Saturday, February 27, 2010

If You Want To Maintain Good Health....Add Turmeric To Your Diet

How many of you enjoy Indian food? I know many people that do but for the most part many people I meet don't seem to enjoy it because they don't like the curries and various spices that go into Indian food. I got into eating Indian food a couple of years ago and didn't realize until two months ago that there are health benefits in many ingredients in Indian cuisine such as Turmeric. It is known that India has a lower cancer rate than the United States and many other "westernized" countries in the world. Many experts claim the reason is because of the spices that they use in their cooking as well as the kinds of meals that eat in general. While I don't dive into what kinds of foods Indians eat in this article I focus on the most important ingredient that regularly cook with....Turmeric.

After doing some research I have found many sources that state that Turmeric has the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory properties of any spice in the world. It has been used over for 2,500 years in India and has been a natural healer for most of this time (it was a dye when it was first discovered).

When mixed with vegetables, Turmeric has been shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancers. It has also shown to prevent breast cancer in mice in laboratory studies. On top of that it may prevent melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer and cause already existing melanoma's to commit suicide. Because of its strong anti-inflammatory properties it is also believed that Turmeric can slow the progression of cancer throughout someone's entire body since cancer cells thrive in areas of the body that are enflamed. More research is being conducted in regards to how Turmeric reduces the risk and slows the progression of other cancers throughout the body such as pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.

There are many other benefits to adding Turmeric to your diet such as detoxifying your liver, slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing plaque buildup in the brain, and being a natural painkiller. There is also evidence that it may aid in fat metabolism.

I add Turmeric in my salads, tuna fish, and vegetables regularly to get the health benefits of Turmeric. Keep in mind that if you choose to add Turmeric to your diet you should mix it with black pepper because research has shown that our bodies have a difficult time processing it on its own and that black pepper helps our body digest it.

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Are Apricot Seeds The Cure For Cancer?

I don't know about you but I'm intrigued about books and articles that talk about different kinds of foods, beverages, herbs, and so on we should be taking to lower our risk of cancer. So many authors agree and disagree about what is good for you and what isn't. One week coffee is good for you and the next it isn't. It's both entertaining and frustrating to read about the subject of proper nutrition because new scientific research is always changing and it affects people's lives who rely on this information to adjust how they eat and how they live their lives in general.

What has stuck out in my mind the last month or so if Apricot Seeds. I've read two books now that have talked about the enormous health benefits of Apricot Seeds and how small villages in certain parts of the world eat these seeds on a regular basis have a 0% cancer rate. I found this to be very intriguing. From searching the Internet I have found that there is scientific evidence that Apricot Seeds are indeed healthy for you but there isn't a guarantee that by eating them you will be cancer free. I've been wondering to myself why people haven't tried advertising Apricot Seeds as a cancer preventor when we have things like Acai Berries and juice which some people swear by to boost their immune system and make them feel energized all day, every day. Personally, I think Acai Berries and juice are just a marketing ploy because companies charge an arm and a leg for these products and their is no scientific evidence that their are any health benefits with drinking Acai Juice or eating Acai Berries. Again, this is just my opinion but I'm certain I get just as many health benefits by eating Blueberries, Strawberries, and Raspberries as I would from eating Acai berries.

What makes me think that Apricot Seeds are worth a try is that there is evidence that small villages who eat these as part of their diets have a 0% cancer rate. I have read articles about this without marketing or a sales pitch attached to these claims (unlike Acai berries and juice) which makes me think maybe their is some truth to the health benefits of Apricot Seeds. Apricot Seeds contain Vitamin B17 which there is scientific evidence that says is very good for you. I read that Apricot Seeds are not available for sale in the US but I have searched for them on the Internet and they are available for purchase through many online sources. One warning if you decide to purchase Apricot Seeds and make them part of your diet though....they contain trace amounts of cyanide and if eaten in abundance can lead to illness and possibly death. I'm wondering if it's the trace amount of cyanide in in Apricot Seeds that kill cancer cells? I'm guessing that is probably the main reason why people who eat them on a regular basis have been known to have no or very low rates of cancer. In my opinion, I'd say they're worth doing some research on and poossibly purchasing if you lead a healthy lifestyle and are always looking for ways to maintain a strong immune system and healthy body. But be careful if you decide to add them to your diet since too many appear to not be good for your health.

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Eating Healthier

If you're like me you believe that most people have common knowledge of what foods are good for you and what foods aren't good for you. I became interested in the subject of nutrition a few years ago and decided to read several books about what is healthy and what isn't. My interest in the subject has grown stronger as I've gotten older because I have seen people that once ate healthy and exercised become overweight because they have turned to unhealthy foods based almost on entirely on convenience because of their so called busy schedules that don't allow them to eat healthy. In all reality, putting together a salad or mixing fruits together as a snack doesn't take any longer that microwaving a frozen meal....it just takes more effort. Having read several publications and articles on the subject I feel confident sharing some guidelines if your goal is to start eating healthy. Here they are:

1) Eat produce-It really doesn't matter what kinds of fruits and vegetables you eat as long as you're eating produce several times a day. Variety is really key because research has shown that when you mix fruits or vegetables together you tend to reap more health benefits rather than eating single items at once. I think Jack LaLanne really shows you how great juicing can be and if you would rather enjoy your fruits and vegetables as a shake I recommend buying a juicer.

2) Only purchase items with ingredients you know-How many times do you pick up items at the supermarket and read the label to see what is in it only to see a bunch of really long terms you can't even pronounce? If your child or grandmother doesn't know what is in a particular product don't buy it. I read every label before I buy a product because I want to know what is in it. If I see an item with ingredients that I don't know or if a product has more than 5 ingredients I won't buy it. Most items with all kinds of weird ingredients are located in the center of a supermarket. If you're interested in buying fresh and healthy products try to stick to the perimeter of a supermarket. The items in the aisles are typically junk with high profit margins.

3) If you like snacks give nuts a try-Rather than buying chips, popcorn, and various other junk food try giving nuts a try if you're not allergic to them. They provide a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids and have been shown to lower cholesterol.

4) Soy Milk-If you're a milk lover like myself try giving Soy Milk a try. The taste is much different than Cow Milk but it's a much healthier option.

5) Eat meat sparingly-You're better off getting your protein from soy sources rather than meat but if you're like me you enjoy a good steak, pork chop, or chicken breast once in a while. While chicken and fish are healthier options than beef and pork you should try soy items such as tofu or tempeh. If you enjoy meat I recommend eating beef and pork no more than once or twice a week and getting the majority of your protein from soy, fish, legumes, and nuts.

6) Graze on healthy foods throughout the day-If you're a fan of eating 3 big meals every day try switching things up by eating 5-6 small meals (around 300-400 calories) each day. You won't feel stuffed and your metobolism will increase by doing this.

These are just a few guidelines out of several that you can implement to lead a healthier lifestyle. Now that the new year is here any bookstore you go to is really promoting books on healthy living because this is the time of year most people become interested in the subject. You have to make sure that if you want to follow a healthy lifestyle that you stick to it. So many people make New Year's resolutions only to give up after 2-3 weeks. Make healthy eating and exercise a big part of your life and you'll reap many rewards for your effort.

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