Avocados

Avocados grow on a tall evergreen tree, which is known as the Persea Americana. There are many different varieties of avocados such as Fuerte, Gwen, Hass, Pinkerton, Reed and Zutano. Depending on what variety, they can range from 8 ounces to 3 pounds in weight.

Avocados are picked while they are still hard and green, and as they ripen the pebbly outer skin will turn black and the edible flesh on the inside softens, but remains a yellow-green color. Due to the pebbly skin and the similar shape of a pear, avocados are often referred to as the alligator pear. But they are nothing to be afraid of even though they are high in calories and fat. Read More...

Negative Side Effects of Weight Loss?

We all know that losing excess weight is good for you...or do we? According to an article published on msnbc people should think twice before they being to lose their excess weight. The article acknowledges that keeping the weight off in the first place is ideal, but they seem to imply that losing the weight might cause more harm than good.

The reason behind all this, is the fact that toxins get stored in excess fat cells. This is to protect the heart and other organs in the body from the harmful effects of toxins. But when you lose weight, those toxins are released back into the bloodstream where they can potentially harm the body. However, those toxins do not stay there forever. In fact, if you eat a healthy diet that is rich with anti-oxidants those toxins can leave the body within a short period of time. Read Article...

Why You Need Carbs

Carbohydrates are often looked at from a negative perspective, and many go to great lengths to either avoid them or to reduce them in their diets. They are what give your body the fuel for energy, which is the reason why you automatically reach for that candy bar when you lack energy.

But carbs are not limited to breads and pastas or those sugar-laden high calorie foods. There are many healthy sources and getting your carbs from the right sources can actually benefit your health.  The following article goes into more detail on why you need carbs, and how you can obtain them from a healthy source. Read More...

How To Lower High Cholesterol Levels Naturally

High cholesterol levels can occur as a result of eating too many saturated fats and not enough fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables and nuts and seeds. It can also result of being overweight or obese and living a sedentary lifestyle, as well as from diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, kidney and liver diseases or an under-active thyroid.

Cholesterol is required in the body to help metabolize fat soluble vitamins, as well as to help with the production of certain hormones and bile. However, when the levels become too high, it puts one at risk for certain types of cancers as well as atherosclerosis, stroke, heart attacks and many other cardiovascular diseases. Therefore it is essential to lower high cholesterol levels when they get too high. Read More...

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a non-life threatening, but serious disease. It affects more and more people everyday, disrupting their family and social lives. Many lose their jobs, and some are even crippled and confined to wheelchairs.

Fibromyalgia is chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder which affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Scientifically speaking there is no cure, and in many cases goes undiagnosed because of all the symptoms associated with this crippling disease. People are treated for the symptoms rather than the underlying cause, and are prescribed different medications for each symptom. Read More...

Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are the seeds produced by a variety of pine trees. They are covered by a hard shell on the pine cones. Some of the varieties are the Pinus Pin, also known as stone pine, Pinus Edulis which grows in the southwest US, and Pinus Cembroides which is a Mexican pine nut. There are also Chinese, European, and Korean pine nut varieties. 

The size of the pine nut ranges from 1 to 5 cm in length. Most pine nuts are harvested by hand which is why they are so expensive to buy.

Pine nuts are known to be good for the heart, eyes, digestive system, gastrointestinal problems, and help with inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. They are high in antioxidants and contain pinoleic acid which helps to stimulate hormones, and acts as an appetite suppressant which is helpful in weight loss. Read More...

Ways Vegetarians Can Get Enough Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Their Diets

A common misconception has been that a vegetarian diet is unable to provide individuals with enough omega fatty acids. However, there are plenty of foods other than animal products, from which vegetarians can get enough omega fatty acids in their diets.

The only difference is that plant-based foods provide the body with Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which the body then converts into longer chain acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are found in animal products. Read More...