Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Health Benefits of Carrot Juice - Organic Juice



The Health Benefits of Carrot Juice are Many - The darker they are the healthier.
The Health Benefits of Carrot Juice are Many - The darker they are the healthier.

Getting maximum health Benefits of Carrot Juice

There are plenty of benefits of carrot juice as we see later down this article. However, before we take a look at the benefits of this tasty treat, let's take a look at some general benefits of juices and what you could do to make them healthier:
We all know that fruits and vegetables are really good for health; but, how much of them can we eat? By juicing them we'd be able to consume a lot more than eating them whole - isn't it? Moreover, the concentrated juice or pulp is easy to digest and hence ideal for people of all ages.
Another important fact to note when it comes to juices (Carrots or just about anything else) is that you're consuming uncooked food. Raw fruits and vegetables are far healthier than their cooked counterparts and this is because the enzymes and nutrients that they possess aren't destroyed even a bit.
If you've got carrots make sure to add them to your juice; because the benefits of carrot juice are plenty as we're going to see now. Note that all these facts are collected and researched from across the web and are only for informational purposes.


Nutritional benefits of carrot juice are higher when the carrots are dark orange.
Nutritional benefits of carrot juice are higher when the carrots are dark orange.

Carrots and their Nutritional Benefits for Health

Carrots are nutrient rich and the main components that we may all be well aware of are Vitamin A and Beta Carotenes.
Consuming lots of vitamin A through vitamin supplements often leads to Vitamin A toxicity. However, by consuming it through carrots you don't have to worry about this as it's a natural source and has no such side effects.
So, what do Vitamin A and Beta Carotene help with? Well, they're required to maintain vision as well as maintaining protective tissue (Epithelial tissues) which surround every organ in our bodies.
The University of Newcastle has shown that poly-acetylene anti-oxidant falcarinol which is present in carrots helps get rid of pre-cancerous cells and thereby reduces the possibility of cancer development.
Carrots are rich in minerals as they've got deep roots and hence are capable of absorbing an abundant variety of nutrients and minerals from the soil. Some of the other vitamins and minerals that they contain are Folates and Vitamin B as well as E.
No matter what they contain, there are some special properties that carrots possess which are unmatched. They possess a great regenerative capacity and this is enhanced when they're juiced.
The main health benefits of carrot juice are due to the various enzymes, flavonoids, minerals and vitamins that they possess.

Grow your own Organic Carrots in Mineral rich Compost soil


Add more vegetables and fruits to make the juice even healthier.
Add more vegetables and fruits to make the juice even healthier.

List of Health Benefits of Carrot Juice

Now, the part we've all been waiting for. There are plenty of health benefits of carrot juice and some of the most prominent ones include:
Carrot Juice Benefits weight Loss - If you're trying to lose weight, rather than fasting yourself you could have some juices and carrot juice is really healthy and at the same time it's low in cholesterol and fats.
Improve in the digestive system - By consuming carrot juice often you're keeping your liver healthy and at the same time you'd be taking care of your entire digestive tract. Therefore, it's a great way to keep your entire body healthy.
Cancer Prevention - As already mentioned carrots possess special properties that help prevent outbreak of cancer.
It helps fight cholesterol - Carrots are rich in potassium as well and therefore it also helps prevent the rapid build up of bad cholesterol in your body.
Eyesight and Bones - Vitamin A present in carrot juice helps take care of your eyes and also ensures your bones are in the best of health.
Skin Care - One of the most sought after health benefits of carrot juice is their capability of taking care of your skin. It helps revitalize and tone your skin. Since it contains beta carotene, it also prevents early aging.
If you want to receive the maximum benefits of carrot juice, make sure that you drink it fresh and tasty. Don't store it even in your fridge for more than a few hours. Also add other vegetables and fruits to your juice if you wish.
By: Unknown On 07:35
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The Awesome Health Benefits of Grapes



Different Colored Grapes-- Purple, Green and Red
Different Colored Grapes-- Purple, Green

Health Benefits of Grapes

This was written February 18, 2012. This may be the single healthiest common food that there is. Have you heard of the grape cure? This is the name of a book written by a woman that cured her cancer by only eating grapes for a couple of months. Note that to go back to other webpages, right-click on the BACK button for menu. The links are blue.
She was experimenting with fastingand learned about just eating grapes. Then she came to the U.S. and worked with an M.D. They found 10 people with cancer, that were in very bad shape and all were cured. She also learned from medical encyclopedias that in Europe they have been using the grape cure for hundreds of years for all sorts of problems.
That is why grapes are in my article on Great Foods That Fight Cancer. It is only in recent years that they have learned about all the phytochemicals that are in grapes like resveratrol, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs),ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid,epicatechin, quercetin and more. What are phytochemicals?
MedicineNet.com says:
The active health-protecting compounds that are found as components of plants. Currently, the terms "phytochemical" and "phytonutrient" are being used interchangeably to describe those plant compounds which are thought to have health-protecting qualities.
Eating grapes on an empty stomach has a powerful cleansing effect. Before learning about the Many Benefits of Fasting, I ate nothing but grapes for 11 days. It had a cleansing effect similar to fasting but not as strong. Also it is easier to eat only grapes than to fast (that means only consuming pure water and nothing else).
One website (naturalnews.com) says:
Among the many benefits of dark grapes are protection againstasthma, migraine, constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, macular degeneration, cataracts, high cholesterol,edema, and antibacterial activity.
If you can get organically grown grapes, then you should since Organic Food is Important. But if you cannot get organic grapes, then just eat conventional grapes. Here is what the University of Maryland Medical Center has to say about grapes:
Grapes (Vitis vinifera ) have been heralded for their medicinal andnutritional value for thousands of years. Egyptians ate grapes at least 6,000 years ago, and several ancient Greek philosophers praised the healing power of grapes -- usually in the form of wine.
Round, ripe, sweet grapes were used to treat a range of health problems including cancer, cholera, smallpox, nausea, eye infections, and skin, kidney, and liver diseases. Resveratrol has become very popular as an antioxidant and is being studied in connection with a variety of diseases.
There has been a lot of research on resveratrol and it appears to have anti-aging benefits. Before this the only thing proven to be anti-aging was reducing the calories that you consume. Please note that as far as "calorie restriction" goes (that sounds bad-- it is better to say reducing calories consumed), many unhealthy foods have tons of calories whereas many vegetables have tiny amounts of calories. Also Japan has the longest living people. A woman from Japan said that Americans eat huge amounts of food compared to Japanese people.
The red and purple grapes have more resveratrol than the green grapes.Peanuts have less resveratrol than grapes, but boiled peanuts have more resveratrol than grapes. One explanation is that the boiling takes resveratrol out of the shells. But the boiled peanuts have a lot of salt making it not so great for health. But I will put a link on here to get some boiled peanuts so you can taste them. I think they taste incredible! I used to know a friend, Larry Becker, that would eat the peanut shell along with the peanut. The last that I had heard was that he was a chiropractor (D.C.) in California and since this looks like him, I think that this is his website.
Look at what this website (smart-publications.com) says about resveratrol, anti-aging and calorie restriction:
Thousands of animal experiments have demonstrated that resveratrol has anti-aging benefits, as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,anticancer, antiplatelet, cholesterol-lowering, and mild estrogenic [vegetable estrogen] activities.

There are numerous theories, however, as to how it produces a wide range of health benefits. Harvard researchers have noted there is evidence suggesting that calorie restriction can extend lifespanacross a range of species. And after screening thousands of molecules, they found that resveratrol mimics calorie restriction in yeast: activating enzymes that slow aging, increasing the stability of DNA, andextending lifespan by as much as 70%.12 Researchers suspect plants make these age-slowing molecules as a defense response.

Another Harvard research team recently found that resveratrol improved the health and survival of obese mice. Resveratrol increased insulin levels while decreasing glucose levels, resulting in healthier liver and heart tissue when compared to obese mice that did not receive treatment. "After six months, resveratrol essentially prevented most of the negative effects of the high-calorie diet in mice," said study co-author Rafael de Cabo of the National Institute of Aging (NIA).3
The above describes the French paradox as follows. The French people drink, smoke and eat a lot of cheese. Yet, despite a diet that's relatively high in fat, they have a 42% lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than Americans do. Cardiovascular disease causes the first and third leading causes of death in the U.S., strokes and heart attacks (AKA cerebrovascular accidents and myocardial infarctions). To prevent the second leading cause of death, make sure get lifeguard levels of the sunshine vitamin to prevent cancer. See Cancer and Power of Vitamin D.
An L.A. Times article mentions another study with similar results as above:
The study, conducted in the Netherlands and published this week in the journal Cell Metabolism, found that men taking 150 milligrams of resveratrol daily for 30 days looked for all the world as if they were either dieting successfully or were engaged in endurance training.
Without changing their diet or exercise habits, the mens'metabolic function improved, evidence of inflammation declined, fat deposits in their livers decreased and circulating triglyceride levels fell. While their bodies burned up the same amount of energy over a 24-hour period, their bodies' resting and sleeping metabolic rate declined and their muscles' use of fuel became more efficient -- signs that they were using and storing calories more like athletes in training than obese couch potatoes.
This is just one phytochemical mentioned above. Grapes also contain quercetin. According to studies done, quercetin has been shown to be antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and have antitoxic effects. It helps with cancer,fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Another phytonutrient in grapes is kaempferol. Kaempferol seems to prevent arteriosclerosis by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol) and the formation of platelets in the blood.
Ellagic acid (another phytochemical in grapes) has anti-mutagen, antioxidantand anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown the anti-cancer activity on cancer cells of the breast, esophagus, colon, skin, prostate and pancreas. There are lots of studies showing the anti-aging effect of resveratrol, but 2 drug companies disagree with this conclusion. Of course their goal is to make money and they will not do that by you eating grapes and being healthy. They make money by you being sick and taking their drugs.
Raisins are concentrated grapes but do not appear to have the same cleansing effect as eating grapes. But they should have all the nutrients in grapes. Raisins do not need to be refrigerated to last a long time. Some have reported a similar effect as eating grapes by eating raisins and grape juice. The crisp grapes taste the best. I guess that they are fresher.
Last summer I was outside eating crisp grapes. Two neighbors were walking by-- a six year old boy and a three year old girl (Dylan and Chandra). The boy asked if they could have some and I said "yes" and stopped eating them myself. They ate a few and the boy asked if they could have more. I told them that they can eat as many as they want to and they ate all the rest of the grapes. I usually eat a pound of grapes or more on an empty stomach.
By: Unknown On 07:30
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The Health Benefits of Pears


The Fall Fruit

Pears are a tasty and versatile fruit which are available during the fall season, but they can be purchased at many grocery stores during other times in the year. Eating this fruit can add a host of benefits to your health and is easy to incorporate in your diet. They can boost your energy levels, provide you with rich fiber and more. Let's bite into a pear and see what other benefits we can gain.

Versatile Food

Pears supply you with great nutrition and lasting energy for exercise.
Pears supply you with great nutrition and lasting energy for exercise.

Quality Nutrition

Pears are rich in health boosting nutrition and can help keep your body in top shape. They contain, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, copper, and are low in calories making them an excellent fruit for people watching their waistlines. Because pears and other fruits have naturally occurring sugars, they are prime candidates to replace any foods you eat with refined sugars.

Increase Your Energy

Because they consist of complex carbohydrates, pears are a great source for natural energy. The vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars can give you a boost in the afternoon and give you more endurance for exercise. Eating fruits before any form of exertion can provide you with abundant energy and nutrients to keep you alert and focused.

May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure can be a major concern if left untreated. Eating foods such as pears is a great way to obtain the antioxidant glutathione which is shown to help in preventing high blood pressure and even stroke. Antioxidants are super beneficial to all aspects of our health, they clean the body of free radicals and help us stay guarded from disease.

Rich Source of Fiber

Pears are an abundant source of fiber which has numerous attractive benefits for our well being. Fiber not only aids your body in absorbing nutrients more efficiently but it can also detoxify your digestive system. Fiber is also shown to help with keeping weight under control. This is because foods that are rich in this nutrient have more qualities which can curb hunger and keep you fuller for longer durations. Getting more fiber can be easy when we add more fruits to our diets. Pears can help fill in gaps in our nutritional needs and supply us with a rich source of this key nutrient.

Helps With Inflammation

Eating a pear can help your body and its defenses against inflammation. Pear juice as anti-inflammatory properties and can help treat symptoms from the inside for arthritis and sore joints. Having a pear is a good source of natural preventative medicine for a host of ailments that we can succumb to. Eating fruits combined with a balanced diet, plenty of water, and regular exercise can assure your body is equipped to be healthy for many years.

For Your Health

If you are looking for simple ways to improve your diet and in turn your health, adding pears more frequently can give you a rich source of vital nutrition. Purchasing organic fruit may be more costly but they contain more nutrients and are free of harmful pesticides. Add pears to your diet and see for yourself the improvements to your health they can give. If you are interested in learning more about the qualities and benefits of other fruits and vegetables, please visit the links below or my profile. Thank you for reading.
By: Unknown On 07:29
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The Apple Diet: Easy way to lose weight, without starving yourself.


an apple a day...

Best diet for weightloss.

I have grown up around health and fitness my entire life- with my dad being Oklahoma's first personal trainer, it was inevitable. Growing up in this environment, I learned something very important: you can work out all you want, but if you truly want to lose weight and get healthy, it is all about what you eat. You need view food as your fuel, and once you adopt this mindset- you will watch the pounds fall off! We all know that there are good foods, and there are bad foods. Instead of dreaming about that next slice of chocolate cake, or what toppings you are going to order on your pizza, start thinking about what foods are going to be the best fuel for your day and exercise regime. My dad came up with an amazing meal plan that gave us all the fuel and nutrients that we needed, and we affectionally call it, "The Apple Diet." Follow this meal plan, and you will see major results. I did a trial-run of this meal plan for 21 days, and lost 15lbs.
Eat every three hours:
Breakfast: 4 egg whites and an apple
Snack: 2 pieces of turkey and half and apple
Lunch: lean protein (chicken, turkey, etc.) and greens
Snack: Tablespoon of peanut butter and half an apple (don't get too attached to the peanut butter. If you crave it too much, cut it out of your diet)
Dinner: lean protein and greens
Recommended exercise - at least 5 days a week.
Once you get in a routine with this diet, you start to crave food as your fuel, instead of something comforting.
If you are on the fence about this diet, just give it a three-week trial run. I am confident your results will cause you to embrace this meal plan as a way of life.
By: Unknown On 06:37
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All About Oolong Tea - Benefits & Brewing


Oolong Tea Basics

Whole Leaf Oolong Tea
The name "oolong" comes from the Chinese for "black dragon." Oolong tea is processed from the Camellia sinensis plant, the same leaves from which green tea comes. It is available loose leaf or in tea bags, and more recently, oolong tea extract has become available as a diet supplement.
Oolong is more oxidized than green tea, but less than black tea. Consequently, its flavor is somewhere between the two; it isn't as sweet as black tea, but it is more slightly more floral and less grassy than green tea. Traditionally, oolong is brewed strong for a bitter tang with a sweeter aftertaste.
Two of the most popular types of this tea are Taiwanese oolong and tea from the Wuyi Mountain Province (not to be confused with the diet scam Wu-Yi Tea).

Oolong Tea Benefits

The health benefits of oolong include both antibacterial and antiviral properties, as well as boosting metabolism and the immune system. It aids in the relief of allergies, diabetes, eczema, and obesity, and may help prevent cancer.
Green Tea Vs. Oolong Tea: Both green tea and oolong tea contain catechins, powerful antioxidant compounds which aid in fighting disease and aging. While the levels of catechins in the tea leaves are reduced during oxidization, the concentration of other beneficial chemicals like polyphenols and flavanoids increases during fermentation. As a result, oolong is especially effective in reducing bad cholesterol.
Oolong Tea And Weight Loss: Yes, oolong does promote weight loss. While green tea is a better antioxidant than oolong, oolong is more productive in fat burning. Green tea may be more accessible and in some cases more affordable, but some people prefer the less vegetal taste of oolong. (Of course, you can always use matcha powder to whip up some green tea ice cream.)

Organic Oolong

Organic Quilan China Oolong Loose Leaf Tea
Organic Quilan China Oolong Loose Leaf Tea
Amazon Price: $7.07
List Price: $7.05
Organic Oolong Tea 100 Bags
Organic Oolong Tea 100 Bags
Amazon Price: $4.59
List Price: $8.99

Drinking Oolong Tea

You can purchase oolong tea in whole leaves (loose), tea bags, or as a liquid extract. Organic oolong, like all organic foods, will have better benefits for your health, cultivated without pesticides, and with fewer chemicals used in processing.
Brewing Oolong Tea: For optimal brewing, oolong should steep for 3 to 4 minutes in water that's been boiled to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you choose to buy loose leaf oolong, you should measure between 2.25 grams for every 6 ounces of hot water, or approximately two teaspoons of whole leaf oolong per cup.
If you find the taste of oolong too strong, use a smaller measure of tea leaves or steep for less time. You can also add a small amount of skim milk or soy milk, or sweeten with honey. As you grow accustomed to the flavor, you can brew stronger tea and eliminate these additions.
Happy Drinking!
By: Unknown On 06:35
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Best Herbs for Weight Loss - Green Tea


Fast Weight Loss with Green Tea

When popular weight loss plans don't seem to work, it is time to go back to the tried and true, traditional ways of losing weight. Excess body fat can become too much of a bad, thing even though we do need a certain amount to survive. If unchecked, the overweight or obese person is at risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. We can take control over our weight by choosing a weight loss program that we are comfortable with.
Healthy diet and and active lifestyle are important factors in any weight loss plan. However, one tends to become overwhelmed by all the different types of weight loss programs out there. Herbs are natures cure for a multiple ailments but are often overlooked in the quest for weight loss. It is important to return to simple nature cures that have been around for centuries.
What is Green Tea? Green tea is a herb that is becoming increasingly popular as a weight loss aid. There are four types of teas; green tea, oolong tea, black tea and white tea. While all types of tea come from the Camellia sinensis plant the difference in teas, the difference is the types of teas is determined by the oxidation process. If you have had green tea you would have noticed that it has a much lighter taste and colour than other types of tea. This is because it is not oxidized and as such it keeps more of its antioxidants and nutrients.
There are many powerful antioxidants in teas but the one responsible for weight loss is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is known to speed up weight-loss and stimulate metabolism. EGCG combined with caffeine creates a thermogenesisprocess by the releasing of fat into the blood stream to be used as fuel. Through the process, body fat is used as energy , you get rid of excess water and will feel like you have a lot more energy.
The combination of green tea and caffeine is a powerful weight loss tool that will help you melt the fat. Drinking green tea is among the best weight loss plans available and has been found to help you lose body fat fast. There is no need to opt for gastric bypass when there are weight loss herbs that work. Green tea has proven to be a healthy weight loss option.
By: Unknown On 06:33
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Green Smoothies for Weight Loss


A green smoothie is a smoothie combining fruits such as bananas, oranges, and berries with leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and parsley and water or yogurt. Although it may sound like a strange combination, the truth is that the taste of the fruit generally overpowers the taste of the greens, resulting in a delicious meal-in-a-glass that even most picky eaters will enjoy.
In addition to being delicious, green smoothies also offer many outstanding health benefits. This hub will focus on the health benefits of green smoothies for people who want to lose weight. If you'd like to skip the nutrition information and skip straight to the blending, please check out my hub Getting Started With Green Smoothies.
Green smoothie photo by tiffanywashko
Green smoothie photo by tiffanywashko

Benefits of Green Smoothies for Weight Loss

Green smoothies are great weight loss foods for several reasons.
Green smoothies are low calorie.
Both fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables are very low in calories. For example, a typical blender of green smoothie (about four servings) might include 1 cup of water (0 calories), 2 cups of spinach (14 calories), 2 bananas (about 200 calories), and 2 cups of strawberries (about 150 calories). That's 90 calories per serving, fewer than you'd eat if you simply ate a medium sized banana!
Green smoothies are nutrient dense.
Not only are green smoothies low calorie, they also pack in more nutrients per calorie than almost any other food in existence. Half a cup of raw spinach (about the amount you'd be consuming in the example above) contains about 500% of your daily allotment of vitamin K, nearly 200% of your daily allotment of vitamin A, and substantial amounts of many other important nutrients, including folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, dietary fiber, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids. All this in less than 4 calories!
The nutrient density of green smoothies helps promote weight loss because many food cravings are caused by nutrient deficiencies in the body. When the body has an adequate supply of all the important nutrients it needs, it experiences fewer cravings.
Green smoothies are high in dietary fiber.
One of the most important benefits of green smoothies for weight loss is their high fiber content. Both fruits and leafy green vegetables are naturally very high in fiber and one of the advantages of green smoothies over, for example, juice, is that they include the fiber, but break it up so it is easier to chew and digest.
High fiber diets improve weight loss for several reasons.
  • Dietary fiber has no calories. Foods that are high in fiber have fewer calories for the volume than foods that are low calorie, so you can eat the same amount of food while consuming fewer calories.
  • Dietary fiber is high in bulk. This means that high fiber foods fill you up faster and keep you full longer than low fiber foods, you you eat less food total as well as fewer calories in the food you do eat.
  • Dietary fiber helps maintain a healthy hormone balance. Hormone imbalances, especially a condition known as estrogen dominance, can lead to excessive weight gain, and make it harder to lose weight. Fiber binds to excess hormones and flushes them from the body.
  • Dietary fiber helps prevent insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is another common condition that makes it easier for the body to gain weight and harder to lose it. If left untreated, insulin resistance can lead to the life threatening disease diabetes. Dietary fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels so they remain at normal levels, reducing the chances of developing insulin resistance.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many health benefits of green smoothies. Simply by replacing one meal a day with a green smoothie, many people have successfully lost weight and regained their natural health and vitality. Many find that they love green smoothies so much that they start eating them twice a day!
If you are ready to learn how to make a delicious green smoothie for yourself, please visit my Getting Started With Green Smoothies hub, or check out one or more of the following books:
By: Unknown On 06:30
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How to Lose 30 Pounds in 20 Days


How to Lose 30 Pounds in 20 Days

So you're wondering how to lose 30 pounds in 20 days? Well it may not be as hard as you think. Not too long ago I lost about 30 pounds in 20 days by using a handful of simple steps. I'll share with you the exact tips I used to do it.
So if I can do it, so can you! (I'm known for being a little lazy lol)

Tip One: Drink More Water

This may seem too simple but most people are dehydrated during their diets. Drinking 8-12 glasses a day can help you lose about 1/2 pounds more each day then someone who isn't!
Why?
It's about your liver.
You see one of your livers functions is to burn fat. When your dehydrates your liver cannot operate at 100% efficiency and your fat burning shuts down. 

Tip Two: Smoothie Time?

I drank a smoothie every morning when I woke up.
Don't make this harder then it needs to be! Just throw some fruits (strawberries and blueberries are my favorite) and add some milk, then blend. That simple!
Not only did I feel great but it filled me up for a long time. 


Tip Three: Love

Love? Ok let me explain!
Here a little from an interview with Jon Benson (creater of Every Other Day Diet)
"Love is the key to staying on a diet, a workout plan... anything that requires a change of lifestyle. It may seem obvious, but unless you actually 'love' the diet you are on, there is little chance of you staying on it for very long," says Benson. "All diets require a change in how you look at food, how you consume food, and even how you think about food. The problem is most diets make too many demands of the dieter right off the bat. They tell you not to eat certain foods, sometimes making that a permanent restriction, while allowing perhaps a day per week to 'overeat' your favorite foods."
"This is a disaster waiting to happen... and there is a much more balanced, healthy and effective way to diet than this," states Benson.
So there you have it! If you want to lose 30 pounds in 20 days you need to love your diet!

Some Tips for Faster Weight Loss

Here is a very helpful video from Jon Benson with more tips and trick to lose weight fast while still eating "bad" foods.
Just by following some simple tips you can lose 30 pounds in 20 days without really trying. So hopefully you can see that losing weight doesn't have to be hard or frightening
By: Unknown On 06:27
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Smoothies for Weight Loss


Various studies have shown that the fundamental cause of the obesity epidemic and tendency for people to put on weight as they get older is passive over-consumption of calories. The food we buy and eat is mostly processed food that has high calorie densities - that is the number of calories is very high relative to the volume of the food. The food contains high levels of fat and sugar. People consume too many calories simply by eating 'normal' foods in the 'normal' way - it is the food which is the major problem. See - At Last - Cause of Global Obesity Identified - We Passively Eat Too Many Calories. People have also tended to eat large portion sizes and to eat more snacks between meals and this has contributed to the problems.

One way to address the problem of high calorie foods and meals is through meal replacements. The best way of doing this is by making your own weight loss smoothies.You can buy various powders and prepared smoothies, but there is always concern about the ingredients and the expense. Fresh is generally better. You may be surprised if you look at the list of ingredients - many commercial smoothies contain lots of sugar in various forms and can contain 400 to 700 calories per serve.
By: Unknown On 06:24
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Monday, 22 April 2013

Aflatoxicosis: Food Poisoning That Can Cause Liver Cancer


New food safety standards on the maximum levels of certain toxins found to be acceptable in foods has recently been reevaluated and revised by a group called the "Codex Commission".
The Codex Commission (official named the Codex AlimentariusCommission) was formed back in 1963 and is a joint effort between the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Over the years, it's purpose has been to develop "international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of the consumers".
One of the newly revised standards released this year is on a toxin called:
  • Aflatoxin
Aflatoxins are toxins that are naturally occurring and are produced by fungus and they are a subgroup of a larger class of "mycotoxins" (fungal toxins).
Specifically, aflatoxins are produced by species from the genus Aspergillus. There are minimally 14 known types of this toxin and the two most common fungal species that produce these toxins are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.
The food poisoning that results from ingestion of aflatoxins in contaminated food or feed is called "aflatoxicosis".


Worldwide, a number of grains (e.g, corn, rice, and wheat) and nuts (e.g. peanuts, almonds, walnuts), seeds and spices can harbor theAspergillus fungus and toxin.
In the United States, aflatoxins have been found in:
  • corn
  • corn products
  • peanuts
  • peanut products
  • cottonseed
  • milk
  • walnuts
  • pistashio nuts
  • Brazil nuts
In addition, commercially imported cooking oils (e.g, olive oil, etc.) and cosmetics have also been found to be contaminated.

Related Articles

The common causes of food poisoning in the United States come from four classes of bacteria. Learn what those causes are and the symptoms of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Botulism food poisoning.
Food poisoning sends more than 100,000 people to the hospital each in the U.S. and it can be deadly. Learn how to prevent food poisoning and increase food safety both at home and when eating out.
It is estimated that there may well be over 100,000 pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) that can cause food poisoning. Click on the title above to learn what the most common ones are and to find out what types of foods are being recalled due to contamination!

Aflatoxicosis and Liver Cancer

Research dating back as early as 1962 suggested that ingesting aflatoxins through food could lead to liver cancer over time.
In addition, population studies in the 1970's found that there was a strong correlation between dietary aflatoxins and liver cancer in Kenya but, at the time, the underlying mechanisms behind that correlation were unknown.
In the United States, outbreaks of aflatoxicosis in humans have not been reported and the frequency is really not known.
Cases of aflatoxicosis are not easily recognized and symptoms can often be misinterpreted or attributed to something else.
The good news is that this type of food poisoning is not transmissible (cannot be passed from human to human or animal to human).
The toxicity of aflatoxin can be influenced by:
  • environmental factors
  • exposure level
  • duration of exposure
  • age
  • overall health status (see new research below)
  • nutrition level in the diet
Of the 14 known types, Aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic and is now recognized as a potent carcinogen in humans as well as in many other species including: primates, birds, fish, and rodents.

Research Leads to New Food Safety Standards

Recently, researchers from The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health have shown that individuals who test positive for the hepatitis B virus and who are also exposed to aflatoxin in their diet have 60 times greater risk for developing liver cancer compared to those unexposed individuals.
This increased cancer risk is much greater than that observed in individuals exposed to either aflatoxin or hepatitis B virus alone.
With this new information, the Codex Commission recently agreed to limit the acceptable amounts of aflatoxins (and fungal spores) found in certain foods worldwide.
It is impossible to avoid this fungus and the toxin completely in many of these fresh foods (especially during rainy seasons). However, these food safety changes will hopefully lower exposure and help reduce the risk of liver cancer in third world countries and for those who have been exposed to Hepatitis B.
By: Unknown On 06:42
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