Are You Hooked on Junk Food?

Just as the nicotine content in cigarettes is increased to ensure addiction, processed foods are full of sugar (which is addictive in itself), high fructose corn syrup, MSG, synthetic flavors, chemicals and salt, in order to cause you to become addicted to them.

When rats were fed a high sugar diet, they showed all the signs of drug withdrawal when researchers attempted to remove the sugar. The study clearly showed a link between the brain’s pleasure chemicals (called opioids) and cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods. The changes in the rats’ brain chemistry were the same as those of drug addicts! Continue reading “Are You Hooked on Junk Food?”

How Does Fibre Protect Your Heart?

What is Fibre?

There are two types of fibre- soluble and insoluble but most fibre-rich foods contain some of both. It is also considered either dietary or functional. The dietary kind of fibre is the indigestible part of plants that we eat, like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts. This is obtained naturally from whole foods. The functional kind of fibre is extracted or prepared in a lab. It’s the type of fibre that is found in supplements or fibre-enriched foods.

Experts say that it’s best to aim for a balanced diet rich with plenty of fibre-laden foods. According to them, it is the whole pattern that seems to have an effect so it is hard to pick out exact foods as food is a complex thing.
Heart-Health Perks

Continue reading “How Does Fibre Protect Your Heart?”

DIY Face Masks – Are They Worth Your Time?

You’ve probably seen it on Pinterest. You may have even tried one or two of the DIY face mask recipes you found online. Egg whites mixed with lemon juice promising to shrink pores and tighten skin. Banana masks promising glowing, clear skin based off of the ingredients it holds within its yellow peel.

But are these masks actually beneficial to your skin? The short answer to this is no. In fact, some of these ingredients may actually be causing harm to your skin. But don’t get me wrong, certain natural ingredients can have a moisturizing or exfoliating effect when used properly, but in order to gain any of the vitamins and nutrients you are trying to nourish your skin with, whole foods are not going to be how you achieve this. Continue reading “DIY Face Masks – Are They Worth Your Time?”

Akaline Vs Acidic Debacle

Alkaline diets have no science to support it at all. There is absolutely nothing to support any of the claims.

In fact, the only research done on blood pH is to help people avoid being too alkaline or acidic.

You see, the blood must remain in a very narrow range: 7.45 to 7.6. Individuals have their set pH and no food on the planet will change it.

Here’s how ridiculous some of the alkaline people are.

1: Eat alkaline foods – then they name the top couple: apple cider vinegar, cabbage, apples. Continue reading “Akaline Vs Acidic Debacle”

10 Commandments For Kitchen Safety

“Nonna, can I please wash the dishes?” pleaded Ally, my eight-year-old granddaughter. Ally is like most kids, she loves to help in the kitchen. Although she’s eager to wash dishes , I’ll guarantee, that in four or five years the sight of dirty dishes won’t be so exciting. Today, helping to wash dishes is fun, as she’s learning how things work. She’s learning to appreciate whole foods and what makes a nutritious meal by helping in the kitchen.

Involving kids with meal preparation gives them an opportunity to have multi-sensory experiences with various foods. This is especially valuable when introducing new food items or when changing the family’s diet from processed foods to whole foods. In fact, multi-sensory learning is foundational when transforming a picky eater to a healthy eater.

So how do you avoid common kitchen hazards, especially for children? As valuable as tactile experiences are for appreciation of nutritious foods, when children are helping you in the kitchen, it takes only one unguarded moment for an accident to occur. Injuries and potential food poisoning are less likely if you adhere to the following sage advice. Continue reading “10 Commandments For Kitchen Safety”

Children’s Whole Food Vitamins Can Insure Adequate Nutrition and Boost Immune Support

Children’s vitamins may be essential in today’s world as most kids don’t get adequate nutrition. If you have kids, you know that it can be difficult to get them to eat right and many parents lose the battle.

Who doesn’t worry about their children’s nutrition? In years past, the American diet came largely from home farms where the food was as close as the end of the driveway. This meant that the food that was consumed at home, came directly from the garden to the table. And while certainly, experts agree that consuming whole, fresh foods including fruits and vegetables along with healthy meats and grains is the best way to get adequate nutrition, we no longer eat this way.

Our food is grown hundreds or even thousands of miles away, picked before it is ripe, trucked, treated and frozen or canned – eliminating much of the nutritional value. To make matters worse, most Americans eat tons of fast or convenience foods which are devoid of nutritional value. This is particularly true for children as they tend to be picky and much prefer chicken nuggets with fries over fish and fresh green beans. Children’s vitamins have become an absolutely necessary tool in the management of nutrition. Continue reading “Children’s Whole Food Vitamins Can Insure Adequate Nutrition and Boost Immune Support”

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan – A Book Review

Title and Author: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Synopsis of Content:

In Defense of Food Michael Pollan has given us the most important book on nutrition in this decade. He strikes back at the deluge of diet books and nutritionalism that has confused Americans now for two generations. He uses science to attack the “science” behind the nutritionalism that has so distorted the American attitude toward food and has left Americans as the most over fed and under nourished in the world.

After poking generous holes in the various theories and diet fads of the past 40+ years Pollan gives us some very decent guidance about what we should be eating and how we should be thinking of food. His fundamental thesis is simple: we should eat food, not too much, and mostly plants. By that he means: Continue reading “In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan – A Book Review”

What Do You Need To Know About Brain Cancer?

While data are inconclusive, those concerned about developing brain cancer may want to reduce their exposure to possible contributing factors, such as regular use of cell phones and consumption of aspartame (a synthetic sweetener sold under the brand names NutraSweet and Equal, and added to many sugar-free foods and beverages). Preliminary reports have indicated exposure to pesticides may increase risk of brain tumor, but these reports are not conclusive. There have also been reports of higher incidences of brain tumor in children with high exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), for instance, those living near high-voltage power lines. However, more recent research discounts the link between electromagnetic fields and childhood brain cancer.

A whole food diet that minimizes processed foods and artificial ingredients is recommended. Eating organic foods will support overall health and may provide food-based nutrients that will support apoptosis of brain cancer cells. Aside from the data showing a potential link between pesticides and brain tumor as well as aspartame and brain cancer, no conclusive relationships between diet and brain tumor have been found. For now, avoiding consumption of pesticides and aspartame by keeping to an organic whole foods diet seems to be the best dietary advice. Continue reading “What Do You Need To Know About Brain Cancer?”

Vegetarian Diet Plan for Weight Loss You Need To Know

Consumption of fewer calories than you burn can lead to instant weight loss on any diet type. Most vegetarians who are keen on weight loss mainly focus on taking in whole foods and fresh vegetables. Nevertheless, in order for a vegetarian to quickly lose weight, moderate calories intake and body exercise is still required. Basically, a vegetarian diet should follow exactly the same healthy eating protocol as a diet that includes meat. It is quite difficult for a vegetarian to come up with a healthy meal plan. The most important thing is to ensure that you get enough nutrition with fewer calories. However, a vegetarian diet doesn’t always promise weight loss.

Vegetarian Diet Types Continue reading “Vegetarian Diet Plan for Weight Loss You Need To Know”

All You Need to Know About Antioxidants – Making an Intelligent and Informed Choice For Good Health

What are antioxidants?

An antioxidant is either: 1) a chemical compound or substance that inhibits oxidation. Or 2) a (natural) substance, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, or beta carotene, thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation.

Antioxidants can be found naturally occurring in whole foods where they are usually found in groupings; or they are synthetically manufactured and sold as supplements, usually featuring only one single antioxidant rather than several.

What Are Free Radicals? Do We Need Antioxidants? Continue reading “All You Need to Know About Antioxidants – Making an Intelligent and Informed Choice For Good Health”