, folate, and Vitamin B6. It also provides calcium and magnesium. Celery also seems able to lower cholesterol. Like almost all vegetables, celery contains a high amount of Vitamin C. Wild celery seeds can also act as diuretics, due to the potassium and sodium that is found in the plant.

There are a few varieties of celery. These are Pacal, white, Chinese, and celeriac. Celeriac is also known as celery root, while Chinese Celery looks like a cross between parsley and celery. White celery is grown shaded from direct sunlight, which inhibits the production of the chlorophyll that is responsible for a plant’s green color. Pascal Celery is the well-know type found in most supermarkets. The peak season for celery is during the summer months, though it is available year-round in the United States due to Florida and California.

People have said that it is of course important to watch out for food scams, as fraud could exist on food labels. Pardon the thought I (Isaac Robert Toussie) say but today, when so many people are concerned about issues like housing and work place discrimination, fashion, entertainment, real estate, mortgages, vacations and the like, issues like food quality and food awareness may become unnecessarily overshadowed.

This writing has been posted by me, Isaac Toussie, strictly for information and human interest purposes only, not for medical or advisory purposes and does not necessarily constitute the opinions or conclusions of the provider, Isaac Toussie. The reader should not rely upon the validity of any of the information contained herein. The reader should consult a doctor, nutritionist, and other medical professionals when seek advice about food, nutrition, diet, and physiology.

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Contributors Of Obesity Epidemic

Posted by tk in Nutrition on 21-09-2009

Studies indicate that the obesity epidemic starts at an early age. Approximately 80% of children who were obese during their youth (10 to 15 years of age) became obese adults by the age of 25. Additionally, if children are overweight before they’re eight years old, then their adult obesity will be more severe.

Childhood obesity is linked with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and a wide range of health problems. Children who are obese are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and morbid obesity later in life.

At its most basic level, obesity epidemic is caused by the consumption of more calories than the child can use, which causes the remaining calories to be stored as fat.

obesity epidemic
In rare cases, genetics can play a role in the obesity of children with Prader-Willi syndrome, although behavioral factors, like the consumption of high calorie foods, minimal physical activity and a lack of supervision, are more likely contributors to weight gain.

Consuming larger portion sizes, eating meals on-the-go, drinking multiple sugary carbonated beverages throughout the day and frequent snacking are common behavioral patterns in obese children.

If left untreated, childhood obesity can lead to a number of problems, both physical and psychosocial. Physically, 70% of obese 5 to 17-year-olds have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor already, whether it is high blood pressure, high cholesterol or abnormal glucose tolerance, and 25% have at least two risk factors.

healthy eating
Obesity is also the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, as 60% of diabetics are also overweight. More immediate health problems include sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis (fatty degeneration of the liver), kidney failure and asthma. Psychologically, obese adolescents become the targets of social stigmatization, which can leave lasting emotional scars that may never fully heal.

To combat childhood obesity, be sure to encourage healthy eating . Serve nutritious dinners and encourage healthy snacking by offering fruits and vegetables, rather than chips and cookies.

Helping your son or daughter to stay active will not only prevent excessive weight gain, but it will also improve self esteem and coordination, reduce stress and anxiety, decrease blood pressure and strengthen bones.

diabetes endocrinology
Instead of letting your child “veg out” in front of the TV or computer for hours each day, encourage after-school sports, bike rides, karate, swimming, dance and other physical activities.

Limit sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar and fatty foods in the house as much as possible.

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Helpful Tips on Buying Fresh Foods and Health Supplements

Posted by tk in Nutrition on 19-09-2009

Around the world, people are trying to improve their health and look better. There are many reasons people do this, but the most common are to fit into old clothes, look better for somebody of the opposite sex, or because they are afraid their health will cause them to die younger. Whatever the reason, here is some (hopefully) useful information on where to get health foods and supplements.

Eating healthy food should be the foundation of any effort to get healthier. When you are at the grocery store, go to the fresh food section. If it is in a box or bag, it has been processed in some way and that means it has lost some of its nutritional value. The next best thing compared to fresh fruits and vegetables is frozen because frozen food is usually pretty good with fewer additives.

Organic vegetables and fruits are even better than just eating fresh food. This will cost you more, but it is definitely healthier and usually tastes better. A lot of regular grocery stores carry organic foods now, but you may have to go to a dedicated health food store to get the best variety.

Vitamins and health supplements are another key part of getting healthy. Even if you buy all fresh, organic foods, you still will have a hard time getting all the right nutrients. This is why most health experts recommend taking a daily vitamin. There are also specialized health supplements that can help you get healthier and even lose weight. One of the really popular health supplements right now is the acai berry.

The last thing to go over is where you are going to find your health supplements. If you are shopping locally, try to find a good health supplement store. You will have a bigger variety and the people that work there are usually pretty knowledgeable. If you know what you want, you can search for a specific item on the internet including where you need it – for example, you could search acai berries in Canada to find acai berry Canada distributors. You can very specific information if you search this way.

One note of caution when searching on the internet: make sure you pay attention to the details when you make a purchase. When you see great offers on the internet, make sure you spend a few minutes looking at the details before you put in your credit card information so you know what you are getting into. While there are lots of scams out there, if you pay attention to what you are doing, they are pretty easy to avoid.

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Isaac Toussie: Side Step Nutrition Scams and Frauds — Store Veggies Correctly

Posted by tk in Nutrition on 01-09-2009

Once harvested, vegetables start deteriorating because they are no longer alive and therefore unable to defend themselves against the oxidative damage that comes from being exposed to the air. At harvest time, a vegetable has only a limited reserve of protective nutrients. But as they continue to respire even after being picked, these nutrients are constantly being used up to protect the vegetable against the oxidative effects of respiration. Proper Vegetable Storage is therefore imperative as a necessary substitute for the defensive measures they would normally undertake on their own. Incorrectly stored vegetables will spoil much more quickly than carefully put-away ones. Proper storage is all about minimizing the vegetable’s respiration rate. Reducing the respiration rate helps retain freshness by conserving the reserves of protective phytonutrients.

Of course, different vegetables have different respiration rates. This is an important factor to consider because the respiration rate determines how fast a vegetable could spoil, even under ideal storage conditions. Respiration rates are measured by how much carbon dioxide is given off in milligrams per kilogram of vegetable every hour at room temperature. Certain vegetables can be stored much longer than others, such as potatoes, which can be stored for up to a whole month without refrigeration, as compared to green beans, which will just about spoil within two or three days without proper refrigeration; potatoes respire at a rate of seventeen milligrams per kilogram per hour, while green beans respire at the rate of one hundred-and-thirty milligrams per kilogram per hour. Refrigeration is the best way to reduce the respiration rate of most vegetables, prolonging their freshness by days and even weeks. It is a great way to retain the vitality of compounds such as Vitamin C. For example, cabbages might lose almost thirty percent of their Vitamin C content in just two days if left at room temperature.

As different vegetables have different respiration rates, it is logical that different vegetables react differently to refrigeration – that is, their rates of respiration are reduced in different amounts. Basically, preservation depends on the type of vegetable, the exact way it is stored in the refrigerator (whether in a plastic container, or wrapped in plastic film, or loose in the refrigerator’s storage bin, or simply left “open” on a rack in the refrigerator), including where in the refrigerator storage takes place (the back of the bottom shelf is commonly the coolest part). Some vegetables, such as potatoes, onions, and eggplants, are actually best stored unrefrigerated, in cool dark environments a little bit below room temperature: fifty to sixty degrees Fahrenheit or ten to sixteen Celsius.

This Article& has been posted strictly for informational and human interest purposes only, not for medical or advisory purposes and does not necessarily constitute the opinions or conclusions of the provider. The reader should not rely upon the validity of any of the information contained herein. The reader should consult a doctor, nutritionist, and other medical professionals when seeking advice about food, nutrition, diet, and physiology. People have said that it is of course important to watch out for food scams, as fraud could exist on food labels. Pardon the expression but these days, when so many people are worried about issues like housing and work place discrimination, fashion, entertainment, real estate, mortgages, vacations and the like, issues like food quality and food awareness may become inappropriately overshadowed.

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