Healthy Eating Tips: Cook Smarter With Coconut Oil


I used to always cook with vegetable oils mostly because that's what my mom cooks with and that's the way I was taught to cook, and we've also been told that these vegetable unsaturated oils are more "heart healthy" and are supposed to protect us from heart disease. It turns out, that was a really BAD idea as they actually do more harm than good.
Here is why. Unsaturated oils like vegetable oil, corn oil, safflower oil just to name a few oxidize when exposed to any heat, even room temperature heat. The problem with oxidation in oils is that it makes it rancid and produces Free Radicals. Free Radicals are molecules that are missing a critical component and steal what they need from your healthy cells, altering your DNA which accelerates aging and over 90% of all diseases we suffer from today. This is BAD, and why you should move your family away from these oils, and stop cooking with them. Cooking with these oils accelerates oxidation, which produces more Free Radicals.
I've recently moved over to cooking with Coconut Oil. Coconut Oil is saturated and heat stable so that it doesn't get damaged when you cook with it, and it does not oxidize so no free radicals are getting into my kids bodies destroying their healthy cells. You can cook with it, bake with it, and mix it up for dressings and other healthy treats.
Other benefits:
Promotes heart health
Supports the Immune System
Gives you Energy
Supports healthy metabolism
Promotes weight loss
Maintain normal Cholesterol levels
It also doubles as an excellent moisturizer for your skin.
If Coconut oil is a saturated fat, then how can it be healthy? It's all in the chemical structure. Coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA's). Most vegetable and seed oils are comprised of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA's).
LCFA's are bad. Your body has a difficult time breaking them down which strains your liver, pancreas, and entire digestive system. They also lead to high cholesterol, which leads to a bunch of other problems. LCFA's almost always get stored as fat.
Medium-Chain fatty acids are easily digested; stimulate your metabolism, which leads to weight loss. They are also smaller and permeate your cell membranes easily and convert to energy rather than being stored as fat.
One other really cool fact that I as a mom found really interesting is that Coconut Oil contains Lauric Acid, which is a natural compound found in breast milk! Lauric acid is super important because it strengthens your immune system.
Be choosy when purchasing Coconut oil. I use Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil that I find in my local health food store. Find one that is cold pressed, organic, made with fresh coconuts (instead of dried "copra" used in cheap oils), not refined or bleached.
Angela is a Health and Wellness expert who turns the pickiest eaters into fruit and veggie eating machines!
Visit her site today for free info on how to "get" your child to eat the foods you want them to so they can lead happy healthy futures!
Angela is also the founder of the popular Change your Food Change your Future program. Helping parents and caregivers everywhere retrain the way they think about food, re-gain control, and get their children to eat something naturally green (without tears!)


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Heart Disease Diet - Health Tips for National Heart Month


It is February, National Heart Month. Here are some simple ideas for improving your cardiovascular health not only for this month, but also for the rest of your life. Every little bit helps, so don't fret if you aren't as successful as you'd like. Just give these tips a try, relax, and let the heart healing begin.
Cook at home. It doesn't take that much time if you plan well. A large pot of healthy vegetable and bean soup or chicken and vegetable stew can be divided into smaller portions and frozen for several meals. If you plan each cooking session to provide three meals, you'll only have to cook two or three times each week. Cooking at home allows you to pick healthy ingredients.
Keep a positive attitude. Excess worry, anger, and anxiety are all emotions that can damage the heart. Stress hormones are released that trigger physical responses that are great when facing a charging wild animal, but not so great if when these hormones are continually being released into the body. Take a realistic look at your life and try to maintain a balanced outlook. And laugh more!
Move your body. A quick walk up a flight of stairs or across the parking lot is much better than taking the elevator or parking right in front of the door. Getting your muscles working helps keep improve blood circulation and strengthens the heart.
Add heart healthy herbs to your cooking. Herbs aren't just for flavoring, many of them have a wide range of health benefits. One of the all time heart healthy favorites is garlic. Use it raw or buy it dried, just be sure to avoid garlic salt. Experimenting with herbs livens up your food and improves health.
Add yoga to your exercise routine. The slow movements are less stressful on joints and each move improves not only flexibility and strength but also promotes a healthy heart. Recent research shows that yoga improves circulation and lowers blood pressure.
Never, never eat trans fats. Partially hydrogenated oil is a man-made substance that more and more research shows is the worst fat, far worse than saturated fat for heart health. Cities have banned its use and some major retailers are cutting it from products in the stores. Don't rely on labeling on the front of the package, flip the package around and read the ingredients. Put it back on the shelf and by an alternative product if you see partially hydrogenated oil or margarine as an ingredient.
Add soluble fiber to your diet. This fiber is known to bind to cholesterol in the digestive tract and remove it from the body. Found in a wide variety of foods, apples and oats are great sources. Legumes are another, add them to soups and stews, or on salads for a heart healthy meal.
Follow these heart healthy tips and you will promote good health for the rest of your life.
Monique Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality, natural, alternative health products to treat and prevent heart disease. To learn about how to prevent and treat heart disease naturally, visit her blog for weekly tips at Heart Disease Diet


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Lifestyle Diseases on the Rise


What is a lifestyle disease? When you think of a disease you usually think of the H1N1 swine flu or tuberculosis something you can catch from someone. A lifestyle disease is associated with your environment, by the way you live your life and the choices you make everyday.
When you go out and eat a lot of junk food everyday, drink too much alcohol, smoke, lie on your couch and watch TV all day these things all contribute to you getting what they call non communicable diseases. These are diseases like diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease and others.
Our lifestyle choice c many times in the beginning start out as minor issues like a little weight problem, then a sore knee. If we continue with that lifestyle then obesity slowly sets in and the sore knee turns into a major knee joint problem that doctors many times recommends operation instead of losing the weight which caused it in the first place. I see it happening everyday to my friends.
Hang on it gets worse. Over time this person gets diabetes and not to mention high blood pressure and other joint problems like their back and shoulders. From here they start to develop heart related diseases. When I talk to them about their problems they show me a handful of pills they take so they do not have to lose the weight. In other words they do not want to change their lifestyle.
People now days want to treat the symptom and not the cause of the problem, yet they complain all day that their knee is so sore. They tell the doctor to give them a stronger pain killer. Next thing you know they are scheduled for knee surgery. Why? The signs are all there that it is the weight that is causing the problem. Now these are smart people. They are just ignorant of the fact that they got to change their lifestyle. Imagine the problems uneducated people and their families with little medical care have. Their health problems are far worse.
A lot of this is due to lack of proper health care, low income, poor eating choices, lack of education and not enough exercise. Also poor common sense plays a big part in the choices people make because even educated people get these lifestyle diseases.
We are bombarded all day by advertisements for the newest double chocolate chip cookie or some new burger place opening up does not help in fact it just adds to the problem. What about the beer ads which try to be funny to make people watch and remember them.
It is all about choices. What we eat and what we feed our children is our choice. You see children now days getting things like childhood diabetes which was unheard of 20 years ago. These lifestyle diseases are spreading at an alarming rate and are turning into an epidemic. They are just as deadly as the swine flu or TB. This affects all of us some how. It may be our spouse, parent or child. Even our finances, if you are sick you cannot go to work.
It also adds to the burden of our health care system like increases in our medical insurance premiums, lack of hospital beds, doctors and nurses. It also adds to the burden of the state when people sign up for free health care program.
We need to teach the people to get them making wiser choices like eating more fruits and vegetables versus cookies and burgers. Getting them to get off the couch and outside and start taking walks which by the way costs no money. In fact with better choices they will actually stat to save money which they spend on junk food, bad snacks, tobacco and alcohol.
It all starts with education. Some how we got to teach people what is good and healthy to eat versus what is bad and the consequences are. Not only people with lack of education are teaching their children the wrong lifestyle. We got to protect our children from these diseases. They learn by watching us and what we eat. We got to stop feeding them the junk and sweets or at least have a limit.
Children today spend far too much time indoors. You got to get them off the computer and to turn off the TV. Get them outside and playing in the yard. They need to exercise and they can do it just by running around.
Sometimes education in the schools will actually rub off on the parents at home. Schools are now spending time and money to teach children about proper diet and health issues. This in turn can influence the choices their parents make at the grocery store and where they decide to dine out and how often. But we cannot only depend on our schools and our children. We must educate the adults; make them aware of the problem the causes of them and the consequences. It should in the start in the home from the parents.
Les has been writing about health and relationships since 1999. Work hard but be smart. Buying a big piece of land for your first home? Got a lot of acreage to clear? Work hard but be smart and go get a Walk Behind Brush Cutter instead of breaking your back. Go take a look at the Walk Behind Brush Mower website for more information on prices and options. Save your back for your wife. She will be happy you did.


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Live A Healthy Lifestyle And Avoid Heart Diseases


The busiest walks of life belong to those who have sedentary lifestyles. But one must be very careful for lifestyle define what kind of life are you going to have.
In most cases, heart diseases have been the biggest problem of people. It has been related to one's way of living and it has been the number one, top killer and cause of disability in most progressive countries and world. So, one must take part in the battle against this disease.
Live a healthy lifestyle.
As simple as it sounds, people can be saved from the calls of death by simply altering and positively changing the outward direction of your physical self. Start with assessing yourself about how you live your day. Are you having enough time to see and take care of yourself and what can you do to improve the way you live your life now? Now that you have asked, here are some of the basics that you have to learn.
Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. The food one eats affects one's bodily function and explains why a person suffers from a certain disease. Being overweight or so as to say, obese, may increase your risk to heart attacks and other aberrations. One must seek the ideal body weight in order for one to keep track of how one's body is being affected by their intake. The body mass index or the BMI is the standard basis in determining and assessing one's status. In addition, the proper food intake should be taken into consideration. Watch out for your food, and put in mind that eating foods with low saturation of fat and cholesterol and those which are high in fiber will sweep u and prevent the buildup of unwanted fat deposits that may lead to plaques and cause heart insufficiency.
Have a diligent amount of exercise. A regular dose of 30 minute exercise will suffice to maintain a desirable weight and help maintain the blood pressure be lowered. Moderate in intense physical activity that lasts for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week is the most ideal habit to pursue a healthy way of life.
Refrain from smoking and alcohol intake. Though sometimes done in moderation, these two habits will increase your risk for heart problems for these stimulants basically cause the narrowing of one's blood vessels or pathways (or what they called vasoconstriction). This impedes the circulation of the blood and may alter the balance and continuity of blood flow that will lead to serious to fewer problems.
Have yourself checked and ensure a better future for you and your family. There are ways to prevent and treat medical heart conditions, take a step to lower the risk of your problems. Have your blood cholesterol checked and monitor your blood pressure, manage other underlying diseases such as diabetes and if there are any then take medications as prescribed.
Ralph J. Greene enjoys writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells baby phat scrubs and baby phat lab coats as well as a host of additional products.


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20 Steps to Effectively Managing Heart Disease and Diet


Let's face it, in most cases heart disease and diet are synonymous with one another, and even when they aren't many of the condition which unhealthy eating habits promote contribute to heart and artery disease. So staking steps to avoid a future heart attack, or managing your cardiovascular health after that initial heart attack should include a heart healthy diet.
Any heart healthy diet will need to control saturated fat consumption. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are found in large quantities in butter, cheese, coconut oil, sweetbreads, cream, poultry, poultry skin, luncheon meats, some canned meats, and well marbled red meat. The amount of saturated fat in the diet can be more damaging to blood cholesterol levels than cholesterol in foods such as egg yolks.
20 steps to can help with heart disease and diet.
*When cooking substitute olive or canola oil for high saturated fat palm oil, lard, shortening, or butter.
*After cooking place soups, chili, or gravies in the refrigerator. After a few minutes the saturated fat will solidify on the surface. Skim, reheat, and then serve.
*Drain fats from meats after cooking.
*Use herbs as a substitute for butter and other high fat seasonings such as bacon grease or pork fat.
*Use the newer, lower fat canola oil sprays in place of cooking oil.
*Bake, broil, or boil foods instead of frying them.
*Trim poultry fat and remove skin before cooking.
*Trim the fat from beef or pork before cooking.
*Choose less expensive tougher cuts and use your cooking skill to tenderize them.
*Substitute skim milk for high fat options.
*Serve more whole grains and vegetables and less meat. Holding meat serving down to 4 oz or less per meal is suggested by the American Heart Association.
*Choose fat free or low fat cheeses, sour cream, salad dressings, and mayonnaise.
*Substitute mustard for mayonnaise when given the chance.
*Substitute fresh fruit for high fat desserts.
*Find healthy options for snacking. Walnuts, sunflower seeds, dark skinned grapes, or apples are all heart healthy choices. If at home you can be more creative such as a slice of pear with a dash of peanut butter on top.
*Eat baked cold water fatty fish high in omega 3 essential oils twice a week instead of pork, beef, or poultry.
*Substitute soy or bean based products for hamburgers patties or high fat franks.
*Substitute herbal teas, fresh fruit, and vegetable juices for soft drinks.
*If you must drink coffee consider adding a few flax seeds or a tablespoon of flax seed oil to your java each morning.
*When given the choice choose products containing plant stanols or sterols. These natural substances have been shown to lower blood cholesterol over time.
*Becoming an expert label reader when shopping is our 20th and perhaps most valuable suggestion. When reading labels keep in mind that the AMA suggest a heart healthy diet consisting of no more than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat.
What else? Managing heart disease and diet is challenging to say the least, and some feel they need a little extra help to get over the hump. For these individuals a natural cholesterol reduction supplement, along with a daily exercise routine is an additional two step approach that could prove helpful in sending artery clogging high cholesterol dancing out the back door once and for all.
Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternative health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at Purchase Remedies.com

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Coffee Health Benefits For Heart Disease


Heart disease remains a top killer despite enormous amounts of money spent on the treatment and prevention of this disease. On the average, the human heart beats about 72 times a minute and pumps the equivalent of about 3,600 gallons of blood every day. The heart is one of the hardest working organs we have, truly an amazing "machine" that works perfectly most of the time for millions of people.
During exercise or stressful situations, the heart pumping action automatically increases significantly. This increased pumping happens because of the heart tissue's increased demand for oxygen. Undoubtedly, a strong healthy heart is important to everyone, regardless of age, sex, ethnic origin or any other criteria.
A healthy life style lessens the chance of heart disease. This lifestyle involves exercise, keeping weight in a healthy range, not smoking and effective stress management, among other good preventative therapies. The choices you make regarding what you eat, what you drink and how you live have a big impact on your health and the likelihood of heart disease. Drinking coffee is not associated with the development of cardiovascular problems as long as coffee drinkers follow a healthy and balanced diet.
The Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard School of Medicine conducted a very extensive and long term study of over 128,000 men and women between the ages of 14 to 20 years. Their findings, published in 2006, have stood the test of time through additional validation provided regularly through research conducted by many other recognized private and non-private research institutions, laboratories, and universities worldwide.
  • The studies released continue to show conclusively that men and women who drank six or more cups of filtered coffee daily do not have a higher risk of developing strokes than people who drink less coffee or no coffee.
  • Furthermore, other studies have concluded that women coffee drinkers have up to a 25% reduction in mortality risk as compared to women who are not coffee drinkers.
  • In addition, the research also shows that people who smoke and are heavy coffee drinkers have less heart disease as compared to those who do not smoke and do not drink coffee.
Interested in cooking with coffee as part of healthy cuisine practices? Cooking with coffee is a brewing trend for many cooks worldwide and you can make it your own as well.
  • For healthy eating, increase the amount of fish you eat weekly. For example, plan on cooking on the grill Salmon, Chicken, and Tuna basted with rosemary and coffee extract.
  • For a side dish, cut up sweet potatoes with a little ground cinnamon and olive oil. Edamame and Swiss Chard, steamed lightly and served with some walnuts on top will make a nice and colorful side dish.
  • Coffee contributes hints of bittersweet chocolate, roasted nuts, ripe dark berries, and fruit -like undertones that add unique flavors to dishes. No other spice can do this.
A healthy and balanced diet will be beneficial for the heart and the whole body. As coffee lovers, it is good to know that coffee offers health benefits. So, go ahead and enjoy a nice cup of fruit and cream flavored gourmet coffee such as Blueberry Fields Flavored Coffee or Orange Seville Flavored Coffee!
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
© Copyright - Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide


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Good Eating Habits Can Prevent Heart Disease - Know What to Eat, What to Avoid, and How to Cook


You can prevent heart disease to a great extent just by improving your eating habits. So, educate yourself about the food items that you should eat and the ones that you have to avoid. Besides that, it will also be great if you learn how to cook a heart healthy diet. You will find the following information very helpful in this regard.
Eat Right Foods
Following is a list of food items that you should include in your diet to prevent heart disease.
o Use unsaturated vegetable oils, such as sunflower, safflower, olive, and canola.
o You need 6 cooked ounces of protein food group on a daily basis. Peas and beans can be good source of protein.
o Your daily food intake must also include 2-4 servings of dairy products. However, you are recommended to eat low-fat or nonfat milk. You can also try yogurt.
o Include plenty of whole grains in your diet, such as pasta, rice, and cereal. Eat at least 6 servings of these food items on a daily basis.
o Most importantly, you must eat at least 5-6 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Food Items That You Have To Avoid
Following is a brief rundown about the food items that you have to avoid in order to prevent heart disease.
o Goose and duck meat should be avoided at all costs.
o Cut down the intakes of high-fat processed meats, such as sausage, bologna, and hot dogs.
o The use of organ meats should also be taken in a very limited quantity. Organ meats may include brain, kidney, sweetbreads, and liver of chicken or other birds or animals.
o High-fat dairy products should top your avoid list. Such products include cheese, butter, ice cream, cream, and whole milk.
Some Heart Healthy Cooking Tips
In order to keep your heart healthy and to prevent heart disease, you should also be very careful while cooking the different food items. Following are some quick tips.
o If you must eat meat, make sure that you have trimmed fat thoroughly. If you are cooking poultry, don't forget to remove its skin before cooking.
o For basting, you can use marinade, fruit juice, and wine.
o Use very low amount of solid fats (if at all you have to use it) while cooking. Solid fats include soft margarine, lard, and shortening (fat that is used to make pastries).
o You should try cooking methods that require no or very little fat. Such cooking methods may include broiling, baking, and boiling.
o When browning, you are recommended to use a cooking rack to drain off fat.
o Don't use the yolk of the eggs in your recipes. But, you can use egg whites.
Overall, the basic idea is to eat from every food group - you just have to focus on the quantity, quality, and the amount of fat and salt in it. In order to prevent heart disease, you should eat foods that are low in salt and fat.
The author is web content writer and has much experience in writing quality content for many sectors but this article specializes in heart disease. For more information about signs of heart attack, prevent heart disease and more http://www.tiddee.com/health/heart-disease


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Healthy Choices For Your Heart


Heart Disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Understanding heart health should be a number one priority for everyone, primarily if you are over the age of 40, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease. If someone in your family has been diagnosed or has passed away because of heart disease you should also be concerned.
Years of destructive eating,no exercising,drinking,smoking,and high stress conditions can lead to an unhealthy heart. Even if you only have a few of these factors,you can still get heart disease. That's why it is important to take preventative measures against heart disease.
The changes in lifestyles and cultures have been associated with heart disease. As people have become less active eat more foods that are high in fats. Because of the fast food available today, people are becoming less likely to eat a nutritious meal. They are becoming aware of the risks and are starting to change their eating habits.
All of these factors can be changed to help improve you heart. By changing our habits we can see a positive change in our health. Changing your diet is one of the best things you can do for your heart. You don't have to do anything drastic,just small steps till you achieve what you want. That with a combination of a good exercise program will work wonders.
By simply adding more fresh fruits and vegetables into our daily routine,we can get on the road to a healthier heart. These will help lower cholesterol and help with the circulation of blood. You also get the benefit of dropping some unwanted pounds when you start eating right and exercising. Your heart will not have to work so hard to do its job.
Grapes contain resveratrol, which is believed to help lower cholesterol levels,slowing down the build up of fat deposits in the arteries. Adding grapes to your diet may help with your heart. Processed foods like grape juice and jelly do not contain resveratrol that is needed for your heart. The skins are where this is found so it is best to eat your grapes raw.
By making healthy lifestyle choices and changing a few things you can significantly reduce your heart health problems. Always check with your Dr. before trying any new diet or exercise program. Simple changes can add years to your life.
Health and Fitness Tips for better life. Exercising and eating better


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Cooking For a Healthy Heart


We all know that heart problems are one of the most common ailments ailing modern man and that a majority of people today suffer from one or another kind of heart problem. However, do you know that heart diseases are the number one cause of deaths in the United States with more than a million people dying of coronary and cardiovascular diseases every year? Another startling fact is that more than a third of these deaths would not have occurred if people had incorporated required changes in their lifestyles and diets. Making food choices that keep your heart healthy is not just a necessity for people who are already suffering from heart problems but for healthy individuals who want to avoid getting a heart disease in the future. Incorporating simple changes in your eating and cooking habits can make a large amount of difference to the health of your heart and help you in avoiding heart problems. Follow our tips below if you want to keep yourself and your family heart healthy for life.
Change Your Cooking Medium: An unhealthy cooking medium is one of the most important causes of clogged arteries and heart problems. For making your food healthier, banish all kinds of animal fat and switch to using vegetable oils for all your cooking needs. Instead of choosing just any cooking oil, go for olive and seed oils since they are known to be heart friendly.
Get Vegetable Friendly: Food products from animals generally have high cholesterol levels and therefore if your meal consists mainly of meats, milk, eggs, cream, butter and poultry, then it is high time that you incorporated a variety of vegetables in your diet. Make it a point to serve at least one portion of vegetables with every portion of meat or poultry and you will balance the bad effects of your high cholesterol diet instantly. You can do this by making salads, stir fries and steamed veggies a part of all your menus. They are easy and fast to make and are tasty enough to be consumed by even hardcore non- vegetarians without too much of a fuss.
Lower Your Salt And Sugar Intake: Sodium from salt in foods, specially fried and packaged snacks is a major cause of high blood pressure. Therefore, try to cook with the minimum possible amount of salt and substitute packed snacks for home made ones. While sugar does not directly cause any heart problems, it causes obesity which is another major reason contributing to all kinds of heart diseases. Start making desserts that constitute mostly of fruits and have a low fat and sugar content. Fruit salads, sorbets, low fat fruit yoghurt and raw fruit served with dips are great dessert ideas that are easy to make and healthy to boot.
Switch To Low Fat "Everything": Even salads can prove to be unhealthy for your heart if they are laced with cholesterol laden cream dressings. Apart from making a conscious effort to buy low fat milk and animal products for cooking, you should also do away with fat and cream products. Go for non-cream dressings for your home made salads and try to substitute non-cream gravies and dressings for cream ones in pasta and non-vegetarian dishes.
Cooking wholesome, healthy meals need not be time consuming and difficult. Try some of Lisa's easy to follow crock pot recipes which are made from scratch. You can prepare something like her apricot ginger chicken crock pot recipe in minutes in the morning and enjoy a full meal at evening with no more work.


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Wonderful Winter Soup - A Healing Delicious Recipe To Combat The Stress Of Modern Living


When the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, our natural instinct is to hibernate as much as our modern day routine will allow us. For many of us our hibernation period often amounts to a curl up on the couch, in the evening after work. The reality of the modern lifestyle means that often our natural instincts are often not being fulfilled which leaves us wide open to the temptation of filling voids with junk food, sweet things and other substances. Yet when we find healing foods that we enjoy, this helps us lessen the desires for less nutritious things. This is where a wonderful winter soup can make the difference, as it is easy to make and is packed for of nutritious ingredients, which will help combat the stress of modern living.
Here is the recipe of this wonderful winter soup, and this is followed by a description of the health benefits of some of the main ingredients.
Spicy Red Pepper And Tomato Soup
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 large white onion, chopped into 4
- 2 garlic cloves, whole
- 1 carrot, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- 500g ripe tomatoes, chopped in halve
- 500ml vegetable stock
- 5 red peppers, chopped into strips
- 1 x 440g can chopped tomatoes
- Fresh basil leaves, to serve
- 3 medium chillies, de-seeded and halved
- Serve with a fresh crusty roll
METHOD
1. Heat the oven to 200c and place the peppers, garlic, onion, tomatoes and carrot on a non stick tray and sprinkle the olive oil over the top. Place the tray in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.
2. Take a large saucepan and place on to a medium heat and add the cooked vegetables from the oven.
3. Now add the chillies, tinned tomatoes and stock and cook for 10 minutes until hot.
4. Remove from the heat and blend until smooth.
5. Return to the heat and season to taste.
Garlic-Some Health Benefits
Garlic is good for the heart. Through the years, it has been known to help prevent certain heart diseases. Consequently, there have also been reports that increasing consumption of this ingredient can lower cholesterol levels, although studies have not confirmed this claim.
People with acne sometimes resort to natural treatment, and some of them have actually tried going beyond eating inordinate amounts of garlic by applying the juice from it on their spots! Others apply raw garlic to their cuts in order for them to heal quickly, but of course, it is painful. But you know what they say-no pain, no gain!
Tomatoes-Some Health Benefits
This red fruit comes in a variety of sizes and shades of red. It is popularly known to reduce the risk of having heart disease. Tomatoes are a good source of natural anti-oxidants: the carotene lycopene and vitamins A and C, among others. It has been said that the redder the tomato, the more lycopene it has. An increase in lycopene is observed when the tomatoes are cooked as opposed to other ingredients that maintain their nutrients when consumed in its raw form.
Not a lot of people are aware of the other benefits that this fruit provides. Eating a lot of tomatoes can help diabetics keep their sugar level under control. For smokers, adequate consumption can reduce the side effects of their vice. Bones can also benefit from the amounts of calcium present in tomatoes. There have also been studies that a healthy intake of tomatoes can be helpful in helping certain types of cancers.
And as if this was not all enough to send you running to eat the nearest tomato dish...there have also been some studies which have linked tomatoes with a reduced risk of obesity. Multiple studies have shown that they are linked with a reduced risk of some neurological diseases, even including Alzheimer's.
Red Peppers-Some Health Benefits
Like tomatoes, red peppers are rich in the carotene lycopene, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Not only that but they can also help fight various forms of cancer as well. Red peppers are also full of natural anti-oxidants to help the body get rid of toxins. Vitamins A, B complex, C and E are also present in red peppers, so eating this ingredient is like taking multi-vitamins, but in their natural form, not a pill!
As if this was not enough already, they contain over 30 different carotenoids!
Fresh Basil-Some Health Benefits
This aromatic herb contains essential oils which come with antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Basil is known to have healing benefits for people with arthritis. Regular intake of this leaf also boosts the immune system, making you less prone to catch viruses and diseases. Its aroma makes for a relaxing scent that can help people clear their thoughts and rejuvenate just by inhaling it.
Since basil has anti-microbial properties, people with acne use fresh basil applied on their face to combat their pimples.
The herb can simply be sprinkled on top of breads and pizza. For fresh basil overload, whipping up homemade pesto does the trick. Basil is indeed an ingredient that entails minimal preparation and yields to maximum positive results for your health and body.
If you have a lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy, it is great to know where you can find alternatives when out and about. Victus Restaurants Harrogate offers delicious drinks such as soya milk cappuccinos which make a wonderful alternative. Why not drop in and find out for yourself!


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Heart Disease and Lifestyle Improvement For Women


Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women. Practicing lifestyle improvements such as better eating habits and getting fit through proper daily exercise is important to reduce a woman's risk of heart disease.
Decreased risk for cardiovascular disease results when you strengthen your muscles- that includes your heart- by resistance exercise and aerobic exercise. Giving your body the nutrients it needs for proper function helps in this regard as well.
Eat foods that are heart healthy; favor fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid fatty and sugary food. Stay well away from saturated and transfat oils and limit your caffeine intake. Watch not only what foods you eat but how they are prepared- roast or broil instead of fry meats.
Manage your weight to lower your heart attack risk. Stay away from fad diets. They can drain you of nourishment and once you go off them, you will gain all the weight back and them some. Rather, choose to eat a balanced range of foods; you'll get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Keep your heart healthy fit by getting enough exercises every day. Good heart exercises are walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing, and pretty much anything that will get you up and moving so your heart rate goes over its' resting rate.
Physically inactive individuals are at increased risk for heart disease. Women between the ages of 18 and 65 should be getting a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to intense activity each day. If you are over 50 or have any conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or asthma see your doctor before staring any new exercise regimen.
Read more about coronary heart disease and the causes of heart disease at Fountia.com.


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Poor Circulation - Is it a Cardiological Or a Neurological Problem?


Some of the most common symptoms of poor blood circulation in the body are tingling, burning and cramping sensations in the peripheral organs like legs, feet, arms and hands. These symptoms are almost sure signs that blood can't flow freely through the whole body and supply major organs with vital nutrients and oxygen for various reasons.
This article will try to explain some of the multiple in nature causes for you to experience this condition.
Sedentary lifestyles, fast food diets and overall toxic overload lead to progressive and hazardous vein and artery damage. Additionally, high levels of triglycerides in blood inadvertently result in dangerous cholesterol plaque deposits on all major arteries significantly restricting the blood flow to all major organs and systems. The veins and arteries lose elasticity and flexibility over time that is a major contributor to heart disease, stroke and many systematic diseases.
Is poor blood circulation always a cardiological problem or could it be caused by other factors?
Definitely, poor blood circulation or simply partially limited blood flow to upper and lower extremities could be caused by neurological problems in nature.
There's one important clue for your doctor to determine what might be causing your poor blood circulation if the symptoms are not symmetrical in nature. If you are experiencing tingling and numbing discomfort in one arm or leg, it might be a sign of a pinched nerve or a carpal tunnel syndrome triggering such symptoms.
Pinched nerve symptoms will feel like pins and needles, radiating pain or like your arm or leg has fallen asleep. The symptoms might worsen at night or after periods of inactivity. Obesity, incorrect posture, injuries and a myriad of other factors are responsible for compressed nerves.
Nerve can also get compressed due to work or recreation related injury. For example, people involved in assembly lines or long hours of repetitive hand motions might develop carpal tunnel syndrome that causes nerve pinching by inflamed surrounding tendon tissues.
It's important to provide your doctor with a correct description of your symptoms as to when such sensations occurred, exactly which parts of the body are involved and the circumstances leading up to your condition.
Only your doctor is able to tell whether the causes of your poor blood circulation are cardiological or neurological in nature upon careful examination and analysis of all presenting symptoms. Signs of poor circulation could lead to dangerous health condition and should not be left untreated.
Caroline Hawthorn is one of the authors of the new health information blog www.HealthArticles101.com.


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Antioxidant Rich Superfoods For Heart Health


Antioxidants are nutrients - vitamins, minerals and enzymes, that help fight against oxidation caused by free radicals, the daily pollutants we encounter. Oxidation is a normal damaging process to the cells in our bodies which can lead to degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease if they are present in the body for too long of a time. By consuming a proper diet of the antioxidant rich Superfoods we can keep the free radicals in check and prevent heart damage.
Superfoods are fresh unprocessed, brightly colored fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants in these foods can prevent and repair cell damage caused by the free radicals. Some transport oxygen and act as blood thinners which helps to prevent blood clots. And some are anti-inflammatory and help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Here are some of the best Superfoods for heart health.
Avocados although high in fat prevent cholesterol absorption.
Blueberries prevent blood clots, reduce artery inflammation and help lower cholesterol.
Broccoli, carrots and cauliflower prevent inflammation and lowers cholesterol.
Dark Chocolate, 60% or higher cocoa content can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
Flaxseed reduces triglyceride levels and lowers blood pressure.
Garlic in high doses may thin the blood, reducing clotting, and lowering cholesterol.
Green tea contains EGCG which can lower cholesterol and prevent damage to the heart muscle.
Nuts - walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts can lower cholesterol, pine nuts can protect against arrhythmia.
Oatmeal - whole grain not refined, can lower cholesterol.
Pomegranate juice can reduce the plaque in arteries and help reduce blood pressure.
Sweet Potatoes can lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Be sure to have regular health screenings and be aware of your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. Take care of yourself and your health by not smoking, adding exercise and eating healthy, a diet full of the Superfoods that can help you prevent heart disease.
For more information on healthy lifestyles please visit
http://celebratesuccessnow.com
Hi I'm Kate, Wife, Mother, Artist and Internet Entrepreneur. I recently suffered Stress Induced Heart Failure which has left me searching for the changes I need to make in order to live a long, full, happy life. I hope to share with my readers the discoveries I make along this journey.


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More Foods For Healthy Cholesterol and a Healthy Heart


Getting more fatty fish in your diet such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and even sardines can help better regulate the heart's rhythms, lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation of the arteries because it contains omega 3 fatty acids. Trying to eat at least a half of serving of fish per week can lower the chances of dying from cardiovascular disease. It is also a good idea to get more soluble fiber in your diet because it can soak up cholesterol and get it out of the body as waste. Foods that have plenty of soluble fiber include oatmeal, oat bran, legumes, beans, and peas.
Many types of alcohol may contribute to heart disease, but red wine actually offers some health benefits. It has compounds found in the grape skins which have been found to lower cholesterol levels. It is important to try and get one to two drinks a day for the best results. Soy foods only lower cholesterol a little bit, but they provide protein without the saturated fats found in meat that can be bad for the heart. It may be a good idea to replace meat and full fat cheeses with soy products every now and then for a healthier heart.

Many of us wait until it is too late to do anything about our heart or cholesterol health and then we have to be put on strict diets and take many medicines to make sure we stay healthy. However, with these suggestions you can keep your heart and cholesterol levels in good shape now and have better chances of avoiding large amounts of medicine later on in the future.
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Healthy Heart Lifestyle and Symptoms of Heart Disease


This article is a brief discussion of the more common symptoms of two classes of heart disease. These are cardiovascular and rheumatic heart diseases. Nothing in this article should be considered as medical advice in any way. The statements herein are intended solely for information to heighten awareness of a health problem that claims the lives of more men and women than any other disease. And, this is by no means a complete coverage of this topic.
The symptoms of heart disease seem to fall in two broad categories, cardiovascular, and rheumatic. While probably not a conclusive list, cardiovascular heart problems are typically classified in six broad categories. These include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
These, collectively, are classified as "CVD", which seem to share some common symptoms. While this is a fact, we can not take much comfort in that because, the symptoms of a heart attack may be the attack itself, caused by a more serious, underlying disorder. The same can be said of a stroke.
Generally the symptoms of a heart attack can include pain or discomfort in the chest, usually the center. Other symptoms can include pain in the arms, left shoulder, elbows and numbness in the lower extremities, such as the forearm. While sharing some of these same symptoms, strokes can also include the onset of numbness in the face, or extremities, which in most cases this seems to focus on one side of the body. The onset of a stroke can also result in hearing and speaking difficulty. More severe symptoms include loss of coordination and balance, fainting or unconsciousness.
The second area is "rheumatic" which results from physical damage to the heart from Rheumatic fever brought on by strep throat. The symptoms of Rheumatic heart disease include nausea, fever, pain and vomiting.
Why is it good to consider, by way of reminders, the symptoms of heart disease? Easy. The symptoms do not always work. They are either ignored, or dismissed as caused by stress. Clearly, a better approach to avoiding heart disease, or at least managing the potential we all possess, is needed. Why? Because through better diet and changes in lifestyle, the approximately 80 percent of the premature deaths from heart disease could be avoided.
Aside from learning what these symptoms could be warning us of, it should also be understood that some of these same signs may be from maladies unrelated to the heart. The message is when such symptoms occur; they are not to be treated lightly. You should do two things. First see a doctor. Second, resolve to make necessary changes in eating and other habits to reduce your risk.
Zack Robinson's interest in heart problems covers a broad personal spectrum. He lost his mother to congenital heart failure, his wife suffers from Cardio Myopathy, and his heart still bears scars from infancy when he contracted scarlet fever. Zack discovered how ordinary people are achieving good results in overcoming heart disease. For more information, see this real life story that chronicles one man's fight to overcome heart disease. You can check it out for yourself at [http://ultimatehealthyheart4u.com]

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Herbs for Health - The Top 10 Super Fat Burning Herbs and Spices for Weight Loss


In this article we're going to show you a few spices that you can use to make plenty of healthy dishes and aid in fat and weight loss. Spices can be a very powerful protection against many common diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and overall aging.
Not only do herbs and spices add tons of extra flavor to our foods, they also boost the natural antioxidants, phytonutrients, and anti-inflammatory power of the food itself. You can now lose those unwanted pounds and regain your energy, mobility, and vitality the tasty way!
1. Arrowroot Flour
Arrowroot can be used in making hot sauces, puddings, jellies, beef tea, biscuits, cakes, milk, or the veal broth found in noodles from Korean and Vietnamese cuisines It is also a easily digestible food if you have dietary restrictions.
2. Basil
Basil is a fresh herb that is commonly used in cooking recipes. It is usually added as a last minute touch up to restore the flavors of your food when cooking. You will see basil in foods like the Italian oil-and-herb sauce pesto.

3. Bay Leaf
Bay leaves are used in many of the seafood, soups, meats, stews, and vegetable dishes you find in European cuisines. You will also find it in biryaniand other rich, spicy dishes.
4. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a small tree that grows in Egypt, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Indonesia. One of the main benefits of cinnamon is that not only will it help you get leaner by controlling the blood sugar levels in your body, but you can improve your energy, vitality, and circulation from it.

5. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne is the key ingredient in many of the hot sauces we use today. This spice raises your metabolism, which helps you burn fat faster. It also helps prevent heart attacks and strokes by reducing triglyceride levels, LDL blood cholesterol, and decreasing the formation of dangerous blood clots.

6. Chives
Chives, when finely chopped and consumed with food, are said to aid digestion, help the respiratory system, and help the body in digesting fatty foods.

7. Rosemary
Rosemary has a special ingredient that strengthens the immune system, improves memory, concentration, circulation and lifts depression. Rosemary also helps prevent fight and prevent cancer, as well. Rosemary has been highly recommended for cases of chest congestion, asthma, and respiratory infections.

8. Ginger
This powerful herb has been shown to have over 25 different antioxidants, which makes it very effective at fighting free radicals in many different body systems. It can be useful in the treatment of everything from cancer, migraines, nausea, vomiting, sore throats, colds, flu and motion sickness. Because of the strong anti-inflammatory of ginger, it has also been used in reducing muscle aches, cholesterol, and preventing strokes and heart disease.

9. Oregano
This herb is well known for it's its nutritional, anti-oxidants, and disease preventing properties. It has been useful in treating inflammation, internal or external, and offering relief from allergies, aches and pain, without side effects.

10. Thyme
Thyme's is well known and effective for treating sore throats, chest congestion, bronchitis, laryngitis, and asthma. Thyme also boosts the amount of DHA (an important ingredient in omega 3 fatty acids) in the brain, heart and kidney cells.

Here is a list of more spices that can aid in weight loss and good health:
. Chives
. Cilantro
. Cloves
. Coriander
. Cream of Tartar
. Cumin Seed
. Curry Powder
. Dill Seed
. Dulse
. Licorice Root
. Mustard/Dry Powder
. Paprika
. Parsley
. Peppermint
. Saffron
. Sage/Ground
. Savory/Ground
. Spearmint
. Tarragon
. Turmeric



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7041688
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Preventing Heart Disease and Adhering to a Healthy Lifestyle


As the US population continue to age, mainly due to the baby boomers reaching the age of 65, one of the health problems to watch for is heart disease. Heart Disease and Cardiovascular disease can be prevented, but it requires a concerted effort and continued commitment to remind seniors and middle age Americans of proper health and nutriton. Health experts, nutritional experts have long advocated a daily adherence to a low fat diet, low carb diet, low calories and low cholesterol diet. This can all be done by a conscientious decision by Americans to only by foods that meet those criteria, but more important people need to develop several recipes or several dishes that they can altenate on a daily basis. Isolating the bad stuff, while taking more and more of the good stuff is a lifestyle that people can learn to love.
Efforts to eliminate high cholesterol is critical with respect to heart disease. Americans simply must eliminate fast foods and the processed foods from their diet. And for parents, emphasis of a cooked dinner must once again become the norm in everyday American life; as it was back in the 1960's. Fast foods and processed foods are very low in nutritients and therefore are useless to the body cells. Malnourishing the body cells make them weak and ineffective against viruses, which in turn can cause a lot of problems, if not addressed in a timely manner. A simple little problem can become a huge headache, all of which contribute to the high health care costs for the government. Reversing bad eating habits for Americans perhaps will not be as difficult as once thought, now that the Obama administration have agreed to cuts in Medicare. The government simply does not have any money to sustain the growth in that program.
This is a unique opportunity to continue the movement to instill proper nutrition to the American family once more. Obviously health shows like Dr Oz is helping tremendously to promote the healthy lifestyle. But, we must not relent. Other ways that promote a healthy lifestyle are the natural supplements that are plentiful now in the huge health and wellness industry. With regards to heart disease, one company in particular with a product containing Resverotrol is Sisel International. Resverotrol have long been known to exist in red wines, and numerous scientific studies going back to the 1980's have shown that countries with population that drink a lot of red wine (such as France and Italy) have a very low rate of heart disease or heart attack. The Sisel product Eternity contains resverotrol and is 100% natural, without any toxin or harmful chemical. More information on the product can be obtained at the website below.
To Your Health
Patrick Saint-Jean
http://livehealthyandprosper.biz
E-mail: psaintjean1@gmail.com
For more information on Resverotrol and how to prevent heart disease, visit my website at
http://livehealthyandprosper.biz


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