Sunday, November 05, 2006

Benefit of Red Cabagge and Red Beets

red cabaggeThere are many reasons why red cabbage and red beets are such popular foods. Both red cabbage and red beets are delicious, nutritious and low in calories. In addition, the compounds found in red cabbage and red beets are thought to play an important role in the prevention of many forms of cancer.

New research has placed the focus on the benefits of red cabbage and red beets on the many phytochemicals these foods contain, in particular the presence of indole-3-carbinole (I3C0, sulforaphane and indoles. These compounds are thought to play a role in the activation and stabilization of the detoxification and antioxidant processes in the body.

The benefits of red beets and red cabbage

In particular, indole-3-carbinole (I3C) is thought to play a role in reducing the risk of breast cancer, and one small study showed a remarkable 50% reduction in the incidence of breast cancer. These compounds, found abundantly in red cabbage and red beets, are thought to play a role in how estrogen is produced and utilized in the body, and this is thought to play a role in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in those who consume these foods.

In addition to the prevention of breast cancer, red cabbage and red beets are thought to play an important role in the prevention of lung cancer, stomach cancer and colon cancer. In addition, red cabbage and red beets are known to be rich sources of vitamin C, an antioxidant which plays a vital role in reducing the presence of free radicals in the body.

In addition, all types of cabbages and related vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and bok choy, are rich sources of calcium. In addition to calcium, however, red cabbage and red beets are also rich sources of flavonoids. It is these flavonoids which are responsible for the rich purple coloring of both red cabbage and red beets, and it is these flavonoids which give both red cabbage and red beets their strong antioxidant health benefits. As a matter of fact, red cabbage and red beets are among the richest sources of flavonoids in the vegetable world.

Other health benefits

In addition to their possible role as cancer fighters, red cabbage and red beets both are being studied for their possible role in the treatment of peptic ulcers. For many years the juice of the red cabbage has been used as a very effective way to treat peptic ulcers. It is thought that the high concentration of the amino acid known as glutamine is responsible for the ability of red cabbage and red beets to treat this common stomach condition. Glutamine is used to provide nutrients to the cells that line the small intestine and the stomach, and this fact may be responsible for the effectiveness of cabbage juice at treating ulcer conditions.

When shopping for red cabbage, it is a good idea to choose those heads with the richest, reddest leaves, since the compounds that give red cabbage is rich flavor also provide its nutritional benefits. Likewise, those red beets with the richest and heartiest color are thought to provide the greatest nutritional value.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

The Benefits of Natural Weight Loss

natural weightlossWith so many people today determined to lose weight without compromising their health, it's no wonder there are an abundance of natural weight loss diets and programmers out there. A simple Google search will turn up millions of results, as the world moves towards a slimmer, healthier place. And it's always been the same. Luckily, you can effectively lose weight without the diet pills and synthetic appetite suppressants, and natural weight loss is far more effective for most dieters anyway.

The best idea for natural weight loss is to increase the rate of the metabolism. If you’re out to lose weight quickly, with long lasting guaranteed results, then you should strive to increase your metabolic rate. The problem with many of the fashionable diets is that they restrict the amount of food the dieter can eat, which will actually slow the metabolism and eventually result in the gradual re-gaining of any weight lost. If you increase the rate of your metabolism, you will lose fat permanently, and become far leaner as a consequence.

Exercising constantly on a restrictive diet actually uses the protein from the diet rather than fat. It also means that the majority of weight lost will be water loss, which can confuse many dieters. Before reducing calories, the key is to increase the metabolism, which will constantly increase the rate at which the food you eat is converted into energy, meaning less storage as fat and in increase in energy for your leaner body. Increasing the metabolism also allows for the proteins to be put to use in building and maintaining muscle, which is again the goal for many dieters. With this simple form of natural weight loss, you will find yourself less restricted, whilst still losing pounds and inches from your weight loss. This is by far the best method to shift those stubborn fatty deposits and work on your way to a slimmer self.

So how do you go about increasing your metabolic rate? The best way to start is by eating smaller portions more often. Rather than eating three large meals a day, it is far better for weight loss to eat five smaller meals. Even without exercise, you'll soon find that this actually helps you lose weight, simply through eating more often. Of course, it’s no good if you shift from three large meals a day to five large meals a day, and by the same token there’s no point in loading up with extra helpings of pizza or chips. If you stick to a healthy balanced diet and eat regularly, you’ll find you’re more active, have more energy and lose weight.

After sticking to this natural weight loss method, you can then start to decrease your calorie content and step up to some light exercise to help shed those pounds even quicker. That way you'll be making sure your body gets all the good stuff it needs to stay healthy, whilst still managing to fit those tight jeans. If you think about it, and stick rigidly to your five meals a day, you can lose weight the natural way and end up looking great and feeling fabulous.

By Clive Jenkins

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Enjoy The Many Health Benefits Of The Wolfberry

benefits of wolfberryThe health benefits of the wolfberry have long been known to the world of traditional medicine, these health benefits were explored throughout China many thousands of years ago. As far back as the Tang Dynasty, in the years from 1000 to 1400 A.D., there are references the wolfberry in the traditional Chinese Medica. Among the health benefits cited by the Chinese was the ability to nourish the Yin. In traditional Chinese medicine, the Yin represents the material part of the body, while the Yang is concerned with the energy and function of the body instead.

Health Benefits Of The Wolfberry

Other health benefits of the wolfberry included the ability to strengthen the liver, the kidneys and the eyes, as well as the ability to nourish the blood. The fruits of the wolfberry are well known to the world of herbal medicine, and they show up in a number of herbal formulas used to maintain overall health. The wolfberry is also used in herbal medicines used to treat chronic health problems such as fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, ringing in the ears, vision problems, insomnia, headaches, chronic liver disease, tuberculosis, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Traditionally, the fruit of the wolfberry has been used to map teas, soups, stews and even wine. In addition, the fruits of the wolfberry are often chewed, much like raisins. In modern China, scientists have extensively studied the fruits of the wolfberry to determine their nutritional value and medicinal benefits. These modern studies have backed up the traditional uses of the wolfberry. The wolfberry has been found to be of assistance in maintaining the health of the immune system, improving eyesight, helping to keep the liver healthy and helping to maintain healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels. In addition, the fruits of the wolfberry are thought to have strong antioxidant and anti aging properties.

What Is The Wolfberry?

The wolfberry is actually a member of the family solanacea, and it grows wild on bushes found in the northwest part of China. The Chinese people have been growing the wolfberry for thousands of years, both for its pleasant taste and its strong nutritional value and role in traditional medicine. Wolfberry blooms between April and October in its native China, and it is typically harvested from June to October depending on the local weather and growing conditions.

The wolfberry signals its readiness for harvest by turning red, and the fresh fruit is oblong in shape and very juicy. The wolfberry is full of juice and is very sweet to the taste. The primary active ingredient in the fruit of the wolfberry is known to science as Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide, or LBP for short. The amount of LDP contained in the wolfberry will vary according to the type of berry, with the top quality wolfberries containing the highest concentrations of LDP.

The wolfberry contains 19 different kinds of amino acids and 21 trace minerals. In addition, the wolfberry has more beta carotene than a carrot, nearly as much vitamin C as an orange and almost as much protein as bee pollen.

healthy food - Google News