Health benefits of fish

Eating plenty of fish on a regular basis can help protect you from a range of serious diseases. But are there any dangers in eating too much?

Oily fish such as salmon have the highest concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids

Fish is a superfood. Packed with vitamins and minerals, and a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, fish can help to protect against a range of diseases, from cancer to heart disease, depression to arthritis.

The benefits of eating fish

Heart disease

No wonder the Government wants us all to eat more, with the Food Standards Agency recommending at least two portions a week of fresh, frozen, or tinned seafood (one of them of oily fish). The British Heart Foundation says eating oily fish can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve your chances of survival following a heart attack. Fish does this by lowering levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood - raised levels are associated with heart disease. Fish oils also appear to help reduce blood clotting and abnormal heart rhythms after a heart attack.

Alzheimer's

Polyunsaturated fatty acids found in many fish may prevent damage to brain cells. Eating fish can also reduce the risk of high blood pressure, which is linked with dementia. A French study of 2000 people showed that those who ate seafood at least once a week had a significantly lower risk of dementia over a seven-year period than those who didn't.

Cancer

A Swedish study of 6000 men over a 30-year period showed that those who didn't eat any fish had between double and treble the risk of developing prostate cancer, compared to those who ate moderate or large amounts. Shellfish, such as crab and lobster, also contains selenium, thought to have cancer-fighting properties.

Depression

It's been reported that fish can help to ease depression. Again, it's down to omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to raise levels of the brain chemical serotonin.

Arthritis

Population groups that eat a lot of fish - Inuits in Greenland, for example - have low rates of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Studies have also shown fish oils to be useful in relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Social benefits

According to research carried out in Mauritius, children given lots of fish from the age of three are less likely to have criminal records by the time they reach 23.

Skin

According to dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, author of The Perricone Prescription, a salmon-packed diet can help smooth out age lines.

Which fish to eat

• White fish like cod are a good source of low-fat protein and minerals.
• Oily fish such as sardines, pilchards, salmon and mackerel have the highest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Crab, lobster and mussels come into the shellfish group and contain selenium, thought to have cancer-fighting properties.
• source- http://www.saga.co.uk/health/healthy-eating/benefitsofeatingfish.aspx

The Important Health Benefits Of Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture treatment has been known across the world for many years. A lot of people know that acupuncture is a natural healing therapy that helps recover the body's natural balance and harmony. Acupuncture is also known as a very effective treatment against pain and sicknesses. The main objective of acupuncture is to restore the perfect balance of the body and mind in order to prevent sickness and ailments from developing.
Acupuncture works by inserting very thin needles painlessly in various acupuncture points throughout the body. Acupuncture points are the spot on your body that acts as a meridian through the pathways where the life energy flows. The process of inserting the very thin needles helps the acupuncturists to stimulate the pathways thus removing any obstruction in the flow of energy. By removing the obstruction, the flow of energy will be restored in its proper balance. This treatment is designed to treat various health problems and works to balance the energy throughout the entire body.
The acupuncture treatment can provide a lot of benefits. Mainly, it can help improve the overall health and quality of life of a person. Since the acupuncture treatment helps balance the body's energy system, it helps restore the body's ability to heal itself. It helps take the load off from the body thus rejuvenating the entire body system and refreshes the individual. Acupuncture also helps reduce stress. This is highly beneficial since a lot of people experience too much stress thus leading to anxiety and other mental distress. High stress levels make it difficult for your body to relax. The acupuncture treatment can help your body system to go in a state of tranquility thus allowing full rest and relaxation. Another important health benefit of acupuncture treatment is the improvement of the respiratory health. Acupuncture treatment can help treat allergies, sinusitis, asthma, and other conditions. Aside from all these, acupuncture treatment is also known to strengthen the immune system of a person. Acupuncture releases chemicals and stimulates the nervous system that allows the body to heal itself and to fight off harmful sickness and illnesses.
If you want to try a natural healing therapy for your sickness and ailments, acupuncture is definitely a very safe alternative for you. Acupuncture can also help you relax thus allowing your body the rest it needs to recuperate and to heal itself from the daily stress that it goes through every single day.
------------------------
Reil Miller is a freelance writer who writes about the health benefits of acupuncture treatment. She also writes for acupuncture New York clinics such as Alban Acupuncture <a href="http://albanacupuncture.com/">http://albanacupuncture.com/</a>

Health benefits of drinking freshly made juices

Health benefits of drinking freshly made juices

Freshly made juices are a tremendous source of bio-available vitamins and minerals which are the partners of enzymes and co-enzymes. Vitamins activate enzymes and without vitamins, enzymes could not carry out their work, and we could not live.

Enzymes act as catalysts in hundreds of thousands of chemical reactions that take place throughout your body, and are essential for digesting, absorbing and converting food into body tissue. Enzymes produce energy at the cellular level and are critical for most of the metabolic activities taking place in your body every second of every day.

Another benefit of drinking fresh juices and smoothies is that your body can absorb MORE of the vitamins and minerals then if you were to eat the fruits and vegetables whole! Many of the nutrients are TRAPPED in the fiber and by blending fruits and vegetables, you break down the fiber and release the vital nutrients.

Example:
When you eat a raw carrot, you are only able to assimilate a small percentage of the available beta carotene. When a carrot is juiced, removing the fiber, a LARGE percentage of the beta carotene can be assimilated by your body.

Of course, you still need to eat whole produce because fiber is also an important part of your daily diet.

Meeting you or your children's need for energy and nutrients is essential for good health. Children who do not meet their needs for energy may stop growing and gaining weight. In severe situations, they can develop a condition which is life threatening called protein energy malnutrition. Vitamins and minerals are only required in very small amounts, but a diet insufficient in these can cause SEVERE deficiency diseases.

You may be showing signs of malnutrition if you ...

• feel tired and weak.
• feel like you never have the energy to clean your home, make meals or even do the dishes.
• have difficulty losing or gaining weight.
• can't easily get to sleep.
• feel stressed and/or nervous.
• feel drowsy during the day.
• sometimes can't concentrate, you're mind feels numb, or you get confused easily.
• have problems with your digestion.
• have constipation and/or hard dry stools.
• have mood swings, or get easily upset.
• don't have patience for anything.
• sometimes feel depressed.
• have overly dry or oily skin.
• sometimes have nausea and/or abdominal pain.
• have annoying eye twitches.
• bruise easily.
• have muscle cramps and/or low back pain.
• sometimes get cracks and sores in the corners of your mouth.
• notice that your nails have become thin and/or brittle.
• are losing your hair.
• have water retention.
• have uncontrollable temper outbursts.
• don't eat a well-balanced nutritious diet EVERY DAY

Natural vitamins in juice

Natural vitamins are found only in living things, that is, plants and animals. Your body, with a few exceptions, can't manufacture vitamins. They must be supplied in your food or in dietary supplements but supplements can't replace food, especially fruits and vegetables which provide thousands of substances, some of which have well-known functions, and some whose roles in the human body are not yet understood or recognized.

Vitamins and minerals ...

• reduce your risk of getting a stroke or heart attack!
• strengthen your nails!
• improve your hair condition, strength and growth by providing certain essential nutrients to the hair follicle!
• beautify your skin by keeping it smooth, soft and disease-free!
• provide essential compounds that are necessary for growth, health, normal metabolism and physical well-being! Without them, you would die!
• promote normal growth and development!
• maintain bone density and strength!
• regulate blood clotting!
• help in the function of nerves and muscles, including regulating a normal heart beat!

When it comes to choosing a healthy diet for their children, many parents don't realize the important role that beverages play. For example, fruit flavored drinks and soft drinks are not a substitute for real fruit. Many of these drinks only contain 10% real fruit juice. The very best drinks are made from whole fruit and you can make great fruity healthy drinks at home.

How to make homemade fruit and vegetable juices:

1. You'll need an inexpensive juice machine.
   
2. All fruits and vegetables should be juiced raw.
   
3. Small seeded fruit, such as watermelon and pears, may be juiced with their seeds, with the exception of papaya and apple seeds. Orange and grapefruit seeds might impart a bitter taste to your juice. Remove the large pits from fruits like peaches and nectarines, etc.
   
4. Peel all fruits and vegetables that are not organically grown because the peel is where most of the chemical residues can be found. While most skins of organically grown fruits and vegetables may be left on, with the exception of waxed produce, the skins of pineapples, kiwis, oranges, grapefruits and papaya should be removed.
   
5. Choose fresh ripe produce. Rubbery vegetables, bruised fruit, wilted greens and over or under-ripe fruits will produce juices that are neither tasty nor healthful.
   
6. Cut the fruits or vegetables into pieces that will fit into the mouth of your juice machine. Turn the juice machine on and push the pieces through the mouth of the juicer. As you juice, pulp will collect in a large receptacle. If you don't clean the pulp out right away, it will develop a sour odor and tiny gnats and fruit flies may appear after 8 to 10 hours.
   
7. It is best to drink freshly made juices within one day.

How to make perfect homemade smoothies and shakes:

1. Put the fruit in the blender first. Make sure that the items are smaller than a golf ball so they will blend completely. Add the liquid ingredients next.
   
2. Fasten the lid and press the start button. Use high speed for about 20-30 seconds.
   
3. Stop the blender and check to see if the ingredients are well blended. Sometimes the frozen fruit will jam under the blade. If there is jammed fruit, use a spatula to unjam the fruit, and blend again.
   
4. Once the mixture is evenly blended, slowly add two ice cubes through the opening of the blender lid. Keep adding one or two ice cubes at a time until the blender sounds smooth. If your blender is not strong enough to blend ice cubes, omit the ice and substitute just enough ice cold water or fruit juice so that the shake will have a milkshake consistency.
   
5. If the shake/smoothie is too thin, add more fruit or ice. If it’s too thick, add more liquid.

http://healthrecipes.com

health benefits of peanuts

Peanut Power

Also known as ground nuts, peanuts, along with beans and peas are members of the legume family which are the best sources of protein in the plant kingdom. Peanuts are found in a wide variety of products. They can be eaten salted, dry roasted, boiled and even raw. They can be found in peanut brittle, peanut butter and candy bars and is often a major ingredient in mixed nuts.

1. Helps Promote Fertility (Folate)

Peanuts contain a good amount of folate. Repeated studies have shown that women who had a daily intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduced their risk of having a baby born with a serious neural tube defect by up to 70%.

2. Aids in Blood Sugar Regulation (Manganese)

One fourth cup of peanuts can supply the body with 35% of the DV of manganese, a mineral which plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation.

3. Helps Prevent Gallstones

It may come as a surprise that peanuts can help prevent gallstones. But 20 years of studies have shown that eating 1 ounce of nuts, peanuts or peanut butter a week lowers the risk of developing gallstones by 25%.

4. Helps Fight Depression (Tryptophan)

Peanuts are good sources of tryptophan, an essential amino acid which is important for the production of serotonin, one of the key brain chemicals involved in mood regulation. When depression occurs, a decreased amount of serotonin may be released from the nerve cells in the brain. Tryptophan may raise serotonin’s antidepressant effects when there is an increased amount of serotonin in the blood.

5. Boosts Memory Power (Vitamin B3)
Do you know what can be found in peanuts that gave them the “brain food” tag? This is due to their vitamin B3 or niacin content whose many health benefits include normal brain functioning and boosting memory power.

6. Helps Lower Cholesterol Levels (Copper)

The same nutrient which gives peanuts their memory enhancing power also helps lower and control cholesterol levels. Added to that is their copper contents which aids in reducing bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels.

7. Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

Numerous studies have shown that regular nuts consumption is linked to reduced risk of heart disease. Peanuts are rich in heart-friendly monounsaturated fats and antioxidants such as oleic acid. Reach for a handful of peanuts and other nuts at least four times a week to reduce your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease.

8. Protects Against Age-related Cognitive Decline (Vitamin B2)

Study participants have shown that those who have an intake of the most niacin-rich foods like peanuts were 70% less likely to have developed Alzheimer’s disease. A quarter cup a day of peanuts can already supply almost a quarter of the daily needed value for niacin.

9 Cancer Protection

A form of phytosterol called beta-sitoserol (SIT) is found in high concentrations in some plant oils, seeds, and legumes including peanuts. Phytosterols not only protects against cardiovascular disease by interfering with the absorption of cholesterol, they also protect against cancer by inhibiting tumor growth.

10. Lowers Risk of Weight Gain

Surprise! Eating nuts regularly is associated with a lowered risk of weight gain. Research has shown that people who eat nuts at least twice weekly are much less likely to gain weight than those who almost never eat them.

The only thing you should consider when adding peanuts to your diet, is that you try to avoid salted peanuts as too much salt intake is bad for you.

benefits of eating salad

Eating a salad every day offers numerous health benefits. It is one of the simplest and healthiest food habits that anyone can adapt. Salads are easy to make and they bring us a few steps closer to our recommended daily serving of fruit and vegetables. Simply add some of your favourite fat-free or reduced fat dressing and experience some of the following health benefits:

Increase fibre intake

One health benefit of consuming salad is an increase in fibre intake. Salads provide the body with a lot of fibre, which in turn means lower cholesterol and less constipation.

Lose weight

Furthermore, when you eat these green wonders, you feel fuller, eat less and lose weight. Since salads are very filling, eating one prior to your main course will reduce the number of calories you end up consuming. By the time you get to the main course you will feel full and satisfied. This in turn will result in fewer calorie intake and loss of weight.

Nutrients for overall health

We don't get the recommended serving of fruit and vegetables. And eating a salad daily can bring you a few steps closer to that goal. Vegetables and fruit are rich with many nutrients which contribute to our overall health.

Source of antioxidants

Furthermore, green veggies provide our bodies with high levels of antioxidants which lower our chances of developing many illnesses, such as cancer. So eating five servings of vegetables per day is not just a random saying that some person cooked up in his head, it is a recommendation towards a healthy lifestyle