The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

Food nutrition facts

Finding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used to be almost impossible because of the mountains of facts scattered all about in libraries and books. Lets face it most of us aren’t going to cuddle up to a book on vitamins and minerals. Fortunately with the growth and popularity of the internet and the computer the fact finding process has been much simplified. Finding good food nutrition facts can now be done with the click of the mouse.

Learning about our foods and diets can be very enlightening. Things we were taught as children may in fact of reality be much different than what we were taught. Doing what we were taught years ago may today be very much out of synch with what we really should be doing.

It’s sort of like the ole ‘wives tales” theory. Complicating our lives further we have the great American fast food era that has practically crippled any sensibility to proper food intake.

Why should we learn more, it’s pretty simple to just drive thru pick up those goodies and off we go. Most of us are exhausted at the end of the day looking for relief not more work. With perhaps a little awareness of our food situation today, perhaps not as much effort needs to be mustered up to make an impact on ourselves and family today.

And, what’s wrong in getting the crew involved with some self education as a family type project. After all it’s the family that presses it demands on you – so why not let them help and take a little responsibility?

Finding the facts about fast food restaurant nutrition is pretty easy as well. Along with specific foods like Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Indian and other types of foods is readily available. We’ve even seen charts of nothing but fish food nutrition. Gather up this information print it out and let others study the issue and provide a family report at dinner.

Let everyone get involved and then work together making changes that all have come to learn about and now better understand why. Have someone do a report on food label nutrition facts as well. There’s a saying I remember that goes along these lines. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. With some education, patience (what’s new) and the gathering of food nutrition facts we start on our new journey for optimum health.

For tables,charts and food facts http://www.liquid-vitamins-4u.com

It’s vital that kids eat plenty of fresh fruit every day, but what do you do if they’re bored with everyday apples? Try these five easy ways to get children to eat more fruit.

• Add fresh fruit to breakfast cereals. Don’t ask, just slice on half a banana, or scatter over a few berries or half a chopped apple.

• Buy good quality fruit juices, that is fresh-pressed and not made from concentrate. Pour a glass for everyone in your family, every morning. Again, don’t make a grand announcement, just do it. If it tastes great, they’ll love it.

• Fresh fruit smoothies are delicious for breakfast, and very satisfying, and all you need to make them is a blender. Whizz together low fat yogurt, juice, soft fruits like strawberries or bananas, for an instant and highly nutritious start to the day.

• Make fruit desserts more interesting. A whole apple for dessert isn’t very enticing, but slice it up and fan it out, maybe do the same with an orange and a pear, spend two minutes arranging them on a plate and bingo, the whole disappears and that’s two portions of fruit delivered without even trying.

• Fill some small containers with chopped dried fruit, mixed with nuts and seeds. You can use tiny plastic boxes or little zippered plastic bags and the like. Add to lunch boxes, or take along whenever there’s a risk of an unhealthy snack attack.

That’s all there is to it. Once you get started, you’ll find it’s easy to serve more fresh fruit to your children, every day, so that they get their five portions – and more – without even noticing.

Elizabeth Martyn is webmaster at http://healthy-eating-made-easy.com, where she provides information, tips and recipes on using seasonal, fresh ingredients to feed the family healthily and without hassle. There are also over 120 easy healthy recipes for family meals on the site.
For more help with feeding the family, check out healthy eating for kids.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author by-lines in the resource box are included and urls kept live.

Here’s how it happens . . . Bone is made up of living tissue, mostly collagen, which forms a framework for the bone. Calcium is a mineral which is added to this framework to make the bone hard and strong.

During childhood and teenage years, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. After 30, this reverses. It’s more likely to develop if you don’t reach optimal bone mass during your early years. This is why treating osteoporosis naturally with the right calcium supplements along with minerals and vitamins can make an enormous difference and actually prevent it from happening in the first place!

In osteoporosis, the bones become brittle and porous due to loss of calcium and all of a sudden break. The bone density loss can occur long before the advanced symptoms and you may not even realize you’ve got it until a simple fall or accident causes a fracture. Natural osteoporosis supplements are well worth taking to avoid such pain in the future.

Symptoms in advanced osteoporosis are bone pain, joint pain and spontaneous fractures. Any bone can be affected but the most vulnerable and crucial areas will be the hips and spine.

Osteoporosis can strike at any age and affects approximately 60-70% of women and 30-40% of men. 50% of all women between the age of 45 and 75 show some degree of osteoporosis and out of those, 33% suffer serious bone deterioration. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men because they lose bone tissue (through losing calcium) more rapidly than men, especially after menopause. This is why supplements for natural osteoporosis treatment are essential.

Osteoporosis is approximately the 12th most common cause of death (eg following a hip fracture). In the US alone it costs $3.8 billion to treat people with osteoporosis (and not using natural treatments). Compare that to the small cost of calcium supplements as a natural treatment for osteoporosis!

Preventing Osteoporosis - A Natural Approach

An overwhelming body of opinion favours calcium supplements as an alternative and natural treatment for osteoporosis. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and 99% of body calcium is found in the bones and teeth. However as you get older your body is less efficient at absorbing calcium and other nutrients.

The most recent clinical research clearly points out that our diets are critically deficient in calcium and the only way to get enough calcium to treat osteoporosis or prevent it is through using good, absorbable calcium supplements and a sensible diet.

• Supplement with a good source of calcium and other minerals (liquid is always best) - most people consume less than half the amount of calcium needed to build and maintain bones.
• A well balanced diet with plenty of green leafy vegetables.
• Exercise – particularly weight-bearing exercises.
• Avoidance of processed foods, cigarettes, alcohol and carbonated drinks.

Detecting possible signs of osteoporosis is essential for prevention and cure.

A bone density test may be useful to detect signs of osteoporosis. However these are normally done on the large bones and it’s the small bones that will actually give you the indication that you’re losing bone tissue first.

A natural approach to treating osteoporosis is to first determine if you’re suffering a calcium deficiency and are at higher risk.

In his book, ‘Rare Earths Forbidden Cures’ , Dr Joel Wallach lists the common signs of calcium deficiency: receding gums (osteoporosis of facial bones and jaw bones), kidney stones, bone spurs, cramps and twitches (e.g. eye twitches), lower back pain, Tinnitus (ringing in the ears is actually osteoporosis of the ear bone), high blood pressure can sometimes be a calcium deficiency, poor blood clotting, Arthritis, bad PMS, cracking bones and joints.

Highly active or athletic people – if you sweat heavily, your loss of minerals, particularly calcium, will be much higher! You need to replace all those minerals you’ve sweated out!)

Risk factors:

• Women (especially post-menopausal).
• Age – the older we are the more bone tissue we lose. Older men and women need to consume more calcium.
• Body size – small thin-boned people are at greater risk because they have less bone mass.
• Lactose intolerance and celiac disease can lead to calcium deficiency.
• Diets high in processed food which are high in phosphorus and prevent calcium from being absorbed.

Treating Osteoporosis Naturally

Whilst there are a number of drug treatments offered by conventional medicine, the general consensus is that treating osteoporosis naturally with supplements and early prevention methods haven’t been used to their full advantage.

When it comes to treating osteoporosis naturally, the use of nutritional supplements with calcium as a focus have produced spectacular results. The following supplements for treating osteoporosis naturally are recommended:

• Calcium & magnesium supplements from a high quality and highly absorbable source at 2000 mg and 1000 mg per day respectively for the first 30 days.
• Colloidal calcium, magnesium, boron (can be found in plant derived minerals) digestive enzymes taken 15 minutes before meals. (improves absorption of calcium from food and supplements).
• Vitamin D (lack of vitamin D can cause a calcium deficiency as it helps the body absorb calcium).
• Calcium is highly absorbable (up to 98%) in organic plant derived colloidal minerals and water soluble chelated form. (i.e. Liquid calcium supplements with vitamin D, magnesium and manganese are excellent).

Dietary Tips for Natural Treatment and Prevention of Osteoporosis

1. Natural sources of Calcium: some dairy products such as yogurt and cheese (milk is not a good source as it contains a high amount of protein and will prevent calcium from being absorbed), Dark green leafy vegetables (eg broccoli and spinach), Tofu, Almonds, Foods enriched with calcium (eg some orange juice is enriched with calcium supplements).
2. Natural sources of Vitamin D: Egg yolks, Salt water fish, Liver NB Your skin will make Vitamin D following direct exposure to sunlight.
3. Drink eight glasses of pure, filtered water every day (you need water to eliminate toxins).
4. Eat a variety of foods with a low fat, high protein intake.
5. Eat organic, fresh foods wherever possible.

Exercise and Lifestyle for Osteoporosis

Exercise is important as a natural treatment for osteoporosis because bones respond to exercise in the same way as muscles – they grow stronger. (If you have osteoporosis, plan your exercise programme with your physician.

Weight-bearing exercise is best because the bones respond by becoming stronger (e.g. walking, hiking, jogging, stair climbing, weight training, tennis).

If there’s one thing that conventional medicine and natural osteoporosis treatments have in common, it’s exercise.
Many accidents and falls will occur around the home since this is where you spend most of your time. If you have osteoporosis, keep your home uncluttered and obstacle-free. Have things within easy reach. Do use a walking stick or other aid for support. Make sure stairs are well lit. Don’t rush! Treating osteoporosis naturally can start right in your own home!

Treating osteoporosis naturally - things to avoid:

• Smoking affects the lungs and is bad for the bones and bad for your osteoporosis.
• Excessive alcohol – can contribute to bone loss.
• Processed foods (Many processed foods are high in phosphorous. Diets rich in phosphorous upset the phosphorous to calcium ratio and may result in calcium deficiency.)
• Some medications can cause bone loss, particularly medications prescribed for arthritis and asthma.
• Excess sugar and caffeine lead to a loss of calcium from the bones.
• Carbonated drinks neutralize stomach acid – the result is decreased absorption of calcium into your bones.

Summary

1. Our risk of developing osteoporosis rises as we get older and affects men and women.
2. There are many warning signs for osteoporosis such as grinding joints, bone spurs, receding gums and high blood pressure - all signs of a calcium deficiency .
3. Treating osteoporosis naturally involves supplementation with liquid minerals - particularly calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals along with a good multivitamin.
4. Lifestyle is important - reduce your intake of sugar, caffeine and alcohol (these all cause calcium to be lost from the tissues); increase your intake of fresh food - particularly green leafy vegetables.
5. Weight-bearing exercises such as yoga, light weights are an excellent strategy for preventing and treating osteoporosis naturally.

Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and runs the Global-Longevity.com website.
He is the author of numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report, The Ultimate Arthritis Report, The Ultimate Nutrient Guide and The Healthy Exercise Guide - available Free through Global-Longevity.com.

Numerous studies show that those who eat the most fruits and vegetables have the lowest risk of cancer and heart disease. Yet, when isolated vitamins are consumed, the results are mixed. Why?

According to Dr. Rui Lui of Cornell University, “The key question is whether a purified vitamin has the same benefit as does the whole food.”

Dr. Lui concluded, “Our group found that, for example, that the Vitamin C in apples with skin accounts for only 0.4% of the total antioxidant activity, suggesting that most of the antioxidant activity of fruits and vegetables may come from phenolics and flavonoids in apples. We propose that the additive and synergistic effects of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are responsible for their potent antioxidant and anti-cancer activities.”

In other words, the powerful benefit of fruits and vegetables come from the antioxidant activity of the “non-essential” nutrients, in tandem with vitamins. The main categories of these supernutrients are:

Ellagic Acid: Twenty years ago, this antioxidant was unknown to the scientific community. Today, it is one of the most studied of the newly discovered supernutrients found in food. A large number of studies have documented the ability of ellagic acid to protect against lung, colon, breast, intestinal, and exophageal cancer. It may not only block the carcinogenic effects of chemicals, but, it can even halt the progession of cancer and prevent genetic mutations. It may be the key to explain why certain fruits and vegetables have better health benefits than purified vitamins. Wolfberries contain the highest amount of ellagic acid of any known food. Other good sources are raspberries and pomegranates.

Cinnamic Acid: An anti-cancer compound found in cinnamon bark.

It is clear that there are components in a plant based diet, other than isolated vitamins and minerals, that can reduce the risk of cancer.

As Gary Young says in his new book, “The fruits richest in antioxidants, such as wolfberries, raspberries, and pomegranates may represent one of our most important natural therapies to slow the onset of degenerative diseases.”

While the research on supernutrients and superfoods continues around the world, the good news is that adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet can profoundly improve health and combat illness.

Faye Durham is a former chemist and clinical research associate in the pharmaceutical industry. In her current career, she is a researcher, writer, and independent distributor, specializing in nutrition. She can be reached through the website at http://www.youngliving.org/fdurham

Resource: “Discovery of the Ultimate Superfood” by Gary Young, ND, Ronald Lawrence, MD, PhD, and Marc Schreuder, compiled by Essential Science Publishing, http://www.essentialscience.net or 1-800-336-6308.

You may not have noticed but there is a certain ingredient missing in the foods we eat which could wreck your life. Take asparagus for example. Now what could be missing? I am a chef, I can help you.

I know. I know. Vegetables that are purple are in and you buy your purple passion asparagus farm fresh. None of that stuff that’s transported 1250 miles on average from factory farms to reach the produce shelf, exhausted, at your market. Nope. You get the good stuff, organically grown, from the farmers market and cook it the only approved, right and correct way; you steam it (according to a recent study in the Journal of the Science of Food). Good.

Then you sample it and it tastes kina good. So, what’s missing? Maybe, your chef suggests, you add a little Meyers lemon butter, some French sea salt and imported, fresh ground black pepper. Now it tastes really good, you gourmet with a personal chef. But something’s still missing?

Now you read the fine print and find out most of the essential nutrient folate or vitamin B9 is just not all there and whatever was there was lost when you cooked it (according to the USDA). And to make matters worse, it doesn’t matter where you bought the asparagus or even if it is purple, white or green. Because the only thing The United States Department of Agriculture knows for sure it that it probably does not have an adequate amount of folate for you in the first place. Read on.

All right. So folate is colorless, something you cannot taste and it is something you cannot live without. In fact you and I and whatever colored asparagus you’re eating have something in common: none of us can live without folate (Andrew D. Hanson, Horticulture Sciences Department, University of Florida, personal communication). By deduction we know that the asparagus made enough for itself, but maybe not enough for you. So how do you know enough of it there or not there?

You don’t, period. Science could tell you, but try and find that answer. Of course you could have a nutrient analysis done before cooking and after cooking and you would find out for sure. But that would set you back a lot of lettuce, if you get my drift. And the asparagus would not plate up very pretty and I would quit as your chef.

You say, so what? I knew that was coming. Your life without adequate folate or vitamin B9? If your primary source of folate was asparagus then you could end up putting yourself at risk for a host of devastating health problems. Here’s the short list: heart disease, birth defects, retardation of development (in children) and low levels can lead to anemia in adults along with added risk for colon cancer. Oh, your body absolutely needs folate to make new cells and genetic material. Darn details.

But don’t throw out the asparagus, yet.

As science built the story of this missing ingredient, study by study, and discovered what happens to us when it is not all there, the Federal Government stepped in to help fix the problem. But first science proved we were not getting enough folate from our natural foods. In fact about 50 or so years ago science proved that food richest in folate is (or was) asparagus, but it is also found in other green leafy vegetables, eggs and beans. All this has been published by the USDA and the FDA. However, in 1998 the Food and Drug Administration began requiring certain grain manufacturers to fortify their foods with folic acid, a synthetic form of folate.

And low and behold folate deficiencies are becoming rare, according to nutritionists (that’s what most every licensed nutritionist you can contact would most likely say—contact a few and see).

But the levels of folate in our naturally occurring foods are still to low to sustain our health and we must have our diet fortified or suffer the consequences. We know this for sure because science has established it beyond doubt and with agreement of the Federal Government. In addition, no less an authority than Harvard University ( at Harvard’s Department of Public Health) says fresh fruits and vegetables alone cannot provide us with adequate nutrition—we need supplements to fill in the missing ingredients in our foods.

So we now know there are ingredients missing from our foods that were there but are not now and we do not know why: the baseline for getting adequate nutrition from our foods has shifted.

As your chef I recommend it is probably best to eat your asparagus, steamed and sauced along and pop a vitamin supplement rich in folate (a daily dose of 400 to 800 mcgs is recommended by the FDA—check it out with your doctor before you start).

Of course, if you do not like looking for missing ingredients in your foods you can eat some cereal fortified with folic acid and other yummy ingredients.

The Missing Ingredient is a contribution toward the establishment of nutritional baselines in American foods–the science of finding what nutrients are in the foods we eat.

Herb Dreyer is the critically acclaimed chef at Good Friends & Company http://www.goodfriendsco.com, home of fine American foods and a writer on the controversial baselines in American food.

What Is Thiamin?

Known as Vitamin B1, thiamin was the very first B-Vitamin discovered. As an integral part of the B-complex spectrum of vitamins, thiamin is primarily involved in energy metabolism – turning foods into a useable energy source for the body, known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate). All of the B-vitamins work together to produce ATP, and each different vitamin is also involved in more specific aspects of the human body. Thiamin helps support healthy nerves and a healthy heart, is involved in positively influencing mood, and is also now considered useful for soothing heartburn.

How does Thiamin Work?

Besides playing an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein, thiamin is also necessary to maintaining heart health. The human heart pumps blood in and out of its chambers numerous times a day, feeding blood through vessels to the various parts of the human body – it is the hardest working organ in the human body. Regular daily intake of Thiamin is essential to people suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF) because it has been shown to improve the heart’s “pumping power.” Thiamin has been found in very low levels in those people with CHF. Long term use of diuretic drugs, which are often prescribed to CHF patients, deplete the body’s storage of Thiamin. One study of CHF patients on diuretics showed that taking at least 200 mg. of Thiamin each day for 6 weeks improved the heart’s pumping power by 22%.

Not only does Thiamin help support a healthy working heart, it also helps promote healthy nerve function throughout the body. Although there are a number of diseases that affect nerve health, diabetics especially suffer from nerve damage, if the disease is uncontrolled, resulting in a numbing of the extremities, usually detected first as a tingling in the hands and/or feet. Thiamin may be used to support overall nerve health, ultimately minimizing numbness and tingling and helping to protect against this condition.

Often recommended by health professionals for mood disorders, the intake of Thiamin to boost mood is valuable, even when the vitamin is not deficient in the body. One study of a group of college-age women who were not deficient in Thiamin reported improved mood, energy and alertness after just 2 months of taking 50 mg. of Thiamin a day. And yet another study showed that taking 10 mg. of thiamin each day for 3 months improved energy levels in the elderly, along with lowered blood pressure, healthy weight loss and an improved quality of sleep. Recent reports claim that Thiamin may be helpful in treating the memory-loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease, although this has not yet been fully proven.

Like all of the B-complex Vitamins, the body requires a steady dose of Thiamin each day to function at optimal levels because it is water-soluble. Deficiency can have a negative effect on mood, including increased irritability and depression, as well as result in increased muscle fatigue. Severe deficiency results in a condition known as beriberi, resulting in nerve damage, muscle loss, loss of mental abilities, paralysis and eventually death. Since Thiamin is a water-soluble vitamin, any excess that is taken in and not used by the body, will simply be excreted in the urine, so toxicity is not a concern.

Thiamin is commonly added back to milled foods marketed (as “enriching”) to prevent deficiency. Thiamin is found specifically in enriched grain products, dried bean, nuts & seeds, lean pork and whole grains. It is important to be aware that drinking diuretics, such as coffee, tea, or soda, can deplete Thiamin levels so it is important to drink those in moderation, or be sure to take extra Thiamin.

Robert Nelson is a Nutrition Staff Writer for Super Vitamin Power, Distributors of the Vitamin Power line of nutritional products. All of the products needed for optimal health can be found at: http://www.supervitaminpower.com

5 HTP, GABA and St. Johns Wort Mood Enhancers

What is 5 HTP Mood Enhancer? The Griffonia Extract is rich in 5-HydroxyTryptophan (5-HTP), which comes from an African vegetable, the Griffonia simplicifolia seed, and contains 30% 5–HTP. 5-HTP is an amino acid that is a direct precursor of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter having pain soothing and relaxing effects. 5-HTP is not present in significant amounts in a typical diet. The human body manufactures 5-HTP from L-tryptophan, a natural amino acid found in most dietary proteins. However, eating food that contains L-tryptophan does not significantly increase 5-HTP levels.

5-HTP mood enhancer is the precursor to serotonin. It improves mood, anxiety and is beneficial in weight loss. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin. There is a massive amount of evidence that suggests that low serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living. The lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era results in lowered levels of serotonin within the brain. Read more about 5 HTP Mood Enhancer supplements, click here.

What is GABA? A non-essential amino acid found mainly in the human brain and eyes. It is considered an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it regulates brain and nerve cell activity by inhibiting the number of neurons firing in the brain. GABA is referred to as the “brain’s natural calming agent”. By inhibiting over-stimulation of the brain, GABA may help promote relaxation and ease nervous tension.

GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, discovered in 1950, is the most important and widespread inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Excitation in the brain must be balanced with inhibition. Too much excitation can lead to restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and even seizures. GABA is able to induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are known to stimulate GABA receptors, and hence induce relaxation. Several neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, and Parkinson’s disease are affected by this neurotransmitter.

What is St Johns Wort Mood Enhancer? Extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (St John’s wort) are now successfully competing for status as a standard antidepressant therapy. Because of this, great effort has been devoted to identifying the active antidepressant compounds in the extract. From a phytochemical point of view, St John’s wort is one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. Researchers in Europe have studied St John’s Wort for decades. They discovered a combination of elements in the plant, foremost of which is “hypericin”, react with specific chemicals in the brain to temper emotional discomfort, lift depression, and calm the nerves. Working very much like the common synthetic prescription antidepressants (maprotiline hydrochloride and imipramine), natural extracts from St. John’s Wort have shown to relax and soothe the psyche with minimal side effects.

A high fiber food chart helps you know the foods high in dietary fiber. Adding more foods high in dietary fiber from the high fiber food chart can help you obtain the recommended 25-30 grams of fiber each day. Sufficient daily fiber intake is important, not just because of helping the bowels function, but to provide nutrients to friendly bacteria in the digestive tracts.

Low-fiber diets have been connected to numerous diseases and conditions — colon cancer, constipation, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids and varicose veins are examples. Correcting low fiber intake for your diet can help you achieve regular bowel movements necessary for optimum health.

Here are top foods high in dietary fiber along with the approximate number of grams of fiber they contain. Fiber contents shown below on the high fiber food chart are for a food quantity of 1/2 cup unless otherwise noted:

• Bananas, 3 grams - medium 8″ long

• Beans, 6-10 grams - baked beans, black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, garbanzos, pinto beans, white beans

• Berries, 4-5 grams - blackberries, raspberries

• Bran Cereals, 5-10 grams - All-Bran, Bran Buds, 100% Bran, Raisin Bran

• Bread, 4-7 grams - 2 slices whole wheat, pumpernickel, seven-grain

• Broccoli, 4-5 grams

• Brussels Sprouts, 2 grams

• Carrots, 3-4 grams

• Dried Figs, 10 grams - 3 figs

• Fruit, 4 grams - medium apple, medium pear

• Green Beans, 2 grams - broad beans, pole beans, snap beans

• Greens, 4-6 grams - beet greens, collards, kale, spinach, turnip greens

• Lentils, 6 grams

• Lima Beans - 4-6 grams

• Peas, 7-9 grams - black-eyed peas, green peas

• Potatoes, 4-5 grams - medium baked Idaho or sweet potato

• Sweet Corn, 5 grams

When making changes to your diet to include more foods from the high fiber food chart, just add a few grams at a time so your intestinal tract can adjust. And important for bowel health is that adequate liquid be present for good bowel function. Each fiber particle absorbs liquid in the colon which helps facilitate regular movement along in the bowels, so make sure that you are consuming adequate liquids daily.

If you find that after a few weeks of consuming more foods from the high fiber food chart you are still not having a daily bowel movement, consider adding a fiber supplement. One of the best natural foods high in dietary fiber is psyllium made from ground-up psyllium seeds. It may take several weeks to achieve daily bowel movements, but the reward will be that wastes and toxins will be eliminated from your system instead of your body reabsorbing them.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about constipation and natural fiber supplements easily available online. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural health information and articles.

Enlarged and twisted veins that are close to the skin’s surface are called varicose veins they tend to affect women more than men and although they can appear anywhere on the body, they typically occur on the legs and sometimes the oesophagus. Varicose veins occur because of weak values which are designed so that the blood can circulated throughout the body easily, even against gravity, these weak valves cause blood pools especially in the veins of the legs which causes them to become dilated, twisted and to bulge. Varicose veins can be caused by being overweight, pregnant, a lack of exercise, standing or sitting for long periods of time or they may even be hereditary.

Symptoms of varicose veins are bulging, pain, tortuous veins which may look blue, a dull pain, aching, itching, dragging or heavy sensations in the legs and swelling of the ankles. Symptoms tend to be worst after standing for a long time and tend to ease if legs are elevated.

To ease the symptoms of varicose veins try to avoid standing or sitting for a long period of time, elevate the legs frequently, lose excess weight, walk regularly, wear supportive shoes and compression stockings and massage the affected area daily. Include in your diet plenty of oily fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, sardines and herrings and garlic.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from varicose veins.

Bilberry

Co-enzyme Q10

Extracts of red vine leaf

Fish Oil

Garlic tablets

Ginkgo bilboa extracts

Gotu kola

Grapeseed extracts

Horsechestnut

Multivitamins and minerals

Pine bark

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

The average conventionally-grown apple has 20-30 artificial poisons on its skin, even after rinsing.

Organic food is grown and stored without the use of artificial pesticides and fertilisers. The fact that residues remain on conventional foods and are consumed by us over decades, accumulating in our fatty tissues is well documented.

Organic food is, in general, food produced without the use of artificial pesticides, herbicides, and in many definitions genetically modified organisms (GMOs). At present, there is no universally accepted definition of organic food.

The USDA has identified for three categories of labeling organic products:

100% Organic: Made with 100% organic ingredients

Organic: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients

Made With Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% including no GMO (genetically modified organisms)

Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may list organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any organic claims on the front of the package.

Proponents of industrial agriculture state that synthetic biocides, soluble fertilizers and genetic engineering are necessary to feed the world’s growing population.

Data from the advanced agricultural economies of North America, Australia and Europe show that best practice organics can deliver equal to and significantly better yields than current conventional agricultural practices.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, all foods—whether organic or not—are exposed to the agricultural chemicals that are now present in nearly all rain and groundwater due to their overuse during the last 50 years.

Copyright Glenda Erceg.

For more organic food resources visit http://www.organicgardeningcentre.com.

This article may be used without permission as long as it is shown in its entirety with links intact.