Oatmeal is a fabulous breakfast food that will help you start your morning off right, but are you getting the most potential out of this oat? Instant oats are a popular choice, because they’re quick to prepare and if you’re racing out the door, it’s quick and easy to grab a packet to heat up later. But instant oats are quick and easy for a reason ‘ they’ve been shaved down to size, removing much of the oat’s natural fiber and nutrients. Instant oatmeal also has sodium, sugar and other unhealthy additives. If you’re trying to make the most of your health, don’t settle for a sub-par breakfast.

Make time in the mornings to prepare oats on the stove-top or in the microwave and opt for steel-cut oats or old-fashioned oats, both of which have even more of the bran and germ intact.

If you just can’t make time for cooking the old-fashioned way, try Quaker Oatmeal’s new Weight Control oatmeal. This instant breakfast offers six grams of fiber, seven grams of protein and just one gram of sugar to help keep your appetite, and your waistline, under control.

LifeScripts

The good news is that there are hundreds of other easy and gluten free snack ideas.

Living a gluten free lifestyle doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious foods.

It simply means you need to create new habits and approaches to eating.

Take snacks, for example. Many people turn to starchy carbohydrates for snacks.

We’re talking about crackers, cookies, chips and baked goods. Most of those types of snacks are packed with gluten.

The good news is that there are hundreds of other easy and gluten free snack ideas.

Let’s take a look at just a few of them.

#1 Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, cashews, and pistachios are all high in fiber. They also have protein. This means they fill you up and help curb your hunger until mealtime.

They’re the perfect snack. A handful of nuts and seeds make a perfect gluten free snack.

#2 Popcorn

Popcorn is 100% gluten free. And you can get creative with your toppings. Many people enjoy melted butter and a bit of salt.

You can also try things like chili powder, garlic, onion powder and even cinnamon.

You can spritz the popcorn with a bit of olive oil, truffle oil or even melted butter.

It’s tasty, satisfying and you can eat a few cups of popcorn without consuming too many calories.

It’s a fulfilling and gluten free snack.

#3 Yogurt

Yogurt has healthy probiotics that regulate your digestion and help things stay on track. However, many yogurts also contain a high amount of sugar.

Try plain Greek yogurt topped with your favorite fruit. Add berries, apples and cinnamon, or tropical fruits like bananas and papaya.

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#4 Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit

A little dark chocolate is good for you, right? Why not add a bit of fruit to a chocolate addiction and create a gluten free snack.

Try chocolate covered bananas, strawberries, and cherries. Prepare the fruit, dip it into melted dark chocolate and refrigerate or freeze. It’s a snack that you can make ahead and enjoy for days.

#5 Chips and Salsa

It’s said there are two kinds of snacking people, those who head for the pretzels and those who head for the chips and salsa. If you’re a chips and salsa person then you’re set.

Plain tortilla chips are usually gluten free, but read the label to make sure. And you can make your own salsa or look for salsa that is gluten free. Again, most are, but read the label to make sure.

What if you’re a pretzel snacker? There are a few brands of gluten free pretzels that are quite delicious.

#6 Fruit and Veggies

Edamame- You can buy frozen edamame at Whole Foods. When you get hungry, thaw a portion in hot water and squeeze lemon juice and sea salt over the top.

Orange Slices- I used to love when someone would peel an orange for a snack at work. Citrus is such an energizing fragrance!

Natural Peanut Butter on Celery- you can also try a cream cheese version for calcium (Tofutti Cream Cheese for casein-free).

Marinated Carrots- Buy sliced carrot coins and marinate them overnight with your favorite low-sugar vinaigrette.

Tomatoes with Salt- When summer hits, there is nothing more yummy!

Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans- Chickpeas are packed with protein and they have a high fiber content, which prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after consuming this yummy snack

#7 Chocolate Covered Dried Apricots/Bananas

Microwave 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate in 30 sec. intervals stirring until melted (or use double-boiler). When it is throughly melted, dip the apricots (halfway) or bananas (I do the whole slice). Place the fruit on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper; sprinkle with crushed nuts. Put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.

Finally, if you enjoy baking you can make gluten free cookies, muffins, breads, and crackers on the weekend. There are many gluten free brownie and cookie recipes online.

Many of them use almond flour instead of wheat based flour. They’re amazing and can help you navigate a gluten free lifestyle with ease.

Keeping up a gluten-free diet can be challenging without doing any form of research. There are numerous alternatives to gluten, in the form of gluten-free grains. When choosing a gluten-free grain, make certain to do your inquiry on the maker.

Occasionally grains are marked gluten free, but might come into contact with items that have been exposed to or contain gluten. In this instance, you will need to avoid the product because it may set off a reaction if you have celiac disease.

* Amaranth is a food grain that was popular among the Aztecs. Amaranth bears a loftier level of protein and fiber than any other food grains including corn. It is generally used in recipes that call for flour as a flour replacement.

* Buckwheat isn’t a grain, but instead seeds of a fruit plant that is related to rhubarb. It’s utilized by bees to form dark honey. Buckwheat is a healthy alternative to rice and is recognized because of its numerous health benefits such as lowered cholesterol and protecting against heart disease.

* Millet is a cereal grain that’s exploited chiefly in European nations. it’s a really old grain, even brought up in the Bible and exploited during those times to make bread. Millet is a fine alternative to flour and may be used as a porridge also.

* Quinoa is a grain substitute, in spite of the fact that it is really a seed from a plant. Quinoa may be cooked into baked goods such as cakes and bread because it contributes a subtle nutty flavor. It may likewise be cooked and consumed as oatmeal would.

* Brown rice is an option to white rice. Brown rice is considerably more good for you than white rice because it does not contain a high amount of carbohydrates or any gluten. Brown rice is a healthy choice and may be utilized in any recipe that calls for rice. Keep in mind, however, that brown rice takes a good deal longer to cook than white rice and so plan in advance when using brown rice in your meals.

There are a lot of healthy options to typical products that contain gluten. A lot of the alternatives turn out to be healthier in more ways than one – contributing to digesting food and promoting a healthy cardiovascular system. The particulars listed above may allow for an effective diet with no gluten to cause a reaction in celiac disease.

Related Natural Product

Alorex addresses nutritional and immunilogical needs of people who are gluten intolerant. Alorex manages the common symptoms of your gluten intolerance by addressing the dietary deficiencies caused by damage to the small intestine. A common occurrence in gluten intolerance is its effect the small intestine’s villi, which reduces the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Alorex effectively reduces gastrointestinal disturbances and promotes nutrient absorption with an influx of digestive-supporting nutrients; all the while promoting a reduction in GI tract inflammation.

The healthy eating pyramid is a guideline for people to follow and understand how to develop healthy eating habits. The new food pyramid is designed vertically instead of horizontally and color-coded. Each color represents a different food group grains, vegetables, fruits, fats and oils, milk and dairy and meat, beans, fish and nuts.

The new healthy eating pyramid was changed in 2005 in an attempt to better communicate the nutritional needs of adults and children to the general public. The new design uses small steps up the pyramid to represent the small changes you can make that will, together, make big changes in your overall health. Unfortunately the promotion of the pyramid was canceled due to overwhelming dissatisfaction from the sugar, beef, dairy and processed food manufacturers.

Along the side of the pyramid is the picture of a young girl climbing the side, which represents the inclusion of exercise in the current Food Pyramid guidelines. Although the government is including exercise there are other facts discovered in research in the past 10 years that were omitted secondary to pressure from lobbyists.

The healthy eating pyramid has several other criteria that it is attempting to convey. Eat a variety of foods. A balanced diet is one that includes foods from all the food groups and not foods from one group. Try to also include fruits and vegetables that come from every color each day. If you salad is all green without other colors you’ve fallen short of the goal.

This healthy eating pyramid encourages eating less of some foods and more of others. The bands that represent meats and proteins and fats are skinnier than others. The bands that represent fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy foods are thicker because you should eat more of those.

The bands also get thinner at the top of the pyramid because certain categories of food are not all created the same. In other words the fruit in a fruit tart are not the same as they are as whole food. Crunch into an apple or slice open a kiwi twice a day but only eat the fruit tart once a week.

The healthy eating pyramid is able to give suggestions about what to eat but not how much of each to eat. It gives the reader the ratios but not the calories. The number of calories each day depends upon your activity level, age and sex. The needs of each individual are different and distinct based on these criteria.

The USDA Food Pyramid must be revised every five years by law. The intent is to provide sound nutritional advice based on the newest scientific research. The committee usually generates 100 pages plus of recommendations that are distilled to a reader friendly brochure. Of great importance are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans also set standards for all federal nutrition programs, including school lunch programs.

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People all over the world enjoy drinking coffee. In fact, some people say they can’t function in the morning without one or more cups. Recently, because the ability to make it at home, some people have been enjoying espresso – a good mood food rather than a simple cup of ‘Joe.’

Espresso, unlike coffee, is a sweet drink with a potent aroma. It tastes similar to normal coffee but it’s so much more. Espresso is made from specifically blended coffee beans which provide sweetness, aroma, and smoothness. It is also best enjoyed when it is freshly roasted, ground, and prepared within four days of roasting to get the best flavor. It is used as the base for lattes, macchiato, cappuccino, and mochas.

Doctors have explained in recent years how coffee can have significant health benefits if enjoyed in moderation. What is moderation according to the experts? Most will agree that two to three servings a day can be enjoyed by most people unless they have sensitivity to caffeine or a medical condition which could be made worse by consuming it.

Coffee beans, according to scientists, are a major source of healthful antioxidants. In fact, it is believed those consuming coffee-based drinks are probably getting more antioxidants from these beverages than from anything else they consume all day.

Medical science has indicated that espresso or other coffee beverages can help reduce your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and colon cancer. They also explain about the mental-boosting ability. Some scientists claim coffee has the ability to help reduce the pain associated with migraine headaches and may improve brain health.

Of course, to receive any of the health benefits associated with coffee, you’ll want to drink it black. This will allow you to reap the benefits. However, some people may not enjoy coffee in this manner. Try using Stevia (a natural plant-based sweetener) or non-dairy soy milk to make black coffee more palatable. To get the most benefit, try espresso where the coffee is prepared with water under pressure to ensure the antioxidants and other nutrients are concentrated in each cup.

Research has gone on to indicate the antioxidants in coffee, especially when consumed as espresso, boosts our immune system and may help stave off heart disease. People who have a tendency toward depression may also experience some relief because coffee can produce ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain.

No one will deny coffee’s ability to help people concentrate and give them energy. It can make you more mentally alert and may even be able to fight cavities although most dentists won’t recommend giving small children caffeine.

Espresso, a good mood food, can do more than improve how you feel. The antioxidants in espresso have definite health benefits. When you need a pick-me-up either in the morning or during an afternoon energy slump, instead of reaching for a cup of ordinary coffee, why not try a draw of espresso instead.

Imagine being able to eat your way to health.  Taking foods instead of drugs to ward off cholesterol problems, decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other diseases that have become all too common in our society.  Imagine adding a few great tasting foods to your diet and telling your pharmacist good bye.

Well, imagining is over.  Researchers have found several foods that are reported to have super qualities that improve the health of the user.  Here is a list of 12 Super Foods that will help to improve your health today!

Blueberries: Blueberries are an antioxidant super food that are packed with phytoflavinoids and are high in potassium and Vitamin C.  They will lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.

Actually inflammation is the key to most chronic diseases, so blueberries have lots of benefits.  When choosing your berries recognize that the darker the berry the more anti-oxidants they have.  ½ a cup of berries a day is a serving and reportedly the frozen are as good as the fresh.

Omega-3 rich foods: new super foods are great for the hearts, joints and memory.  Researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of heart disease, help arthritis and can possibly help with memory loss as well as prevention of Alzheimer’s.

Omega-3 fatty on since are most prevalent in fatty cold water fish such as salmon, hearing, sardines and mackerel.  These fatty acids can also be found in plant foods, most specifically flaxseed.  It’s actually quite easy to get an adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids every day or weekly by adding milled flaxseed to your salad or cereals.  The addition of flaxseed in the milled state adds no additional flavor.

Another easy superfood is soy. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that a diet of soy fiber which would also include proteins from oats and barley will help to decrease or lower cholesterol levels.

This award which is needed is from tofu, soy milk or edamame and not soy powder which means soy sauce won’t do the trick.  An important note: if you have a family history of breast cancer is not recommended to eat extra soy because it also contains plant-based estrogen which is necessary in the growth of breast cancer.

Fiber: a diet high in fiber will maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and will help you feel fuller longer which is a great weight loss tool.  Good sources of fiber are whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.

Tomatoes: tomatoes contain lycopenes which are in antioxidants more potent than vitamin C.  These lycopene stimulate immune function and can slow the progression of degenerative diseases.  Work to include at least one medium tomato each day into your diet.

Sprouts: sprouts are highly nutritious and are produced when the seed starts growing into a vegetable.  They’ve very in texture and taste and are high in living enzymes.  Because sprouts are the beginning of a plant they are concentrated source of living enzymes that is lost when the food is cooked or not picked fresh from the garden.  They are also much easier to digest than seeds or beans.

Acai: studies have shown that this little beer he is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world.  Pronounced ah-sigh-ee this berry is from a special Amazon palm tree and harvested in the rain forests of Brazil.

It tastes like a blend of beer he is and chocolate and packed with antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids.  You can find it in several health food stores and go gourmet stores or currently produced as unsweetened pulp.

Nuts and seeds: Venus are an incredible way to dramatically decrease the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes as well as control your weight with no hunger pains.  Nuts and seeds also reduce visible signs of the I Ching like wrinkles and sagging skin.  You can add nuts to your salad, cooking or just grab a handful in the afternoon to enjoy as a filling and satisfying snack.

Tea: recently in green tea has received much press as a superfood for lowering cholesterol and inhibiting cancer.  Green tea also has antioxidant which has been found to lower cholesterol levels and keep them lower individuals who drank a cop of tea a day.

Calcium: you know that calcium helps build strong bones and bodies and helps to prevent osteoporosis but other studies have shown that calcium also helps to improve weight loss.  Calcium is found in dairy products such as milk and cheese or can be taken as a supplement.  Interestingly calcium is also found in green leafy vegetables which means you don’t need to each your ice cream in order to get your calcium.

You may have noticed that these “super foods” are nothing new or unusual.  Instead these are foods which researchers and doctors have been telling us for years to include in our diet to improve our overall health.

Just remember that health is not a sprint but rather a long distance run or marathon.  You must eat good foods every day to maintain your health over the coming years and you won’t change your health by increasing the amount of super foods you eat on a daily basis for just one week.

If you listened to most doctors, you’d have to believe fish oils are fabulous. The problem with getting your essential fatty acids from fish oil is that you get more than you bargained for.

Many fish oils, especially those derived from fish livers, are contaminated with dioxins, mercury, organo-chloro pesticides, and PCBs.

These toxins can be removed by processing, but the processing results in damage to the essential fatty acids. Are the promises of fish just a false hope? Or is there a way to get the benefits of fish oil without fish?

Let’s start by taking a look at what it is in fish oil, and other oils, that provides the essential nutrition your body needs.

Essential fatty acids are substances from fats the body cannot make but must have for health. Essential fatty acids are found in two chemical families, n-3 and n-6. The body uses these fatty acids to make various kinds of regulatory hormones.

An n-3 fatty acid can’t be turned into an n-6 fatty acid, and an n-6 fatty acid never becomes n-3. Both kinds of fatty acids are necessary for normal function. The fatty acid expert Udo Erasmus says that the average of consumption of essential, n-3 fatty acids today is one-sixth what it was 150 years ago.

From 95 to 99% of the population of North America and Europe simply don’t get the essential fatty acids they need.

Are plant oils just as good as fish oils? Some important evidence is in.

A study in the British Journal of Nutrition published in October 2002 answered these three key questions:

* Can the human body convert a blend of plant oils into the DHA and EPA found in fish oil?
* If it can, how much of the plant oils is converted into the essential fatty acids found in fish oil?
* And is this enough for good health? In other words, can a vegan diet really provide essential fatty acids?

The answer seems to be yes to all three questions. A study of six female volunteers found that these women’s bodies converted about 36% of the ALA (the plant oil fatty acid) into the fatty acids found in fish oil.

A second study of six male volunteers found that these men’s bodies converted an average of 16% of the ALA from plants oils into the same essential fatty acids found in fish oil.

You don’t have to have fish oil to get the essential fatty acids your body needs, but plant oils offer you more than just essential fatty acids.

Almond oil is probably better known for its use in aromatherapy than for its use in the kitchen. The June 2005 edition of the journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine even reports that just touching the oil balances the immune system.

The result is that T cells fight infection without causing inflammation—an extremely important quality in treating any kind of long-term viral infection, HIV, herpes, and hepatitis among them. For uses in cooking, scientific evidence shows that almond oil increases satisfaction with fewer calories, especially in women.

Adding just a tiny amount of avocado oil to food helps the body absorb the carotenes and their chemical cousins: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeoxanthin among them. Add a teaspoon of avocado oil to carrots, pumpkin, or sweet potato dishes.

Avocado oil is not fattening (and neither are avocados). Recent clinical studies have even found that substituting avocado oil for other oils helps calorie restriction result in weight loss.

Black cumin seed oil protects the liver against environmental toxins, especially chemical compounds containing chlorine.

Borage seed oil is the richest source of the n-6 fatty acids. When there is advanced age, diabetes, high alcohol intake, eczema, cyclic mastitis, viral infections, excessive saturated fat intake, elevated cholesterol levels, and deficiencies of vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, biotin, or calcium, supplementing the diet with borage seed oil helps balance the body’s pain relief and infection-fighting functions.

Up to a tablespoon a day may be helpful in cyclic breast pain, eczema, diabetic nerve damage, and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s always best to consume borage seed oil with other food.

The immunostimulant properties of cold-pressed coconut oil are well known. Cold-pressed coconut oil is a great source of caprylic acid, an antifungal agent the body produces on its own but that is easily supplemented with the oil.

If you must fry food, coconut oil is the most stable plant oil, the oil least likely to form harmful byproducts under high heat.

Evening primrose oil, also known as EPO, is perhaps the best-known supplement for fighting inflammation. One of the more interesting findings of recent research is preliminary evidence that EPO can help the repair of the enamel of the teeth.

The essential fatty acids in EPO help the body make hormones that relieve inflammation and stop a process leading to hormones that cause inflammation, making EPO helpful for persons who have eczema or arthritis.

Grapeseed oil is a great carrier for the essences used in aromatherapy. Used in cooking, grapeseed oil is an excellent source of the n-6 fatty acids the body needs to balance the n-3’s. Just use in moderation.

Using hempseed oil carries a slight risk of a false positive drug test for THC, especially if you consume more than 4 tablespoons a day. The health benefits of hempseed oil, however, are numerous.

Clinical studies from Finland published in April 2005 report that hempseed oil stops itchy skin (due to its content of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, not due to any marijuana-like effect). Dozens of Chinese studies find that hempseed oil relieves intestinal inflammation.

Who doesn’t know about cooking with olive oil? Like other healthy oils, using olive oil can help lower triglycerides and control cholesterol. Olive oil, however, has some special effects. It contains chemicals that keep the white blood cells known as macrophages from “burrowing” into the walls of the arteries to remove oxidized cholesterol.

The “hardening” of the arteries is actually a process of calcifying the macrophages that get stuck in the linings of the arteries. The use of olive oil has been connected with relief (although not cure) of conditions as diverse as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.

Macadamia nut oil comes from Hawaii, and lowers cholesterol and triglycerides.  In women, it may even lower weight without increasing exercise or cutting calories.

Pumpkin seed oil is a terrific source of ALA. This oil is also is a source of some of cofactors of vitamin E that aren’t included in a vitamin E capsule.  The best-known use of pumpkin seed oil in alternative medicine is for the protection of the prostate, although it is useful in treating bladder problems and supporting sexual health in both men and women.

Use pumpkin seed oil in your shakes, smoothies, or salad dressings. Two bits of advice, however: Keep your pumpkin seed oil in the refrigerator, and, of course, never heat it.

Safflower oil made through commercial refining, bleaching, and deodorizing processes has detrimental effect on red blood cells. As many as one million red blood cells are destroyed when you consume even one tablespoon of the common, commercial product.

Cold-pressed safflower oil, on the other hand, is an excellent source of linoleic acid, and unlike many other oils, it produces particles that are very rapidly cleared from the bloodstream. Any effect of safflower oil on lipid levels is very brief.

Consuming sesame seed oil provides the body with a chemical cousin of vitamin E known as gamma-tocopherol. According to a presenter sponsored by the American Heart Association, cooking with sesame oil in place of other edible oils appears to help reduce high blood pressure and lower the amount of medication needed to control hypertension.

In a clinical study, using sesame oil as the sole cooking oil for 60 days along with drug treatment lowered patients’ blood pressure levels. By the end of the study, simply using sesame oil allowed doctors to reduce the dosage of high blood pressure medicine by 2/3

Soybean oil is a source of beta-sitosterol. A well-documented treatment for prostate disease, beta-sitosterol also promotes recovery of the immune system after endurance exercise (such as a race, a “big game,” or over-training).

Sunflower oil is a source of vitamins A, D, and E, important for bone, liver, and skin. The July 2005 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that a diet rich in sunflower oil lowers LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and the clotting factors that predispose to heart attack and stroke.

Wheat germ oil is rich in fat but also in phytosterols. The two components of the oil together, however, block the absorption of cholesterol from food. Wheat germ oil is also a terrific source of vitamins E and K. Be sure to protect your wheat germ oil from heat and keep its container tightly closed.

1 Artery Crust.

Judging by the label, Pepperidge Farm Original Flaky Crust Roasted Chicken Pot Pie has 510 calories and 9 grams of saturated fat. But look again. Those numbers are for half a pie. Eat the entire pie, as most people probably do, and you’re talking more than 1,000 calories and 18 grams of sat fat. Then add the 13 grams of hidden trans fat (from the partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening) in each pie and you’re up to 31 grams of artery-clogging fat � that’s far more than a day’s allotment.

2 Strip Tease.

The new McDonald’s Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips, made of “premium-quality, 100 percent white chicken breast meat, seasoned and lightly breaded” sounds healthy. In fact, ounce for ounce, the Selects are no healthier than the chain’s Chicken McNuggets. A standard, five-strip order has 630 calories and 11 grams of artery-clogging fat. That’s about the same as a Big Mac, except the burger has 1,010 mg of sodium, while the Selects hit 1,550 mg, without the salty sauce.

3 Factory Reject.

Each slice of The Cheesecake Factory’s 6 Carb Original Cheesecake has 610 calories � that’s only 20 calories less than you’d get from a slice of their Original Cheesecake. Think of it as an 8-ounce prime rib for dessert � with 29 grams of saturated fat, 11/2 days’ supply. The next time you step on the bathroom scale, you may never know that the carbs were missing.

4 Discomfort Food.

“Back in 1948, Marie Callender put love and care into every meal she made,” says the box. “Today, each meal is still made with the care of Marie.” Marie’s “care” may still be there, but the love has gone cold. Take Marie Callender’s Herb Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Florets & Carrots. You’d never guess that the “Complete Dinner” has 530 calories, 12 grams of saturated fat, and 1,270 mg of sodium. Marie manages to add enough butter and heavy whipping cream to turn a roasted chicken meal into a Big Mac.

5 Out in Left Field.

No one expects a Mrs. Fields cookie to be good for you, but who would guess that a single Mrs. Fields Milk Chocolate & Walnuts cookie has more than 300 calories and as much saturated fat as a 12-ounce sirloin steak? It’s also got six teaspoons of sugar. If you can’t resist Mrs. Fields, share the smallest bag of Nibblers (six half-ounce cookies) with a friend. Or walk a few feet and look for a piece of fruit at another store instead.

Continued Here – Ten Foods You Should NEVER Eat!

When you hear about superfoods, it can sound somewhat intimidating. It may sound like you have to spend a great deal of money and completely change your diet, or force yourself to eat meals that taste unpleasant. In reality, though, superfoods are just regular foods – some are unusual, but they are generally just really healthy foods you can include in your regular diet.

Here are some examples of superfoods and easy ways you can add them into your daily diet.

Berries

Berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries are superfoods which contain important vitamins and minerals, and are rich in antioxidants. Most health experts agree that the antioxidants and nutrients are more numerous and effective when these berries are eaten raw. These superfoods are great to eat out of hand, along with some of these other ways:

* Blueberries, sliced strawberries, and raspberries are good on hot or cold cereal.
* Freeze any berries and use them in smoothies.
* Puree berries and freeze into popsicles.
* Frozen berries are tasty eaten out of hand.
* Serve a mixed fruit salad that includes berries.
* Top shortcake with whipped cream and berries.

Green Tea

Green tea is not only considered one of the superfoods which is full of antioxidants; it’s also purported to help boost weight loss. Many stores offer flavors of green tea to make it even more enticing and fun to include in your diet. Green tea can be consumed in various ways.

* Brew green tea and drink hot for your morning cup.
* Mix green tea with your regular black tea, hot or iced.
* Coffee can also be mixed with green tea.
* Flavor green tea with fruit juice and drink it iced.

Flax Seeds

Health professionals point out that flax seeds (one of the healthiest superfoods) should be ground up into a flour or meal for you to get the full nutritional benefits. Whole flax seeds pass through the digestive tract intact, meaning you don’t get any of the healthful benefits. Try including flax meal into your everyday diet with some of these ideas.

* Replace part of the flour in your favorite baked goods recipe with flax meal (breads, cookies, muffins, and so forth).
* Sprinkle flax meal on hot or cold cereal.
* Add flax meal to smoothies.
* Sprinkle it on yogurt.

Nuts

Look for raw nuts in your local grocery or health food store. Raw nuts are probably healthier, as they do not contain any added fat or salt, and heat has not destroyed the healthy fatty acids in these little superfoods.

* Sprinkle chopped nuts on oatmeal, cold cereal, or salads.
* Roll peeled bananas in chopped, raw peanuts.
* Dip apple slices in melted dark chocolate and roll in chopped nuts. Apples and dark chocolate are considered superfoods, too!

Fish

Due to high Omega-3 Fatty Acid content, fish is one of the best superfoods to protect your heart and cardiovascular system. If you’re not used to fish, it can seem intimidating. But it’s really an easy food to prepare. Here are some ideas.

* Have a “fish night” at least once a week.
* Mild white fish can be cut into strips and used to make healthy homemade fish sticks.
* Broil salmon and baste with lemon juice and olive oil.

Another great way to get the Omega 3‘s found in superfoods such as flax and fish:

Scientists have established the effectiveness of Omega 3 in a number of health areas, including your Heart, Brain, Joints, Skin, Immune system, Vision, and Digestion. Like any product on the market today there are ‘good fish oils’ and there are ‘bad fish oils’! With a bad one you may be unwittingly introducing substances into your body that you DO NOT want… such as Mercury and PCB’s for example.

We impose tougher standards on the purity of our fish oil than any other known manufacturer. DHA is the most important fatty acid in the human brain. High in DHA and proven to be pure and free of contaminants the Xtend-Life brand is considered to be the ‘Rolls Royce’ of concentrated Omega 3 fish oils at an affordable cost and has been enjoyed by thousands of customers in more than 40 countries for the last eight years.

Eating healthy on a budget recipes don’t have to be difficult or tricky. There are several factors that, when done correctly, will help produce eating healthy on a budget recipes. You might think that healthy eating is expensive, or that produce will put your budget over the top. But, the truth be told, processed foods will ruin your health and cost you much more than money.

There are several tricks to use when you are preparing eating healthy on a budget recipes. First, you should prepare your menu and then your grocery list at home. Shopping at the store without a plan will blow your budget faster than anything else can. Another no-no is to go shopping when you are hungry. All of a sudden everything looks good to eat and everything makes it to the grocery cart.

Eating healthy on a budget recipes can be done when you avoid low-carbohydrate foods, spend a bit more time in the kitchen, emphasize eating foods that are in season, make enough to freeze when the items are on sale. For instance, if the chicken is on sale you can purchase more than what you’ll use fresh, prepare it and freeze it. Take advantage of the prices today for your meals next week.

Eating healthy on a budget recipes take advantage of whole foods and stay away from refined processed foods. Use coupons when you go to the store to decrease the bite into your budget. Many coupons you find are for processed foods but if you look carefully you’ll find whole foods, produce and white meat coupons and sales.

Many eating healthy on a budget recipes call for fresh produce that you can potentially grow in your own garden. Even if you live in the city with a small balcony, tomatoes, peppers and many herbs grow in pots very well. They require sunshine, water and fertilizer and before you know it you’ll be harvesting your own salad from your garden on the balcony.

Another way to cut back on your food bill is to buy from the butcher directly and not from the grocery store. You can often get a better price and the meat cut to your specification. In your salad color it up! Try to include 3 different colors of fruits and vegetables each day to reflect the variation of nutrients that are included in these foods. When you make beans you’ll save more than if you use dried beans. Before cooking you’ll need to soak them for 12 hours.

Do you have recipes that require milk? Skim milk powder will help to save money and the shelf life is a lot longer than fresh milk. Even if the milk is on sale, unless you drink or use the entire amount everything you throw away increases the amount of money you’ve paid for the milk.

Cabbage is a vegetable that is loaded with vitamins and minerals, a great source of vitamin C and flavor. You can include cabbage in your salad, as a vegetable, or in soups and casseroles. You can quickly prepare cabbage in the microwave and flavor it with dill and plain yogurt. Macaroni and cheese is a quick and easy meal solution that can have more flavor and nutrients if you add tuna, frozen or left over vegetables or tomatoes. Rice is a budget conscious ingredient that can be changed with a few vegetables, spices, soy sauce, chili, tomatoes, salsa or replacing the cooking water with broth or tomato juice.

Eating healthy on a budget recipes aren’t hard to find, are great for college students who don’t have much money or supplies in the kitchen and can be accomplished with coupons and sales. Watch your local newspapers, woman’s magazines for quick recipes and don’t overlook experimenting!

Bean Salad:

10 oz of cut green beans
14 oz kidney beans
12 oz corn
1 onion thinly sliced
1 chopped green pepper
cup vinegar
2 Tbsp Olive oil
3 Tbsp sugar

Drain and rinse canned beans. In a large bowl combine beans, corn, onion and green pepper. Mix vinegar, oil and sugar together. Pour over salad and mix. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Coleslaw

2 cups of shredded cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
cup sliced onion
cup plain yogurt
cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp sugar

In a bowl combine cabbage, carrots and onions. In a bowl stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise and sugar. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate.

Potato Salad

5 large potatoes, peeled, cubed and boiled
2 eggs
1 finely chopped onion
1 finely diced celery stalk
cup mayonnaise
tsp prepared mustard
tsp salt
pepper to taste

Peel potatoes and cut into cubes. Place in a pot with eggs and cover with water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and let boil for 15 minutes. Remove from stove and drain water from pot. Remove eggs and rinse under cool water. Peel eggs and cut into quarters. In a bowl combine onion, celery, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix dressing with eggs and potatoes. Serve warm or cold. Garnish with parsley or basil.

Split Pea Soup

1 diced potato
2 diced carrots
2 diced celery stalks
1 diced onion
6 cups of water
1 cup dry split peas
2 tsp salt

Place above ingredients in a large pot. Cook for 40 to 50 minutes, or until peas are tender. Serve with whole grain bread.

Hamburger Soup

lb ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 cubed potato
1 cup shredded cabbage
cup rice or macaroni uncooked
6 cups of water
1 bay leaf
14 oz canned tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste

Brown the beef and onion in a large pot. Add the potatoes and cabbage and simmer them for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the rice (macaroni) over the meat and vegetables. Add water and seasonings. Cover it and simmer for 20 minutes. Add tomatoes and let it simmer for 10 more minutes.

With all of the health problems that arise from sugar and sugar alternatives, it is no wonder that many people are taking to natural sweeteners in their food.

Using natural sweeteners such as honey, figs, apple juice and others helps to avoid chemicals that may be used in sugar and sugar alternatives.

A list is provided below of some natural alternatives to use in replacement of a sugar product.

* Honey is one of the widest used natural sweeteners. Honey is made by bees and is sweeter than sugar, so reduce the amount of honey used in any recipes as a sugar substitute. Honey can be used in beverages, food and as a topping.

* Figs, in addition to being natural laxatives, are also great for sweetening foods. Figs are better cooked rather than raw.

* Concentrated apple juice is a great sweetener and can replace sugar in baking recipes and cooking. To replace sugar with concentrated apple juice, use ¾ cup for every cup of white sugar. Also reduce any liquid in a recipe, such as water, by 3 tablespoons as concentrated apple juice is liquid in form. Other concentrated juices can be used as well; just keep in mind that different flavors will affect the taste in your recipes.

* Molasses is a natural sweetener; however, it is not as sweet as sugar. When replacing sugar with molasses, use 1 1/3 cup of molasses per cup of granulated sugar. Molasses will impart strong flavor and dark color into your recipe.

* Maple syrup contains sucrose and glucose. Maple syrup is made from the sap of maple trees and is widely used as a sugar substitute. While it may not be as sweet as sugar, use only ¾ cup of maple syrup per cup of granulated sugar specified. As with concentrated apple juice, the maple syrup will liquefy the final product so be sure to decrease any liquids in the recipe by 3 tablespoons.

There are several natural sweeteners on the market that can be used in place of sugar and sugar substitutes. Feel free to experiment with different alternatives in recipes until you come up with a solution that works for you. When using a sugar alternative, be sure to account for any allergies such as allergies to honey.

According to Researchers from Ohio State University the phytochemicals in avocados were able to kill some oral cancer cells and prevent pre-cancerous cells from developing into actual cancers.

As a result it is being proposed that avocados join the list of other vegetables and fruits that should be eaten as part of a ‘cancer prevention diet’.

Well, I am OK as I eat a lot of avocados. But, seriously you should make sure that you include as many cancer protective foods as possible in your diet. Most of the known phytochemicals in these foods we include in our Total Balance, but you still have to eat so why not make sure that you eat protective foods as well?

Nothing wrong with double insurance when it comes to protecting yourself against cancer! For a list of the common ‘cancer prevention’ foods click here: http://www.cancure.org/cancer_fighting_foods.htm

Avocados linked to cutting oral cancer

By Alex McNally

Nutrients found in avocados may help combat oral cancer, a study suggests.

Researchers from Ohio State University found avocado phytochemicals were able to kill some cancer cells and prevented pre-cancerous cells from developing into actual cancers.

Writing in the Seminars in Cancer Biology, lead author Steven D’Ambrosio said avocado should be added to a list of fruits as part of a “cancer prevention diet” and predicts future studies may discover other cancer preventing phytochemicals.

While this may be one of the first studies to link avocados to oral anti-cancer potential, a 2005 study by UCLA scientists noted that the fruit may have an ability to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer.

The study also adds further weight to the more general role of fruits and vegetables as having a protective effect on cancer. Broccoli, cauliflower, raspberry and pomegranate have all been linked to having a positive effect on various forms of cancer.

Oral cancer is a disease with a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast, skin, or cervical cancer, with a mortality rate of about 50 per cent due to late detection, according to British charity the Mouth Cancer Foundation.

There are more than 500 varieties of avocados grown worldwide with Hass types – used in the test – being the most readily available at supermarkets nationwide.

He said: “Our study focuses on oral cancer, but the findings might have implications for other types of cancer. These are preliminary findings, and more research is needed.

“As far as we know, this is the first study of avocados and oral cancer.”

D’Ambrosio found that phytochemicals extracted from avocados target multiple signaling pathways and increase the amount of reactive oxygen within the cells, leading to cell death in pre-cancerous cell lines. But the phytochemicals did not harm normal cells, he said.

Extracts prepared from the fruit using a previously published plant extraction scheme were tested for growth inhibition of the normal, premalignant and malignant human oral cell lines. Among the fractions tested, the chloroform extract was identified as one the more selective growth inhibitors of both the premalignant and malignant human oral epithelial cell lines, the researchers said.

“These studies suggest that individual and a combination of phytochemicals from the avocado fruit may offer an advantageous dietary strategy in cancer prevention,” said researcher Haiming Ding.

Avocados contain antioxidants and phytonutrients, including vitamin C, folate, vitamin E, fibre and unsaturated fats. They are naturally sodium-free, contain no trans fats and are low in saturated fat.

D’Ambrosio said: “The future is ripe for identifying fruits and vegetables and individual phytonutrients with cancer preventing activity.

“As we identify the molecular mechanisms and targets by which individual phytonutrients prevent cancer, we may be able to improve upon nature by formulating phytonutrient cocktails for specific cancers and individual susceptibility and risk.”

Source: Seminars in Cancer Biology

Chemopreventive characteristics of avocado fruit

doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2007.04.003

Authors: Haiming Ding, Young-Won Chin, Douglas Kinghorn, Steven D’Ambrosio.

For the person who does not consume meat, getting enough protein in your diet might be a bit trickier but we have solutions.

Some folks, for a variety of reasons have chosen to not eat meat.  But getting plenty of protein in their diet might be a problem for those who don’t consume animal sources.

Protein is among the most important components of the human body.

It makes up muscle tissue, and is instrumental in producing enzymes and their resulting hormones and additional substances. Without it, the body could not operate.

Most folks acquire protein from animal sources: fish, poultry, beef and pork. When you choose to live a vegetarian or vegan life style, there have to be additional sources for you.

Before we go further, let’s describe what makes somebody a vegan or a vegetarian. 1st, there are different categories:

* Vegetarian – Describes anybody who does not consume meat of the sorts named above.

* Lacto-vegetarian – Somebody who consumes dairy products like cheese and milk.

* Ovo-vegetarian – Somebody who consumes eggs but not other meat sources.

* Vegan – somebody who does not consume meat, eggs or dairy. They also try not to use products made from animals such as shoes or clothing.

Other Protein Sources

The world is full of protein. For the average person, acquiring their protein if they consume meat isn’t generally a problem. If anything, they acquire too much protein.

For the person who does not consume meat, this might be a bit trickier but we have solutions.

* Legumes – This is a different name for beans. Beans represent plant protein. The beneficial thing about plant protein is that it does not contain as much fat, particularly saturated fat, as animal sources. Include beans in at least 2 meals each day.

* Nuts – Nuts contain more fat than beans but it’s the good sort of fat. A few contain omega-3 fatty acids. Try consuming almonds, walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts and peanuts. Having one or two servings of nuts each day can furnish you with your healthy fats. Some nuts likewise come in oils that may be used to make salad dressings or used to cook.

* Whole grains – Grains furnish protein and also are a good source of carbohydrates. Try to use whole grains that contain all 3 parts of the grain including rye, rolled oats, quinoa, millet, bulgur, buckwheat and the like. Avoid white flour products because of the sugar content and high glycemic index.

* Algae – You might have heard that pond scum is all the rage these days. We’re specifically discussing spirulina and chlorella. They have a high plant protein content and are a constant subject of scientific research to find a better source of protein.

* Soy – Soy is also plant protein. Consider eating soybeans, miso (soybean paste) and tofu.

* Dairy products – If you’re a lacto-vegetarian, stick to low-fat or fat-free dairy products. This way you acquire the protein and vitamins without all the additional fat.

Are you a vegan or a vegetarian? Now, you do not have to worry about acquiring your protein.

Related Natural Product

Finding a good multi-vitamin for the entire family can be difficult, but Xtend-Life’s Total Balance Unisex is the perfect supplement for everyone, even children from age 12 and older. It’s also perfect for women who have gone through menopause.

In fact, Total Balance Unisex addresses issues that affect everyone, and it does so with a blend of all natural ingredients. The bio-actives present in Total Balance Unisex provide a great way of keeping healthy no matter what your age or gender.

The ideal snack would be filling and likewise leave you with additional energy. The way to do that is to select high protein, low carb snacks.

Why are low carb snacks important?

Snacking is frequently blamed for weight gain. As a matter of fact, snacking properly on high protein and low carb snacks might help save you from unwanted calories.

Here are ideas for healthy snacking and high protein, low carb snacks.

What Are Snacks?

Snacks are like mini meals that help us get through the day. They do not need to be heavy or they’ll have the opposite effect. Eating at regular intervals helps increase your metabolism.

That is what is required to help incinerate unwanted fat from the body. Your metabolism is similar to a train engine that constantly needs to be stoked so that it is able to run at top speed.

All too often, we select the wrong sort of snacks to consume. A sufficient low carb snack is around one hundred fifty calories. Consuming 2 or 3 low carb snacks each day plus meals equals 6 smaller portions rather than 3 bigger ones. When you eat these high protein, low carb snacks more frequently, you do not need to consume as much to reach a feeling of fullness.

High Protein and Low Carb Snacks to Try

Most snacks are typically high in fat, salt or sugar. These things are full of empty calories. That results in you being famished again in 60 minutes or so, because your snack had no real nutritional value. Also, those vacuous calories will adhere to your waist.

The ideal snack would be filling and likewise leave you with additional energy. The way to do that is to select high protein, low carb snacks. The protein in your snacks helps to defend versus cravings. Protein likewise builds muscle.

The carb factor in your food keeps the blood glucose steady. Too much sugar in your snacks will give you an energy boost but it will be transitory. In about 30 minutes, you’ll come crashing down, craving some other sweet snack to follow that one. Thankfully, high protein and low carb snacks do not cause that kind of crash effect.

Complex carbs take longer to digest and thus keep the blood glucose at optimal levels throughout the daytime. Without cravings, you’re thinking less about sugar and more about your every day activities. You will be able to consume satisfying foods and littler meals without feeling deprived when you eat low carb snacks.

Here are a few examples of high protein, low carb snacks. Many are contained in one food but others require food combining.

* Nuts – nuts, one of the best low carb snacks, are a fine source of protein. They contain fats only they’re unsaturated fats that the body is able to use. Try a serving or 2 of almonds or pistachios for a snack.

* Cheese – did you know that cheese contains protein? To make it one of your favorite high protein, low carb snacks, consume it with a small apple for the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and sweetness to keep you satisfied until your next meal.

* Low-fat yogurt – Yogurt contains protein and calcium. Top with a bit of granola or bran to add carbohydrates and you have one of the best low carb snacks.

* Boiled eggs – A boiled egg supplies protein and it is one of the better low carb snacks. Mix it with mayo and add a whole wheat pita for a speedy snack. To keep the portion size little, use one egg, a tablespoonful of mayo and one-half a pita.

Natural Remedies Can Help You Lose the Weight

Slimmers Assist Tissue Salts is a proven, safe and effective natural remedy that helps to improve metabolism and the breakdown of dietary fat and can also reduce the craving for sweet foods. For maximum benefit, use together with Native Remedies‘ EcoSlim Drops. Tissue salts are easy to take, pleasant tasting and even children love to take them! Safe during pregnancy, nursing and for children and babies of all ages and free of side effects.

Regular use ensures systemic balance of biochemic tissue salts in the body, optimizes health at the cellular level, relieves symptoms of disease, restores health and vitality, optimizes the therapeutic effects of other remedies by improving systemic functioning and metabolism. Formulated by a clinical psychologist, Slimmers Assist is pharmacetuically manufactured to the highest standards.

Are you looking to gain a little bit of energy in the midst of your morning without adding unwanted weight? Try these high protein low carb snacks for a start.

The benefits of soy milk have been touted for several years now, especially for people who either are unable to unwilling to drink cows milk. Approximately 60-75% of the world is lactose intolerant. There are entire cultural groups, which have a tendency toward lactose intolerance that results in gas and moderate to severe intestinal cramping. The Asian population in particular is 90% intolerant to ingesting products with lactose; milk, cheese, yogurt anything dairy.

There is also some research to show that drinking cows milk actually has some negative effects on health, although more objective research is needed to determine the long-term effects of cows milk on humans.

The benefits of soy milk is also controversial. It is accepted that it does contain some healthy compounds. It is high in protein, contains more fiber than cows milk and doesnt contain the animal fats that cows milk does.

Soy milk is actually made from the very versatile soy bean. A simplified version of the process is the beans are cleaned and soaked for 12 hours. The are then pureed and the solids are strained out. The resulting liquid is boiled for 10 minutes and its done. There are several products on the market today that enable to actually make the soy milk at home.

One of the negative effects of soy milk is that it only contains 25% of the calcium that cows milk does. Many manufacturers are currently adding calcium to the product but studies are showing the added calcium isnt as healthful as the naturally occurring calcium. However, the because the soy milk is plant based the calcium also has less of a loss through excretion through the kidneys.

The benefits of soy milk appear to come directly from isoflavones, chemicals that are similar in nature to estrogen. The theory is that this chemical will help to prevent cancers, heart disease and osteoporosis. And the isoflavones are antioxidants.

Another benefit to the soy milk is that they contain pre-biotic sugars that have additional benefits to boost immunity and help to detoxify other substances in the body. Soy milk also contains no hormones that often appears in cows milk since farmers often use hormones to mimic the presence of a pregnancy so the cows will begin and continue to give milk.

The benefits of soy milk appear to be numerous, although the name milk only refers to the appearance of the product since it isnt truly a milk. As the product has become more popular manufacturers are also discovering ways of making the product more palatable and taste better.

Whether you drink soy milk or not is a personal choice you make depending upon your nutritional needs based on the remainder of your dietary intake. While there are benefits to soy milk you can derive some of those same benefits from other fruits and vegetables that you might find easy to eat.

A supplement is something that completes or makes in addition, such as a dietary supplement or nutritional supplement. Any incidents of sports supplementation it can be anything from an energy drink to anabolic steroids which enhance performance. The question of whether a supplementation for elite athletes is legally or morally correct is one that has been debated for centuries.

The moral issue in question is whether or not athletes who compete on the same sports field shouldn’t be allowed the same advantages. Many answer that it is not the supplementation which is in question but rather the overall performance of the aptly and if the athlete chooses to use performance enhancing products in order to give themselves an edge over other athletes then it is the choice of the affably.

Many people consider sports supplementation and dietary supplements and not necessarily anabolic steroids. Some use vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs or botanicals or any combination of these which they feel may help them in their performance. Many of these dietary supplements do not require the FDA approval before they come on the market so athletes must be aware of the company from which they purchased the supplements to ensure the quality they desire.

Many of the sports organizations today have developed policies on how low they are athletes can use sports supplementation in order to enhance their performance. For instance, the NFL, NCAA and IOC have banned the use of steroids, ephedra and androstenedione by athletes and competitors. Those found using them can be suspended, face fines or found ineligible.

Athletes are encouraged by their coaches and physicians to only take supplementation which is prescribed by the primary care physician because of the significant side effects which can occur. For instance, DHEA and androstenedione are pro-hormones or natural steroids that are broken down into testosterone. When researchers have studied the effect of these pro-hormones on adult athletes they found no increase in muscle size, strength more performance.

Most experts believe that when taken in large doses they can cause some similar effects to stronger anabolic steroids but the side effects of these natural steroids supplements are not known. What is known is that they cause hormonal imbalances and the people who use them which can lead to testicular cancer, infertility, stroke and an increased risk of heart disease. Natural steroid supplementation can also cause breast development and testicular shrinking in men.

Creatine is another sports supplement which is already manufactured by the body inside the liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is also found in meat and fish and available over the counter. At this time researchers have found that teenagers make up a large portion of the users.

People use creatine to improve strength of the long and short term effects of the supplements have not been studied in teenagers and children. It has been found effective in athletes who are doing intermittent high intensity exercises as short recovery intervals such as sprinting and power lifting. But researchers have also found that it does not improve performance in nearly one third of the athletes studied.

The most common side effects found with creatine are weight gain, diarrhea, abdominal pain and muscle cramping.

Fat burners, also known as thermogenic, are another sports supplement used by athletes to lower their weight and increase their metabolism. Many of these have been made with the herb, ephedra, known to be one of the most dangerous supplements on the market. Researchers have found that it causes heart problems, stroke and even death in users. Because of the significant side effects the ephedra has been taken off the market but since then “if ephedra free” products have been manufactured but often contain ingredients that are similar to ephedra and cause the same side effects.

The demand for sports supplementation is growing fastest both professional athletes and the general consumers are trying to enhance physical performance, improved muscle mass and strength and increase endurance. Because of the massive demand for the products the market is very vulnerable to exploitation.

For example, the FDA issued a warning letter to American Cellular Laboratories when it identified eight products marketed by the company which contains anabolic steroids. Although the products are marketed as dietary supplements they are unapproved and miss branded drugs. The agency had received five reports of adverse effects in men taking these dietary supplements, among them serious liver injury. Acute liver injury is generally known to be a possible side effect of using products which contain anabolic steroids.

Part of the volatility in the supplement industry, including sports supplementation, is the difficulty in regulating the products and ingredients that are entering the market. Although there are a high number of beneficial nutritional supplements available there are also a number of popular supplements that have little to no evidence to back up their claims and may also contain ingredients which are harmful to consumers health.

It’s difficult to wade through the information about sports supplements to determine which ones are legitimate and which aren’t. Consumers should watch out for companies who promised a quick fix, published claims that are too good to be true, draw simple conclusions from a complex study or make recommendations based on a single study. Look for products that have a UPS label on the products in that are eligible for the Consumer Labs Seal of Approval. Products which are made by nationally known food and drug companies usually have tight manufacturing and controls in place in order to ensure the highest quality product will reach the market.

Whether an athlete does or does not need sports supplementation in order to achieve their goals is a question that only the athlete can answer. People must take into account any underlying medical conditions they may already suffer from, their goals and performance level, as well as a potential side effects and risks from the sports supplements may wish to use. Only by weighing the risks benefit ratio and understanding that the worst-case scenario can happen to them in an athlete adequately make a decision and live with the consequences.

It is a well-known fact that heart diseases and excess body weight are related. Obesity, heavy alcohol consumption and lack of activity are the main factors causing high blood pressure. Too much body fat leads to an increased risk of health problems through clogging the blood vessels with cholesterol. That is why the successful treatment of high blood pressure starts with following a diet specifically aimed at reducing high blood pressure.

If you already have high blood pressure, you cannot reverse it to low permanently. Instead, you can control your high blood pressure by taking a prescribed medication and amending your diet. Research has shown that a high blood pressure diet can effectively prevent blood pressure from rising above normal.

Today, most of our meals still contain more fat than the government recommends, and most of the vending machines and fast-food options do not meet the nutritional standards set by the U.S. government. With fast-food snacks available at every corner, it’s often hard to switch to a healthy diet.

High blood pressure diets are designed to decrease sodium, increase potassium, and lessen calories. This way you will maintain a reasonable weight. This diet consists of foods that are delicious and low in fat such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and lean proteins.

Here are some simple tips to help you follow your high blood pressure diet guidelines:

1. Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast. Eating in the morning will increase your energy and will help you avoid snacks before lunch. A quick breakfast can be as easy as a bowl of cereal, a slice of whole-wheat toast, cereal bar or fresh fruit.

2. When following your high blood pressure diet, your daily food intake must include foods from five food groups:

� Protein: Eat meats that are lower in fat, such as chicken, turkey, tuna, or low-fat luncheon meats. Make salads with a low fat meat or vegetables and light salad dressing.

� Grains: Always try eating a whole wheat version of your favorite bread, be it a loaf, a bagel or a roll.

� Vegetables: Eat tomatoes, peppers, baby carrots and other colorful vegetables as many as you like. The brighter the vegetable, the more antioxidant vitamin A it contains.

� Fruits: Fruits should be eaten fresh. Fruit has fiber and healthy calories, and you will want to eat less during the day. Juice has fructose which fills up with energy. That�s why juice should become a part of a healthy breakfast along with a cereal.

� Dairy: Try low-fat or non-fat milk, non-fat chocolate milk, and low-fat cheese. Basically, any type of cottage cheese or yogurt goes well with fruit.

If you want to avoid facing complicated and often life-threatening consequences of high blood pressure, you may want to ensure that you and your family eat healthy meals that don�t pack on the pounds and raise your cholesterol.

Emphasizing healthy food choices can help you enjoy your meals without excessive fat, sugar, and calories. Healthy food choices can be a carry-over from healthy menu and meal planning at home while managing your high blood pressure with diet.

Switching to a diet without excessive fat and salt and staying fit will help you loose weight and can help prevent or at least delay heart-related problems. Along with monitoring and medication treatment, a high blood pressure diet can help control your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke, kidney and heart failure and heart attack.

See your doctor before making any diet or lifestyle changes.

About the author

Kathryn writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information on Blood Pressure please visit Blood Pressure Resources article page

There are plenty of foods that are detrimental to our health. The average diet is high in fat, salt, cholesterol and other substances that can cause a variety of health problems. But there are also certain foods that can improve our health.

There has been much discussion lately about so-called “powerfoods.” These foods have been proven to have such benefits as boosting the immune system, slowing the aging process, and fighting chronic diseases. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to achieve all of these things without taking medication?

The secret to these powerfoods is phytochemicals. These compounds are found naturally in certain plants that are used for food. Here are some of the top phytochemical-containing power foods:

Goji Berries

Some consumers have been turned off by the hype surrounding the goji berry, but it is truly a remarkable little fruit. Its wonders lie in two beneficial phytochemicals: beta carotene and zeaxanthin. It contains large amounts of these nutrients, which studies have shown to be highly effective in reducing the risk of certain cancers. Goji berries have also been found to reduce bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.

Goji juice comes with a high price tag, but you can buy goji berries at Asian markets at a much more reasonable price. They are often consumed dried in trail mix, cereals and baked goods.

Kefir

Kefir is made by culturing milk with kefir grains, which are made of yeast and bacteria. It is similar to yogurt, but it provides greater nutritional benefits. Kefir can lower cholesterol and is good for the immune system.

Kefir is consumed as a beverage. It makes delicious and nutritious smoothies. It’s great for those who are watching their weight, because it does a good job of curbing hunger.

Garlic

Garlic has long been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments. It’s great at fighting infections, and it can help regulate blood pressure. But it also has serious nutritional value.

Garlic is packed with protein, potassium, calcium, zinc, and vitamins A, B and C. Studies have also shown that garlic lowers cholesterol and reduces the incidence of cancer.

Kale

Leafy green vegetables are often considered “rabbit food” or used as garnish. But they contain lots of essential nutrients. Kale is one of the most nutritious vegetables in this group.

Kale is loaded with carotenoids, which are known for fighting numerous types of cancer. It also contains potassium, calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and C.

These are just a few of the many powerfoods. If we try, we can easily eat one or more of these beneficial foods each and every day, or even include them in each meal. Doing so will help us lead longer, healthier lives.

What is Aging?

Some scientists and physicians suggest that aging is a ‘disease’. This is not a fair description. Aging is not a disease but part of the process of life itself! You cannot reverse aging but you can help slow it down to an optimal level which nature intended. So, how long should we live for? This is a subject of much debate and disagreement. Some scientists claim extraordinary times…200+ years. However, this is really in the realm of science fiction.

The position of Xtend-Life is that it is possible to live to the projected maximum human life span of 120 years. To achieve this, your life has to be well balanced! In other words, your lifestyle, your diet, the amount of exercise you do, the environment you live in and your nutrient intake have to be as close as possible to optimal. To learn more about how aging occurs and ways to slow down your biological clock, visit Xtend-Life‘s Overview of Anti-Aging research page today.

If you want your children to become healthy eaters, the adults in the family will want to set the pace.

If you’re a parent, you want your children to be healthy.

To accomplish this goal, you encourage them to be active, avoid too many fatty and sweet foods, take baths and wash their hands. However, you may have a picky eater.

Here are some do’s and don’ts of encouraging children to become healthy eaters.

It’s not unusual for children to have bad diets, unfortunately. When they’re little and we can control what they eat, we can ensure they’re eating healthy foods.

As they grow up, however, they develop their own tastes as far as food is concerned. They may only like to eat macaroni and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

How do you get them to eat fruits and vegetables, too?

Children learn by example in almost everything. If they see parents, siblings, and friends eating potato chips and drinking soft drinks, they’ll want to eat those as well.

The reverse is true; if they see everyone eating fresh fruits and vegetables they’ll be more likely to follow suit. So, if you want your children to become healthy eaters, the adults in the family will want to set the pace.

Tips to help your child learn healthy eating habits

1. Offer your child healthy foods for snacks. Rather than giving them cookies or candy for a snack, offer fresh fruit like apples, oranges, or grapes, depending upon your child’s age. If you don’t have junk food in your home, your child won’t learn to eat it.
2. Experts say to offer your child a new food at least twenty times before they’ll eat it. If you’re introducing a new food, put just a bite on their plate. Ask them to taste it; if they don’t want to try it immediately, don’t push them. Each meal you serve that food, continue to put a bite on their plate and ask them to taste it. Before too long they’ll do at least that.
3. Be sure you’re not introducing too many new foods at once. In fact, it’s better if you only introduce one new food at a time until your child starts eating it. This means that if you’re trying to get your child to eat peas, wait until you’ve had success with those before you introduce Brussels sprouts.
4. If the food is on their plate, let them play with the food. They may roll the food around on their plate, make faces in it by putting other food into it, or some other creative idea. If you allow them to play with the food, it won’t seem so intimidating.
5. Even though you might be tempted, don’t hide vegetables in something you fix. This might backfire on you. Although your intention to get your child to eat vegetables is good, they may decide to stop eating whatever you’ve hidden the vegetables in from now on.
6. Your own parents probably made you finish everything on your plate “because there are poor, malnourished children all over the world.” You don’t have to follow in your parent’s eating style. If your child doesn’t want to eat anymore, don’t make them finish their plate.
7. Give them what they like, to a point. If they like eating hot dogs, look for ones that have lower fat content. If they want ice cream buy the single serving sizes so they won’t be tempted to eat more than they need.

It’s not easy having a child who’s a picky eater, but you can survive it. Follow these do’s and don’ts of encouraging children to become healthy eaters. It may not happen overnight, but if you’re persistent it will happen.

Keeping Your Child Healthy

When parents think about their child’s health, it is important that they not only consider the physical wellbeing of the child, but the psychological and social health as well.

This broad field of children’s health includes psychological issues surrounding mood, behavior, learning, and concentration, as well as physical areas such as appetite, bedwetting, fever, sleep, chicken pox, tantrums, weight loss, and more.

It even includes complicated, and increasingly diagnosed behavioral health issues like Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Learn more about natural remedies and your child’s health now!

Eating foods high in sugar and calories can lead to weight gain. Being overweight is one of the three major risk factors for heart attack.

American Heart Association recommendation: Limit your intake of foods high in calories or low in nutrition, including foods like soft drinks and candy that have a lot of sugars.

Here’s Why:

Since there is such a focus on eating a low-fat diet, people often think that any food that is low in fat is inherently healthy. This is not the case.

For example, soda and hard candy have no fat, but they also have no vitamins, minerals, fiber, or other health-promoting ingredients. What they do have is sugar, and lots of it. A lot of sugar can add up to a lot of calories.

Eating foods high in sugar and calories can lead to weight gain. Being overweight is one of the three major risk factors for heart attack.

In addition, sugary foods often take the place of healthier foods. For example, choosing a soda over a glass of skim milk, or snacking on gummi bears instead of an apple.

Here’s How:

Here are a few tips to help you minimize your intake of empty-calorie foods.

Don’t be fooled by low-fat sweets. Often, when food manufacturers remove fat from cookies, crackers, cakes, and other snack foods, they add sugar to make up for the flavor lost with the fat. The result is that many low-fat snacks provide the same amount of calories – or more – as the original product. So a low-fat banner on the package doesn’t give you free reign to eat the whole box. It’s still important to look at calories and limit snacks.

Find other ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. Sometimes a little bit of sugar goes a long way. Try some of these tactics:

* Instead of the sugary cereal you’ve been eating since you were a kid, make a bowl of oatmeal and top it with some brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

* Snack on a bowl of applesauce; if it’s not sweet enough add raisins or brown sugar.

* Fruits, both fresh and dried, are sweet and may offer you the sweet fix you’re looking for at 3:00 in the afternoon or after dinner. Try some fruit first, before heading for the candy, and see if that satisfies your sweet tooth.

Choose diet versions. If you just love the taste of soda and can’t imagine having popcorn or pizza with anything else, try a diet version. Or if it’s the bubbles you crave, have a glass of one of these zero calorie beverages:

* Seltzer water (some are flavored)
* Club soda (add a splash of fruit juice for flavor)
* Fresca

Nutritional Supplements for a Healthy Heart

Cardio-Klenz contains ingredients that affect different aspects of cardiovascular health, including arterial integrity, blood health, heart muscle strength and better blood flow. Additionally, the ingredients in Cardio-Klenz overlap their abilities, to enhance one another’s effects, increasing long-term heart health and protection against degenerative disease.

Cardio-Klenz is the only natural supplement that we are aware of which utilizes enteric coating technology to safely release the active ingredients in the stomach. This delivery method not only protects the enzymes such as Nattokinase but also greatly enhances the efficacy of other ingredients present such as Resveratrol and L-Glutathione. No other formula covers so many ‘angles’ to manage and protect your cardiovascular system, and yet Cardio-Klenz is still natural with no known side effects.

Research anything you want to put into your body, and be sure to talk to your doctor or health care professional before adding any processed supplement to your diet.

While herbal supplements can have many health benefits it’s important to always talk to your doctor.

Many herbal supplements react badly with current prescribed medications which can lead to serious problems, and even death.

Talk to Your Doctor

Always share with your doctor herbal supplements you take on a regular basis at each appointment and definitely if you’re being prescribed anything new and / or being scheduled for surgery.

They often don’t ask you, so it’s imperative that you remember to tell them.

Most People Do Not Need Supplements

The truth is, most people don’t really need supplementation of any sort unless blood testing proves a deficiency. It’s always better to eat your nutrition than take it in a pill form and many have side effects that may not be apparent.

Most people who take herbal supplements consider them all “natural” not realizing that they can still cause side effects, and most of the science behind herbal supplements hasn’t been tested yet by the FDA.

I’m not trying to discourage you, but remember, it’s always best to eat your herbs in their natural state. Having said that, you can try some supplements to see how they work for you.

Effective Herbal Supplements for Some Common Conditions

Depression — St. John’s Wort is the most used herbal supplement for depression. Many people take it and claim that it helps. Please talk to your doctor first because it can have some nasty side effects and it’s important to know what you’re taking.

Another way to treat depression naturally is to ensure your vitamin D and vitamin B 12 levels are at normal levels. Also, ensure that you get at least 20 minutes of sunshine each day. If you can’t, try getting a full spectrum light over your desk at work.

MindSoothe is a specially formulated herbal remedy that has been successfully used in the treatment of Depression, Insomnia, OCD, SAD, Panic Disorder, and Anxiety.

Weight Loss — Sadly a lot of herbal supplements that claim to be natural aren’t. The FDA has tested many and found that they include actual drugs that aren’t even approved for use in the USA. So again, be careful what you take. Just because it says natural doesn’t mean it really is.

Herbal supplements aren’t yet controlled like other drugs in the USA. Know the source, and do your research.

Having said that, green tea is an excellent appetite suppressant. Ensure that you get ephedrine free green tea. Drink 30 minutes before your meals for maximum results.

(Check out our Weight Loss Tips page for tons of helpful information on losing weight and maintaining weight loss effectively!)

Poor Digestion – A good aid for digestion is artichoke extract. It helps upset stomachs and cures constipation naturally. You can get it from most drug stores, Wal-Mart and online from Amazon.com.

Some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) probably shouldn’t use it. But if you have an occasional issue, it should be okay. Try to get a pure product that does not have many additives to help avoid issues.

Kiwi-Klenz is a quick, all-natural way to restore balance to your entire digestive system which works in your digestive tract to bring about such significant alignment that everything else you eat, drink or take will be improved. This is truly one dietary supplement everybody of every age should be taking. Virtually every person in the world has a digestive tract that is out of balance.

PMS – Pre-menstrual syndrome affects many women the world over. There are various kinds of supplements for PMS that can treat different symptoms such as bloating, pain moodiness.

Therefore in this case it’s best to purchase a supplement that has a variety of ingredients that address your particular symptoms. Black cohosh, evening primrose oil, and dong quai are all good choices depending upon your symptoms.

Femalite is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula especially for women and the effective treatment of the symptoms of Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS).

The bottom line is, you have to be your own best health advocate. Research anything you want to put into your body, and be sure to talk to your doctor or health care professional before adding any processed supplement to your diet.

In addition, eat a diet rich in the foods that you need for your mineral, nutritional and health needs, get plenty of sunshine, exercise and water and you’ll find that you don’t need supplementation of any kind.

It is critical that you be a well-balanced diet high in vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds in order to help your body work in an optimal fashion.

While there is no better source of vitamins and minerals in a well balanced diet, it is no secret that the majority of people do not eat a well-balanced diet no matter where they live or their income level.

The ease of purchasing and using highly processed foods in our fast-paced society has led to the necessity of taking a multivitamin to make up for the poor diet and lack of fruits and vegetables.

Supplements and vitamins will not compensate for a diet high in fatty fried foods, high carbohydrates or loaded in sugar. It will however complement your nutritional intake to reinforce your immune system and top off those vitamins which you do not get currently.

It is critical that you be a well-balanced diet high in vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds in order to help your body work in an optimal fashion.

Liquid Vs. Pill

So when you’re considering a multivitamin, which is better-liquid or pill?

For the sake of argument we are going to consider that the vitamin and mineral content in either the pill or the liquid will be equal in order to fully evaluate which format is best.

Much of the new literature suggests that liquid vitamins are better absorbed by the body because of the format in which they are introduced into the body.

Claims by manufacturers of liquid vitamins suggest that over 90% of vitamins taken in pill form will be flushed down the toilet and are never absorbed.

The fact of the matter is that statement may be true and it may not be but it does not depend upon the method by which the vitamins are delivered to the body, i.e., pill form versus liquid. This is because there is a huge variation in the way that vitamin supplementation is manufactured.

How Nutrients are Absorbed

Before discussing which format is best let’s take a quick look at how nutrients are absorbed in the body.

When we take food in through our mouths we’d chew it and mix it with saliva which starts the process of breaking down the food. Net the fluid goes to the stomach where it is broken down even further by stomach acid and passed along into the small intestines. It is in the small intestines that the nutrients from the food is actually absorbed into the bloodstream.

This means that the claims by liquid vitamin manufacturers that they are product is absorbed better because of the form in which it is delivered is actually false. It isn’t the format in which the vitamins are delivered but rather the quality of the vitamins which are delivered that makes the difference.

Other than the active components in the vitamin pill there are products called excipients. These products, excipients, are responsible for delivering vitamins to the right place in the digestive tract so that they can get absorbed in the small intestines and not broken down in the stomach acid.

Quality is the Key – Not Whether it’s Liquid

A good multivitamin will use high quality excipients to deliver the vitamins exactly where the body can absorb the best.

On the other hand, poor quality multivitamins use poor quality excipients and therefore deliver a smaller percentage of vitamins for the bloodstream because the remainder of the vitamins get dissolves and broken down by the gastric acids in the stomach.

Many of the high quality multivitamins also claimed to be more bioavailable, meaning that the body has access to a higher percentage of vitamins delivered to the bloodstream and therefore at the cellular level. This claim is dependent upon the delivery system that the vitamin uses in the excipients to which they are bound.

Before deciding on the exact type of vitamin you wish to use do your homework. Unless you have trouble swallowing Appel, liquid vitamins are really no better absorbed then the solid pills are.

The difference comes in the quality of excipients used in either the liquid vitamin or the pill form which should be the criteria upon which you make your decision.

Our Vitamin Recommendation for Women

The amazing 96 different bio-active ingredients that are found in Total Balance Womens Premium include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements, amino acids, flavonoids, anti-methylation agents, herbal extracts, and much more. They’re all wrapped up in an enteric coating that protects them from stomach acids and helps get them delivered to the correct location in your body.

Once there, they will help battle the five different causes of aging: glycation, methylation, inflammation, DNA degeneration, and free radicals. No other supplement addresses all five of these areas, especially the area of DNA repair. However, Total Balance Womens Premium provides a potent and natural way of battling all five of these areas of aging, making it one of the best supplements a woman can take.

Our Vitamin Recommendation for Men

Xtend-Life’s Total Balance Mens Premium formula is the ultimate health supplement for men over 30. It combats all of the signs of aging, helps to balance testosterone levels naturally, and helps to keep your prostate as healthy as possible.

While the standard version of Total Balance Men’s will do all of these things, the Total Balance Mens Premium formula goes even farther, bringing in 97 bio-active ingredients to truly provide you with a healthy body for years.

Researchers, physicians and individuals have a variety of opinions about whether or not nutritional supplements are necessary in order to achieve our health goals. And if we do take nutritional supplements how much is necessary? How do you know which ones are necessary and how do you get the most bang for your buck?

Vitamins and minerals are necessary in order to maintain every part of our living body from the tiniest cell to the largest organ. Through a series of complicated metabolic reactions that requires specific nutrients the human body is able to function optimally and with little to no disease.

In theory we should be able to get all of the nutrients we need by eating a healthy diet. Our ancestors that it. But the nutrients in the soil has been depleted from years and years of pesticides and pollution as well and is over planting. The result of this is that the food we eat is less nutritious than the food our grandparents once ate. In addition to that, the majority of individuals also consume large amounts of packaged in processed foods which have little to no vital nutrients.

When considering nutritional supplementation individuals should know that the words supplement means a nutrients or a group of nutrients that are meant to supplements, but not substitute, for a healthy diet. In other words the vitamins and minerals you take will not overcome a diet based on processed and manufactured foods while drinking a liter of Coke a day.

Nutritional supplements will come in a variety of forms from Pills, capsules, powders, liquid and even in gel form. Most people probably do not need a general vitamin and mineral supplement if they are eating a reasonably are very diet and don’t restrict calories to lose weight. You don’t have to be a perfect either and taking extra supplements will not add extra energy. At working on a sleep deprived schedule will require more rest and not a group of vitamin B supplements.

In a large nutritional survey conducted in 1994 researchers found that most American women were only getting half of the daily recommended allowance of fully gas it in their diet. This information is eye-opening because folate has said has been added as a nutritional supplement to cereals and brads in order to improve the amount of folic acid which young women of childbearing age should have in order to decrease the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect.

Choosing the supplements that you wish to use for your own particular lifestyle takes a bit of evaluation of your own individual eating habits. In America the USDA has created A Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamins and minerals based on an individual’s age and sex. The numbers are based on the lowest amount needed to prevent disease caused by deficiency. For example, vitamin C is recommended between 45 and 90 mg which is just enough to prevent scurvy but not necessarily exactly how much an individual needs to maintain optimal health.

If an evaluation of your own lifestyle to determine which vitamins and minerals are deficient in your diet is something that is beyond your current abilities then an over all high quality multivitamin and mineral complex designed specifically for your sex is something which will help to improve your overall health.

Try to avoid generic brands or inexpensive vitamins that can be found at any corner market. Poor quality vitamins usually means that they are not bioavailable and the majority of what you are taking injury or mouse will exit your body through the toilet. In other words, the vitamins are too hard for the body to absorb and they are flushed out with other waste products. Ideally, you should purchase directly from a nutritional professional who sells vitamin and mineral supplements which have a research to back up their bioavailability to the body.

Whether you are interested in doing a thorough evaluation of your own dietary nutritional needs or desire to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement, nutritional supplementation is a necessary parts of maintaining overall health for those who practice of vegan lifestyle or are those who be a standard Western diet.

According to some research. you’ll increase your metabolism by 10 to 20 percent simply by adding in spices.

Many herbs and spices have a thermogenic effect. According to some research. you’ll increase your metabolism by 10 to 20 percent simply by adding in spices.

Especially the hot ones, which cause your body to produce heat, speed up your metabolism and aids in weight loss.

In addition, spices and herbs automatically satiate you more because they’re full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

If you’re giving your body what it needs, it automatically craves less food.

Let’s go over a few of the best herbs and spices that will aid in weight loss:

Black Pepper — Most people use black pepper, it’s usually right beside the salt on the dinner table. But, it’s a lot healthier than salt. Black pepper improves digestion, burns fat, acts as a diuretic, helping your body rid itself of toxins. You can also put black pepper on cuts to stop bleeding and aid in healing.

Cayenne Pepper — This hot spice is a fat suppressant, fat burner, and metabolism booster. Some studies have shown that it can help stop a heart attack, kills cancer cells, and help lower blood pressure. You can also use it on cuts to stop bleeding and prevent infections.

Some people falsely claim spicy foods are bad for the stomach but nothing could be further from the truth. It can help build stomach tissue and cure ulcers. Try drinking a teaspoon in 8 oz. of warm distilled or filtered water daily.

Cinnamon — Children love in on cereal and toast, but did you know that cinnamon increases insulin levels, boosts metabolism, lowers cholesterol and can treat a yeast infection or Candida overgrowth.

Simply add this spice to your food to taste whenever you want to. Ensure that you do purchase real cinnamon over the Ceylon or cassia cinnamon that seems to be most commonly found at grocery stores.

Dandelion — You may not be aware but you can eat all of the dandelion! It’s good for you. Eat them raw in your salad for a cleansing effect. They also slow digestion so you feel full longer.

They are a powerhouse of nutrition containing vitamin A, potassium, calcium, carotene, vitamin C, manganese, iron, and magnesium and is also a powerful antioxidant. Use it in soups, salads, stews, wines, and teas.

Ginseng — An energy booster, and metabolism booster, this spice can be found in teas and also used in various dishes. It is a bitter spice so you’ll need to balance it with a sweet spice or natural Stevia, honey or agave.

Mustard Seed— A pungent, nutty spice, the mustard seed is a popular element of many wonderful dishes. By including it in your diet you’ll increase your metabolism, and obtain the hard to come by B complex vitamins, as well as vitamin A, C and K.

You’ll also up your mineral intake including calcium, manganese, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc. Great with fish, potato salad when mixed with other herbs and spices as well as honey for dressings.

Some other fabulous spices you should try are turmeric, ginger, cardamom, cumin, psyllium, curry, nettle, and seaweed. Honestly, any spice or herb that you find has a wonderful healing and nutritional property to it. Try them all. Adding spices to your dishes will increase your metabolism and help you lose weight.

More Information to Help You Manage Your Weight

Whether it’s weight loss or weight gain, whether it’s five pounds or fifty, almost everyone in our society – irrespective of gender or age – has dealt with some form of weight issue. Often excess weight and weight loss issues revolve around slow metabolism and lack of energy. So, detoxification and system cleansing are frequently needed to boost both metabolic rates and energy levels.

Achieving weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight are crucial factors in sustaining both physical and psychological well-being. Shedding those extra pounds not only helps protect the body from heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes and other physical ailments, but also from mental problems like stress and depression.

Learn more ways, tips and tricks to effectively and permanently shed pounds on our Weight Loss Tips page!

There are certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients that every body needs in order to be at its optimal stamina and performance level.

Healthy eating is not just the latest diet craze. It’s a lifestyle choice that offers the body the nutrition and energy it needs to function at 100% capacity. Those who commit to adding nutrient-rich foods into their daily meal plans are rewarded with health and vitality.

Incorporating a healthy mix of vitamins, minerals and nutrients into your daily diet is a recognized smart choice and one that can literally change a person’s life for the better. You don’t need a nutritionist degree to start taking steps towards a healthier life.

They Do a Body Good

There are certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients that every body needs in order to be at its optimal stamina and performance level.

Some of the most important are:

Vitamin A – Vitamin A is one of the major players of the immune system and is essential to healthy eyes and vision. Good sources of Vitamin A are sweet potatoes, spinach, eggs, milk and carrots.

Vitamin B6 – The term B6 refers to not one vitamin but 6 compounds that affect the body in a similar way. B6 helps to make antibodies which fight disease and also helps to stabilize blood sugar. Diabetics should be sure to include B6 rich foods into their diets, which includes fish and poultry. But perhaps the food with the highest concentration of B6 is the garbanzo bean, otherwise known as the chickpea. Just one cup contains 55% of the recommended dosage.

Vitamin C – We all know that Vitamin C is important in keeping our immune system in tip-top shape. But did you also know it helps aid in the metabolism of protein as well as the synthesis of neurotransmitters?

But what if you’re someone who just doesn’t like citrus fruits, which are the most popular sources of Vitamin C?

Not to worry, there are plenty of other foods that contain as much as, if not more than oranges and grapefruits.  Sweet red peppers actually lead the pack in Vitamin C, containing 95 mg per serving. Other excellent sources are kiwi, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Folate – You’ve heard of Folate, no doubt, but do you really know what it does? Folate is a type of B vitamin and it’s important because it helps the body form new protein and tissues. It’s especially important for pregnant women because it helps prevent birth defects. Good sources of Folate are dark leafy greens, dairy products and nuts.

Vitamin K – This vitamin is extremely important because it helps your blood clot. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to stop bleeding when you cut or injure yourself. Think K for “Kut.” An excellent source of vitamin K is Kale (which is kind of Kool). Other leafy greens such as collard greens and spinach are an excellent source as well.

Multivitamin or Multimyth?

Multivitamins are a billion dollar industry that has grown in the last decade. According to industry data, about half of all American adults take a daily multivitamin.

But some medical experts are questioning whether vitamins and supplements really do much good, and in some cases, could actually do harm?

While it’s common knowledge that vitamin deficiencies can cause illness and disease, those who are healthy and eat a balanced diet full of whole foods, fruits and vegetables should get all of the vitamins their body requires.

Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News’ senior health and medical editor agrees, saying, “For most people, eating a well-balanced diet from all the food groups is the best way to ensure you get the vitamins you need.”

Besser himself doesn’t take vitamins.  “I eat a very balanced diet […] not everyone falls into that category.”

There is a segment of the population who can probably benefit from supplementation, like pregnant women and the elderly. For both of these groups, a focus on Calcium, Folic acid and Vitamin D is recommended, according to Besser.

Proper Diet and Nutrition for a Healthier You

An easy way to ensure your body is getting the proper nutrition is to simply cut out all of the garbage and replace it with healthy whole foods, fruits and vegetables. You can’t eat fast food every day, add an apple once a week and expect the nutrients to magically appear.

You’ve got to make an effort and incorporate nutrient-dense foods such as avocados, eggs, fish, dark leafy greens, berries, lentils, and lean sources of proteins such as turkey and chicken.

Having said this, every individual’s needs and requirements will be different, so in order to make sure your needs are being met, it’s a good idea to meet with a registered dietician who can take into account your food preferences and allergies or other health issues (such as lactose intolerance), and come up with an eating plan that will keep you healthy.

You can also talk with your doctor about proper eating habits and possibly doing blood-work to get a baseline of vitamin levels in your system.

Eating healthier may seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be. In order to adopt healthy eating habits, it’s a smart idea to make gradual changes over time. Expecting too much from yourself too soon will only set you up for failure, and your health and well-being deserve more than that.

Finding a good multi-vitamin for the entire family can be difficult, but Xtend-Life’s Total Balance Unisex is the perfect supplement for everyone, even children from age 12 and older. It’s also perfect for women who have gone through menopause.

In fact, Total Balance Unisex addresses issues that affect everyone, and it does so with a blend of all natural ingredients. The bio-actives present in Total Balance Unisex provide a great way of keeping healthy no matter what your age or gender.

Your body needs healthy forms of fat to keep cell walls strong and regulate hormones such as testosterone which helps fuel your sex drive.

Just because a product says fat free or low fat doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier or even lower in calories.

Most low-fat or fat-free products add sugar or other unhealthy ingredients to make up for the lack of taste.

Your body needs healthy forms of fat to keep cell walls strong and regulate hormones such as testosterone which helps fuel your sex drive. Testosterone also influences other body tissues and bone mass. So eating a certain amount of fat is necessary.

Here are a few reasons why fat-free isn’t always the best choice

1. Check the Label on Salad Dressing

Stop and think when assembling your low-cal salad. Low-fat dressing seems like a viable option but it isn’t necessarily. Low-fat dressing may be low in calorie, but it blocks absorption of precious nutrients like carotenoids which help protect your body’s cells.

Just 1/5 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil drizzled onto a salad is enough to get the best out of your veggies.

2. Why Fat-Free Milk and Low-Fat Yogurt Isn’t a Good Choice

When you take all the fat out of milk your body doesn’t absorb the vitamins and minerals that the milk is fortified with. These vitamins and minerals are fat-soluble. They are stored in the liver and needed for the proper absorption of essential vitamins.

Skim or 1% milk contain higher levels of added nutrients than fat-free milk. So when you require more calcium from your milk, skim or 1% is still the best choice. Yogurt is a tasty and popular snack, especially if you’re in a hurry.

Some low-fat brands make up for their lack of fat with artificial sweeteners which make you crave more sugar, risking weight gain. Some experts also believe that artificial sweeteners may be addictive.

If you must have low-fat yogurt, try Greek yogurt. Many brands have no added sweeteners. That is a healthy snack choice anyone can go for.

Do you care about cooking healthy foods for you and your family? Do you worry about their allergies, diabetes, heart condition, or dietary restrictions like gluten-free? If so, you’ll want the finest, purest and superior ingredients… but they’re not easy to find, or afford! Until now… Learn more at Olive Nation – Your Secret Ingredient!

3. Why Not Reduced Fat Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter is very high in fat and calories, but the fat in peanut butter is healthy monosaturated fat which helps decrease inflammation, raises healthy cholesterol levels and promotes weight loss.

Reduced fat peanut butter takes away the healthy fat and replaces it with sugar. So next time you’re at the market, do yourself and your family a favor and buy regular peanut butter but with no sugar added.

4. Fat-Free Junk Food Is Bad for You?

Unfortunately, yes. We would all love a magic, guiltless food that never made us fat or unhealthy. Cookies, potato chips, and ice cream are always going to be unhealthy choices.

Sadly the fat-free versions might actually be worse for you than their full-fat counterparts.

Low-fat or fat-free cookies contain extra sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, which can lead to high triglyceride levels. These elevated levels put the consumer at risk for developing coronary artery disease and gaining weight.

Some brands of potato chips contain chemicals that mimic fat but cause issues like intestinal cramps, gas and diarrhea, and are likely to cause weight gain.

When shopping for chips, try baked versions which don’t contain artificial fats at all. Fat helps your body to feel full and helps you to realise when you are full. Fat-free ice cream might be low in fat but often it’s still high in calorie.

It is always a smart idea to read the label before purchasing for something that might be bad for your health and the health of your family. So be aware when “trimming the fat” from your diet.

Finding a good multi-vitamin for the entire family can be difficult, but Xtend-Life’s Total Balance Unisex is the perfect supplement for everyone, even children from age 12 and older. It’s also perfect for women who have gone through menopause.

In fact, Total Balance Unisex addresses issues that affect everyone, and it does so with a blend of all natural ingredients. The bio-actives present in Total Balance Unisex provide a great way of keeping healthy no matter what your age or gender.

Food does not only nurture the body, it likewise nourishes the mind. Different types of foods can have a great effect on how we feel. Comfort foods are so named because of the feelings that they call forth once we consume them.’

Let’s say that you get home from a arduous day and all you desire is a large bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese. That macaroni and cheese has the ability to comfort your distressed feelings and likewise put a smile on your face.

How foods bear upon our moods might be associated with how they react or are used in the body. Many food nutrients bear upon the brain by bonding to cells and inducing the secretion of certain neurotransmitters at different times.

Then what foods should you consume?

* Whole Grains – Whole grains include cereals, oatmeal, barley, bulgur, bran, whole wheat breads and the type that are utilized by the body for fuel. These contain high sums of fiber that are slowly digested. They allow you to regulate your blood glucose which contributes to a more even disposition. These grains along with fresh fruits contain zinc, selenium, vitamin E, C and A – all antioxidants. Antioxidants keep down signs of oxidative stress in the body.

* Green vegetables – With active schedules, we’re frequently run down. To step-up your energy, you want to consume vitamins that will assist with that. Green leafy veggies and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli are plentiful in antioxidants and minerals such as manganese, iron and potassium. Adult females particularly require iron because of their menstrual cycles. Green vegetables with minerals like magnesium might likewise be able to step-up good feelings and clear away the brain clutter. Likewise attempt to consume bananas and seafood.

* Dairy products – Dairy isn’t bad, but you’ll want to consume products that are low in fat for best results in your diet. Try milk, buttermilk, cottage cheese, yogurt and cheese for a start. These may lower the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which include irritability, bloating, mood swings and anguish. Dairy products are likewise good for counterbalancing your mood during the daytime.

* Meats – we’re discussing turkey in particular. Turkey as we recognize from Thanksgiving is full of tryptophan. This amino acid might cause you to feel tired but it likewise works to step-up the levels of serotonin in the brain. Increased levels of serotonin are associated with increased mood and good feelings. Other foods that contain tryptophan rather than meat are bananas, pineapple, tofu, spinach and sunflower seeds

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We’re all familiar with summer thirst and I’m quite sure we’ve all been told and have read about how good water is for you and how the majority of us simply do not drink enough.

But, if you’re thirsty and water isn’t cutting it, what do you do? Well, for me that answer would be Coca Cola – ice cold, of course. For some it’d be a frost-brewed beer and others would opt for lemonade. But what’s the healthy choice here to both quench thirst AND aid our body’s health?

According to Jane Claxton-Oldfield, good old-fashioned soda pop has some major drawbacks. “…The fact that many sodas contain caffeine — a stimulant — is no secret. On the contrary, some soft drinks are being marketed on the basis of their high caffeine intake!”

She goes on to explain, “Too much caffeine can have serious consequences on health because it stimulates the release of adrenal hormones which can lead to a rise in blood pressure. The newer high caffeine ‘promise-to-give-a-burst-of-energy’ drinks are in particular a very poor choice for quenching thirst. Indeed, for every highly-caffeinated beverage you consume, it is wise to drink a glass or two of water to counteract their negative effects

“Another concern with soda is the high phosphorous to calcium ratio (most soft drinks have very little to no calcium). When we have too much phosphorus and not enough calcium, the body will draw calcium from the bones in order to correct the imbalance in our bloodstream.

“This can eventually lead to osteoporosis. As if that is not enough, there is also the concern with other additives, such as colour, that are all too often found in soft drinks.”

So, pop is out – at least it should be – but what choices does that leave us with?

A lot of folks are choosing fruit juices to take the edge off of that thirst and provide the body with much-needed vitamins and nutrients. But, while we’re talking fruit juice, what about that high sugar content? I guess there goes another idea down the proverbial tubes! Of course, we could fresh-squeeze our juice – but it takes quite a few oranges (about 10!) to make even one small glass of orange juice and in today’s economy, that isn’t necessarily the best idea.

What about eating a big, juicy orange? Or a slice of watermelon, a half of a canteloupe, some fresh pineapple or kiwi and mangos? You’d be surprised how much one serving of any one of these fruits will quell your thirst and give you the much-needed nutritional boost only whole foods can provide.

Another good idea is, of course, herbal teas. Herbal Sun Tea is the BEST during the hot summer months. Simply put 4-6 herbal tea bags in a glass pitcher or jar and sit outside in the sun until it reaches the strength you prefer.

When I’m in a hurry and don’t feel like making a pitcher of iced tea, I make a single cup of hot herbal tea (I let it steep a bit to get stronger than I’d normally drink it). Then I simply pour it in a glass, add a few ice cubes and add enough water to make a full 10 or 12 oz glass.

Trust me, this works really well and it’s yummy – in almost an instant! And, herbal teas such as a good green tea (high in antioxidants) or chamomile (great for those days you’re stressed and worried), or a citrus and spice tea (great for energy!), are very healthy alternatives to soda and beer.

Refreshing, Healthy & Yummy Instant Iced Tea

1 Green Tea bag (or orange and spice, chamomile or other herbal tea blend of your choice)
2 Orange Slices
5-7 Ice Cubes
Sweetener to Taste (I prefer honey!) (optional)
1 Cup

Pour boiling water into your cup and over your tea bag and let it steep for about 3 or 4 minutes. Add the ice cubes to a tall glass and pour the cup of tea over the cubes. Add sweetener to taste if needed. Add the orange slices to the mix, squeezing a bit as you put them in the glass. Top off glass with cold water and enjoy your healthy tea treat. I always gobble the orange slices when I finish my glass of tea.

Of course, I do have to add that drinking a small glass of fresh fruit juice (you can add some water to this to stretch it further) and your 8-10 glasses of water a day, are very healthy nutritional practices that we should all try to maintain.

What is Aging?

Some scientists and physicians suggest that aging is a ‘disease’. This is not a fair description. Aging is not a disease but part of the process of life itself! You cannot reverse aging but you can help slow it down to an optimal level which nature intended. So, how long should we live for? This is a subject of much debate and disagreement.

Some scientists claim extraordinary times…200+ years. However, this is really in the realm of science fiction. The position of Xtend-Life is that it is possible to live to the projected maximum human life span of 120 years. To achieve this, your life has to be well balanced! In other words, your lifestyle, your diet, the amount of exercise you do, the environment you live in and your nutrient intake have to be as close as possible to optimal.

To learn more about how aging occurs and ways to slow down your biological clock, visit Xtend-Life‘s Overview of Anti-Aging research page today.

Caffeine is found in pops, coffee, tea and chocolate. Is there such a thing as too much of it?

Many require it to get moving in the morning time. Once the energy ebbs mid-morning, it’s often used as a pick-me-up. We’re discussing caffeine. It has its good side and its bad side.

What Is Caffeine?

It’s a stimulant. It’s designed to perk you up and get your blood running quicker. Blood vessels are dilated so you get additional oxygen flowing. Caffeine is found in pops, coffee, tea and chocolate. Is there such a thing as too much of it?

The Good

• Caffeine is an ingredient in many medicines. We’re not just discussing energy drinks or pills designed to keep you alert so you are able to cram for a test or tend to a testy child. Look at the ingredient list for headache medicines. Do you see caffeine recorded there?
• Caffeine can open blood vessels so that other medicine can get to the site of pain more easily. For someone suffering from a migraine headache, drinking a caffeinated pop may provide faster relief than a pill.
• It’s not recommended to drink a pop as your primary remedy, but it can take the edge off as your medicine is beginning to work.
• Let’s go back to those energy drinks. They do not merely keep you alert; they afford you additional energy. This is desired for somebody who has a great deal to do and would like to get it finished.
• Recall that oxygen increase? As the blood vessels dilate, additional blood can get to the brain and so can additional oxygen. You are able to think more clear from first thing in the morning time.
• That additional energy can assist with weight loss. Drinking energy drinks can help you get through an especially tough workout. As the metabolism builds, your body burns additional calories to help you slim down.

The Bad

• With the good also comes a bit of a downside. While caffeine can do all of these things, using it overmuch might lead to a few potential problems.
• Caffeine is habit-forming. Ever notice that you can not merely have one cup of coffee? Some folks have numerous cups. You might have began with one but you wind up drinking more as your body becomes used to the effects of one cup. Too much might lead to jitters that can lead to a lack of focus as the day wears on.
• When that much caffeine is running through your system, stopping it might make you a little woozy. Caffeine withdrawal may lead to dizziness, blurred vision and headache. How ironic, since it can also stop a migraine.
• Hypertension is also a factor. Many medicines that contain caffeine (like cold medication) are being changed to a different formulation for those who have a history of high blood pressure. The caffeine can elevate normal blood pressure which makes them even more serious for somebody who has a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Are you a caffeine drinker? Some can be helpful but overmuch might backfire on you.

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If you are not currently using cinnamon, think about adding it to your daily diet.

Cinnamon is  a reddish-brown spice that usually makes its debut around the latter holidays in the year.

But, you don’t have to wait that long to gain the many health benefits of cinnamon each day.

Some Facts about Cinnamon

We usually get it from a small jar on the spice aisle, but cinnamon has traveled a longer way than that to be with us. It is actually obtained from the inner bark of an Asian tree. Once it is ground up, it is used as a spice.

There are many varieties of cinnamon. Buying it rolled up, almost like it was just scooped out of the tree, allow people to grate it at your leisure when you want to add the spice to your food.

Cinnamon has a kind of savory taste with a sweet smell. It is used most commonly in sweet desserts and drinks either as an essential ingredient or a garnish.

But, cinnamon can be used in main dishes as well. Cinnamon, in its natural form, contains fiber, iron, calcium, manganese and very few calories (5 to be exact), there are many health benefits of cinnamon!

The Many Health Benefits of Cinnamon

• Cinnamon has been shown to help lower blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can throw your entire metabolic system out of whack and, can put you at risk for developing diabetes. It does this by helping to delay the emptying of the stomach, thereby stabilizing blood glucose levels throughout the day. But, you still feel full so you have less of a tendency to overeat. In addition to taking precautions to lower your sugar consumption, adding a teaspoon of cinnamon each day provides added protection.
• Another of the health benefits of cinnamon is that it can help with pain. A study done in Copenhagen found that those who suffered from arthritis pain found some measure of relief when given a dose of one tablespoon of honey and half a teaspoon of cinnamon each day.
• Cinnamon also has been shown to have an antibacterial effect. When used as a preservative in foods it can work as a preservative. This also works for unpasteurized juices to help stop the growth of bacteria.
• It helps those suffering from common or severe colds. Take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses. (learn more about the benefits of raw honey)
• It reduces LDL cholesterol levels.  LDL is also known as the harmful cholesterol.  Reducing it may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Cinnamon has antifungal properties, and it’s been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.
• Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
• When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
• Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
• Cinnamon holds promise for various neurodegenerative diseases, including: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, and meningitis, according to research at the Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas.  Their research shows that the health benefits of cinnamon include reducing chronic inflammation linked with these neurological disorders.
• It has natural anti-infectious compounds.  In studies, cinnamon has been effective against ulcer-causing H. pylori bacteria and other pathogens.
• Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
• Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief.
• Cinnamon contains fiber, calcium, iron, and manganese—albeit small amounts to the typical dose of ground cinnamon.
• Cinnamon has been proven effective for menstrual pain and infertility.  Cinnamon contains a natural chemical called cinnamaldehyde, which studies have shown increases the production of the hormone progesterone and decreases the production of testosterone in women, helping to balance hormones.

If you are not currently using cinnamon, think about adding it to your daily diet in order to reap the health benefits of cinnamon. Talk to your doctor first, though about any spices you are adding for health purposes.

How Much Cinnamon Should You Take?

Because cinnamon is an unproven treatment, there is no established dose. Some recommend 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2-4 grams) of powder a day. Some studies have used between 1 gram and 6 grams of cinnamon. Very high doses may be toxic.

What are the Risks of Taking Cinnamon?

• Side effects. Cinnamon usually causes no side effects. Heavy use of cinnamon may irritate the mouth and lips, causing sores. In some people, it can cause an allergic reaction. Applied to the skin, it might cause redness and irritation.
• Risks. Very high quantities of cassia cinnamon may be toxic, particularly in people with liver problems. Because cinnamon may lower blood sugar, people with diabetes may need to adjust their treatment if they use cinnamon supplements. People who have cancer that’s affected by hormone levels, like breast cancer, should not take cinnamon.

Ideas for Adding More Cinnamon to Your Diet

Many proponents of herbal remedies and treatments say that having a bit of cinnamon each day has a profound effect on your health, and you can see how that would be true now that we’ve delved into the many health benefits of cinnamon! And, you can slide it in almost anywhere in your diet.

Try these few suggestions:

* Sprinkle on top of oatmeal
* Add as a garnish to your breakfast smoothie
* Use in casseroles
* Add to your hot drink
* Mix in your fruit dip

Health Benefits of Cinnamon