Your Health Center

Aside from acai berries, flax seeds and sprouts, other little known super foods include:

Beets

Beets have antioxidants called flavenoids and carotenoids which help reduce the risk of heart ailments. They are also naturally low in calories so you don’t need to worry about putting on extra weight. Beets are also very good for pregnant and lactating mothers because of its folic acid content which can help babies develop strong spinal cords. Beetroot juice also provides silica which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis by allowing calcium to be used by the body properly.

Sesame Seeds

These seeds are rich sources of B Vitamins, Vitamins A and E, zinc, calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, potassium, iron, copper and magnesium. Its many health benefits include helping blood circulation, promoting bowel and joint lubrication and lowering blood pressure.

Grape Tomatoes

We all know what tomatoes are but some of us may not have encountered grape tomatoes yet. These are actually hybrid tomatoes that are as small as olives and grapes. Tomatoes in general are good sources of Vitamin C, potassium, and beta carotene which can give you healthier skin and a stronger immune system. Tomatoes are also known for their lycopene content which can reduce the risk on prostate and lung cancer. Grape tomatoes basically offer similar health benefits as other kinds of tomatoes but these bite size versions have lower water content and are sweeter and tastier than other tomatoes which makes them perfect fruit snacks.

If there are power foods there are also foods known as super foods. These foods are so dense with vitamins and minerals that they can effectively fight disease by destroying free radicals. Common super foods include beans, tomatoes, broccoli, green tea, oranges and spinach. There are however, lesser known super foods that are equally rich in antioxidants.

Acai Berries

These are small black berries that grow in the Brazilian rainforest. These berries are rich sources of oleic acid, linoleic acid and sterols which are instrumental in lowering bad cholesterol and maintaining good cholesterol. These berries actually contain 33% more anthocyanin than red wine grapes and more than other kind of berry. Anthocyanin is powerful antioxidant that can slow down the aging process by protecting skin connective tissues and repairing damaged protein.

Flax Seeds

These seeds are perfect sources of fatty acids for vegans. Flax seeds are rich sources of Omega-3, 6 and 9 acids and lignin which can moderate cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. The fatty acid content of flax seeds also may also help improve mental functions and prevent some types of cancer. Aside from taking care of your heart, flax seeds can also help prevent osteoporosis, asthma and diabetes. Other nutrients found in these seeds are fiber, manganese and Vitamin E.

Sprouts

There are any different kinds of sprouts that you can get from beans, radish, alfalfa, broccoli, mustard and many more. All sprouts however are richer sources of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, enzymes and trace elements than other foods. Some sprouts for example carry at least ten times more enzymes than other vegetables and fruits. Sprouts are particularly known for their ability to reduce the symptoms of menopause and prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

What other little known super foods are there?

Last time, we discovered the merits of self detoxification and choosing other options for healthy and flavorful meals. Let’s continue with other great tips.

Avoid Processed Food

If you really cannot avoid meat then choose the better kinds of meat. Processed meat including canned meat and repackaged meat usually lose much of their protein and nutrient content because of processing methods. Other packaged meats are also made of lower quality meat. Always choose fresh lean meat over processed meat. This rule should be followed for all other food items.

Drink Red Wine in Moderation

Researchers and ordinary people have often wondered why the French do not suffer as much as other westerners from cardiac diseases when their daily diet is known to be rich and fattening. Theoretically, the answer may be because they are also lovers of red wine. Red wine has antioxidant properties that help prevent blood vessel clogging by fat deposits. Having a glass of red wine to complement your rich meal may be a healthy practice.

Improve Cooking and Preparation Methods

You can have a healthier meal of lean meat if you broiled or grilled your meat instead of frying it. Meats cooked this way are lower in fat and come out as more visually appealing. If you really want to fry some meat, remove the fat before doing so and use a dripping rack to eliminate excess oil from fried meat.

It is a common belief that healthy food means the same as tasteless or bad taste. Modern culinary discoveries and guidelines however are now making it possible for anyone to enjoy delicious and tasty dishes and still remain healthy and fit. The following are some helpful tips.

Self Detoxification

Detoxification is usually a special process that will require you to ask for expert help. You can however practice and set a schedule for your own self detoxification. If you are a meat eater, set a few days in a week for you to be a vegetarian. Another alternative would be to cook your daily dishes with a mixture of lean meat pieces and vegetables. On the days that you are eating meat, make sure that you have side dishes or desert that contains vegetables and unsweetened fruits.

It will also help if you tried to discover different natural spices and herbs to enhance the taste of your food. Instead of using store bought sauces for your meat and fish, experiment with tasty and flavorful herbs and spices like parsley, cloves, rosemary and thyme.

Water is also an essential part of self detoxification. Drink as many glasses of water as you can everyday to help flush out harmful toxins from your body and to replenish your system with lost nutrients.

Choose Other Options

You can still have tasty food in other less fattening forms. Instead of eating bread made of refined flour for example, you should choose whole wheat bread instead. If you are a pasta lover, choose pasta that is made of whole meal and top it off natural tomato sauce mixed with bits of tuna instead of pork meat. Sweet smoothies can also be made more nutritious by blending fresh fruits and using natural sweeteners like fresh apple juice or pure honey.

Fish and vegetables are healthier to eat if steamed or broiled. Improve the taste of dishes like these by mixing healthy sauces made of soy and sesame oil. If you really want to fry some of your foods, avoid oils made of pork or animal oil. Use healthy oils instead like grapeseed oil, canola oil and olive oil.

What other options do we have for healthy, tasty eating?

We’ve only just begun with exploring the aphrodisiac qualities of some common foods in our previous article. This time we explore other common aphrodisiac foods.

Chocolate

This is probably everyone’s favorite sweet treat in modern times but in the time of the Aztecs, it was a known aphrodisiac even in its bitter form. It is not only its smooth suggestive texture that makes it sexually enticing. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine and caffeine which promotes the release of chemicals in the brain which bring about a sense of well being. Recent studies also show that chocolate contains antioxidants that can promote general health.

Garlic

Garlic has been known for centuries to be a helpful treatment for cold, asthma and even heart ailments. It can greatly enhance the taste of food as a common part of almost any recipe. Its smell especially when cooked in oil can effectively arouse the senses and even cause an erection in some men. Garlic also has antioxidants. Diallyl sulfides in particular help promote proper blood circulation.

Honey

No wonder “honeymoon” is called as such because honey itself is an ancient aphrodisiac. The ancient Egyptians, Vikings and Persians all used honey in different ways related to sex and romance. Honey can also increase polyphenolic antioxidants in the blood that fight free radicals and promote general health. Even without its health benefits however, the sweet taste and spreadable qualities of honey are already sexual tools in the hands of a creative lover.

Homeopathy and detoxification as previously discussed, are not the only ways to promote natural health and immunity. You can keep yourself healthy by taking note of these simple tips.

Maintaining Activity Balance

Proper blood circulation is one of the keys to good health. The blood is where oxygen is transported to the cells of the body. One can keep a good blood flow through regular exercise. Physical activity is also a good way to prevent muscle degeneration as a result of lack of use. It is therefore important to adopt a regular exercise regimen like running and swimming. Activities like these can help you both improve your blood flow and use body oxygen effectively.

It is important to note however that one must not pursue an exercise regimen obsessively to the point of exhaustion. This is also true for your other activities which include work regardless of whether it is mental or physical work. Take the time to relax and get enough sleep.

Nutrition

How often do we have to stress that it is crucial that we maintain a balanced diet? You can naturally prevent yourself from getting excess fat by keeping away from fatty and processed foods. Load up on energy giving carbohydrates by eating wheat based bread and pasta. Make unprocessed fruits and vegetables a major part of your diet. These are natural sources of antioxidants, phytochemicals and detoxifiers. A load of fresh fiber and other minerals and vitamins may be all you need to flush out your body toxins and keep your immune system in top shape.

Much attention is now being given to maintaining proper health. Some people do not just want to keep healthy; they also want to appear slimmer and better toned. This has led to excessive dieting and rigorous training programs. In reality though, we need not excessively turn to such solutions. Our bodies have natural ways and means to keep us healthy, fit and strong.

Internal Detoxification

The body has the kidneys, liver and the intestine to naturally remove all body wastes and toxins that may have been ingested through food, water and exposure to the environment. In some cases however, the level of body toxins is in such an advanced level that it is nearly impossible for our organs to function properly. In some cases, the organs may malfunction.

Instead of completely staying away from food, one can opt to undergo a detoxifying diet. This diet is not the same as normal dieting in which one has to completely shun food. A detox diet simply modifies the diet to eliminate body toxins. Depending on your needs and the recommendation of an expert, you can detoxify through juice fasting; not eating fatty foods; taking in herbs and eating more fruits, vegetables and fish.

Homeopathy

We usually drink medicine when we have a headache, a bout of diarrhea or a vomiting spell. Logic would say however that these are merely symptoms of whatever our bodies are suffering from. On another angle, this may also be seen as the body’s natural reaction and way of coping with an illness or infection. In other words, drinking conventional medicine is only a way of stopping the symptoms.

Homeopathy functions under the idea of stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanism. It involves administering small doses of all natural substances that will mimic symptoms of illness and therefore the body’s natural healing reaction to illness.

Detoxification and homeopathy are natural methods that can keep us fit and healthy. They are however, procedures that require expert assistance. There are other easier more personal ways to keep us healthy.

Aside from watching what we put inside our mouths, there are also other ways to help boost energy, stamina and mental alertness.

Sleep

Getting enough sleep is crucial to keep yourself alert everyday. You should be careful however not to fall into the trap of common sleep myths. Forcing yourself to sleep eight hours a night for example may make you even less energetic. Not everyone needs eight hours of sleep because human beings are unique from each other. You may therefore do well with just sleeping lesser hours. What is important is discovering the amount of sleep that you need and making sure that you get that amount of sleep.

Exercise

It may seem unusual that exercising can also make you feel energetic. You naturally feel tired after your regular exercise routine but in the long run, exercise can help improve your stamina. Aerobic exercises for example can help your cells breathe better by improving the oxygen supply in hard to reach body cells. Muscle exercises will also help prevent feelings of exhaustion in muscle related daily activities like lifting the groceries. Physical activities also stimulate the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural uppers.

Supplements

Aside from maintaining the right diet, you also need to take some food supplements. This is because there are some minerals like magnesium which are difficult to find in different foods. There are also some food items that may trigger allergic reactions or disorders in individuals. People with celiac disease for example cannot process the gluten in wheat foods and may even hamper the absorption of other nutrients. Supplements provide us with the energy giving vitamins and minerals that we miss in our diet. Click here to read more…

The stress of modern life often gets the best out of us. Normally, feeling tired is a sign that your body is taking more than it can bear. There are times however when our apparent lack of energy, vigor and mental alertness is a result of not being able to help the body use its full potential. There are ways for us to optimize our bodies’ energy levels for us to accomplish more each day.

Eating Right

Your lack of energy may simply be because you are dieting the wrong way or eating more junk food than anything else. In both cases you are depriving your body of natural nutrients like carbohydrates, sugar and potassium which when absent from the body can cause fatigue and loss of energy.

If you want to keep yourself energized without getting fat, eat carbohydrate rich foods that are wheat based like wheat bread, cereals and wholemeal pasta. Good sources of potassium without the extra fat include bananas, oranges and cantaloupe. Sugar is a little more dangerous to eat in excess. You may however get a healthy dose of sugar not from fattening pastries but from fruits like grapes and watermelon.

Detoxification

Detoxification plans that have been specially formulated by experts involve staying away from certain foods for a period of time. Some of these foods to avoid include meat and oil. During the period of detoxification an individual will be asked to eat fruits and vegetables like broccoli, beans, garlic and green leafy vegetables. The idea of detoxification is to reenergize your body by flushing out body toxins from food and environmental pollution through naturally occurring foods that are rich in fiber and antioxidants.

What other methods can boost energy? Click here to read more…

We’ve considered the benefits that we can get from chocolate and alcohol. Aside from these two, coffee and tea may also have their own hidden benefits.

Coffee

We all know that drinking coffee can help us keep an elevated mood and keeps us alert. Studies suggest though that drinking a few cups of coffee a day can also help lower the risk of a variety of illnesses including type 2 diabetes, liver damage and colon cancer. Further studies are needed to conclude that coffee may even potentially reduce Parkinson’s disease. One should always remember the rule of moderation though since excessive amounts of coffee can increase blood pressure and heart rate.

Tea

Tea is perhaps the least controversial of all the food items mentioned because it has been a popular beverage for centuries. There are many different tea types, most of which have their own health benefits. Green tea however, is considered as one of the best types to take for the health. Green tea has been found to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, immune system deficiencies, infections and arthritis. Green tea contains the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate, which is the source of much of green tea’s benefits. In other studies, green tea has been proven to prevent tooth decay and weight gain.

Click here to read more on Green Tea Health Benefits