What to EAT! Basic Nutrition, Weight Loss, Healthy Diet, Best Foods Tips...

MICROWAVE – HEALTHY OR UNHEALTHY?

Between work, household duties and … further charms of everyday life often  little time is left for proper and healthy meal preparation.

We return to the house in a hurry and we reheated our dinner in the microwave to save 5 minutes and during this time we do the laundry. In worse cases, we decide to cook food in this way. Many of us in the rush of everyday life chooses the easier and faster solution without the awareness of future consequences.

Microwaves are an easy alternative to traditional preparation of food. Currently, experts opinions are divided, and many of them believe that cooking in this way is healthier and does not generate by-products, eg. AGE, as in the cooking process.

In my opinion, despite the time saved and a few other pluses preparing meals in the microwave is a far greater threat to our health. Personally, I choose other methods, like steaming or baking

 Electromagnetic radiation is the cause:

reduction of the nutritional content of products by poorer bioavailability
bowel cancer and cell degeneration of peripheral tissues and gastrointestinal tract
disorders of the digestive tract and lymph
lower efficiency of the lymphatic system and the immune
 formation of carcinogenic free radicals
a higher amount of tumor cells in the serum
depression
attention deficit disorder
insomnia
memory loss
brain damage
dizziness
high blood pressure
A number of experiments were done to confirm the harmful actions of food prepared in microwave ovens on our health.

Studies in cats ended with a result that confirms these suspicions. Animals drank water and ate meals heated in microwave ovens. After a few weeks, all died even though there were no outward signs of malnutrition.

Microscopic examination confirmed that the cells are starved tissue that did not contain any nutritional value.

If such is the result of the test carried out on animals think about the harm you place on yourself and your family using a microwave. Many women prepare in the microwave milk and other meals for their children. Foods cooked that way become worthless after a few seconds, which means that babies are not getting any minerals needed for growth. Amino acids L-proline contained in the diets of infants under the influence of microwaves in turn toxic isomers which irritate the kidneys and nervous system.

Microwaves make protein meal become toxic and therefore proteins are not absorbed by the body. This is due to the breakdown of protein structures. In addition, food cooked in this way loses all the B vitamins, which take care of our nervous system, immunity and stress, as well as vitamins C and E, and powerful antioxidants responsible for the fight against cancer and heart disease

Therefore, I strongly advise against the use of microwave ovens. If you need to use it from time to time, gain time and use it to make sure not to use plastic containers and rather defrost more food than to cook or grill. Trust me, that time saved by preparing food in the microwave, it is not worth the loss of health and well-being, and if you lack the time to cook  get your family involved 

Probably mass comments will show up in defense of the microwave  oven. Personally, I share with you the conclusions of the  articles, notes and knowledge that I acquire. Simply I suggest you to consider the topic.


Source

Aluminium Cookware Versus Stainless Steel Cookware

Aluminum cookware versus stainless pans and pots. Some people like Aluminum while others prefer stainless. That s why we are going to talk about the pros and cons of both, so that you can make a better decision when buying them.
Stainless Steel Pros
Stainless steel is basically iron to which up to eight alloys have been added. The more alloys, the better the quality. In order to be consider as stainless steel, the metal must have at least 11% of chromium. This reduces the effects of rust that can be caused by moisture or air. Most of the stainless cookware has 18% of chromium and until 10% of nickel.
This king of metal is very resistant and durable and resists to almost any kind of scratches. Stainless steel cookware is also easy to clean.
Cooks choose stainless steel over Aluminum cookware. The reason for this is because unlike Aluminum cookware, the stainless steel does not react to alkaline or acidic foods that are cooked in it.

Aluminum Pros
Aluminum cookware has been produced since the late 19th century, however it was only in the 20th century that it started to sell pretty well. More than half of the cookware ever sold is made of Aluminum. This is so popular due the fact of its low prices and quick heating.
There are 3 types of Aluminum cookware:
-Pressed: This is the cheapest but is also the quickest to be tossed way after some uses because of wear.
-Cast: This one is thicker and more porous than pressed but is able to retain heat better.
-Anodized: These are the best types of Aluminum cookware, but also the most expensive. They are made through a process of electro-chemical and are scratch resistant and non-stick.
Stainless Steel Cons
The main problem with stainless cookware is that it is a bad conductor of heat and does not spread the heat evenly. This is bad because we need heat to cook and that s why most of the quality stainless cookware have Aluminum or copper placed between the layers to conduct heat better. Using these metal allows people to cook efficiently with any stainless steel cookware.
One other disadvantage s that tends to discolor over high heat and its surface may pit with prolonged exposure to a salty environment.
Aluminum cons
The main problem with Aluminum is that reacts with some types of foods, especially with those with alkaline of acidic components. For example, do not cook tomato sauce in an Aluminum pot because Aluminum particles might be leached into the food.

Another con is that some people believe that using the Aluminum cause Alzheimer's disease. The FDA as well most scientists believe that there is not threat, but if you are one of those that follow the "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", then you should use stainless steel cookware.
How to Decide?
Choosing between Aluminum or stainless cookware it s all about the costs, quality and your cooking needs. For those who don t have much money, then Aluminum is great for you. On the other hand, if you got the money and are looking for quality cookware, you will find it in the stainless steel cookware. Cleaning is a fairly simple process, whatever you choose the Aluminum or stainless steel. They both can be washed with liquid detergent or be put in the dishwasher.

 Source: 

Get Rid of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) by Pressure Canning Your Food

Monosodium Glutamate, otherwise known as MSG, has been linked to a wide variety of illnesses. Everything from headaches to chest pain, and even breathing problems for those who suffer from asthma are just a few of the bad side effects. Pressure canning completely eliminates MSG from the food because you simply don't use it at all during the canning process. You do have to be careful if you don't create your own spice blend when canning, as some of the store bought canning mixes do include it in their blends.
People that are sensitive to Monosodium Glutamate may experience different bad side effects at different times, too. Depending on their personal body chemistry and their health level, the results of ingesting MSG can vary. For instance, someone who has high blood pressure problems may feel a rapid heartbeat. Individuals that suffer from arthritis can have increased swelling and aches in the muscles as though they have the flu. It can even produce neurological problems such as depression, anger management issues, migraines, panic attacks, and insomnia is people that as sensitive or already having problems such as those individuals suffering from fibromyalgia or any type of mental disorder.

Pressure canning can help completely alleviate all of these bad side effects by preserving your foods, home grown or purchased at a farmers market or grocery store, in a healthy way. You will find that using a pressure canner is simple to do and your food will taste significantly better than anything you ever purchase from a grocery aisle. Pressure canning correctly will also leave more of the nutrients in your foods as it is not completely processed out.
The initial cost of pressure canning quickly pays for itself, particularly if you are a home gardener or even if you buy in bulk from a farmers market. Another way might be if you have an overabundance of one food, say tomatoes, you can trade with another gardener for their overabundance of green beans. If you do not have enough space for a garden yourself, community gardens work well. Community gardens where everyone chips in on the weeding and various gardening tasks along with the price of seed can keep your costs much lower as the food is divided amongst those that actually worked the soil and produced the food.

Simply put, if you really want to get rid of the Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) from your life, pressure canning is the best way to store nutritious food and get the job done. It's safer than water baths, the costs are recouped quickly, and it makes for a fun way to get the family involved in a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Source:

Are You Able To Give Up Cheese?

Some of you reading this will be vegan, some will be vegetarian and some will be flexitarian. If you are vegan, then this won't apply but if you're vegetarian or flexitarian then here's a challenge -
Will you to consider giving up cheese, or at least, cutting back on the amount you are currently eating?
So let's see if there is something below that will start you thinking or lead to more research and education.
1. The dairy industry is, sadly, one of the biggest polluters of the environment... that and cattle.
As the need for dairy products increases worldwide, the number of cows being milked also has to go up. Currently there are 264 million dairy cows, producing nearly 600 million tonnes of milk every year. This is a staggering amount as you can add on the beef cattle which is around 971.482 million. That's an awful lot of bovine that have to be fed and watered.

So, not only is there a drain on the water, destruction of rain forests for feed for these animals, but there is also the waste and the amount of methane that each cow produces... daily!
Unfortunately water can be contaminated due to leakages of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus either directly into the stream/river or through the water table which then can pollute waterways further down the line making them very toxic.
Even when farmers are careful and are environmentally conscious, the sheer number of dairy cows just makes it all too much of a losing battle.
2. Then there is the actual method of getting a cow to give her milk. This comes under the cruelty label as the calves anywhere from just born to 3 or 4 days old are taken away from their mothers. It is heart-wrenching to hear the plaintive cries of both mother and baby. The male calves are killed as they are of little use to the farmer and the females are kept to replenish the herd. A cow is kept pregnant and lactating constantly until around 5 years by which time they are so spent they are just sent off to slaughter.
3. On a different note - cheese is as addictive as sugar. Yes, it's been scientifically proven. So if you think you really can't go without cheese, now you know why. Also, unless your ancestors are from Europe where a genetic mutation spread that gave people the ability to produce lactase and drink milk (only about 35% of humans have this gene), then dairy is NOT good for your health no matter what the dairy industry spin doctors tell you.

So how do you give up cheese? Start slowly.
Make a list of the cheeses you really love - e.g. Edam, Brie, Feta then pick one, e.g. Feta, and go online and search for "make Vegan Feta cheese" - you must use the word vegan.
You will get a number of recipes back... some are made from tofu, others from nuts... check them out. You may have to make a couple of different ones to find one that really appeals to your palate.
Once you've got used to the plant based Feta - go try another one.

Source:    

The Toxic Metal - Aluminium

Aluminium is the third most common element on earth and exposure is from industrial and household uses. Aluminium sulphate is used as an additive in public water to clarify the water, when combined with fluoride it becomes very toxic and causes brain cell death.

Foods have a natural amount of aluminium in them. The ones that are mostly acidic such as, tomatoes, cranberries, rhubarb, apricots, cabbage and apples. It's also found in processed cheese, teas, herbs, spices and commercial salt. Food can absorb aluminium, from utensils, cans, foil, saucepans and containers. Baking or cooking foods in aluminium especially meat, leaches the aluminium out of the foil and into the food. It can also be found in deodorants and dye-fixing chemicals used in tanning. Aluminium in the 1970's was discovered to cause hallucinations, jerky muscles and dementia in dialysis patients where tap water was used for the dialysis. Aluminium is also a neurotoxin where it can enter the brain and nervous system and travel along the nerves to the spinal cord. Aluminium also has the ability to increase the destructive power of other types of metals in our body that we need for normal function that are otherwise not toxic to us unless it's in high doses, such as chromium and iron. Aluminium also affects myelin that surrounds the nerve sheath and therefore has an effect on people with multiple sclerosis.

Tea contains high levels of aluminium. When you squeeze lemon in your tea it increases the absorption of aluminium. The same goes for hot water with aluminium and fluoride and squeezing lemon in it. When drinking water always make sure it has been filtered well where the metals and fluoride are removed. Kegs that the beer is stored are aluminium; beer naturally also contains aluminium and is acidic so it readily leeches the aluminium out of the kegs into the beers. One important thing to remember is that acidic fruit and vegetables leech aluminium so be careful what you combine your fruit and vegetables with; for example cooking a fish in aluminium with chunks of lemon.

Aluminium has been linked with many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and ALS. Low levels of magnesium and calcium intake increases the absorption of aluminium and iron from the gut, which allows it to enter the brain. As with all other metal toxicities it has an effect on the nervous system and decreases the antioxidants network system within the body and causes cell death. To detoxify from aluminium you must first of all get rid of any aluminium you're exposed to such as cooking and eating as mentioned above, also processed foods containing glutamate such as MSG, hydrolysed vegetable proteins, soy protein extract, protein isolate as glutamine binds with the aluminium and increases its absorption. Also increase your antioxidants to combat metal toxicities.

Source:

Is Bottled Water Truly Safe?

Fact: Drinking Water is Healthy.  Drinking from Plastic Bottles is Not.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, or the NRDC, have made a four-year study on the bottled water industry and the safety of their products. It turned out that there is no safety assurance in drinking from your bottled water, and there is no clear proof that it is cleaner than tap water. Studies have shown that an estimated 25% of commercially-produced bottled water is simply - your tap water in a plastic bottle.
People have been lured by the convenience of these plastic bottles, which is truly handy when it comes to traveling to work, to school, or even to the outback.  Research has found that the majority of people loves drinking from plastic bottles out of the need for better-tasting water and a belief that it is healthier than tap.
Fact: Water is NOT toxic, but the materials used on your plastic bottles ARE!
Bottled water looks harmless and pure, especially in clear plastic. The very image of it can evoke the feelings of drinking from a mountain stream after a day of walking in the midst of a desert heat. There is still an ongoing debate on the health risk posed by drinking from plastics, and it has something to do with chemical leaks. Those who have a weak immune system like infants, elderly people, and patients suffering critical conditions are at higher risks.  For this reason, a campaign against chemical leach is being waged and proposed for the FDA to reconsider.
Bisphenol A: The Unseen and Controversial Plastic Danger

Many health specialists in the public sector have growing concerns over the use of Bisphenol A or BPA in hard, clear, polycarbonate plastics. There is a call to make plastic products BPA-free, especially when they made up everything that we see in our homes - from baby bottles, food containers, to that over-hyped bottle where we drink our waters.
What's very alarming with BPA is its tendency to mimic the body's estrogen, disrupting your healthy hormones and cells. These endocrine disrupters have been known to expose people to breast and prostate cancers, not to mention a decrease in sperm count among males.  Infants, toddlers, and kids are at greater risk of exposure. In fact, the more you reuse these harmful plastics, the more you unleash those harmful chemicals. When mothers boil their children's baby bottles, they unknowingly help the release of toxins with heat.
A recent research made by the Harvard School of Public Health have found that those who have drank water from these clear plastic bottles have a high amount of Bisphenol A in their urine - up to 69%. BPA has been invented to replace canned products that are easily corroded, giving consumers a better way of storing their food and drink. There is just a few options that people have right now when it comes to food storage.
Bisphenol A is first approved by the FDA in the early 60s. This chemical is what makes most plastics hard and clear. It was in August 2008 when a draft is released stating that these chemicals are safe to use in food storage. Canada have already banned this chemical and many other countries in the EU. Due to rising numbers of concern and a recent testimony made on June 3, 2009 by FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, the questions about BPA has been raised and a team of scientists will be having a new look on the case of Bisphenol A. There are still gaping holes in the regulations of tap and bottled water, and all we can do is to stay vigilant on matters that concerns our very health.

Bottled Water: Is it Pure Water?
The question is always a tricky one to answer, especially when many bottled water labels are misleading. Here's the truth behind your labels (source: NRDC ) :

1. Spring water with all those mountain and lake photos are made by industrial warehouse facilities, which can contain hazardous solvents that are above what EPA and FDA considered as standard.
2. Be wary of bottled waters with false therapeutic claims that are not regulated or approved by the FDA. Imported bottled waters are beyond local safety inspection, so double your precaution. 
3. Bottled water and tap water are both inconsistent in quality. Whereas, tap water is inspected by certified government labs, bottled water is less monitored.
4. There are documented lists and reports of contaminants found in bottled water, which means that they're not as safe as you believe them to be. In fact, an outbreak of cholera in 1994 that happened in Saipan, a U.S. territory, has been linked to bottled water consumption.
5. Smart people will tell you that you are what you drink and eat. Yet, smarter folks will question the quality of what the food and water they take. Pure water comes with a pH level of 6.8-7.2. Lower than that means putting yourself at risk for diseases caused by acidity.

Beverages pH Test Results:

( Source: Beverage Test, July 2008 in California, using a calibrated pinpoint combo ORP meter )

• Coke = 2.8 pH Level ( Acidic )                                             
  
• Pepsi = 3.2 pH Level
• Vitamin-Enriched Water = 3.34 pH Level
• Propel Fitness Water = 3.6 pH Level
• Distilled Water = 5.8-6.5 pH Level
• Reverse Osmosis Water = 5.5-6.3 pH Level
• Ionized Water = 8.5-9.5 pH Level ( Healthiest )

Facts about Bottled Water: You Have the Right to Know

Over 45 million plastic water bottles a year end up in the trash and 90% end up in landfills.  250 million barrels of oil per year are used to produce plastic bottles. These bottles can leach dioxin, a known carcinogen, into the water, adding to toxic environmental waste.
Water is Life - the saying goes, and if you do not have access to clean, pure water, then, you are maimed for life. The saying health is wealth is an old cliche and it means having a healthy body to live life to the max. Would you drink poison if you know it's toxic for you? The same principle goes with your water.


Love Water... Without Plastic Bottles!

Source: