Saturday, September 5, 2009

Healthy Food to Eat - 3 Critical Factors

Choosing the right healthy food to eat should encompass many factors. Three important healthy food to eat factors are the following:

1. Does it promote health gain and not weight gain. This may seem obvious, but it can be tricky. People sometimes make pizza and claim it's a healthy food to eat, by simply tossing on some vegetables. But the pizza most likely will have a large amount of calories, will contain white flour, and cheese. Even though your getting nutrition from the vegetables, the overall effect leans towards a negative due to the other fat gaining ingredients.



2. Is it organic? Fruits and vegetables are always best to obtain by organic means, but this is mainly focused on meat products. Claiming a lean chicken breast is a healthy food to eat due to its high protein content and minimal fat content is fine but what is the actual quality of the meat? With the horrendous conditions of factory farming and the potential for disease, one should really qualify most meat products as a healthy food to eat only if it falls under the umbrella of organic.

3. What is the sodium content? I include this because it is such an overlooked aspect of todays healthy food to eat decision making process. High sodium has alot of negative health benefits. Too often one will think they are choosing a healthy food to eat without realizing the sodium content is actually through the roof. An example of this can be bread. Many breads on the market which are being promoted as a healthy food to eat actually contain high sodium levels. There is a brand named Ezekial which is one of the lowest sodium breads available. Also canned fruit and vegetables that you may believe to be a healthy food to eat is often loaded with sodium from the solution needed to preserve the product. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always best.
An added note that any generic sauce you put on your food will most likely add enormous amounts of sodium to your food, turning it into not a healthy food to eat.

These are three important factors to aid in your search for healthy food to eat.

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Friday, September 4, 2009

Top 40 Health Quotations

  1. "Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year."
    -- Franklin P. Adams
  2. "He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything."
    -- Arabian Proverb
  3. "To get rich never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth."
    -- Richard Baker
  4. "There's lots of people who spend so much time watching their health, they haven't got time to enjoy it."
    -- Josh Billings
  5. "Health has its science, as well as disease. "
    --Elizabeth Blackwell
  6. "Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. "
    --Erma Bombeck
  7. "Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do practice? "
    --George Carlin
  8. "The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health. "
    --Charles Caleb Colton
  9. "As I see it every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself."
    --Adelle Davis
  10. "Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady."
    --Francois de La Rochefoucauld
  11. "You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well."
    -- Wayne Dyer
  12. "Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous."
    --Ralph Waldo Emerson
  13. "The first wealth is health."
    -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
  14. "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
    -- Benjamin Franklin
  15. "Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing."
    --Redd Foxx
  16. "Health is not valued till sickness comes."
    --Dr. Thomas Fuller
  17. "A Hospital is no place to be sick."
    --Samuel Goldwyn
  18. "Health is not simply the absence of sickness."
    --Hannah Green
  19. "Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything."
    --Thich Nhat Hanh
  20. "A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses."
    --Hippocrates
  21. "The groundwork of all happiness is health."
    -- Leigh Hunt
  22. "The oneness of mind and body holds the secret of illness and health. "
    --Arnold Hutschnecker
  23. "Health is worth more than learning."
    --Thomas Jefferson
  24. "We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique."
    -- Benjamin Jowett
  25. "One out of 4 people in this country is mentally imbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends-if they seem okay, then you're the one."
    --Ann Landers
  26. "To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life."
    -- William Londen
  27. "It's no longer a question of staying healthy. It's a question of finding a sickness you like."
    --Jackie Mason
  28. "Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away."
    --Robert Orben
  29. "What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease."
    --George Dennison Prentice
  30. "The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results."
    -- Anthony Robbins
  31. "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."
    -- Jim Rohn
  32. "Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory."
    --Albert Schweitzer
  33. "A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools."
    -- Spanish Proverb
  34. "People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy."
    -- Laurence Sterne
  35. "Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and Spring. "
    --Henry David Thoreau
  36. "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
    --Mark Twain
  37. "The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."
    --François Voltaire
  38. "Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it."
    -- Unknown
  39. "Time And health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted."
    -- Denis Waitley
  40. "Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy."
    --Izaak Walton

Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

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Health - Your Most Valuable Asset

John Mac writes about our most valuable asset which is our health and precious life p

Your health is undoubtedly your most valuable asset. So with that in mind how do you protect your health?

Yes you probably have health insurance to look after your health if you become ill and car insurance to take car of you should your health suffer as a result of a car accident. But isn’t that paying someone else to look after your health after things go wrong? A bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted? What are you doing, or, what should you be doing to look after your health right now?

Do you get regular health check ups? Do you exercise & eat all the right foods that are beneficial to your health? Do you use health care products such as health supplements? Do you smoke, drink or take drugs? Are you aware of how these habits affect your health?

I’m willing to bet that you make darn sure you look after your children’s health, making sure that they are not doing anything that is going to cause long term damage to their health? But who is watching your health? Who’s making sure you are not doing anything to damage your health?

Health is probably something we all take for granted & only realise how important our health is when we are ill or someone close to us is suffering from ill health. However if we all do nothing in regard to our health now, waiting until we begin to suffer from ill health & then trying to do something about it may be too late as we may have already done irreparable damage to our health. If you could do something now to prevent one of your assets diminishing, such as your bank balance, your home or your car would you? Yes of course you would, so what about your most valuable asset, your health?

Well it’s about time that someone took control of your health, and that someone is you! Take control of your health now and make sure that valuable asset, your health, is well and truly looked after. Here are some suggestions that might help you to look after your health:

Get regular health check ups. If you have a good health insurance these are probably insisted upon. After all we all give our cars regular “health” checks, isn’t our health more important than the health of our vehicles?

Make sure you eat a healthy diet. Even if you don’t need to loose weight the right diet can help to improve your health.

Take regular exercise. 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, even if it’s just a couple of 15 minute strolls, that’s not to great a chore to protect a valuable asset – your health.

If you smoke, stop now! This is probably the best thing you can and ever will do for the sake of your health.

Cut down on your alcohol intake. Stick to the recommended guidelines for sensible drinking – for your health’s sake.

John Mac is author & owner of http://www.fitnessdiethealth.com a website aimed at providing help & information for people looking to improve their health

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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Help For Asthma Sufferers

Three hundred million people around the world suffer from asthma. Of this group more than twenty-three million live in America. The number has increased in the last twenty years. This is thought to be due to an increase in some of the environmental factors that can aggravate asthma such as pollutants and obesity.

Asthma is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes or airways of the lungs that causes them to narrow and tighten. This results in breathing problems. Some symptoms include wheezing and shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness or actual pain in the chest, coughing, a shortness of breath when exercising and waking up at night due to wheezing and coughing. This is a serious condition that requires a doctor's care. It varies from mild to severe depending upon the frequency and seriousness of attacks. While asthma does not respond well to alternative therapies there are some strategies that can help avoid triggers.

One is eating two servings of citrus fruits each day. Citrus fruits contain flavanoids that stabilize blood sugar and help you drop pounds more easily. Research studies in Britain, the United States and Taiwan have established a correlation between a rise in obesity and an increase in asthma incidence. This is particularly true of those who have the excess fat on their stomach. Extra layers of abdominal fat trigger inflammation of airway passages. British studies have also found a correlation between asthma's symptoms and low consumption of fruit, vitamin C and manganese. Since nut allergies are a major asthma trigger, anyone with asthma should check to see if they have this allergy and avoid these products if they do. Research performed in Portugal discovered that substituting olive oil for butter and other vegetable oils together with increasing the intake of vegetables helped reduce asthma risk. British research also found a lower prevalence of asthma in women whose diet included a high intake of vegetables. And the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" may have some merit where asthma is concerned as it is thought that a high intake of apples might provide some protection against asthma.

It is also extremely important that asthma sufferers keep to a smoke free environment. Secondhand smoke triggers swelling of the airways. It is also important to open all the windows and air out your living quarters once a day for about fifteen minutes each day to get rid of cooking fumes, dust mites and other irritants.

Exercise is also beneficial in controlling asthma. Any exercise that strengthens the lungs will help. Doing the breathing exercises that are part of yoga or even going for a twenty minute walk each day calms the nervous system and prevents the airway spasms that can trigger attacks. Scientists who have studied the relationship between diet and inflammation have found that arachidonic acid, found in eggs and meat, is a primary cause of inflammation. Arachidonic acid is also produced in the body. However, it can be reduce by increasing the intake of Omega-3 fatty acids. Scientists have also found that most people's diets are deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids.


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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

What You Eat - Improve Your Hair and Scalp

The quality and condition of your hair has long been known to be a good indicator of your general well-being. The majority of all illnesses or emotional stresses can lead to dull and lifeless hair, meaning your hair can act as an early warning signal when you are under the weather, or lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. Hair problems are however also commonly caused by overexposure to specific chemicals. This is particularly relevant in women who use dyes, tints and heat treatments upon their hair along with the general wear and tear of too much combing and brushing.

If you are suffering from greasy hair, this is because the hair itself obtains it's shiny condition from a thin layer of sebum which is an oil based compound given off by the scalps sebaceous glands around the base of each hair follicle. It is when these glands start to become overactive thereby producing too much sebum the resultant look is greasy and lank hair. Washing your hair in an attempt to wash away this greasiness will not stop the over active production however, some medical practitioners suggest reducing the amount of sugary foods in your diet which may help to reduce an oily scalp.

Dry scalps and dandruff problems can sometimes signal a zinc deficiency therefore including foods high in zinc good examples are shellfish, red meats and pumpkin seeds within your diet may help to alleviate the symptoms. Essential fatty acids additionally assist in preventing dry skin and a flaky scalp and good food sources include the majority of vegetable oils, unsalted nuts and fish which is classed as oily. If you use a specialist dandruff shampoo which is not responding to your dandruff problem you should seek a doctor's advice as it can on occasions indicate more significant health problems.

If you are suffering from any related hair and scalp problem ensure that you eat plenty of eggs and liver to attain a good supply of vitamin A. Green leaf vegetables, carrots and sweet potatoes, will supply you with supplies of beta-carotene helping to promote good hair and scalp condition. Vegetable oils, nuts and oily fish are an excellent source of essential fatty acids and seafood (shellfish particularly), red meat and pumpkin seeds provide you with supplies of zinc helping to alleviate some dandruff problems.

Jamie Noone has been penning interesting articles online for many years and maintains several websites. His latest Solar Water Fountain website centers around the benefits of using solar power in the garden is worth a visit. Check out his new review of Solar Water Fountains and see how you can benefit.

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Nutritional Needs For Teenagers - A Healthy Diet Plan

The nutritional needs for teenagers are the same as for the rest of the population. However, their great rate of growth necessitates a greater proportional amount of nutrients. If they are very active then the nutritional needs for teenagers may also include a higher need for calories.

Regardless of their activity levels teenagers must learn that fast food is bad for them. Fast food should be avoided because of its lack of essential nutrients and its sizeable contribution to teenage obesity.

Nutritional Needs For Teenagers

Consuming a totally raw vegetable diet is not necessary for teen weight loss. Making minor alterations in a teenager's diet can result in major changes in their health and well being.

For instance, instead of eating a fat laden cheeseburger from the local fast food joint they can try substituting low fat turkey burgers. This can be effective if they are trying to follow a low fat, high protein diet.

Going natural and eating a raw food diet for one meal per day will help any teen lose weigh naturally.

What is a raw food diet?

Raw Food Diet

A raw food diet can be as simple as a huge salad for lunch. That's a filling and healthy lunch food. Many of the fast food joints offer salads. All a teen has to do is buy a salad instead of ordering their usual fast foods.

If a teen (or anyone else, for that matter) eats a healthy lunch that includes raw vegetables they can forget planning a special menu of low fat diet foods for the evening meal. One raw food meal per day will allow them to then follow the new food pyramid suggestions for a satisfying dinner.

That's a good healthy diet for any teen and will go a long way in reducing teenage obesity.

The nutritional needs for teenagers can be met with a minimum of stress. Following the new food pyramid suggestions and adding raw vegetables to their diet is a good starting place.

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Anabolic Steroids: Great For Muscle Building And Fat Loss, But Are You Aware Of Steroid Laws

In this article, Bob Howard, the expert on bodybuilding and steroids is writing about the steroid abuse and the steroid laws.

Ask the average “Joe or Jill” citizen what anabolic steroids are and they’ll say that these are vile and deadly drugs only used by the depraved of society. The use of these drugs by legal-aged adults for muscle building and fat loss is routinely labeled “drug abuse” and not surprisingly thanks to the influence of the mainstream media, the average American puts steroid users into the same degenerate group as heroin or cocaine users. Then you have overzealous and politically motivated law enforcement agents and prosecutors who add to the problem by cracking down hard on these “dangers of society.”

Until the late 1980’s obtaining these drugs for muscle building and fat loss was relatively cheap, easy, and safe. Simply make contact with someone at your local gym and for less than $100 you had a 6 to 8 week supply of the drugs. But with Ben Johnson’s much-publicized positive drug test at the 1988 Olympics, combined with the reclassifying of anabolic steroids as controlled substances in 1990, it’s not surprising that they became part of the drug war in 1990.

Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990

The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 added anabolic steroids to the federal list of controlled substances, thereby making the possession of steroids for non-medical purposes, a criminal offence. The Act essentially put the drugs in the same legal class as such other street drugs as heroin, cocaine, and barbiturates. Individuals caught illegally possessing anabolic drugs - even for purely personal use - face immediate arrest and prosecution. Also under this Act, it is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess these drugs for fat loss or muscle building unless they were obtained directly by a prescription from a medical doctor. Other subsections of the act include:

O A first offense simple possession conviction is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to one year and/or a minimum fine of $1,000.

O Simple possession by a person with a previous conviction for certain offenses, including any drug or narcotic crimes, must get imprisonment of at least 15 days and up to two years, and a minimum fine of $2,500.

O Individuals with two or more such previous convictions face imprisonment of not less than 90 days but not more than three years, and a minimum fine of $5,000.

O Distributing or possessing them with intent to distribute, is a federal felony.

O An individual who distributes or dispenses anabolic steroids, or possesses with intent to distribute or dispense, is punishable by up to five years in prison (with at least two additional years of supervised release) and/or a $250,000 fine ($1,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual). Penalties are higher for repeat offenders.


Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you looking for more of his anabolic steroids articles? steroids Article.

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