7 Surprising Benefits of Drinking Coffee

Are you a coffee lover? Do you wake up in the morning craving the smell of coffee? Have you heard many negative things said about coffees that have made you wish to quit taking it?

Every time you wake up early in the morning feeling tired and groggy, coffee could be just what your body needs to be and remain wide awake. It could energize you and clear the mind so that you can concentrate and get work done. But do you know there are other benefits of taking coffee that you didn’t know about? Here are 7 benefits of drinking coffee:

It helps in the prevention of diseases

A study done by researchers from Harvard showed that taking 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day can be a health benefit; it reduces the risk of diabetes significantly. Additionally taking 6 or more cups each day will even reduce the risk further. This study revealed that the formation of the Parkinson’s disease can be decreased by up to 80% and the risk of cancer of the colon can be reduced by 25%. The study also revealed that women who take 4 or more cups can decrease chances of getting breast cancer by up to 40%.

It gives you a better performing work out

Before any exercises at home or at the gym, you can drink a cup of coffee. This coffee will release endorphins in the body in a few minutes. The releases of these endorphins enable your body to be in a better mood and give you the urge to work out. They will increase the performance and help you work out longer and harder altogether. For better performances in you exercises, a cup of coffee will definitely take you there.

It gives you better Health

A cup of coffee has more than one thousand anti oxidants. These antioxidants are important for your health in many ways. They can lower the inflammation that is caused by arthritis and get rid of toxins which cause specific types of cancers. They also neutralize free radicals which can lead to the gaining of weight. More anti oxidants in the body make the body feel and look better both in the inside and out.

It gives you a longer life span

A study carried out by the National Cancer Institute revealed that people who take coffee often are more likely to have longer lives than those who do not. As much as the reasoning behind this theory is not clear, many scientists claim it’s because f the antioxidants found naturally in coffee.

Secondly, coffee can lower unhealthy snacking and improve exercises for its drinkers. Drinking coffee could replace smoking of cigarettes too. These things contribute to a longer life span.

It can make you smarter

Coffee does not only keep you awake, it can make you smart too. Caffeine, which is the main ingredient in coffee, is a stimulant. It is the most consumed psychoactive component in today’s world. Caffeine blocks the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter which is called adenosine. This blockage increases neuronal firing inside the brain and causes the release of other types of neurotransmitters. This leads to a net stimulant effect and improves the brain and mood.

Consumption of coffee on regular basis can also help you get over mental problems and better cognitive abilities. Studies show that coffee improves the thinking ability and gives better problem solving skills.

It is good for the liver

Studies show that the caffeine present in coffee aids the liver to regulate itself. Regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of getting liver cirrhosis, liver cancer or even liver failure. It also reduces the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis. These benefits do not extend to the other caffeinated drinks and tea.

It reduces the risk of gout

Gout is a very painful; condition that can occur to anyone at any age. It affects the joints and results to immobility for a long period of time. Consumption of coffee can reduce the pain felt and soothe this condition. Studies show that women who take coffee regularly decrease the risk of developing gout. This is because of the anti oxidants in the coffee which reduce the insulin in the body reduction of insulin bring down high uric acid levels which are the cause of gout.
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15 Reasons To Start Eating Pomegranate

If you are not redirected automatically, follow the link to 10 Healthy Dinner Recipes Under $3

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9 Foods That Take Away Your Energy

There are thieves among foods, stealing your energy and harming your health. Everything you eat has an impact on your energy levels. More specifically, eating the wrong foods can leave you feeling tired and unable to focus. If you do not want to drag through your work day, try avoiding some of these foods. We unmask some of the energy thieve- foods for you.

Depleted food

Depleted food is food that has been microwaved, worked up with chemicals or genetically altered. Sadly, that’s the bulk of many people’s diet. These things rob food of its life force and you end up eating what is called hungry food. Rather than giving energy, such food actually robs you of energy. And imagine that makes you eat even more. Every living thing, including humans, animals and plants has an energy body. When that energy is not spoiled, the food is nourishing and vitalizing. When the energy is discharged, the food steals your energy.

Turkey

Turkey is probably the most popular sleepy food out of there. The reason turkey makes you tired is because it contains tryptophan- an amino acid that relaxes your body. Of course, eating a turkey sandwich probably won’t put you to sleep, but you should control how much turkey you ingest.

High sugar candy

Sugary foods and candy can trick you into thinking they are adding energy when they are not. That is because when you first eat them; your blood sugar levels rise way up. However, your body then instinctually releases insulin and the blood sugar levels drop rapidly. What is the result? You crash as you run out of energy.

Fried foods

Because fried foods are very fatty, it takes much more energy to break them down during digestion. As a result, eating fried chicken or French fries is a surefire way to quickly drain your body of energy.

Red meat

Red meat takes longer to digest than almost any other food. This means your body needs to use a lot of energy to break down red meat than it would for a slice of fish.

Alcohol

Have you ever noticed how tired you get after drinking a glass or two of wine? The reason for this is that alcohol actually slows down central nervous system of your body. This causes you to feel completely wiped out and drained. Unfortunately, alcohol can also lead to insomnia, meaning you won’t be able to get the rest necessary to get your energy levels back up.

Bread

Because bread contains carbohydrates, eating too much of it can leave you without energy. This is because bread causes the body to quickly raise and decrease its blood sugar levels. It is the peak and valley symptoms. One second you are feeling full of energy, the next, you are deadly tired.

Pasta

Pasta is another starchy food that can cause a sudden drop of your blood sugar levels. That is because starch is stored in the body as a sugar. As it was mentioned earlier, as your blood sugar levels increase, your body releases insulin, causing your blood sugar levels to come crashing down.

Dead water

There is nothing quite like clean and fresh water. It revitalizes refreshes and cools. Water can take on the energy imprint of other substances. Water is an essential medium through which energy flows throughout your system. By the time you reach for one glass of water from your kitchen tap, it has passed through a whole system and processing that effectively deadens the water. Bottled water also has its cons. Trapped in plastic bottles, stored in dark places and sitting on store shelves under fluorescent lighting takes a toll. Dead water does not act particularly refreshing or revitalizing.

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5 Healthy Snack Ideas(LOW CALS)

You shouldn't have to feel guilty about a between-meal nibble. With these 150-calorie recipes, you'll be able to satisfy your hunger and stay fueled until the next meal.

 

Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Make the chips in advance, cool completely, and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

• Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 6 chips and about 3 tablespoons avocado mixture)
• Total:20 Minutes

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 6 (6-inch) whole-wheat flour tortillas
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped peeled ripe avocado (about 2)

• 1 cup finely chopped strawberries
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon minced seeded jalapeño pepper
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 3/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare chips, brush oil evenly over one side of each tortilla. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over oil-coated sides of tortillas. Cut each tortilla into 12 wedges; arrange wedges in a single layer on two baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until crisp.
3. Combine avocado and remaining ingredients; stir gently to combine. Serve with chips.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 138
• Fat: 6.7g
• Saturated fat: 1g
• Monounsaturated fat: 3.8g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 0.9g
• Protein: 2.8g
• Carbohydrate: 17.3g
• Fiber: 3.6g
• Cholesterol: 0.0mg
• Iron: 0.3mg
• Sodium: 246mg
• Calcium: 7mg

 

Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

This recipe is just as tasty with fresh blueberries or strawberries. If you can't find wonton wrappers, egg roll wrappers work equally well--just cut them into 3 1/2-inch squares.

• Yield: Serves 4

 

Ingredients

• 8 wonton wrappers, cut in half diagonally
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 1/2 cups plain fat-free Greek yogurt
• 1 cup blackberries
• 4 teaspoons honey 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Arrange wonton wrappers in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; lightly coat wrappers with cooking spray. ­Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly over wrappers; bake at 400° for 3 minutes or until crisp and slightly browned. Set the wrappers aside to cool slightly.
3. Layer 6 tablespoons yogurt, 1/4 cup berries, and 1 teaspoon honey into each of 4 bowls. Serve each with 4 wonton crisps.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 142
• Fat: 0.6g
• Saturated fat: 0.1g
• Monounsaturated fat: 0.1g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 0.2g
• Protein: 9.6g
• Carbohydrate: 25.1g
• Fiber: 2.2g
• Cholesterol: 1mg
• Iron: 0.8mg
• Sodium: 124mg
• Calcium: 76mg

Asian Party Mix

Sesame rice crackers and wasabi peas add crunch and fire to this asian party snack mix.  It's perfect as an appetizer or snack, and oh so easy to make!

• Yield: 8 cups (serving size: 1/2 cup)

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups crispy corn cereal squares (such as Corn Chex)
• 2 cups crispy rice cereal squares (such as Rice Chex)
• 2 cups sesame rice crackers, broken
• 1 cup tiny fat-free pretzel twists
• 3/4 cup wasabi peas
• 1/4 cup lightly salted dry-roasted peanuts
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 200°.
Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and remaining ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, tossing gently to coat. Spread the mixture onto a jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 200° for 45 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 116
• Calories from fat: 29%
• Fat: 3.7g
• Saturated fat: 1.6g
• Monounsaturated fat: 1.3g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 0.6g
• Protein: 2.9g
• Carbohydrate: 18.6g
• Fiber: 1.2g
• Cholesterol: 6mg
• Iron: 2.8mg
• Sodium: 269mg
• Calcium: 38mg

Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole with Homemade Tortilla Chips

When storing this guacamole, press plastic wrap against its surface to keep it from turning brown. You can use it to liven up a turkey sandwich or as a condiment in a vegetable wrap.

• Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 2 1/2 tablespoons guacamole and 6 chips)

 

 

Ingredients

• Guacamole:
• 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 poblano chile
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ripe peeled avocado, coarsely mashed
• Chips:
• 6 (6-inch) corn tortillas, each cut into 8 wedges {Check for Gluten}
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. To prepare guacamole, wrap garlic cloves in foil; bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until soft. Let cool slightly; remove skins and discard. Place garlic in a medium bowl; mash with a fork.
3. Preheat broiler.
4. Cut bell pepper and poblano in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened, turning frequently. Place in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel and finely chop. Add peppers, onions, and next 4 ingredients to mashed garlic; stir well.
5. Reduce oven temperature to 425°.
6. To prepare chips, combine tortilla wedges, 2 teaspoons juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, tossing to coat. Arrange tortillas in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned, turning once. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with guacamole.

Note: When garlic is roasted, its flavor mellows to nutty and slightly sweet, and it softens into a spread that has the consistency of butter. Squeeze the roasted cloves to remove the garlic pulp.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 87
• Fat: 3.7g
• Saturated fat: 1g
• Monounsaturated fat: 1.9g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 0.8g
• Protein: 2.1g
• Carbohydrate: 13.2g
• Fiber: 3.1g
• Cholesterol: 0.0mg
• Iron: 0.4mg
• Sodium: 151mg
• Calcium: 40mg

 

Vegetable Samosas with Mint Chutney

This dish uses leftover mashed potatoes in a big batch of Indian-inspired snacks—good for parties.

Cooking Light NOVEMBER 2010

• Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 2 samosas and 1 1/2 teaspoons chutney)

 

Ingredients

• CHUTNEY:
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• SAMOSAS:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 2/3 cup shredded carrot
• 2/3 cup frozen green peas, thawed
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes
• 8 (14 x 9-inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare chutney, combine first 8 ingredients in a food processor; process 1 minute or until smooth. Spoon mixture into a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
3. To prepare samosas, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion to pan, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add carrot, and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add peas, mustard seeds, garam masala, and salt; cover and cook 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes; remove from heat.
4. Working with 1 phyllo sheet at a time, cut each sheet lengthwise into 3 (3 x 14-inch) strips, and coat with cooking spray. (Cover remaining phyllo dough to keep from drying.) Spoon 1 tablespoon potato mixture onto 1 end of each strip. Fold 1 corner of phyllo dough over mixture, forming a triangle; keep folding back and forth into a triangle to end of strip. Place triangles, seam sides down, on a baking sheet. Brush triangles with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Bake at 350° for 23 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature with chutney.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 89
• Fat: 3.6g
• Saturated fat: 0.7g
• Monounsaturated fat: 2.3g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 0.5g
• Protein: 2.2g
• Carbohydrate: 13g
• Fiber: 1.6g
• Cholesterol: 1mg
• Iron: 0.9mg
• Sodium: 217mg
• Calcium: 21mg

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14 Reasons You Should Start Eating Cucumber

Cucumbers are number four most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your overall health, often referred to as a super food. Pick a handful of firm, dark green cucumbers and drop them into your shopping cart. Congratulations! You have just bought yourself stuff full of good health.

Cucumber rehydrates body

If you are too busy to drink enough water, eat the cool cucumber, which is 90 percent water. It will cheerfully compensate your water lost.

Cucumber fights heat inside and out

Eating cucumber will get your body relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin and you will get relief from sunburn.

Cucumber eliminates toxins

All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your body. With regular eating, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.

Cucumber replenishes daily vitamins

Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. A B and C, which boost your immune system keep you radiant and give you energy. Make it more powerful by juicing cucumber with spinach and carrot. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because it contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 12 percent of the daily recommended allowance.

Cucumber supplies skin friendly minerals

Cucumber is high in potassium, magnesium and silicon. That is why spas abound cucumber based treatments.

Cucumber aids in digestion and weight loss

Due to its high water and low calorie content, cucumber is an ideal source for people who are looking for weight loss. Use cucumbers in your soups and salads. If it is not your favorite snack you can crunchy cucumber sticks with creamy low fat yogurt dip. Chewing cucumber gives your jaws a good workout and the fiber in it is great for digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as an aid for chronic constipation.

Cucumber revives the eyes

Placing a chilled slice of cucumber over puffy eyes is a clichéd beauty visual but it really can help reduce under-eye bags and puffiness due to its anti inflammatory properties.

Cucumber fights cancers

Cucumber is known to contain secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol and pinoresinol. The three lignans have a strong connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including ovarian, breast, prostate and uterine cancer.

Cucumber cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure

Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is widely spread to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers have found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers can help decrease levels of cholesterol. Cucumbers contain a lot of fiber, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients work effectively for regulating blood pressure. That is why cucumber is good for treating both high blood pressure and low blood pressure.

 Cucumber refreshes the mouth

Cucumber juice heals and refreshes diseased gums. Get a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for a half minute, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing unpleasant breath.

Cucumber smoothes hair and nails

The wonder mineral Silica in cucumber makes your hair and nails shinier and stronger. The sulfur and silica in cucumbers help to stimulate your hair growth.

Cucumber promotes joint health, relieves arthritis and gout pain

As cucumber is an excellent source of silica it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. When mixed with carrot juice, cucumber can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering levels of the uric acid.

Cucumber cures hangover

To avoid a morning headache or hangover you can eat a few cucumber slices before going to sleep. Cucumbers contain enough B vitamins, sugar and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients and reducing the severity of both hangover and headache.

Cucumber keeps kidneys in shape

Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your body and though keeping the kidneys healthy.

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7 Worst Foods You Should Never Eat For Breakfast

You know that eating breakfast  is important. But did you realize that some a.m. choices can set the tone for how you feel the rest of your day. Not only that, but eating a healthy breakfast every morning can reduce the risk for diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Here you will get the scoop on which breakfast foods to avoid.

Bacon, ham and sausage

Processed meat has nitrates that are associated with colorectal cancer. In fact, the Institute for Cancer Research published a list of the top ten things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. Avoiding nitrates is a number one of them. What does that mean for morning meat eaters? It is time to find a different breakfast option.

Sugary cereals

How can you tell the difference between a bad sugary cereal and a good one for your health? Some cereals are full of carbs and sugar. When you eat them, your blood sugar rapidly spikes and then bottoms out. Since you probably do not want your energy to crash at the beginning of the day, it is best to avoid those cereals. Instead, choose cereals with higher fiber and protein. Do you seek for another option? Add ground flaxseed or walnuts for more protein and fiber.

Packaged pancakes with artificial maple syrup

While natural maple syrup is a healthy sweetener, there are many artificial types of syrup on the market that are full of high fructose corn syrup. The sweetener, which is derived from corn, is also present in most processed and packaged foods. High fructose corn syrup can lead to more abdominal obesity and visceral fat, which is stored between the organs. This is the fat that leads to cancer. A recent study in one journal also linked high fructose corn syrup consumption to diabetes.

Toaster pastries, doughnuts and Danishes

Not only are these pastries made with refined white flour, but there is much sugar added. Sugar is the worst way to fuel you in the morning, because it results in a rapid rise in blood sugar. That means you will be hungry sooner and increase your chances of high blood sugar, obesity and diabetes. If all those health risks are not enough to put you off pastries, there is the other way they can be detrimental to your health. As many scientists believe sugar and cancer are linked.

Microwavable breakfast sandwiches

Healthy options exist, but many are packed with preservatives and sodium. In this case best idea is to make your own by microwaving a beaten egg and toast a whole grain English muffin.

Light Yogurts

They may have only hundred calories and come in flavors such as red velvet cheesecake, but they are usually filled with artificial sweeteners and chemicals. 

Muffins

They top the list of the most caloric breakfast foods. What is the reason? They are extremely dense and what they are packed with is generally not what you need- white flour, oil or butter and a lot of sugar. If you have no other choice, stick to 2 ounces of serving, which is the same size of an extra large egg.

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9 Reasons You Should Be Drinking Orange Juice Everyday

Orange juice is the most commonly consumed fruit juice in the world. Though it occurs on many breakfast tables, the real benefits of orange juice remain not quite understood. However, it is a healthy drink for several reasons. 

Orange juice is full of Vitamin C

Drinking at least 2 glasses of fresh orange juice every day increases the vitamin C concentration within the body by 45 to 65 percent, according to the study published in the September 2010. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that cannot be synthesized by the human body. It is an important antioxidant- a substance that protects your body against the harmful effects of free radicals- the molecules that can cause cell damage and early aging.

Orange juice boosts the immune system

Due to containing a high percentage of Vitamin C orange juice can be helpful in boosting your immune system. So you will be not likely to catch various illnesses such as flu or colds.

Orange juice protects against inflammation

The intake of meals high in fat and glucose induces the development of inflammatory reactions within your body. Inflammatory reactions are key factor to the development of increased insulin resistance which is a common cause of atherosclerosis- the hardening of blood vessel walls due to fat deposition and Type 2 diabetes. As mentioned in a study published in the April 2011 the intake of orange juice, together with a high fat and high carbohydrate meal prevents the occurrence of inflammation within your body, making it a good preventive measure against the development of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance.

Orange juice regulates diastolic blood pressure

Regular orange juice drinking will improve diastolic blood pressure, suggests a study published in January 2012. According to this study, orange juice contains a healthy water soluble plant pigment hesperidin. It serves to improve blood pressure, the activity of narrow blood vessels and reduce the cardiovascular risk biomarkers in susceptible patients.

Orange juice decreases bad cholesterol levels

Regular orange juice drinking will decrease low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol, claims a study published in the October 2011. The mechanism behind this blood cholesterol level improvement, however, is still unclear. Further studies and clinical trials will establish this fact.

Orange juice is high in antioxidants
What this means is that this yummy juice can help prevent different forms of cancer, including prostate and breast cancers.

Orange juice is high in potassium

A large amount of an essential nutrient for your body- potassium is found in orange juice.

Orange juice contains Folate

Folate plays an important role in new cells’ reproduction and can help with the healing processes.

Orange juice helps in weight loss

Due to the antioxidants found in orange juice, many scientists believe that drinking it on a regular basis can help to lose your weight. Always remember that you do not need to drink a whole lot of orange juice in order to get this benefit. In fact, since orange juice is high in calories, avoid too much consumption of this stuff. Do not forget to check the sugar content on the label while choosing orange juice if you really want to get the highest amount of healthy benefits from the orange juice and prevent weight gain coursed by high sugar levels in it.

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3 Ways Spinach Could Save You Life Or Kill You !!!!

By Shin Kriemhild

Ever since Popeye the Sailor Man first bested Bluto, we’ve been bombarded with a constant stream of stories telling us how nutritious spinach is.

Popeye cartoons helped boost spinach sales, and parents have felt secure that regular servings of spinach have helped their kids get all the iron they need.

Perception and reality take different paths, however, when it comes to spinach. It turns out that while spinach is a good source of iron, it’s not exceptional.

In fact, Popeye’s creators focused on spinach as a wonder-food because it was rich in vitamin A.

Somehow our parents got it all wrong.

So what’s the truth? Can spinach help transform us into strong, healthy super-sailors?

Or do children have some justification for leaving it uneaten on their plates?

The Good News

Like other dark greens, spinach is a great source of beta-Carotene, a powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of developing cataracts. It helps the body fight off heart disease, too.

Spinach contains several important phytochcemicals, including lutein, which help prevent age-related macular degeneration.

It also contains lopoic acid, which helps with the regeneration of vitamins C and E, and because of its role in energy production, it is said to be good for regulating blood-sugar levels.

Spinach is also very good for digestion, easing constipation and protecting the mucous lining of the stomach to help protect it from the formation of ulcers.

Spinach is great served raw–especially when you choose tender baby spinach leaves that are placed under direct light in the stores rather than those stored in darkness. Cooking spinach increases its health benefits. A half cup of cooked spinach contains three times as many nutrients as raw spinach.

Spinach juice is an even better way to benefit from spinach’s nutritional power. The nutrients are more concentrated and, according to research studies, spinach juice can improve skin health, providing quick relief from dry and itchy skin.

The Bad News

Given all that, what could possibly be bad about eating loads of spinach every day?

For starters, some people need to be careful with the vitamin K it contains. According to the National Institues of Health, vitamin K can decrease or over-accentuate the effectiveness of anti-coagulant medications.So if you take anti-coagulants, you should watch your spinach intake.

The oxalate in spinach can encourage the development of kidney stones in people who are prone to them.

However, you can still probably eat spinach safely, as other dietary ingredients offset the oxalate.Men with certain genetic disorders are susceptible to accumulating potentially toxic levels of ingested iron, so they should be careful with spinach.

Excessive iron ranks prominently in the constellation of risk factors leading to several chronic disease states of vital organs, including bones and joints, heart, liver, pancreas, anterior pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, and sex-hormone-producing organs.

The excess iron causes these organs to function abnormally, resulting in a long list of symptoms and potentially early death. Iron isn’t a problem for most of us–our bodies naturally regulate iron absorbtion to safe levels–but it can be deadly for some.

If you decide to eat spinach, you’ve got to decide between the ordinary stuff and organic spinach.

Regular spinach tends to be sprayed heavily with pesticides that don’t come off with normal washing, so you incur the risk of all the bad things that can happen to you if you ingest pesticides.

But organic spinach is problematic too–it carries a moderate risk of contamination with E. coli. The risk is 64 times higher if the spinach was irrigated with pond water and 172 times higher if the spinach was grown within 10 miles of a poultry farm.

In a recent study, researchers tested 955 spinach samples from 12 farms in two states, finding E. coli was present on 6.6 percent. Ideally, spinach would be grown organically in hydroponic tanks, offering the best of both worlds.

The Bottom Line So what’s the verdict? Is spinach a highly nutritious part of a healthy diet or a dietary land mine lying in wait for the careless consumer?

The truth is, it’s both. We should all eat more dark-green vegetables than we do, and spinach’s nutritional punch is hard to beat. At the same time, we need to be aware of possible danger signs and the possibility of contamination in both conventional and organic spinach.

All in all, the evidence tilts in favor of what mom always told us: Eat your spinach. It’s good for you.
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11 Reasons You Should Start Eating Blueberries NOW

It is said that good things come in small packages. That is so true especially for the blueberry. This little fruit can boost your brain, soften your dry skin, and even prevent cancer. What can be even more great reasons to enjoy blueberries?

1. Healthy immune system. According to a study blueberries have more antioxidants than any other fresh vegetables or fruits tested till today. Antioxidants strengthen immune system by neutralizing free radicals introduced into body by pesticides toxins and smoke. Most of the berry’s antioxidant power comes from the pigment which is responsible for their blue color.

2. Brain stimulator. Pack mix of a dried-blueberry trail for a snack to get your brain worked harder and smarter. One study suggests that blueberries slow down age-related memory loss, thanks to so called flavonoids- its abundance antioxidants.

3. Skin will vivify if you mix 2 teaspoons of puréed blueberries 2 cups brown sugar and 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Blueberry’s antioxidants will soften your skin, lemon juice for brightens, and sugar will exfoliate it.

4. Excellent vision. Eating two servings of the fruit each day may lower the risk of degeneration of macula related to age, the most common cause of vision loss in older adults, by 38 percent.

5. Healthy heart. Eating five or more servings of blueberries every week may help decrease a risk of heart attack in women. Blueberries contain high levels of compounds that may help arteries in dilatation, which helps the plaque buildup and generally causes heart attacks.

6. Lowers blood sugar. Being one of the low-glycemic index fruit it has a beneficial impact on blood sugar regulation in persons already diagnosed with diabetes. Consume at least five servings of low-glycemic fruits each day and you will see significant improvement in your regulation of blood sugar over two months.

7. Cancer preventer. Anthocyanins which give blueberries their blue color attack cancer that causes free radicals and can even fight the growth of tumor cells. All you need to do is just eat a slice of pie or a half-cup every day.

8. Bladder aid. Blueberries such as cranberries contain little compounds that prevent bladder walls from bacteria adhering to and help to get rid of urinary-tract infections. So if you get urinary-tract infections go ahead and toss into a handful of blueberries.

9. Vanish belly fat. The polyphenols found in blueberries break down belly fat, and decrease the metabolic syndrome risk factors. Blueberries also contain very low calories fewer than 110 for a full cup. So start to eat them!

10. Fighting constipation. A cup of raw blueberries contains about four grams of fiber, or over 14 percent of the recommended daily dose. The soluble fiber that is presented in blueberries can absorb 11 to 16 times its own weight in water, drawing fluid into your intestine and increasing bowel peristaltic.

11. Bone health. Blueberries involve high amounts of manganese the ones that play an important role in bone development. So if your son loves blueberries be sure he has significantly more bone mass than his friend whose ration is blueberry-free.

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6 Tips On How To Stay Motivated To Eat Health

 We all need some kind of motivation to eat healthy. Only exercising is not quite enough to stay in shape and live your life as a healthy person free from extra problems. You need to have a healthy diet as well. So try these tips for staying motivated to eat healthy wherever you go.

 Discover new foods

One of the most exciting ways of adopting a new eating habit is finding more and more different foods to try. Explore a specialty foods store, get a new cookbook at the library, or explore new ethnic restaurants. Keeping your taste buds this way will encourage you to continue with eating healthy foods.

Think short term

 Keep your goals in doable short-term amount. Focus on half to one week at a time or, if essential, one day at a time. Feel great about the healthy choices you made at the last meal instead of wondering about the slip you made at the party last weekend.

Find a friend or a family member to join you

 Sharing health information with your family or friends can be extremely motivating. If everyone gets on to eat healthy foods around the house—such as vegetables, fruits, soymilk, and nuts, hummus and pita, you will not feel tempted to carve on the unhealthy foods you used to eat. You will motivate each other to order plant-based delicious meals at restaurants because you share a common idea and goal.

Track your weight loss

By cutting out fatty and eating high-fiber vegetarian healthy foods, you will forget about high-calorie foods such as dairy products and meat and you will be more likely to lose unwanted pounds. That is another powerful motivation! Is not it?

Notice other health improvements

Taking a low-fat vegetarian diet usually leads to a better health condition. Some of these improvements include better cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. Other changes, such as having more energy and feeling better overall, will be perceptible only to you.

Think of what you have gained

You are on your way to a healthier, happier life, with decreased risk of serious diseases, including diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease and increased energy. As a result, you will have more time, energy and money to devote to the people and activities precious for you.

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