Monday, February 28, 2011

Raw Cacao


The cacao bean measures approximately 1 inch long, it has a reddish-brown color on the outside and a rich dark-brown on the inside.

It grows on an evergreen fruit tree mainly cultivated in Brazil, Costa Rica, Guayaquil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Guatemala, the island of Trinidad, Africa and Ceylon.

The scientific name is Theobroma Cacao, which means food of the gods. Read More...

What Are Cranberries

Cranberries grow on groundcovering vines in the Nothern Hemispheres of Canada, United States and Europe. The berries are dark red and are commercially harvested between September and December. They are related to the billberry, blueberry, huckleberry and buckberry. There are several different varieties of cranberries and they include Ben Lear, Early Black, Stevens and Howes.

The cranberries are usually grown in man-made bogs or wetlands. The vines of the cranberry plant can reach as long as 2 m, and a height of 5 to 20 cm. The plant produces runners ranging from 1 to 6 feet long. These runners produce short (5 to 7.5 cm), vertical upright branches that are non-trailing. Most of the berries grow on these uprights. Read More...

Friday, February 25, 2011

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Medical studies have revealed that there are many health benefits associated with omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can be obtained from consuming fish and other sea foods, nuts and seeds, avocados and leafy green vegetables.



Basically there are 3 types of omega-3 fatty acids, and they include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the type that is found in plant foods; and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are the long chain fatty acids that are found in animal foods. The human body is able to convert ALA into EPA and DHA when it is taken in the correct proportions with omega-6, and when the right enzymes are present in the body. Read More...

Thursday, February 24, 2011

10 Reasons to Sprout Your own Sprouts

Sprouting has become popular over the last couple of years, and if you have not joined in yet, then now is the time to do so. The idea of consuming sprouts didn't really sit well with me for some time. As a matter of fact the first couple of sprout batches I sprouted were thrown out, simply because I could not get myself to eat them. Then once I gave them a chance and started eating them, it did not take long before I enjoyed them.

Perhaps you are in the same situation where eating sprouts just does not seem natural to you, if so, here are 10 reasons to sprout your own sprouts. Hopefully these will convince the skeptics to at least give sprouting a try. Read More...

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Healthy Chocolate

Did you know that chocolate is good for you? As a matter of fact, chocolate is so good for you that you should eat it for breakfast, lunch and supper. Hard to believe isn't it?

All chocolate comes from a fruit tree grown in places like  Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela and Africa just to name a few.

During harvest the fruit is cut open and the seeds, also known as cacao beans are removed and sun dried before being sold or processed into chocolate.

Cacao beans are extremely nutritious; they are the best source of magnesium, high in iron, chromium, anandamide, manganese, zinc, and copper. They are high in antioxidants such as polyphenols, catechins, and epicatechins. Read More...

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Best Food Sources for Omega-3 Fatty Acids


Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that the body is unable to produce on its own. Therefore it is essential that these healthy fats are obtained from the diet. There are many food sources for omega-3 fatty acids, and they include both plant and animals sources.

The Difference Between Plant Sources and Animal Sources

The omega-3 that is found in plant-based foods is in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which the body then has to convert to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The omega-3 from animal sources are already in the form of EPA and DHA, which basically makes it easier for the body to absorb them. Read More...

Monday, February 21, 2011

Relief From Fibromyalgia


Fibromyalgia is a serious disease which has crippled many people's lives--holding them back from the social community and in some cases confined them to a wheelchair.

It is not contagious; nor is it life threatening, but just the same it can be devastating to those it affects. People have lost their jobs, friends and reputation as a result of this disease.

It's a chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder which affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Fibromyalgia is associated with a long string of symptoms, which makes it nearly impossible for any victim to function normally in today's society. Read More...

How to Prevent the Common Cold

Scientifically speaking there is no cure for the Common Cold, so once you get it, you're stuck with it...at least for a few days. However the Common Cold can be prevented, even after the first signs of symptoms if proper care is taken.

But we all want to prevent it at all costs, so what do we do. Well if you pay close attention as to who gets affected with the cold, you'll soon discover that those with a weak immune system tend to get the cold more often than others. And if you pay even closer attention you might realize the ones with a weak immune system don't have a very healthy diet. Read More...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Biosta Miracle Sprouter

The Biosta Miracle Sprouter is great for those who are just beginning their adventure in sprouting. It takes up little space, is very easy to use, easy to clean and provides you with fresh sprouts throughout the year.

It has 3 stackable trays to sprout 3 different types of sprouts at the same time. Each tray measures 7.75" in diameter and 1.5" high. Each tray has ridges on the bottom and a drainage cap to drain the water after rinsing. It also comes with a convenient water collection tray. Read More...

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Health Benefits Of Goji Berries

Goji berries are a bright orangy-red color and range in lengths from 1-2 cm. They are mainly grown in China, but can also be found in in Tibet and Mongolia.

The Chinese have been using the goji berri as a medicine for about 4,000 years. Goji berries are natural, and can be consumed safely without side-effects, and the health benefits are fantastic.

Goji berries contain high amounts of antioxidants which help to get rid of free radicals, which cause numerous types of cancers, and also contribute to the aging process. By adding these berries to your daily diet you can immensely reduce the signs of aging, and have younger looking looking skin. Read More...

Monday, February 14, 2011

How To Detoxify

Detoxifying is all about cleaning, resting and healing. If you are on the modern diet then detoxifying is definitely something that you should do periodically. Set aside a weekend, or a set period of time, that works with your schedule so that you'll be able to relax, and just rest. If you are an experienced faster, then it won't interfere too much with your activities, but for those who have not fasted before, it will interfere, and so it is crucial that you set aside a day or two, to get the ball rolling.

You'll know its time to detoxify when you begin to feel sluggish and have no energy. What happens is that all the toxins inside of you are weighing you down and its time to get rid of them. These toxins if they are left in the body will eventually cause many health problems such as acne, chronic fatigue, depression, stomach problems, high blood pressure, weaken the immune system and even cause cancer and other serious, and life-threatening diseases. Read More...

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A Balanced Diet

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has long been promoting a so-called balanced diet which includes animal products. They are not promoting this diet because it is good for us, but because they made a deal with the agriculture market. They have even come out and said it themselves, that this diet is not recommended if you want to experience optimal health.

Studies have shown that meats, dairy and poultry products are the cause of many diseases, but sadly the FDA has turned a blind eye, or a deaf ear on these facts because this way, they can make even more money by shoving out medication for these terrifying diseases that their balanced diet causes. Read More...

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Natural Tea

I started drinking tea when I learned of all the health benefits associated with tea. I tried several different flavors and brands and I liked most of them. But before I knew it I had fallen in love with Celestial Seasonings.

Little did I know that they have been around for nearly 40 years providing the public with 100% natural teas. Nor did I know they use over 70 different fruits to bring out the flavors in their teas. All I knew was that I enjoyed their wide variety of flavored, unflavored, herbal, caffeinated, and decaffeinated teas. Read More...

Monday, February 7, 2011

Vitamin B17, A Cure For Cancer


Cancer is known as a silent killer, and many people die each year of the disease. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. On Average about 38% of these people will die within 5 years. Of the 62% who make it past the 5 year survival rate will face the risk of having the cancer return.

What people don't know is that it doesn't have to be so. Cancer is a vitamin deficiency disease. That means given the right vitamins it can be prevented and even cured. Read More...

Alfalfa

Alfalfa falls into the legume category. It looks like a clover with clusters of small purple flowers. Its roots go down into the ground about 20-30 feet and bring up the minerals to the surface of the earth. Alfalfa is an excellent herbal remedy which has been used by the chinese since the sixth century for various health issues.

It is one of the few plants which contains all vitamins from A to K, including folic acid, carotene, and even the scarce vitamin B-12. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, potassium, sodium, zinc, molybdenum, and silicon. Read More...

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Veggie Sandwich

Vegetable sandwiches are a great way to help you eat those vegetables that otherwise might not get eaten. They are quick and easy to prepare; you can add anything that you like; and best of all they are delicious! They are also quite filling.

So here is my favorite recipe for a delicious vegetable sandwich. Read More...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Agave Nectar

Agave nectar is a natural sweetener mainly produced in Mexico. There are several different species of the succulent agave plant such as Agave tequilana (also known as Blue Agave, or Tequila Agave), Salmiana, Green, Grey, Thorny and Rainbow. 

It is the same plant as where tequila comes from.

During harvest the leaves are cut away and the juice is extracted from the core of the plant, which is called the pina because it resembles a large pineapple. It is then filtered and heated at low temperatures no higher than 118 degrees F in order to preserve all the enzymes, vitamins and minerals. No chemicals or other ingredients are added during this process and because the temperatures are kept low it is considered to be a raw food. Read More...