Health Benefits Of Tomatoes

You might not think that a tomato contains a high amount of health benefits, but in fact they do. The health benefits of tomatoes are clearly showing in research, and they can truly improve your health. Plus, tomatoes are easy to cook with and to work into meal plans. Learn about their nutritional values and how tomatoes can benefit you. 

Nutritional Facts of Tomatoes

A serving size is 240 grams, and provides no fat or cholesterol. It contains 7% of your daily fiber, and 10 grams of carbohydrates. There are also many vitamins and minerals, providing Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Niacin, and Vitamin B6. There is also Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper. Tomatoes are also a very good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium and Manganese. They provide a very low glycemic load, so blood sugar levels are not spiked from eating them. Tomatoes are also a mild anti-inflammatory.

Tomato Benefits for Health

Tomatoes are best known for their powerful antioxidant properties. These nutrients protect you in a few different ways. First, they stop damage that can happen to the cell walls, a process called reduced lipid peroxidation. It also causes better antioxidant enzyme function, which translates to better health for many major body organs, including the liver and kidneys. This high concentration of antioxidant power also supports a healthy cardiovascular system. Studies have been done on how tomatoes benefit bone health as well. A group of postmenopausal women in one study were asked to stop eating tomatoes for four weeks. Tests later revealed that the oxidative stress in their bones had spiked, along with other unwanted bone tissue changes. Tomatoes are great for men as well. Many studies have been done to show that tomatoes can indeed help lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Fitting Tomatoes Into Your Diet

Nearly everyone is familiar with the taste and texture of tomatoes. This makes fitting them into your diet much easier. They are also very versatile, so there are plenty of meal options. Use them for making brilliant pasta sauce, and enjoy the health benefits of garlic and olive oil in the process! Or include sliced tomatoes on your sandwiches for lunch.

Enjoy a classic Italian salad by topping your salad greens with sliced onions, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and/or vinegar for some extra flavor. You now have a healthy, exotic, and filling salad for lunch or as a side to dinner.

Use them in salsa by chopping up tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. You can also add corn for a touch of sweetness. Salsa can be used to dip chips, vegetables, or in burritos and other Mexican-inspired dishes.

The health benefits of tomatoes make ignoring them impossible. They are a powerful antioxidant, which protects your body from damage. They can also improve bone health in women, and protect against prostate cancer in men. It is a food most people are familiar with, which makes incorporating it into meals easy.

An Apple A Day Still Keeps The Doctor Away!

Most people know that apples are a healthy treat and almost immediately, the old “apple a day” adage will come to mind. The health benefits of apples are so widely known that this powerful little fruit has been taken for granted. With so many other competing super foods available today, it might be a good idea to revisit apples. The benefits received from this impressive food might surprise you. 

Nutrition Information

Apples are a great low fat and low calorie snack that is high in soluble fiber and Vitamin A. It is also high in potassium and antioxidants. The great thing is that just one medium sized apple is half of the recommended daily intake of fruit. Eating two apples a day fulfills your daily fruit serving and offers potent health benefits. One thing to keep in mind is that, like many fruits, apples have a good amount of sugar and even though the sugar is natural, it should still only be consumed in moderation.

Pectin

Pectin is a type of soluble fiber that accounts for many of apples benefits. This fiber not only helps to lower LDL cholesterol, but it can lower it considerably. Some studies have shown cholesterol levels lowered by 15% – 16% if apples are consumed everyday. Fiber also helps to maintain a healthy digestive tract, which, in turn, reduces the risk for any type of digestive cancer such as colon cancer. Pectin will also help maintain healthy blood sugar and insulin levels and therefore helps to reduce the risk of diabetes.

Weight Loss

Another thing to note about the fiber content in apples is that it aids many people with their weight loss programs. The high amount of fiber that the apple contains helps to suppress the appetite. When you eat an apple, the fiber works to make you feel more satiated and lasts longer than other types of foods. This then stops cravings for fattening food and evokes healthier cravings.

Quercetin

Antioxidants have been shown to be incredibly potent and important for optimal health. Apples contain a type of antioxidant called Quercetin. Quercetin works to help build a strong immune system, which is vitally important during times of stress. It is highly recommended to make sure to eat apples when the stress levels are high.

An Apple a Day

The best way to add apples to your diet is to eat them raw and enjoy their natural flavor. Much of the antioxidants and fiber come from the skin, so it is a good idea to keep the skin on the apple no matter how you are using it. You can eat an apple whole, or cut it in halves or quarters. Many people like to add cheese or peanut butter to give more substance to the apple. These great flavors work very well together.

Another way to add apples to your diet is to slice them up and put them on top of cereal, oatmeal or with a granola bar. The crispness of the apple works well when mixed with grains. Of course, apples are always a welcome addition to any fruit salad. However you decide to enjoy your apple, do not forget to wash it first.

Good health is something for which most of us aspire. Who does not want to feel good and look good? Sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming as there are so many things being pushed on us to stay healthy that it does not seem possible to keep up with it all. When this happens, it can be a good reminder to get back to the basics. The health benefits of apples are too powerful to ignore.

Getting The Most Health Benefits From Ginger

Ginger has been used to combat nausea, diarrhea, and bloating for centuries, and more ginger benefits are being discovered every day. Chinese healers have long known about the health benefits of ginger and have valued ginger for it’s medicinal properties. Chinese cooks have savored this pungent spice for the flavor it adds to foods. The active ingredients in ginger are its gingerols and shogaols, and it is these compunds that give ginger it’s amazing health benefits. 

Nausea and Indigestion

Over-the-counter medicines and prescription medications work to help nausea, but can sometimes have adverse side effects. Ginger reduces nausea by smoothing the lining of the digestive tract. It is recommended for pregnancy and for chemotherapy patients because it is safe, and will not cause birth defects. The recommended dosage for chemotherapy patients is one gram before the treatment. For morning sickness, no more than one gram a day should be taking during pregnancy.

Control Pain and Inflammation

Arthritis sufferers can use ginger to help with the pain and inflammation of both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Ginger works by reducing the body’s pain-causing compounds called prostaglandins. Taking ginger capsules or rubbing ginger oil into the joints reduces stiffness and pain, and gives the user better range of motion.

Anti-coagulant

For someone suffering with heart disease, ginger can act like anti-coagulants that thin the blood. Blood that clots too easily can cause blockage in the veins. This can lead to heart attacks or strokes depending on the clots location. For those already on blood thinners, care should be taken when adding a lot of ginger to the diet.

Diabetes

Taking ginger helps lower blood sugar and can be helpful for diabetics who do not take medicine for their sugar levels.

Healthy Sweating

Having some ginger also promotes healthy sweating. There is a compound in sweat called dermicidin that helps to protect against microorganisms that cause staph or candida infections.

Cancer

Ginger has been found to help destroy cancer cells in mice. Research is ongoing to see just how much ginger is necessary to help prevent cancer and to stop cancers from growing.

Tips for Using Ginger

Fresh ginger root works best, but using pills or powdered form is fine,too. It is important to use products that are standardized to provide the active ingredients gingerols and shogaols.

Two pieces of crystallized ginger can be eaten daily and provides ample amounts of ginger.

The benefits of ginger tea can be had by combining fresh-grated ginger, lemon, and some honey or sweetener. Ginger ale, made with real ginger and no high-fructose corn syrup, is another excellent way to add ginger to the diet.

Side effects of Ginger

Side effects are rare, but people with certain health issues should check with their physician before taking ginger for their ailments. Ginger is known to lower blood sugar and anyone taking medication in addition to ginger, runs the risk of their blood sugar getting too low.

Anyone taking Warfarin, Coumadin or aspirin to thin their blood should also use caution when taking ginger. In addition, ginger should be stopped before any planned surgery. It is imperative to tell the doctor when using ginger prior to surgery to make sure usage is stopped well in advance of the surgery.

Finally, anyone with gallstones should note that ginger thins bile flow. While this may be good for people without stones, people with them may find that the gallstones may move freely and could settle in the bile duct, causing pain and may lead to surgery.

Turmeric is Great for Anti-Inflammation

Turmeric benefits have long been known in the East. It is used medicinally in both China and India. However, this spice can also pack some flavor into many recipes. Find out about the amazing benefits of turmeric and learn how to incorporate it into your diet.

Nutritional Information

A serving size is six grams, which contains twenty-four calories, one gram of fat, and no cholesterol. It is a good source of vitamin C and magnesium. It is also a good source of fiber. Other vitamins and minerals contained in turmeric include vitamin B6, iron, potassium, and magnesium. It also contains a small amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The glycemic load is very low, meaning that it will not cause blood sugar levels to spike.

Health Benefits of Turmeric
One of the most notable health benefits of turmeric is the inflammation factor. This is a very strong anti-inflammatory. Why is this important? Inflammation is linked to many chronic diseases. On the basic level, this swelling occurs when damage has happened to the body. It might be from an injury, bacterial infection, or conditions like arthritis. New research is now linking inflammation to more serious conditions like cancer. In fact, recent research found that combining turmeric with cauliflower was shown to prevent prostate cancer and to stop the growth of existing cancer cells. Similar findings were discovered with skin cancer cells as well. Therefore, by keeping inflammation in check, we can remain healthy and prevent some of these diseases before they even happen.

This spice is also an anti-septic and anti-bacterial agent. People use it to treat burns and cuts. With these properties it detoxifies the liver and speeds up the healing process of damaged tissue. New research is being done on the possible benefits it has on Alzheimer’s disease. By removing plaque build up in the brain, it may slow the progression of the disease.

Working it Into Your Diet

Turmeric has an earthy, spicy, mustard-like flavor. You can use it in many recipes, Indian recipes especially make use of it. Most curry recipes will incorporate turmeric. You can also find it in many Thai dishes. You can try sprinkling it on snack foods like popcorn for an extra kick of flavor! You can even use it in pickling recipes for things like corn relish or bread and butter pickles.

Spices like turmeric are not for everyone. If you cannot stand the taste, there are turmeric capsules. These will contain enough of the spice for you to receive the benefits. It is a good idea to take them with food and water, otherwise you may have an aftertaste once the capsule opens up in your stomach.

The turmeric benefits are very clear and plentiful. It can help with inflammation, which is linked to many diseases. Research is also finding that it may have cancer fighting properties. Try this spice in curry, Thai cuisine, or as a topper on snack foods. You can also pickle vegetables with it. Try out this unique spice!

Is it true that organically raised animal food are better for your health?

Organically raised animals foods like beef and poultry are better for your health than their conventionally raised counterparts because the animals from which they come are better fed, raised under healthier conditions, and are not able to be treated with most of the drugs and hormones often used in non-organic methods of raising livestock.

In the case of organics, "livestock" is actually a broad term used to refer to cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and other animals that are often raised for the purpose of providing food. However, livestock does not include any fish or seafood products.

The key organic standards for livestock include:

• Use of 100% organic feed 
• No use of sewage sludge when pastures are fertilized or when food is being produced to feed animals 
• No use of genetically engineered foods when feeding animals 
• No use of irradiation to preserve meats 
• No use of nitrates or nitrites to preserve meats 
• No use of growth promoters or growth hormones 
• No use of plastic pellets for roughage in feed 
• No use of antibiotics 
• Required access to the outdoors, including access to pasture in the case of ruminant animals (including cows, goats, sheep, and deer) 

When it comes to the raising of all animals, these organic rules must be applied no later than the second day of life for poultry, and no later than the last third of gestation (pregnancy) for other animals.

Starchy foods

Starchy foods are our main source of carbohydrate, and play an important role in a healthy diet.

Starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, cereals, rice, pasta should make up about a third of the food you eat. Where you can, choose wholegrain varieties.

Starch is the most common form of carbohydrate in our diet. We should eat some starchy foods every day as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Data published by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which looks at food consumption in the UK, shows that most of us should be eating more starchy foods.

Below you'll find more detailed information about the nutritional benefits of some of the most common starchy foods, along with information on storage and preparation from the Food Standards Agency.

Potatoes

Potatoes are classified nutritionally as a starchy food.

Although a potato is a vegetable, it doesn't count towards your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Instead, potatoes count as starchy food, because when eaten as part of a meal they are generally eaten instead of other starchy sources, such as pasta, rice or bread.

Potatoes are a healthy menu choice when they're not cooked in too much salt or fat. They’re a good source of energy, fibre, B vitamins and potassium.

Although potatoes don’t contain much vitamin C compared to other vegetables, in Britain we get a lot of our daily vitamin C from them because we eat so many.

When cooking or serving potatoes, try to go for lower fat (polyunsaturated) spreads or unsaturated oils like olive or sunflower oil, instead of butter.

Leave the skins on where possible, to keep in more of the fiber and vitamins. If you’re boiling potatoes, some nutrients will leak out into the water, especially if you’ve peeled them. To stop this happening, only use only enough water to cover them and cook them for the minimum time.

When storing potatoes, keep them somewhere dark, cool and dry, but not in the fridge. This is because putting them in the fridge can increase the amount of sugar they hold, which could lead to higher levels of a chemical called acrylamide when the potatoes are roasted, baked or fried at high temperatures. Acrylamide is thought to be harmful to our health: for more see the FSA page on acrylamide.

Keeping potatoes cool and dry will also help stop them sprouting: don't eat any green or sprouting bits of potatoes.

Rice and grains

Rice and grains are an excellent choice of starchy food. They give us energy, are low in fat and good value for money.

There are many types to choose from, including:

couscous bulgar wheat all kinds of rice, such as quick-cook, arborio, basmati, long grain, brown, short grain and wild  

As well as carbohydrates, rice and grains contain:

protein, which the body needs to grow and repair itself fiber, which can help the body get rid of waste products B vitamins, which help release energy from the food we eat, and help the body to work properly
Rice and grains, such as couscous and bulgar wheat, can be eaten hot or cold and in salads.

There are a few precautions you should take when storing and reheating cooked rice and grains. This is because the spores of some food poisoning bugs can survive cooking.

If cooked rice or grains are left standing at room temperature, the spores can germinate. The bacteria multiply and produce toxins that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Reheating food won't get rid of the toxins.

Therefore, it's best to serve rice and grains when they've just been cooked. If this isn't possible, cool them within an hour after cooking and keep them refrigerated until reheating or using in a cold dish.

It's important to throw away any rice and grains that have been left at room temperature overnight.

If you aren't going to eat rice immediately, refrigerate it within one hour and eat within 24 hours. Don't reheat rice and grains more than once.

Follow the "use by" date and storage instructions on the label for any cold rice or grain salads that you buy.

Bread

Bread, especially wholemeal, granary, brown and seeded breads, is a healthy choice to eat as part of a balanced diet.

Wholegrain, wholemeal and brown breads give us energy and contain B vitamins, vitamin E, fiber and a wide range of minerals. White bread also contains a range of vitamins and minerals, but it has less fiber than wholegrain, wholemeal or brown breads.

Some people avoid bread because they think they're allergic to wheat, or because they think bread is fattening. But cutting out any type of food altogether could be bad for your health, because you might miss out on a whole range of nutrients that we need to stay healthy.

Celery Can Lower Blood Pressure And Relieve Stress

The health benefits of celery are surprising. This vegetable is more nutritious than most people realize. Instead of being forgotten and soggy sitting along side the chicken wings that were ordered, celery should be part of your regular diet. Learn about the great health benefits, and how to incorporate this veggie into your everyday meals and snacks. 

Nutritional Facts for Celery

There are only 18 calories in one serving of celery. It actually takes more work for your body to eat and digest this vegetable than the celery contains. It is a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid. There are also minerals, including calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is a very good source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Celery also contains folate, potassium and manganese. There is virtually no glycemic load and it is mildly anti-inflammatory. It is also very nutritious and very filling, taking few servings to make you feel satisfied.

Celery benefits include the high content of vitamin C, which protects your body from inflammation, free radical damage, and even the common cold. There are also potential blood pressure lowering benefits. Celery has actually been used in Chinese medicine as a way to lower blood pressure for centuries. New research in the West is supporting this, in lab tests it was revealed that a compound in celery helps the muscles around blood vessels relax. This allows more space for blood to easily flow, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces stress hormones.

Getting Celery into Your Diet

Celery makes a great snack. Keep in mind that if you are used to snacking on things like chips that it will take your taste buds time to adjust. Try spreading some peanut butter on celery sticks. You can also try adding a little miso paste. Instead of using high fat dressings, dip your celery in hummus. Hummus tastes great and comes in a variety of flavors, a personal favorite is roasted red pepper hummus.

Simple Celery and Carrots

You will need:
-2 cups vegetable stock
-4 ounces of chopped celery
-7 ounces chopped carrots
-Sea salt and ground pepper

Bring your stock to a rapid boil in a medium sauce pot. Add the veggies, letting them cook until the carrots are tender. This usually takes 10 minutes or so. Scoop the vegetables onto a plate, and pour the remaining liquid over the top. Salt and pepper to taste. This simple recipe makes a great side dish for classic country meals. You can also combine it with rice. One serving contains just 49 calories and 14% of your daily recommended amount of fiber.

The health benefits of celery should be kept in mind. It can lower blood pressure and relieve stress. Celery also offers plenty of vitamins and minerals. It makes an excellent snack food, since not very much is needed before you feel full. Try combining it with peanut butter or hummus to dress it up some. You can also cook simple meals with it.