Archive for June 19th, 2009

10 Healthy Foods That Protect Your Body Against Chronic Diseases

Eating healthy foods is a way that you can live healthy. Your daily life will become more enjoyable and regulated.

By committing to eating healthy foods, you can feel better, stay physically fit, and reduce your risk of many chronic diseases including diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain cancers. Becoming educated and smart is an essential for you to become a healthy eater.

Here are 10 ‘life extending’ foods that will help you to protect against chronic diseases:

1. Apple

Like many fruits, apple contains vitamin C as well as a host of other antioxidant compounds, which may reduce the risk of cancer by preventing DNA damage. While less fiber content than in most other fruits, apple is useful to lose weight, and controlling cholesterol. In fact, eating 2 large apples a day has lowered cholesterol levels by up to 16%. Research also suggests that apple may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer.

2. Avocado

Avocado is a good source of vitamin A and potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Sufficient intake of potassium can help to protect against circulatory diseases, such as stroke, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Besides that, Avocado has been used traditionally to help people with sexual problems, also great antioxidant and can be used for skin disorders.

3. Blueberry

Blueberry is high in antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, C, and E. It is also a good source of dietary fiber. Because a natural and rich source of antioxidants, blueberry is known to have great health benefits. Blueberry is helpful to improve your eyesight and prevent age related loss of vision, lower LDL cholesterol (a cause for stroke and cardiovascular heart disease), and keep your urinary tract healthy by stopping bacteria from lining your bladder walls. In fact, several researches indicate blueberry has potential effects of anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. It also prevent onset of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

4. Garlic

Garlic contains strong anti viral and anti bacterial that useful to fight common flu and colds. It is high in vitamin B6 and C. Garlic in normal consumption is also helpful to guard against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

5. Oats

Oats have a high Vitamin B1 content, which is needed by the body for carbohydrate metabolism. Oats contain a high percentage of desirable complex carbohydrates, which have been linked to: reduced risk of prostate, colon, and breast cancer; better management of diabetes; and fewer bowel problems such as constipation. Oats are naturally low in fat. Researchers agree that nearly everyone, men and women of all ages and races, benefits from eating a low-fat diet.

Eating oat regularly will lower your blood cholesterol level. It’s a natural antidepressant, will make you feel calmer and normally used to treat depression, anxiety and nervous disorder. That is why you are encouraged to buy and eat oats if you’re feeling sad.

6. Oily fish

Fish is one the world’s healthiest foods, including oily fish that contains Omega-3 fatty acids, very useful to protect against stroke, arthritis, psoriasis, heart disease, and also a host of health anxieties from obesity to sunburns.

7. Olive oil

The greatest example of monounsaturated fat is olive oil, and it is a prime component of the Mediterranean Diet. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit. Studies have shown that olive oil is helpful to protect against heart disease by controlling LDL cholesterol levels while raising HDL levels. Including olive oil in your diet may also useful to reduce the risk of colon cancer.

8. Spinach.

The health benefits of spinach are marvelous. Whether eaten fresh or frozen, the vitamins in this leafy green vegetable will benefit our bodies. Spinach contains vitamin A and K. Vitamin A is needed for healthy vision, and helps the cells in our body grow normally. When our bodies found to be lacking this vitamin, health concerns of night blindness, anemia, or celiac disease can be suffered.

Vitamin K helps bone health. It regulates blood flow (normal blood clotting) in our bodies and maintains bone health. It has also been attributed to helping post-menopausal women reduce possible bone fractures that happen with osteoporosis.

9. Tomato

Tomato is high in vitamin A, C, and cancer preventing lycopene, but low in calories. According to the National Cancer Institute, people who eat large amounts of tomatoes and tomato products have a significantly reduced risk for prostate, lung, and stomach cancer.

Tomato is also helpful in reducing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases and stroke. Other than that, tomato helps to dissolve animal fat in foods such as in eggs, cheese, butter, beef, pork, and many deep-fried foods, thereby preventing hardening of the arteries.

10. Tree nuts

Tree nuts are a rich source of unsaturated fats that have important health attributes, while high in total fat. Nuts are a good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated oil and antioxidant-rich, bone-strengthening magnesium. In the most recent, the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers found that women who ate at least 5 ounces of nuts per week had a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease than women who rarely ate nuts. Similar findings have been seen in men.



By: Gree Lya

About the Author:

Gree Lya features about healthy diet, tips, menu, plans, and recipes. Get free information about diet at diet-wayout.blogspot.com. Reach your diet goals through a healthy way.



 

A Healthy Lifestyle is Man’s Best Choice

 

Building a healthy lifestyle is a cornerstone to living a full life. Living a healthy lifestyle is more than just cutting calories to lose weight or taking the stairs. A healthy lifestyle is one based on maintaining physical, social and spiritual well being. Remember, a healthy lifestyle is about balance, calculated choices and motivation. A key component to living a healthy lifestyle is exercising on a regular basis.

Exercise

Over the years, research has shown us that diet and exercise play an important role in the prevention of heart disease. Before developing an exercise plan, discuss with your health care team what exercises, if any, would be good for you. Exercise can be fun and the best way to make sure it’s habitual is to incorporate an activity you enjoy into your lifestyle, such as a favorite sport or a nice walk. Regular exercise that makes you sweat is important for detoxification and improving general health.

Physical aerobic exercise is critically important, because it gets oxygen, sugar (as glucose), and nutrients to the brain. Eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups Drink plenty of water Exercise 30 minutes or more most days of the week. Whatever kind of exercise and nutrition plans you opt for, do not become discouraged if the pounds refuse to drop off right away.

Work On Your Fitness

If you have come to the decision that living a healthy lifestyle is what you want, then you will need to work on your fitness. Fitness gives your body the conditioning it needs and works hand in hand with a healthy diet. Fitness keeps your weight in check, helps you sleep better at night, prevents heart attacks and strokes and generally prolongs your life. If you can work up a good sweat for 30 minutes, and hold a conversation during that time without being out of breath, you are giving your body a proper workout for cardiovascular fitness and weight loss. Those who have experienced the good health effects of being fit, however, seldom allow themselves to loose too much fitness.

Healthy Diet And Exercise

Healthy diet and exercise are the cornerstones of proper weight management. Healthy food should be eaten as close to the way nature made it as possible; and in this author’s eyes that means RAW. At the farmer’s market or vegetable stand, watch for tomatoes, green beans, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries and watermelon as all are high in anti-oxidants to keep you healthy. Cooking method is extremely important if you are eating healthily because what’s the use of choosing healthy foods then unwisely cooking them by adding excessive oil and fats.

By making healthy nutrition and exercise choices early in life, you may be able to avoid serious health problems when you are older, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Cut down on the amount of meat you eat, or consider switching to healthy vegetarian eating. Eating small snacks between meals can be a healthy way to add good nutrition and keep your energy up during the day. The key with snacks is to have healthy stuff on hand.

The Mediterranean Diet

If you’re looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating - plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine - among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Multivitamins

As you age multivitamins become especially important because multivitamins can help you maintain the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Multivitamins are the safest things that anyone can take and are even safer than drinking coffee, an expert panel has discovered. Multivitamins are an easy way for Americans to garner the vitamins and minerals they need every day to better their health, and general well being. While multivitamins can be a valuable tool to correct dietary imbalances, it is worth exercising basic caution before taking them, especially if any medical conditions exist. Liquid multivitamins don’t have to be digested so they are absorbed within the system a lot quicker than pills. Liquid multivitamins naturally go down easy and are available in a variety of flavors (children enjoy this aspect).

Conclusion

Man health issues need to be taken seriously. Living a healthy lifestyle is not an impossible goal. Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the best choices you can ever make and those who have and continue to do, never regret it.



By: Paul Rodgers

About the Author:

Man health issues need to be taken seriously. Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the best choices you can ever make and those who have and continue to do, never regret it. Find out more about A Healthy Lifestyle is Man’s Best Choice

Paul Rodgers specializes in marketing natural health and beauty products