Fight Stress With Healthy Eating

Whenever we get too busy or stressed, we all tend to make poor food choices that will actually increase stress and cause other problems. To get the most of your healthy eating and avoid stress, follow these simple tips. Always eat breakfast Even though you may think you aren't hungry, you need to eat something. Skipping breakfast makes it harder to maintain the proper blood and sugar levels during the day, so you should always eat something. Carry a snack Keeping some protein rich snacks in your car, office, or pocket book will help you avoid blood sugar level dips, the accompanying mood swings, and the fatigue. Trail mix, granola bars, and energy bars all have the nutrients you need. Healthy munchies If you like to munch when you're stressed out, you can replace chips or other non healthy foods with carrot sticks, celery sticks, or even sunflower seeds. Bring your lunch Although a lot of people prefer to eat fast food for lunch, you can save a lot of money and actually eat healthier if you take a few minutes and pack a lunch at home. Even if you only do this a few times a week, you'll see a much better improvement over eating out. Stock your home As important as it is to get the bad food out of your house, it's even more important to get the good food in! The best way to do this is to plan a menu of healthy meals at snacks at the beginning of the week, list the ingedients you need, then go shop for it. This way, you'll know what you want when you need it and you won't have to stress over what to eat.

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Fast Facts On Potatoes

Throughout America, potatoes are the most popular vegetable, even being ahead of other well known vegetables such as lettuce and onions. You can cook potatoes in a variety of ways, and they are included in one out of three meals eaten by almost all Americans. When they are prepared in a healthy way, a potato can be an excellent source of energy and also pack a nutritional punch. Like oranges, potatoes are very high in vitamin C. The fact is, one medium potato contains 45% of the vitamin C that's recommended for good health. Potatoes are also high in fiber and carbohydrates and contain more potassium than a banana. A potato is naturally low in calories and contains no fat, sodium, or cholesterol. The skins of the potatoes provide a helpful dose of fiber, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and several B vitamins. You can prepare potatoes by boiling them, steaming them, or even roasting them. If at all possible, you should avoid putting potatoes in the refrigerator or freezing them, as cold will turn the potato starch to sugar and cause them to turn dark when they are cooked. When you store potatoes, keep them in a cool, dark place. Too much light will cause them to turn green. You can store them in the basement if you have one, as the basement is the best place to keep potatoes. From mashed potatoes to baked potatoes, a potato is something we all know and love. They serve many different tasty foods, and they provide our bodies with plenty of healthful benefits. We all eat potatoes, some of us even grow our own. Whether you grow your on or buy them, the potato is the one vegetable that makes everything just a little bit better.

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Becoming A Healthy Eater

Becoming A Healthy Eater

Being a healthy eater requires you to become both
educated and smart about what healthy eating
actually is.  Being food smart isn't about
learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it
about studying labels and counting calories.

Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate
eating, consisting of healthy meals at least
three times per day.  Healthy eaters eat many
different types of foods, not limiting themselves
to one specific food type or food group.

Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway.  You
might eat too much or not enough, consume
foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious.
However, you should always fuel your body and
your brain regularly with enough food to keep
both your mind and body strong and alert.

A healthy eater is a good problem solver.  Healthy
eaters have learned to take care of themselves
and their eating with sound judgement and making
wise decisions.  Healthy eaters are always aware
of what they eat, and know the effect that it
will have on their bodies.

When someone is unable to take control of their
eating, they are also likely to get out of control
with other aspects of life as well.  They could
end up spending too much, talking too much, even
going to bed later and later. 

You should always remember that restricting food
in any way is always a bad thing.  Healthy eating
is a way of life, something that you can do to
enhance your body or your lifestyle.  If you've
thought about making your life better, healthy
eating is just the place to start.  You'll make
life easier for yourself, those around you, and
even your family.

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8 Ways To Increase Your Water Intake

The importance of drinking water is always reiterated to you in different ways. However, often one fails to consume the adequate amount of water required by the body. Let’s look at ways to increase the intake of water.

1. Carry a water bottle No matter where you go, a handy water bottle in your bag is a must. By doing so, every time you feel thirsty, you can immediately gulp down some water from the bottle rather than keeping yourself thirsty for long.

2. Alarm If you belong to the kind of people who need to be reminded to drink water, then set an alarm that would beep after every hour and remind you to drink water.

3. Accessibility When a bottle of water is kept right in front of your eyes, it is more convenient for a otherwise lazy person to pick it up and drink from it. Be it your office desk or your bed; make it a habit to have an attractive bottle right in front of you.

4. Tasty additions If plain water is not you are very fond of, add interesting flavors to it to make it easier to consume the required quantity of liquid for your body. Adding lemon, rose or any other refreshing syrup to your water can help you achieve your target.

5. Sticky Notes Writing and sticking witty and alarming one liners to remind yourself about drinking water can be another effective way. Stick these notes at the places you tend to spend the most amount of time. It could be your desk, living room or any other space in the house.

6. Soups and Juices Changes or additions made to one’s diet can also help in increasing the water intake. Drinking your choicest fresh fruit juices and soups in the day can also ensure water intake for your body. 7. Fruits and Vegetables A number of fruits and vegetables contain a good amount of water. Tomatoes are nothing but 97% water and oranges are composed of 87% water. Similarly avocados, strawberries sweet limes amongst many others are rich in water and you must eat them to consume sufficient amount of water on a daily basis.

8. Motivate yourself Self-motivation plays a very vital role when you are out there reaching a target. Measuring the amount of water and pushing yourself for the sake of good health to drink more water everyday can be an effective way to consume plenty water. Might seem a mammoth task, but applying simple and innovative techniques to drink more water daily can work in the right direction for you.

source: yahoo.com

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8 Main Causes of Liver Damage

Here are the 8 Main Habits that Causes Liver Damage that we should avoid in order to stay healthy.

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning

3. Too much eating

4. Skipping breakfast

5. Consuming too much medication

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil
As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is20very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

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Top 10 Brain Damaging Habits

These Top 10 Brain Damaging Habits are good pieces of advice in order to prevent brain damage. My friend email this to me and it looks very helpful that's why I wanted to share this to my readers and everyone.

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar Consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6 . Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..

7. Head Covered While Sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working Your Brain During Illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in Stimulating Thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

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How and When to Eat Fruits

Here’s a great article about fruits that I received in my email. Just want to share it to everyone. It’s a good read, very informative and is intended to make everyone healthy.

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body.. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup,warm water or warm beer after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...

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Effects of Alcohol in your Brain

Many people, especially drinkers, believe that drinking alcohol in moderation can be beneficial to ones health. But did you know that there are still no proven studies about that?

Well, to most individuals, they will probably believe that alcohol when consumed in moderate amounts can improve their health. But doctors already have their word about it. Dr. Tim Naimi who is an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as Dr. Mercola who is a renowned nutrition expert, already state that there are still no proven facts about moderate drinking. Dr. Naimi also articulates that, “The bottom line is there has not been a single study done on moderate alcohol consumption and mortality outcomes that is a ‘gold standard’ kind of study -- the kind of randomized controlled clinical trial that we would be required to have in order to approve a new pharmaceutical agent.”

So this is a major call to all alcohol drinkers out there.

Actually, there is also a study being done by the researchers to examine the effects of alcohol to the brain of an individual. Eight men and seven women who drank alcohol through a straw have been examined by researchers while lying in an MRI scanner.

As a result, just around 6 minutes after consuming alcohol which is equivalent to three beers, changes had already taken place to the brain cells of the examined drinkers. This is a report done by the Live Science. After drinking the certain amount of alcohol, drinkers’ brains began to run on the sugar in alcohol instead of glucose. As we all know, glucose is the normal brain food.

Aside from this, it was also observed that the substance creatine, which protects brain cells, was also decreased as the concentration of alcohol increased. The concentration of another substance which is Choline, a component of cell membranes, was reduced as well.

Therefore, the actual test may probably mean that alcohol triggers changes in the composition of a person’s cell membranes.

Other research also shows that drinking alcohol may also lead to breast cancer, liver disease, heart damage, cancers, accidents even when consumed in small amounts and strokes when consumed in larger amounts.

In short, the doctors believe that the type of science that has been used to support that drinking wine or alcohol even in moderation is healthy for drinkers is just some of the WEAKEST science that we have in epidemiological observations.

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One Liter of Tears: "Spinocerebellar Degeneration" Explained

Have you heard about Spinocerebellar Degeneration? It is also known as Spinocerebellar Ataxia. I really don’t have any idea about this disease until I watched “One Liter of Tears” also called as “One Litre no Namida" or "A Diary with Tears" or "A Diary of Tears”. It’s a Japanese TV drama series, an adaptation of the diary from a Japanese girl named Aya Kito. This drama series is one of the best TV series I have ever watched. You will feel the pain that her family actually feels. Aya Ikeuchi the girl who suffers Spinocerebellar Degeneration was played by Erika Sawajiri. The drama series is so heart touching which will make anyone watch the entire series.

Now, I’ll change the topic and give you some information about this disease. Sad to say but this disease is not curable. I want this to be written on my blog to share it to everyone who doesn’t have any idea about this disease. Let’s help one another to share information like this so that everyone will be aware of it. I just can take the pain like what happened to the girl. So hard to see someone who always fell in the ground and getting hurt because a person suffering this will actually encounter problems in control ling their muscles.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA):

A progressive, degenerative, genetic disease with multiple types, each of which could be considered a disease in its own right.

Symptoms:

Spinocerebellar ataxia is one of a group of genetic disorders characterized by slowly progressive incoordination of gait and often associated with poor coordination of hands, speech, and eye movements. Frequently, atrophy of the cerebellum occurs, and different ataxias are known to affect different regions within the cerebellum.

As with other forms of ataxia, SCA results in unsteady and clumsy motion of the body due to a failure of the fine coordination of muscle movements, along with other symptoms.

The symptoms of an ataxia vary with the specific type and with the individual patient. Generally, a person with ataxia retains full mental capacity but may progressively lose physical control.

Treatment and Prognosis:

There is no known cure for spinocerebellar ataxia, which is a progressive disease (it gets worse with time), although not all types cause equally severe disability.

Treatments are generally limited to softening symptoms, not the disease itself. The condition can be irreversible. A person with this disease will usually end up needing to use a wheelchair, and eventually they may need assistance to perform daily tasks.

The treatment of incoordination or ataxia, then mostly involves the use of adaptive devices to allow the ataxic individual to maintain as much independence as possible. Such devices may include a cane, crutches, walker, or wheelchair for those with impaired gait; devices to assist with writing, feeding, and self care if hand and arm coordination are impaired; and communication devices for those with impaired speech.

Many patients with hereditary or idiopathic forms of ataxia have other symptoms in addition to ataxia. Medications or other therapies might be appropriate for some of these symptoms, which could include tremor, stiffness, depression, spasticity, and sleep disorders, among others.

Both onset of initial symptoms and duration of disease can be subject to variation. If the disease is caused by a polyglutamine trinucleotide repeat CAG expansion, a longer expansion may lead to an earlier onset and a more radical progression of clinical symptoms.

Diagnosis:

It can be easily misdiagnosed as another neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

The most precise means of identifying SCA, including the specific type, is through DNA analysis. Asymptomatic and at risk family members considering a genetic test should consult with a physician and genetic counselor. An MRI of the brain may also show whether certain regions of the cerebellum have noticeably degenerated, but this is often not the most robust way to provide a diagnosis.

SCA is related to olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA); SCA types 1, 2, and 7 are also types of OPCA. However, not all types of OPCA are types of SCA, and vice versa. This overlapping classification system is both confusing and controversial to some in this field.

Source: wikipedia

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Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Its Benefits

Before knowing its health benefits, it is important to know first what a Conjugated Linoleic Acid is. Basically, Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA in short term was discovered by researchers as a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid that is found in beef and other dairy products. By accident they have found out that people, especially those who have cancers can get a lot of health benefits with this Conjugated Linoleic Acid.

Why? One reason is because Conjugated Linoleic Acid can increase a person’s metabolic rate. This is good for people having problems with their thyroid glands. Conjugated Linoleic Acid can also decrease the abdominal fat; lower the cholesterol and triglycerides while enhancing the muscle growth. Therefore, if a person wants to lose weight but still wants to maintain a strong body, including Conjugated Linoleic Acid in their diet is very ideal. Lowering insulin resistance is also one of its great benefits. This is good for diabetic and hypothyroid patients. Conjugated Linoleic Acid also reduces food-induced allergic reactions which also assist thyroid patients when they need to undergo weight loss. And last but not the least, enhancing the immune system is one of the major key health benefits of Conjugated Linoleic Acid.

So when combined with proper diet and healthy exercise, eating foods that are rich with Conjugated Linoleic Acid can certainly bring back your healthy and vigorous body. The cancer-fighting substances of CLA can certainly keep a person away from any type of cancer. It’s a good thing to know that everyone can get it for free in our dairy food.

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Aspartame is Considered a Dangerous Substance

Aspartame is basically known as an artificial sweetener made with 40% aspartic acid, 50% phenylalanine and 10% methanol. Aspartame has several brand names also called as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure to name a few. It was in 1974 when the use of Aspartame in dry goods was put on hold. But it was then approved to be used in dry goods in 1981 and was approved for carbonated beverages in 1983 until the separate subsidiaries made by Searle Pharmaceuticals and NutraSweet Company got it in 1985. .

From then it was believed that Aspartame causes adverse reactions based on its documented symptoms. This includes the following:

• Headaches/migraines
• Dizziness
• Seizures
• Nausea
• Numbness
• muscle spasms
• weight gain
• rashes
• depression
• fatigue
• irritability
• tachycardia
• insomnia
• vision problems
• hearing loss
• heart palpitations
• breathing difficulties
• anxiety attacks
• slurred speech
• loss of taste
• tinnitus
• vertigo
• memory loss
• joint pain

Although in most cases, the most common complaint of the persons who suffered on the Aspartame effect is memory loss, it may also cause serious effects like seizures or worst, death. The reason behind this is the effect of the substance “Aspartate” that when combined with glutamate, these substances act as neurotransmitters in the brain. Having excessive amount of these substances in the brain excite and stimulate brain neurons that allow influx to set off free radicals which in turn kill the cells. Naturally, this will cause serious neural cell damage. That’s why in most cases, memory loss is the major effect.

So it is better to slow down or better, avoid the habit of ingesting aspartame. Slowing down or preventing such habit, like breaking ones daily routine of drinking carbonated drinks, may lessen the possibilities of acquiring adverse health issues due to aspartame. Like what we always say, prevention is better than cure.

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America's Top 20 Worst Foods

I recently posted this topic, “Who offers less food calories, is it restaurant or fast food?” I want to share this info that I found in MensHealth.com. It’s all about the 20 worst foods in America .

20. Worst Fast-Food Chicken Meal

McDonald’s Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips with creamy ranch sauce

830 calories
55g fat
(4.5g trans fat)
48 g carbs

Add soda and large fries this meal is equal to 1,710 calories.

19. Worst Drink

30 fl oz Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd Power Smoothie

900 calories
10 g fat
183 g carbs
(166 g sugars)

18. Worst Supermarket Meal

Whole pie of Pepperidge Farm Roasted Chicken Pot Pie

1,020 calories
64 g fat
86 g carbs

For a better pie you might buy Swanson's pot pie with 400 calories only.

17. Worst "Healthy" Burger

Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger

1,145 calories
71 g fat
56 g carbs

16. Worst Mexican Entrée

Chipotle Mexican Grilled Chicken Burrito

1,179 calories
47 g fat
125 g carbs
2,656 mg sodium

15. Worst Kids' Meal

Macaroni Grill Double Macaroni 'n' Cheese

1,210 calories
62 g fat
3,450 mg sodium

14. Worst Sandwich

Large Quizno’s Classic Italian

1,510 calories
82 g fat
3,750 mg sodium
106 g carbs

This sandwich is big, either buy a small one or cut it in half and save the half for later.

13. Worst Salad

On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef

1,450 calories
102 g fat
78 g carbs
2,410 mg sodium

12. Worst Burger

Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger

1,520 calories
111 g fat

11. Worst Steak

Lonestar 20 oz T-bone

1,540 calories
124 g fat

If you add a Lonestar's Signature Lettuce Wedge plus baked potato you’ll get a 2,700 calorie with this.

10. Worst Breakfast

Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed Hotcakes

1,540 calories
77 g fat
(9 g trans fat)
198 g carbs
(109 g sugars)


9. Worst Dessert

Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

1,600 calories
78 g fat
215 g carbs


8. Worst Chinese Entrée

P.F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein

1,820 calories
127 g fat
95 g carbs

This dish provides more than 1,100 calories fat content alone.

7. Worst Chicken Entrée

Chili's Honey Chipotle Crispers with Chipotle Sauce

2,040 calories
99 g fat
240 g carbs

6. Worst Fish Entrée

On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Rice and Beans

2,100 calories
130 g fat
169 g carbs
4,750 mg sodium


5. Worst Pizza

Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza

2,310 calories
162 g fat
123 g carbs
4,470 mg sodium


4. Worst Pasta

Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meatballs with Meat Sauce

2,430 calories
128 g fat
207 g carbs
5,290 mg sodium

The requirements calorie for an entire day satisfies this meal.

3. Worst Nachos

On the Border Stacked Border Nachos

2,740 calories
166 g fat
191 g carbs
5,280 mg sodium

2. Worst Starter

Chili's Awesome Blossom

2,710 calories
203 g fat
194 g carbs
6,360 mg sodium

1. The Worst Food in America

Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing

2,900 calories
182 g fat
240 g carbs

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Which offers less food calories: Restaurants or Fast Food?

Comparing the energy content of meals being served from a fast food and restaurant has now become the subject of a recent study. When you compare the foods you usually order in some fast food chains or your favorite restaurant to those that you are preparing at your own home, the latter are smaller and have less calories.

The result of this study was based from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. This organization assessed a large sample of information regarding nutritional intake to produce such result.

And as a result, fast food meals were found to be more energy dense than a sumptuous meal from a table service restaurant. However, fast food meals are offered in a smaller amount as well. Therefore, as compared to any other average meal from a restaurant, the typical fast food meal offers lesser calories.

But then, the long believed issue was changed when restaurants probably reduced their food consumption throughout the end of the day. And this is maybe because of the difference in energy density. In the end, the result may be fast foods offer more calories on the food they serve than those we usually eat in a fancy restaurant.

But in a healthier point of view, both the fast food and restaurant meals though won’t prevent you from eliminating potential toxins from your food. It’s just that you need to control your serving size.

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Fact Or Myth: Males Are Becoming More Female?

At first, my attention was caught when I saw this article. From the title itself, my curiosity was touched. Also, I was interested to read the entire article because I somewhat believe that it is really happening nowadays. Although I also would like to know if it’s true since the symptoms are really rampant. Maybe, once you’ll know the result of the studies, you will definitely say, “Yeah, I think it’s true.”

Well, I think this is not a simple issue. I simply believe that because many of us are now being aware of our environment, we are also conscious that this is really happening. What I’m talking about here is the recent study that resulted in finding that males of all species are now becoming more female. Choosing between a fact or a myth, don’t you think that this issue is really a fact? Well in my own point of view, whether I am not a scientist at all, I believe that it is indeed, a fact.

The major question about this environmental concern is that, what causes such changes to happen? According to various studies, being exposed to the unregulated chemicals in the environment causes male species to acquire more feminine characteristics. And since humans have similar sex hormone receptors to those of the animals, the indication and transformation pattern is also the same.

The type of chemicals that were found to have such unusual effects to the animal and human genders is also known as the “gender-benders”. This include substances like Phthalates, chemical found in vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soap, shampoo, deodorants, fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage bags, and intravenous medical tubing. Another one is the Bisphenol A, a common ingredient in many plastics. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which is a chemical found in grease- and water-resistant coatings like Teflon. An insecticide and a fungicide found to Methoxychlor and Vinclozin. Also, Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) which is known to be potent endocrine disrupters. The Bovine growth hormones which are commonly added to commercial dairy that make premature adolescence. Soy products may also affect as well as the MSG which is a food additive and last but not the least is the fluoride.

More information has been released for us to be aware of this wide range of health hazards. And if these studies can impose strange changes within our male population, I think we must do something to avoid the worst scenario. Since male infertility is on the rise and fewer boys have been born, world population is at risk. Besides, can you imagine that we’ll soon be living in a world with only female population?

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Symptoms and Types of Depression

Have you ever felt so sad sometimes without knowing what the real cause is? Do you happen to experience such a mood disorder of someone close to you? Whether we admit it or not, depression not only affects our behavior but our relationships as well. This unusual state of sadness may be experienced not only by an adult but also by teenagers and children, a man or a woman.

Depression which is a kind of mental state that is characterized by feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, apathy, fatigue, and pessimism actually has different types. Along with this, persons who were identified as having depression usually have several symptoms.

There are actually five types of depression which are most common. This includes major depression which is a combination of symptoms that hinder the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and perform enjoyable activities. Dysthymic disorder, a less severe depression that happens for 2 years or more but can prevent a person from functioning normally or can prevent him from feeling good. Another type is the psychotic depression which happens when a severe depressive illness is accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as a break with reality, hallucinations, and delusions. If a new mother develops a major depression within one month after delivery, then it’s another type which is known as postpartum depression. Lastly, there is also what we call as SAD or seasonal affective disorder. This type of depression is characterized by the beginning of a depressive illness. This usually happens when there is less natural sunlight or during the winter months.

But how can we really detect when a person is suffering from depression? By identifying some symptoms, you will know that a person is in the state of depression. A person is depressed when he is usually sad, anxious, or has an "empty" mood. Always feel hopeless or worried or the feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness. Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyable, including sex; having difficulty to concentrate or in making decisions, or remembering; trouble sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; decreased energy; fatigue; feeling "slowed down" and also the changes in appetite or weight or both. And worst, depressed person can possibly have thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts; or may feel restlessness or irritability and the relentless physical symptoms, like headaches, chronic pain and digestive disorders that do not respond to scheduled treatments.

So if you’re looking for the best depression treatment, it is best to consult your primary care provider. Go and see your psychiatrist. You may also have some talk therapy with a psychologist who can also help treat your sadness. Although there are lots of alternative and natural treatments to depression like exercise, relaxation or meditation, it is still best to see a psychiatrist.

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Amazing Pictures to Keep you Healthy

Now, here’s the fun stuff. Why don’t we settle for some time and make an exciting wrap up of all these healthy posts. Aside from giving you articles with informative approach, try this one and we’re sure to give you some healthy insights while being entertained.



I’ve actually received an email from one of my friends and learned about these attached pictures. It’s so cool that I would like to share all of it so everyone can see these artistic creations as well. Imagine how the creators of these images come up with such a very nice idea. Not only are these images so amusing but also denotes a healthy option for you to remember. Just like the apple made in a butterfly form which simply signifies the familiar quote, “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. Isn’t it funny that you can recognize the importance of a healthy diet while putting a smile on your face? If you still don’t believe that these exciting things can happen, why don’t you take a look on these astonishing pictures? Have fun!

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Risk of Rare Lymphoma might be caused by Silicone Breast Implants

Today woman are conscious about their body. They always want to look great. One thing they really want is to have a big breast that’s why most women want to have a breast implant. Some of them don’t care about the danger just to have the perfect body they desire. While some may be a little concerned and yet they still want to have a breast implant.

I want to share this for all ladies out there. Particularly those who are having a second thought to undergo a breast enlargement especially if it is a silicone breast implant. A study shows that woman who has a silicone breast implant may have a high risk of developing few forms of lymphoma. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates in the lymph nodes. Lymphoma also contains cells which are sometimes found in the blood. But it also tends to form solid tumors in the organs or lymph system from where cancer is initially diagnosed. However, the possibility of having a cancer is as little as 0.1 to 0.3 for every 100,000 women who undergo silicone breast implant each year.

For the past years, the silicone breast implant produces so many controversies. It has been stopped because they say it can cause cancer, certain autoimmune diseases or other health problems.

In fact, one of the recent studies about this issue has been revealed. It educates the people especially women who are quite interested in such breast enlargement process. This pertains to the studies being done by the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. The group searched a national database in Netherlands. They have searched for all cases of lymphoma in the breast, a form of cancer being diagnosed between the years 1990 to 2006. And through their studies, they found out about 11 patients with ALCL. Five of these eleven patients had breast implants one to 23 years before they have been diagnosed.

For me, it’s not the breast that will make a person more attractive. There are other ways to standout. Being a good person and God-fearing are still the best personalities or traits that will make a person more attractive. Always remember that everything that we have is God’s gift to us. We don’t have to change it and instead, we should take care of it.

Breast Cancer Prevention's Dirty Little Secret - I found this at the website of Dr. Mercola. It might be useful for you, girls and maybe for men as well. So I decided to put here the link so you can also get free report.

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For those who like Broccoli

As per USDA Nutrient database result, here is the list of nutritional value per 100g (3.5 oz) of Raw Broccoli (edible parts). This percentage is also the recommendations for adults.

Energy 30 kcal 140 kJ

Carbohydrates - 6.64 g

Sugars - 1.7 g

Dietary fiber - 2.6 g

Fat - 0.37 g

Protein - 2.82 g

Water - 89.30g

Vitamin A equiv. - 31 μg ---3%

β-carotene 361- μg ---3%

Thiamin (Vit. B1) - 0.071 mg ---5%

Riboflavin (Vit. B2) - 0.117 mg ---8%

Niacin (Vit. B3) - 0.639 mg ---4%

Pantothenic acid (B5) - 0.573 mg ---11%

Vitamin B6 - 0.175 mg---13%

Folate (Vit. B9) - 63 μg ---16%

Vitamin C - 89.2 mg---149%

Calcium - 47 mg ---5%

Iron - 0.73 mg ---6%

Magnesium - 21 mg ---6%

Phosphorus - 66 mg ---9%

Potassium - 316 mg---7%

Zinc - 0.41 mg ---4%

Do you eat Broccoli? Me, I rarely eat this vegetable because most of the food I eat doesn’t have broccoli on its recipe. I don’t have much idea about this vegetable. All I know is that vegetables are good for my health.

But now, I have an idea how important broccoli is. Broccoli is rich in multiple nutrients with anti-cancer properties containing diindolylmethane and selenium. Broccoli is a high source of vitamin C and soluble fiber that helps fight cancer. Maybe this is the reason why more and more people want to eat this vegetable when boiled and steamed or even more popular to be eaten when raw. Now we know the role of broccoli in our life.

I want to share this Broccoli recipe I found at EatingWell. This recipe is called Ginger Broccoli. This recipe is low in calorie, low in carb, low sodium, low cholesterol, low sat fat, can make your heart healthy and can also improve a healthy weight. It can be served together with steamed cold sesame noodles or Asian dumplings.

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Berries - Your Overall Fruit

If you are asking what fruit is best for your health, the answer is berries. Berries have a good reputation when it comes to health-giving nutrients. These little fruits are packed of phytochemicals to normalize and improve health. I have listed here all berries that I know as well as their benefits.

Blueberries

Blueberries ranked number one antioxidants as compared to other fruits and vegetables. Blueberries are rich in antioxidant called anthocyanins rich in memory enhancers even as you grow old. It can help protect against urinary-tract infection also known as UTI, age-related health conditions, brain damage caused by stroke and cancer. This also helps fight the build-up of bad cholesterol that leads to heath diseases and stroke. Bilberry, a European blueberry, is known to prevent blindness and mascular degeneration.

Raspberries

Raspberries are another perennial bush-type plant that is rich in healthy nutrients. This small fruit contains ellagic acid which is a compound that contains anti-cancer properties. It is also a good source of fiber which can gradually help in digestion. This is beside the fact that raspberries are also good for the heart and bones. Red raspberries on the other hand can treat a lot of illness including hangovers, flu, fevers, gum disease, upset stomach, diarrhea, menstrual problems, vomiting and inflammation.

Marionberry

These are the bright purple type of blackberries. These berries contain antioxidants and are full of vibrant berry flavor. A native bush from Oregon, large berries is said to capture the best attributes of both berries and yields an aromatic bouquet and an intense blackberry flavor. Its juicy taste and bouquet are described as earthy, sweet and tart. It is also a good source of antioxidants. Marionberries are better for immunity because it controls the unstable oxygen compounds in our bodies which are commonly associated with heart disease and aging.

Strawberry

The most common, luminously red, heart-shaped type of berries is an adaptable fruit that grow in all manner of climates. Ancient Romans believed that these berries alleviate the symptoms of melancholy. Strawberries are also known to enhance the radiance of the skin with its antioxidant compounds. It is also a good source of Vitamins like Vitamin C, K, vitamin B5, B6, potassium, manganese, folic acid, riboflavin, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acid which is good for the heart.

To sum it all up, people must learn to try and include all or even some types of berries on their meals. It’s because these types of fruits are not only sweet and nutritious, but also gives total amount of body benefits through its polyphenol content. Polyphenols help increase the levels of nitric oxide which is a molecule that produces positive body effects like having a healthy heart. Polyphenols that helps relax blood vessels are surely found in different types of berries.

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Exercise, a Healthy & Hearty Solution!

Exercise daily and live a healthy life! This is the usual words we can hear from doctors, nutritionists and health-conscious individuals. Without any doubt, this healthy fact is absolutely true.

Exercise is an activity wherein you perform physical work exerting your muscles in various ways to keep your body healthy and fit. Exercise, especially if practiced daily provides outstanding effects on your body system through proper blood circulation. Keeping your heart healthy is the top priority why most physicians require a person to exercise. Of course, exercise should also be supported with a healthy diet. In doing this, it will surely keep you fit and away from illnesses simply because your heart functions to its maximum strength all the time.

The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. And as we grow older, our heart deteriorates and become less active. However, to keep our heart from functioning well even as we age, we must know how to provide ourselves with proper nutrition and of course, a daily dose of exercise.

In fact, research shows that older people who did endurance exercise training for about a year ended up with metabolically much younger hearts. This is according to the study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis .

So to keep you from being young and vibrant, exercise is simply the best solution. The key to your heart’s youthful metabolism is already yours to live out!

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Health Risks of Melamine Contamination

News quickly spread across the globe about the hazardous effects of melamine especially those contents that were discovered in Chinese milk products. Dairy products and especially infant milks were the major goods that are said to have contained this unhealthy substance.

This wide-spreading catastrophe that hits the world particularly on 54,000 children in China was now considered as one big threat to ones health. The root of this issue is the unlawful use of melamine in milk products. Melamine is actually a kind of chemical used as a component in plastic. Therefore, it should only be used in manufacturing plastic goods and the likes. No amount of melamine is safe to be added in infant formula.

According to the FDA research, for us to determine the risk of melamine contamination, a certain standard procedure has to be followed. Melamine content will only be safe when the level of this chemical is less than 2.5 parts per million. This stated fact is even supported by Dr. Stephen Sundlof who is the director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. He added, "If you had 1 million grains of sand, and they're all white sand, and you had two grains that were black -- that's what that means"

So if there is an ample amount of melamine added to a milk formula, worst scenario may happen. The small crystals present in the melamine powder can block the small tubes in the kidney. Once blocked, tendency is to stop the production of urine which causes kidney failure and worst, death. And though melamine has also been shown to have carcinogenic effects in animals, there is still insufficient evidence for the carcinogenic risk in humans. But the mere fact that it’s dangerous, production of such must be prevented.

This is the major reason why the outbreaks of milk products from China which are known to have melamine contents have spread vastly to several nations especially in Asia. The terrible situation of several children in China alarmed the public especially for those parents who have kids and for newly-born babies who depends most on milk supplements.

And the best way for these nations to stop this adverse incident to happen again is by destroying and prohibiting contaminated milk products from China that were included on the list. Also, a lot of standard procedures were now implemented to prevent such unpleasant incident to occur once more.

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Symptoms Checker Tool

I am an internet savvy. I’m interested in several topics especially about anime, sports, entertainment, gadgets, PC accessories, health and more. I was surfing the net and do the usual things that I do, look and read articles.

I suddenly came across the MSN site and check the link about health. Then I found an interesting link which is the “Symptom Checker”. I click and tried it because this looks helpful for me.

I want to share it with you because I know, not everyone is using MSN. Mostly, people are using Google, Yahoo or any other widely used search engines. Me, I often use Google. For others, I’m sure some of them are using Yahoo while some uses other search engines. There are several search engines on the internet and most of us didn’t actually know what these search engines can actually provide for us.

You can find the tool here - http://health.msn.com/symptoms/. What you will find in this link is the list of body parts where you can choose any of it. If you click one part of the human body, a menu will appear. And inside that menu is the list of symptoms you might have or sometimes feel. Click any symptoms and you will see the description about it and a question that is answerable by yes or no. If the answer is “no”, just continue reading. If you choose yes, you will find a red, yellow and green square marks on the left. These marks will serve as levels on how serious your illness is.

For me, this tool is like a first aid kit which can prevent any illness or diseases to get you from any serious situation. There are other tools listed here http://health.msn.com/tools-and-resources/. You can check and use the tools that you think you will need. Who knows, these tools might be the one you are exactly looking for to help you have a healthy living?!

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Coconut Oil, the Smartest Cooking Oil

Not all kinds of oil give you fat and unhealthy effects. Just like any other kinds of oil that were extracted from your favorite veggies and other fruits, coconut oil also has this healthy content which gives simple magical effects to your overall good health.

Coconut can be seen as a very common type of fruit especially in tropical countries. But did you know how functional it is, knowing that a lot of things can be done just with the use of a coconut oil?

In fact, studies show that coconut oil has become the smart alternative to those other oils that we’re using. It’s simply because a lot of benefits can be obtained from using a coconut oil. This includes the following:

* Promoting your heart health

* Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland

* Supporting your immune system health

* Promoting weight loss when and if you need it

* Providing you with an immediate energy source

* Supporting a healthy metabolism

* Helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking

Aside from this, the latest survey as done by mercola.com denotes that fresh shores extra virgin coconut oil can provide several other health benefits like:

* Gained peace of mind knowing they were making the smartest oil choice

* Loved the taste and the enhanced flavor added to their food

* Embraced the improvement made to their skin when used as a lotion

For your skin…

* Smoothing and moisturizing effects

* Promoted skin elasticity

* Convenient eye make-up remover

* Use in shaving applications

And for the most important effects above all, coconut oil is known to be the dieter’s best friend. The reason behind this is that coconut oil help stimulate your metabolism.

And when it comes to the content that we pertain to as the “miracle” ingredient, coconut oil also contains lauric acid which is also found in mother’s milk. As we all know, breast milk enhances the immunity of a baby because it is packed with nutrients and other disease-fighting ingredients. And since coconut oil also has lauric acid, it gives similar effects especially when it comes to strengthening your immune system.

So if you’re a choosy one when it comes to your brand of coconut oil, then you just have to look for the following requirements:

* Certified organic by USDA standards

* No refining

* No chemicals added (including hexane)

* No bleaching

* No deodorization

* No hydrogenation

* Made from traditional coconut palms only, no hybrid or genetically modified (GMO) varieties

* Made from fresh coconuts, not the dried "copra" used in cheap oils

* Made without heat processing

And even Dr. Joseph Mercola says that Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil has all of these standards. You may want to give it a try.

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