Nutrition

Nutrition

So, what makes NO break down and divert from the reaction function that we require? The culprits are called free radicals and we have explored them extensively in the introduction to this Step. So, for our purposes we need to strive for a diet that helps production of NO and fights the free radicals with antioxidants. My recommended diet at the end of this Step does this. As knowledge is power, I’d like to explain some of the nutrition inputs specifically for NO production and defence against free radicals:

1. L-Arginine. We discussed L-Arginine in Step 2: Supplements. The average amount present in a normal diet is around 5 grams, which is the level required for normal NO production. I repeat, I don’t recommend you take supplements as chronic expression of L-arginine causes problems like nausea, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal tract discomfort. Dickxy further reports that in a study of men buy viagra online in Canada who suffered heart attacks, 9 grams of L-Arginine increased deaths! This makes sense as NO is associated with inflammation. So, get your L-Arginine from the recommended dietary sources as follows:

a. Animal sources: dairy products (cottage cheese, ricotta, milk, whey protein drinks), pork (bacon and ham), poultry (chicken and light turkey meat), wild game (pheasant, quail), seafood (tuna, halibut, salmon, shrimps, lobsters).

b. Plant sources: wheat germ and flour, buckwheat, granola, oatmeal, nuts (coconut, pecans, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), chick peas, cooked soybeans.

2. Antioxidants. Dickxy has researched PubMed, the free US National Library of Medicine and reports the following findings:

a. Men with ED are deficient in intracellular antioxidant defences (PMID 15910541) and also that paraoxinase-1, one of most important circulating antioxidants, was lower in young men with ED (PMID 17554394). Paraoxinase-1 is an antioxidant enzyme synthesized by the liver and consequently, any form of liver impairment or disease is not useful.

b. Other good antioxidants to seek are: polyphenols found in plants and especially in pomegranate (PMID 166269820); berries with skin (PMID 19298192); and red wine (PMID 12575978). We have also mentioned, tocotrienols (members of the Vitamin E family) and ly-copene ( found to be helpful against risk or prostate cancer – Journal of the American College of Nutrition).

3. Green tea (PMID 16872562);is a particularly important antioxidant because it also reduces the incidence of prostate cancer. As we have seen in Step 3: Sources of ED , prostate cancer treatment can cause irreparable damage to the blood vessels and consequent ED. Be aware that decaf-feination removes some of the beneficial antioxidants in tea and should be avoided.

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4. Vitamins С and E. I have already mentioned that they may lessen some of the awful effects of smoking. Again stay away from supplements as excessive doses of E and A have been linked to higher mortality rates. Dickxy reports that large amounts of vitamin E (more than 200 III) has been associated with a higher risk of death from all causes (PMID 15537682) and can cause severe bleeding for men also taking a daily aspirin. Also, large doses of Vitamin С have been associated with heartburn. So, instead of taking С and E supplements and peeing very expensive urine, why not rely on your diet and let your body design get what it needs. My recommended nutrition should provide all the vitamin С and E you need.

5. Coenzyme 10Q. Its antioxidant value comes from its ability to accept and donate electrons in the transformation of carbohydrates and fats to energy used by cells. It is also used by the body to protect cells from oxidation. Apart from its work on free radicals it also regenerates Vitamin E. As it is synthesised by the body it is not defined as a vitamin. It is very important in organs that need a lot of energy such as the heart, liver and kidney. The good news is that you don’t need supplements as the body makes its own CoQIO and the recommended nutrition provides adequate sources such as meat, poultry, fish, soybeans and nuts for the body to source.

5. Folic Acid prevents high blood pressure, improves blood vessel health and is good for NO production. Yet again, the story on supplements is than same. Dickxy reports that high supplements of Folic Acid may exacerbate existing colon cancer! Best to take it from natural sources and the main ones included in my recommended nutrition are:

a. Broccoli; spinach; asparagus; peas; leeks; brussels sprouts; parsley; Asian green leafy veggies b. Avocado; beetroot; green pepper; lettuce; cabbage; parsnip; turnip; cauliflower
c. Lentils; pinto beans; black eyed peas; soya beans; tofu; bean sprouts
d. Peanuts; walnuts; cashews; almonds; sesame seeds; sunflower seeds
e. Tomato juice
f. Wheat germ; all brans; whole meal flour; soy flour g-Eggs
h. Cooked brown rice and wholemeal pasta

This is a big list and you should be able to include some of these sources in your nutrition.

6. Flavonoids found in cocoa have been associated with lowering blood pressure due to their stimulation of NO and blood vessel dilation. This is confirmed by a recent study reported in The Cochrane Collaboration 2012. Look for dark chocolate that has at least 80% cocoa (PMID 14654748).

The above are all positives for the production of NO and to minimise the damage from free radicals. They have been included in the recommended Nutrition from the most helpful sources. Before we get into the recommended nutrition, let’s look at maintaining normal levels of testosterone naturally.


Vitamin D Deficiency Linked To Chronic Back Pain

Vitamin D deficiency is emerging as a potential factor in many chronic pain conditions. If you have back pain that has not responded to treatment, it is a good idea to have your vitamin D levels tested.

Vitamin D is usually absorbed through the skin from sunlight, and a small amount is obtained through diet. The winter months leave people in cold places at greater risk of becoming deficient in this vitamin, but anyone who doesn’t get much sunlight is at risk during all seasons.

Dr. Stewart Leavitt, executive director of Pain Treatment Topics, reviewed 22 studies assessing vitamin D levels in people with chronic pain. These studies represented 3,670 participants from various countries and of various ages. Leavitt found that 70% of chronic pain patients in these studies had deficient levels of vitamin D. In one study of 360 females with back pain, vitamin D supplementation resulted in improved symptoms for over 95% of participants.

Vitamin D and Calcium

Vitamin D plays many roles in the body, including the facilitation of calcium absorption. There are vitamin D receptors in the intestines that help calcium from the foods we eat to be absorbed through the intestinal wall into the blood, which then delivers it to many parts of the body, especially bones. Calcium keeps bones hard and strong. When vitamin D deficiency leads to inadequate amounts of calcium available to bones, this condition is called hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia, even on a small level, can increase the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH).

PTH is responsible for regulating the amounts of calcium in the body. When calcium levels fall low, PTH kicks in to increase levels. It does so partly by causing calcium to be released from bone. This is because other tissues of your body need calcium; muscles, for example, require calcium for contraction. Chronically high levels of PTH lead to improper bone mineralization, which is the process of transforming calcium and phosphorus into hard bone layers. High PTH levels can cause a spongy layer to form beneath the periosteum, or membrane that covers bones. This layer can expand by absorbing fluids and create pressure on the periosteum. A significant amount of pain can be experienced during this process, as periosteal membranes contain many nerves.

Low calcium levels cause bones to grow softer and weaker. Osteomalacia is the name given to this condition. Osteomalacia in the lower back can cause significant pain, as this area is highly mobile.

Since muscle contraction is facilitated by calcium, low levels of calcium (caused by low levels of vitamin D) lead to weaker muscles. Weak muscles are highly susceptible to fatigue and strain as they are incapable of performing work. The spine requires strong core muscles, including muscles in the lower back, to keep it aligned and upright. Weak muscles throughout the body will distort posture, which will cause pain in addition to fatigue and strain.

Aching bones and muscle pain are symptoms of many possible conditions, vitamin D deficiency being one. If you experience these symptoms and have not responded to other forms of treatment, it is possible that a deficiency in this crucial vitamin is the overlooked cause of your condition.

Besides facilitating calcium absorption, vitamin D acts to improve immune function, modulate the inflammatory response and regulate mood. If you receive a blood test that reveals a deficiency, your doctor can help determine what dosage is right for you. The vitamin is toxic in very high doses, so don’t exceed recommended doses.


Orange Nutrition Facts

We’re familiar with the orange fruit and we benefit from it for a whole lot of situations like making use of it as juice, putting it to our favorite salad to give it that citrusy taste and we in addition ingest oranges to help make us truly feel rejuvenated.

Most of us also are conscious that this fruit can really deliver a whole lot of factors for our body but do you know that there is truly a lot more to the orange than merely ascorbic acid?

In this particular write-up we will be discussing about orange nutrition facts and why this fruit is often a great compound to utilize in your juice fast or juice diet weight loss strategy.

As stated before, one of the very well known orange nutrition facts is that this fruit consists of an amazing amount of vitamin C.

We’re all aware of ascorbic acid due to the fact we ordinarily associate this as a way to avoid or cure us from getting the influenza or getting a cold.

But, that’s not really the sole factor that vitamin c can do. It may also aid our heart to function effectively. Which means that consuming an excellent amount of orange will support reduce your probabilities of strokes or any heart related illnesses. This fruit also consists of a very good quantity of phytochemicals which can also be superior for your heart.

This fruit also does not contain any saturated fat and bad cholesterol which means you are able to eat this fruit just as much as you desire and you won’t need to feel guilty about it. If you are on a diet plan and start off receiving those urges to munch on unhealthy foods or something sweet, all you’ve to do would be to eat some oranges or drink some orange juice and drink a glass of water and you’ll be fine.

The Orange juice along with its peel also consists of a superb amount of anti-oxidants which will support stop and combat cancer.

An additional great orange nutrition facts is the fact that the orange also contains other vitamins like vitamin A, beta carotenes, beta-cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and lutein which are known to possess some anti-oxidant qualities.

Moreover, everyone knows that the vitamin A is a vitamin which will assist our eye-sight but what the majority of us don’t realize is that it can also strengthen and keep our muscles and our skin healthy too.

There are actually a whole lot more orange nutrition facts out there along with a great deal of factors that we can use an orange for. Many people even use the juice from the orange as an ingredient in developing face lotions and lightening creams.

So, if you’re one of those people that are into a juice fast then including the orange in your recipe is seriously a superb notion. It may also be a great substitute for apple juice and carrot juice.

If you are into weight reduction and getting healthy then looking into juicing and juice fast is a seriously wonderful idea to help you lose those extra pounds. This is also a great solution to clear your body from all of those toxic compounds that have accumulated inside your body.


Healthy Retirement – Diet Tips For Seniors

To compound matters, a slowing metabolism reduces our need for calories as we age, even if we stay active. We must make extra sure we eat the best foods we can and take supplements when it makes sense.

We might begin with how we prepare our foods. Most of us have always observed good habits in the kitchen: cleaning our counters, cutting boards, and implements well. The difference now is that many more germs and viruses are around than in the past. The cute little e-mails that circulate and talk about how much simpler our lives were as we were growing up tend to ignore the global connections that are so common today. Our food comes from different continents and passes through dozens of handlers before we eat it. It has picked up germs and microbes that we never dreamed of in our hometowns. As a result, washing fruits and vegetables well and sanitizing cutting boards and other surfaces is important- really.

With that under control, we can turn to the best foods to eat to ensure we get a wholesome supply of nutrients. Think simple and think natural as we retire on the cheap. Loading up your diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is the key to maintaining a healthy diet and healthy body. At least two thirds of your diet should be composed of fruits and vegetables, with the remaining third divided among fish and poultry, whole grains, and sweet treats. Fresh fruits and vegetables form an important part of your strategy in your thrifty retirement. Brightly colored vegetables and fruits pack extra doses of vitamins, so envision a crayon box of colors.

Deep green leafy vegetables like broccoli, kale, spinach, arugula, and parsley are full of vitamin A and folate. Bright orange and yellow produce includes oranges, squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and corn. Bright red tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, pomegranates, and red bell peppers are loaded with vitamins A and C. Deep blue and purple signal the berry super heroes, including blueberries, blackberries, and purple grapes. These colorful fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, as well as vitamins and minerals. Phytochemicals encompass a group of nutrients that may help our bodies avoid some of the diseases associated with aging, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and macular degeneration.

Conversely, try to avoid white foods. Bland color often equates with bland flavor and bland nutrition, as well. White rice, white potatoes, and white bread are common culprits. Although each of those foods contains some nutrients, better choices have better flavor and much more nutrition. Brown rice, sweet potatoes, and 100% whole wheat bread are easy, flavorful substitutions.

Vitamin B-12 has received increasing attention lately, especially with regard to our retiree age group. Research has shown that as many as a third of seniors can no longer absorb B-12 from foods such as eggs, meat, milk, and yogurt, so we must get it from enriched cereals or from a daily supplement. Vitamin B-12 is vital to maintaining healthy nerves and blood.

Calcium and vitamin D go hand-in-hand today when we talk about maintaining strong bones and avoiding osteoporosis. The two are linked because the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium efficiently. Women, especially, should be concerned about getting enough of both. The most commonly known sources of calcium are probably dairy products (always choose low fat versions), which are also enriched with vitamin D. Mom always told you to drink your milk, right? But if you abandoned milk as you aged, or if you are lactose intolerant, you might not be getting the daily 1200 mg of calcium that we require in our healthy retirement. Calcium is also found in vitamin D-fortified products such as soy milk, almond milk, and orange juice. Other calcium-rich food sources include dark green leafy vegetables, canned salmon, and canned sardines.
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Vitamin D is best absorbed from sunlight directly on your skin, as it rarely is present in food. A daily 20-minute walk with your face and arms exposed to the sun will provide enough Vitamin D, as well as help to keep you physically fit and in shape. Supplements of vitamin D may be a wise option, as most authorities today believe people need at least 1000 iu each day, rather than the lower recommendations of the past.


What’s Wrong With Sugar?

So what’s wrong with sugar? Most people eat it in various forms, it’s in most of our processed food and drinks, the government isn’t doing much to reduce our sugar consumption, so it can’t be all that bad, can it? Well, not only is it bad for us, it’s worse than most people think.

Sugar Habit

Our sugar habit is formed early in life. Sweets and sugary snacks, sugary drinks, they’re all given to us as treats or even as a reward for good behaviour. They also feature large in celebrations at Birthdays, weddings, Christmas and other religious festivals. So from an early age our brains have been hard-wired to associate sugar with happy times. This insidious link spills over into adulthood, and is passed on through the generations.

Sugar is toxic to the human body, so in reality when we reward our children with a sugary snack or a drink of sugary soda, in effect we’re saying “you’ve been really good, so as a reward I want you to eat this poison which will damage your health and might even eventually kill you”. Or, “Happy Birthday! Here’s some more poison.”

Add to this the strong influence of peer pressure, and sugar weaves its way into our lives in a very powerful way. “Go on, have another slice of chocolate cake, I made it especially for you!” Or, “let me buy you a soda, it’s such a hot day, I’m having one too.” or “don’t be a party-pooper, healthy eating can wait till tomorrow, lets pig out tonight!”. You’ve probably given into these words, or even uttered them yourself.

Sure it’s great to party and celebrate and eat good food, but you can do all these things and avoid sugar. There’s so much delicious food that’s healthy, there’s no need to poison yourself with sugar.

So what exactly is wrong with sugar?

Refined manufactured sugar, known as sucrose, and also HFCS which is short for high fructose corn syrup, are the substances that do the damage. What damage? Because they’re so refined, they absorb into the bloodstream very fast, and cause a radical insulin response to handle the high blood sugar levels.

Repeated high blood sugar causes damage throughout the body. And excess sugar, ie that which is not burned as energy (or stored as glycogen for future energy release), is converted very quickly to fat, which you’ll soon notice around your stomach, bum, hips, and chest. But what you’ll not notice is the fat that accumulates in your liver, and on the walls of your arteries.

When most carbohydrates are digested, they break down into glucose. But when sugar is digested, it breaks down into equal amounts of glucose and fructose. You may think fructose is ok, as it’s found in fruit, but in excess quantities, and in its refined and concentrated state, it causes havoc inside your body. Unlike glucose, which is 80% metabolised by your muscle cells and 20% by your liver, fructose can only be metabolised by your liver, and this leads to an overloaded liver, which then converts around a third of the fructose into saturated fat.

Sugar is known as an ‘anti-nutrient’ because it leeches vital minerals and vitamins from the body in order to metabolise it. Unlike fruit, which contains ample vitamins and minerals to metabolise the fructose in the fruit, refined sugar and HFCS contain no such nutrients, and so drain your body of goodness.

Over time, a diet high in sugar leads to a range of disorders:

  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Suppressed Immunity
  • Yeast Infections and ‘Bad’ Bacteria growth in the gut
  • Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Many more related disorders, but it would take a large medical book to detail them all.

How can I kick the sugar habit?

There’s a lot you can do to beat your sugar cravings. Here’s a checklist:

  1. Cut out all sugary snacks, fizzy drinks, fruit juices, sweets, cakes, takeaways, junk foods.
  2. Replace these foods with small portions of fruit, protein-rich foods flavoured with garlic, chilli, ginger, and complex carbs like sweet potatoes, and plenty of vegetables.
  3. Drink more water between meals. When your brain sends ‘thirsty’ signals, you often confuse these with ‘hunger’ signals.
  4. Don’t skip meals. By eating frequently, you’ll keep your sugar levels in balance, and never suffer the low blood sugar which can lead to sugar cravings. Foods rich in ‘good fats’ such as oily fish help you feel full for longer, so eat plenty of these.
  5. Exercise regularly. This releases endorphins, which make you feel good, a natural high to replace the artificial high from eating sugar.

Over time, your sugar cravings will subside, you’ll start to view sugar as a sickly poison, and your health and wellbeing will increase dramatically.


Nutrigenomics – How to Find a Practitioner to Work With

The summer is nearly coming to an end and I’ve realised that there is a visible increase in the interest in nutrition, wellness and Nutrigenomics. Of course with a new trend comes a wave of new job titles, website names, support groups and practitioners.

Nutrigenomics or personalized nutrition is not for everybody, and I have learned that perception of this latest trend can sometimes be somewhat skewed.

From a clinician´s point of view, Nutrigenomics is a tool that should be used in combination with other assessment measures such as BMI, Biochemistry medical and diet history to really get a view of the client or patient health status and where the focus of counseling or therapy should be. It should not be used in isolation or should not be the sole selling technique to get feet through the door or to sell supplements. It does not diagnose nor is it that magic pill that sadly has not been found yet.

However, it is a tool. It can help to shed light on health areas that need support such as detoxification or antioxidant status. It can guide practitioners to advise the best type of diet and exercise that would be suitable for effective weight loss, and it can assist in guiding clients on making necessary dietary changes such as incorporating anti-inflammatory (functional) foods into their diet.

For the individual, the motivation for wanting a Nutrigenomics screen should be clear, otherwise it could lead to disappointment. Whether the aim is for weight loss, an improved dietary and lifestyle or to prevent or delay the onset of chronic diseases because of a family history, being clear on your goal helps to create a stimulating and motivating discussion and goal-setting during a consultation. Your aim may be different to the practitioner´s.

In order to ensure that you get what you want from your Nutrigenomics practitioner:

  1. Do your research and find out if they have completed an accredited course
  2. Discuss your goals briefly beforehand and assess if you could work with them to achieve your goals.
  3. Establish a communication method early, some individuals enjoy regular contact where others prefer to talk at appointments only. Make sure your clinician can accommodate your communication style, you will have questions!
  4. Ask if personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations and plans are included in the price of the consultation or if it is only an interpretive service
  5. If you have any existing medical conditions, ask if they are experienced in that area and if it is still relevant to proceed with a screen
  6. When looking for practitioners, also search under “functional nutrition” as this new area of Nutrigenomics falls under functional and integrative nutrition.

If you are happy with the replies and still interested, go ahead and book a consultation, it could lead to healthier aging!


Why Fresh Vegetables Are Not Always Best

How long do your veggies sit in the fridge before eating?

A recent newspaper article points out that frozen vegetables that have been processed soon after picking can contain many more nutrients than fresh. Now, I must add something here; the research referred to was carried out on behalf of Birds Eye and no mention was made of the time it takes them to pick and store their produce. Hmmn, I know.

McCain foods in Australia say their veggies are frozen ‘within hours’. Sounds good, but what exactly does that mean? I’ve looked at a number of manufacturers websites and they’re all singing a similar song.

But there are other considerations too; those who have access to fresh farmers markets, organic markets and local produce, or who do manage to grow their own, are likely in a different category. And the standards within the frozen food industry probably vary.

Still, many of the points made were reiterated in another article by Gene Lester, Ph.D, a plant physiologist at the USDA Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, Texas who points out that fruit and vegetables picked for the fresh-produce market are often picked before fully ripe, and before the full gamut of nutrients have accumulated in them (link to the article below). They also may be subjected to heat and light in transit which further degrades them. Then there’s time spent on the shelves, in your fridge…

So, it really does beg the question; is there a system for checking and measuring nutritional quality? In the US, produce marked with the USDA “U.S. Fancy” shield is said to indicate a superior product.

Another interesting point made by Andrew Loudon (Daily Mail) is that produce grown out of season is likely to have more pesticide and chemical fertiliser residue not found in the frozen equivalent.

The bottom line seems to be:

*Buy fresh local produce in season, choose carefully, use common sense, be informed and know what to look for; for example I never buy fresh broccoli unless it’s stored in a chiller.

*Take advantage of the convenience and variety offered by frozen in the knowledge that they’re a highly nutritious option.

*Try to grow your own perhaps; a few easy options, like lettuce, beans, herbs, whatever grows well in your area.

I regularly buy certain frozen veggies: peas, broad beans, corn and spinach are the main ones. I find them useful, adaptable and convenient, and there’s less waste (frozen vegetables and fruits can be stored for 6 months at -18 degrees c, but make sure you keep them as airtight as possible).

And a tip I heard years ago: only buy frozen packets whose contents are not stuck together – if they are, it indicates that at some point they’ve been un-frozen and will have suffered the consequences.

One of my favourite frozen foods are berries: blueberries, raspberries, mixed berries; there’s quite a variety on offer. I always have them in the freezer for muffins, smoothies, pancake toppings, or just stirring into a fruit salad. It’s easy to find ways to include them in our diet. They are so popular with children, very convenient and provide a great nutritional boost.

You’ll find a number of ideas and recipes in my book ‘The Clever Packed Lunch’ for making use of the convenience and nutritional value offered by the foods I’ve mentioned. The e-book will soon be available via my website (see below).

In the meantime I’m wondering whether the contents of my overflowing fruit bowl should be moved into the fridge, or is it better for the fruit to be seen and therefore more likely to be eaten?


Juicing Wheatgrass Benefits And Basic Setup

Where can you begin describing the health benefits of juicing wheatgrass. The list seems to be endless. It seems to have a beneficial effect on every system in our bodies.

  • To begin with wheatgrass increases energy and stamina, is easily digestible, cleanses and detoxifies the gastrointestinal tract.
  • It will also lower blood pressure and on that note helps rebuild red blood cells.
  • In fact the wheatgrass chlorophyll molecule is very similar to the blood hemoglobin molecule.
  • Drinking wheatgrass juice helps in liver functioning and preventing constipation.
  • It has also been suggested that it will prevent cancer.

Wheatgrass juice seems to be an almost perfect food containing a long list of vitamins and minerals. These include vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, cobalt, and sulfur to name some of them. It possesses a high number of essential amino acids, these are the ones that the body cannot manufacture on its own and have to obtained from the foods we eat.

These amino acids help to increase the body’s immune system to prevent diseases and conditions like diabetes. And as a further step the wheatgrass juice has also been linked to helping reverse blood disorders like diabetes. The juice will aid in the healing of wounds and prevent infection.

So what exactly is wheatgrass juice and how do you make it? If you’ve ever had sprouts in a salad or other dish, had chow mein or even purchased a can of bean sprouts to add to your favorite oriental dish. Maybe even tried your own hand at growing sprouts yourself, so you could have a supply at hand without having to purchase the ones laying in the produce section for who knows hw long. Well then you have an idea of what wheatgrass basically is.

The sprouts used in the oriental dishes are mung beans and the ones in the salad or vegetable aisle are a mix of usually alfalfa seeds and radish seeds and sometimes broccoli seeds, because they are quick sprouting. Basically to sprout these seeds, just rinse them a couple of times, drain, keep moist by rinsing them twice a day and let them sprout for a couple of days. Sprouting jars are sold, which are just mason jars with a plastic lid with small holes in it that lets you quickly drain the small seeds without losing any. The sprouts are ready to go as soon as leaves appear and turn green with chlorophyll, usually within a week to ten days or even less. The chlorophyll increases the nutritional benefits of the sprouts.

You could try the same approach with wheat seeds or as they’re called wheat berries, but they do better if planted on rich organic soil. Don’t worry you don’t need a field or even a garden, just a plastic or metal tray or even a cookie sheet will do just fine. You’re only going to need less than an inch of soil.

First you need to soak the wheat berries overnight. The next day just place a little soil in the tray and dampen it. It is best to do this with a spray bottle, like the plant atomizers used to mist,the plant leaves. Otherwise pouring water on the soil will add too much and make a mess. Next drain the water from the soaking wheat seeds and place the seeds right on the soil surface. Dampen a couple of layers of paper towels or some newspapers, place over the seeds and put the tray in a warm dark place for a couple of days. Make sure the towels or newspaper stay damp, not soaking wet. As soon as roots start to grow you can remove the covering, keep the soil moist and when leaves start to appear you can place in direct sunlight for a few hours a day to increase the nutrients in the wheatgrass.


Juicing Wheatgrass

With a little bit of knowledge about wheatgrass, you’ll be juicing wheatgrass in as many juicing recipes as you can. Studies show that wheatgrass has a benefical effect in many special areas, and has many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes. It is a wonderful ingredient to add to your recipes.

Colon cancer rates can be reduced with chlorophyll high in the diet. Wheatgrass is higher in this than most other green vegetables, almost seventy percent.

Wheatgrass is also used for detoxification, and to increase blood flow and promote digestion. In addition, it helps to oxygenate and alkalize the blood, suppress your appetite, regulate the thyroid, and boost the immune system. Why would you not want to start juicing wheatgrass?

Some stores, as well as health food stores, sell freshly cut wheatgrass flats. You can take these home to put in your juicer. You can also purchase wheatgrass as a juice or frozen. Wheatgrass also comes as a powder or in a tablet, so if you choose to you can use these forms as well.

If you are so inclined, you can also grow your own wheatgrass at home. A six tray wheatgrass sprouter will probably give you 3 to 4 ounces of juice a day. If you do grow your own, I would recommend using a seaweed fertilizer which has a perfect ratio of minerals, which can then be absorbed by the roots.

Of course, if you have a garden, then you can just plant the wheatgrass in the soil. It’s best to soak the seeds, drain and rinse. Set the seeds in the sun to dry. Repeat this several times. What you want is to have a pre sprout before planting.

Some people don’t like the flavor of wheatgrass, so instead of drinking the juice alone, mix it with other types of fruits and vegetables. Many people enjoy mixing wheatgrass with apple juice, cucumber or carrots. Just use your favorite fruits. If you choose, you can sweeten it by just adding some honey. You can also add any other greens you may like. (parsley, celery, alfalfa sprouts). If you like the flavor, you might try putting in some garlic or ginger.

Juicing wheatgrass is not the same as juicing and drinking other fruits and vegetables. It can be harder on the stomach like many other green vegetables. Because wheatgrass has a strong cleansing effect, you probably should not drink more than about four ounces a day, and never on an empty stomach. If you drink too much, it can cause an upset stomach and nausea. Only drink one glass, a few ounces, of wheatgrass each day or even every other day if you have a stomach that is easily upset. Some people will feel the effects of wheatgrass right away like some people feel coffee or tea.

There is a special juicer that’s able to get the moister out of wheatgrass, called a “masticating” juicer. This juicer can of course also be used to juice your other vegetables and herbs. Juicing wheatgrass is just another way of adding many benefits and nutrition to your healthy diet.


Review Of Nutrisystem Diet Food Plan

The Nutrisystem Diet plan, suggested by superstars for instance Dan Marino and Marie Osmond, has established a course which makes it simple and easy that you can diet. You must not think about meal, since it is provided, each and every calorie in order to depend, which is easy to understand. A lot more than thirty-five years in business shows that this can be a validated program. As well as in line with the Nutrisystem website, over 9 million pounds have been lost this past year alone.

Nutrisystem guarantees weight loss based on a 3 simple steps: Choose Your Plan, Order Your Food, and Eat Healthy. Realizing that doesn’t everyone is created equal, Nutrisystem offers invented 4 individual diet plans for men and four individual diet plans for women. You can choose from Basic, Silver, Diabetic, and Vegetarian. The idea is always to select the strategy in which greatest meets your requirements after which develop a menu depending on which meal plan. The site strolls you through the whole procedure.

Simply by joining on the Nutrisystem website, you can program your meals, buy your food, observe your progress and acquire assistance. Help comes in the form of user discussion forums and boards, daily diet suggestions, normal newsletter, and unlimited counseling. Additionally, there are every week e-classes provided with chat.

There’s no exercise element of the program, since it is solely nutrition-based. Although this may possibly interest those that don’t like workout, motion as well as activity is essential to some wholesome body and a wise companion to be able to weight reduction.

Most of the foods for this program is supplied, and it is nutritionally well-balanced and developed to assist handle food cravings. Nutrisystem enables you to choose your own personal 28-day supply of foods, or else you can easily purchase any pre-selected package. You will find over one hundred seventy Nutrisystem food items, but they don’t arrive inexpensively. At $11 for every person per day, which totals $330 month, plus the incidentals you will have to supplement the plan (fruit, vegetables and also dairy). To get a category of four, that could total an astonishing $1320 per month, possibly twice how much of an common family spends. But it has ease and can help you stay out from the kitchen, evaluating, calculating as well as toiling on the oven.

If you’re lucky enough living in New York City, you are able to take advantage of Nu-Kitchen, where you can purchase newly prepared foods in line with the Nutrisystem diet, lots of which have been ready along with organic and/or local elements. This particular function enables you to have got everyday meals sent, otherwise you can go the la carte and also buy merely the dishes you need each day, plus you can find sufficient for the family or a supper party, if you want to amuse.

Buying meals are simple on the internet. Preparing the foodstuff demands little effort and there’s no stage program or calories to maintain a record of. The Nutrisystem meals are portion controlled, offering you the data of what’s good you can eat. The plan furthermore permits snacking and provides weight loss monitoring resources for you to use on the Nutrisystem website.

When you perform discover portion manage as well as exactly what makes up healthy eating, you do not put together the meals oneself, and when you decide to go off the plan, it might be more challenging to maintain the weight loss while preparing your own personal meals or defaulting in order to take-out or even restaurant cost.


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