Bad Fats, Good Fats, and Fat Loss

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=J_Gwin]J Gwin

Are there really good fats and bad fats? Can good fats actually help you lose fat?

Believe it or not, fats are actually a primary nutrient and serve many important bodily functions:

Primary fuel for light to moderate exercise
Provide the body with essential fatty acids
Provide for the proper function of cell membranes, skin and hormones.
Transport fat soluble vitamins.

So why do fats get such a bad rap in our society?

Well, a couple of types of fat, saturated and trans fat, are associated with increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and some types of cancer. These types of fat raise your bad cholesterol level, leaving you more susceptible to heart attacks. Trans fat actually lowers your good cholesterol as well! In fact, trans fat is so bad for you that many cities have taken steps to force restaurants to eliminate trans fat.

But a couple of good fat, specifically monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, can actually lower your risk of heart disease by lowering your bad cholesterol. They also serve important functions like growth and brain function.

Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are found in many oils like extra virgin olive oil and canola oil, as well as safflower oil. They are also found in fatty fish like salmon and trout, as well as avocados and all-natural peanut butter. Additionally, most seeds and nuts contain these fats as well. These serve a primary role in exercise energy and serve to improve overall health by lowering bad cholesterol.

Saturated fats are typically found in fatty meats (highly-marbled meats), butter, mayonnaise, and whole milk dairy products. Trans fat, the devil of nutrition, is found in many fast foods and fried foods, and many snack foods such as chips and cookies. Trans fat is also very prevalent in baked goods such as doughnuts.

The USDA Food Guide recommends 3-6 tablespoons of good fats per day for a 2000-calorie diet. Additionally, if you want to lose fat and stay healthy, you should avoid saturated fat and trans fat as much as you can. To get good fat, try cooking some bell pepper and onion in 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil for a tasty addition to many meals.

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Josh Gwin is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer though the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and holds a black belt in martial arts. He has a degree in Biological Sciences/Pre-Med and a Master's Degree from Louisiana State University.

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High Fiber Foods That Are Also Low in Carbs

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Devon]John Devon

For a healthy body, make sure you are eating enough fiber.

How much fiber should you eat?

According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for 2010, most Americans consume an average of only 15 grams of dietary fiber per day. Compare that with recommendations of the Institute of Medicine:

Men 50 years old and younger should have at least 38 grams of total fiber a day.
Women 50 years old and younger should have at least 25 grams.
Men 51 years old and older should have at least 30 grams.
Women 51 years and older should have at least 21 grams.

In addition to more fiber, you should be eating fewer refined carbs -- such as those found in processed foods like white bread, white pasta and crackers.

What high-fiber foods are also low in carbs?

This question is something of an oxymoron -- fiber is a carbohydrate; so are unrefined carbs. The question should be re-phrased as, "What high-fiber foods are also low in unrefined carbs?

Remember the foods your mother said were "good for you"? For me they included spinach, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, beets, sauerkraut, walnuts. If you were from the south, perhaps they also included turnip greens, collard greens, beet greens and mustard greens. Well, it turns out that they are good for you -- they have a high dietary fiber content (at least 3% percent by weight) and a high fraction (two-thirds or more) of their total carbs are dietary fiber.

Start your day with a nutritious, high-fiber cereal like All-Bran. A 26-gram serving (1/2 cup) has 13 grams of dietary fiber representing 65% of total carbs and 50% of total weight. All Bran has a 5-star rating for "optimum health" by NutritionData. Or consider corn bran. A 28 gram serving of corn bran has 17 grams of dietary fiber -- comprising 74% of total carbs and 60% of total weight.

Throughout the day eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

There's an element of truth in the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Eating an apple with skin gives you plenty of vitamins and minerals. There's 4 grams of dietary fiber in a medium-sized apple, representing 14% of total fiber, 2% of total weight (There's a lot of water and sugar content in an apple.)

If you have never tried avocados, try one. An avocado has 13 grams of dietary fiber representing 76% of total carbs, and 7% of total weight. (It also has water, but not much sugar.)

Can eating more fiber help you lose weight?

The USDA. Dietary Guidelines for 2010 cited studies that found that high-fiber diets were associated with lower body weight and lower waist circumference. A higher fiber diet will satisfy you longer so you end up eating fewer calories. It aids digestion and stool composition. And it reduces your risk of diabetes, colon cancer, obesity and other chronic diseases.

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How To Stay Young And Healthy Forever - Eat Antioxidant And Fiber-Rich Foods

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adriana_Thomas]Adriana Thomas

There are different ways for staying healthy, and looking young. Among the best methods include eating a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, regular exercise, and having a happy disposition and mood. Another way for staying healthy and looking young includes eating foods that are rich in antioxidants. Just what exactly are antioxidants?

The Health Benefits of Antioxidants

Antioxidants, according to health experts, are substances or nutrients which help to prevent or slow down oxidative damage to our body. Once the cells in the body utilize oxygen, they often naturally create free radicals, which can damage other healthy cells. Antioxidants often act as hunters of free radicals; therefore they help prevent the damage done by these elements. Diseases like macular degeneration, heart disease, diabetes and cancer are often hastened or brought about by oxidative damage made by these free radicals. According to a recent British health study, serving yourself an average of five servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables daily helps lower the risk of stroke by as much as 25 percent, as well as considerably lower the risk of cancer and other life-threatening infections.

Which Foods Are High In Antioxidants?

Health experts suggest that to stay healthy and look young, you need to eat at least five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables which are rich in vitamins A, C and E, and also contain high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidant-rich fruits include blueberries cranberries and blackberries, while for vegetables beans, russet potatoes and artichoke hearts are antioxidant-rich. Carrots, sweet apples, broccoli, tomatoes, kale, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots, along with nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts and pecans, cinnamon, oregano and ground cloves are also good sources of antioxidants as well.

Tips For Choosing Antioxidant-Rich Foods

When choosing antioxidant-rich foods, remember that there are different types of antioxidants that It would in fact be very helpful if you consume a wide array of antioxidant-rich food items.
One of the best methods for ensuring that you're getting the right amount of antioxidants is to eat as much fresh vegetables and fruits each day. Purchase a good juicer, so you'll be able to drink fresh vegetable juice every day.
Whenever you're washing and preparing fruits and vegetables, make sure you properly wash each item, especially if the fruit or veggie is known to be heavily contaminated with pesticides.
Goji berries and raw chocolate are also rich in antioxidants.

Oxidation, even in metals, leads to the development of rust, and breaks down the surface of metal objects. This is the same effect created by free radicals to our body. Free radicals often attack healthy cells, including protein and fats, which lead to a weakened immune system and paves the way for the entry of a wide array of diseases, and also speed up the aging process. By having a healthy dose of antioxidant-rich foods, cell damage can be reduced or slowed down, and the person will be able to live a normal and healthier life.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Stay-Young-And-Healthy-Forever---Eat-Antioxidant-And-Fiber-Rich-Foods&id=5433170] How To Stay Young And Healthy Forever - Eat Antioxidant And Fiber-Rich Foods

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Coconut Water Benefits: Healthy Help During Pregnancy

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Janet_Grosshandler]Janet Grosshandler

Coconut water provides many benefits for health-conscious people. Pregnant women especially can drink this pure liquid, which is high in minerals and vitamins and might help alleviate some of the challenges that occur during pregnancy.

Staying hydrated, which means drinking plenty of good fluids, is crucial during pregnancy to keep your body systems flowing. Coconut water is the purest liquid next to water, filled with natural ingredients, low in sugar, and without chemicals or preservatives.

Known as a perfect isotonic liquid, coconut water will mesh with your cells easily, keeping fluid levels up and toxins excreted more efficiently. CW is high in potassium, magnesium, and other minerals, which balances your body into a more alkaline and healthy state.

What else can coconut water do to help your pregnancy be the best it can be?
Weight gain- CW is low in calories and high in nutrients. It beats sweetened fruit juices and empty-calorie soda in keeping weight gain down from junk calories.
Heartburn- Oh, the scourge of pregnant women everywhere! Coconut water soothes your digestive system, neutralizing the acidity with its alkalizing properties.
Nausea and vomiting-In many countries, CW is the antidote to the vomiting that results from malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid. If it works on those serious illnesses, imagine how it can help with "morning sickness."
Urinary tract infections- Coconut water, in its isotonic state, cleanses the systems of your body, flushing toxins out as a natural diuretic. The more you drink, the more toxins will leave your body, which can help prevent UTI's.
Constipation- Drinking small amounts of CW will act as a very mild laxative. Avoiding constipation during pregnancy is definitely something to rejoice about!
Strengthen immune system- Every healthy thing you do for yourself will be relayed to your baby. Coconut water is rich with lauric acid that has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. This can help prevent acquiring infections and makes your immune system, and that of your baby, stronger.

Drinking healthful water from coconuts in moderation every day will keep you hydrated, boost those needed electrolytes, and cool you off from those hormones flashes rushing through your body.

Pregnancy is such a wonderful gift and an important job for your body to undertake. Only put healthy, nutritional food and drinks into your body during baby-making time. Your body is working for two so soothe its demands with healthy coconut water.

As always, check with your doctor before starting any new foods and drinks, since every pregnancy is different and may require specific care.

Janet Grosshandler is the creator of and writer for [http://CoconutWaterPureHealth.com]http://CoconutWaterPureHealth.com, a website that provides all the current information about the nutritional and health benefits of adding coconut water to your active lifestyle. Go to her [http://CoconutWaterPureHealth.com]CoconutWaterPureHealth.com website for healthy drink and food recipes.

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Fatty Acids - Omega 3 Health Benefits

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_J_Kinnear]Mark J Kinnear

We are very lucky to have such wonderful brains. Our brains store the memories of a lifetime for us to recall whenever we like. We can imagine all sorts of amazing things with the sheer power of our imagination. We can perform multiple functions automatically such as breathing, blinking, making our heart beat etc. It is surely the ultimate super computer. It will be some time before man can come anywhere close to mimicking it's complexity using crude silicon chips and transistors.

However, all the fast paced and fancy brain functions that our grey matter performs so effortlessly comes at a price. Our brains require a lot of energy to keep them working at their optimum. There is a lot going on with our brains at a constant rate. Even when we sleep our brain is extremely active. All this activity needs a lot of the good stuff to keep it well oiled and promote good brain health.

So What exactly is the good stuff for brain health?

Basically the good stuff is the right kind of food our brains need. We need lots of glucose to fuel the brain. Glucose comes from the various sugars that we eat. Some sugars are broken down more quickly and transformed into glucose faster than others. But we also need the right kind of fats. Fats make up a large part of our brain, but not trans fats - the kind we get from greasy chips and so on. Trans fats are man made and don't exist in very many other places in nature. The process to create trans fats involves converting liquid fat into a solid which can be used to add bulk to foods and help to increase a foods shelf life. This is bad news for our brains in modern times as we are consuming too many trans fats on a daily basis and this has a negative effect on our brain functions and infrastructure.

So just as we are saturated with information about eating a healthy diet to keep our bodies in optimum condition so we are equally responsible for our brains in the same respect.

It may be a cliché, but it seems that the age old saying of healthy body, healthy mind, rings true in this case. http://hubpages.com/hub/Fatty-Acids-Omega-3 http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-are-we-so-unfit

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3 Foods That Promote Fat Loss

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Roy_Orion]Roy Orion

Want to lose weight without hitting the gym or going through extensive workouts and depriving yourself of the wrong kind of food? Well you don't have to. The following are the three most effective foods that work best when it comes to weight and fat loss. Just by simply eating these most recommended fat loss foods for about two to three weeks you will notice a great difference to your weight and figure.

1. Oatmeal - the answer to your prayers might be inside your cupboard. Oatmeal is the best solution when it comes to fat loss and anything good for the body. Not only does it cleanse the body it is also good for the heart. Going for an oatmeal diet doesn't really mean sacrificing your taste buds and eating bland and tasteless oats. You can mix and match virtually everything with oatmeal like fruits, dried fruits, nuts and even chocolate!

When you are ready to start your oatmeal adventure replace your breakfast and dinner meal with oatmeal. You can eat any thing you like during lunch time but in controlled portions, you don't have to feel guilty about eating other foods for lunch because most of it is going to be used up by your body as energy to get you through the day. It's better to use the rolled oats than the instant oatmeal because of the high fiber content.

2. Fruits or Vegetables - now this here is a no brainer. Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are jam packed with vitamins and fibers which is pretty much what you're looking for. The best way to enjoy and get the most out of your fruits and veggies is to eat them raw, but for those who are not so into eating vegetables in the fresh state you can steam them or microwave them in a sealed container with a small amount of water. You can also enjoy these tasty and nutritious treats by making a fruit and vegetable smoothie, experiment with it, and find the right way to prepare them that soothes your taste buds. Along with your vegetables you can saut them with some tofu to add some protein into your diet.

3. Chicken or the Egg - what came first the chicken or the egg? Who cares, these two combos are a great way to get some protein into your body. When it comes to chicken what you want is the breast without the skin, the light meat of the chicken breast offers high protein with less calories and fat. Chicken breast is best enjoyed and much healthier when roasted, grilled or boiled. Many people tend to stay away from eggs but little do people know that an egg a day also keeps the doctor away. Aside from its lean protein content it also prevents a lot of diseases like heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and many more. When you want to lose some fat and gain some muscles these two are what you're looking for.

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Green Tea - Uncovering the Health Benefits of Green Tea

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tono_Ruggeri]Tono Ruggeri

Green tea is one of the well-appreciated beverages at present. For the benefit of those who are unaware, this kind of tea is derived from the unfermented leaves of a plant with the scientific name of Camellia Sinensis. This popularity is brought about by the long history of being used not only as a common drink but also for its capability to provide proven health benefits particularly in treating many health conditions naturally. This article will try to enumerate some of the most common but beneficial gains that this type of tea can provide for better health and overall body condition.

• Great for maintaining healthy skin and hair

In case you are not yet informed, green tea can help improve the condition of the skin and hair. This means the greater chance to fight against factors that can cause premature aging and excessive hair loss. If you have dandruff or suffering from other scalp conditions, using or preparing your own hair rinse made from this tea would be useful in providing remedy for these conditions. You can also use it as your homemade conditioner since it can help strengthen and soften dry and dull hair.

Additionally, you can also use it as a skin exfoliant. It can also minimize sun damage on the skin and when use to exfoliate the skin can help bring out the innate glow and revive the vibrancy and suppleness of the skin.

• Loaded with antioxidants providing the body protection against the effects of free radicals and organisms that can cause bad implications on the body.

Free radicals forming on the body can promote rapid skin aging, which is not good for all people. In addition to that, free radicals have the propensity to contribute to the formation of senile plates that can result to the development of different conditions including Alzheimer and other types of Dementia. Of course, a lot of people are also aware that free radicals play a major role in the formation of many cancers that start with tumor formation. With all of the bad effects that free radicals can bring about, green tea which is loaded with antioxidants is a useful beverage that can help damage the free radicals trying to destroy your body system?

Apart from fighting free radical effects, regular consumption of this type of healthy tea also helps in the prevention of many medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease and other factors that constitute for the development of life-threatening heart conditions. It comes with ingredients that can prevent the formation of blood clot and excessive fat buildup.

• Ideal option for weight loss

Many weight watchers appreciate the benefits of green tea when it comes to losing weight. It is preferred by many weight loss aspirants in helping shed off those unwanted pounds because it does not hinder good and fast metabolism unlike most weight loss diet plans. What it does is to reduce the absorption rate of sugar and fat in the blood so as to ensure being on the healthy side of the road even while you are on a dieting regimen.


Indeed, green tea can bring many health benefits that all individuals can really appreciate. And more importantly, green tea is affordable and therefore a very practical choice of drink that is healthy as well.

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Discover 5 Important Health Benefits of Drinking Pure Water Daily

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Raymond_Hamilton]Raymond Hamilton

You may be surprised at the amount and quality of the benefits of drinking water daily. Most of us are guilty of not drinking enough, so here are the 5 main ways this natural substance can improve your health.

Water is essential for just about every process in the body at a cellular level and we are made up of over 70% ourselves.

#1 Appetite Suppressant

The Surgeon General has said recently that over 60% of Americans are overweight. Increasing your consumption of water, particularly before a meal, acts as an appetite suppressant.

#2 Improved Detoxification

By giving the body what it needs, greater elimination of the toxins occurs which helps your liver and kidneys perform better and maintain the correct balance in the body. Many diseases are caused by the body being unable to detoxify correctly.

#3 Weight Loss and Increased Metabolism

It is a proven fact that one of the benefits of drinking water daily is weight loss. Your metabolism rises as you drink more and it helps your liver to convert more fat to energy. You can see if you are getting the right amount by checking your urine. If there is any colour in it, you are not drinking enough and will have a slower metabolic rate.

#4 More Energy

Just a 5% reduction in body fluids results in a 25-30% loss of energy! It is estimated that over 80% of the population is mildly dehydrated during the day, especially considering the amount of coffee and soft drinks consumed. It is also a fact that when you start to get thirsty, you are already dehydrated!

#5 Anti Aging Benefits For Your Skin

Believe it or not, you can help your skin to look younger as drinking more water brings proven anti aging benefits.

It helps to ensure the skin is properly hydrated and helps to moisturize from the inside out to maintain the correct pH level and moisture balance. By eliminating more toxins your skin will be clearer and much healthier.

The truth is you can only get these benefits of drinking more water daily if your supply is pure. With the rise in contaminants today including pesticides, lead and chlorine, your body has to work harder and you will lose out on many of the benefits.

For example, if your liver is busy getting rid of the toxins found in most household water supplies today, it has less time to convert fat to energy and so the weight loss benefits are much smaller.

The easiest way is to use a home filtration system and with prices starting under $100 for a countertop one, they are more affordable and efficient than ever before.

I hope you can see the immense health benefits of drinking more water daily, and ensuring the quality of what you consume is high too.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Discover-5-Important-Health-Benefits-of-Drinking-Pure-Water-Daily&id=4930890] Discover 5 Important Health Benefits of Drinking Pure Water Daily

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You Are What You Eat (Morally Speaking, That Is)

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Allie_Moxley]Allie Moxley

For a very long time, most people looked for their food to be easier to procure and prepare - to be faster and more efficient. They wanted microwave dinners and break-and-bake cookies and tomato sauce in a jar. This makes sense - not too long ago in the United States, food was much more scarce, and people living below the poverty line often did not have enough. It is still this way in much of the world.

But now that the vast majority of Americans have regular access to food of at least a low quality, even when they do not have much money, efforts are being made to make that food the most nutritious and environmentally responsible as possible. They are trying to make sure that Americans are eating sustainably. This buzzword has come to stand for reformulating the way Americans live so that they use fewer resources, are less wasteful, and generally leave less of a negative impression on the earth.

One great way to eat in this more conscientious manner is to eat sustainable seafood on a regular basis. Sustainable seafood comes directly from American waters - often the lush Alaskan seaboard - and so its practices are strongly regulated by the government. In Alaska, for example, the state has taken matters into its own hands providing some of the strictest regulations in the world regarding protecting the region from over-fishing and other sorts of environmental degradation. This is because the government realizes that sustainable seafood is the only kind worth producing - if the region becomes over-fished and the populations of salmon, trout, and crab die off, an entire industry will be lost for the state. Thousands will be without jobs. Tourism will suffer, as well, because many people come to Alaska to see the beautiful coasts and enjoy the fresh, delicious sustainable seafood that it produces. It just makes good economic sense.

So the next time you are in your supermarket and trying to make an ethical choice with what you serve to your family, consider grabbing some sustainable seafood. You will be supporting a native industry that takes its responsibility to the environment and, by extension, to the world very seriously.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?You-Are-What-You-Eat-(Morally-Speaking,-That-Is)&id=4907046] You Are What You Eat (Morally Speaking, That Is)

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"Probiotics and Prebiotics" - Good Immunity and Digestion Secrets For Lean Body and Muscle Building

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Oluseyi_Sogaolu]Oluseyi Sogaolu

Good immunity and digestion is a sign of good and healthy living. There ere some people who fall sick frequently (almost every week) and there are others who cannot even remember the last day they fall sick or visit a doctor.

Also, there are some people that always get frequent bloating, gas, stomach aches and other digestive problems. The reasons for the differences are not far fetched. This could be as a result of the types of food intake, stress levels, sleep quality and quantity and overall general health and fitness levels. Some of these problems can even be traced back to early childhood that may include poor breastfeeding and types of diet intake during developmental years.

One basic fact about our body system is that, the healthier you eat, the less frequently you get sick and digestion problems. In other words, eating healthy food will not only boost your immune and digestive system, but also never get you sick at all. Apart from keeping fit and healthy, "Probiotics and Prebiotics are the major secrets that help a lot in immunity and digestion.

Probiotics are basically friendly bacteria and good microorganisms that are present in certain fermented raw foods. Some of these bacteria include; Lactobacilli, L. casei and Bifidus among others.

The microorganisms have the following benefits in your digestive system: -

- Increase in the production of white blood cells to reduce inflammation, allergies and other conditions.
- Improves digestion
- Increases absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
- Increases immunity.
- Reduce chances of diarrhea and or constipation.
- Reduces yeast and urinary tract infections.

Having examined the importance of the microorganism, the question that now comes to mind is, "What are the good sources of these healthy giving friendly probiotics"? These are;

# 1 Yoghurt: - This must be a plain grass-fed and organic one. Steer clear of yoghurt that uses artificial sweeteners or loaded with sugar and corn syrup.

# 2 Natto, Miso and Tempeh: - They are forms of fermented soybean.

# 3 Blue cheese, aged cheddar and hard aged cheeses. These aged types of cheese are very good as they contain up to 10 billion friendly organisms per serving.

# 4 Kefir: - This is similar to yoghurt but more of a liquid form of fermented milk. It can contain 2-3 billion or more active friendly organisms per serving.

# 5 Sauerkraut: - This needs to be homemade as most ones in the supermarkets are pasteurized and kills the friendly probiotics.

# 6 Kambucha: - This is a type of fermented tea with a very strong taste. Mix this with regular iced tea when taking it.

Prebiotics on the other hand are types of foods that you can eat to help stimulate the growth of probiotics within your system. They are main soluble fiber that helps in your digestive system. They are present in Oatbran, oatmeal, inulin (not insulin) and various fruits and vegetables.

In conclusion, the inclusion of a variety of the rich foods mentioned above into your daily diet will go a long way towards keeping you healthy, strengthens your immune system and prevent sickness as well as help digestion rather than using antibiotics as often prescribed by doctors. Antibiotics are doing you the harm of killing some good bacteria in your system and potentially reducing your defenses. Take antibiotics occasionally and in cases that are life threatening which needs to be eradicated.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Probiotics-and-Prebiotics---Good-Immunity-and-Digestion-Secrets-For-Lean-Body-and-Muscle-Building&id=4502509] "Probiotics and Prebiotics" - Good Immunity and Digestion Secrets For Lean Body and Muscle Building

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Mangosteen Fruit - The Benefits

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alexandra_Nowak]Alexandra Nowak

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit that grows in humid climates of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Malsysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The fruit is mostly referred to as the queen fruit, because of the known 40 anti-oxidants called xanthones. It is completely unrelated to mangos. The mangosteen fruit is dark purple, and, at the center there is a soft opaque white fruit. Some of the anti-oxidants are found in the rind (the area that surrounds the opaque part of the fruit). These main xanthoes are alpha-mangostin, beta-mangostin, garcinone B, and garcinone E. Other anti-oxidants can be found in the center as well as, where the opaque white fruit lies.

The rind or pericarp has been used for medical purposes for many generations. According to the stories that have been told over time, the rind was used as a tea for health problems such as bladder infections, diarrhea, and gonorrhea. There have also been some testimonials made by people that the fruit helps prevent high cholesterol, high sugar, helps joint pain, fevers, and provides relief of acid reflux-just to name a few.

The xanthones are also known to be an active ingredient in the herbal anti-depressant St. John's wort. The xanthones have been tested, and were found to inhibit serotonin-receptors. Serotonin is a hormone found in the pineal gland, which is in the brain. Serotonin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells, and it causes blood vessels to narrow. The changes in serotonin levels in the brain affect people's moods. The xanthones in the fruit provide some relief for those with depression.

In addition to the benefits of inhibiting serotonin, one of the xanthones called garcinol has been found in some people to be an appetite suppressant, useful in weight control. The xanthones or anti-oxidants are found to fight free radicals. Free radicals are one of the greatest threats to our health. Basically, free radicals are renegade (unstable oxygen molecules that collide with other particles, and tissues in our bodies). When there are too many free radicals in the body, they start attacking the unhealthy and also the healthy parts of the body. In return this causes diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The antioxidants are a shield against the free radicals. They alter cancer growth and act as anticarcinogens. See the antioxidants are chemical substances that donate an electron to the free radical, and convert it to a molecule that is harmless. Antioxidants intercept free radicals to keep them from damaging blood vessel membranes. This helps the flow of blood to the heart, and brain, against cancer causing damage. The anti-oxidants are, in short, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anti-fungal. There have been numerous testimonials made by many people, with many health problems, however there are no guarantees. The main reason for this is because everybody is different.

I am not trying to promote the company in any way; I just want to provide some useful solid information about the company. Here is some back around information about the company. Joe Morton, started the launch of the xango juice, the juice is named after the company, Xango, which has now existed for over 7 and ½ years. They have over one million distributors worldwide. Xango has other all-natural products including vitamins, Eleviv (which improves a person's mood, helps with sleep, boosts energy, and helps with weight loss); and lotions made from the mangosteen fruit, as well. The xango juice was their first and only product for four years, which had made them a 2 billion dollar company. Xango is ranked number four in the United States domestic volume of all direct selling companies.

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5 Quick Health Tips That Your Body Will Thank You For

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Bose]Tim Bose

Many of us live very fast paced lives that we never seem to have the time to stop and think about whether we are looking after our health properly. If you are the sort of person who never seems to have enough time then the following 5 quick health tips will help you.

Tip 1: Start the morning with a short 5 minute breathing exercise. You can do this standing or lying down. The key thing is to breathe deeply to the pit of your stomach to a count of 7. Then release quickly for a count of 4.

Tip 2: Following your breathing exercise drink a glass of warm filtered water and include a slice of lemon if you have it. This will help to cleanse and lubricate your digestive system. Have another glass of warm water in the evening time.

Tip 3: Eating a meal when you are stressed out or when you're on the move is a fast track to indigestion. You will not be able to digest your food properly. Therefore, acquire the habit of finding a quiet place to sit down, relax and enjoy your meal in peace.

Tip 4: Gandhi once said that you should drink your food. Meaning the food we eat should be digested in the mouth before it reaches the stomach. Many people do not take the time to chew their food properly. They swallow whole chunks of food which does nothing but put more stress on an already over worked digestive system. Chew your food slowly and savour every flavour of the food you eat. Chewing slowly has many benefits because it enables your digestive to get the maximum amount of nutrients out of your food. It also avoids the risk of undigested food getting trapped and bunging up your intestinal tracts where toxins can breed.

Tip 5: Eating food and drinking liquids that are either too hot or too cold can affect the balance of your body. Different temperatures that are extreme can weaken the functions of the organs such as the spleen. If you eat very hot food then you can actually burn the sensitive membrane on the surface of your mouth and stomach lining. Over time this can lead to serious health complications. Before you put any food or drink to your mouth make sure it is not too hot or cold before you swallow.

With over 2 years experience as a freelance writer, Tim Bose writes on topics he is passionate about. His new website provides useful information on [http://freestandingmirrorshop.com/]free standing mirror products and a [http://freestandingmirrorshop.com/replacement-mirror-glass.html]replacement mirror glass services.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Quick-Health-Tips-That-Your-Body-Will-Thank-You-For&id=4480317] 5 Quick Health Tips That Your Body Will Thank You For

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Consider Broccoli Your Number One Cancer Fighter

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_George]Don George

Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family, which helps to explain its anticancer powers (all cabbages are anticancer foods). Although it is almost ninety percent water, it is nevertheless loaded with nutrients. One stalk of Broccoli has as much vitamin C as two Florida oranges. And by the way, the leaves are edible.

You should consider broccoli to be your number one cancer fighter. This is due to its sulfur compounds which you can smell as your broccoli cooks. These compounds, send a signal to your genes to boost the production of enzymes that detoxify potential cancer causing compounds. Eat more broccoli and you could slash your risk of everything from breast cancer and lung cancer to stomach and colon cancer by as much as fifty per cent. Sulfur has been found to kill the bacteria that causes ulcers. Broccoli is also a surprising nondairy source of calcium and potassium, making it good for your bones as well as your blood pressure. It has vitamin C and beta-carotene to protect your eyes from cataracts and safeguard your brain cells from memory robbing attacks by free radicals.

How do you buy it correctly, you ask? Choose florets with a dark green, purple, or blue hue; they contain more beta-carotene and vitamin C than light green or yellow ones. Limp stalks or flowering buds are signs of poor quality.

Now I ask you, did you ever think those vegetables your mom made you choke down were really good for you? Eat your broccoli and learn how to stay healthy. My personal experience with broccoli was, until recently, that I could hardly stand the taste or smell. But now I enjoy it steamed and in some great vegetable soups. With a little imagination and effort you can incorporate any and all health foods into your diet.

I hear I read I study I write.

To your health

Don George

Wellness coach http://lookyoungerfaster.com/

1(603) 686-7186

This stuff is over the top. I got excited when I found this info for you. Stay focused, follow me and I will search it all out for all of us. Have you gone to my site? Let me know what you think of it, my passion is to help as many people as possible.

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Honey, A Liquid Sweetener For Better Life

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ethan_D_Dodson]Ethan D Dodson 

Find the enormous benefits of honey. It has natural, pure, natural, and wide-ranging taste with many benefits provided. It is an energy booster that can build the immunity system with a natural remedy for several ailments. It is actually a carbohydrate compound that is a singularly acceptable, sensible and most effectual aliment to produce heat, make and return energy and also to form definite tissues.

It is very effective to heal wounds. Beside that, it can be a good substitute for sugar in our food and drinks. Honey has long been recognized as a natural remedy and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. It has antiseptic properties and can be used as a remedy for ailments from sore throats to burns and cuts.
 
Some benefits of honey are provided to make you be better in health. If you are a hard worker, you should take a spoon of honey to enable you to go for the extra mile. It contains 69% glucose and fructose so it can be used to substitute sugar in many drinks and food. It provides 64 calories for every tablespoon. It is really easy to digest.

If you want to lose your weight, you can consume honey with warm water. It is effective because it helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. You may mix it with lemon juice or cinnamon to have ideal body. Honey helps in controlling blood sugar stages, glycogen restoration and muscle recuperation after exercises. It contains Anti-fungal and Antibacterial properties therefore it can be used as a natural antiseptic.

If you want to look younger, it is effective to make your face more beautiful and fresher. It is really effective to remove free radicals to your body so your body will be protected with great immunity. Your skin will look more beautiful if you routinely apply honey to your skin. It is also useful to heal the wound because it contains antimicrobial properties.

It contains various minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that are really good for your health. It can heal cataracts, wounds, scrapes, skin ulcers, sores, and burns. It gives protective barrier for wounds and it is really effective to kill germs and bacteria and to reduce inflammation. When you need great amount of energy, it becomes your solution. It is beneficial to sharpen your mind and refresh your nerves. 

When you get sore throats, it can be your best remedy to soothe your sore throats and it reduces heavy breathing, chest disorders, insomnia, and coughs and so on. It contains low calorie so you will not be worry to be overweight because it will give you great energy without adding your weight.

Honey will be great remedy to cure your ulcers especially stomach ulcers. It provides re-hydration so it will be really beneficial to heal your body from diarrhea. It is excellent to improve your eyesight, just mix carrot juice with honey and drink it every morning before meals. It is more than just liquid sweetener. Get some benefits of honey.

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Carrots For Health Beauty and Cooking

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Z_Ance]Z Ance

Carrots with their mild, refreshing taste and distinctive aroma are very popular roots. They will be friends for your health, will be useful for beauty and if we watch our menu we can see that carrots are one of most commonly used vegetables after potatoes.

For Health

Carrots contain loads of minerals and trace elements, vitamins C, B, D, E, K and pro-vitamin A - carotene, as well as a variety of active substances, which improves vision, strengthens skin epithelium, promotes appetite, improve blood composition. There is a believe that carrots juice has anti-cancer activity. Also carrots juice promotes ejection of helminth and helps to stop diarrhea.

Carrots normalizes heart, blood vessels, liver, pancreas, kidney and thyroid gland activity. They should be used if you have an eye disease, arthritis, liver disease, atherosclerosis, anemia and body reinforcement.

It is enough for humans to eat 100 grams of carrots to provide body with necessary daily intake of carotene. Highly valuable is carrot juice. You should drink 200 grams of juice daily, but for medical purposes - three glasses. 9 carrots are just as much calcium as a glass of milk.

For Beauty

Carrot facial masks

1.Grate a juicy carrot and add half a teaspoon of ground oat flakes.

2.Finely grate carrot. Mix it with egg white and add 1 teaspoon olive or peach oil, little bit potato starch and put it on your face and neck.

3.Take 1 tablespoon of fresh cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon of peach or olive oil, add little milk and carrot juice, stir and put on your face.

Mask for hands - grate 1 big carrot, add 1 tablespoon single or sour cream, 1 teaspoon olive oil. Mix it all together and apply it on your hands.

For Tenuity

Carrot juice is very useful dietary tool and is widely used in therapeutic diet. Their energy value is low, so they can be safely eaten by people who want to reduce weight. Withholding carrot diet for three days you could lose up to 3,5kg. It is recommended to eat about 1 kg of carrots a day, if wanted - can eat more. At least part of carrot is eaten fresh - grated, juice, salads with herbs and lemon juice, add several drops of high-quality vegetable oil to facilitate absorption of fat soluble vitamins in body. For dinner can eat grapefruit. During this diet you should drink as much water and tea as you possibly can.

For Cooking

Carrots are one of the few vegetables whose value is not impaired during heat treatment, however, to preserve maximum value it is recommended not to over boil them. It is better to boil them whole and cut only already cooked ones.

Carrot is a vegetable which can be added to almost every dish that we prepare. It can be added to almost every soup, stew or salad we make.

If someone dislikes taste of boiled carrots, they can be combined with citrus fruits, clever cooks from carrots prepare fake orange marmalade or jam. If you boil carrots in large quantity of water, along with oranges ( or just orange skins), after putting it through sieve and adding sugar, citric acid you have made a drink which really reminds of orange juice.

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(c)Copyright Z Ance

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The Benefits of Green Drinks

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Crown]Michael Crown

Eat your greens!...Sound familiar?

Green drinks are a great way of taking in some of your daily vegetables. Green drinks usually consist of one or several of the following: Wheat grass, Spirulina, Chlorella, Barley grass, Broccoli and spinach. Typically, to improve palatability, various fruit juices are mixed in with the greens.

There are claims that a shot of wheat grass juice is equivalent to a kilogram of vegetables. There is no scientific research to back this up. However, there are definitely benefits to be had from drinking greens.

Many of the greens available in drinks, are high in various enzymes, phytochemicals, and nutrients.

Wheat grass in particular, contains 70% chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green pigment, and also has many benefits for humans. Studies have shown that chlorophyll aids in the creation of red blood cells, wound healing and also has antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties.

Spirulina, spinach, chlorella, broccoli and barley grass are all packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are shown to help protect people from various forms of disease, including heart disease, artery damage, premature aging and even cancer.

While a shot of wheat grass juice may or may not be the same as eating a kilogram of vegetables, it certainly has enough benefits to make it worth your time and hard earned money.

Get your fix of greens at any health food store or online. You can buy these greens in powdered form, or premixed with juice.

One of my favorite pre-made juices, is called green machine by Naked Juice.

Mixing your own is the cheapest way to go. One large container should last you a month, and will cost a fraction of drinking bottled greens every day.

For the best daily articles on Health and Fitness, visit this [http://biofuelsports.com]Health and Fitness Blog.

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Reduce Your Cholesterol With the Foods You Eat

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Downey]Kevin Downey

If your doctor has told you that you have high cholesterol chances are good he has also told you that you can lower your cholesterol by changing your diet and exercising. This approach is in fact the best way to get your cholesterol under control and should be your first course of action before trying medications. In addition to avoiding animal fats there is a number of different cholesterol reducing foods that you should consider adding to your diet.

High fiber foods should be your first consideration, foods such as fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of insoluble fiber. This fiber binds itself to cholesterol and flushes it from the body. In addition to this fruits and vegetables contain large numbers of antioxidants whose job it is to flush toxins and wastes from the body further helping the process.

Consuming foods that contain Omega 3 fatty acids has been proven in studies to lower your LDL Cholesterol levels. Two to three servings a week of these cholesterol reducing foods can help lower your LDL levels significantly. While Fish is the best source of omega 3 fatty acids there are plant sources such as nuts and seeds for those that may not be able to afford fish or hesitate to eat it because of concerns about mercury content.

Nuts and seeds are also an excellent choice in cholesterol reducing foods both for their omega 3s and for the fiber they contain. Although nuts are high in calories many nutritionists recommend 1.5 ounces of nuts daily for their cholesterol lowering benefits.

Soy is another great choice in cholesterol lowering foods as they have chemicals called isoflavones that are known for their cholesterol lowering effects. While soys reputation has been slightly tarnished by concerns about its safety, most people agree that non- processed soy such as tofu and soy milk are good for you in moderate amounts and can help to lower your cholesterol.

I have benefited greatly from a book which has examined the link between what we eat and cholesterol. If you would like to know what foods are attacking your body and what supplements you must take, then this book is a must read. [http://www.how-to-lower-cholesterol.info]Lower Your Cholesterol.

I am not a doctor nor am I qualified in medicine in any way. These are things that have worked for me in controlling my Cholesterol. Before undertaking any diet or fitness regime you should always consult your physician first. [http://www.how-to-lower-cholesterol.info]Lower Your Cholesterol.

Thank for Reading

Kevin Downey.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Reduce-Your-Cholesterol-With-the-Foods-You-Eat&id=3549712] Reduce Your Cholesterol With the Foods You Eat

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4 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maripili_Rodriguez]Maripili Rodriguez

My experience as a personal trainer, certified holistic health counselor, and natural foods chef has shown that clients both male and female are more likely to adopt and lead a healthy lifestyle when beginning with small, sublet, attainable steps and goals. By following and practicing these four steps you will ensure a more natural, realistic transition into healthy living.

Mental Preparation
Choose a future date on which you would like to start your efforts toward a healthy lifestyle. I recommend a minimum of two weeks and no more than four weeks. In the interim, take a few minutes each day, several times a day [while brushing your teeth, preparing a meal, eating a meal] to remind yourself why you have decided to embark on this journey to better health.

Accountability
Begin your efforts with support. A lot of times we keep health goals a secret should we fail, but by protecting ourselves from the criticism we also deprive ourselves of support, accountability, and encouragement. Tell your supportive, positive friends and family of your mission, you may even find a partner on your journey.

Reevaluate your Diet
Take an honest look at your daily diet. Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? What types of fats, carbohydrates and sugars are you ingesting? At what time is your last meal for the day? Do you know how to read food labels, practice portion control? What percentage of your meals are home cooked? Making small, healthy, and sublet changes in your diet will have a huge payoff in your overall health.

Physical Activities
Engage in physical activities 4 to 5 times per week. Find an activity that you enjoy and can regularly accomplish on a weekly basis. Be mindful and present when performing your exercises, concentrate on your mind and body, think of why you are doing them and what you plan to accomplish.

Maripili Rodriguez, NSCA-CPT, AADP-HC

Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Holistic Health Counselor & Natural Foods Chef

My Health Journey-Coaching for A Healthy Lifestyle

Twitter "MyHealthJourney"

Facebook "My Health Journey"

As a Certified Personal Trainer, Health Counselor and Natural Foods Chef I specialize in coaching individuals and groups in their journey to better health and well being. I lead workshops on nutritious eating, offer individual and group personal training sessions, health counseling, cooking classes, personal chef services, natural food store tutorials and kitchen basics tutorials.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Steps-to-a-Healthy-Lifestyle&id=3564666] 4 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle

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Ways to Increase Your IQ Using Nutrition

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kadra_Adams]Kadra Adams

The most obvious thing you can do to increase your IQ is to increase your consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables. Many of us understand the significance of this, but its probably true that only a few of us actually practise it. You see, when you consume better foods in fruit and veg, your mind will immediately become clearer. You will feel your body start to become more relaxed and sometimes a feeling of smoothness and tranquility will seem to descend over your whole being. I believe this effect happens from the rich quantity of vitamins and minerals which these types of foods contain, leading to overall positive physical benefits as well.

A notable mention should also go to Vitamin C which is a very common and important tool for the body and mind. Daily consumption of vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) as its called in the scientific community, is a must for optimum mental function, because the body doesn't actually produce it itself. Consuming Vitamin C will help you to keep your brain ticking like a fine Swiss watch.

The next tool is the consumption of unsaturated, mono and poly unsaturated foods. These types of food contain positive fatty acids which are beneficial for the brain. You see, the brain requires a balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids in order for neuronal connections to keep their vitality. Whenever an imbalance happens, a decrease in thinking power and overall cognitive ability will start to happen. Thus, when you consume good fats, the balance is kept. Most of us consume more Omega 6 than Omega 3, found in foods like fries, crisps, pastries, cakes and the like. To receive Omega 3, we must consume foods like olive oil, fish skin, peanuts etc.

The final tool which is an easy way to improve mental ability is to eat more fish. Fish is brilliant for keeping and creating a sharp mind, because of its high level of quality Omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids contain two important compounds, called DHA end EPA (which are abbreviations for incredibly fancy scientific names which I won't pronounce). 1-2 portions of fish per week is all that's needed to ensure that enough positive stimulation is provided from fish. You should be careful on some varieties of fish though. Most fish swim in waters that are heavily contaminated from industrial means. Other fish are farmed in unethical and unhealthy ways which don't allow quality fish to exist. Therefore, you should opt for the more expensive and ethically farmed breeds of fish.

In conclusion, I highly recommend a visit to the PeakGenius.com website which has many more tips on increasing your IQ and intelligence.

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Good Cholesterol Levels - The Truth About How Cholesterol Works in Your Body

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Pedersen]Lisa Pedersen

Many people do not know anything about good cholesterol levels. A few years ago, I had no idea about good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. I always figured that cholesterol was not anything I had to worry about. In my mind, as long as I exercised regularly and didn't gain a lot of weight, I would be fine.

I went to my doctor for my yearly physical, and my doctor indicated that I had high cholesterol. I asked him for an explanation, and he gave me an answer that I did not understand. When I got home, I started looking up information about cholesterol. I learned that there are low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL is the good cholesterol, and LDL is the bad cholesterol.

You want to do everything you can to make your HDL greater than 60, and you want to keep your LDL no higher than 100. The total of your HDL and LDL numbers should be less than 200. If you have a total cholesterol level above 240, this is considered to be very high. You want to make sure you get help as soon as possible.

Here are some things you can do to get your body back to good cholesterol levels. Stop eating so many saturated fats. This is going to have a major effect on your bad cholesterol. Start taking a natural cholesterol supplement as soon as possible.

This is just as important as eating healthy. Make sure you also exercise regularly. This can really help improve your good cholesterol. Stop smoking and drinking, and reduce the stress in your life. If you can do all of these things, you will have a drastic effect on the levels of cholesterol in your body.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Good-Cholesterol-Levels---The-Truth-About-How-Cholesterol-Works-in-Your-Body&id=3527160] Good Cholesterol Levels - The Truth About How Cholesterol Works in Your Body

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What Are the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peter_Zelst]Peter Zelst

Recently there has been a lot of talk about 'super-foods' and their extreme health benefits. Of all these foods, very few can boast the same wide range of health benefits as coconut oil.

Perhaps the most important health benefit of this oil is its impact on the immune system. The fats contained have been proven to be anti-viral. These fats boost your immune system increasing its resistance to viral infections. Recently it has even been suggested that coconut oil can greatly increase an individual's resistance to the H1N1 virus (swine flu). A boost of the immune system will also increase resistance to infections such as HIV or general flu.

Perhaps the second most beneficial advantage of using this oil is its ability to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The primary reason that coconut oil is so effective in helping people lose weight is that it speeds up your metabolism. By helping the thyroid gland to work and by encouraging your body to use fat for energy, this oil will help you slowly but surely attain your natural, healthy weight. In addition to these two very clear benefits, it can also help the functioning of your digestive system and help your body with growth and repair.

Coconut oil, though it has great benefits to all of us, can have an amplified significance to athletes. It has been suggested, because of the fats which make this oil different from most oils, that they can help increase the strength to weight ration of the athlete. This is achieved through the same boost in the metabolism I spoke about previously. If you lose weight but maintain your strength and energy then, naturally, your strength to weight ratio will improve.

Many of the benefits of the oil are specific to certain health related problems. One prime example is the effect on skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. The two properties of this oil which make it so effective against these conditions is its ability to help repair the skin from the inside whilst restoring moisture from the outside. Eczema and psoriasis are generally treated using moisturising skin creams. These creams generally have at least one component which is chemical based. For this reason they rarely heal the problem area completely. Coconut oil is 100% natural and if you use organic unrefined coconut oil then there will be absolutely nothing that will harm or irritate your skin in it.

There are so many uses for this oil, to get the best results it is worth buying the good stuff. As with any oil, the best coconut oil is extra virgin. Pure virgin coconut oil if it is organic and unrefined is one of the most beneficial natural substances available. One of the best and easiest ways to purchase this oil is on the internet. Many websites offer a very wide range of coconut oil products, many offering very good value for money.

For more information on health benefits of this oil, products and prices simply visit coconut oil website. Peter Van Zelst, the founder of [http://www.zelst.co.uk/]Zelst Online Marketing, has over a decade's experience of internet marketing, e-commerce, SEM and online business, 20 years in offline business and an MBA.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-the-Health-Benefits-of-Coconut-Oil?&id=3525428] What Are the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil?

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Five Essential Foods to Eat to Burn Fat and Guarantee Your Six Pack Abs in No Time

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Hall]Tim Hall

If you're looking to get six pack abs, following the right type of diet will be one of the most important things you must do

It's the New Year, and inevitably, many of us have eaten too much, exercised too little, and now find ourselves looking down at a smooth rounded bulge, rather than the toned, ripped abs we'd like, and even when we start working out, it can be a struggle to shift that flab.

No matter how hard you work out in the gym, if you're not feeding your body the correct foods at the right time of the day, results will elude you, no matter how much you chase them. It's all too easy to eat far too many calories in a short period of time if you make the wrong selections, and that will completely destroy your ability to burn that flab and reveal the washboard stomach beneath.

This article lists five of the most important foods you must start eating now if you want to be guaranteed your set of six pack abs, and why each is worth eating. Of course, don't forget that quantity is also vitally important, so keep portion sizes reasonable (if in doubt, err on the smaller side, and if you end up hungry, just increase slightly next time), and if possible, try to take around 5 smaller meals through the day, rather than 3 large ones. This helps keep your blood sugar at a constant level and your metabolism running all the time, instead of suddenly loading your body with calories all in one go. Also, try to eat most early in the day, and reduce the size of your meals as you head into the evening - breakfast should be biggest, and your final meal of the day the smallest, so that when you're sleeping, and your body is resting, it isn't filled with food that will just be turned into fat.

So, without further ado, here they are:

Egg Whites

If you're searching for a convenient, quick and cheap source of protein, (and a good source of protein is vital for building those six pack abs) egg whites are it. Whether you want to whip these up into an omelet or have them scrambled, they are 100% pure protein and will help you meet your daily needs.

Egg whites are also a good source of protein that is digested more rapidly in the body so if you're looking for an alternative to protein powder this would be a good option.

Oatmeal

The second six pack abs food to add to your diet regularly is oatmeal. As far as slow digesting, high fiber carbohydrate sources go, nothing is better than oatmeal. Be sure you purchase plain oats though, as other varieties include much higher levels of carbohydrates and sugar than you might expect!

Ideally you should have this carbohydrate source at times in the day when you are most active since it's then that your body will need the extra fuel.

Salmon

A regular intake of essential fatty acids is important in your quest for six pack abs, and salmon is a great way to achieve this goal and will also supply you with much needed protein.

Salmon is higher in calories gram for gram (or ounce for ounce!) compared with other sources of protein such as chicken breast, so just be sure you work these calories into your daily total so you still stay on track to lose fat off the abs.

Broccoli

Broccoli is known for being a "super food". Basically, it is a great vegetable to eat while trying to obtain six pack abs because it's very low in calories, high in fiber, and contains plenty of antioxidants that will help you maintain good health. Ideally you should have your broccoli steamed or stir-fried with some low-calorie sauce because if you prepare it using butter or cheese sauce it goes from being a top-notch six pack abs food to one that will indirectly cause fat levels to increase - not what you want!

Broccoli can cause gas or bloating in some individuals though so if you've not really been eating if before, be sure to add this one to your diet slowly so you can see how it impacts you.

Blueberries

And last but not least, in the quest for six pack abs, you should start incorporating blueberries into your diet. Blueberries are known for being an antioxidant powerhouse and will quickly kick your health level into high gear. At just fifty calories per half cupful they are an easy addition to your diet - try throwing some in your morning bowl of oatmeal, stirring a couple into some yogurt, or blending them with your protein shake before working out.

By introducing these six pack abs foods into your diet, you will help ensure that you're eating properly and eating so that you can see the results you're looking for. Of course there are other "super foods" and foods that are useful in building your perfect washboard stomach, but this article should get you started. Always keep in mind that total calories are important for getting your body to burn off body fat, so that must be carefully considered as well - think 2500 for men and 2000 for women, but this figure obviously varies depending on your size and daily exercise levels.

Timothy Hall is a recent university graduate, who over the past year has become more and more focussed on his physical and mental health, and the best ways to optimise both, through means of physical and mental exercises and optimal nutrition. Particularly now, going into 2010, a new year and a new decade, it's a great time to resolve to make a difference to your health for the better. You can find out more on his website: [http://www.instantabsworkout.com]Instant Abs Workout

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Essential-Foods-to-Eat-to-Burn-Fat-and-Guarantee-Your-Six-Pack-Abs-in-No-Time&id=3507236] Five Essential Foods to Eat to Burn Fat and Guarantee Your Six Pack Abs in No Time

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