Everyone who is interested in diet and bodybuilding topics certainly knows one of the most classic dishes in the world is chicken with rice. This is something that you can't escape when you want a meal with the right amount of protein. Of course, white rice is the most easily available, however, it is worth familiarizing yourself with other varieties of this plant because it can give you an interesting alternative to a standard dinner.
White Rice Vs. Brown
When it comes to choosing rice, there is usually a question between white or brown rice. This is mainly due to the fact that both types contain a similar amount of energy, carbohydrates and protein. However, brown rice has more vitamins and minerals. In addition, five times more fiber and twice as much iron.
Brown rice also has a much lower glycemic index (GI) compared to white. The higher the index, the faster the food increases blood glucose after a meal. It is worth noting that many studies show the consumption of foods with high levels of GI can lead to such diseases as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and colorectal cancer. For example, white rice regarding the GI ranges is between 70 and 100, where brown rice is between 56 and 69.
Other Types Of Rice
Of course, brown and white are not the only rice varieties you may be interested in – they are simply the most common and easy to find.
An interesting alternative is red rice. Its anthocyanin composition, gives it a characteristic red/chestnut color. Compared to brown, it has a similar amount of fiber, but twice as much iron and six times as much zinc
Black rice has a layer of black color thanks to its unique combination of anthocyanins. These anthocyanins cause black rice to become deep purple when cooking. Compared to brown, it has three times more fiber and needs less time to cook.
Purple rice is a variety of black rice that naturally has a purple color, and when cooking it acquires an even darker purple. It has a similar amount of fiber to brown, but twice as much iron and four times more zinc.
Which One To Choose
As you can see, despite the fact that white rice is considered healthy, it has a fairly high glycemic index. For this reason, you can certainly try other varieties of rice, especially brown, which is widely available. Red, black and purple varieties can be hard to find in typical markets, however, if you want to try them it is worth the effort to find them!
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Yogesh Gupta writes SEO articles for businesses that want to see their Google search rankings surge. He also boasts immense knowledge in various fields and niches including technology, health, food, finance, and more, helping businesses reach their goals online. His articles have appeared in a number of e-zine sites. He also provides ghostwriting, coaching, and ghost editing services.
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>It’s not easy to find someone putting papaya in a grocery cart. Most people don’t like it simply because it does not please the palette like other fruits such as oranges, bananas, apples, grapes and berries to name a few.
Papaya may not be the most delicious fruit around but it is packed with lots of nutrients that will definitely have an impact on your body. Papaya is a tropical fruit that has a yellow-orange color. The fruit belongs to the family Caricaceae. The fruit is round and plump and it comes in different sizes.
A ripe and an unripe papaya normally taste differently. A ripe papaya is delicious with a flavor that’s close to a watermelon. On the other hand, an unripe papaya has very little to no flavor. The papaya originated from South America and Mexico. It was later brought by indigenous people to the Caribbean and finally made its way to the Pacific Islands, Europe and Hawaii.
Today, Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that produces papaya for commercial purposes. Generally, Mexican papayas are normally bigger than those produced in Hawaii. However, both have similar effects on the body. So, what are the health benefits of papaya?
1. Reduces The Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that kills active brain cells thus leading to memory problems and reduced intellectual abilities. The cause of this dangerous disease is not known. However, experts have reported that oxidative stress is among the top causes of this disease. The imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body leads to cell damage.
Recent research conducted by health experts found that fermented papaya powder reduced the effects of oxidative stress in people who had this disease and slowed down its progress. People with Alzheimer’s disease should definitely go for this fruit.
2. Prevents Certain Types Of Cancer
Cancer is mainly caused by oxidative stress and free radicals. Papayas are loaded with antioxidants which protect the cells from being damaged and reduce the risk of cancer.
Papaya is packed with the ingredient lycopene which has shown anti-cancer properties. Lycopene is a natural pigment that gives a number of fruits and vegetables their color. Also, papaya contains beta-carotene which reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
3. Lowers Blood Sugar
Papaya is great fruit for people with type-2 diabetes who are looking for natural ways to reduce their blood sugar levels. Several studies have shown that papaya has a hypoglycemic effect on the body thus decreasing the glucose levels in blood.
4. Fights Inflammation
Papaya is a natural painkiller. The enzyme papain is responsible for increasing the production of cytokines in the body. Cytokines are protein groups which help in regulating inflammation in the body. Papaya is known to reduce pain caused by arthritis and other conditions.
5. Protects The Eyes
Papaya is rich in lutein, vitamin C, zeaxanthin and vitamin E, which protects the eyes and prevents common eye diseases caused by aging. Zeaxanthin and lutein are the two major antioxidants used by the eyes.
6. Improves Heart Health
Consuming papaya on a regular basis will boost the health of your heart. Research findings show that papaya prevents heart diseases due to its high concentration in vitamin C and lycopene. As we said earlier, papaya is rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the heart and improve the protective effects of good HDL cholesterol.
7. Protects The Skin
Apart from keeping you fit, papaya will make your skin youthful and toned. Health experts believe that free radicals are responsible for wrinkling and sagging of the skin which mainly affects older people.
Lycopene and vitamin C found in papaya fruit protects the skin and reduces the signs of aging on the skin. Recent study findings have shown that lycopene drastically reduced skin redness after exposure to the sun in 10 to 12 weeks.
Also, older women who consumed vitamin C, lycopene and other antioxidants for 14 weeks had a visible reduction in the depth of wrinkles on their faces.
Selecting And Storing Papaya
Since papayas are mainly produced in Mexico and Hawaii, you likely find them in your local grocery store all year. Just because papaya is available every time does not mean that every selection will be perfect. You should always go for delicious papayas. This means purchasing ripe papayas only or holding the fruit long enough until it ripens.
You can always tell if a papaya fruit is ripe or unripe. Ripe papayas are usually yellow or orange. Unripe papayas usually have a yellow-green mixture. You should avoid buying an overly ripe papaya unless you want to blend it.
If you buy unripe papayas, they should ripen in a couple of days. A good papaya has very little or no blemishes. Once your fruit is ripe, store it in the refrigerator to reduce the ripening process.
Conclusion
Papaya is an amazing fruit that is packed with lots of valuable nutrients. Although it doesn’t please the palette like most fruits, its health benefits cannot be ignored.
The fruit is rich in antioxidants such as lycopene which reduces the risk of several diseases that mostly affect the elderly, cancer and heart diseases. It also boosts the immune system, reduces the signs of aging and promotes a gentle, youthful skin. You should definitely start adding this healthy fruit to your diet now.
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Scott Matthews is a professional editor and writer for custom essay papers and Essayninja. He loves sharing his insightful thoughts and opinions about health and fitness on best assignment help and Best dissertation. During his leisure time, you’ll find him mentoring college students on Assignment Masters or playing with his two lovely dogs.
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Researchers wanted to see if eating blueberries had any effect on metabolic syndrome - which affects one-third of Westernized adults. This metabolic syndrome comprises at least three risk factors: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, low levels of “good cholesterol” and high levels of triglycerides. "Having metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes and often statins and other medications are prescribed to help control this risk,” says lead researcher Prof. Aedin Cassidy, from UEA's Norwich Medical School. "It's widely recognized that lifestyle changes, including making simple changes to food choices, can also help. Previous studies have indicated that people who regularly eat blueberries have a reduced risk of developing conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This may be because blueberries are high in naturally occurring compounds called anthocyanins, which are the flavonoids responsible for the red and blue color in fruits. We wanted to find out whether eating blueberries could help people who have already been identified as being at risk of developing these sort of conditions."
For six months, the study investigated the effects of eating blueberries daily in 138 overweight and obese people with metabolic syndrome - a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes - aged between 50 and 75. They looked at the benefits of eating 150-gram portions or one cup compared to 75-gram portions or half a cup. The participants consumed the blueberries in freeze-dried form and a placebo group was given a purple-colored alternative made of artificial colors and flavorings. "We found that eating one cup of blueberries per day resulted in sustained improvements in vascular function and arterial stiffness - making enough of a difference to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by between 12 and 15 percent,” says co-lead Dr. Peter Curtis. "The simple and attainable message is to consume one cup of blueberries daily to improve cardiovascular health. Unexpectedly, we found no benefit of a smaller 75 gram or half cup daily intake of blueberries in this at-risk group. It is possible that higher daily intakes may be needed for heart health benefits in obese, at-risk populations, compared with the general population."
Can Manuka Honey Kill Bacteria Found In Cystic Fibrosis Infections?
Manuka honey could provide the key to a breakthrough treatment for cystic fibrosis patients following preliminary work by experts at Swansea University. Dr. Rowena Jenkins and Dr. Aled Roberts have found that using Manuka honey could offer an antibiotic alternative to treat antimicrobial resistant respiratory infections, particularly deadly bacteria found in cystic fibrosis (CF) infections. "The preliminary results are very promising and should these be replicated in the clinical setting then this could open up additional treatment options for those with cystic fibrosis infections. The synergy with antibiotics and absence of resistance seen in the laboratory has allowed us to move into the current clinical trial, investigating the potential for Manuka honey as part of a sinus rinse for alleviating infection in the upper airway."
Using lung tissue from pigs, experts treated grown bacterial infections mimicking those seen in CF patients with Manuka honey. The results showed that it was effective in killing antimicrobial resistant bacteria by 39 percent compared to 29 percent for antibiotics, whilst improving the activity of some antibiotics that were unable to function effectively by themselves. Honey and antibiotics combined killed 90 percent of the bacteria tested. One problem CF patients suffer from are chronic and long-lasting respiratory infections which often prove fatal due to the presence of certain bacteria that are resistant to many if not all the antibiotics that doctors currently have at their disposal. Bacteria that cannot be removed from the lungs through antibiotic treatment can, as a last resort, be removed by providing patients with newly transplanted lungs. This has some associated risks, however, as the bacteria that caused the original infection can still be found in the upper airway, and migrate into the new lungs, thus making the transplant ineffective.
Some patients have a worse prognosis as they are infected with deadly types of bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Burkholderia cepacia complex, which are difficult to kill due to multiple antibiotic resistance and cause extensive damage to the lungs. In some instances, merely their presence within a patient can prevent them from receiving life-saving lung transplants. The effectiveness of antibiotics against these deadly infections is a huge concern, making the need to find suitable, non-toxic alternatives, which are effective at killing the bacteria a top priority. Honey has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal product. More recently, research has shown that Manuka honey is capable of killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria present in surface wounds.
A Better-Tasting Tomato Juice
In an effort to improve the flavor of tomato juice, University of Florida scientists are using what’s called volatile capture to obtain the essence which is usually extracted from a tomato plant to add flavor or tomato essence. Juices often need to be pasteurized before they are consumed, says Paul Sarnoski, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the UF/IFAS food science and human nutrition department. During that process, the volatiles that give a juice flavor are lost because of the thermal processing required for pasteurization. That is part of the reason tomato juice does not quite taste like a fresh tomato. Many individuals complain that tomato juice doesn’t resemble typical, fresh, tomato flavor, but perhaps, by adding an essence, we could make the juice more closely resemble fresh tomato flavor.”
In the study – published in the journal Food Chemistry - researchers used Garden Gem tomatoes which are a UF/IFAS-bred variety as the premium flavor tomato and Roma tomatoes as the control flavor. They wanted to test whether Garden Gem retained more of its flavor after pasteurization. The Garden Gem did, and was found as a suitable variety for essence production because of a high content of flavor volatiles, thus leading scientists to believe this system will provide better flavor when they test it on consumers.
Is High-Fat Ice Cream Tastier?
A team of Penn State food scientists found that people generally cannot tell the difference between fat levels in ice creams. In a series of taste tests, participants were unable to distinguish a two percent difference in fat levels in two vanilla ice cream samples as long as the samples were in the six to 12 percent fat-level range. While the subjects were able to detect a four percent difference between ice cream with six and 10 percent fat levels, they could not detect a four percent fat difference in samples between eight and 12 percent fat. "I think the most important finding in our study was that there were no differences in consumer acceptability when changing fat content within a certain range," says Laura Rolon, a former graduate student in food science and lead author of the study. "There is a preconception of 'more fat is better,' but we did not see it within our study."
The findings – published in Journal of Dairy Science - also found that fat levels did not significantly sway consumers' preferences in taste. The consumers' overall liking of the ice cream did not change when fat content dropped from 14 percent to six percent. "Was there a difference in liking and could they tell the difference was our secondary question," added Robert Roberts, professor and head of the food science department.
Perception and preference are often two separate questions in food science. "Another example of this is how some people might like both regular lemonade and pink lemonade equally," says John Hayes, associate professor of food science and director of the sensory evaluation center. "They can tell the difference when they taste the different lemonades, but still like them both. Differences in perception and differences in liking are not the same thing." Hayes added that Penn State and the College of Agriculture Sciences' focus on interdisciplinary research was critical for this work. "I think this shows how interdisciplinary and translational food science is. You take a physical chemist, a behavioral scientist and someone who knows ice cream processing and put us all together and you can investigate questions like these."
Investigating The Questions
The study may challenge some ice cream marketing that suggests ice cream with high fat levels are higher quality and better tasting products. "People think premium ice cream means only high fat ice cream, but it doesn't," Roberts continued. “Because there are only slight differences in taste perception and preferences at certain fat levels, ice cream manufacturers may have more latitude in adjusting their formulas to help control costs and create products for customers with certain dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste, according to the researchers.”
The researchers recruited a total of 292 regular ice-cream consumers to take part in the blind taste tests to determine their overall acceptability of various fat levels in fresh ice cream and to see if they could tell the difference between samples. They changed the fat content by adjusting the levels of cream and by adding maltodextrin, a mostly tasteless, starch-based material that is used to add bulk to products, such as frozen desserts - and not necessarily a healthy fat replacement alternative. "Fat is always the most expensive bulk ingredient of ice cream and so when you're talking about premium ice cream, it tends to have a higher fat content and cost more, while the less expensive economy brands tend to have lower fat content," added John Coupland, professor of food science. "We don't want to give the impression that we were trying to create a healthier type of ice cream, but, if you were in charge of an ice cream brand this information may help you decide if you are getting any advantage of having high fat in your product, or whether it's worth the economic cost, or worth the brand risk to change the fat level of your ice cream."
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Food insecurity remains a serious problem for many older adults. The number of seniors facing the threat of hunger is steadily growing in the United States. Food insecurity occurs when people lack access to food or go hungry due to poverty or other challenges. Social issues such as hunger, inadequate housing, social isolation and poverty are linked to poor health, especially as we age. When healthcare systems and community organizations coordinate with each other, they are better able to help us address these concerns individually and as a society.
]]>Food insecurity remains a serious problem for many older adults. The number of seniors facing the threat of hunger is steadily growing in the United States. Food insecurity occurs when people lack access to food or go hungry due to poverty or other challenges. Social issues such as hunger, inadequate housing, social isolation and poverty are linked to poor health, especially as we age. When healthcare systems and community organizations coordinate with each other, they are better able to help us address these concerns individually and as a society.
In a country as wealthy as the United States, it may come as a surprise that one in 12 seniors do not have required food due to inadequate money or other financial resources. They are what is considered food insecure. It is an expansive issue that needs an understanding of exactly what constitutes a senior being "hungry." The issues that stem from seniors who are hungry can be helped. Although Americans are remaining in the workforce longer, their earnings tend to decline as they get older. Diminished incomes, or losing a job altogether, combined with rising housing costs and health care bills has left millions of seniors at or below the poverty line.
Food Insecurity
Recently, a research team from the Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, organized a study to learn more about food insecurity and older adults. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The researchers examined information from a health survey that was given to more than 50,000 older adults between 2012 and 2015. The survey was part of a free annual wellness visit for Medicare members in Kaiser Permanente Colorado. It included questions about food security. More than 6% said that they did not always have enough money to buy the food they needed.
The study revealed that:
Ways to identify food insecurity in older adults need to be combined with methods to connect older adults with community-based food resources. The main mission of the American Geriatrics Society is to eliminate senior hunger and provide more aid in the area of their basic needs.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
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Serene Hitchcock is a professional freelance writer, blogger and social media strategist from San Diego, California. She has been writing for several years in many forms and facets and is interested in arts, health, self-improvement, current events and the world we live in.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>The origins of Matcha can be traced back almost a thousand years to a Japanese monk studying Buddhism in China. His name was Eisai, and he brought back to Japan tea seeds and the methods to prepare Matcha.
Today, Matcha is on everyone’s lips. You may know that drinking tea made from this vibrant powder is healthy. However, there may be some positive effects that you still don’t know about. Check out the list below to learn something new about this truly special drink.
Anti-Aging Properties
Matcha may not be a miracle cure for wrinkles, but it can help stop the clock in your body. Its high antioxidant content helps fight damage done by toxins and free radicals.
Additionally, Matcha contains catechins which are among the most potent and beneficial to the body. One catechin in particular, epigallocatechin gallate or EGCg, makes up approximately 60 percent of the ones found in Matcha.
Detoxifies
Furthermore, Matcha can also help detoxify the body. The final process of growing the plant causes the production of high levels of chlorophyll. The excess chlorophyll content gives Matcha that vibrant color, but it may also help remove heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body naturally.
Enhances Calm
Do you need a little Zen in your life? Drink a cup of Matcha tea. It contains the amino acid L-Theanine. This amino acid promotes alpha waves in the brain. The result is a relaxed state without drowsiness.
Memory And Concentration Booster
L-Theanine has another positive side effect. It can boost the production of serotonin and dopamine. This leads to an enhanced mood, better concentration, and improved memory. This also comes from the caffeine in the tea.
A Final Word About Matcha
The taste of Matcha isn’t for everyone. It’s relatively strong. And some have likened the flavor to spinach. But before you reach for the sugar canister, you do have other options.
Palo Azul tea has many of the powerful benefits of Matcha tea but is naturally flavored and sweetened. So you get all the benefits without the added calories.
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Tim Shanley is the lead editor at AzulTea.com. Established in 2015, Azul Tea is a supplier of rare teas from around the world. They look to spice up your life with a collection of exotic teas. In his free time, Tim enjoys sailing and hiking with his black lab mix.
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>"Fresh is best" is a motto for many health buffs, but recent research indicates that in some cases, frozen fruit has a higher health quotient. This is the case for fruits like blueberries; one study by researchers at South Dakota University has found that freezing blueberries boosts the bioavailability of anthocyanins - powerful antioxidants that offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits.
]]>"Fresh is best" is a motto for many health buffs, but recent research indicates that in some cases, frozen fruit has a higher health quotient. This is the case for fruits like blueberries; one study by researchers at South Dakota University has found that freezing blueberries boosts the bioavailability of anthocyanins - powerful antioxidants that offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits.
Blueberries aren’t the only produce that benefits from being frozen soon after picking. Anthocyanins are just one of many antioxidants that can be preserved in optimal state by simply freezing produce.
When Produce Loses its Wet Weight
A study published by CR Fellers found that green peas lose over half of their wet weight in the first day or two after being picked. Therefore, by the time this produce makes its way to our groceries and into our shopping basket, it is significantly less nutritious than when harvested. This isn’t always the case, of course. For instance, fresh produce tends to contain higher levels of vitamin C than frozen, but a recent study by SM Wunderlich et al found that fresh broccoli that is purchased when it is out of season (i.e. imported from abroad) has only 50 percent of the vitamin C content of seasonal broccoli. Therefore, if you opt for fresh produce, you should ensure that what you are buying is seasonal. Moreover, aim to purchase food from local growers who can sell you recently harvested produce.
The Benefits Range Beyond Fruit And Vegetables
A University of Illinois study has found that nutritious frozen foods can play an important part on a weight loss regimen. This is because frozen meals are portion controlled, and can aid those wishing to keep their total caloric count beneath a specific level. In the study, participants were divided into two groups. All participants reduced their caloric intake to 1,700 calories for an eight-week period, but one group prepared their own food (following the food pyramid) while the other consumed frozen foods. The results were that those who followed the frozen diet lost more weight (16 pounds), than those who made their own food (the latter lost 11.2 pounds).
The Cost Benefits Of Frozen Foods
TheKitchn.com notes that buying produce in a frozen state can significantly lower costs. Fruits like pineapple, for instance, cost over a dollar less per pound when frozen, than fresh. In addition to the retail price, keeping frozen foods in a separate freezer can help prevent the wastage that occurs when fresh food isn’t eaten in a set number of days. Freezing foods can also ensure you always have something to thaw out or heat up quickly in the microwave when hunger strikes.
Buy Frozen Foods As Is
The key to making the most of the nutritional content of frozen foods, and of using these foods to aid in weight loss, is to purchase them in their purest state. For instance, it is better to buy separate bags of frozen vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, than to buy these in a mixed state with a ready-made sauce. Sauces should ideally be made at home on the spot, served above piping hot steamed, boiled, or grilled vegetables.
To ensure your family is healthy and energetic, don’t be reticent to rely on both frozen and fresh foods. Research which fruits have a greater nutritional content when frozen. These include blueberries and orange juice, whose nutrients become more “bio-available” thanks to cooling processes. When buying fresh, stick to seasonal foods that have been recently picked. Go organic when you can; this produce has been found to have a higher antioxidant content than conventionally grown foods.
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Jennifer Trent is a freelance writer and editor. As a former nutrition consultant she specializes in writing about health and nutrition. When not working she loves to read, travel and spend time with her young family.
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>A lesser known oil has been found to improve the overall makeup of the blood. While oils such as chamomile, lavender, avocado, and tea tree are more commonly known with many who have a penchant for using oils, camelina oil is the impressive oil that manages this feat. The study looked at how lipids from fish, camelina oil and the presence of inflammation acted together. Due to the fatty acids that are present in the oil, it made quite the difference in the good cholesterol versus the bad cholesterol that can be seen and tested in the blood.
]]>Over 70 Finnish men and women between the ages of 40 and 72 were tested. They were divided into four different groups. One received the oil, one the fatty fish, one the lean fish, and the other was the control group. After a period of 12 weeks, it was shown that the group that was given the camelina oil had a noticeable positive impact in their blood cholesterol levels. There was also no substantial difference between the glucose metabolism or low-grade inflammation.
What's so interesting about these findings is that many oils that are ingestible and have a specific fatty content are great for the internal systems that have impaired glucose metabolism. This is because glucose and blood sugar issues are traditionally caused by high sugar and high carbohydrate diets. Even in the diets where sugar and carb intake is moderate, spikes in blood sugar happen, which lead to additional problems in the way of diabetes, metabolic illness and hyperglycemia.
Contributing Factors
What this study and many like it show is that fats and oils are not intrinsically bad. They are not necessarily what leads to illnesses. There is a huge case for sugar and carbs being the culprit for inflammation, IBS, and even more serious conditions like cancer and dementia. Everyone's body reacts to specific foods differently but it does seem strange that the rate of diabetes and metabolic illnesses have been increasing over the past three decades when low-fat eating plans were being pushed.
When the fat is taken out of foods, the only thing that replaces it in terms of taste and satiation points is sugar. So ingredients are swapped and all of a sudden when carbs and sugar are consumed, a condition that directly impacts blood sugar is noticeably altered. This study's findings are immense because it lets us know that the naturally occurring fats in these types of oils - similar to foods like avocado, grass-fed butter, salmon and macadamia nuts - are actually good for us when we cut down on and eliminate unnecessary carbs and sugar.
Other factors contribute to the levels of cholesterol in the blood as well, but diet is the primary one. Blood pressure and cholesterol can go hand in hand. As can lifestyle decisions such as being active, not smoking and other choices that impact your overall health. Stress management and stress hormones can also positively or negatively impact your overall health. Trans fats are where the bad cholesterol typically comes from. Those should be steered clear of. But all fats are not created equal and should not be treated the same. The presence of camelina oil in this study is proof of that.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
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Serene Hitchcock is a professional freelance writer, blogger and social media strategist from San Diego, California. She has been writing for several years in many forms and facets and is interested in arts, health, self-improvement, current events and the world we live in.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>At least one serving of green, leafy vegetables per day slows the decline rate on tests of memory and thinking skills compared to those who rarely eat vegetables, says a study by Rush University Medical Center – Chicago. The study also revealed 11 years of difference between the two types of consumers. The author, Martha Clare Morris, said that an additional daily serving of green, leafy vegetables in your diet can be a simple way to foster your brain health. It is an effective strategy to prevent dementia in the old age group.
This study was conducted for an average of 4.7 years, on 960 people with an average age of 81 who didn’t have dementia. A questionnaire was used as a tool to conduct this research. Participants were asked to record their food habits on a routine basis. Their thinking and memory skills were also tested yearly during this period. A questionnaire asked about the number of times people ate green, leafy vegetables, spinach, (half cup cooked), kale/collards/greens (half cup cooked), and lettuce salad (one cup raw).
Participants were divided into five groups based on times they ate green, leafy vegetables. Top groups included people with an average of about 1.3 servings/day. Lowest groups ate an average of 0.1 servings/day. Throughout the 10-year duration, thinking and memory tests declined over time in all participants at a rate of 0.08 units/year. The group who ate most leafy greens had a slower rate of decline as compared to those who ate the least amount of leafy greens. This difference was equivalent to 11 years in age.
The results remained valid after taking into account factors that affect brain health including smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, education level and amount of physical and cognitive activities. This is indicative of the brain power that these types of vegetables can provide to an individual. The need for rich nutrients and minerals that may not be found via consumption of other foods seems to be more present in those patients that eat leafy, green vegetables.
Plethora For The Palate
The great thing about these options is that there is a plethora of green vegetables to choose from. For the very picky eater, the steamed or cooked greens are much more sufficient. For those who have a wider, more established palate, raw vegetables also do the trick nicely.
This study solidifies the need for these types of dietary choices to be made throughout life but especially as an individual gets older and their brain function starts to naturally deteriorate. Vegetables have always been a staple that should be incorporated into a healthy and substantial diet in order to give the body what it needs to function best.
With studies such as these, we now know that vegetables can be preventative in many ways when it comes to cognition, memory and aptitude. So don't skip your vegetables. In fact, include even more into your daily diet. While other less healthy foods don't necessarily do anything for your brain power, they can also potentially be robbing you of health and vitality. The game of longevity in life is a tricky one but a good diet is an essential aspect that can keep you strong and healthy longer.
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Serene Hitchcock is a professional freelance writer, blogger and social media strategist from San Diego, California. She has been writing for several years in many forms and facets and is interested in arts, health, self-improvement, current events and the world we live in.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Sixty interventional studies were reviewed. They comprised of two million unique observations, including consumer reported dietary intakes, purchases, and sales receipts, and were published between 1990 and 2014. “Many old and new food policies focus on labeling, whether on food packages or restaurant menus,” says senior and corresponding author Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H., dean of the Friedman School. “Remarkably, the effectiveness of these labels, whether for changing consumers’ choices or industry product formulations, has not been clear. Our findings provide new evidence on what might work, and what might not, when implementing food labeling.”
In a pooled analysis of studies that included food labeling on menus, product packaging, or other point-of-purchase materials such as placards on supermarket shelves, the researchers found that labeling reduced consumers’ intake of calories by 6.6 percent, total fat by 10.6 percent, and other unhealthy food options by 13 percent. Labeling also increased consumers’ vegetable consumption by 13.5 percent. In contrast, labeling did not significantly impact consumer intakes of other targets such as total carbohydrate, total protein, saturated fat, fruits, whole grains, or other healthy options. When industry responses were evaluated, the researchers found that labeling led to reductions of both trans fat and sodium in packaged foods by 64.3 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively.
However, no significant effects of labeling were identified for industry formulations of total calories, saturated fat, dietary fiber, other healthy components such as protein and unsaturated fat, or other unhealthy components such as total fat, sugar, and dietary cholesterol, although relatively few studies evaluated these endpoints. “For industry responses, it’s interesting that the two altered components - trans fat and sodium - are additives,” said Mozaffarian. “This suggests that industry may be more readily able to alter additives, as opposed to naturally occurring ingredients such as fat or calories, in response to labeling. It will be interesting to see whether this will translate to added sugar, newly added to the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels in the United States.”
Considering The Consumer
The researchers also examined the effects of label type, placement, and other characteristics. No consistent differential effects were found by label placements - menu, package, other points-of-purchase - label types such as traffic light, nutrient content, type of labeled products, whether labeling was voluntary or mandatory, or several other factors. The researchers concluded that this suggests that the general presence or absence of information may be more relevant to consumers and industry than the specific type of label.
Limitations were noted. While all studies were interventional, many were non-randomized. Restaurant labeling studies often assessed consumer effects for a single meal, rather than long-term effects. Too few studies evaluated obesity or metabolic risk factors to draw any meaningful conclusions on the effects of labeling on health outcomes. The authors also noted that the studies included in the review were heterogeneous, due to the nature of interventions.
However, by merging findings from 60 interventional studies, the researchers were able to evaluate differences in both consumer and industry responses across 111 intervention arms in 11 countries across four continents. The studies were conducted in the United States/Canada, Europe/Australia, and Asia, and the majority included both genders; most evaluated adults. Most studies evaluated specific meals or products. The findings were centrally pooled in a meta-analysis. Analyses were completed in 2017.
Food Safety
A study, conducted by a team of UK based researchers led by the University of Liverpool known as the ENIGMA Project, revealed the levels of bad behaviors in UK kitchens which increase the public's risk of getting food poisoning. The survey of over 200 chefs revealed that a third of chefs had worked in kitchens which served meat 'on the turn,' over 30 percent had worked in a kitchen within 48 hours of suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting, 16 percent had served barbeque chicken when not sure it was fully cooked, and seven percent did not always wash their hands immediately after handling raw meat or fish.
The ENIGMA Project is a large collaborative program of research into the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal disease in the developed world, Campylobacter. Undercooked barbeque chicken is associated with Campylobacter, and in addition, chefs returning to work too soon after suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting have been implicated in high-profile food poisoning outbreaks such as the one at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck restaurant.
The research was led by Professor Sarah O'Brien, from the University's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society and was published in journal PLOS ONE. The researchers found that avoiding eating where such behaviors take place is not easy for the public, because chefs working in award-winning kitchens were more likely to have returned to work within 48 hours of suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, and not washing hands was more likely in upmarket establishments. This was despite over a third of the public agreeing that the more expensive a meal was, the safer they would expect it to be.
Chefs working in restaurants with a good Food Hygiene Rating Scheme score were just as likely to have committed the risky behaviors at some time in their career or to have worked with others who had. Among the public sample, the team found over 20 percent had served meat on the turn, 13 percent had served chicken at a barbeque when not sure it was fully cooked, and 14 percent did not always wash their hands immediately after handling raw meat or fish.
Randomized Response Technique
The behaviors involved were embarrassing or potentially incriminating to reveal, so the researchers used something called the Randomized Response Technique (RRT) to cope with the fact that people might not want to reveal the truth about their dark kitchen secrets. This involved those surveyed rolling two dice in secret, and switching their answers according to the values they rolled. The technique makes people more prepared to reveal the truth than just asking them directly, and the researchers were able to recover the true rates of the bad behaviors from the data. "We know that food handling behaviors can create or worsen food safety hazards,” says Professor Sarah O'Brien. “By bringing together researchers from different scientific disciplines in the ENIGMA project we now have a much better idea of what really goes on."
"Foodborne illnesses impose a huge burden to the UK population, and these results indicate a high prevalence of behaviors which can give people food poisoning,” says Professor Dan Rigby from the University of Manchester, one of the lead authors of the study. "Masking the smell and taste of meat on the turn is an old industry trick, and the ability to do it means restaurants can cut costs. Showing you can do it shows a potential employer you are experienced in the industry."
"It is notable that chefs in fine dining establishments were more likely to have returned to work too soon after suffering diarrhea and/or vomiting, contravening UK regulations - this may be that fear of losing a prestigious job, or a desire not to let the team down, is causing people to not to stay away for long enough, putting the public at risk," Rigby added. “Staff currently working in kitchens with higher prices, more awards or a good Food Hygiene Rating Scheme were no less likely to have committed the bad behaviors or have worked with colleagues who had in the past - meaning that the public face a difficult challenge to protect themselves from these bad kitchen behaviors."
"Whilst this may appear to be an unexpected use of dice, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that it is the most effective method for obtaining honest answers to very sensitive questions,” added Dr. Paul Cross from Bangor University. "We're therefore confident in the reliability of the data we've collected and the implications this holds for food safety practices."
Improving Food Safety With Sensor Design
In the U.S., more than 100 food recalls were issued in 2017 because of contamination from harmful bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella or E. coli. A new sensor design could one day make it easier to detect pathogens in food before products hit the supermarket shelves, thus preventing sometimes-deadly illnesses from contaminated food. In the journal Optical Materials Express, researchers report a new design for a sensor that can simultaneously detect multiple substances including dangerous bacteria and other pathogens.
In addition to food safety, the new design could improve detection of gases and chemicals for a wide range of other applications. "Our design is based on graphene sheets, which are two-dimensional crystals of carbon just one atom thick," says research team member Bing-Gang Xiao, from China Jiliang University. "The sensor is not only highly sensitive but can also be easily adjusted to detect different substances." The excellent optical and electronic properties of graphene make it attractive for sensors that use electromagnetic waves known as plasmons that propagate along the surface of a conducting material in response to light exposure. A substance can be detected by measuring how the refractive index of the sensor changes when a substance of interest is close to the graphene's surface.
Researchers have taken advantage of graphene's unique properties to create sensors and materials for a range of applications in recent years. Compared to metals like gold and silver, graphene exhibits stronger plasmon waves with longer propagation distances. In addition, the wavelength at which graphene is responsive can be changed by applying a polarization voltage instead of recreating the whole device. However, few previous research efforts have demonstrated sensitive graphene sensors that work with the infrared wavelengths necessary to detect bacteria and biomolecules.
For the new sensor, the researchers used theoretical calculations and simulations to design an array of nanoscale graphene disks that each contain an off-center hole. The sensor includes ion-gel and silicon layers that can be used to apply a voltage to tune the graphene's properties for detection of various substances. The interaction between the disks and their holes creates what is known as the plasmon hybridization effect, which increases the sensitivity of the device. The hole and the disk also create different wavelength peaks that can each be used to detect the presence of different substances simultaneously.
Simulations performed by the researchers using mid-infrared wavelengths showed that their new sensor platform would be more sensitive to substances present in gases, liquids or solids than using discs without holes. The researchers are now working to improve the process that would be used to make the array of nanoscale discs. The accuracy at which these structures are fabricated will greatly impact the performance of the sensor. "We also want to explore whether the graphene plasmon hybridization effect could be used to aid the design of dual-band mid-infrared optical communication devices," Xiao said.
Link Between Food Allergies And Childhood Anxiety
Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and Albert Einstein College of Medicine studied the link between food allergies and childhood anxiety and depression among a sample of predominantly low socioeconomic status minority children. The results showed that children with a food allergy had a significantly higher prevalence of childhood anxiety. Food allergies were not associated with symptoms of childhood depression or with symptoms of anxiety or depression among their caregivers. The results were published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Food allergies are increasingly common among youth in the U.S. with recent estimates as high as eight percent. Until now little was known about the prevalence of food allergy in low socioeconomic ethnic minority populations. The researchers studied 80 pediatric patients ages four to 12 years - eight years old on average - with and without food allergy and their caregivers from urban pediatric outpatient clinics in the Bronx, New York. They controlled for an asthma diagnosis in the children, as anxiety and mood disorders are more prevalent among youth with asthma and especially more common in low socioeconomic minority children.
Among the children with a food allergy, 57 percent reported having symptoms of anxiety compared to 48 percent of children without a food allergy. Approximately 48 percent of the children had symptoms of depression with or without a food allergy. "Management of a food allergy can be expensive both in terms of food shopping, meal preparation, and the cost of epinephrine auto-injectors, which expire annually," says Renee Goodwin, Ph.D., in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and lead author. "These demands could result in higher levels of anxiety for those with fewer financial resources and further heighten anxiety symptoms in children and their caregivers."
The results suggest that food allergy is particularly linked to elevated social anxiety and fear of social rejection and humiliation. "There are a number of possible explanations for the relationship found between food allergy diagnosis and increased social anxiety issues in this sample of pediatric patients," Goodwin said. "Management of a potentially life-threatening condition may be anxiety provoking, and some children may experience increased social anxiety about being "different" from other children depending on their age and how the food allergy is managed by adults in a particular setting."
The researchers also point out a possible explanation for not finding a link between the food allergy and depression in children. The sample was young, and the mean age of onset for depression is significantly later than anxiety. "It would be worthwhile to examine these relationships among older adolescents and young adults with food allergy who are at the peak of risk for depression onset, especially because early anxiety is associated with increased risk for subsequent onset of depression," says Jonathan Feldman, Ph.D., professor of Psychology at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. "With the high prevalence of food allergies today, education in schools remains a priority," Goodwin added. "Given the strong association between a food allergy and social anxiety in children, future investigations on the food allergy-mental health relationship are also warranted in clinical, school, and community-based settings which could aid in the development of interventions."
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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Climate change is a well-debated topic these days and with that in mind, many shoppers underestimate the difference their food choices make to the so-called climate change they attribute to other factors out of their control. They would actually favor items with lower carbon footprints if given clear information on the label, according to recent research from the University of Technology Sydney and Duke University. Food production boasts between 19 and 29 percent of global greenhouse gas emission today with lamb and beef being two of the biggest contributors. A diet shift towards fruits and vegetables is a good strategy for reducing climate change.
]]>Climate change is a well-debated topic these days and with that in mind, many shoppers underestimate the difference their food choices make to the so-called climate change they attribute to other factors out of their control. They would actually favor items with lower carbon footprints if given clear information on the label, according to recent research from the University of Technology Sydney and Duke University. Food production boasts between 19 and 29 percent of global greenhouse gas emission today with lamb and beef being two of the biggest contributors. A diet shift towards fruits and vegetables is a good strategy for reducing climate change.
It was important for lead author Dr. Adrian Camilleri to understand how well consumers understood the carbon consequences of their choice of foods. Previous research had pointed out that people really underestimate the carbon emission from electrical appliances. "With an appliance such as a heater you can feel the energy used and see an electricity bill at the end of the month, so the impact is quite salient, whereas the impact of food production is largely invisible," says Dr. Camilleri.
Over 1,000 people were asked to estimate the energy embedded in 18 appliances and 19 foods as well as the amount of greenhouse gas emissions for both. Food was more severely underestimated, according to studies published in the journal Nature Climate Change. "If you ask people to guess the difference between items such as beef and vegetable soup on the environment, they assume there is not much difference, but beef soup creates more than 10 times the amount of greenhouse gases than vegetable soup," says Dr. Camilleri. "This is a bit of a blind spot because if someone wants to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, they might think to turn off the heater, drive less or fly less. Very few people think to eat less beef."
Food Labels
The research also centered on whether they could improve the perception people had on how their food choices affected the environment through food labeling - just as energy use is conveyed by 5-star rating systems for electrical appliances. One-hundred and twenty participants were presented with a choice of soups to buy. Participants bought fewer beef soups and more vegetable soups when the soup had a carbon footprint label.
This research suggests that the introduction of carbon footprint labels on food labels would increase the understanding of energy use and greenhouse gas emission from food production reducing environmental impacts. The greenhouse gases that emerge from beef and lamb production are those created in the production of fertilizer for feed, livestock transportation, loss of trees to clear land for pasture and methane emitted from the animals.
Conclusively, a vegan diet based on vegetables and fruits as well as grains has the least impact on the environment with chicken and fish creating a moderate impact and lamb and beef with the greatest impact. "The choices we make at the dinner table can have a significant impact on global challenges such as climate change, and our research shows consumers are keen to make that choice," Dr. Camilleri added.
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Lisa S. Jones is a certified nurse, nutritionist, fitness coach and health expert. Her training credentials include a B.Sc. in Nursing from California State University in 2013 and Youth Nutrition Specialist Certification from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates in 2015. In 2017, she also received Holistic Nutrition Certification from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Anti-aging food products always help people look younger, delay the effects of aging, and help to improve skin elasticity and eliminate wrinkles. Anti-aging foods are rich in selenium and powerful antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.
Jane Byrne - who is in charge of nutrition at FirstCare - explains why diet is so important, particularly in the elderly population. “A healthy diet can help you feel better and fend off illnesses for longer at any age, but it’s particularly important for our elderly patients who need the extra nutritional support. When we age our bodies don’t process the nutritional value of food as efficiently, so making sure our diet is as balanced as possible becomes even more important.”
The following 5 foods have been proven to help keep you healthier as you age:
Avocados are the best moisturizing ingredients in nature. They are rich in anti-aging nutrients such as vitamins C and E and omega-3 fatty acids. Although a medium-sized avocado contains 30 grams of fat, it is a healthy, monounsaturated fat that lowers cholesterol and protects the heart.
Whether you eat a cucumber or cucumber salad, pickles are a great anti-aging remedy to improve tired and dehydrated skin. This is because cucumbers are rich in water and contain large amounts of silica, a mineral necessary to obtain smooth and shiny skin.
Lemons are a vitamin C concentrate, an antioxidant essential for the health of the skin and gums. A medium-sized lemon contains over 45 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Lemon is a natural cleansing agent that helps digestion and eliminates toxins - leaving our skin clean and radiant. Waking up in the morning with a glass of lemon or lemon juice will help you clean the skin and make you look younger.
The high content of vitamin E in almonds makes it perfect for the health of the skin, hair, and nails. The body needs vitamin E to protect cells from the attack of free radicals produced by air pollution, peroxides, and ultraviolet radiation. Eat 10 to a dozen almonds a day. A quarter of a glass of almonds a day provides about forty-five percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin E.
Sunflower seeds are an extraordinary anti-aging food and a powerful concentrate of vitamin E and selenium with very effective properties improving youth. By eating a handful of sunflower seeds a day, you'll look younger, avoid wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. In fact, a quarter glass of sunflower seeds will provide almost 90 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin E.
Brazil nuts are a very rich source of selenium, a mineral that works very well with vitamin E in the fight against oxidative stress and cell damage caused by free radicals. That's why it slows down the aging process. Brazil nuts are a powerful anti-aging food that should be eaten in moderation because of their high-fat content. Consuming only two Brazilian nuts per day will bring you enough selenium for younger skin.
One looks younger eating one or two glasses of blueberries a day for its daily dose of anthocyanins, an anti-aging antioxidant that increases the power of vitamin C, one of the best moisturizers in nature and a nutrient that stimulates collagen.
Coconut oil is used for cooking but also has other uses. When your skin absorbs coconut oil, it eliminates wrinkles. Coconut oil gives connective tissue strength and exfoliates the outer layer, and is rich in vitamins A and E that help in the production of collagen.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
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Jane Byrne has been working in the care industry for 5+ years as a project coordinator. She regularly blogs about both the personal and practical challenges of caring and is always actively working on producing informative content.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Lead Researcher Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath from the University of Sydney said the data showed that flavonoids in oranges appear to help prevent against the eye disease. "Essentially we found that people who eat at least one serving of orange every day have a reduced risk of developing macular degeneration compared with people who never eat oranges," Gopinath says. "Even eating an orange once a week seems to offer significant benefits. The data shows that flavonoids found in oranges appear to help protect against the disease."
Gopinath said that until now most research has focused on the effects of common nutrients such as vitamins C, E and A on the eyes. "Our research is different because we focused on the relationship between flavonoids and macular degeneration,” she continued. "Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants found in almost all fruits and vegetables, and they have important anti-inflammatory benefits for the immune system. We examined common foods that contain flavonoids such as tea, apples, red wine and oranges. Significantly, the data did not show a relationship between other food sources protecting the eyes against the disease."
One in seven Australians over 50 have some signs of macular degeneration. Age is the strongest known risk factor and the disease is more likely to occur after the age of 50. There is currently no cure for the disease. The research compiled data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, a benchmark population-based study that started in 1992. It is one of the world's largest epidemiology studies, measuring diet and lifestyle factors against health outcomes and a range of chronic diseases. "Our research aims to understand why eye diseases occur, as well as the genetic and environmental conditions that may threaten vision," Gopinath concluded.
The relationship between sweet potato crops and soil nitrogen can be complicated. Too little nitrogen and sweet potato plants don’t grow well and have low yields. Too much nitrogen, however, boosts the growth of leaves and branches at the expense of storage roots. That also leads to low yields. “Carefully managing soil nitrogen levels is essential to obtain high yields from sweet potato crops,” says Adalton Fernandes, an agronomist at the Center for Tropical Roots and Starches at São Paulo State University in Brazil.
Fernandes is the lead author of a recent study that determined how much nitrogen is needed to maximize yields from sweet potato crops in Brazil. The researchers discovered field history matters when trying to apply the optimal amount of nitrogen for sweet potato crops. Cover crops grown in the same plots prior to sweet potato crops affected how much nitrogen was needed. Sweet potato plants grown in plots previously used to grow legume cover crops needed 35 percent less nitrogen fertilizer. Growing sweet potatoes after a cereal cover crop, however, was no different than growing them in a plot that had previously just had weeds. “We show that growing legume cover crops, and incorporating them into the soil as they flower, is a simple technique that can reduce how much mineral nitrogen needs to be applied for sweet potato farming,” says Fernandes.
Cover crops are often grown cyclically with economic or cash crops. They may be incorporated into the soil as green manure. They may also be left on the surface as living mulches. Different cover crops bring different benefits to the growing relationship. Legumes, for example, can increase soil nitrogen levels. Beneficial bacteria in their root nodules pull atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. But they also decompose faster than cereal cover crops once terminated. “That releases nitrogen into the soil earlier during the sweet potato growth cycle,” says Fernandes. “We needed to know more about how different cover crops affect soil nitrogen availability for subsequent sweet potato crops.”
Fernandes and colleagues used a study site in southeastern Brazil. The site is a good match for the tropical conditions and sandy soil typical of several areas where sweet potato is grown in Brazil. In different plots, the researchers grew either one of two legume crops, a cereal crop, or allowed weeds to grow from seeds already present in the soil. When the legume and cereal cover crops were flowering, they were terminated. The plants were incorporated into the soil. Subsequently, the researchers planted sweet potato in the plots. They tested how much nitrogen was needed to maximize yields.
Understanding Nitrogen
When sweet potato was grown after legume cover crops, they needed about 110 pounds of nitrogen per hectare - roughly the size of a baseball field - for optimal yields. In contrast, sweet potato crops needed more than 168 pounds per hectare of nitrogen when grown after a cereal cover crop or after weeds. “We show that there is no reason to use a cereal cover crop prior to sweet potato cultivation,” says Fernandes.
Currently, recommendations of how much nitrogen fertilizer to use with sweet potato crops do not consider the history of cultivation in the area. That can result in farmers using more or less fertilizer than needed. “We now better understand how much nitrogen is needed to maximize sweet potato yields in tropical regions,” says Fernandes. “This will help manage the application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers during sweet potato cultivation.” In addition to maximizing yields, using less fertilizer also reduces costs for farmers. That’s especially important in Brazil. Much of the sweet potato crop is grown on family farms with low technology use.
Fernandes is now pairing other species of legumes as cover crops. He is testing whether they may be more efficient at providing nitrogen for sweet potato crops. He is also exploring whether combining legumes and cereals as cover crops in the same area can provide different benefits to sweet potato farmers.
A study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found the natural decline in lung function over a 10-year period was slower among former smokers with a diet high in tomatoes and fruits. This was especially true of apples, suggesting certain components in these foods might help restore lung damage caused by smoking. The researchers found that adults who on average ate more than two tomatoes or more than three portions of fresh fruit a day had a slower decline in lung function compared to those who ate less than one tomato or less than one portion of fruit a day, respectively. The researchers inquired about other dietary sources such as dishes and processed foods containing fruits and vegetables – such as tomato sauce - but the protective effect was only observed in fresh fruit and vegetables.
The paper, which is part of the Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts (ALEC) Study, funded by the European Commission and led by Imperial College London, also found a slower decline in lung function among all adults, including those who had never or had stopped smoking, with the highest tomato consumption. Poor lung function has been linked with mortality risks from all diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and lung cancer.
“This study shows that diet might help repair lung damage in people who have stopped smoking,” says Vanessa Garcia-Larsen, assistant professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health and the study’s lead author. “It also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung’s natural aging process even if you have never smoked. The findings support the need for dietary recommendations, especially for people at risk of developing respiratory diseases such as COPD.”
For the study, the research team assessed diet and lung function of more than 650 adults in 2002, and then repeated lung function tests on the same group of participants 10 years later. Participants from three European countries - Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom - completed questionnaires assessing their diets and overall nutritional intake. They also underwent spirometry, a procedure that measures the capacity of lungs to take in oxygen. The test collects two standard measurements of lung function: Forced Exhaled Volume in 1 second (FEV1), which measures how much air a person can expel from their lungs in one second; and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), the total amount of air a person can inhale in six seconds. The study controlled for factors such as age, height, sex, body mass index - an indicator of obesity - socio-economic status, physical activity and total energy intake.
Among former smokers, the diet-lung-function connection was even more striking. Ex-smokers who ate a diet high in tomatoes and fruits had around 80 milliliters slower decline over the 10-year period. This suggests that nutrients in their diets are helping to repair damage done by smoking. ”Lung function starts to decline at around age 30 at variable speed depending on the general and specific health of individuals,” says Garcia-Larsen “Our study suggests that eating more fruits on a regular basis can help attenuate the decline as people age, and might even help repair damage caused by smoking. Diet could become one way of combating rising diagnosis of COPD around the world.”
Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
Approximately 170 countries grow onions, and it’s estimated that 9.2 million acres of onions are harvested annually around the world, according to the National Onion Association Onions are low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also go great in salads, omelets and guacamole recipes. However, as everyone from expert chefs to culinary novices has learned, onions can bring a tear to your eye, and an expert from the Texas A&M College of Medicine explains why that happens.
Onions are vegetables that grow underground, and beneath the surface are a lot of critters who are trying to grab a bite to eat, but onions have a way to protect themselves. Sulfur in the dirt mixes with the growing onion and creates amino acid sulfoxides, which are sulfur compounds that readily turn into a gas. When an onion breaks apart, the sulfoxides and onion enzymes are released, and this creates sulfenic acid. The sulfenic acid and onion enzymes react and create a gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide.
This gas floats up from the chopped or bitten onion and deters critters - and causes humans to shed tears. It takes a lot of precise chemical reactions, and some vegetables related to onions will produce fewer tears. White, yellow and red onions all have higher concentration of the onion enzyme necessary to create syn-propanethial-S-oxide while sweet onions, green onions and scallions have fewer of the necessary enzymes. “It really is a complicated chemical process that creates the gas,” said Robert H. Rosa Jr., MD, ophthalmologist and professor of surgery and medical physiology at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. “They all act as precursors that create the lachrymatory process or what makes you tear up.”
Avoiding The Tears
Your eyes are sensitive, and considering their responsibilities, it’s good that they have defenses to harmful gases. “Your eyes have a set of nerves that detect anything that’s potentially harmful to your eyes,” Rosa said. “Your eyes react to the gas that is formed, and your eyes try to flush it out with tears. Luckily, the gases that are produced from chopping onions are more nuisance than harm. Chopping onions can cause some burning and irritation and tears. Other than that, it’s pretty safe on your eyes. It’s a temporary sensation with no known long-term effects and won’t worsen any other conditions like pink eye.”
Some people may have more sensitive eyes than others, which is why not everyone will tear up when they chop onions but why others may feel the effects on the other side of the room. There are a few different ways to avoid tears when you’re cutting onions. You can prevent the gas from reaching your eyes by wearing protective goggles, but that may be a bit excessive considering you’re in a kitchen and not a laboratory. “Some people may cut the onions in a bowl of water,” Rosa said. “I’d personally recommend using eye drops, like comfort drops, to help lubricate or rinse the eyes and dilute the gas exposure to the eyes.”
There has been talk about genetically modifying onions to knock out the alliinase enzyme that causes tears, without changing the particular spice that onions provide in flavor. However, tear-free onions have yet to be commercialized.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>So many of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy on a daily basis have a whole host of benefits that we aren't even aware of. Oftentimes, the benefits associated with these entities are fully grounded in other parts of the produce or plant, say the seed or the rind. In this case, we'll be exploring the many ways that butternut squash seed oil is effective.
There are the standards – olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil - that many people cook with on a semi-regular basis. While those oils are yummy and have fortifying benefits, you may sometimes just want a different taste. This is where the nutty and tasty butternut squash seed oil comes into play. Not only is it delicious, but it has health properties as well.
Good Oils
Healthy fats are essential for the overall health and function of the body. When we ingest too many trans fats, we run the risk of compromising our health and putting ourselves in danger of certain chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes or stroke. To prevent this from occurring, good oils should be consumed on a daily basis. This is because the two separate types of cholesterol react differently to each oil.
The high protein and caloric nature of this oil allows the good cholesterol to rise - this is deemed the HDL cholesterol. It also allows the bad cholesterol to lower - which is deemed LDL. This oil also has a high smoke point so it can be used as your go-to oil for cooking over high heat.
Reduce Discomfort
One of the best things about the oils we explore and discover is their ability to do so many different things. The ability for oil to have numerous functions is definitely a special aspect of their authentic natural roots and beginnings.
If you suffer from tightness in your joints, you likely deal with some type of swelling or arthritis. While this is fairly common, the level of discomfort you may feel can be incredibly jarring and disruptive. Rubbing a bit of butternut squash seed oil on your problem areas will help you to reduce stiffness as well as assist in managing the swelling and general discomfort that you often deal with.
Digestive Aid
Also known to be a great aid to digestive health, butternut squash seed oil can help when you experience those pesky tummy troubles. You may deal with this regularly or only around the holidays but many people have to grapple with their stomachs and digestive systems not working well when they eat certain foods. This can be incredibly cumbersome and uncomfortable to go through. If you have gas, bloating, nausea or constipation, you may have a digestive system that has trouble dealing with what you are putting in your body.
Thankfully, the digestive enzymes that are activated help the large intestine to properly do its job. While it's obviously preferred that your diet reflect smart choices that are cohesive with your body, sometimes you slip up. When you do, you don't want to have stomach pain and discomfort.
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Written By:
Serene Hitchcock is a professional freelance writer, blogger and social media strategist from San Diego, California. She has been writing for several years in many forms and facets and is interested in arts, health, self-improvement, current events and the world we live in.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>The latest evaluation was part of a larger investigation to review the success of the composting program. The study had 284 participating residents in Costa Mesa, California that started offering residents curbside waste pickup and recycling in 2015. No curbside recycling existed prior to the program.
The team was interested in the scientific concept termed "spillover" in which a certain behavior motivates another. However, the idea works both ways and can yield both positive and negative results. The survey asked subjects three food waste prevention behaviors. The researchers also used about seven energy and water waste prevention activities, such as unplugging electronics when they are not in use and taking shorter baths. The main idea was to test whether investing in composting bins, trucks, and other facilities could possibly lead to other environment-friendly behaviors.
The Results
Other Waste Management Behaviors
The team's deep dive into the scientific links between composting and its spillover effects unearthed an important fact. They found that this happened because it was cognitively accessible in their minds, and the thought about waste conservation seemed to prompt other waste management behaviors.
The study was conducted in a relatively rich, well-educated neighborhood, and further research would be needed to ascertain if the findings could be extended to other populations. Sintov nevertheless opined that the investigation supported the argument that these civic conservation projects might have multiple benefits, some obvious and others not. The study underscores the significance of conceding the fact that government policies and other changes can trigger unexpected behaviors in the population. The research is so relevant to policymakers.
She indicated that this program might be a nice way of testing conservation spillover because composting could be such a practically oriented and unappealing endeavor. The study is also among the first, as it is, to investigate environmental spillover in a social setting outside of an academic environment. Sintov concluded that it would be pretty cool if we could determine how to initiate changes that would ultimately stimulate positive spillover among the people.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Written By:
Serene Hitchcock is a professional freelance writer, blogger and social media strategist from San Diego, California. She has been writing for several years in many forms and facets and is interested in arts, health, self-improvement, current events and the world we live in.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Everyone loves Thanksgiving and we can also attest to the fact that it would not be the same without cranberries - can I get a witness! However, how many of us know about these tart berries?
]]>Everyone loves Thanksgiving and we can also attest to the fact that it would not be the same without cranberries - can I get a witness! However, how many of us know about these tart berries? On the Sustainable, Secure Food blog there are loads of cranberry facts.
Cranberry is an example of a plant in the process of domestication, according to research scientist Kevin Kosola. The Native Americans enjoyed cranberries in wide varieties as medication as well as food. Cranberries are still found in sphagnum bogs throughout the U.S. and Canada. The top processing states for the cultivation of these cranberries are Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
A popular question in the mind of many is how do they grow? To get a visual perspective of the plant, it helps to picture cranberries as tiny versions of fruit trees, Kasola says. The upright fruiting grows from time to time along a ground-hugging vine. Getting this plant established can take a lot of time - several years - which is then followed by decades of successful production without having to go through major stress.
Beyond Thanksgiving
Clipping these cranberry plants is very unusual as many say it is somewhat hard. For those who are somewhat used to growing this plant, they spread a lot of sand over the frozen cranberry beds in the winter season. When the ice melts, the sand layer buries the lowest layers of existing vines promoting the growth of new uprights as well as the roots. The pattern of the soil moisture retention curve of the cranberry beds is usually a striped one, alternating leaf litter and sand as well as vines that reflect years of regular sanding.
The use of cranberries goes beyond the Thanksgiving season. They are used as sweetened, dried cranberries as a snack or in a salad. Also, you can enjoy a fresh cosmopolitan or a cranberry juice on the side. Irrespective of how you enjoy cranberries, you can also think about the origin of this fruit which is a part of Native American culture and the farmers who take their time to grow this fruit we now enjoy. This is a fascinating example of a crop grown on different and relatively small numbers of acres of land that has a big impact as part of a diverse diet plan. The use of cranberries for Thanksgiving as well as many other seasons is something which has a way of livening any event and can add more spark to your season.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Written By:
Lisa S. Jones is a certified nurse, nutritionist, fitness coach and health expert. Her training credentials include a B.Sc. in Nursing from California State University in 2013 and Youth Nutrition Specialist Certification from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates in 2015. In 2017, she also received Holistic Nutrition Certification from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Scientists with the Population Health Research Institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences are using research from several large global studies to develop an updated, international approach of identifying a healthy diet.
]]>“A high-quality diet associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death has higher amounts of fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, dairy and meats,” says co-principal investigator Andrew Mente, a researcher of PHRI and associate professor of health research methods, evidence and impact at McMaster. “We see that what people eat, such as dairy and meat, differ in the global population, and the recommendations must consider populations whether what they eat is either low or high.”
“Our results are based on data involving populations from over 50 countries and so are more likely to apply to people around the world, better than recommendations based on studies conducted in a single country,” added co-principal investigator and PHRI investigator Mahshid Dehghan.
The investigators research combines information from several international studies led by PHRI and involving about 240,000 people from more than 50 countries. These includes studies with more than 138,500 people aged 35 to 70 without cardiovascular disease; 31,500 patients with vascular disease; 27,000 patients who have had a first heart attack, and 20,000 people who have had a first stroke.
“Currently a healthy diet is based largely on studies conducted decades ago and performed in mostly high income countries,” added Salim Yusuf, senior author and director of the PHRI “In these countries, the major problem is excessive intakes of some nutrients and some foods whereas in other countries, such as low and middle income countries, inadequacy of intake of some key foods and nutrients is the major problem. We need to identify the optimal level of intake of foods, and use such information in guiding global recommendations on diet.”
Can Healthy Diet Depend On Your Genes?
A recent Cornell University study describes how shifts in the diets of Europeans after the introduction of farming 10,000 years ago led to genetic adaptations that favored the dietary trends of the time. Before the Neolithic revolution that began around 10,000 years ago, European populations were hunter-gatherers that ate animal-based diets and some seafood. After the advent of farming in southern Europe around 8,000 years ago, European farmers switched to primarily plant-heavy diets. The study is the first to separate and compare adaptations that occurred before and after the Neolithic Revolution. It reveals that these dietary practices are reflected in the genes of Europeans. "The study shows what a striking role diet has played in the evolution of human populations," says Alon Keinan, associate professor of computational and population genomics and the paper's senior author.
The study has implications for the growing field of nutritional genomics, called nutrigenomics. Based on one's ancestry, clinicians may one day tailor each person's diet to her or his genome to improve health and prevent disease. It also shows that vegetarian diets of European farmers led to an increased frequency of an allele that encodes cells to produce enzymes that helped farmers metabolize plants. Frequency increased as a result of natural selection, where vegetarian farmers with this allele had health advantages that allowed them to have more children, passing down this genetic variant to their offspring.
The FADS1 gene found in these vegetarian farmers produces enzymes that play a vital role in the biosynthesis of omega-3 and omega-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids – also called LCPUFAs. These LCPUFAs are crucial for proper human brain development, controlling inflammation and immune response. While omega-3 and omega-6 LCPUFA can be obtained directly from animal-based diets, they are absent from plant-based diets. Vegetarians require FADS1 enzymes to biosynthesize LCPUFA from short-chain fatty acids found in plants - roots, vegetables and seeds.
Link Between Diet, Health And Genetic Variation
Analysis of ancient DNA revealed that prior to humans' farming, the animal-based diets of European hunter-gatherers predominantly favored the opposite version of the same gene, which limits the activity of FADS1 enzymes and is better suited for people with meat and seafood-based diets. Analysis of the frequencies of these alleles in Europeans showed that the prevalence of the allele for plant-based diets decreased in Europeans until the Neolithic revolution, after which it rose sharply. Concurrently, the opposite version of the same gene found in hunter-gatherers increased until the advent of farming, after which it declined sharply.
The researchers also found a gradient in the frequencies of these alleles from north to south since the Neolithic Era, including modern-day populations. All farmers relied heavily on plant-based diets, but that reliance was stronger in the south, as compared to northern Europeans whose farmer ancestors drank more milk and included seafood in their diet. Plant-based alleles regulate cholesterol levels and have been associated with risk of many diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and bipolar disorder. "I want to know how different individuals respond differently to the same diet," added Kaixiong Ye, a postdoctoral researcher in Keinan's lab and the paper's lead author. “Future studies will investigate additional links between genetic variation, diets and health, so that "in the future, we can provide dietary recommendations that are personalized to one's genetic background."
Improving Health And Longevity
Increasing time between meals made male mice healthier overall and live longer compared to mice who ate more frequently, according to a new study published in Cell Metabolism. Health and longevity improved with increased fasting time, regardless of what the mice ate or how many calories they consumed, reports scientists from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "This study showed that mice who ate one meal per day, and thus had the longest fasting period, seemed to have a longer lifespan and better outcomes for common age-related liver disease and metabolic disorders," says NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. "These intriguing results in an animal model show that the interplay of total caloric intake and the length of feeding and fasting periods deserves a closer look."
The scientists randomly divided 292 male mice into two diet groups. One group received a naturally sourced diet that was lower in purified sugars and fat, and higher in protein and fiber than the other diet. The mice in each diet group were then divided into three sub-groups based on how often they had access to food. The first group of mice had access to food around the clock. A second group of mice was fed 30 percent less calories per day than the first group. The third group was meal fed, getting a single meal that added up to the exact number of calories as the round-the-clock group. Both the meal-fed and calorie-restricted mice learned to eat quickly when food was available, resulting in longer daily fasting periods for both groups.
Increasing Fasting Times
The scientists tracked the mice's metabolic health through their lifespans until their natural deaths and examined them post-mortem. Meal-fed and calorie-restricted mice showed improvements in overall health, as evidenced by delays in common age-related damage to the liver and other organs, and extended longevity. The calorie-restricted mice also showed significant improvement in fasting glucose and insulin levels compared to the other groups. Interestingly, the researchers found that diet composition had no significant impact on lifespan in the meal-fed and calorie-restricted groups.
Scientists have studied the beneficial effects of caloric restriction for more than a century, but the impact of increased fasting times has recently come under closer scrutiny, according to the study's lead author, Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., chief of the Translational Gerontology Branch of the NIA Intramural Research Program. "Increasing daily fasting times, without a reduction of calories and regardless of the type of diet consumed, resulted in overall improvements in health and survival in male mice," said de Cabo. "Perhaps this extended daily fasting period enables repair and maintenance mechanisms that would be absent in a continuous exposure to food."
The findings are encouraging for future studies on how these types of time-restricted eating patterns might help humans to maintain healthy weight and reduce some common age-related metabolic disorders. Next steps for this research include expanding these findings to other strains of mice and other lab animal species using both sexes, and to find the potential translation of the findings in humans.
Health Tips For Men
Medical professionals from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have provided a few tips to help men get healthy. More than 12 percent of men age 18 and older are in fair or poor health leading to obesity, hypertension and even mortality, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Americans spend more than $20 billion per year on multivitamins, but not every vitamin is appropriate for every person.
“For the average person, there is no evidence that multivitamins improve health or help one avoid disease,” says William Curry, M.D., professor in the UAB School of Medicine. “There is no proven value of multivitamins unless a man has a known deficiency or specific condition. However, the doses of various vitamins - vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E - in the standard multivitamin products are typically in a safe range.” Curry recommends a multivitamin for those with malabsorption of the gut, alcoholism, previous gastric bypass surgery, severe kidney disease, on dialysis, or rare metabolic defects. Those who follow a strict vegetarian diet should also consider a general multivitamin.
Antioxidants including vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamins C and E are heavily promoted and advocated but studies have not found benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer, Curry says. Men with higher risk for cardiovascular disease, especially heart attack and stroke, may consider a vitamin with anti-oxidants. However, high doses of vitamin A can result in fractures and visual problems. High doses of vitamin E - 400 units per day or more - may cause higher mortality. “Vitamin E can interact with blood thinners to increase their effects,” Curry said.
Heart And Brain Health
Regular physical exercise is recommended to keep your cardiovascular system and brain healthy. Exercise helps lower blood pressure, improve lipid profile, and better control and possibly prevent Type 2 diabetes, as well as provide a longer life. “A healthy exercise program keeps the heart, lungs and blood vessels working at their best,” says David Geldmacher, M.D., director of the UAB Division of Memory Disorders. “We recommend two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise per week, like brisk walking, or lesser totals of more intense exercise.”
The brain gets about 15 percent of the total blood output from the heart, and consumes 20 percent of the body’s oxygen although it represents only about two percent of the total body weight. It is recommended to keep the delivery systems working at their best with exercise. Research studies indicate that persistent exercise triggers hormonal pathways that actually help brain cells increase the number of connections with other cells, as well as strengthen the chemical mechanisms of memory. A combination of resistance or strengthening exercise with endurance exercise is ideal for heart and brain health.
“The time to act is now, while the brain is healthy,” Geldmacher said. “Nowhere in the neurosciences are we able to get the brain to grow new, functioning neurons. However, brain-protective mechanisms, like exercise, get their best shot to work a little bit at a time over long periods. Those with medical issues should maintain regular checkups for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes using medications as prescribed to keep those numbers in the healthy range.”
Tobacco Risks
Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco can be very challenging, but can be beneficial for heart and lung health. It is a preventable driver of mortality through cancer and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that smokers are at a higher risk of having a reduced sperm count and lower sperm motility, affecting male fertility. Side effects are worse in moderate or heavy smokers. In addition to the overall issues with tobacco, chewing tobacco poses a risk for throat and neck cancer, as well as many dental problems. “Those who stop smoking will see an immediate impact on their blood pressure with a decrease within minutes, and the toxic levels of carbon monoxide decrease within a day,” said J. Michael Wells, M.D., assistant professor in UAB’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine. “Within three months, lung function begins to improve, and the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases will decrease by at least four times.”
A multifaceted approach is recommended, including counseling and sometimes medication. The most important thing to kicking the habit is being ready to do so. If you are not motivated to quit, you probably will not succeed. Set a stop date. Get rid of paraphernalia lying around the house such as ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes. Avoid stopping at the store where you typically purchased your tobacco products. Don’t be afraid to lean on a family member or friend. Kick the habit with a friend who is ready to quit also. Find a support group. Use nicotine replacement products. “Don’t be afraid of failure,” Wells added. “If you have a relapse, pick yourself up and try again. Cessation for any amount of time is a success. If it were easy, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Drinking Risks
Kidney stones is a multifactorial disease influenced by events in the kidney, gastrointestinal system and bone health, certain endocrine disorders, genetics, diet, and environmental factors. Around 11 percent of men will be affected by kidney stones sometime in their lives. “Warmer climates may cause individuals to perspire excessively, causing them to become dehydrated,” says Dean Assimos, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Urology. “This results in urine becoming concentrated and the chemicals forming kidney stones. Crystals of these chemicals can arise, which is a prerequisite for kidney stone formation. The more fluid you consume, the less likely you are to have kidney stones, but it is important to consume the right fluids.”
Drink 10 to 12 ounces of water every couple of hours while you are awake. If you are exercising or perspiring, drink more due to losing these fluids more rapidly. Sugary drinks that include high levels of fructose corn syrup, like sodas, should be avoided. Studies have shown a correlation between drinks with high fructose and kidney stones, as well as links between obesity and kidney stones. “The consumption of coffee, tea, beer and wine in moderate amounts has been associated with reduced risk of developing kidney stones in epidemiology studies,” Assimos added.
It is recommended to not drink anything other than water or black coffee. Soft drinks contain sodium and sugar or artificial sweeteners, which may contribute to obesity and diabetes. Carbonation causes calcium to be pulled from bones into the blood stream, which causes osteoporosis and kidney stones. Sports drinks often contain more sodium than you should eat in a day. “Alcohol is another ‘simple’ sugar and is burned before other calorie sources, more likely to lead to diabetes and obesity,” says UAB nurse practitioner Jody Gilchrist. “Alcohol should be limited to one to two servings a day. High amounts of alcohol lead to poor judgment and eating more unhealthy foods.”
Excessive alcohol use can be a cause of sexual dysfunction, because it can lead to decreased testosterone, decreased libido and difficulty getting an erection. It is also important that a man with erectile dysfunction not drink too much alcohol while using certain medications for erectile dysfunction, as the combination can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure and impair the ability of the medication to work.
Fruit And Veggie Health
Heart health, diabetes and hormones levels are tied to maintaining a proper diet, including eating the daily recommended fruits and vegetables. The most important thing a man can do for his overall health is eat a healthy diet. Many of the books and courses for complicated diets have sustained benefit for the average man. Extremely low-fat diets may be dangerous, because the fats are replaced by more carbohydrates, usually simple sugars, which have a variety of bad effects, including Type 2 diabetes. “Moderate restriction of sodium is a good idea,” Curry said. “Processed foods and snacks are usually loaded with it, as are canned vegetables and soups unless labeled low in sodium.”
He recommends the DASH diet as a reliable model that is affordable and tasty due to its reduction in sodium and variety of foods rich in nutrients. The Mediterranean Diet and its variations also can be worked into a healthy approach to dieting, according to a recent UAB study. Both diets have been associated with maintaining brain health as well. The production of testosterone and proper urinary function can also be tied to a healthy diet. The best time to start eating a healthy diet is when one is young. It helps set the stage for eating healthy throughout life, and can prevent problems that come with poor eating choices.
Protecting Your Skin
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun directly damages the skin DNA in susceptible people. Over time, this damage can build up, leading to the formation of cancerous cells, which grow into tumors. Know the types of skin cancer and what they look like to help better identify markings that may have you concerned. Three common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. “Skin cancer, like all types of cancer, is capable of destroying healthy tissue and spreading to distant body sites,” says C. Blake Phillips, M.D., a fellow in the UAB Department of Dermatology. “If undetected or untreated, skin cancers lead to loss of vital functions or death. It is important to keep an eye on your skin and watch for changes that could be a sign of skin cancer.”
The most important aspect of protecting your skin is to avoid UV radiation exposure from the sun. Wear sunscreen with an SPF value of 30 or higher every day to exposed areas. Look for products that don’t feel greasy, and block both UVA and UVB. Wear protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats with sunglasses when out in the sun. Avoid peak sun hours of the day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., choosing to do outdoor activities in morning or evening hours. Avoid indoor tanning, and choose pigmented lotion, spray tan or no tan instead.
Family Health History
Next to skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men. Men age 50 and older should be screened during their annual physical exam with a discussion regarding prostate cancer risk. A routine blood test can measure a biomarker called prostate-specific antigen or PSA, which can identify a man’s risk of prostate cancer along with a digital rectal exam. Concern based on the PSA blood test level or digital rectal exam can prompt a biopsy of the prostate gland, which can be further evaluated to determine the presence of prostate cancer and, if found, the aggressiveness of the cancer.
“Many men do not know their family history of prostate cancer because men tend not to talk about their health concerns, even with their children and other family members,” says Soroush Rais-Bahrami, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Urology. “It is important to discuss family history due to the significantly higher risk for men with a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.” Certain men may have a higher risk of prostate cancer based on family history or ethnicity, race, and ancestry and should receive their first screening discussions at the age of 40.
Looking for 100% all-natural foot and body products? Check out The Runner’s Choice foot care oil for tired and achy feet and ReliefMD body oil to help with the discomfort of sore muscles. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Every function of the body seems to slow down when we age - and the brain is no different. Aging also causes a reduction in brain function because the microglia, which is the immune cells in the brain, produce harmful chemicals whenever they become inflamed. These chemicals then go on to cause harm to the brain health which leads to memory loss and other poor functions of the brain.
]]>“Butyrate is of interest because it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties on microglia and improve memory in mice when administered pharmacologically,” says Professor Rodney Johnson, head of the Department of Animal Sciences and corresponding author on the Frontiers in Immunology study. The study took a look at the effects of butyrate on older mice and found out that it was able to stop the production of dangerous brain-damaging chemicals. Johnson believes that if humans can eat meals that are high in soluble fiber, they would get more sodium butyrate since it’s not possible to consume it directly. When one eats fiber, the bacteria in the gut will convert it to sodium butyrate and other short-chain-fatty-acids (SCFAs) which helps the gut health and also affects the outcome of certain diseases.
Intestinal Inflammation
The study in a bid to see how butyrate affects the body fed young and old mice high and low-fiber diets. After this, they measured to see the level of butyrate and other SCFAs in the blood. They also checked for chemicals that cause inflammation in the intestine. The high fiber diet had produced more butyrate and other SCFAs in both the young and old mice. One thing that was worthy of note is that they only found intestinal inflammation on the old mice they had fed a low-fiber diet. The younger mice that were given the same diet were perfectly fine. This proved how different the old body system is from the young. The study also went on to prove how effective dietary fiber could reduce intestinal inflammation too as the old mice they fed the high-fiber diet saw reduced inflammation.
The researchers also checked for brain inflammation. They set about examining the genes in microglia which were about 50 unique genes. The mice they had fed the high-fiber diet also experienced a reduction in brain inflammation. However, the study did not show how the high-fiber diet affected the behavioral and cognitive function of the brain. They promise to tackle this aspect and all others in future research.
After the research, Johnson was confident that the effect would be the same in humans. He added that older adults do not consume much fiber and this has a great effect on their brain health and other body inflammations.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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Moisturizing
One of the simplest attributes of shea butter is its ability to moisturize the skin and keep it supple and hydrated. Due to the high levels of fatty acids and vitamins within the butter, it can be used to keep your skin soft and combat overall dryness. Have you been dealing with unseasonably rough or dry skin? This is the perfect antidote. You can use it alone or mix it with your favorite essential oils to create your own natural, all-over moisturizer. It is great for the bottoms of feet, knees and elbows. All of your most parched areas will be well taken care of.
Reduces Inflammation
The cinnamic acid that naturally occurs in shea butter was found to help positively affect those who deal with inflammation. This is perfect for those of you who are suffering from various forms of acne, namely cystic acne that often results in swelling or blemishes that carry a great deal of inflammation. The lupeol cinnamate can help to minimize the effects of acne as well as lower the changes of recurrent outbreak. Try using a bit of shea butter on those really bad blemishes you've been suffering from. It will help them shrink and appear smaller. The vitamins within the butter will simultaneously nourish the face.
Improves Skin Elasticity
Your face and neck are not the only skin areas you need to worry about in the aging process. Every part of your body goes through changes. Signs of aging are indicative of your years, but also how well you take care of your skin. The older you get, the more your skin loses its elasticity, it starts to sag, wrinkle, and cellulite will likely develop. When you treat your entire body with shea butter, you are helping halt that process. Apply it nightly to your problem areas, your buttocks and thighs, wherever you're starting to see dimply skin that lacks its old smoothness.
Stretch Marks
Another way that lack of elasticity shows is through the occurrence of stretch marks. Whether it's from weight gain, pregnancy or genetics, stretch marks can plague many individuals. Keeping the skin properly moisturized and feeding it the nutrients it so desperately needs can not only prevent stretch marks from developing but can also treat existing or old stretch marks. If the skin has the proper vitamins, fatty acids and moisture to stretch as it will, the marks won't happen as frequently.
Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>The holidays are upon us - and while that means time off work, enjoying family and friends, as well as cozy weather and gift giving - it also means super scrumptious foods. All of the best, most delicious dishes make their rounds during the holiday season - as do all the decadent and savory, sweet treats. While enjoying yourself should be a priority this holiday season, it's really easy to overdo it when it comes to food.
]]>Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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There are so many environmental hazards that can threaten your skin. Two of the most common are sun and air pollution. The UV rays that the sun gives off are very strong and can be harmful to the skin. While a good sunscreen will usually do the trick to protect your skin from harm, some of those store-bought sunscreens actually contain additives and ingredients that are bad for you and the environment.
]]>Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care.. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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A specific study was conducted at Virginia Tech University regarding the intrinsic health benefits of both olives and the oil derived from them. There has been long-standing beliefs that olives and olive oil are amazing for the heart and various other aspects of health. The Mediterranean diet regards it as a staple and as such, many people in that region taut its praises and supreme abilities. But little is known on why and how this fruit and oil is so effective. The biochemical interactions of the compounds within the fruit itself give way to why it's such a wonderful option.
]]>Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
]]>Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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Niger seed oil has impressive health benefits associated with its use. Indigenous to Malawi, Ethiopia and India, it is derived from an herb that goes by many different names, one being black seed. The extraction process is typically done in a varied manner that deals specifically with high heat. Filled with fatty acids and linoleic acid the oil is very close to sunflower oil in composition and look.
]]>Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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One of the most common suggestions for a fortifying, healthy beverage is often green tea. So many praise its nutritional benefits, why it is superior to coffee, and its various functions. There is so much said about green tea that a group of researchers had questions they wanted answered - very specific questions regarding brain insulin resistance and the issues that can sometimes result in its presence.
]]>Green tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water, and is grown in at least 30 countries, says a researcher at Northwest A&F University in Yangling, China. The drink has many important components that allow it to help with combating issues like insulin resistance, obesity and memory impairment. The study dealt with three different groups of mice: one with a standard diet, one with a diet that included green tea, and another diet with an additional amount of water.
Powerful Antioxidants
It was shown that the diet with the green tea showed cognitive memory functioning and better weight composition. It stands to reason if this was the case with mice, the positive effects could then also be experienced by humans as well. This makes perfect sense as green tea has a ton of positive properties that improve the health of consistent drinkers all the time. The powerful antioxidants within the tea leaves help to ward off free radicals that often get absorbed by the body from outside forces.
While many can't give up their coffee affinity, green tea is far and away the more healthy and impressive option. Green tea has less caffeine than what can be found in coffee but it works similarly in that it helps to block a neurotransmitter that actually allows the brain to be more functional. It helps to increase the firing of neurons that allow for thought process and overall cognitive function. It allows for the person to feel more aware and awake while also allowing for the formation of new ideas to be formed and articulated.
Where coffee fails is that it can be too strong and too much of a stimulant for those who are sensitive to that level of caffeine. Many who have converted from drinking coffee to tea say that they feel less jittery and are even getting better sleep because the levels of caffeine in green tea works so much better in their systems. There are also fat burning components within the tea that make it a great aid for those who are trying to lose weight or get into better physical shape. It does this by mobilizing the fatty acids within the fat tissues and helps them to be used for energy instead of unnecessarily stored on the body.
The antioxidant presence in the tea is also said to be a great way to combat cancer - one of the foremost killers in our society. The presence of numerous antioxidants can help to mitigate the risk of developing harmful types of growths. It's also important to note that drinking the tea without milk is recommended as the milk can alter the amount of antioxidants that are provided from fresh tea.
Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
Click here to learn more about the Effects And Uses Of Green Tea
]]>The benefits of blueberries have been proclaimed for quite some time. They are on every list of the most powerfully rich antioxidant foods and the berries are easy to incorporate into a well-balanced diet. In a recent study, it was shown that the juice within the berry can help a specific issue that many older people begin to face: cognitive impairment.
]]>Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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