Yam Noodles for Weight Loss

With the difficulties of the diet industry, it's good to find foods that are naturally healthy and can be used in every day dishes. This is great for health and weight loss. The Yam Noodle has recently been discovered in the U.S. and is better known as the Shirataki Noodle. Made from the flower of the Konjac plant, it's sometimes referred to as the Elephant Yam. These noodles are calorie and carb free. They can replace pasta in recipes removing unwanted glucose and extra starches.

The noodle is a powerhouse of soluble fiber. The glucomannan fiber base of manose and sucrose sugars, becomes an emollient mass slowing digestion and improving metabolic function. For those concerned with weight or even cholesterol, the yam noodle's fiber content aides in weight loss and lowering cholesterol. Its Atkins approved, and this pasta substitute has zero points if you're counting points for other popular diets.

Powdered yam flour is used to make the noodles. It's actually the dried root of the Konjac plant. Not an actual tuber, the yam in Asia has been a main staple of their diets for centuries. It can make more than just yam noodles. It can be used to make jelly that is also known as Snake Palm or Voodoo Lily. A native perennial of Asia, the yam has been used in several "cooler" noodle dishes in the warm summer months. It is available anytime and for any season.

The noodle is versatile which is beneficial for those with busy lives. It can also be beneficial for those using it to lose weight. When it's combined with exercise, it's a great weight loss tool. They are easy to prepare. All you do is rinse thoroughly and boil them for a few minutes. They can be added to any entree to bring more flavor to a dish.

The yam noodle will provide better absorption of nutrients and can increase your stamina and durability during workouts, making the most of your workout time. If you include vegetables with your noodles, you can increase the health benefits and boost the body's fat burning power.

Several recipes for these noodles are popping up all over the Internet and are quickly becoming popular. Several health and weight loss blogs have been boasting about the Shirataki or yam noodle and its versatility. They can replace traditional pasta dishes and can reduce binge eating. These noodles help satisfy hunger usually felt on restrictive diets. Foods that fill dieters and help with weight loss are always a necessity. With the internet and several markets available, these popular Asian noodles are right at your fingertips.

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7 Easy Breakfast Recipes - Healthy Breakfast in Less Than 5 Minutes

A healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but many of us skip it because of time constraints. Well, now there's no more excuses!

There are several easy breakfast recipes that you can throw together in less time than it takes you to find your keys.

Did you know that numerous studies have found that people who eat breakfast are often slimmer than those who don't? One of the main reasons is this: When you sleep, you're obviously not eating for about 8 hours (unless you have some serious sleepwalking cravings). Your body is in a fasted state, so everything slows down. But, the sooner you eat upon waking, the sooner your metabolism is kicked back into gear for the day.

However, if you skip breakfast, then your metabolism is at a near standstill for all the hours you were asleep, plus the additional hours before your first meal. This is exactly the time when fat settles in and unpacks its bags (and rolls).

And to those who already eat breakfast everyday and are patting themselves on the back, you're not out of the woods yet! Even the most devoted breakfast eater has room for improvement, because a healthy breakfast is the key to weight loss, improved health, and prolonged energy.

Sure, Pop Tarts and bagels will get your metabolism going, but they certainly aren't the healthiest choices. You need a bigger breakfast (around 500 calories) with at least 20 grams of protein to get your body started the right way and keep you satisfied for longer.

OK, this is all getting a bit complicated now, right? How could you possibly have time to make a 500 calorie breakfast with enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to actually do some good?

7 Easy Breakfast Recipes: Healthy Breakfast in Less Than 5 Minutes

If any of these make your mouth water, just follow the easy instructions on how to whip them up before your windshield is defrosted:

Blueberry Smoothie With Toasted-Cheese Sandwich

Prep time: 4 minutes 2 slices whole-wheat bread 1/2 c Kashi Go Lean Crunch! cereal 1 c fat-free milk 1 c frozen blueberries 1 1-oz slice Cheddar cheese Pop the bread into the toaster. Dump the cereal, milk, and berries into a blender and liquefy. Stick a slice of Cheddar between the warm slices of toast and nuke the sandwich in a microwave for 15 seconds. It tastes grilled -- but isn't. Benefits: "The cheese and milk in this meal are essential for building and maintaining new muscle," says Christine Rosenbloom, Ph.D., R.D., a professor of nutrition at Georgia State University. "The whole grains in the bread and cereal will help lower cholesterol, and the minerals in the milk and cheese will help keep blood-pressure levels down." Per meal: 509 calories, 26 grams (g) protein, 75 g carbohydrates, 14 g total fat, 12 g fiber

Grab-and-Go Breakfast

Prep time: 1 minute 1 medium apple 1/2 pint fat-free milk 1 bran Vita muffin 1 pack Skippy Squeeze Stix peanut butter Slice the apple, grab the milk, muffin, and peanut butter, and go. Squeeze the peanut butter out of its pack onto your apple slices as you eat. Benefits: Vita muffins (vitalicious.com) contain 100 percent of your recommended intake of several important nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E. Foods high in monounsaturated fats -- like peanut butter -- may boost testosterone levels. This meal should help you burn energy more efficiently and lift more weight at the gym. Per meal: 506 calories, 20 g protein, 87 g carbohydrates, 12 g total fat, 15 g fiber

Minute Omelette with Toast

Prep time: 2 minutes 1 egg 3/4 c frozen spinach, thawed 1 slice Canadian bacon, diced 2 slices whole-wheat bread 1 Tbsp almond butter 1 c Welch's grape juice Stir together the egg, spinach, and Canadian bacon and pour onto a plate coated with nonstick spray. Microwave for 1 minute or until the egg is fully cooked. Toast the bread and eat it with the almond butter. Chase everything with grape juice. Benefits: Monounsaturated fat in the almond spread will help prevent spikes and drops in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling tired or crabby. Grape juice gives you an antioxidant, called resveratrol, that not only helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels but also helps improve bloodflow to the heart. Per meal: 540 calories, 25 g protein, 73 g carbohydrates, 19 g total fat, 8 g fiber

Two PB-and-Banana Wraps With Milk

Prep time: 2 minutes 2 Tbsp peanut butter 2 Eggo Special K waffles 1 medium banana 1/2 pint fat-free chocolate milk Spread a tablespoon of peanut butter over each (briefly microwaved) waffle. Divide the banana between them and roll each to make wraps. Wash down with chocolate milk. Benefits: Eggo's Special K waffles supply complex carbohydrates, which break down slowly in the body and stimulate the production of serotonin, a calming brain chemical. The banana is packed with potassium -- a heart protector. Per meal: 570 calories, 23 g protein, 90 g carbohydrates, 16 g total fat, 7 g fiber

The Santa Fe Burrito

Prep time: 4 minutes 2 eggs 1 c Santa Fe frozen mixed vegetables (black beans, peppers, and corn) 1 flour tortilla 1/2 c low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese 1/4 c salsa Mix the eggs and vegetables and spread the mixture on a plate coated with nonstick spray. Cook in the microwave for 1 minute, stir with a fork, and microwave again until the eggs are cooked and the vegetables warm. Pile onto a flour tortilla, top with shredded Cheddar cheese and salsa, fold, and eat. Benefits: "Without protein, guys can lose muscle mass quickly," says William J. Evans, Ph.D., a professor of geriatrics, physiology, and nutrition at the University of Arkansas. This meal is packed with it. Per meal: 530 calories, 36 g protein, 53 g carbohydrates, 18 g total fat, 6 g fiber

Black-Cherry Smoothie and Peanut-Butter Oatmeal
Prep time: 4 minutes 1 c R.W. Knudsen black-cherry juice 1 c frozen strawberries 1 c frozen unsweetened cherries 2 Tbsp protein powder 2/3 c oatmeal 1 Tbsp peanut butter 1/2 c fat-free milk Blend the cherry juice, frozen fruit, and protein powder until smooth. Microwave the oatmeal according to the directions on the package. Stir in the peanut butter and milk. Benefits: Men who ate at least one serving of whole-grain cereal (like oatmeal) a day had the lowest risk of dying of any cause, including heart disease, according to a 5-year study of 86,000 doctors. Cherries and strawberries are natural sources of salicylates -- the active ingredient in aspirin -- making them ideal for relieving stress-induced morning headaches. Per meal: 600 calories, 27 g protein, 100 g carbohydrates, 11 g total fat, 10 g fiber

Almond-Butter-and-Raisin Sandwich With Smoothie

Prep time: 1 minute 2 Tbsp almond butter 2 Eggo Special K waffles 1 Tbsp raisins 1 Stonyfield Farm smoothie Spread the almond butter on the waffles. Sprinkle the raisins over one waffle and top with the other. Wash down with the smoothie. Benefits: Whole-grain waffles help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and improve your body's processing of insulin and glucose, a benefit that can reduce your risk of becoming diabetic. Per meal: 600 calories, 21 g protein, 86 g carbohydrates, 22 g total fat, 7 g fiber

Of course, you can combine parts of these, opting certain ingredients in and out. Just make sure you are staying close to the same macronutrient breakdown in terms of protein, carbs, vitamins, and minerals.



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Losing Weight by Cleaning Your Intestine - How Do You Remove Fat Inside Your Colon?

Our body accumulates a lot of toxins from the food that we eat and these are flushed out of our system by the colon. What is the colon? It is the last portion of our "digestive track" where all the wastes are segregated from the useful parts of the food we eat. Colon cleansing has been introduced in the past few years to aid in the flushing out of harmful toxins accumulated by our body. But did you know that fat is also accumulated in here and you can begin losing weight by cleaning your intestine? So how do you remove fat inside your colon? Read on and find out.

There are a lot of cleansers that are available in the market and they also come in various forms. You may find some tablets, capsules and even shakes. You'll see that are a lot to choose from. So how does losing weight by cleansing your intestine work? You do this by literally flushing out toxins from your intestines. How? You may take colon cleansers or you do this naturally. There are many foods that are good in cleaning your intestines. And these are foods that are rich in fiber. Foods that are high in chlorophyll content are also good in cleaning your intestines. Here are foods that you should eat and will help remove fat in your colon:

o Green leafy vegetables

o Fruits and juices

o Cereals and grass: wheat, barley, oatmeal, fax seeds

By maintaining a diet that is rich in fiber, you are able to remove the fat inside your colon. Fiber "drags" little bits of food that were not flushed out during normal bowel movement, including fat. Fiber-rich foods also give the feeling of being "satiated" and hence keep you from being hungry easily. When you have less food intake, you lose weight in the process. Keep your intestines clean and expect a huge effect on your lose weight plan.


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Fasting vs. Eating Less: What's the Difference? (Science of Fasting)

Benefits of Barley - A Natural Fat Burner

Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of barley, how to best prepare it and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from barley - one of nature's amazing fat burning foods.

Barley is a chewy, nutty-tasting grain. It looks a lot like wheat berries, only not as dark. You can buy barley in bulk or in individual packages in any kind of grocery store, or in organic or specialty stores. It comes in pearl, flake, and hull forms. Buy barley any time of the year.

Fat Burning Benefits of Barley

Barley is an outstanding food source for dietary fiber, selenium and tryptophan, plus it is a reliable food source for niacin, manganese, copper and phosphorus. At 270 calories per cup, barley is a low-calories food.

The fiber contained in barley is essential for a fat-burning diet. Fiber helps to create bulky stools and speeds up the elimination process of wastes and toxins in the body, plus foods containing fiber quickly make you feel full and satisfied. This enables you to cut back on consumption now, and at future mealtimes. Therefore, the fiber found in barley will curb your craving for food, which will help you to burn off more fat!

Barley contains dietary fiber, which gives your intestines friendly bacteria food to live on; this results in the better digestion of foods and also helps to keep the colon healthy. In addition, these beneficial bacteria produce acids that the liver and muscles require for energy. You can lower your cholesterol with the fiber found in barley. It binds to the bile acids in your digestive tract and eliminates them through your stools. Bile acids help to metabolize the fats that your liver produces from cholesterol. Therefore, eliminating bile acids that are filled with cholesterol and fat is healthy for your heart -- and the rest of your body, too. Fiber also helps to keep your blood sugar stable, a must for diabetics.

A recent study that was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology indicated that women who eat a lot of fiber-rich foods are much less likely to get gallstones. Barley contains niacin, a vitamin that helps protect the cardiovascular system, due to its ability to lessen both cholesterol and lipoprotein levels. It might also play a role in preventing harmful free radicals from damaging blood vessel walls, and in reducing the aggregation of platelets, which can prevent the blood from clotting.

Barley contains magnesium, a mineral that acts like a reactionary compound in more than 300 different enzymes, and this includes the enzymes in your body that are related to the secretion of glucose and insulin. Barley has magnesium that safeguards against developing type 2 diabetes. Barley provides selenium to combat carcinogens that harm the colon. Barley supplies protein to protect us from the threat of cancer, particularly affecting the liver. Selenium's anti-oxidant properties help to provide protection against cardiovascular disease, and also help in the reduction of asthmatic and arthritic symptoms.

The copper found in barley offers relief from severe rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Copper is also good for strengthening our bones, joints, and blood vessels. Barely contains phosphorus, which is essential for the cells in your body.

Barley is not only beneficial to bones, but its phosphorus content is a necessary substance found in many different nutrients; a substance that is necessary for the health of the body, which includes its production and utilization of energy. Barley contains plant lignans, which help to protect the body from getting breast and other hormone-related types of cancer, plus lignans also protect the heart from getting cardiovascular disease.

Proper Preparation of Barley

When you buy barley in bulk, be certain that the receptacles are covered with a tight lid, and that the store in which you made your purchase sells a good amount of barley; this way, you can be sure you are purchasing fresh barley. Make sure the bin and the inside of the package are completely dry.

Store your barley in a cool, dry location, and in a tightly sealed glass jar, if possible. In the warmer months, barley can be refrigerated.

Before cooking barley, you should rinse it a few times under cold, running water in a pot or strainer so that any dirt or rocks will be removed. When cooking barley, use about one part barley to 3.5 parts liquid. Let the liquid come to a boil, then cover the pot, lower the heat, and let it simmer. Barley cooks slowly, about an hour for pearled barley and 1.5 hours for hulled barley.

Combine barley flour with whole grain wheat to make nutritious breads and muffins or use cracked or flaked barley in your morning bowl of hot cereal.

Enjoy a tasty cold salad made from cooked barley, chopped vegetables, and low fat dressing.

We already know that soups and stews containing barley are always tasty and healthy.

Here are a few ideas: barley posale, a South of the Border dish that includes hot chili peppers for an extra bite, chowder made with barley, a hearty winter vegetable soup made with barley, and Scotch barley soup with herbs.

Serving Size

A typical portion of barley is about 1/2 cup, but when cooking, check the recipe for the recommended amount per serving.



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What Healthy People Really Eat For Breakfast

What You Eat Can Cause Great Suffering Or Great Health

The very quality of life itself can depend largely on what sort of diet and supplements (if any) one takes. There are countless health foods one should be doing all one can to include in one's lifetime diet regimen, rather than simply consuming whatever comes along. Regardless of what one may be trying to accomplish (such as lose weight, etc.) it is vital that one's nutritional considerations come first.

Mechanically counting calories lead only to temporary weight control, while one's ideal weight and body shape can be far more easily maintained by taking in only wholesome, natural, mostly raw food and supplements. Raw nuts and seed such as almonds, sesame and pumpkin seed (please avoid roasted nuts), for example, may be high in calories, but they are also very filling, high in fiber, and contain many other numerous vital and essential health and metabolism promoting substances and therefore have very little if any effect on weight gain.

Raw fruits, raw vegetables, super foods, antioxidants, dietary supplements, herbs, and ionized water can be used quite effectively to help one find optimal health. Natural remedies are becoming more and more accepted in mainstream medicine as an essential part of healing and can be used as vital tools for one's spiritual, mental and physical wholeness. Herbs have been used for thousands of years to cure all sorts of diseases and they have many other uses too. A huge searchable data base of herbal information resources can be found on the internet.

This health food information is mainly for the most serious and dedicated pioneers on the path to self-healing and enlightenment. I can't guarantee any benefits or 100% safety! This information, although freely given, is offered "as is" with no guarantee of safety and effectiveness, and can work no better than the quality of the products you choose to integrate into your diet. However, it is possible with this information to gain and enjoy utterly fantastic levels of health, healing, well-being and spiritual ecstasy.

Please be sure that there is nothing in the list of herbs, supplements, foods, etc. featured on this page that could cause allergic reactions, interact with drugs that one must take, or create havoc if one is going through pregnancy, or other delicate health situations, etc.

The best and most basic thing one should consider doing first is to always drink plenty of water (best to use ionized or alkalized water, and at least one quart to half a gallon, depending on age, weight, body size, etc.) between meals instead of snacking on junk food or other miscellaneous stuff. The water seems to go down much faster if one adds fruit juices to it such as pure pomegranate, blueberry, cranberry, orange juice, etc. Regular flushing between wholesome meals with large quantities of watered down juices, etc. could help one overcome depression, tiredness and even anxiety. Doing this one thing has always been the single most effective way that I have ever discovered to enjoy many great benefits all over. Why? If not enough water is drunk on a daily basis, toxins from what is consumed, toxins from metabolic wastes, and toxins from other sources can and do accumulate causing all manner of problems. In most cases, it is mainly toxins that are the cause of so many mental and emotional problems, not always mineral and/or vitamin deficiencies.

Everyone has special needs, individual variations and differences. The most obvious difference is male vs. female. Because everything I write here is based on my limited "male" perspective, various adjustments would have to be made for women accordingly. Hopefully the basic principles will always be applicable to everyone, regardless of what sex, body type, metabolic needs, etc. The list of herbs and supplements may appear rather lengthy, however, but in no way are they all to be used at once. Instead just research and take a few of the best (for your particular needs) from each group.

Regarding all the vitamin and food supplements that follow, please use only the ones that you feel are essential to your health and never too much of anything. You could actually feel worse, not better if too much of the wrong herb or vitamin is taken. The supplements may require a significant amount of money to get started on and a certain amount of expense to maintain, so start out slow! Finding them to be too expensive is another good reason to make sure to get only what is essential. Whole, natural foods high in antioxidants or "super foods" are far superior to any fractured or isolated substance, so always choose among these first before trying any single or isolated vitamin, mineral, herbal extract, or chemical substance.

This diet is not designed merely to please the senses, it is meant to completely fulfill all nutritional needs and far beyond, so that one's soul, or happiness is completely satisfied. Supplying exactly what the mind, body and soul needs is far more important, wise and sensible than eating just to please the senses. Life is actually much, much more fun and fulfilling this way.

The good thing about living as healthy as possible are all the illnesses, dental and medical costs that one would most likely be able to avoid. So much inconvenience, expense, pain and suffering prevented! I can tell you this is a fact because I have definitely been able to avoid several decades of of what could otherwise have been high medical, psychiatric and dental costs, suffering, etc. by following this path. Increased libido, rejuvenation, younger looking skin, and greatly enhanced well-being are the main side-effects.

The Diet -- Incorrect Eating is Perhaps the Greatest Cause of Suffering Ever:

The human body is designed only for whole food, especially raw, whole alkaline-forming food. Any fractured or artificial concoctions, fast foods, junk food, too much animal protein, hormones, artificial chemicals, antibiotics, etc. as is often found in the modern American diet (MAD) tend to be highly acid-forming and therefore tend to break down rather than support one's natural healing ability, and are the main cause of vast numbers of diseases, incredible emotional suffering and other complications of physical, mental, and spiritual health that make life miserable. Countless billions and billions of dollars have been spent on medical treatments for vast numbers of serious physical and psychological health problems caused by incorrect eating.

The following information is a list of wholesome, mainly raw food and super-food supplements desperately needed by all people everywhere to help restore emotional, spiritual and physical wholeness to everyone. All of the following nutritional gems provide essential enzymes, antioxidants, and other vital principles needed by the brain, nerves and organs for optimal well-being and functioning:

* Raw Fruits and Raw Vegetables -- Pineapple, blueberries, oranges, chlorella, red onions, fennel, lettuce, beets, and whole ginger. Be sure to have more than a quart of raw juices from a selection of the above listed vegetables and fruits every day! Of all the things one can do to fight depression, fatigue, anxiety and any other health problem, nothing else can replace the benefits of taking in these daily, raw, freshly made blended juices.

* Raw Organic Spring Greens, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Carrots, Squash -- Use as a salad or blend with several tomatoes to create a raw "V8." Some companies provide pre-washed, ready to eat lettuce, chicory, cabbage and other leafy greens in a very convenient package.

* Raw Sauerkraut -- (Fermented cabbage, and other vegetables) an excellent source of enzymes, probiotics, raw vegetables and great flavors.

* Raw Kombucha -- A Chinese cultured tea created from a symbiotic combination of fermented yeast and probiotic bacteria which is an excellent source of enzymes, probiotics, and detoxifiers.

* Brown Rice and Legumes -- This very healthy combination is the most economical, widely eaten source of a complete protein and complex carbohydrates in the world.

* Vitasoy Milk -- Excellent tasting soy milk that can easily be used instead of dairy milk if one suffers from milk sensitivities.

* Organic Hemp milk and Rice Milk -- can be used as substitutes for conventional milk and/or soy milk as some people are sensitive to or have bad reactions to conventional milk and/or soy milk.

* Food Grade Yeast -- Excellent tasting source of phosphorous, B complex, and essential amino acids (protein). Phosphorous is an essential mineral needed in large quantities by the body and nerves that must be balanced out with equal amounts of calcium (see coral calcium and dolomite below).

* Granular Lecithin -- Essential source of phospholipids needed for energy production, brain and nerve functioning. Best to use lecithin granules which has a nutty flavor.

* Sardines -- Excellent source of complete protein, nucleotides, essential oils, vitamin D, and ocean minerals. Sardines are considered an anti-aging food.

*Whole Food Oils -- such as flax seed oil, hemp seed oil, whole virgin green olive oil, and pasture-grazed butter oil (perfect for weight control and mineral metabolism).

* 100% Pasture Grazed Raw Butter -- Organic, fresh, 100% pasture grazed, high in weight maintaining CLA, and high in "Factor X," whole raw butter should be available in most health food stores. I personally find whole, raw butter far more tolerable than cheese and other dairy products that are high in protein. Butter is very high in monounsaturated fats with only traces of protein.

* Norwegian Cod Liver Oil -- Excellent source of vitamin D, A, DHA, EPA, and essential fatty acids. When used in conjunction with pasture grazed butter, high vitamin cod liver oil can prevent tooth decay and help remineralize bone tissue.

* Pomegranate, Blueberry, Blackberry, Acai, Mangosteen, and Noni Juices -- High antioxidant blend of juices among many other benefits, helps to protect eyesight and helps prevent heart disease and other circulatory disorders.

* Raw Papaya -- Papaya when eaten fresh contains many enzymes that enhance digestion and absorption of protein, and if overripe or slightly fermented, it contains many microorganisms that seem to enhance blissful happiness, spiritual, psychic, and sensual energies.

* Goji Berries (Ningxia Wolfberry) -- Best to have in the form of fresh berries or juice. Most potent naturally occurring antioxidant, 500% more powerful than beta-carotene, carrots and oranges. Seems to be able to "fix" injured DNA and build immune system. Helps protect eyesight and is an abundant source of zeaxanthin that helps prevent macular degeneration. Go here to find out more about Goji Berries.

* Raw Adaptogenic Herbs and Super-foods -- Rhodiola Rosa, Ashwaganda, Epimedium, Saw Palmetto Berry Powder, Ginseng, Maca, Turmeric, Chlorella, Green Vibrance (TM), etc.

* Fulvic Acid -- Either in the form of Shilajit or a Fulvic Mineral Complex Ionic Mineral Supplement that contains 70 minerals and trace elements. Drink one two two ounces daily.

* Almonds, Unhulled (brown) raw Sesame Butter, and Sunflower Seed, Pumpkin Seed, Pecans, and Raw Unsalted Peanuts -- All contain wonderful wholesome natural substances needed by the human body.

* Dolomite Powder -- A natural form of calcium and magnesium in an optimally balanced ratio. Dolomite is very inexpensive, has a really refreshing taste, is vitalizing, and is highly alkaline. Drink one teaspoon of dolomite per 1.5 liters of ionized water. Use one to four teaspoons daily depending on how much water taken, weight and need. I discovered that drinking large amounts between meals of a mixture of one teaspoon of dolomite per 50.7 oz. (1.5 liters) of negatively ionized water effective against my own life-long severe anxiety and/or depression problems. Warning: some people may have an adverse reaction to dolomite if too much is consumed such as loose bowel movements, poor absorption of other minerals, flushing, itching and dryness of skin. Therefore make sure that no more dolomite is taken than one teaspoon of dolomite per 1.5 liters of ionized water and always take with water and never alone. One might also add high antioxidant fruit juices, some green tea, etc., some ginger, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and/or two teaspoons of the adaptogenic herb ashwaganda to the 1.5 liters of ionized water and one teaspoon of Dolomite Powder for an enhanced well-being effect.

All of the above items when used as the main part of every meal and/or drink every day, because of their satisfying flavor, detoxifying, high enzyme, antioxidant, biochemical and biological value, can help fight fatigue, depression, poor appetite and digestive problems in a more effective manner than any other combination of foods, supplements or antioxidants ever taken. Malabsorption of minerals, vitamins, etc., and toxic and odor forming microorganisms in the digestive tract are a very common problem. Stools should be odorless! Any unpleasant odor in breath or eliminations indicates suboptimal health, poor digestion, and even disease. For one who is wasting away and/or not thriving the above combination of metabolic, probiotic and digestive enzymes can be a real lifesaver. During periods of stress and/or illness, a mostly liquid diet with mineral broths seem to work much better and faster to restore health, energy and vitality.



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Weight Loss and Health Tips: Powerful Legumes

We live in a society where eating has become more of a pleasure than real need. Maintaining a healthy body weight has become a problematic task. When starting out a diet, the first thing we should take care is our nutrition. If we fix this, everything will fall into place sooner or later.

In this weight loss and health tips, I will speak about a very nutritional food;the legumes. Legumes are seeds, or pods of leguminous plants. They are known since antiquity, and are among the most nutritious natural foods. There are currently 600 types of legumes, and 13, 000 varieties. Some of the most popular are: soy beans, black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chick peas, black eye beans, red beans, peas. Legumes are low in calories, have 0 cholesterol, and are very inexpensive, making them an ideal part of a healthy diet.

All legumes are rich in essential nutrients including; protein, fiber, fatty acids, antioxidants, iron, potassium, b vitamins, folic acid. They are good substitutes to animal protein. Soya beans are the legumes with the most protein. Thanks to the protein, legumes can help repair cells from free radical damage, build muscle, burn fat, and assist digestion in the body.

A meal with legumes will fill you fast, and for longer without the insulin levels go up, because they contain a lot of fibre. According to recent studies, people who consume often legumes have low risk to develop a heart disease, and colon cancer. Other studies have shown that legumes have strong anti-aging elements.

You can buy them raw, frozen, or in cans. Preparation and cooking methods vary, but usual cooking time is between 30 to 60 minutes. Some of them, you might need to soak them into the water for a few hours before cooking. If you choose to eat them straight from the can, rinse them once to get rid of the extra sodium. You can make many different meals all nutritious and delicious; salads, dips, soups, and stews.

Legumes have a bad reputation because of the gasses they produce, the reason for that, maybe is the lack of enzymes in the digestive system, to avoid these problems, start introducing them into your diet slowly, and in moderate portions, or pick a legume that is not as gas producing as others, i. e black eye beans;and don't forget to drink lots of water.

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Sweet Potatoes Vs. White Potatoes

People tell me that they know that sweet potatoes are healthier than white potatoes as if it's an accepted fact. Whenever I'm not aware of something that's apparently an established fact, I feel the need to either get caught up on this obvious information or else to find out why this commonly held belief is actually not true.

In order to do this, I decided to do some research.

I needed to find out which potato was actually healthier.

It seemed the easiest way to compare the two types of potatoes was to make a chart to compare them side by side; so here's a handy chart I made to compare the two:

Nutrients... White Potatoes... Sweet Potatoes

Calories... 94... 90

Protein... 2.1g... 2.01g

Carbs... 21.08g... 20.71g

Fiber... 2.1g... 3.3g

Iron... 0.64mg... 0.69mg

Potassium... 544mg... 475mg

Vitamin C... 12.6mg... 19.6mg

Vitamin A... 10 IU... 19,218 IU

Oh, by the way, this is comparing a 100 gram serving of white baked potato with its skin on, to a 100 gram serving of baked sweet potato with its skin on. This information is from the USDA website (Basic Report, Potatoes, white), (Basic Report, Sweet).

You have to be really careful if you're trying to compare these two types of potatoes by the size of the actual whole potato because a medium sized sweet potato weighs 114 grams and a medium sized white potato weights 173 grams. Instead of using size to compare, it's better to use weight.

Breaking it down:

Let's start with the two numbers people want to know first: calories and carbs. As you can see, the calories are almost identical. There are about 3500 calories in a pound of stored body fat so a difference of 4 calories isn't going to matter much either way. How about carbs? One gram of carbohydrates equals about 4 calories, so again, either potato will give you about the same amount.

Now here are the two biggest differences. The first is potassium. If you think of potassium, you probably think of bananas. Well, get this: 100 grams of banana has 358 mg of potassium. Sweet potatoes top bananas with 475 mg of potassium and white potatoes go a step higher with 544 mg! However, most people get enough potassium just from eating a variety of healthy foods so you'll probably get enough of this vital mineral without having to rely on eating potatoes all the time.

And now for the biggie! Vitamin A! What an incredible difference between white potato's 10 IU of vitamin A and sweet potato's 19,218 IU of vitamin A! What does vitamin A do, exactly? It supports your growth and development, helps your immune system, and aids your eye health/night vision. You know how you're supposed to eat carrots for night vision? Well, 100 grams of boiled carrots has 17,033 IU of vitamin A, so it actually has less than sweet potatoes. But before you put them on your list of foods to eat every day, here's something you should know. Most people already get enough vitamin A just from eating a variety of healthy foods. So, with both potassium and vitamin A, if you eat healthy foods, you should be getting all the nutrients you need without having to resort to eating huge amounts of either type of potato. (Vitamin A and Bone Health, 2012).

The Bottom Line:

The calorie, carb, and protein amounts are almost the same in both potatoes. While white potatoes have more potassium and sweet potatoes have more vitamin A, you can get sufficient amounts of these nutrients from eating other healthy foods too. So, don't worry about which one to choose. Both of these potatoes are healthy! Enjoy them both.

References:

NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases. (2012, January). Vitamin A and Bone Health. Retrieved from http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/vitamin_a.asp

USDA. Basic Report: 11357, Potatoes, white, flesh and skin, baked. Retrieved from http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/3132?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=25&sort=&qlookup=potatoes

USDA. Basic Report: 11508, Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt. Retrieved from ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/3255?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=75&sort=&qlookup=potatoes



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3 Healthy Sandwich Recipes, Healthy Recipes For Weight Loss

Weight Loss - Is Calorie Counting As Straightforward As It Seems?

If you are on a mission to lose weight, one thing you are very likely doing is trying your hand at calorie counting. You have heard before counting calories are critical to success, and there is nothing closer to the truth. If you do not have the right energy balance as you go about your goal to shed fat, you are not going to see the results you are hoping.

But, is counting calories as simple as adding up numbers? It turns out; it isn't. Here are a few points to remember about counting calories...

1. Calories Are Not Always Reported Accurately. First, note calories are not always reported accurately on food labels. For instance, there can be a 10% difference either way in how many calories are presented as being in the food and how many calories are actually in the food.

While this may not seem like too big of a deal - 10% should not amount to much, but if it is occurring often, it can sway your numbers.

Remember you are only ever getting an estimate of how many calories you are taking in. It is impossible to get 100% accuracy.

2. Your Body Processes Calories Differently. The next point to remember is your body will burn and process calories differently, depending on the foods you eat. For instance, if you eat food high in protein, you are going to expend more calories just breaking it down compared to food high in carbs.

Likewise, if the food is natural and contains more dietary fiber, this too will net you fewer calories than if the food is processed. Natural food breaks down very quickly in the body as the fiber is part of the food the body can't break down so speeds up digestion. While again, this won't amount to a huge difference, over time it can add up and sway your results and is yet another reason why it is critical you are focusing on wholesome and natural foods as you go about your diet plan.

3. Your Exercise Habits Make A Difference. Finally, note your exercise habits can also influence your total calorie intake. While most people think exercise only impacts the output side of the equation, this isn't the case.

The more you exercise, the higher your insulin sensitivity will be and the better you will be able to process the carbohydrates you eat leading to a lower risk of converting those carbs to body fat stores. Instead, the carbohydrates will convert to energy and be stored in your muscles.

Those who exercise tend to utilize their foods better, so this can influence their body weight and composition.

Keep these points in mind and remember, a calorie is not just a calorie. While tracking your calories is certainly critical for optimal results, it is not the entire picture for optimal success.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

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You Must Avoid White Starchy Foods To Lose Weight

Thanks to modern food technology, foods like the defunct Hostess Twinkies can stay on the shelf for longer periods of time. In fact, some food products are so packed with preservatives that you'd swear they will outlast the next Ice Age.

Seriously. Modern foods are the product of lots of high-tech wizardry and tinkering. I am not so sure these developments are all good. Take, for example, the case of starchy foods. Since these foods, in their natural form, contain a lot of fiber, they don't last too long on the shelf. Enter modern food technology and these foods now last a long time in storage. How come? Most of their fiber and nutrients have been stripped off. In fact, modern commercial flour has had so much of its nutrients ripped out through mechanical processes that flour millers are compelled to 'enrich' their flours by putting some nutrients back in. Otherwise, modern flour is an empty food with very little nutritional value. Regardless of these efforts by the food industry, if you want to truly lose weight, you have to avoid white starchy foods. Here the major reasons why you should drop the white ultra-processed food diet.

Body burns sugar not fat

If you eat a lot of carbohydrate-rich foods, the main form of energy your body will use is the sugar in the starchy foods. Instead of burning stored energy in the form of fat, your body will burn sugar. If that isn't bad enough, any left over energy in your system which your metabolism can't burn up will get stored in the form of-you guessed it-fat!

Tastes good so you eat more

Let's face it-starchy food tastes great. With enough sugar and grease, starchy foods can be quite heavenly. The problem is they pack quite a bit of calories. Carbohydrate-rich foods also boost your brain's serotonin levels so it is quite easy to get addicted to starchy foods or sugar or both. Of course, the more you eat of these foods, the bigger you get.

Little nutritional value

As mentioned above, modern food processing has stripped much of the nutritional value of starchy foods. You get lots of empty calories and little to no vitamins and other nutrients. Definitely a dietary bum deal.

Go for complex carbohydrates rather than simple carbohydrates because they have more fiber and will not spike your blood sugar levels. Sugar is a very calorie dense food. There's a lot more calories in a gram of sugar than in many other foods in their natural state. If you want to gain a lot of weight, you need to eat a lot of food that are sugary like donuts, cake, pastries, and so on and so forth. If you want to minimize your calorie intake, then you need to deprive yourself of your sweet tooth and focus more on high fibre and high fibre foods.

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Enjoy Eating Healthy All Day

How can you start eating healthy at home?

Anyone who has gone through the weight loss journey will tell you that for the most part, the struggle is with making healthy food choices. Since fast food and processed food are often associated with convenience, it's hard to let go of old eating (and buying) habits.

But you can still beat a lifetime of bad habits!

It can be challenging to develop new eating habits, but it's not impossible at all. In fact, it is more difficult to keep unhealthy eating habits especially later in life when your body is already suffering from the effects of malnutrition. Remember: a person who has an unhealthy and unbalanced diet is also categorized as malnourished.

Why do you eat the way you do?

Your current eating habits are simply the result of years of repetition. That's why they're called habits. We weren't born with habits; we just develop them over time. So if you learned to love French fries, ice cream and chocolate shakes, you can learn to love healthy, natural foods just as much!

Are you ready for another positive change in your life?

In today's post, I am going to share with you some great ways that you can begin the transition to healthier eating. What's really great about the transition itself is that it is gradual. You can start enjoying fantastic weight loss success by gradually changing the contents of your daily meals. Let's get started!

Tip #1: Eat More Whole Grain

What is whole grain?

The Whole Grains Council defines "whole grain" as "food that contains all of the components of the grain seed in their original proportion." A grain seed has three components: bran, endosperm and germ.

All three components provide a treasure trove of natural nutrients that provide the body with complete nutrition. The cooking method doesn't matter as long as care is taken to preserve these three components.

Due to the density of nutrients found in whole grain, it is recommended that you have one to two servings of whole grain per day.

The dietary fiber found in whole grains will also help conquer hunger pains, as fiber expands when it comes into contact with water. Fiber will fill your stomach much faster and you will feel fuller more quickly.

What types of whole grain could you eat?

Three kinds of grains stand out in the world of fitness: brown rice, quinoa and millet. These three grain seeds are widely available and are crowd favorites because they're tasty and easy to prepare, too!

Quinoa is considered as a fitness superfood because of its exceptionally high levels of plant protein, which is useful for fitness enthusiasts who want to build lean muscle while slimming down.

You may also try grain seeds such as amaranth, rye, sorghum and barley if the first 3 types don't appeal to you.

Tip #2: Skip Oily Food

Why be mindful of fatty food?

Fats are essential for the body, but only in very small quantities. The amount of oil found in processed food and fast food is too much to maintain a healthy weight. Also watch out for "calorie traps" at home, like bacon strips and burger patties.

A single strip of bacon can have as much as 50 calories. If you eat 5 bacon strips at breakfast, you've already added 250 calories of energy to your reserve for the day.

If your physical activities for the day do not burn off most of the calories that you have consumed from the moment that you woke up, your weight will eventually increase. That's why it's essential that you identify high-calorie foods at home that do not provide a lot of nutritional value.

To keep your mealtimes interesting, opt for healthier alternatives such as egg whites and roasted veggies. Flavor-wise, vegetables have a lot of to offer. That's why kebabs don't taste like kebabs unless you add the roasted veggies!

Tip #3: Be Your Own Nutrition Guru

One of the best ways to learn about healthy food is by preparing them at home and by experimenting with different combinations and recipes.

Reading about healthy eating is one thing; you need to put your newfound knowledge to the test if you want to speed up the transition process. Here are some simple tips to make your home cooking healthier:

- Use extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as much as possible and only in small quantities

- Reduce the amount of cheese and cream in your dishes

- Season with a variety of spices and avoid salting too much

- Top breads and pizza with mushrooms and tasty veggies

- Learn how to store cooked food to retain their nutrients and to make home cooking more convenient than fast food



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This Is 200 Calories

7 Liver Cleansing Foods - Part of the Detox Diet

Is it possible to eat a diet that consists of liver cleansing food without starving yourself or changing your entire lifestyle? We believe that with the proper detox diet that you can have a proper liver cleanse and have increased stamina, decrease colds and infections by reinforcing your immune system, and get restful sleep and wake up refreshed. These are some of the benefits derived from eating a diet of liver cleansing food.

So what are these foods, and how difficult will it be to incorporate them into your weekly diet? You will find these foods to be rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, and detox diet foods that have a high presence of antioxidants. Plus, they will be no trouble at all fitting them into your weekly diet.

1. Leafy green vegetables. Because of their high quantities of plant chlorophylls, they are able to remove toxins from the bloodstream in vast amounts. As an effective liver cleansing food, they can be eaten raw or cooked. They also have the ability to neutralize chemicals and pesticides, helping the liver in one of its functions as a filter of these toxins.

2. Garlic. It doesn't take much, thankfully, to activate liver enzymes to assist in flushing out body toxins. Additionally, in detox for the liver garlic have two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing, allicin and selenium.

3. Carrots, beets, and red and yellow fruits and vegetables. These are high in beta-carotene, important for its antioxidant qualities, which inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. These antioxidants help to prevent many of the diseases caused by oxidative stress.

4. Whole grains. These liver cleansing foods should be brown rice and whole wheat grain, not the white flour foods. These liver cleansing foods aid in liver function and decongestion, along with improving overall fat metabolization. White bread, because of its processing, offers little in the way of nutritional value as well as adding toxins in processing. If you want to go totally healthy, sprouted grain breads top them all.

5. Olive oil. When used in moderation, their lipid base literally sucks up harmful toxins, relieving the liver of toxic overload.

6. Green tea. Fast becoming known for its overall health benefits, it also helps the liver in its overall functions, as it is heavy in plant antioxidants.

7. Turmeric. Called the liver's favorite spice, it helps in liver detox by helping enzymes that actively flush out dietary carcinogens.

These are a few foods that assist in liver cleansing, and should be part of any detox diet. Obviously, there are a few that should not be included as liver cleansing food, and they would be processed foods, artificial food additives, preservatives and synthetic sweeteners, to name a few. Also, try to steer clear of those foods which are not grown organically and have been treated with pesticides and synthetic chemicals. Finally, of course, the overuse of alcohol can cause havoc with a liver detox program.

These liver cleansing foods should be in our everyday diet. If you imagine the liver as a filter, in time that filter is going to get congested with contaminants. The Master Cleanse diet, as well as other liver detox diets, can periodically give the liver a boost and clean things out. A product found on our website we are sure will provide immense benefits for a total liver cleanse.

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Tomatoes for Healthy Life

Tomato is a deep red pulpy fruit which comes from the Lycopersicon esculentum plant. According to botanical classification, it belongs to the Solanaceae family. Botanically, tomato is considered to be an edible fruit but when it comes to the cooking practices it is largely considered a vegetable. This fruit originated in South America and has spread all over the world. At present there are at least 7500 different varieties of tomatoes known to us. This fruit is liked because of its tangy taste and is used to prepare a wide range of dishes like jam, sauce, pickles, juice, curries etc.

Nutritional Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomatoes provide a lower amount of calories and fats and at the same time they are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. An intake of this fruit is recommended to people who are obese and those suffering from higher levels of cholesterol.

It is a rich source of phyto-nutrients named lycopene and beta-carotene. The cell walls of tomato contain Lycopene which acts as an antioxidant protecting the cells and its structures from oxygen free radicals. According to the studies performed by Dr. Edward Giovannucci, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts, this nutrient lycopene, protects us from many kinds of cancers like the prostate cancer.

Lycopene prevents heart diseases.

Lycopene is associated with the prevention of age-related macular degeneration

Cooking practices like heating or frying it in a little bit oil, does not spoil the nutritional value of tomato. Lycopene is fat soluble hence cooking in a little bit of oil, releases this nutrient from the cell walls of tomatoes to a greater extent.

Intake of tomatoes helps to maintain the Sodium/potassium balance as they provide a lower concentration of sodium and at the same time are richer in potassium. This in turn regulates the blood pressure and allows the cell to function normally.

Tomatoes are richer in two vital vitamins which are Vitamin A and C. Hence they are good for eyes and maintenance of mucus membrane of the skin. They help in developing resistance against infectious agents.

It helps in curing the blisters and ulcers of mouth.



These are some of the innumerable health benefits associated with intake of tomatoes. Many nutritional facts are still being researched. It is good to include this vegetable in our daily diet. As cooking practices do not spoil the nutritional value of this fruit it can be preserved in many ways to get the taste of tomatoes all the year-round. Some preservation methods have been described below.

Preservation of Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be preserved in various ways so that the flavor, taste and nutritional value are retained. The preservation techniques help us to get the tangy taste of tomatoes even when the price of tomatoes reaches the sky. Various home based methods which increase the shelf life of tomatoes have been discussed below.

The techniques discussed below depend on the kind of tomatoes chosen. Red tomatoes which have a very high content of vitamins have to be plucked from the garden during sunrise. During this time the fruits are still cool as the temperatures are low during the past night. Care should be taken to discard those tomatoes which have any kind of black spots. The tomatoes should be properly cleaned with water and should be kept away from prolonged exposure to sunlight before the preparation as this would spoil the tomatoes.

Preparation of Peeled Tomato Preserves

These peeled tomatoes can be used to prepare sauce all the year-round. To prepare this, the tomatoes are gently dipped into hot boiling water for 30 seconds. Soon after this the tomatoes are removed from the cooking pot with the help of a sieve and plunged immediately into cold water for few minutes. This helps to loosen the skin of tomatoes. After this the skin of tomatoes is completely peeled. Clean and dried jars are used to store the peeled tomatoes. Tomatoes are allowed to fit snugly against each other by tapping the bottom of the jar. Lemon juice without the pips is extracted and added to the jars. The amount of lemon juice to be added comes to one coffee-spoonful per half-liter of the jar. The jar is filled up with some amount of hot tomato pulp. The jars are then tightly screwed and allowed for sterilization in hot boiling water for a span of 45 minutes. These jars are allowed to cool and then cleaned and dried. These jars can be stored in a cool dry place and should be consumed within a span of one year.

Preparation of Tomato Pulp

Good tomatoes are chosen and cut into two halves to check for rotten tomatoes. An extractor is used to separate pulp from the seeds and the skin of the tomatoes. As an alternative to an extractor the tomatoes can also be cut into very small pieces and squashed. The seeds and the skin can also be separated with the help of a sieve. These steps can be repeated several times to maximize the yield. The extracted pulp is subjected to pre-heating at low temperature. This pulp is then filled into the jars along with a spoonful of lemon juice. These jars have to be sterilized for a span of 45 minutes.

Preparation of Dried Tomatoes

The tomatoes are cut lengthwise into two halves. The seeds are to be carefully removed using hands or spoons. These pips or seeds can be later sun-dried and used to grow the next crop of tomato plants. After this the tomatoes are further cut into small and uniform sizes measuring approximately one centimeter in thickness. These tomato pieces are sun-dried. This technique preserves the tomatoes for a span of three months.

To preserve the tomatoes for more than three months further processing is involved. Water containing a spoonful of salt and preservatives like citric acid powder is boiled. Addition of salt and preservatives prevents the tomatoes from getting blackened during the drying process.

The small pieces of tomatoes and their slices are subjected to the process of blanching. In order to blanch tomatoes, they are put into a clean cloth or a basket and plunged into the above mentioned boiling water for three minutes. Blanching is a preservation technique wherein vegetables are boiled before drying to kill the enzymes which spoil the food. After blanching tomato pieces are drained and then sun-dried with the help of dryers for at least two and a half days. The dried tomatoes are later gathered and cooled for half an hour in a shady place so that they do not release moisture while packing. These tomatoes are then packed into a polythene bags which are later kept into cardboard boxes containing straw. This protects the tomatoes from dampness and preserves them for one year.

Some other ways by which tomatoes can be preserved are by making puree, sauce, jam or pickle.

This deep red fruit not only activates your taste buds but it also encompasses some very wonderful nutritional and medicinal properties. It is a boon for those who want to reduce weight as it can be taken as salad during any time of the day. This fruit has the power to fight against many diseases and at the same time does not lose its nutritional significance upon cooking. With so many advantages associated with this fruit should we not make this a part of our daily diet?


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