Oct 21, 2011

The Healing Powers Of Olive Oil Heartily Amazing

There isn't just one kind of of olive oil. it comes in several different varieties. Olive oil can be used as a flavor booster for salads, pan frying and for healing the body from certain diseases and medical conditions.

About olive oil
40 years ago researchers were amazed when they first stared studying Greek living on the island of Crete. Although their traditional Greek diet is high in fat, people had shocking low rates of heart disease. According to Dimitrios Trichopoulos, MD, professor of epidemiology and cancer prevention at the Harvard school of public health says, "we could follow in their foot steps."

Olive oil is made from crushed olives. When consumed it has great health benefits. It can reduce the risk of heart disease and may reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is concentrated with monounsaturated fat, which is why it is extremely valuable to the heart. Monounsaturated fat keeps the arteries clean and from clogging, which can cause heart attacks and heart problems.


Reducing cholesterol

Olive oil also has disease-fighting compounds that prevent damage to arteries before it starts. All fat, fro butter and margarine to olive oil, contain almost the same amount of fats. But they react differently inside the body, Saturated fats to give an example, which are in meats and dairy products are damaging to the body.

These fats make it hard for the body to digest harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the kind that blocks arteries and increases the risk of heart disease. Two tablespoons of olive oil a day decrease your risk of having heart complications.

Greeks eat very little fat because their diet consists of veggies and legumes. A project called Seven Countries Study, found that while 46 percent of middle-aged American men were due to heart disease, the number in Crete was only 4 percent. This is a healthy fat that we all need in our daily diets.


Protecting from cancers

Olive oil may help prevent many cancers. It can protect cells in the body from oxidation. A study was done in Denmark that proved this containing 182 male subjects. Researchers from Harvard School of Public health in Greece found that women who use olive oil had a 25% lower risks of breast cancer. Compared to those who barely use it.

This healthy oil is best recognize as a protector of the heart. Olive oil is also rich in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that fights harmful free radicals, which our bodies produces that can cause illnesses. Vitamin E is also great for skin and hair.


Lowers chances of Rheumatoid arthritis.  Experts believe, because of a study that was conducted on 145 people with rheumatoid arthritis, that extra-virgin olive oil reduces the risks of  of this disease. Why? Well, olive has anti-inflammatory effects. Another study discovered that the oil was similar to ibuprofen in decreasing inflammation.


Differences of olive oil

Olive oils depending on which brand, can be quite expensive. However because of its benefits the cost is well worth it.

Extra-virgin Oil- is the king of olive oils. It is usually used for flavoring oil and not for cooking. The deeper the color the more intense the flavor is.
Pure-virgin oil- is  paler than extra-virgin, and had a mild flavor. It's used for low-to medium heat frying.
Light oil- is used by people who want the hearty benefits of the oil without the strong olive taste.

Tip: Keep in fridge or cool dark places to prevent staling, which will deteroiate the nutrients. Let it get room temperature after removing it from the refridgerator  before use.

Delicious And Nutritious Recipes For Kids

If you are one of millions of parents that are constantly wracking their brains for healthy and yummy meals for your little ones, here is some help. Not only are these meals nutritious but they are kid's favorite meals. Here are the healthy alternatives to the most popular items on kid's menus. Kids will love these recipes because they taste wonderful. Parents will love these recipes for kids because they are easy and fast to make.
All kids love hamburgers. Substituting a turkey or veggie burger patty for a beef patty is significantly more healthy for children. Red meat is a very hard food for young people and adults to digest and it is also very fatty. Season a turkey or veggie burger with garlic powder, a little pinch of seasoning salt and a dash of pepper. Then pile on the toppings of fresh lettuce, tomatoes and ketchup and your kids will never know the difference.
Spaghetti and meatballs is one of the most popular favorite dishes for kids. Try using whole wheat pasta and ground turkey meatballs in your recipe. By replacing the sausage and beef meatballs, you can cut hundreds of grams of fat and calories right away.
Everyone loves chicken fingers and here is a fantastically quick recipe that does not involve frying. First cut up white chicken breast pieces into long nuggets. Then dip the raw chicken into beaten egg yolks until they are fully coated. Next, place the egg-drenched nuggets into breadcrumbs (the store-bought brands are great). Lastly, place the chicken in a greased pan which goes into the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or cook on grill.
Cooking a healthy breakfast can be just as simple and fast. Oatmeal can taste like dessert if treated correctly. In a cooked pot of oatmeal, add brown sugar to taste, milk, salt, and nutmeg and mix it all together. Children will think it tastes like a warm sweet treat but it is very healthy and low-fat.
Parent's one complaint with children's eating habits is that they won't eat their veggies. Think of creative ways to hide those veggies without using fattening melted cheese. Mix broccoli into a chicken salad and then wrap the mix into a tortilla or flat bread. Kids won't even taste the broccoli and it is a healthy and fun sandwich.
Pizza is another brilliant way to hide vegetables. All kids love pizza. Making a pizza with your kids can be fun and much healthier/cheaper than ordering delivery pizza. Also, you can use low-fat mozzarella cheese and lots of veggie toppings. Make mealtime a fun family activity with a game of "make your own pizza" night. Give your kids extra points or some reward for using two or more vegetables on their pizza.
Don't forget the drinks either. Soft drinks and fruit juices are very high in sugars and preservatives. Making a pitcher of lemonade using lemon juice, one cup of natural sugar-cane, and water will quench yours and their thirst. Almost any recipe can be altered into a healthy and delicious recipes for kids that adults will enjoy too.

Easy Healthy Recipes For Kids That Are Made Out Of Their Favorite Foods

Every parent has the struggle of trying to get their children to eat healthy foods. There are many easy healthy recipes for kids that they will love. It is impossible for them to even tell the difference. The foods taste great and are simple to prepare.
Macaroni and cheese is not the healthiest thing for a kid to eat. There is a way to improve the nutritional value of it though. Vegetables can be added to a bowl of macaroni and cheese to ensure that your child is getting some important vitamins and minerals. The secret to giving it to them undetected, is how small you are able to slice the vegetables.
Spinach works very well for this. It is loaded with nutrients, and will hardly even be noticed in the mixture. Just chop up a few spinach leaves and conceal it in the macaroni and cheese. Children do not even notice that it is in there. The thinner and smaller that you are able to slice these leaves, the easier they are to hide in the food.
The local pizza house does not make a very healthy pizza. Usually they are coated with grease, loaded with meat, and made from white flour. Making the pizza yourself can add some great qualities to it. By doing it yourself, and making it from scratch, you will be able to decide what goes into it. Pizza is one of the easiest foods to conceal items with great nutritional value. Making your own also allows you to regulate the amount of cheese and toppings that are used.
Instead of using white flour for the dough, try using wheat flour. Wheat flour is much healthier than white. If the all wheat crust is unappealing to your child, substitute some of the white flour in a recipe with wheat. Another great idea is making your own sauce from scratch. This is much easier to do than you would imagine. All you need is a can of tomato sauce and one can of tomato paste. A wide variety of things can be added to the sauce to give it flavor, and a higher nutritional value.
Vegetables can easily be hidden inside the sauce. Try chopping up a bell pepper into very thin and small pieces, and then add it into the sauce. A touch of fresh garlic can be roasted and added to it also.
Garlic is very beneficial to your body. It contains a large amount of antibiotic properties that will strengthen the immune system, and aid with digestion. It is also possible to run a mixture of vegetables through a blender that can be added to the sauce.
These easy healthy recipes for kids, that are made from foods they already love, are easy to do. Simply adding a healthier element to their favorite items will ensure they are receiving proper nutrition. Children often do not like change. Sometimes changing their entire diet will make them not want to eat at all. Your child will not even detect these easy improvements.

Crash Diets That Work - Should You Even Consider Them

I wanted to look at this weight loss programs that works and it has helped othersburn their belly fat and lost weight quickly and healthily.
The diet I wanted to tell you about now is nothing in particular, it is just centered around crash diets that work in a week. That is mostly what they claim to do.
The most obvious reason why people love this diet is that it happens in the space of a week, yes 7 days is all you need, and if you follow properly what is required of you to do, you can lose up to 11 pounds. The second factor why I love this is because of the fact that it works. It has been proven over and over again, and hundreds have achieved success as a result of it. Whether it will give you those results remains to be seen.
It seems to me that people who want to lose weight have weight issues in their bellies as well. If you are struggling belly fat then you are going to love this, because it is specialized for getting rid of stomach fat.
In order to combat the belly fat and get slimmer and hotter, sometimes crash diets that work have to be used to ensure that weight loss is achieved in the shortest amount of time possible, in this case it is not necessary though.
I like programs that reveal all the foods that are making you fat, best of all you will learn all the foods that allow you to burn fat, especially belly fat. This allows people to understand the reasons behind their being fat.
That is why I am stressing that you should not focus on a crash diet, because most encourage that you starve, and you should not have to starve yourself.
Besides the other techniques that it uses to get rid of your belly fat, it encourages you to eat throughout the day to boost your metabolism. When your metabolism is high, the body gets to burn more calories.
If you still want to look to crash diets that work in a week, you can still do that, but I highly discourage that.

Tips for Losing Weight Without Too Much Effort

Losing weight is a huge battle for a lot of people, and many have tried a lot of the time but failed. Let me just say that I also tried for a good amount of time before I managed to do it.
Mostly this will make someone be in a bad place as they are frustrated at not being able to lose weight, and they might end up making desperate decisions to try for that weight loss.
If you follow these tips that I am going to give you, you will be able to lose weight without much effort.
  • White foods are bad for you if you are looking to lose weight. Not all white foods are bad, white foods that you should have in your diet include fish, lean chicken and cauliflower. The ones that will go against your desire to lose weight include white bread, white rice, white flour, white pasta and the like.
  • Wheat products are also not so great if you are looking to lose weight. Try and stick to other food groups, eat light and of course fruits and vegetables are the best, and you will see some results.
  • Sugary drinks are also bad for you. They are full of empty calories which is bad for your body and your health. Instead, you should be drinking water. Instead of that cup of coffee with creamer, you should be drinking some water.
A lot of people are very lazy when it comes to working out or going to the gym, and let me just say that I am actually one of those people who are not too fond of exercise. But in understanding how exercise helps in weight loss and how it can make the process happen much quicker, I have had to embrace it. However, I had to find exercises that I could do without feeling that it was a lot of work, but still benefit from.
It is important to do what you like, for me that was walking and cycling. These are two things that I love doing, and I never feel like I am exercising.
If you are serious about losing weight, then take these tips to good use, and you will do just fine. Also find something you like doing, that help you burn even more calories, that can take care of the exercise part of what you need to do.

Filling Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

In order to lose weight and look our best selves, food is a very important factor. There are foods that are bad for our health and that make us even more fat than we already are.
There are also foods that are full of empty calories that make us fat and have no nutritional value for our bodies to benefit from. But there are also foods that are good for us and that will help us get to the weight that we want, that will also give our bodies the good nutrition that our bodies deserve. These foods not only make you full for longer, they will also help you burn some fat.
For starters, apples are a great source of fiber and because of the pectin that they contain makes you feel full for a longer period.
Avocados are also great for you, they have the necessary vitamins that the body needs and contains the essential fatty acids that are  needed, and you definitely will feel full for a longer period.
Grapefruits are extremely good if you are looking to burn some fat . They have a lot of vitamin C and they make a great snack.
Vegetables are good for you, and one of the good ones that you should include in your diet is broccoli. You will not be getting hungry eating this vegetable and you will also be nourishing your body with essential vitamins and nutrients.
Almonds are great for you as a snack, or as part of your breakfast in the morning. Just make sure that to get the full goodness of them that you eat them raw, and not roasted.
Get some berries in your diet, as they are loaded with anti oxidants. Blueberries would give you a great start in the family of berries.
Just incorporating these filling foods will set on the path to eating healthily, while you get to burn fat off your body and lose weight.
Losing weight is hard and that is the honest truth. So, any kind of help should be used as much as you can and if there are foods that can help you lose weight just from eating them, I say that you should jump at that opportunity.

Fat Fighting Foods Get To a Slimmer You Using Fat Fighting Foods

Losing weight is hard for a lot of people, but if you use fat fighting foods that can help you to burn fat and lose weight, it will be half the battle won. It is a fact that the foods that we eat are the major culprits in our bodies being the way they are and us being as fat as we are.
A lot of people think that fat fighting foods never taste good or that healthy foods taste like cardboard, and this is not entirely true. There are foods that taste great that we can all include in our diets, and these foods are packed with great nutrients that will benefit us.
Here is a list of some fat fighting foods that also taste great:
  • Chocolate – If you love chocolate you will be happy to know that just because you are trying to lose weight, means that you must stop eating your favorite snack. Dark chocolate is actually good for you, and when consumed, it makes you feel full for longer. This means that your digestion will slow down and you will not feeling like eating more food. Just remember that it has to be dark chocolate that you consume, and you should still eat it sparingly.
  • Eggs – If love eggs like I do, you will love this selection. Did you know that a large egg has only 78 calories? If you are going to focus on just eating the egg white, it is even better as it is only 16 calories. Eggs are delicious, you will also feel full for longer and they make a breakfast complete, they are also a great source of protein. Again, do not go overboard, as you know, too much of a good thing is not a great idea.
  • When it comes to fruit, a banana is one of those fruits that you want to include as it is one of those fat fighting foods. It is packed with fiber and it is like a mini meal when eaten. You also can use it if you like eating smoothies, and it will make you full for a couple of hours.
  • Nuts make a great snack. Not only do they contain great fats, they also have protein as well as fiber, so walnuts, cashews and almonds are great for your body.
These are just some of the fat fighting foods that are available for you to enjoy and there are many others. These should be your focus because you are getting a opportunity of getting great foods that nourish your body with proper nutrients, but that do not come with empty calories whose purpose is to get you fatter than you should be.
 Most of these easy are delicious and the ones that need preparation just need to prepared using proper cooking methods such as boiling and using olive oil if they need oil.
 The truth is there a lot of fat fighting foods that if consumed will leave you slimmer, healthier and feeling better. Try them.

Chocolate Lovers Dream It Can Impact Workout Routine

Resisting chocolate has always been difficult to me. The rich, creamy and decadent texture is just so satisfying and soothing. As you know chocolate does have positive side effects when it comes to your health. But who would ever thought that it can aid you in a better workout? Certainly not me.

Consuming too much and eating the wrong chocolate can cause weight gain and other unwanted health issues. Dark chocolate is the one that has more nutritional value. It contains less sugar than milk chocolate and it has a low glycemic index so your blood sugar won't up and that's exactly what you want.

Boost workouts
In a recent study from the University of California San Diego, mice were given epicatechin, which is found in chocolate, ran 50 percent farther on a treadmill than those who didn't receive their candy fix. Chocolate also boost a chemical called ATP, says Michael Lapointe an associate professor of biology at Indiana University Northwest, he compares ATP with gasoline in sparkling energy.

Studies has shown that epicatechin, which is in chocolate may improve workouts because it increases mitochondria inside muscles and enzymes that make ATP as well as the number of capillaries delivering oxygen to cells. The test is still not totally clear. Chocoholics, remember to eat in moderation. And consuming it releases endorphins in the pleasure spot of the brain. Endorphins makes us feel good, but also increase tolerance to pain. Lose weight with chocolate, I think that's the easiest thing to do when it comes to weight loss is eating sweets without the guilt.

Dark chocolate is better

Enjoy the a sweet tooth, with that said meaning with the right choices and nutrition. You can satisfy it as long as you watch quantity. Dark chocolate is a better alternative than others because this sweet snack is slightly processed, so it holds more of its natural compounds. Also this this candy contains caffeine, which is a stimulant and studies have shown it increases athletic performance. Other benefits of Dark chocolate is that it has iron ad when you mix it with nuts, you have a great protein snack.

Vikki Armstrong, President and owner of Beyond Fitness Personal Training and wellness coaching in Southwest Michigan says, "dark chocolate has about 5 milligrams of sugar. Energy bars contain 25 milligrams of sugar and has more chemicals." Consuming it has more health benefits especially when combined with fruit such as strawberries and nuts. It's good to know that chocolate is a healthy candy.

How To Eat Good And Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

It is so hard to maintain your weight during the holiday season. So many good foods in your face, just looking at them you've already imagine gaining the weight before you even sit at the table. The holidays is traditionally about the meals, but most importantly it is about the gathering of family and friends.

Most holiday meals are about 3,000 to 4,000 calories according to  dietitian Cathy Held of Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Hammond and Dyer. Ms Held has been contributing nutritional help since 1985. To bur off 3,000 or more calories you would have to walk 35 miles.

How to avoid the weight gain:
Focus on portions. When gazing at all of that good homemade food, it's easy to pile onto the plate. Then once you've consumed it there's a feeling of regret. To prevent the guilt of over indulging, get a smaller plate.

Cooking for the better. When preparing your meals you can substitute ingredients for low-calorie to low-fat ingredients without interfering with the taste. Some foods you don't have to cook with butter, like saute onions in butter. Chop them up and throw in microwave, they will soften.


Think and know. Reducing your fat intake can dramatically change your weight. For every tablespoon of fat you can eliminate you get rid of 100 calories.

Turkey and gravy or spiral ham? Meats are nutritional, turkey is one of them. Turkey has 120 calories in three ounce and 5 grams of fat and ham has 140 calories and a little bit higher in fat. Darker meat has just as much nutritional value as chicken breast. It's the skin that should be avoided because it is where mostly the fat and calories are.

Green bean casserole or creamed corn? Green bean casserole is only 100 calories and five grams of fat. Creamed corn is double that. You can create a green bean casserole with a low-fat soup and use less onions crisps on top.

Mashed potatoes or stuffing? Mashed potatoes has fewer calories. The stuffing in the turkey absorbs all of the fat in the cavity of it, which makes the stuffing really fattening.

Pecan pie or pumpkin pie? Of course pumpkin is always a better choice. It has 230 calories. Pecan pie is loaded with sugar and fat, a slice is 700 calories. If you love pecan pie, eat smaller slices and try to avoid the whipped cream that will only make it worse.

Is Bee Pollen Vegan Please Make Up Your Own Minds

Is bee pollen vegan is a question best left to those who practice veganism. Being a vegetarian I can say that eating bee pollen has never kept me awake at night. I am perfectly content to let other debate and just enjoy the health benefits I get from this amazing food..
Vegan is not so much a thing, as a system of beliefs and if the way this food is obtained causes you pause then by all means refrain from eating it. The founder Donald Watson excluded any food derived from the exploitation of animals. Well this would not have worked in the days of the horse and wagon for sure. Who would have plowed the fields to grow the vegetables (by the way they are living things) that vegans eat. Well that is just this writer's humble opinion.
Is bee pollen vegan, if you get all technical about it well, NO it isn't. Because it would seem that gleaning the excess granules is somehow exploiting the bees. But consider this it was perfectly okay for the poor to glean from the fields of the rich and this was not considered exploitation but benevolence. How benevolent of the bees to allow of nutrition deprived humans to partake of the goodness of their bounty.
There can be no greater truth that to say bee pollen vegan issues are very hard to reconcile. Thank goodness I don't have to answer the debate for the masses just for myself. My family and I have seen what eating this amazing food can do and how it can improve your health. There are fewer colds this year and we owe it all to the power of the pollen.
Besides this we know that a number of athletes use the supplement when training and as a part of their everyday diet. It boosts energy as well as the immune system. It also has all of the nutrients in the right levels to reverse the damage of years of bad habits. It is also great for seniors who are losing their sex drive. This is truly a little miracle and as we found out there was only one real debate about and that was where to get a supply that was not subject to contamination due to pollution.
We only use bee pollen form New Zealand and this is because it has the lowest pollution of any country on earth. You can get a supply for your family by following the link below.