Food, Health and Nutrition Recommendations

Garlic (Allium Sativum)
Garlic is a magical herb that has proven its effectiveness in almost all common ailments. It is very effective in heart diseases particularly in lowering cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. So if you are the one having high cholesterol, increase your garlic intake. It will also help you to reduce blood pressure. As garlic helps in reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, it also reduces the risk of heart attacks and heart diseases.



Chemical agents found in garlic are

• Allilin
• Allicin
• Diallyl disulphide
• Ferulic acid
• Saponin
• Beta Carotene
• Beta Sitosterol
• Phytic acid
• Minerals found in garlic are
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Calcium
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Folate
• Iron
• Potassium

Vitamins found in garlic are

• Niacin
• Ascorbic acid
• Thiamine
• Riboflavin

Garlic works as an antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic and a germicide. It is also an antioxidant, so diet rich in raw garlic fights against harmful free radicals. It improves blood circulation, and also helps in prolong erection. It is an excellent remedy for whooping cough. Syrups of garlic is given in doses of five drops to a teaspoonful two or three times a day in this condition.

Garlic helps in preventing blood clots especially if you are prone to blood clots in the legs. It also helps in regulating blood sugar. It helps in relieving the symptoms of dizziness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive track. According to some researches - smokers with high garlic intake have a relatively lower stomach cancer risk than smokers with low garlic intake. It is thought that the allyl sulfur compounds present in garlic prevents cancer by slowing or preventing the growth of the cancer tumor cells.

Apart from above, garlic is a wonderful herb that is very effective in treating various disorders and helps in improving the performance of the body. Below are some conditions in which garlic is very helpful -

• Infections
• Fungal infection
• Hyperlipidemia
• High cholesterol levels
• Indigestion
• Diabetes
• Impotence
• Decreased sperm count
• Worm infestation
• Cancer
• Blood disorders
• Decreased body immunity

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved.

Read more about the Benefits of Garlic. Visit Natural Cures Guide for easy and effective home treatment for common ailments.
Source: American Chronicle

Labels: garlic, vegetables and health

Posted by Birju at 2:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

Five a day
Scientific studies have shown that people who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables may have a lower risk of getting illnesses, such as heart disease and some cancers. For this reason, health authorities recommend that you eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day - and it doesn't matter whether they're fresh, tinned, frozen, cooked, juiced or dried.



How much is a portion?

• One piece of medium-sized fruit - eg, an apple, peach, banana or orange
• One slice of large fruit, such as melon, mango or pineapple
• One handful of grapes or two handfuls of cherries or berry fruits
• One tablespoon of dried fruit
• A glass (roughly 100ml) of fruit or vegetable juice
• A small tin (roughly 200g) of fruit
• A side salad
• A serving (roughly 100g) of vegetables - eg, frozen or mushy peas, boiled carrots or stir-fried broccoli
• * The vegetables served in a portion of vegetable curry, lasagne, stir-fry or casserole

So how does this advice translate to real life? How do you make sure that you get your five portions a day? Here's some ideas:

• Glass of pink grapefruit juice for breakfast = 1 portion
• Small pack of dried apricots for mid-morning snack, instead of a chocolate bar or bag of crisps = 1 portion
• Side salad with lunch = 1 portion
• Sugar snap peas and asparagus, served with main meal = 1 portion
• Strawberries with dessert = 1 portion

Vitamins
Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables means you're more likely to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. But what are vitamins - and why are they so important to your good health?

• Vitamins are organic substances - this means they're found in plants and animals.
• Most vitamins can't be made by your body, so they must be sourced from your diet. Vitamin D and the B vitamin niacin are exceptions to this.
• Nutritionists have divided vitamins into two groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble.
• The fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E and K - are transported through your body by fat. They can also be stored in your fat and liver cells for a limited period of time.
• The water-soluble vitamins - B and C - are absorbed by and transported through your body in water. They need to be eaten every day, as you can't store them for any length of time.

Minerals
Vitamins aren't the only nutrients to be gained from fruit and vegetables. Minerals also have an important role to play in your good health.

• Minerals are inorganic substances. This means they're found in the rocks and soil.
• Vegetables absorb mineral goodness as they grow, while animals digest it through their diet.
• Like vitamins, minerals can also be divided into two groups - those that are needed in minute quantities and those that are needed in larger quantities.
• Minerals needed in larger amounts - the major minerals - include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus.
• Minerals needed in tiny amounts are called trace minerals. This group includes iron, zinc, iodine, selenium and copper.

Source: BBC UK

Labels: fruits and health, vegetables and health

Posted by Birju at 2:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

Fruits and vegetables are part of a well-balanced and healthy eating plan. There are many different ways to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Using more fruits and vegetables along with whole grains and lean meats, nuts, and beans is a safe and healthy one. Helping control your weight is not the only benefit of eating more fruits and vegetables. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health.
photo of peas

To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than your body uses.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to eat less food. You can create lower-calorie versions of some of your favorite dishes by substituting low-calorie fruits and vegetables in place of higher-calorie ingredients. The water and fiber in fruits and vegetables will add volume to your dishes, so you can eat the same amount of food with fewer calories. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling.

Here are some simple ways to cut calories and eat fruits and vegetables throughout your day:
Breakfast: Start the Day Right
* Substitute some spinach, onions, or mushrooms for one of the eggs or half of the cheese in your morning omelet. The vegetables will add volume and flavor to the dish with fewer calories than the egg or cheese.
* Cut back on the amount of cereal in your bowl to make room for some cut-up bananas, peaches, or strawberries. You can still eat a full bowl, but with fewer calories.

Lighten Up Your Lunch
* Substitute vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or onions for 2 ounces of the cheese and 2 ounces of the meat in your sandwich, wrap, or burrito. The new version will fill you up with fewer calories than the original.
* Add a cup of chopped vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, beans, or red peppers, in place of 2 ounces of the meat or 1 cup of noodles in your favorite broth-based soup. The vegetables will help fill you up, so you won’t miss those extra calories.

Dinner
* photo of two soupsAdd in 1 cup of chopped vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, squash, onions, or peppers, while removing 1 cup of the rice or pasta in your favorite dish. The dish with the vegetables will be just as satisfying but have fewer calories than the same amount of the original version.
* Take a good look at your dinner plate. Vegetables, fruit, and whole grains should take up the largest portion of your plate. If they do not, replace some of the meat, cheese, white pasta, or rice with legumes, steamed broccoli, asparagus, greens, or another favorite vegetable. This will reduce the total calories in your meal without reducing the amount of food you eat. BUT remember to use a normal- or small-size plate — not a platter. The total number of calories that you eat counts, even if a good proportion of them come from fruits and vegetables.

Smart Snacks
* Most healthy eating plans allow for one or two small snacks a day. Choosing most fruits and vegetables will allow you to eat a snack with only 100 calories.

About 100 Calories or Less
* a medium-size apple (72 calories)
* a medium-size banana (105 calories)
* 1 cup steamed green beans (44 calories)
* 1 cup blueberries (83 calories)
* 1 cup grapes (100 calories)
* 1 cup carrots (45 calories), broccoli (30 calories), or bell peppers (30 calories) with 2 tbsp. hummus (46 calories)

The fruits and vegetables in the box above all have about 100 or fewer calories.
Instead of a high-calorie snack from a vending machine, bring some cut-up vegetables or fruit from home. One snack-sized bag of corn chips (1 ounce) has the same number of calories as a small apple, 1 cup of whole strawberries, AND 1 cup of carrots with 1/4 cup of low-calorie dip. Substitute one or two of these options for the chips, and you will have a satisfying snack with fewer calories.

Remember: Substitution is the key.
It’s true that fruits and vegetables are lower in calories than many other foods, but they do contain some calories. If you start eating fruits and vegetables in addition to what you usually eat, you are adding calories and may gain weight. The key is substitution. Eat fruits and vegetables instead of some other higher-calorie food.

More Tips for Making Fruits and Vegetables Part of Your Weight Management Plan
Eat fruits and vegetables the way nature provided—or with fat-free or low-fat cooking techniques.
Try steaming your vegetables, using low-calorie or low-fat dressings, and using herbs and spices to add flavor. Some cooking techniques, such as breading and frying, or using high-fat dressings or sauces will greatly increase the calories and fat in the dish. And eat your fruit raw to enjoy its natural sweetness.

Canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are good options when fresh produce is not available.
However, be careful to choose those without added sugar, syrup, cream sauces, or other ingredients that will add calories.

Choose whole fruit over fruit drinks and juices. Fruit juices have lost fiber from the fruit.
It is better to eat the whole fruit because it contains the added fiber that helps you feel full. One 6-ounce serving of orange juice has 85 calories, compared to just 65 calories in a medium orange.

Whole fruit gives you a bigger size snack than the same fruit dried—for the same number of calories.
A small box of raisins (1/4 cup) is about 100 calories. For the same number of calories, you can eat 1 cup of grapes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This is also available as a print-friendly Adobe Acrobat document from CDC & P website - PDF file (PDF-706K)

Labels: fruits and health, health, vegetables and health, weight loss, weight management

Posted by Birju at 6:51 AM | Permalink | Comments