Energy Diet – Feel Lively Healthy & Happier!

Posted by admin | Posted in Nutrition | Posted on 25-05-2009

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Sacha Tarkovsky asked:

Do you often feel tired drained and lacking in energy? Well follow our energy diet tips below and you will be full of energy, healthy and approach the day with renewed vigor.

The energy diet tips are easy to use, so let’s look at them.

A change of diet is the simplest way to boost energy levels and this means you need to:

1. Eliminate Energy Sapping Foods

Firstly, energy draining foods such as sugar, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes should be reduced or eliminated altogether.

2. Eat naturally from the earth

Get rid of energy sapping processed foods and go for fresh natural produce.

Make sure you eat good carbs such as brown rice, pasta and baked potatoes and get rid of the fries and pizza!

Make sure the meat you eat is lean.

Great choices are: Steak, turkey, chicken and fish.

Saturated fats and salt should be eliminated or cut down and good fats containing omega 3 from oily fish, should be consumed at least 3 5 times a week.

Great choices are salmon, mackerel and sardines.

3. Eat 5 meals a day

You need to start eating 5 meals a day, so your energy levels don’t flag and you will not suffer from hunger pangs.

Make sure you eat breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day.

6. Get extra Iron for energy

Eating to little iron can make you feel exhausted, so make sure you get iron rich food in your diet everyday.

Good choices include:

Lean red meats, eggs, fortified breakfast bran, sardines, dried apricots, crab and dark green leafy vegetables.

7. Up your protein for extra focus

Protein rich food like fish, meat and tofu are proven to improve focus so get daily portions.

Make sure your lunch is protein rich as it will help you avoid that flagging feeling in the afternoon.

8. Eat bright fruits for a quick pick me up

Brightly colored fruit is proven to send energy messages to the brain.

For a great sack combine apples, strawberries raspberries and apricots for an instant pick me up.

You can incorporate the above into your daily diet and you will feel more energetic and able to face the day with renewed enthusiasm.

Always remember your body is a whole and you also need to ensure that to feel energetic you also need the following:

9. Get proper sleep

Make sure you get at least 8 hours sleep per night.

Your body needs time to replenish itself and sleeping is essential to boost overall energy levels.

10. Move your body

You may not have time for the gym, but you don’t have to go to the gym to be healthy.

When you walk, walk quickly, skip the elevator and use the stairs instead, or do the housework as a workout.

Your body will respond to this and you energy levels are guaranteed to increase.

11. Take time out

Finally, take 30 minutes a day to relax and just think.

Mediate and get away from all distractions and loose yourself in your thoughts.

If you have lack of time do it in the bath just relax for 30 minutes in silence and think of you.

Energy for life!

We all need energy and all the above tips are easy enough to do so try them today.

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Top Six Natural Energy Boosters.

Posted by admin | Posted in Health | Posted on 13-05-2009

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Marty Meshek asked:

Want an energy boost to your system that will not give you the jitters or keep you awake at night? Some herbs will boost your energy levels and are easy to add to your diet. Sometimes it is what you do NOT eat that gives you a boost in energy! So what are some alternatives to that third cup of Starbuck’s Coffee?

1. Digestive enzymes break down proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber making it possible to benefit from the nutrients found in those foods. Enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock this energy for use in the body. Did you ever notice that children can eat a big meal and then go play, but adults who eat a big meal usually need a nap. By the time you hit forty you have lost most of your body’s natural ability to manufacture enzymes. You get tired because it takes a lot of energy to digest that meal. Where do we get enzymes from? There are two basic sources: The raw food we eat contains enzymes to help break down that particular piece of food. Our body also produces some enzymes. The two glands providing the majority of digestive chemicals utilized by the gastrointestinal tract are the liver and the pancreas. The more cooking and processing of food destroys all or most of the enzymes. The more diet consists of raw foods like salads, the more natural energy you will have. Since most of the foods we eat are cooked or heavily processed in some way and the raw foods we do eat contain only enough enzymes to process that particular food, our bodies must produce the majority of the digestive enzymes we require. Again, we also lose the ability to produce these enzymes after we reach forty. For these reasons it is recommended that we supplement our diet with enzymes. Many enzymes have also been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect which is a bonus.

2. Cayenne. There is no other herb which increases your blood flow faster than cayenne. Cayenne moves blood. It is a circulatory tonic and helps improve circulation. More blood means more oxygen racing through your body. This is just what your metabolism needed. Because it is a natural metabolism booster many diet supplements now add cayenne to their formulas. Cayenne also supports heart health, improves the immune system and is a huge aid to the digestive system.

3. Ginseng. Ginseng has long been used as a total systemic tonic. Ginseng is commonly used as an adaptogen, meaning it normalizes physical functioning depending on what the individual needs (for example, it will lower high blood pressure, but raise low blood pressure). It is also used to reduce the effects of stress, improve athletic performance, boost energy levels, enhance memory, and stimulate the immune system. Ginseng is known as a preventative herb as well as a curative herb. It is said to remove both mental and physical fatigue. Most people who use ginseng over a two to three month period experience a sense of well-being and stamina and say it improves both mental and physical performance. Ginseng has been said to improve erectile function, help relieve stress and help with stabilizing blood sugar levels for diabetics. It is a very common addition to any energy or diet product and comes in many shapes and forms. Like other herbs and supplements potency varies from product to product. I suggest always buying a fresh, reputable and potent brand.

4. 24 hour fast. The body spends up to one third of your energy on digestion and elimination. By avoiding solid food and only taking in liquids like water and fresh organic juices you give the body a break. It can now use some of its stored energy to fight disease and eliminate toxins in the body. By eliminating toxins the body is dumping them into the digestive tract to be eliminated. If the digestive tract (colon) is not clean and working well the toxins will just get reabsorbed into the bloodstream making you fell sick. If your colon is clean and you properly eliminate those toxins you get a general feeling of wellness, more energy and more mental clarity. Fasting, even just one day month will help eliminate salt and sugar cravings. After a fast you are usually hungry for food that has high nutrient content, like green vegetables..

Dr. Paul Bragg states: “… fasting is not a cure of any disease or ailment. The purpose of the fast is to allow the body full range and scope to fulfill its self-healing, self-repairing, self-rejuvenating functions to the best advantage. …Fasting is probably the fastest and safest way or means of regaining health ever conceived by the human man. … Fasting puts the body in a condition where all the Vital Force of the body is used to flush out the causes of body miseries.”

5. Colon and parasite cleanse. If you are over the age of thirty and have never done a colon cleanse you are in for a tremendous health boost. If you do your cleanse and eat a healthy diet with mostly fruits and vegetables and very little red meat or no meat at all you will feel lighter. You will focus easier. Your memory will improve and your energy will go up. You will just feel better over all. You have probably heard the saying that death begins in the colon. Well, good health and more energy also begin in the colon!

6. Superfoods. Superfoods are foods or food products that are high in nutrient density. Superfoods are usually green superfoods, high in both vitamins and minerals. Why are superfoods so important to natural energy levels?

One reason is that our soils are so depleted and over-farmed and we, as a country, elect to only replace the Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus. These are the macro nutrients our foods need but not the micro-nutrients (trace minerals) which are essential to our energy and immune systems. Superfoods usually contain sea minerals from Blue-Green Algae, Spirulina, Kelp and Chlorella and other mineral dense foods that help to ensure that we are getting all the nutrients our body needs to fight disease and not run out of gas.

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Advantages of Raw Foods for Kids

Posted by admin | Posted in Alternative Medicine, Food And Beverage | Posted on 13-05-2009

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Randy Pike asked:

Today, many people are beginning to see the benefits of raw foods and because of this they are beginning to include more raw foods in their dinners than ever before. The definition of raw foods is of course foods that are uncooked and in their natural state. We have spent so many years frying, barbequing and baking our foods we have not even realized all the flavors and nutrition we cook away. More and more studies and reports are beginning to reach the public stating just how unhealthy it is to cook your vegetables and fruits. This is the number one way to lose the vitamins and nutrients you want to obtain through your diet.

There are two different categories of raw foods, suncooked and uncooked. Suncooked is referring to the fruits and that are ripened by the sun and uncooked refers to the vegetables which should be eaten in their natural state. Each of these has high nutritional value that includes vitamins, minerals and powerful antioxidants. During the summer months of the year are quite obviously the best time to get your raw fruits and vegetables because they are in season. The problem with vegetables and fruits which have been stored and processed for long period of time (during the winter months) is they lose a great deal of their nutritional value. Your option during this time of the year is to consume frozen fruits and vegetables.

Professional naturopathies today are stating that raw foods may be especially beneficial for children. As you can imagine it is vital for children of any age to receive the nutrients and vitamins they need through their diet and raw foods is the number one way to do this. Some of the benefits they will receive include:

Increased energy levels

The ability to maintain body weight

Regular and properly functioning digestive system

Greater ability to focusReduces the chance of different degenerative diseases in the future

Less frequent and intense colds

Experts recommend that the standard ratio for this type of diet is 75% raw foods and 25% cooked foods. This is a healthy way to obtain the meats required for a healthy diet and still make sure you are getting all you can from the raw foods. Now that you have a better understanding of what raw foods can do for you, it is time to discuss the benefits of organically produced fruits and vegetables.

If you are going to make a conscious effort to care for your own health and the health of your children than why not take it one step further? This means that thanks to the creation of organic fertilizers, you can now purchase these same raw fruits and vegetables without having to worry about the impact and long term effects of pesticides. This has been a long time running concern and today you can avoid it. In any grocery store you shop at you can find an organic section. Although the prices are a bit higher it is well worth the investment.

When children consume large amounts of pesticides and chemically based fertilizers through their foods they become at a higher risk for many different diseases and conditions. This is because these unwanted toxins build up in the body, especially the digestive tract and colon and cause blockages. These blockages can weaken your immune system and the only way to cleanse these toxins is through healthy eating.

One very important factor of raw foods that is destroyed through the cooking process is enzymes. Enzymes are essential for proper digestion and the ability to combat free radicals that may enter the body through the foods we eat and the air we breathe. When these enzymes are killed by the heat (55 degrees or warmer) your body can no longer absorb the foods you consume. The absolute best source of enzymes is through raw and natural foods in order to replenish your supply after eating cooked foods.

When you are cooking for your children it is important to think about what you are putting into their bodies. When you have the chance to fill them with nutrients and vitamins through their everyday meals you should take it. Our health is not something that should be taken for granted. If children spend their entire life eating healthy then they are bound continue down this healthy path as they get older.

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