Monday, November 30, 2009

Vitamins for us!

Your skin has lost gloss. Your lips often develop mild swelling. You easily catch cold and cough. Have you ever thought why it happens it you? Why do you have to shell out your dear money again and again for these irritating problems? And why these ills have recurring visits on your body?

Cause of all your ills is Deficiency of Vitamins in your body. Your blood just lacks these vital components, which makes your body disease prone. Got the point? Ok. We will explain it.


Vitamins are an integral component of a balanced diet. They must be consumed directly in the form of food or through supplements as tonic or pills. If you have proper ingestion of vitamins, or, in other words, you take a complete diet, you will never feel the need to visit a doctor.
Have a look at the vitamin chart. Big vitamins gracing the chart are Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Vitamin B is further divided as B1, B2, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Biotin, Niacinamide, Inositol, Choline, Panthothenic acid and Para amino Benzoic acid. Your body needs all these vitamins in suitable quantity.

Vitamin A
This vitamin is needed for body growth and repair. It plays a role in the formation of bone and tissues and keeps skin smooth. It helps in cell introduction and is needed for formation of some hormones. It helps maintain healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes. It also cures night blindness. Major sources of Vitamin A are milk, eggs, spinach, carrots and almonds.

Vitamin B
Vitamin B has been subdivided into several categories:
Vitamin B1 helps the body cells convert carbohydrates into energy. It is mainly found in peas and watermelon.
Vitamin B2 plays a role in body growth, reproduction and red cell production. It is mainly found in Kiwi and avocado.
Vitamin B3 is helpful in the functioning of the digestive system, skin, and nerves. It is found in tomatoes, bananas, peas and carrots.
Vitamin B5 is needed for metabolism of food. It is found in oranges, bananas and carrots.
Vitamin B6 promotes immune system. It is found in bananas, watermelons and carrots.
Vitamin B9 helps to produce red blood cells. It is found in spinach, tomatoes, onions and carrots.
Vitamin B12 is useful for metabolism. It is available in fish, poultry and meat.

Vitamin C
This vitamin protects your bones, teeth and gums. It resists infection in your body and encourages synthesis of collagen in the body. It plays big role as an antioxidant, thereby protecting body tissue from the damage of oxidation. Lack of Vitamin C culminates in the disease of scurvy. Major sources of Vitamin C are orange, tomatoes, lemon, lime, spinach, onions and cucumber.

Vitamin D
Deficit of Vitamin D causes Rickets and Osteporosis. Bones cannot grow normally in the absence or lack of Vitamin D. It promotes absorption and maintenance of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, which are essential for the normal development of healthy teeth and bones. Sources of Vitamin D are direct sunlight, spinach and vegetables.

Vitamin E
It has a role to play as an antioxidant. It promotes formation of red blood cells and prevents appearance of wrinkles. Its sources are milk, eggs, peanuts, almonds, bananas and apples.

Vitamin K
This vitamin plays a role in blood clotting. It regulates calcium levels in blood and activates some proteins. It is found in dark green leafy vegetables.

Regards,
eleena






































Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Home-made Diet Drinks


Simple Fruit Drink Does It
Well, I don't diet, but I know of a really healthy way to get that extra "boost" in the morning; If you have the time, blend some you your favorite fruits in the blender. You'll probably have to cut them up first, or run them through the food processer. Just blend them all together, and you'll end up with a flavorful and healthy shake. Here's a recipe I found (But haven't tried) from the book: Simplify Your Life:

•1 apple
•1 banana
•1-2 oranges
•handful of strawberries or blueberries (If they're in season)
•fresh peach (optional)
Put all in a blender and press the button.

Of course, whatever works for you will work. If you don't have the time in the morning, try making it up before going to bed and freezing it. Then, in the morning, just defrost it in the microwave 'till it's the right consistancy for you. I like to have strawberry frappes like this in the summer.

Simple Diet Shake Recipes
I just wanted to let Susie Q know that I make a shake out of the sugar free/fat free pudding mix by Jello. I don't think it would have the nutritional value of Slim-Fast but if you drank it and then popped a multi- vitamin I think it would be about even.
Here is the recipe:
•1package of any flavor Jello sugarfree/fatfree pudding mix
•1 cup of skim milk or 1% milk (makes shake thicker)
•1/2 to 1cup of crushed ice
Put all of the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
I also make a fruit smoothie which might give you alittle more nutritional value than the above recipe.

Fruit smoothie recipe:
•1frozen banana peeled and cut into chunks
•1 cup any other kind of fruit( I like strawberries, pears, pineapple, peaches- fresh,canned or frozen)
•3/4 to 1 cup of juice ( again your choice: apple, orange, grapefruit, or the juice from canned fruit)
•1 tablespoon of powdered milk
•Sugar or honey to taste
Put the frozen banana chunks in the blender with the juice. Blend until smooth then add your choice of 1 cup of fruit and blend well. Add powdered milk and blend. Then taste to see if you wish to add sugar or honey. Add sugar or honey if desired.

truly,
eleena 


Monday, November 23, 2009

13 Keys to a Healthy Diet

Developing healthy eating habits isn't as confusing or as restrictive as many people imagine. The first principle of a healthy diet is simply to eat a wide variety of foods. This is important because different foods make different nutritional contributions.


Secondly, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol—should make up the bulk of the calories you consume. The rest should come from low-fat dairy products, lean meat and poultry, and fish.


You should also try to maintain a balance between calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body can utilize. Otherwise, you will gain weight. The more active you are, therefore, the more you can eat and still maintain this balance.


Following these three basic steps doesn't mean that you have to give up your favorite foods. As long as your overall diet is balanced and rich in nutrients and fiber, there is nothing wrong with an occasional cheeseburger. Just be sure to limit how frequently you eat such foods, and try to eat small portions of them.


You can also view healthy eating as an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat. A healthy diet doesn't have to mean eating foods that are bland or unappealing.



The following basic guidelines are what you need to know to construct a healthy diet.


1 Eat plenty of high-fiber foods—that is, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. These are the "good" carbohydrates—nutritious, filling, and relatively low in calories. They should supply the 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber you need each day, which slows the absorption of carbohydrates, so there’s less effect on insulin and blood sugar, and provides other health benefits as well. Such foods also provide important vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (plant chemicals essential to good health).


2 Make sure to include green, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables—such as broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods may help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases. Eat five or more servings a day.


3 Limit your intake of sugary foods, refined-grain products such as white bread, and salty snack foods. Sugar, our No.1 additive, is added to a vast array of foods. Just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can add up to 16 pounds over the course of a year. Many sugary foods are also high in fat, so they’re calorie-dense.


4 Cut down on animal fat. It’s rich in saturated fat, which boosts blood cholesterol levels and has other adverse health effects. Choose lean meats, skinless poultry, and nonfat or low-fat or nonfat dairy products.


5 Cut way down on trans fats, supplied by hydrogenated vegetable oils used in most processed foods in the supermarket and in many fast foods.


6 Eat more fish and nuts, which contain healthy unsaturated fats. Substitute olive or canola oil for butter or stick margarine.


7 Keep portions moderate, especially of high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrĂ©e, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.


8 Keep your cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams per day. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meats, poultry, dairy products, and egg yolks.


9 Eat a variety of foods. Don't try to fill your nutrient requirements by eating the same foods day in, day out. It is possible that not every essential nutrient has been identified, and so eating a wide assortment of foods helps to ensure that you will get all the necessary nutrients. In addition, this will limit your exposure to any pesticides or toxic substances that may be present in one particular food.


10 Maintain an adequate calcium intake. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. Get your calcium from low-fat sources, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt. If you can't get the optimal amount from foods, take supplements.


11 Try to get your vitamins and minerals from foods, not from supplements. Supplements cannot substitute for a healthy diet, which supplies nutrients and other compounds besides vitamins and minerals. Foods also provide the "synergy" that many nutrients require to be efficiently used in the body.


12 Maintain a desirable weight. Balance energy (calorie) intake with energy output. Exercise and other physical activity are essential.


13 If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. That is one drink a day for women, two a day for men. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Excess alcohol consumption leads to a variety of health problems. And alcoholic beverages can add many calories to your diet without supplying nutrients.



truly,
eleena

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Green Beans with Toasted Pine Nuts


INGREDIENTS

1 pound fresh green beans

1/4 cup pine nuts
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 


METHOD
1. In a large saute pan, bring 5 cups water to a boil. Drop the green beans into the water and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain in a colander, then run cold water over them for a few seconds to stop the cooking process. This will ensure that you don't end up with soft and mushy beans.
2. In the same pan, cook the pine nuts in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat, stirring, until the nuts begin to turn golden brown. Return the
3. green beans to the pan along with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and salt and pepper. Saute until the beans are heated through.

Nutritional Facts per serving
CALORIES 727.7 CAL

FAT 64.3 G
SATURATED FAT 7.4 G
CHOLESTEROL 0 MG
SODIUM 183.8 MG
CARBOHYDRATES 36.9 G
TOTAL SUGARS 7.6 G
DIETARY FIBER 16.7 G
PROTEIN 12.9 G

yummy,
eleena

Whole Grains Help You Lose Weight and Fight Inflammation

Whole grains fight inflammation. Unfortunately, we don't eat enough whole grains. Despite recommendations to eat three or more servings a day, most Americans eat less than one. That could be a big loss for people with arthritis and inflammation.



Whole grains lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood, a marker of inflammation associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes – and rheumatoid arthritis. CRP levels often spike during a flare.


Researchers at Penn State had a group of 50 obese people receive all their grain servings from either whole grains or refined grains for 12 weeks. Both groups followed a weight-loss plan that included fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean meat, fish or poultry. People in both groups lost weight, but the whole-grain group also saw a 38 percent drop in CRP levels. They also lost more abdominal fat (the most dangerous kind).



To get more good grains in your diet, try eating oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain cereal and whole-wheat crackers – all foods where the majority of the grain comes from whole grain.

amazed,
eleena

Thursday, November 19, 2009

My Posting on Healthy Food continues....

My last posting is until No.15 and now let me continue to list out some more items for you out there...

16. Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage)
Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement) to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer's produce section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white stalks, then saute like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just before serving.
17. Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn)
Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave until soft, then dust with cinnamon.
18. Watercress and Arugula
Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a pungent, peppery taste to salad.
19. Garlic
The Power: The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has 4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Bake a whole head for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft and sweet and spread on bread instead of butter.

My next posting will discuss about food from the grain, beans and nuts categories.
Until then... happy eating and enjoy the good healthy food around us....

Cheers...
Eleena

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Continue on our healthy food list....

Now, the next item on our healthy food list is ......Vegetables;
11.Onions

Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phytonutrient boost, or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and serve with rice or other vegetables.

12. Artichokes
These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice on top, then pluck the leaves off with your fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When you get to the heart, you have found the best part!

13. Ginger
Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.

14. Broccoli
Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Don't overcook broccoli - instead, microwave or steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients and some vitamin C.

15. Spinach
Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or with a little olive oil and garlic.

...... continue in the next posting...

Continue on fruits list....

The idea of posting these articles in my blog is to share with you all the information I read in the Internet which I feel benefit and useful to us all. It is not my original write-up but it is the information/articles i came across in the Internet that might be useful to us....

Let's continue... Fruits...

06. Cranberry Juice
The Power: Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrate and use it to spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.
07. Tomato
The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.
08. Raisins
The Power: These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal - women, consider this especially during your period.
09. Figs
The Power: A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention. The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control, make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48 calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers - fig bars have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.
10. Lemons/Limes
The Power: Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and vegetables for fat free flavor.

....... to be continued...

Let's Start Our Healthy Food List...

Fruits

01. Apricots
Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin. One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften, they lose nutrients.
02. Avocados
Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.
03. Raspberries
Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food) with fresh berries.
05. Cantaloupe
Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.

Healthy Food List To Try

I would like to suggest the following list which I came across while surfing the internet. The idea is to share the information for the interest and benefit of healthy living with healthy food. The list consist of various types of food which I will elaborate in stages. It will decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. There were also description and suggestion as to how to incorporate these foods into your diet.

Basically the food type I mentioned here is divided into few categories such as;
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Grains, Beans and Nuts
  • Seafoodr
I will elaborate further each category in my next posting for you to try it out...
Bookmark and Share

Followers