Wednesday 26 February 2014

How To Make Orange Juice, The Secret That Will Prevent Stroke

Do you enjoy orange juice? If you drink orange juice bought from a store or squeeze it yourself on one of those simple squeezers then you are cheating yourself out of some of the greatest health benefits that any juice can provide.
How To Properly Juice An Orange
You've seen the traditional orange juicers where the orange is squeezed against a raised tip with ridges. Sometimes these have a motor to ease the work of squeezing. These are terrible devices that waste most of the nutrition of the orange leaving less than 10% of it in an orange flavored sugar water.
Real orange juice uses the whole orange minus the peel. Oranges must be peeled to be properly consumed by the body, but you must peel it correctly by taking only the orange part. The peel contains an indigestible aromatic oil that you want to avoid taking in because your body cannot digest it. On the other hand, just below the skin is a white pith that is perhaps the most nutritious part of the orange. After peeling only the surface orange color off, the orange can then be run through a regular juicer.
The Secret To Getting Juice Power From Oranges
The white under the skin is called the pith, it contains a lot of bioflavonoids and it strengthens the capillaries throughout your body and especially in the brain and thus helps avoid stroke. Also important is the other nutrients in oranges help reduce blood pressure thus providing further protection against stoke and brain hemorrhage. Leaving the pith on while juicing is the big secret for getting maximum nutrition from oranges.
Oranges are high in vitamin C and this provides great antioxidant properties which help boost your immune system and protect against cancer. They also protect against asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis
Oranges have over 170 different phytonutrients along with more than 60 flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and blood clot inhibiting properties, and work with the vitamin C to create a strong antioxidant effect.
Limonoids are also present in oranges and along with the vitamin C help fight cancer of the lung, colon, breast, mouth, and stomach. Oranges are powerhouses of nutrition if you juice them correctly.
Real Orange Juice
As you can see not all orange juice is worthy of being called orange juice. It must be made from the whole fruit to provide the protection and nutrition that it is capable of.
This orange juice recipe is very simple, 4 medium sized oranges peeling the orange skin off, remember to leave as much of the white membranes or pith as possible as it contains the stoke preventative nutrition. Then just drop them in your juicer and let it rip.
- Michael Griffin

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Bearded Dragon Diets - Three Important Things To Remember

One of the most vital parts of giving proper care to a bearded dragon is ensuring that it is getting enough nourishment through proper diet. Here are some of the tips that you can consider to make sure that your beardie is eating the right foods that will make them healthy:
1. Insects and animals - pet reptiles love to eat insects and animals. Some of the great selections of insects for your pet bearded dragon are the following:
  • Crickets - it is advisable to give hatchlings some "pinhead" crickets because these are smaller and easier to chew for them. However, for adult bearded dragon, full sized crickets are best to offer. Feeder crickets contain 69% moisture, 1% ash, 21% protein, 3% carbohydrate and 6% fat. To ensure more nutritional value, it would be great if you will throw away some fruits or vegetables for these crickets to eat before actually serving them to your pet. With this your pet beardie can receive more nutrients and vitamins that their body needs. Crickets to be fed to your lizard can be bred but it is not actually a great move. You can bulk order 500 crickets online for around $21 which is a wiser choice since you do not have to go through the hard work of breeding crickets. These 500 crickets can be kept in a ventilated plastic storage bin until they are all fed to your lizard.

  • Roaches - another great food items for your bearded dragon are roaches particularly dubia. This food item for your pet contains 61% moisture, 28% protein, 2% ash, 3% carbohydrate and 6% fat. It is more expensive to feed your reptile with roaches compared with crickets because only reptile specialty stores offer these feeders roaches.

  • Mealworms and superworms - prolific mealworm is second most popular food for lizards. Mealworms contain 63% moisture, 1% ash, 19% protein, 14% fat and 3% carbohydrate. Superworms are more recommendable for larger lizards.
2. Limit the fruits intake - bearded dragon is omnivore. Sometimes, it is good to mimic diet in the wild so it would be great to give vegetables and some fruits to your bearded dragon. Some of the best fruits and vegetables for them are carrots, turnip greens, strawberries, dandelion greens, blueberries and tomatoes.
However, it is advisable to limit the percentage of these foods intake. Fruits and vegetables must only be 25% of the overall mix of foods and it must not go beyond 10 percent of the whole diet of your bearded dragon.
3. Commercial diets - giving commercial diets mixture like Rep-Cal Maintenance Formula Bearded Dragon Food (6 oz) and Zoo Med Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food (20 oz) are also advisable. These commercial diets are good for the lizard since it contains lots of the fruits and vegetables mentioned above plus great deal of nutritional supplements and vitamins.
However, there are instances wherein the beardie doesn't eat the commercial diet foods immediately so what you can do is moist it a bit or mix it with green vegetables and fruits until they get used to it.
These are some details that you should remember when it comes to the diet of your reptile It is also advisable to consult veterinarian first so you can have proper background and knowledge about your dearest pet. Giving them the right kinds of foods will help them grow healthier and active.
If you are really an enthusiastic individual and pet loving owner, you must read more details about Bearded Dragon diets. It will give you all information that you need to know about your pet.
- Christine Partington

Monday 24 February 2014

Benefits of Papaya - A Natural Fat Burning Food

Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of papaya, how to best prepare it and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from papayas - one of nature's amazing fat burning foods.
Papayas grow on a tree that is really an herb.
Eaten as a fruit, the papaya is sweet and tasty and a terrific means of getting your recommended daily portion of fruit!
There are two varieties of the papaya that most people prefer to eat. The two types are the Hawaiian papaya and the Mexican papaya. You will frequently notice the Hawaiian variety in your grocery store.
This is known as the Solo papaya, and has a shape similar to a pear, with a yellow skin tone and shiny orange or pink flesh. Mexican papayas sometimes weigh as much as 20 pounds each, which is heavier than Hawaiian papayas. They do not have as strong a flavor as the Hawaiian variety, but they are quite scrumptious.
Papaya has a flavor similar to peaches and melons mixed together - a very delicious fruit!
Fat Burning Benefits of Papaya
Papaya contains a great deal of Vitamins C and A. It is not high in calories, has no fat, has no cholesterol and is rich in potassium, fiber and folate; therefore, it is a nutritious fruit to eat daily.
The main health benefit of the papaya is to help the digestion.
The proteolytic enzyme papain found in papaya is helpful in breaking down proteins, fats and starches in the body and is also helpful in cleansing the digestive tract by eliminating unnecessary protein byproducts.
This is a bonus food to add to your fat burning diet, because this indicates that there is not as much food in your metabolism that is turning into fat. In addition, papaya is good for your whole endocrine system.
The fruit is also regarded as a nutritional powerhouse, rich in the already mentioned Vitamins A and C, folate, fiber and potassium, as well as Vitamin E, the eye-essential lutein and zeaxanthin and lycopene.
Some health researchers indicate that papaya belongs on the top three fruits' list of every person who regularly eats different types of fruit.
Compared to oranges, they have 50% more potassium and 13 times more Vitamin C, plus they have lower calories. Plus, papayas are higher in Vitamin E content than either oranges or apples.
Papaya likewise assists the body in the production of the amino acid arginine, which triggers the growth hormone that causes the rejuvenation of cells in your muscles, liver and bones. Papaya juice helps your skin to become smoother and suppler.
It is especially good for people who have light-colored complexions, and is frequently manufactured into moisturizing creams that are helpful in protecting the skin and in preventing premature aging of the skin.
You really have a powerful nutritional food when you drink pineapple juice with papayas, because pineapple juice is high in an essential enzyme called bromelain.
It is believed that papaya can decrease the chance of colon and cervical cancer.
Preparation of the Papaya
You can try eating some raw papaya slices, or slice it in cubes (approximately one cup for each portion). However, it is better to have it with a meal (such as additional fruits and foods) instead of eating it alone. The reason why is that it has beta-cryptozanthin, which the body absorbs better if you consume it with some fat.
Papaya can be mashed, or used as an ingredient in a hot and fiery salsa. For a tasty breakfast smoothie, mix it with yogurt, milk or orange juice.
Blend papaya to use as a sorbet or ice cream base. Alternatively, you can puree papaya and use it as a healthy salad dressing to mix with your salad greens.
Cut or cubed papaya is a great ingredient to add to a fruit salad: include honeydew, strawberries or other delicious fruits for a bright looking, wholesome and tasty treat!
When you want to buy a papaya, try to find fruit that has a partial or full yellow color.
It should give in a little bit when you press it, but it should not be too soft where the stem end is located. Do not purchase fruit that has bruises, cuts, mold, wrinkles or soft spots. If you don't cut a papaya, they won't have any smell. The aroma occurs after small, sweet papayas are cut open.
Place unripe, green papayas in a paper bag at room temperature in order to ripen them up. Look frequently, since the fruit will ripen fast. When they ripen up, put papayas in a plastic bag, and store in the refrigerator for approximately one week. Once the papayas are ripe, it is a good idea to eat them immediately or at least within a couple of days.
There is an enzyme known as papain that is found in the papaya. This is the reason why papaya is known for its meat tenderizing ability.
The papaya seeds are also quite edible. They have a flavor similar to pepper, and some people use the seeds as a substitute for peppercorns.
How Much To Consume
One cup of sliced papaya is equal to approximately 140 grams.
- Steve O'Connor

Sunday 23 February 2014

Food Good for Eyes - How to Make Eyesight Better With Blueberries

Ask anyone the question: What influences their food choices? and certainly, they will admit that taste is usually the first priority followed by other factors such as economics(the affordability of the foods that they eat),their emotions,health concerns and furthermore, eating habits that are hard to break away from.However,developing healthy eating habits becomes easier when our food choices enable us to consume foods that are not only tasty, but also satisfy our body's nutritional needs. When it comes to eye foods; Blueberries fall into that category. This tasty food for healthy eyes provides our visual system with a wide array of nutrients and antioxidant protection. They also serve as a nutritional form of preventative medicine from age related vision disorders like Macular Degeneration and Cataracts. Here are several benefits of Blueberries for eyes:
Lutein and Zeaxanthin: These 2 key essential nutrients in Blueberries good for eyes are closely related to antioxidants like Beta Carotene. Blueberries are like a nutritional companion to our sunglasses. After all, they protect our eyes from the negative effects of excessive sunlight that can contribute to vision loss.
According to health experts at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the daily recommended allowance for Blueberries is 10 mg. This serves as a preventative measure against eye related vision disorders. One cup of Blueberries is the equivalent of 12 mg of Lutein and Zeaxanthin; 2 antioxidants critical to safeguarding our eyes from eye disorders.
Vitamin C: This vitamin provides our eyes with protection from free radicals that damage our visual system. It also reduces the likelihood of night blindness by reducing the pressure in the eyes.
Vitamin A: Blueberries for eyes consist of Vitamin A;an essential nutrient that provides the eyes with antioxidant protection from free radicals that do have a negative impact on our eye health. At least 1 cup of Blueberries amounts to about 80 I U s of Vitamin A.
Improve the quality of your eye nutrition and you'll be able to improve the quality of your eye health as well. This applies to the fact that I cup of Blueberries consist of a Zinc content of about 24 mg. Nutritionists Phyllis A. Balch, author of the "Nutritional Reference Book", touts Zinc as a nutrient that aids in the prevention of retinal detachment. A deficiency in this particular nutrient contributes to this disorder that results in night blindness. Blueberries may aid in its prevention.
Blueberries are an important nutrient that are good for our eyes. They serve as a form of preventative medicine, reducing the risk of age related vision disorders like Macular Degeneration, Cataracts and Night Blindness. Finally, they provide the eyes with a wide range of eye promoting nutrients and antioxidants, giving our eyes a nutritional advantage in protecting and preserving our precious natural eyesight.
- Joel Travers King

Saturday 22 February 2014

7 Powerful Health Benefits of Watermelon

The health benefits of watermelon are amazing. They will do wonders for your health and wellbeing, and they taste absolutely fantastic too.
1. Packed to bursting with antioxidants.
Watermelon has been blessed by the fruit god with lycopene. It's a super powerful antioxidant that makes watermelon red. Tomato and other red fruits and vegetables are also loaded with lycopene, however recent studies show watermelon to have the highest content of them all.
2. Say goodbye to the flu.
Long thought the realm of oranges, high Vitamin C is also one of the benefits of watermelon. This has the effect of boosting the immune system and slowing the body's aging processes down.
3. Rehydrate.
One of the great health benefits of watermelon is that it's high in electrolytes and 90% water. So rather than spending money and health on sugar electrolyte drinks, grab some watermelon! It's a healthy alternative and it tastes amazing.
4. Lose weight automatically.
When one of the health benefits is that watermelon 100% fat free, it's hard not to get excited. This means you can eat as much as you want and you will not get fat. Heck, you won't even put any weight on. So not only is this bright red fruit tasty and delicious, you can have a watermelon feast and you never have to worry about the waistline.
5. Cool yourself down.
All foods are either cooling or warming foods and have a large effect on the body temperature. It's simple - eat warming foods in winter and cooling foods in summer. So that means, eat and drink watermelon to your heart's content in summer. Take it to the soccer field, take it to the beach... take it everywhere if you like.
6. Watermelon... gives you wings!
Cough cough... that is, enormous amounts of energy. It's one of the amazing health benefits of watermelon, though unfortunately you probably won't be able to fly. If you do, well you might want to keep it quiet, otherwise we will have chaos in the air as everyone eats watermelon.
7. Beats Viagra.
Recent studies have found that one of the peculiar health benefits of watermelon is that it relaxes the blood vessels. This then has an effect similar to Viagra and prevents erectile dysfunction.
As you can see, the benefits go a long way. And this was only seven. The more you study, the more you will come to regard the watermelon as a powerful elixir.
- Adam Palmer

Thursday 20 February 2014

5 Ways Lemon Water Improves Your Health and Speeds Up Weight Loss

Squeezing lemon juice from a fresh lemon into a tall glass of water each morning will work wonders to help you lose weight, detoxify your body and strengthen your immune system.
Along with helping you detoxify and cleanse your body, drinking lemon water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning helps speed up your weight loss and boost your metabolism.
Below are 5 ways in which drinking freshly squeezed lemon water every morning helps you to lose weight and maintain a healthy body.
1. By Increasing Your Energy and Enhancing Your Mood
We obtain our energy from the molecules and atoms in our food. When the positive charged ions go into your stomach and interact with negative charged ions, a reaction occurs that energizes your cells.
Lemons contain a high amount of negative charged ions which give your body energy when entering your digestive tract. Being more energetic and alert is a natural mood enhancer. Lemons also smell very good which helps to clear your mind and brighten your mood.
2. By Improving Your Digestion
Lemons are a good source of dietary fiber which helps keep your digestive tract healthy by improving your digestion and reducing your appetite. Lemons help your liver produce bile, which is essential for proper digestion, reducing constipation and heartburn.
3. By Boosting Your Immune System
Lemons are a great source of potassium and vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful immune system booster and helps your body fight colds and viruses. High stress levels from work and a demanding daily schedule weaken your immune system. Lemons keep your immune system strong which reduces the frequency of common colds and the flu.
4. By Acting As a Natural Diuretic
Lemons are a natural diuretic that flush out dangerous toxins from the liver. Your body has a natural toxin removal system that keeps you alive and healthy, lemons increase the rate at which your body removes toxins.
5. By Keeping Your Skin Clear
The vitamin C in lemons helps keep your pores clear and decreases wrinkles in your skin. Since lemons help detoxify your body and act as a natural diuretic, they help clear out waste by-products from the blood which keeps your skin clear.
Be sure to purchase Organic lemons as they are free of pesticides that can accumulate in your body. Also, stay away from bottled lemon juice as it contains preservatives and sulphates which aren't good for your health.
- Adi Cmalic

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Eat Pineapples to Strengthen Your Bones

Today, health has become one of the primary considerations of life. People are making changes in their diet to stay healthy and replace snacks with fruits and vegetables. Fruits offer you numerous health benefits and improve your metabolism too. You can even live a long life, if you include fruits in your daily diet. Pineapple is one such fruit that offers you lots of vitamins and nutrients. Listed below are some essential health benefits offered by pineapple:
Pineapple helps in strengthening weak bones. Weak bones indicate that you are not getting enough iron, and pineapple supplies many important nutrients and vitamins that are required for healthy and effective functioning of your body.
Pineapple also helps in keeping your gums healthy. If you have unhealthy gums, the condition of your teeth can also deteriorate. However, pineapple makes your gums strong.
Pineapple safeguards you from many diseases including Macular Degeneration. Macular Degeneration is a disease that affects your muscles and leads to untimely death. If you include pineapple in your daily diet, the chances of developing this disease reduce by 36%.
Eat pineapple if you have arthritis pain. It can even prevent the occurrence of this disease as it strengthens your bones by supplying a good amount of iron.
If you have a sore throat or severe bronchitis, have pineapple juice daily. Pineapple is especially good for people with heart ailments, but people with hemophilia should avoid the intake of pineapple. This is because pineapple reduces the time taken to clot the blood. Other than this, pineapple juice has been found effective in tuberculosis as it dissolves mucus and speeds up recovery from this dreaded disease.
Pineapple is available all through winters so include this fruit in your daily diet and develop immunity against many unwanted diseases. 
- Helen R. Miller