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Monday, October 18, 2010

Health and Fruits

EATING FRUIT...
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON ANEMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruits on anempty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.


APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Is Fasting Right For You?

We all hear about fasting once in a while, right? Usually it’s for a religious purpose, in observance of a special day or time. But the truth is people fast for non-religious reasons as well. It has been used as a weight loss tool, a way to detoxify your body, and it is also something we may do when we are sick.

Fasting for Weight Loss

The idea behind fasting to lose weight is pretty obvious. If you don’t eat/drink any calories you'll lose weight. Sounds simple no? It’s not as easy as it sounds. After being deprived of food for a while (anywhere from a few hours to a few days) you will likely experience harsh symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and lack of concentration. This is usually when you’ll go back to eating normally, as the symptoms become too much to bear. To make matters worse, once you do return to eating, your metabolism has likely slowed down from lack of anything to digest and metabolize.

If you do manage to endure the symptoms, you may succumb to binge eating. Avoid the urge to do so at all costs. After a fast, no matter the length, begin by eating a small portion of (healthy) food. A small plate of vegetables, a small bowl of cereal, or half a sandwich are some good ideas. You want to kick start your metabolism again while not binging.

Some interesting facts to consider :

  • Most doctors agree the human body can survive an average of eight weeks without food, provided the person is in good health and has adequate water.
  • Not eating food will cause the body’s metabolism to slow down greatly.
  • When fasting, the body consumes leftover carbohydrates as a first source of energy, then fat, then protein.
  • Not eating food causes symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and lack of concentration. These are annoying but pass with time.
  • Fasting can cause death in people with medical conditions such as diabetes. If you have any health conditions, always discuss things with your health professional first.
  • Most of the weight you lose during a fast is water weight.
  • However, if you fast for a prolonged period of time you will most certainly see fat loss as the body feeds on itself.
Fasting for Detoxification

We live in a society full of toxins. There are toxins in the air, in your food, even in water. Your body naturally cleanses itself with help from the liver, lungs, colon, kidneys, and skin every day. However, modern preservatives, pollution of the air and water, and unnatural food products such as Aspartame have seemed to “overwhelm” our body’s defense mechanism. It is claimed that because of this many diseases have evolved, cancer being one example.

Many fast for detoxification because they believe by abstaining from food they give their body the time to “catch up” with such toxins. Another reason (related to losing weight above) that fasting is believed work for detoxification is that fat cells are a great place for the body to store toxins. Therefore, calling upon these fat cells when the body needs them for energy forces them into the blood stream, where the body may properly eliminate the toxins.

Does it actually help to detoxify your body? There is no concrete proof that is does, only testimonials from people that have tried it. You might look some of them up online to see for yourself before making any decisions.

More interesting things to consider :

  • We fast every single day, during sleep. This is when our body is in “recovery mode,” and food is not involved.
  • When we are sick we often fast without realizing it.
  • Animals fast when they are sick or injured.
  • Exercise, teas, and juice fasts are different ways to detoxify naturally.

Methods of Fasting

There are quite a few ways that a person can fast. The main objective of any fast, however, is that one abstains from alcohol, artificial sugar, processed food, excess salt, high calorie foods, and anything not natural that contains toxins. A popular method is called the Master Clense, which involves only drinking a mixture of fresh lemon juice, Grade B Maple Syrup, and cayenne pepper with water for the duration of the fast. There are juice fasts that use fresh fruit and vegetable juice (usually through a juicing machine), water fasts, and some food fasts that may include light organic soups and organic fruits/veggies. The main requirement is that you are eating low calorie foods that contain no toxins and are natural.

There are those who stand by a water-only fast. This is probably the hardest one, as it provides no nutrients or calories to the body. But again, the body is believed to able to survive for up to eight weeks with only water.

Lemon (and all citrus for that matter) has been known for their antioxidant properties, as they contain high amounts of Vitamin C. Cayenne pepper is also known for its cleansing properties, which is why many people also support the Master Cleanse fast. It’s up to you to decide what’s best for your own body.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Beauty on a platter

Watching Angelina Jolie down a tall glass of strawberry milk, Jessica Alba relish a piece of sinful dark chocolate and closer home, size zero Kareena Kapoor lick her fingers after finishing her eighth meal of the day makes you wonder, where does the food go? Are they all blessed with a high metabolic rate? Do they invest millions in body shapers? Are they bulimic? Or do they live on their treadmills? The reality bite? They eat and they eat right.
1 Blueberries: Not only are they a rich source of antioxidants but also reduce ageing and help in keeping off abdominal fat.
2 Asparagus: Being a natural diuretic, it helps to shed water weight. Asparagus also contains phytochemical glutathione, which has antioxidants and cancer preventing properties.
3 Apples: Rich in fibre, they keep you satisfied for longer, which is the key to maintaining a healthy weight.
4 Eggs: High in proteins, eggs are good for long lustrous hair. Being a good source of Vitamin B12, they help break down fat too.
5 Yoghurt: A rich source of good bacteria, it strengthens and stabilises the immune system. These probiotics can also work in our bodies to benefit our complexions, leaving the skin softer, smoother and less prone to breakouts.
6 Green tea: Aids digestion, detoxifies the body, making the skin glow. It also helps burn calories.
7 Salmon: A rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids that help burn fat and add glow to the skin. Salmon contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that improves skin elasticity, so you'll have fewer fine lines.
8 Cabbage: Contains cancer fighting goodness like chemical sulforaphane and phytonutrients which act to prevent damage to cell membranes from free radicals and is excellent for detoxification.
9 Dried plums: Great for digestive health, they also keep the heart healthy, reducing cholesterol levels. Plums contain potassium, magnesium and boron which regulate blood sugar levels and reduce wrinkles.
10 Beets: The natural yellow or betacyanin and the purple or betaxanthin of the beets are pigments that are potent phyto-chemicals and antioxidants fantastic for protecting from the damage that free radicals can cause to the body.
11 Pomegranate juice: Loaded with antioxidants, it is also said to destroy breast cancer cells, halt the development of lung cancer and lower the risk of blood pressure.
12 Papaya: Beneficial for skincare and repair, it can be used to eliminate old dead skin cells, dandruff and other skin disorders and even reduce signs of premature ageing.
13 Cinnamon: Reduces cholesterol levels in the body and regulates blood sugar, making it extremely beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes.
14 Sardines: Contain Omega 3 fatty acids that aid brain function and calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones.
15 Pumpkin seeds: Said to be the most nutritious part of the pumpkin, they contain high levels of magnesium which is good for general well being. They also contain L- tryptophan, a compound that acts naturally against depression.
16 Turmeric: Helps in digestion and contains anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It also acts as a great antioxidant.
17 Almonds: High in alpha linoleic acid, they can speed up the metabolism of fat as they contain good fat. Almonds are an excellent source of the skinloving antioxidant Vitamin E, providing 35 per cent of the required daily value.
18 Soyabeans: Contains choline which breaks down fatty deposits and blocks fat absorption.
19 Milk: Being rich in potassium, vitamins, calcium and protein, milk helps make the bones stronger. It's external application leads to healthy skin and shiny hair.
20 Dark chocolate: Full of antioxidants, it also reduces signs of premature ageing and is being used in skin treatments worldwide.
21 Strawberries: Used topically in traditional medicine to treat burns and other skin irritations due to their astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.
22 Chili: Capsaican, the chemical that makes chili so spicy, improves the body's ability to clear insulin from the blood stream leading to increased fat burn after the meal.
23 Cherry: The iron content in cherry is 20 times higher than that in apples or oranges. It promotes the formation of haemoglobin.
24 Bean sprouts: Rich source of proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibres. They can prevent freckles and dark spots.
25 Avocados: A good source of biotin, avocados help to prevent dry skin and brittle hair and nails. When applied topically, they hydrate parched skin.
26 Tomatoes: Besides being a great source of the antioxidant lycopene, tomatoes are considered a highcarotenoid fruit. These nutrients may help slow down cellular damage from free radicals.
27 Walnuts: Walnuts are a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help put shine in your hair, aid in making skin smoother and younger.
28 Beans: Legumes help repair cells that have suffered free radical damage. During digestion, protein breaks down into amino acids, which help to speed the repair and regeneration of skin cells and collagen.
29 Mushrooms: Great for skin, they have anti-ageing properties and also boost hormone secretion in women.
30 Carrots: Rich source of Vitamin A, which is essential for good skin. They also improve eyesight.