healthyethical

Fat-Burning Beverage

2007-12-17T03:41:00.000-08:00

Fat-Burning Beverage
By Kelley Herring
Looking to slim down? Try adding this fat-burning beverage to your daily repertoire.
Green tea has long been praised for its antioxidant benefits. New research shows it has thermogenic - or fat-burning - attributes, as well.
Researchers believe that green tea works its fat-melting magic due to a unique interaction between two compounds - caffeine and catechins. These two substances work together to help the body release noradrenaline (NA), a chemical neurotransmitter that boosts the metabolism and helps burn more calories.
Kick up your body's fat-burning furnace (and get powerful antioxidants, too!) by enjoying green tea. To get the maximum benefit, steep at least two minutes.
[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the founder and CEO of Healing Gourmet and the author of the new e-book, Guilt-Free Desserts: 20 All-Natural, Fail-Proof, Low-Glycemic Desserts Just in Time for the Holidays. Learn more about how simple lifestyle choices can improve your health by reading ETR's free natural health e-letter.]

from www.earlytorise.com

Processed Meats Declared Too Dangerous for Human Consumption

2007-12-10T01:39:00.000-08:00

For committed meat-eaters this report will probably be dismissed as humbug, and won't be enough to put them off their tasty morsels, but for me, its another reason to stay veggie!

Processed Meats Declared Too Dangerous for Human Consumption
By Mike Adams
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has just completed a detailed review of more than 7,000 clinical studies covering links between diet and cancer. Its conclusion is rocking the health world with startling bluntness: Processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption. Consumers should stop buying and eating all processed meat products for the rest of their lives.
Processed meats include bacon, sausage, hot dogs, sandwich meat, packaged ham, pepperoni, salami and virtually all red meat used in frozen prepared meals. They are usually manufactured with a carcinogenic ingredient known as sodium nitrite. This is used as a color fixer by meat companies to turn packaged meats a bright red color so they look fresh. Unfortunately, sodium nitrite also results in the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines in the human body. And this leads to a sharp increase in cancer risk for those who eat them.
A 2005 University of Hawaii study found that processed meats increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by 67 percent. Another study revealed that every 50 grams of processed meat consumed daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 50 percent. These are alarming numbers. Note that these cancer risks do not come from eating fresh, non-processed meats. They only appear in people who regularly consume processed meat products containing sodium nitrite.
Sodium nitrite appears predominantly in red meat products (you won't find it in chicken or fish products). Here's a short list of food items to check carefully for sodium nitrite and monosodium glutamate (MSG), another dangerous additive:
Beef jerky
Bacon
Sausage
Hot dogs
Sandwich meat
Frozen pizza with meat
Canned soups with meat
Frozen meals with meat
Ravioli and meat pasta foods
Kid's meals containing red meat
Sandwich meat used at popular restaurants
Nearly all red meats sold at public schools, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and theme parks
If sodium nitrite is so dangerous to humans, why do the FDA and USDA continue to allow this cancer-causing chemical to be used? The answer, of course, is that food industry interests now dominate the actions by U.S. government regulators. The USDA, for example, tried to ban sodium nitrite in the late 1970's but was overridden by the meat industry. It insisted the chemical was safe and accused the USDA of trying to "ban bacon." Today, the corporations that dominate American food and agricultural interests hold tremendous influence over the FDA and USDA. Consumers are offered no real protection from dangerous chemicals intentionally added to foods, medicines and personal care products.
You can protect yourself and your family from the dangers of processed meats by following a few simple rules:
Always read ingredient labels.
Don't buy anything made with sodium nitrite or monosodium glutamate.
Don't eat red meats served by restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels or other institutions.
And finally, eat more fresh produce with every meal. There is evidence that natural vitamin C found in citrus fruits and exotic berries (like camu camu) helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines, protecting you from the devastating health effects of sodium nitrite in processed meats. The best defense, of course, is to avoid eating processed meats altogether.
[Ed. Note: Mike Adams, the Health Ranger - a leading authority on healthy living -- is on a mission: to explore, uncover and share the truth about harmful foods and beverages, prescription drugs, medical practices and the dishonest marketing practices that drive these industries.]
support@totalhealthbreakthroughs.com.

Dangers of non-organic production

2007-12-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

I came across this information while researching nuts, but the dangers of the chemicals are relevant to all types of agricultural production, and the effects on humanity, wildlife and the environment

Dangers of Non-Organic Nut production
Many pesticides abound in the non-organic production of nuts. Here are a few examples:
...
Atrazine is a herbicide used throughout the world for a varied range of uses including macadamia nut production. This environmental contaminant is regularly found in rain, surface, marine, and ground water and has been found in well water in the American Midwest. It is known to harm aquatic organisms like fish and frogs. There is some evidence that it may have a negative impact on human reproduction.
...
Cyfluthrin, which has been used for decades on nuts, is known to be highly toxic to marine and freshwater organisms.
...
Endosulfan is banned in many countries but legal in the United States and India, where it is used in cashew production. This pesticide presents health risks to farm workers and to those living near where the chemical is used. In December 2003, studies showed a link between endosulfan exposure and delayed sexual maturation in boys in India. Animal studies indicate that the pesticide attacks the central nervous system, and can cause damage to the kidneys, testes, and liver. It is highly toxic to animals and fish as well.
...
Methyl Bromide. Once harvested, nuts are often fumigated with methyl bromide, a toxic pesticide. While methyl bromide probably won’t cause any harm to you when you eat nuts or other treated crops, it is quite dangerous for the farm workers who use it. Also, it is such a large factor in ozone depletion that the countries around the world are phasing out its use.
...
Phosmet, used on pistachios, as well as apples and peaches, is highly toxic to honey bees.
http://www.naturalhealthcourses.com/Reading_Room/Go_Nuts.htm

Turn on to turmeric

2007-12-04T02:38:00.000-08:00

Tasty is good, as detailed in yesterday's blog, and the benefits of tasty turmeric are highlighted in the following article.

Power Up Your Memory
By Dr. Jonny Bowden
As we've reported in ETR, turmeric has many health benefits, including the ability to reduce the pain and stiffness of arthritis. But you can also use this spice to power up your memory.
Turmeric is what gives curry its yellow color. Its reputation as a super-spice is largely because of its anti-cancer properties and because it is such a powerful anti-inflammatory. But it also helps protect the brain. Scientists investigating Alzheimer's got interested in it because rates of this disease are so low in India, where curry is a staple. And they have pinpointed a compound in turmeric called curcumin, which has been proven to help prevent mental decline in laboratory animals.
So start adding turmeric to your food. It tastes great in scrambled eggs and in marinades for chicken, and is a great flavoring for bean dishes.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Jonny Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition, and health. He's a board certified nutritionist with a master's degree in psychology, and the author of the best-selling book, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. For more information, go to www.jonnybowden.com. To read more of his articles on healthy living in ETR's natural health e-letter, click here.]

Fantastic flavours and great grapes

2007-12-03T01:18:00.000-08:00

According to a couple of reports, strong flavours (yummy good news) and grapes (got to remember to buy!) could help protect against disease and help you lose weight. So happy tasty fruity eating!

More Flavors, More Protection
By Kelley Herring
The sharp bite of red onion. The finish of your favorite Pinot Noir. The astringency of your cup of green tea. All three have something in common: flavonoids.
The health benefits of this vast group of compounds has been the subject of extensive studies. The results? Most studies show a significant inverse link between flavonoid consumption and the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
There are many ways in which flavonoids work their tasty magic. They:
Halt the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol
Reduce the potential for a dangerous blood clot
Improve the function of red blood cells
Help reduce inflammation
So don't shy away from potent flavors. In general, the stronger the flavor, the more flavonoids a food contains... and the more protection it offers.
[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the founder and CEO of Healing Gourmet and the author of the new e-book, Guilt-Free Desserts: 20 All-Natural, Fail-Proof, Low-Glycemic Desserts Just in Time for the Holidays Learn more about how simple lifestyle choices can improve your health by reading ETR's free natural health e-letter.]

Weight Loss: Antioxidants May Stop Fat Cell Formation
By Dr. Jonny Bowden
Top
New research from Taiwan suggests that antioxidants put a halt to fat cell formation, at least in a laboratory.
In the study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 15 phenolic acids and six flavonoids were exposed to mouse cells. Phenolic acids and flavonoids are classes of potent plant chemicals that exert multiple health benefits as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. The researchers wanted to see if these antioxidants would have an affect on the formation of triglycerides, the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and in the body.
Sure enough, they did. Two antioxidants in particular, o-coumaric acid and rutin, were found to inhibit the creation of triglycerides by 61 percent and 83 percent, respectively. Not only that, these same two antioxidants also increased the levels of a protein called adinopectin. This protein has been found to have protective effects against atherosclerosis and, even more to the point, helps cells become more sensitive to insulin. Insulin insensitivity is a huge factor in diabetes, metabolic syndrome and often in obesity.
Coumaric acid is just one of many bioactive compounds found in such foods as grapes. Look for dark varieties with thick skins. Also, try eating them seeds and all. It's an acquired taste, I know. But the seeds are an extraordinary source of nutritional phytochemicals, so much so that grape seed extract is sold as a powerful nutritional supplement. You'll get used to it, and it's totally worth the effort. I don't even notice the seeds anymore when I chew on some grapes.
Rutin is found in buckwheat seeds, fruits and fruit rinds, especially the citrus fruits. Again, that white stuff that we throw away that surrounds the orange and grapefruit is a nutritional bonanza. Eat as much of it as possible when eating the fruit, or throw the whole thing (with as much of the rind as you like) into a juicer to get the maximum value.
[Ed. note: Dr. Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition and health. He's a board certified nutrition specialist with a Master's degree in psychology. Dr. Bowden is also a life coach, motivational speaker, former personal trainer and author of the award-winning book, Living the Low Carb Life. For more information, click here.]

Dried Fruit

2007-11-29T03:55:00.000-08:00

As you know by now, I like my healthy food, tasty food and bargains. However, it's usually difficult to find a food that fits into all these categories, as healthy food is often bland and expensive, and tasty food is often unhealthy.

However, on a recent visit to Morrisons I found Athena's Mixed Dried Fruit, which looked healthy, but at 500g for only 65p I thought it wouldn't be very good quality.

But lo and behold, upon tasting I found it to be mmmhmm, totally delicious, and a great between meals snack.

So, my free advertising of this product may help push prices up, but I just had to tell you, so try not to overdo it...and leave some for me!

Brain food conclusion

2007-11-28T09:51:00.000-08:00

Summary of feeding your brain:

Boost your brainpower by feeding your brain 'brain foods'. Here are 4 tips for an intelligent diet:
1. Balance your glucose - it provides fuel for your brain. Try to eat carbohydrate foods in the evening as it promotes relaxation and sleep.
2. Eat essential fats - ensure your diet is rich in omega-3 fats found in oily fish.
3. Include plenty of protein rich foods in your diet. Proteins are essential to make neurotransmitters which are vital for the thinking process. Try to eat a protein based lunch to optimise your mental performance and alertness throughout the day.
4. Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals to 'fine tune' your mind.
5. Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day to keep your brain well hydrated.
6. Oxygenate your brain by exercising and eating little and often. Eat your main meal before 7pm.
http://www.thethinkingbusiness.co.uk/brainfoods.htm

You think what you eat?

2007-11-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, when you hear people talk about 'brain foods' you kind of wonder if they are just trying to sell their product...the new wonder food that's going to make them a few bucks!

But when you read it scientifically, it kind of begins to make sense:

Thinking is a biochemical process. For brain cells to communicate effectively with each other to create neural pathways, they require chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the 'messengers' carrying messages from neuron to neuron.

Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids found in protein foods e.g., eggs, meat, fish and cheese.
Vitamins and minerals are needed to convert ordinary amino acids into these powerful neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters are found in the food we eat, hence why some foods are called 'brain foods'.

The three key neurotransmitters are:

1. Acetylcholine (ACh). This neurotransmitter excites other neurons and may be responsible for memory.
It is involved with voluntary movement of muscles, behavioural inhibition, drinking and memory.
People with Alzheimer's memory loss may have less ACh or ACh that is blocked.
Acetylcholine rich foods include:
egg yolks, peanuts, wheat germ, liver, meat, fish, milk, cheese and vegetables (especially broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower)

2. Dopamine generally excites and is involved in movement, attention and learning but is also inhibitory.
It is involved with voluntary movement, emotional arousal.
Schizophrenia is associated with excess dopamine.
People with Parkinson's disease may have less or damaged dopamine causing tremors, loss of balance etc. The drug "L-Dopa" may be given to increase the level of dopamine.
Dopamine rich foods include:
all proteins (meat, milk products, fish, beans, nuts, soy products).
3-4ounces of protein will help you to feel energized, more alert and more assertive.

3. Serotonin (or 5-HT) usually inhibits and is involved in arousal and sleep, mood, appetite and sensitivity. However, it is also excitatory and is part of the brain's reward system producing feelings of pleasure.
People who suffer from clinical depression may have too little serotonin active in synapses so they may benefit from taking a Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitor(SSRI) e.g., Prozac to extend the serotonin activity.
Serotonin rich foods are carbohydrate based e.g., pasta, starchy vegetables, potatoes, cereals, breads.

The source, http://www.thethinkingbusiness.co.uk/brainfoods.htm, also talks about fatty foods, vitamins and minerals, and water being essential for good brain function, so check it out if you want, or this blog will come back to them later.

Ten minute workout

2007-11-26T09:01:00.000-08:00

Just got home and no time to workout? Don't tell the good people at Turbulence Training, because they won't accept it. Oh no, this is what they have to say on the matter:

No one is too busy for a workout. But I hear that all the time from friends. All it takes is 10 minutes. So here's my gift to you: 10-minute Workouts You Can Do At Home:

Prisoner Squats
Pushups
Pullups or Inverted Bodyweight Rows

Find out how to do all of these exercises with proper form at http://www.turbulencetraining.com/

Antioxidants

2007-11-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Don't know about you, but I was hearing this and that was a good antioxidant, and while I was learning what were good antioxidants I didn't have a clue what they were actually doing. Anyway, if you are in the same situation, here's a good definition:

In the body, nutrients such as beta-carotene (a vitamin A precursor), vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium have been found to act as antioxidants.

They act by scavenging free radicals, molecules with one or more unpaired electrons, which rapidly react with other molecules, starting chain reactions in a process called oxidation.

Free radicals are a normal product of metabolism; the body produces its own antioxidants (e.g., the enzyme superoxide dismutase) to keep them in balance. However, stress, aging, and environmental sources such as polluted air and cigarette smoke can add to the number of free radicals in the body, creating an imbalance.

The highly reactive free radicals can damage healthy DNA and have been linked to changes that accompany aging (such as age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older people) and with disease processes that lead to cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Studies have suggested that the antioxidants that occur naturally in fresh fruits and vegetables have a protective effect. For example, vitamin E and beta-carotene appear to protect cell membranes; vitamin C removes free radicals from inside the cell.

There is still some question as to whether antioxidants in the form of dietary supplements counteract the effects of increased numbers of free radicals in the body. Some scientists believe that regular consumption of such supplements interferes with the body's own production of antioxidants.

This was taken from http://www.ifr.ac.uk/EUROFEDA/definition.html , which borrowed it from www.encyclopedia.com

Is organic worth the extra money?

2007-11-24T03:35:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, organic foods usually cost a bit more in the UK now, and this often puts people off buying it; I even get put off occasionally, if I see a tasty little 2 for 1 offer on non-organic...but usually I can resist the temptation.

I tell myself that even though some products seem cheaper non-organically, you are still getting better value in goodness per £ buying organic, because there is more nutrients in something smaller and organic than a similar food that's in a bigger package but non-organic, i.e. 4 litres of organic milk may cost the same as 6 litres of non-organic, and not provide as much milk, but there will be more nutrients in the organic. Evidence to support this theory is contained on the following web-site:

http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/whyorganic/whyorganic.htm

Benefits of sunshine

2007-11-23T01:40:00.000-08:00

This morning the sun is shining brightly in a cloudless sky for the first time of the week. Although that means a cold day for us up north at this time of year, it is nevertheless a tonic to see some blue sky and sunshine.

Not only does it look nice, but it can actually affect your chemistry beneficially, as the BBC website explains: Sunlight also stimulates the pineal gland - a tiny pea-sized organ found in the base of the brain. Sometimes known as ‘the third eye’, the pineal gland produces certain types of chemicals called 'tryptamines'. One type of tryptamine, melatonin, keeps our body clock aware of night and day and the changing seasons.

Scientists also believe sunlight may help fight the following medical problems:
breast
colon
ovary
bladder
womb
stomach
prostate gland,
as well as providing us with our main source of vitamin D.

However, overexposure can cause skin cancer, so its best not to overdo it, although at this time of year in the UK, it would be hard to do that naturally.

More info at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/sunshine/benefits.shtml

Iron Man and Woman

2007-11-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

Are you getting enough iron? Well, as a veggie its of most concern, but there's no need to worry, as there are plenty of sources, such as nuts, lentils, chick peas, wholemeal bread, seeds, apricots, and particularly spinach.

Moreover, by eating vitamin C and other organic/citric acids with your iron source you can help your body to absorb the iron, as the vegan society explain on their website:

The absorption of iron from plant foods is improved by the presence in a meal of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), other organic acids such as malic acid (e.g. in pumpkins, plums and apples) and citric acid (in citrus fruits). Laboratory research in which experimental meals were given to 299 volunteers has shown that the inclusion of foods (such as fresh salad, orange juice or cauliflower) providing 70-105mg of vitamin C in each meal increased the absorption of iron. A particularly pronounced effect was seen when 4.5oz cauliflower containing 60mg of vitamin C was added to vegetarian meals, causing more than three-fold increase in iron absorption.
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/iron.php

Pumpkins are good, seeds too

2007-11-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

Americans are enjoying thanksgiving this weekend, and pumpkin pies are one of their traditional foods for the holiday. Although it hasn't got a great reputation for taste, pumpkin pie and other squash foods, and the seeds, pepitas are very good for you. You can get the seeds in nice little packets from shops of course, but they can also be eaten straight from squashes and pumpkins.

Good seasonal food in the northern hemisphere, and cheap as well: I know because I bought a squash for the first time the other day. Didn't really know what to do with it until I googled squash and squash seeds, and had difficulty cutting the fruit (yes, its fruit) out, but got there in the end, and fried it up nicely with a load of other veg and spices. Delicious.

healthy and ethical eating and living are fun

2007-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

It can seem like healthy and ethical living is boring when you don't do it, as you're used to another way of life, and jogging and lettuce in winter aren't too appetising.

But once you get into the flow of life in the streamline lane it can be just as fun as all those calories and couch binging.

Shopping for healthy foods, new recipes to make it interesting, new spices to make the recipes interesting, yes, you get it, it makes life interesting, not boring.

And as for running and working out, well, the BBC News was just telling us this morning that more and more people are getting into exercising outside, so they can enjoy the beautiful weather we're having (well, not quite!). Yep, instead of seven hours in front of the box on a night after work why not just do five or six, and get out to see some lovely nature while its still there!