Is Your Health Food Really Healthy?

By Brad Longazel 

The world is becoming more health conscious every year. Food companies are making so-called health food products, the fast food industry is trying to make healthier menus, and people are making smarter choices when it comes to their food.

This is a wonderful thing and is much needed with obesity continually affecting more and more families. It is still a challenge to eat right with all of the "health food" options and media dictating what we see as healthy. Every day I see advertisements and articles promoting food products that really aren't the best choice. From high fructose corn syrup to 100-calorie snack packs, people are being bated into poor health choices. Making the weight loss journey and the quest for 6 pack abs continually harder.

The easiest way to avoid all of this and stick to a healthier path would be to eat natural foods that have not been altered by humans. This grocery list would include fresh meats, veggies and fruits, raw nuts, and less altered dairy products. This can be a tough thing to do, since most foods on the shelves have been influenced by humans one way or another.

For that reason I am going to give you three things to pay attention to the next time you go to the grocery so you can make smarter, healthier choices for you and your family:

#1: Food Source

This one can be a little tricky but many stores are getting better at providing this information. If you have access to a health food store you won't have as much trouble, but even Kroger stores are getting better.

Pay attention to where the food you buy is coming from. This pertains more to meat and animal products than other items. Many food companies are using hormones and feeding processes for their animals that can affect the quality of the meat.

Hormones added to an animal to make it grow bigger can be absorbed into our bodies once we eat the meat, messing with our hormone balances and bodily processes.

Look for more natural meats that were grass-fed and hormone free. The same goes with sea food; try to find more natural sources and not closed water fish. This meat will not only be healthier but will also be much fresher and taste better.

#2: Ingredients

When buying food, pay attention to the ingredients. Many times a food will claim to be healthy because of the calorie amount but in reality those calories are quite unhealthy.

Calories are important, but just as important, is the quality of the food. Generally, the lower the number of ingredients the better the food. If you pick up a 100 calorie snack pack you will see a long list of ingredients whereas with more natural foods like veggies there is only one ingredient.

If you lessen the amount of ingredients in your pantry you will increase the quality.

#3: Sodium

Sodium is one of those things that's overlooked by many people. It plays a huge part not only in weight loss but also heart health, joint health, and overall wellness. It kills your path to success with water retention and overall decreased mood.

Many foods have added sodium to increase the shelf life. Just about every canned food will have a large amount of sodium, which is why canned food last so long. Start looking at the sodium content of your foods and try to limit your intake to fewer than 1500mg per day. As an example, one can of "low sodium" soup has 900mg of sodium. If that's "low" then I would hate to see normal!

Lessen your sodium for a couple of weeks and notice how much better you feel.

Start paying more attention to the details at the grocery store. Making the decision to eat healthier and be healthier is good, but it's hard out there with all of the trickery that goes on with big food companies. Look at the little things and your food choices will start to change.

For more health and fitness information visit https://www.everydayafs.com/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Brad_Longazel/2529701

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Amazing Ginger Health Benefits

By Adam Wanyonyi Ford                    

Ginger is one of the most used spices in the world today. Apart from flavouring food, ginger benefits the body in numerous ways, including enhancing mental performance. Ginger is available in different forms, i.e. juice, powders, capsules and as fresh rhizomes. The massive ginger health benefits make it an excellent additive in almost all foods. Ginger health benefits include;

Ginger as a powerful Antioxidant

Ginger is rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants play a vital role in neutralisation of free radicals. The antioxidative defense system of the body balances the free radicle production. Oxidative stress occurs in the event of alterations between reactive oxygen species generation and its neutralisation by the antioxidant defense. Moreover, ginger plays an essential role in the reduction of the lipid oxidation and inhibits the pathogenesis of diseases. 6-Dehydroshogaol, 6-shogaol and 1-dehydro-6-gingerdione are inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis in activated macrophages. 6-shogaol has potent antioxidant properties due to the presence of unsaturated ketone moiety.

Anti-inflammatory activity

Inflammation is a complex immune process, involving various mediators such as interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Ginger oil significantly represses inflammation, especially joint swelling. Also, ginger extracts suppress the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and play a significant role in the inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase, essential for arachidonate metabolism, and down-regulating the induction of inflammatory genes.

Anti-tumour activity

Ginger extracts suppress tumour development through up-regulation of tumour suppressor gene, induction of apoptosis and inactivation of vascular endothelial growth factor pathways. The development and progression of tumours involve multiple steps including genetic and metabolic changes. 6-gingerol suppresses the transformation, hyperproliferation, and inflammatory processes that involve in various phases of carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Besides, ginger constituents induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cell line LnCaP by increasing the expression of tumour suppressor p53 and Bax and also decreasing the expression of Bcl-2. 6-shogaol is effective against breast cancer through the inhibition of cell invasion and reduction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. On the other hand, 6-gingerol stimulates apoptosis through up-regulation of NAG-1 and G1 cell cycle arrest through down-regulation of cyclin D1.

Ginger root extracts and gingerol inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori CagA+ strains, which has a specific gene, linked to the development of gastric premalignant and malignant lesions. 6-shogaol induces apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cells via the production of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase-31, and 6-gingerol inhibited pulmonary metastasis bearing B16F10 melanoma cells through the activation of CD8+ T-cells. 6-gingerol has anti-tumoral activity through induction of reactive oxygen species, which also triggers activation of tumour suppressor p53 and the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Anti-microbial activity

Ethanolic extract, of ginger, prevent microbial growth. Ginger has antimicrobial activity against E. coli, Salmonella typhi, and Bacillus subtilis. Gingerol and shagelol are the active agents. The ethanolic extract of ginger powder and gingerol effectively inhibits Candida albicans. 6-gingerol and 12-gingerol, from ginger rhizome, is active against periodontal bacteria. 10-gingerol is an active inhibitor of Mycobacterium avium and M. tuberculosis.

Anti-diabetic activity

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder originating from an abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism stemming from low blood insulin level or insensitivity of target organs to insulin. Ginger and its constituents are efficient in the control of diabetes and its complications through anti-hyperglycemic effect. Ginger acts through the inhibition of oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory process, though the exact mechanism is not known.

Neuroprotective effect

The phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the ginger act as powerful neuro-protectors. 6-shogaol has neuroprotective effects in transient global ischemia through the inhibition of microglia. Moreover, it exhibits neuroprotective impact by accelerating brain anti-oxidant defense mechanisms and down-regulating the MDA levels to the normal levels.

Effect on osteoarthritis

Ginger is useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis, one of the leading causes of severe musculoskeletal pain and disability. Highly purified and standardised ginger extract reduces significantly affect symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Also, ginger is effective in relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis with negligible side effects. It works similarly as Indomethacin.

Gastro-protective effect

Active compounds in ginger have an invigorating role in ulcer prevention. The compounds increase secretion of mucin. Compounds 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol are effective in suppressing gastric contraction. Anti-emetic effect Ginger and its constituents show a significant impact on nausea and vomiting.

Hepatoprotective effect

Carbon tetrachloride, mancozeb, acetamophine, and lead are among the important substances that poison the liver. Ginger is effective in inhibiting hepatotoxicity by these chemicals.

Effect on migraine

Ginger powder is highly effective in relieving migraines in a dose of 550 mg every 4 hours for five days.

Effect on the eye

Ginger and its constituents are efficient in the management of retinopathy, a symptom of diabetes.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Adam_Wanyonyi_Ford/1531882

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12 Local Foods That Amazingly Boost Metabolism

By Esbon Mwema                     

Metabolism is the chemical processes in the body that involves the break down of food substances into useful nutrients for the build up and repair of body cells and organs and their proper functioning. Apart from water which is known universally to be one of the essential components for excellent body functions, there are other foods good for boosting your metabolism.

1. Legumes

Legumes such as beans, peas and lentils contain proteins which takes longer to digest hence increasing the rate of metabolism. They are rich in fiber too, which helps in efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients into the body.

2. Nuts

Nuts are suitable antioxidants and thus help in bringing down sugar and fat levels in the body. They are rich in energy which keeps the body fueled up without eating much, and this leads to weight loss.

3. Berries

These are good in bringing down the much-loathed belly fat by burning huge calories and at the same time maintaining high energy levels. Berries are also known to be useful in fighting diabetes.

4. Citrus

Anybody can attest to the fact that fruits and especially citrus ones are fantastic for losing excessive weight. They are useful in digestion too and boosts the body metabolism to great lengths.

5. Seafood

Fish is very rich in omega-3 which is essential in the body for increasing metabolism and burning calories which is a suitable weight management mechanism.

6. Spinach

Spinach is one green vegetable known for its richness in iron which in turn boosts the amount of oxygen intake to body tissues through the blood.

7. Avocado

Avocado is rich in omega-3 and contains essential fats that increase the rate of metabolism in the body and keeping the body weight in check by lowering excessive sugars.

8. Spices

Although spices are not everyone's darling, there are very good for burning calories and also aids in digestion thus boosting metabolism.

9. Chocolate

Chocolate is good in adding up energy levels and lowering the intake of unnecessary fats and sugars. It helps to reduce the body weight and increase metabolism.

10. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil unbelievably helps to lower unnecessary fats because it contains fatty acids which limit the accumulation of lipids and boosting the rate of metabolism in the body.

11. Vegetable Soup

Among the numerous benefits of veggie soup is the ability to aid the body in digestion and uptake of nutrients and boosting metabolism.

12. Green Tea

Green tea is useful in breaking down the excess glucose stored up in the body. It lowers calories and boosts metabolism too.

High metabolism is vital for everyone at every stage of life for a proper and perfect body functioning.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Esbon_Mwema/2483706

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5 Tips To Reduce Sodium In The Diet

By Arati Shah

Sodium is an essential mineral you must get from the food you eat in order for your body to function. Sodium not only helps in keeping the fluid balance maintained in the body but it also helps in nerve and muscle function. The human body regulates how much sodium it contains depending upon the levels. If the sodium levels in the body are too high, one gets thirsty and drinks water. Along with that the kidneys speed up the process of throwing the excess sodium out of the body. Keeping the intake of sodium in check should always be a part of a healthy eating plan as well as weight loss programs.

What is the difference between sodium and salt?

Sodium is a component of the common salt that we consume in foods. Salt is a chemical compound made up of 40 % of sodium and 60% of chloride and is by far the biggest dietary contributor of sodium. Different varieties of salt are available but the composition of the salt remains the same. One teaspoon of salt contains 2300 milligrams of sodium. However, it is also naturally found in many foods - although in much lesser amounts than the foods in which salt is added. Today, then processed and packaged foods are largely the contributors of the high sodium levels in the diet.

How much sodium is needed by a person?

The American Heart Association recommends not more than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day (1 teaspoon of salt). However, the ideal limit as per them is no more than 1500 milligrams per day. Most of us eat more than the recommended limit. Keeping the intake of sodium within recommended levels is a part of a balanced and healthy eating diet.

Why does sodium need to be restricted?

When there is more sodium than required by the body, the kidneys flush the excess by making more urine. When kidneys are not able to flush out the excess sodium it accumulates in fluid in between the cells. Sodium pulls extra water and increases the volume of the fluid and blood. As the blood volume increases the heart has to work harder and also puts a pressure on the blood vessels. Over a period of time this can stiffen the blood vessels leading to hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, stroke or heart failure. High blood pressure can also damage the kidneys leading to kidney failure over a period of time.

Hypertension has become a lifestyle disease today. One in three adult Indians suffers from hypertension today. And what's more - even children can develop it. A sedentary lifestyle with little or no physical activity coupled with unhealthy eating patterns are major contributors for hypertension. Most people today are unaware that they suffer from hypertension (a repeatedly elevated blood pressure 130/80 mm of Hg).

How do I cut back on sodium?

To watch your sodium intake here are a few tips to follow:

• Avoid processed and packaged foods: Canned, processed, and frozen foods contain high amount of sodium in them. Avoid sauces, pickles, mayonnaise, ready to eat soups, canned vegetables, processed cheese and breads as these foods contain hidden sodium in them. Buy unsalted nuts or seeds. Compare the nutritional labels of the product you are buying with low sodium content per serving. If a nutritional label says sodium free, light sodium, low sodium or reduced sodium it means the following: a sodium free food should contain less than 5 milligrams sodium per serving, light means 50 percent less sodium than the regular version, reduced sodium means 25 percent less sodium than the regular version. Hence, make it a habit to read the nutritional labels when purchasing the food to avoid the high sodium intake consequences.

• Cooking: While preparing or cooking the food use onions, garlic, lemon juice, herbs, spices, vinegar in place of extra salt to enhance the taste of food. Avoid usage of salt while cooking rice, rotis, parathas, pasta etc. Grilling, sautéing, and roasting cooking techniques bring out the natural flavor of the food and hence will reduce the need to add salt. Incorporating potassium rich foods like bananas, tomatoes, oranges, potatoes and sweet potatoes, white beans, will help to reduce the effect of sodium and also help in reducing the blood pressure.

• Be mindful of what you order at restaurants: At restaurants ask if the dishes you are ordering can be made using minimum salt. Request for a salad with the dressing on the side as the dressings contain high sodium content. Avoid foods that contain soy sauce, ketchup, mustard etc. Do not add extra salt to the dish you have ordered. While eating pizza opt for less cheese, pepperoni or barbeque sauce, etc. Eat pasta with red sauce and vegetables instead of creamy cheese, bacon or sausage. In sandwiches, avoid the filling with cheese, bacon, ham, mayonnaise etc. Go for vegetable and avocado based fillings. Avoid eating Chinese meals as they contain lot of sodium in them.

• Concentrate on fruits and vegetables: Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables as they are very low in sodium. Avoid canned or frozen fruits and vegetables. Before buying the canned variety look for no salt added version or reduced salt version.

• Use the sodium allowance wisely: Instead of spending your sodium allowance on salty snacks and heavily processed foods, use small amounts of salt to enhance the flavor of foods like whole grains, legumes, and other healthy ingredients.

Needing the extra salt in your food is an acquired taste. It takes a few weeks to get accustomed to eating foods with less salt in it. Once your taste has been set for low salt in the food you will find the fast foods and the processed foods salty. The above tips may help to reduce the intake of sodium to prevent the hazardous outcomes. High salt intake not only leads to heart problems, high blood pressure and kidney problems, it also increases one's chances of stomach cancer. High salt intake may increase the growth of Helicobacter pylori a bacterium that causes inflammation and stomach ulcers leading to stomach cancer. A nutritionist in Mumbai would be the best person or you may attend the weight loss program to guide you on your daily intake of sodium and how to reduce sodium in your diet as well. If children are habituated to eating a lot of salt in the diet a child nutritionist with her counselling skills would be the best person to help the child rid of this habit.

Arati Shah is an expert nutritionist and she runs her own weight loss centre in Mumbai, Café Nutrition. Having earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition along with a Post-Graduation in Sports Sciences and Nutrition from S.N.D.T Juhu, she is one of the top child nutritionist in Mumbai who can also guide the concerned parents about the right nutrition for children with same efficacy. She heads the Nutrition team in Mumbai and takes personal interest in each and every client of Café Nutrition. In addition, her sports nutritionist programs are easy to follow as she works on bringing about a change with our regular food habits.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Arati_Shah/2280869

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Change Your Diet To Change Your Life

By Carmen Gilfillan                   

Balancing your diet and your busy professional life can be a difficult task. Considering how you're spending most of your time at work, you have little time for your nutrition and diet. But good health is necessary to live; how can you then make time to pay attention on your diet?

Actually you don't need to, not much anyway as there are a few ways that you can modify your diet. These are very small and it takes almost no time to make these changes. Here are three small but very useful dietary modifications you can make:

Avoid Cooked Breakfasts

First thing in the morning the body is still in cleanse mode. As such it is important to avoid heavy, cooked breakfasts first thing as this is going against what your body naturally wants to do. Eat light breakfasts such as fruit first thing in the morning, which lines your stomach and may result in you eating less.

Alternatively, try eating something like porridge with flaxseeds or pumpkin seeds. Both of these seeds are a good source of omega-3 (another source of which is fish) which is good for the joints and can help prevent depression, and brain conditions such as Alzheimer's and Dementia. So avoid cooked breakfasts in the mornings and opt for something that's easier on your digestive system.

Reduce your portion sizes

You tend to lose track of what you eat and how much you eat when your mind is preoccupied. You're worried about deadlines, presentations and meetings at work, so you don't pay attention to how much you're eating. You can, however, easily rectify this by simply reducing your portions sizes. Reducing your food intake means you don't overeat, and you'll be consuming only what your body really needs.

Overeating is one of the most common causes of obesity, acidity, high cholesterol and diabetes. By eating smaller portions you reduce the risk exponentially of ending up with one or more these conditions. In addition to reducing your portion sizes, try to eat more slowly so you can more easily recognize when you're full, as well savouring the flavour of your food.

Drink more water

While caffeine may be beneficial in the short term by keeping you awake and alert, the extra sugar dosage you get from it is not. Avoid coffee if you can as it is an artificial stimulant. If you absolutely need it, try to skip the sugar or reduce the amount. In addition, increase the amount of water you consume throughout the day by keeping a water bottle with you and taking periodic sips from it. The water will keep you hydrated and refreshed throughout the day and reduce the need for coffee and other stimulants.

These small but simple dietary modifications will allow you to live a much healthier and more nutritious lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, the key to a healthy lifestyle does not require big changes. Small modifications, much like the ones discussed in this article, can make a huge difference to the quality of your health and life. The challenge is to stick with them, not give in to temptation and be consistent.

Carmen Gilfillan is the founder of Stimulus Development & Training. Stimulus specialises in helping people overcome emotional trauma, experience emotional breakthroughs and live their best lives. We do this through Life & Wellness Coaching, Emotional Freedom consultations and training in the areas of personal, professional and spiritual growth. Check out our website at http://www.stimulus.uk.com to book your free Emotional Breakthrough consultation.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Carmen_Gilfillan/694789

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Still Think of Chocolate As Health Food?

By Joan Kent  |   Submitted On July 03, 2019      

This isn't exactly news because it came to light several years ago, but chocolate isn't the health food it was proclaimed to be, say, 5 or so years ago.

Yet people still seem to think it is - so they eat it and tell themselves it's good for them.

Why they do that? Well, they like it; it's easy to like.

Chocolate also feels like an easy answer to various problems because it's a mood changer. The mood-changing chemicals include theobromine (similar to caffeine) and phenylethylamine (likened to the feeling of being in love). It also triggers endorphins (beta-endorphin) and serotonin, two brain chemicals associated with mood.

Were You Caught in the Chocolate Trap?

I was not, and here's why.

Chocolate - even 70-plus percent dark chocolate - contains sugar, and I'm fiercely anti-sugar. In fact, I've been anti-sugar for well over 25 years, long before anyone was talking about its negative effects on health or its addictive properties.

A few clients have called me The Sugar Nazi. What can I say? I wear the label proudly.

When health gurus were pushing chocolate, I was against it because I was certain the drawbacks of the sugar in chocolate would override any benefits we were then hearing about cacao itself.

What the Chocolate Story Turned Out to Be

Basically, it's an unsurprising story. Chocolate manufacturers and the cocoa industry funded scientific studies to "prove" the benefits of chocolate. One company, Mars, maker of Snickers, M&Ms, Milky Way and many other candies, actually funded hundreds of such studies.

It doesn't feel worth it to me to hash through the alleged benefits of chocolate, but here's a partial list. It was said to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, enhance weight loss, decrease risk of diabetes, stroke, atrial fibrillation and heart failure, as well as alleviate immune disorders.

Gee, will it make my brown eyes blue, too?

Claims like these keep springing up even in current articles - and are still affecting the eating behaviors of my colleagues in the fitness industry.

My recommendation is to forgo chocolate because of the sugar. If you must consume cocoa or cacao, make sure it's unsweetened. Problems with sugar affect health, appetite, food preferences, mood disorders, hormones, brain chemistry, and a lot more.

Sugar's negative effects can't be overstated. Chocolate can't and won't override those.

If you'd like to adjust your diet for better health, better mood, and more, just visit http://www.LastResortNutrition.com and grab your free Empowered Eating consult. Discover how a few easy tweaks can bring big results.

Brought to you by Dr. Joan Kent, best-selling author of Stronger Than Sugar: 7 Simple Steps to Defeat Sugar Addiction, Lift Your Mood, and Transform Your Health.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joan_Kent/1748388

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Are The Latest Faux Beef Burgers Healthier?

By Carol Chuang  |   Submitted On September 14, 2019

Veggie burgers have been around for many decades and they generally cater to vegetarians and vegans who do not want to have any kind of meat. Such burgers may be made from ingredients like grains, beans (especially soybeans and tofu), nuts, seeds, or mushrooms. When it comes to taste and texture, veggie burgers seldom get the attention nor the rave reviews.

Then in 2019, plant-based meats suddenly sprang into the limelight. Two companies, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, introduced faux beef burgers that look and taste like beef. Also, young people prefer to eat less meat because they are concerned about the environmental impact of industrial animal agriculture.

More and more companies are making meatless meat tastes like meat. New brands of faux meats are cropping up across the market. Consumers are faced with more choices and decisions than ever before. Are the faux meats really healthier and better for the environment?

The following will look into the two most popular faux meat options on the market, Beyond Burger from Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger from Impossible Foods, and how they stack up with a grass-fed beef burger. Conventional beef burgers using meats from concentrated animal feeding operations is not recommended because of their inhumane growing methods, destruction to the environment, and use of antibiotics, hormones, and GMO feed.

Company Background

Beyond Meat

• The company was started in 2009 by Ethan Brown to lessen humans' reliance on livestock as a source of protein. Its stated core mission is to improve human health, have a positive impact on climate change, address global resource constraints, and improve animal welfare.
• Beyond Meat has several plant-based products, including burger, ground meat, sausage, and crumbles.
• The company had its IPO on May 2, 2019 at $25 and its share price shot up to almost $240 within 2-3 months. The share price has since come off from its peak but the company still commands a market capitalization of around $10 billion.
• Beyond Meat is sold in grocery stores (such as Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts, and Whole Foods) and available in many fast-food chains (like Del Taco, A&W, Carl's Jr., and Tim Hortons), restaurants, hotels, and universities.

Impossible Foods

• The company was founded in 2011 by Stanford biochemistry professor, Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., who is driven by the desire to end the use of animals to make food and to make the global food system truly sustainable.
• He spent years trying to understand everything people love about meat - from its sizzle and smell to its taste and nutrition. After several years of development, the first Impossible Burger was released in July 2016. In 2019, the company changed its formula and debuted a new Impossible Burger with new ingredients, which it claims to be tastier, juicer, and more nutritious.
• The company intends to introduce other meats, dairy, and fish in the future - all from plants.
• Impossible Foods is still a private company but with the latest round of funding in early 2019, the company is now valued at $2 billion.
• Impossible Burgers are available in fast-food chains (such as Burger King) and many restaurants. It will soon be on sale in grocery stores as well.

Ingredients

Beyond Burger ingredients:

Water, Pea Protein Isolate, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Rice Protein, Natural Flavors, Cocoa Butter, Mung Bean Protein, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Apple Extract, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Vinegar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Pomegranate Fruit Powder, Beet Juice Extract (for color).

Impossible Burger ingredients:

Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, 2% or less of: Potato Protein, Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Cultured Dextrose, Food Starch Modified, Soy Leghemoglobin, Salt, Soy Protein Isolate, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Zinc Gluconate, Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin B12.

• The major difference between the two faux meat brands is the source of protein. Beyond Meat uses pea, rice, and mung bean proteins, whereas Impossible Burgers are made from a blend of soy and potato proteins. All these are processed proteins vs natural, unprocessed protein from real beef.
• Beyond Burger contains beet juice which gives the burger a red color, imitating rare beef. Impossible Burger consists of heme, an iron-containing molecule found in all plants and animals. Heme is what makes our blood red and allows our blood the ability to carry oxygen. This ingredient gives the Impossible Burger a meaty flavor and makes it "bleed".
• Beyond Burger uses canola and coconut oils while Impossible Burger uses coconut and sunflower oils. Coconut oil is a healthy oil but canola and sunflower oils are not. They are higher in omega-6 fats, which are inflammatory for our bodies.
• Both faux beef burgers contain quite a bit of sodium. Beyond Meat has 390 mg and Impossible Burger has 370 mg. A grass-fed beef burger has only 76 mg.
• Both burgers include a number of additives. Apart from water, Beyond Burger has 17 ingredients and Impossible Burger has 12. A grass-fed beef burger has only one ingredient- beef. Impossible Burger is fortified with some vitamins (B, C, and E) and the mineral zinc, whereas grass-fed beef naturally contains omega-3 fats, conjugated linoleic acid, vitamins, and minerals.
• Both faux beef burgers are vegan. Beyond Burger is non-GMO. Impossible Burger is Halal and Kosher but it contains GMO ingredients and used animal testing to evaluate the safety of its product.

Major Concerns

Genetic Engineering

Impossible Foods considers itself as a food technology company. Its approach is to look at proteins, textures, and flavors at a molecular level and find plant ingredients that behave the same way. They found that heme is the magic ingredient that makes meat taste like meat.

By using the heme-containing protein from the roots of soy plants called soy leghemoglobin, scientists at the company took the DNA from soy plants and inserted it into a genetically engineered yeast. The yeast went through fermentation, multiplied, and produced a lot of heme, the key ingredient that makes the burger "bleed".

Impossible Foods claims that its genetically-modified burger is not toxic and safe to eat, based on the company's rat feeding study. However, there are major concerns:-

• Glyphosate load. 93% of the soy grown in the U.S. is genetically modified. GM soy is loaded with glyphosate, the main ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. Recent court cases have demonstrated that glyphosate is a cancer-causing carcinogen. The consumer advocacy group Moms Across America revealed that recent testing by Health Research Institute Laboratories showed concerning levels of glyphosate in the Impossible Burger - it contained 11.3 ppb of glyphosate (Beyond Burger was 1 ppb). In rats, just 0.1 ppb of glyphosate has been shown to alter the gene function of over 4,000 genes in the livers and kidneys and cause severe organ damage.
• Environmentally unsustainable. Glyphosate herbicide is extensively sprayed on GMO soy and corn crops that are commonly used for animal feed, which harms the health of animals, not to mention the humans who consume them. It has also decimated many bee colonies and almost 90% of the monarch butterflies and created super weeds that require even more toxic chemicals to control. The founder of Impossible Foods wanted to create a truly sustainable global food system. By opting to use GMO soy as a major ingredient and indirectly supporting the use of glyphosate, the company's business model does not contribute to a sustainable environment at all.
• Allergy from GM ingredients. The GM ingredients of the Impossible Burger, which includes a GM yeast and GM soy leghemoglobin proteins, may cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. These ingredients have never appeared in the human food supply before and have not been properly safety tested for long-term consumption.

Processed Foods With Additives

Both faux beef burgers contain processed protein with many additives. These burgers are created in a lab made from plant products and additives designed to emulate the taste and texture of real beef. Therefore, they cannot be considered as wholesome, real food.

Which Tastes Better?

The general opinion is that the Impossible Burger definitely tastes and looks more like beef, probably to the point that it can gross out the vegans. It charrs on the outside, has a pink center and is juicy.

The Beyond Burger has more of a coconut aftertaste and is not as beefy. The patty is a little bit spongier and the flavor of different veggie proteins is more apparent. The meat does not bleed or has the same kind of juiciness. It has the same consistency and flavor throughout despite being cooked on a grill.

Which Is Better For You And The Environment?

Impossible Burger

• Contains GMO ingredients and has a high glyphosate load.
• GMOs and the toxic chemicals used along with them pose a serious threat to the environment as well as our health.
• GMO soy is a monoculture crop. Its agricultural model works against nature and depletes nutrients in the soil.
• The company's soy-based burger is still a carbon emitter. According to the World Food LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) Database, soybean has a footprint of 2 kg of carbon for every kg of food produced.

Beyond Burger

• Has better ingredients than the Impossible Burger but it is still processed food with many additives.
• The company's pea protein burger is even a bigger carbon emitter. It produces 4 kg of carbon for every kg of food it produces.

Grass-Fed Beef Burger

• Unless one is absolutely against eating meat, the grass-fed beef burger is still the healthiest option.
• In terms of calories, the grass-fed beef burger is similar to the two faux beef burgers.
• It has about the same amount of fat but the fat also contains omega-3 and conjugated linoleum acid, which have many health benefits.
• It has substantially less sodium than the faux beef burgers.
• According to a study done by Quantis, a global environmental consulting firm, the carbon emission of a small, truly regenerative and humane farm (White Oaks Pastures was used in this study) is negative 3.5 kg for each kg of fresh meat. Regenerative grazing allows for optimal resting time of the land to prevent overgrazing and enables regeneration of degraded land. This regenerative system effectively captures soil carbon, offsetting a majority of the emissions related to beef production. (For reference, the carbon footprint of conventional beef is 33 kg for each kg of fresh meat.)

In conclusion, the notion to have less meat and eat a more plant-based diet is a great one. However, this does not equate to eating more processed plant-based foods. One should instead focus on adding more fresh vegetables of different colors to the daily diet. If you are not a vegan, your source of protein should come from grass-fed animals and wild-caught seafood.

Food is life. Food holds the potential for both health and disease, depending on how it is grown and processed. As Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine", said "Let food be thy medicine'.

Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is a Certified Gluten Practitioner. She specializes in Metabolic Typing and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition.

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“The Answer to Disease is Vegetables”: Plant-Based Pioneers Have Their Moment

Monday, 05 August 2019 21:21By Erik Goldman, Editor in Chief

“We know the answer, and it is not that complicated. To be healthy, eat high volumes of vegetables. The answer to disease is vegetables. But people don't want to hear, 'Eat vegetables.' They want pills to overcome the diseases caused by our dysregulated appetites,” said Joel Fuhrman, MD, at the first annual Plant-Based World Expo in New York City earlier this summer.Image courtesy of Nina Firsova / Dreamstime.com

For Furhman, and other pioneering vegetarian physicians like Dean Ornish, T. Colin Campbell,  Joel Kahn, Saray Stancic, Michael Greger, and Scott Stoll, the Expo was an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of the plant-based foods movement, its cautious embrace by the medical mainstream, and the challenging road ahead.  read more here>>>https://www.holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-h-n/nutrition-a-lifestyle/2064-plant-based-pioneers-have-their-moment.html

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses a special pressure chamber to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Information

Some hospitals have a hyperbaric chamber. Smaller units may be available in outpatient centers.

The air pressure inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is about two and a half times higher than the normal pressure in the atmosphere. This helps your blood carry more oxygen to organs and tissues in your body.

The other benefits of increased pressure of oxygen in the tissues may include:

• More and improved oxygen supply
• Reduction in swelling and edema
• Stopping infection

Hyperbaric therapy can help wounds, particularly infected wounds, heal more quickly. The therapy may be used to treat:  learn more>>>https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002375.htm

Hydration: Why It’s So Important

Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, and lubricate your joints. Water is needed for overall good health.

Path to improved wellness

You should drink water every day. Most people have been told they should drink 6 to 8, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. That is a reasonable goal. However, different people need different amounts of water to stay hydrated.  read more>>>  https://familydoctor.org/hydration-why-its-so-important/

IS THERE A WRONG WAY TO DRINK WATER?

GOOD ADVICE

 TAMIM ALNUWEIRI, JUNE 30, 2017

If you’re drinking a ton of water but still feel parched, two experts say they may know why.

It could be because you’re not consuming enough gel water, AKA structured water, which is H2O from sources such as vegetables, fruits, cacti, chia seeds, and collagen.

That’s according to Dana Cohen, MD, and health coach Gina Bria, co-authors of the forthcoming book Quench: Reclaim your Energy and Health with the New Science of Hydration, Including Your Five-Day Plan to Hydrate. The pair recently dropped that dehydration realness to Goop during an interview.  read more>>>https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/what-is-gel-structured-water/

What Is Optimal Hydration?

Posted by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Optimal hydration is crucial to maintaining every organ and system in your body. Insufficient hydration can have an adverse effect on how your body functions. For example, even a 2% drop in optimal hydration can lead to cloudy thinking and fatigue.

Water is an essential component of every cell in your body. For example, the tissue that makes up your lungs is comprised of nearly 90% water. Your blood is more than 80% water. And, your brain is approximately 70% water.

How Optimal Hydration Helps Your Body

Optimal hydration is necessary for every function in your body.  read more>>>https://www.drnorthrup.com/what-is-optimal-hydration/

Vitamin C For A Healthier And Longer Life

By Achal Mehrotra

Your body always needs the right kind of proportion of nutrients to keep it healthy and make all the functions take place properly in the body. Vitamin C has been considered as one of the most beneficial nutrients that you can give to your body. A lot of health experts have had a lot of discussions regarding it and they have all come to the conclusion that this vitamin has endless health benefits to give for a healthy life and one must know about them in order to know what is best for their health.

Let us have a look at few of the most appreciated benefits that comes our way with the consumption of vitamin C:

• SAY GOODBYE TO THAT COMMON COLD

The best step to take for the enhancement of the immune system in our body is by the consumption of this mentioned vitamin. It is because of this property of enhancing our immune system that makes this vitamin eligible enough to protect us from the common cold and cough we face usually. It has the tendency of absorbing iron, this leads to the strengthening of the body's resistance against infections. It is because of this resistance that the body is protected from the disturbing cold.

• CALM DOWN THOSE HYPERTENSION LEVELS NOW

Hypertension has a lot of risks that it can give rise to if it is not taken care of at the early stages. You should always remember to not elevate this hypertension level as the higher it gets, higher are the risks of the development of certain cardiovascular diseases which can only make the health worse. One of the basic steps that you can take in order to avoid the rising level of this condition is consume food that is high on the proportion of vitamin C, they are the perfect medicine for lowering the blood pressure of the body.

• A FIGHTER AGAINST CANCER

Cancer is an epidemic that has been scattering worldwide and affecting various lives. However, a lot of research has led us to certain statistics that say that a high consumption of as much as fresh fruits and vegetables that you can manage to have will help you to lower the risks of the occurrence of cancer. Here is where the role of the particular vitamin being discussed comes in which has a very strong hold against cancer taking place in the stomach, colon, esophagus, rectum, mouth, throat, vocal chords and lungs.

If we start discussing with this kind of focus then this vitamin has endless benefits to provide us with. It helps us in various ways; some of the benefits are most worthy of the mention.

To know more about liposomal vitamin c, please check our website.

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Reducing Inflammation - The Less Inflammation You Have Is Better for Your Health

By Vilmos Bond                     

Inflammation is a process within our own bodies which it utilizes to protect us from disease and injury. Like all these things in life, a lot of even a fantastic thing can be bad for all of us. Any nutritionist or health coach will inform you that the typical American diet is filled up with foods which increase inflammation inside our own bodies. These include sugars, processed grains and bad fats which are all so typical in most junk foods. Only a couple of the issues connected with such a diet are muscle or joint pain, asthma or allergies, higher blood pressure and blood sugar issues. This type of diet also saps our energy that you need to make it through daily.

A Healthier Diet to Lower Inflammation

In case you've been eating a diet high in sugars, then you will soon sense a lot of benefits from the adoption of a diet consisting of foods that reduce inflammation. The following types of foods will help you in this regard:

• Fruits
• Nuts
• Leafy green vegetables
• Fatty fish
• Fresh herbs and spices

You may attain tremendous anti-inflammatory advantages from cutting out fried foods, sodas, processed carbohydrates and processed meats and incorporating these healthy foods into your daily diet. The fat in fish and nuts is a healthy form which also can help nourish your mind. Fruits and greens feature lots of essential minerals and vitamins that help keep you healthy in general while also fighting inflammation especially. When coupled with taking spices and herbs, which are full of antioxidants, you provide your body exactly what it requires to feel relief from the aches, aches, lack of energy and other indicators of a poor diet.

You'll Thank Yourself

Adjusting your diet is among the most difficult prospects for many people. Most of us hear about creating New Year's resolutions which are left a couple of weeks after and fitness center memberships of those trying to enhance their health through exercise heading unused after a couple of trips. You want to do anything is required to make this change occur on your own.

Educate yourself on nourishment on the internet and through publications and eBooks, and also combine forums on health-related sites and programs to get in touch with like-minded folks that will assist you to persevere. Should you will need a gym trainer to keep you on course, then that might be the wisest investment you ever make. The anti-inflammatory added benefits of a nutritious diet will provide you the energy and health to handle your daily life with a vigor which you might not have the ability to envision at the moment. When you've got this power to be living the life you always wanted, you will not ever need to return to the way you was.

Let us help you with your wellness and Weight Management goals with personalized coaching. Our Wellness Next Step coaches work closely together with clients by focusing on personal goals through smart decision making. Using personal interactive wellness and weight management assessment tools, http://wellnessnextstep.com/index.php/weight-management/ our coaches engage our clients to take control of their health. http://wellnessnextstep.com/index.php/wellness-coach/

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How to Live a Healthy Lifestyle While Having Fun

By Amy Mower                      

Eat Vegetables

There are so many great vegetables out there that I love! If you are someone who doesn't like veggies get creative and make the veggies fun that you eat. Some of my very favorite veggies are banana squash, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, broccoli & asparagus. All these vegetables are so yummy and can be used in cooking in many different ways. The key is to find some vegetables that you enjoy and use them in fun ways that your family will enjoy.

Find Physical Activities You Enjoy

Finding physical activities that you enjoy is key to living a healthy lifestyle while enjoying it. When it comes to physical activities I love to try new things. It's so exciting when you find an activity that you enjoy that you have never tried before.

A couple years ago my husband wanted me to try mountain biking up a canyon that is close by our house. I was a little nervous as I had never done anything like that before. However, after trying it I realized how much I loved it. There is something about being up in the mountains & going for a ride.

Another thing that I really enjoy is hiking up in the mountains with my husband. This past summer we made it a goal to try a new hike every week. It was so fun to discover new places we had never seen before while exercising.

If you aren't one for nature or don't live near mountains, another thing I have grown to love is running. There is nothing I love or cherish more than the night runs I have with my husband where we have some one on one time to talk about life while enjoying some exercise.

When it comes to physical exercise you just need to find what makes you happy and do it. If you are enjoying what you do you will be more likely to get out and exercise than if you don't.

Have an Idea of How Many Calories You Are Taking In

Another way to live a healthy lifestyle is to count calories. Now I'm not saying go to extremes counting calories everyday. But you need to have a good idea how many calories you are taking in each day so you don't over eat. There are many ways to make counting macros easy and many helpful sites on the web that can teach you how to do so.

When I first started counting macros I used an app called myfitnesspal on my phone. This got me used to counting how many calories I was taking in each day and once I got the hang of it I just started counting them in my head throughout the day. It doesn't matter what you do, just figure out the best way to count your calories that is easy and do it.

Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be a hard thing and if you do it right, living a healthy lifestyle can be a lot of fun. Go out and find some vegetables, physical activities & even a counting macros app you love and start living your type of healthy lifestyle. Begin today by getting off the couch and find something you love.

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