How to increase height naturally

Friday, December 27, 2013

You have to pick that book up on that shelf and your short...you feel like "being able to reach that top shelf without standing on the stool would have been so good!" Dont worry we can get you there, there are certain natural remedies to increase your height at home.  

Height plays an important role in determining the overall look and personality of an individual. If we are of average or short height, we always have that desire "how nice it would have been if we were slightly taller”!!!

It’s a fact that tall people often become the center of attention. Short statured people not only suffer from lack of confidence, but also face certain difficulties in some aspects of their lives. Though being short does not in any way undermine an individual’s capabilities. Being tall isnt in our control, is it? 

Different aspects like hereditary factors, lack of exercises and imbalanced diet play an important role in making people short. It is a common belief that height gain halts when you enter adulthood as the human body loses its natural ability to grow and develop. After reaching 18 your height becomes stagnant for some people it is at 25.

It indeed is good news that an individual can grow 2 to 6 inches taller even after turning 18. Scientists have discovered that the human body is capable to further grow and develop. Therefore, there is a possibility to increase height with some external help.


Simple and Natural Ways to Increase Your Height

It is to be noted that about 20% or more of our body height depends upon external factors like our environment, activities and diet. If we follow certain basic rules in our daily lives, we can increase our height in a natural way, and luckily, if your still in puberty stage these grow tall remedies will work for you at the fullest potential. 

1) Healthy eating
The human body is a complex system of organs which works together in an effective manner. In order to keep the system fine and smooth it requires proper nutrients. Basically, all the food that you consume acts as a fuel for your organs. Therefore, those who eat healthier and nutritious food tend to grow faster than others. This is the key to the growth of the body in terms of gaining height. your diet should include , milk, fruits, meat, vegetables, tofu, eggs, nuts, soybean, cheese, oats, legumes, seafood etc.  

A healthy diet makes miracles. One should have a steady input of protein, calcium, calories and amino acids to promote growth and development. Proper nutrition is necessary for lengthening and strengthening of the bodys bone structure. So, it is very important to maintain a well-balanced diet to keep the bones and the body as healthy as they should be.

2) Dont stunt your growth
Make sure your natural height isnt shortened by environmental influences. Taking drugs and alcohol at a young age can be extremely harmful. Consuming these can lead to stunted growth and malnutrition, thus preventing you from reaching your full height, you should also avoid caffeine, quit smoking and avoid taking steroids, as these things can influence your growth and keep you short.

3) Proper Exercise
When you are physically active, your body demands more healthy nutrients and consequently, increase in nutrient intake results in proper growth. One of the best ways to increase height naturally is being physically fit and active as a child. Regular exercise and sports activity enhances height. Hitting the gym or sweating it out at home; both are helpful. 

Just follow a workout regime that involves stretching, swimming, skipping, and cycling indulging in aerobics or other sports activities like tennis, football etc is also recommended. Other than this, hanging on a bar for 2 minutes every day can be good for your bones.

4) Indulge in Yoga
Research studies have also shown that yoga and proper breathing techniques can play a fantastic role in increasing your height naturally. Yoga helps in relieving the tensions in your mind and body.  which in turn removes the obstacle to enhance growth of the body. 

So, add yoga poses like, cobra pose (bhujangaasana), pleasant pose (sukhasana), tree pose (vrksasana), mountain pose (talasana), triangle pose (trikonasana) to your fitness regime. Suryanamaskar is another yoga pose that is very beneficial to your overall well-being.

5) Maintain correct posture
Proper posture and sitting up straight relaxes your muscles to give you good height and growth. Due attention should be given towards maintaining a correct posture from childhood. Simple things like sitting straight in a chair, keeping your shoulders straight, chin high, and hips over your feet while walking or standing can actually have favorable effects on your height. 

A straight spine and a strong back are very vital in increasing your height. The head and neck must be aligned without any bending and slouching. It not only straightens out your spine, but also helps in improving height. A wrong posture like bending or drooping down, causes your spinal cord to suppress normal height.

6) Sleep well
It’s a well-known fact that our body grows and regenerates tissue while we rest. Proper sleep and rest plays a vital role in overall growth and development. Teenagers require at least 8.5 to 11 hours of sleep every night. This is because the body grows and regenerates tissues during sleep. Moreover, human growth hormone, which is responsible for increasing height, is produced while sleeping. Hence, proper sleep and rest are mandatory for height gain.

7) Drink Water
Water helps to flush out the toxins of your body and assists in good digestion of food. Not drinking enough water can slow down your metabolism, which can be deterrent to your height. Even if you eat right and follow a fitness regime, you might not be able to reap complete benefits of it if you do not drink adequate amount of water.

8) Eat frequently
Have six small meals in a day instead of three in order to boost your metabolism. Having good metabolism is also very essential if you want to increase your height with natural ways. The results of your height gain regime and the amount of human growth hormone produced depends on what you eat. 

Therefore, it is important to ensure that you are getting the necessary vitamins and minerals required for attaining full height naturally. Having in-between healthy meals will store less fat in your body, thus helping you in attaining full height naturally.

9) Soak in some sunlight
Vitamin D is important for the growth of your bones. Sunlight is the best natural source of vitamin D. Just be careful to avoid harsh sun rays during morning or mid-afternoon hours. Go out in the sun during early morning or evening hours to get its maximum benefit, with minimum exposure to UV rays.

Warning
Drugs and antibiotics that claim to grow you tall, have a lot of side effects associated with them. They hardly impact your height and rather make you lazy and inactive. So, it is advisable to stay away from such quick fixes.

So these are my simple and natural ways to get taller. What are you waiting for? Try these out to gain a few inches of height....... not just tall claims!
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Farm raised Salmon Retains Healthy Omega 3s When Baked


U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritionist Susan Raatz, physiologist Matthew Picklo, and cooperators have found that farm-raised Atlantic salmon maintains its healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids when baked.

Two omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are abundant in oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring. Some data have shown that consuming 250 milligrams daily of EPA and DHA—the amount found in a 3-ounce salmon fillet—is associated with reduced risk of heart-disease.

While eating seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids is known to reduce risk of heart disease, it has not been known whether baking causes loss of omega-3s in farm-raised Atlantic salmon. The team also examined the extent to which baking Atlantic salmon alters healthful fatty acids through oxidation that leaves unhealthy compounds, such as toxic omega-3 oxidation byproducts.

The researchers demonstrated that baking salmon to the proper temperature does not decrease its content of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. They found that baking actually decreases the presence of fatty acid oxidation byproducts. Preparing the fish based on restaurant and safety guidelines—to a tender-but-safe 145 degrees Fahrenheit rather than overcooking—was a key factor, according to authors.

The research was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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10 easy tips for healthy living

Because of growing health concerns living healthy is not so easy these days but if you follow these ten health tips, you will gradually understand "what is healthy living?" and you will find yourself on the right track which leads you to healthy happy living. At first you may have some difficulties, but as soon as u catch up your health dream. It’s as easy as riding a bike, once you’ve got the balance right!
 
1. Food is Fun… Enjoy your food
Sharing a meal with family and friends at home or at school is a great way to enjoy food. It is fun to see other people’s choice of food - what do your friends eat? Do you try different foods every day? Check out your lunch box or dinner plate. How many different kinds of fruit and vegetables can you spot?




2. Breakfast is a very important meal

Just like cars, buses and trains cannot run without fuel, our bodies need energy to work. Especially after a night’s sleep, energy levels are low. So, whether you are off to school, or out and about at the weekend, start the day with breakfast. Plenty of carbohydrates is just the ticket: try cereal with milk, fruit or yoghurt, toast or bread, perhaps with lean meats.






3. Eat lots of different foods every day, variety is the recipe for health

You need over 40 different nutrients (such as vitamins and minerals) every day for good health. Since there is no single food that contains them all, it is important to balance your daily choices. In fact there are no good or bad foods, so you do not need to miss out on the foods you enjoy. The best way to make sure you get the right balance is to eat a wide variety of foods each day.

4. Which group would you tip for the top? Base your food on carbohydrates
About half the calories in your diet should come from carbohydrate foods, such as cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes and bread, so it is a good idea to include at least one of these at every meal. Try whole grain bread, pasta and other cereals to give you extra fibre. Have you tried baking your own bread? It’s good fun and smells wonderful!

5. Gimme five! Eat fruits and vegetables with each meal and as tasty snacks!

Fruits and vegetables are among the most important foods for giving us enough vitamins, minerals and fibre. We should all try to eat at least 5 servings a day. For example, a glass of fruit juice at breakfast, perhaps an apple and banana as snacks and two vegetables at meal times. Then you have already reached your total. How many different kinds can you spot in the supermarket? Why not try some new ones?

6. Fat facts. Too much fat is not good for your health
Eating too many of those fatty foods (such as fried potatoes, fried meats and sausages, pies and pastries) might not be so good for your body. Also go easy on fat spreads such as butter and margarines. Although we need some fats to get all the nutrients we need, it is better for our health if we don’t eat too much of these foods and get knocked off balance. So, if you have a high-fat lunch, see if you can have a low-fat dinner at home.

7. Snack attack! Eat regularly and choose a variety of snacks
Even if you eat regular meals during the day, there will still be times in between that you feel hungry, especially if you have been very physically active. Snacks can fill the gap, but should not be eaten in place of meals, only as an extra. There are lots of different snacks available. Your choice may be yoghurt, a handful of fresh or dried fruits, sticks of vegetables like carrots and celery, unsalted nuts or rice crackers, or perhaps a slice of fruit loaf or some bread with cheese. Occasionally, you may prefer crisps and other packet snacks, a chocolate bar, a piece of cake or biscuits. Whichever snack you enjoy, remember it is always good to include a variety of different types to keep things in balance.

8. Quench your thirst. Drink plenty of liquids
Did you know that more than half of your weight is just water? So as well as giving your body all the food it needs each day to keep healthy, you need at least 5 glasses of liquids a day. It is particularly important if the weather is very hot or if you have done lots of exercise, to have plenty to drink. Usually – but not always – your body will tell you this, by making you feel thirsty. Plain water is great of course; you can try tap water or mineral water, plain or flavoured, sparkling or non-sparkling. Fruit juices, tea, soft drinks, milk and other drinks, can all be okay from time to time.

9. Care for those teeth! Brush your teeth at least twice a day

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Eating foods high in sugar or starches too often during the day can play a part in tooth decay. So don’t nibble foods and sip drinks all day long! Sugar-free chewing gum can help you keep your teeth healthy. However, the best way to keep a nice smile is to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Also, after brushing your teeth at bedtime, don’t eat any food, or drink anything but water!

10. Get moving! Be active every day
Just like a bike may become rusty if it is not used for some time, our muscles and bones need to be kept moving too. Activity is needed to keep your heart healthy and your bones strong. It can also be good fun. Try to include some form of activity every day: it may be just walking to school and running up the stairs. However, games like skipping and football at break times are good for giving the body a workout. Swimming is a particularly good sport for keeping you healthy.
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Vitamins and Supplements That Help With Anti Aging Care

A common question asked by many health conscious people is whether it is necessary to take a multi-vitamin or dietary supplement each day. The real simple answer depends on the quality of your diet. The human body has a certain requirement for all known vitamins and minerals which have been conveniently categorized as Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA by the FDA). These minimal requirements for vitamins and minerals were developed half a century ago to make public the smallest amount of each substance required to prevent diseases which were associated with an RDA deficiency. Current research is continually proving that the RDA specifications are not always the optimal dose necessary to prevent vibrant health into old age.

To supplement or not supplement, that is the question. Most natural health specialists believe that supplementation is required for optimal health, under the correct circumstances. To begin, there is no substitute for a good quality diet composed of raw vegetables (organic where possible), minimal fruits, lean protein, seeds, nuts and legumes. This should be the core of your diet, with foods eaten raw being 85% of total calories, and lean animal protein composing a maximum of 10%. This leaves no room for the empty calories derived from sweets, candies, refined wheat products or processed foods of any type. The types of food contain virtually no nutrients and lead to the epidemic growth of obesity and many lifestyle diseases (heart disease, cancer, stroke and dementia). This type of healthy diet will provide your body with virtually all of the known RDA nutrients. Even more important, there are other as yet unknown micro-nutrients in whole foods when eaten raw (cooking can damage or destroy many of the essential enzymes contained in many food items) which have yet to be discovered. It is clear that there is a synergy between all of the nutrients contained in these unprocessed foods which are essential to our body.

The human body has an amazing capacity to process the nutrition from the foods we eat, and an even higher capacity to protect us when we routinely take in lower than necessary amounts of the vitamins and minerals required to enable all the chemical and electrical reactions which we call life. The body has many backup mechanisms which it uses to allow us to survive a nutrient deficiency, but eventually over the course of years and decades it is no longer able to compensate. We are sent signals that there is a pending problem. We see them as lifes little aches and pains, indigestion and headaches. We ignore the problem, and then finally go to see a medical professional for a quick fix. We are given a pill, and go away thinking all will be well. But the problem has only been masked and continues to develop, as we have done nothing to correct the root cause.

We know that, regardless of the type of diet we eat, it is necessary to compliment our nutrient intake with some degree of dietary aid. Many people know this, which the reason nearly 70% of adults indicate they are taking a one a day vitamin supplement each day. While the thought is admirable, the effect on nutrition is negligible from this type of supplement. The problem is that the typical multi-vitamin is of very low quality and is made of synthetic components which the body has difficulty using. Stay away from any vitamin which is solid and made from compressed ingredients. These pills are of little use to the body, and due to the poor quality of the raw chemicals used will have no positive effect, and may actually cause harm. A much better choice is a natural vitamin supplement which will always come in a vegetarian capsule. And quality vitamins take up space, so you will probably need to take 6 - 12 of them spaced out through the day. You will notice that the RDA amounts will be well over 100%... this is a sign that the maker has done research which indicates they are including the optimal dose, and not the meager RDA amount. Read the label, and look for naturally sourced ingredients and be sure the manufacturer has a good reputation. A little research in this area will go a long way in something as important as your health.

Recently we have been provided solid science to back up the theory that dietary supplementation through our lives can yield powerful results in disease prevention as we age. Researchers have published the results of feeding an anti-aging cocktail to mice (mice are perfect test subjects as they have genetically similar pathways to humans), and made the observation: "complex dietary cocktails can powerfully ameliorate biomarkers of aging and modulate mechanisms considered ultimate goals for aging interventions." The cocktail consisted of essential vitamins and minerals and a handful of recognized extracts (carnitine, carnosine, resveratrol, COQ10, ginko, Omega-3s and green tea extracts). All components were provided in optimal doses. By comparing a group of supplemented mice to a set who received no intervention, the researchers were able to determine that the mice who consumed the cocktail showed a 50% reduction in the critical biomarkers which scientists use to gauge cellular aging. Although the mice did not live longer than the non-supplemented mice (only Calorie restriction has been documented to extend life), the supplemented mice suffered much less from disease, and had more energy for an extended period.

While there is no substitute for a good healthy diet of raw unprocessed foods, we know that most people require additional support to live a disease-free life. Proper selection of a dietary supplement is essential. Additionally, some people may need further specific dietary aids, depending on health conditions. Diabetes, heart disease and cancer all require a special regimen of supplementation which is beyond the daily multi-vitamin. It is important to research your needs based on health concerns, and avoid the barrage of lifestyle pharmaceuticals which do little to create vibrant health on a long term basis.

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A Step Closer to Breath Test For Diabetes

Earlier I wrote about dogs that can sniff out a low blood sugar.

Heres a related story about how lab instruments may be able to sniff out early diabetes, as well as liver disorders and certain cancers, from compounds in our breath.

Research To Develop A Breath Test For Cancer And Diabetes

Researchers at Swansea University in the UK are using various technologies (gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal desorption) to analyze the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath.

Dr Masood Yousef, a senior research assistant at Swansea:
"Studies have shown that high concentrations of certain VOCs in breath can correlate with disease. For example, the odour of pear drops esters and acetone in relation to diabetes, ammonia in relation to hepatitis, and dimethyl sulphide to cirrhosis. There are also certain compounds that seem to mark out particular types of cancer."
A breath test for diabetes and other conditions would be an inexpensive, safe, and convenient screening tool for early detection. Interventions could take place before a person presents with symptoms, improving long-term outlook. Lets hope researchers work out the details soon!
________
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Wayback Machine Spring Soup So Many Ways

Sweet readers, were taking the week off to catch up on some real-life work. In the meantime, were re-posting some of our favorite recipes and essays. This one was written by Leigh last week. Blogger ate it during their 24-hour loss of service, so were re-posting. Enjoy!

New Yorkers like their soup. Just how much was a phenomenon unfamiliar to me when I moved here in the mid-’90s and found myself serving it by the bucket to insatiable Upper West Siders. Diners based their lunch orders on the soup du jour and were often despondent if told their favorites were off-menu or, even worse, sold out.

It’s just soup, I would think, sometimes aloud to my fellow waitrons. But what did I know; I grew up eating soup from a can. Occasionally, my grandma would try to get me to eat her homemade vegetable or chicken noodle, but I rebuffed her advances. It wasn’t sodium-rich Campbell’s, and I would have none of it.

As a frugal eater-outer, soup never seemed like a good bargain. A bowl of soup can run upwards of $6 or $7 dollars in a New York restaurant. As a vegetarian, the “is there meat in it?” question is often difficult to nail. One chef/waiter’s meat-free soup is another’s fish stock surprise. A bowl of watery, mushy vegetables just didnt seem worth it.

But somewhere along my home-cooking journey, I discovered something: soup is amazing. It can be simple or complex, light or hearty, bland (in a good way) or rich. Soup is a fabulous way to get vegetables into the diet and, with few exceptions, is easy to make. I dont know what took me so long.

I stumbled on this simple, rich and light green pea soup on Chow.com a few weeks before Easter. The vibrant green color caught my eye; it looked like spring and tastes like spring: green peas, leeks, fresh mint, a squirt of lemon. The sun came out just to see if it could have a taste. With only a few ingredients, this brightly colored soup whips up quickly and makes an impressive starter or light lunch supplement.

Coincidentally, my colleague E supplied the optional crème fraîche when she whipped up a batch from scratch. It was lighter than I expected and added a delightful tanginess to the sweet peas.

Take Chows advice to water down commercial broth, if you go that route. I didnt for my first batch, which made for a very oily soup when combined with the whole tablespoon of butter the original recipe suggests. I recommend halving the fat and using home-brewed broth (or watered down store-bought) for a less greasy mouthfeel (ew…I said mouthfeel).

Now for the variations. Ive made this soup about five or six times since Easter when it made its debut (to raves). After a couple of batches, I started changing up the veg and the herbs, and it just kept being fantastic, like changing the curtains when you want to freshen up the living room. The variations are listed below the recipe.

I finally get it. Soup is easy, delicious, and versatile, and except for the eating out part, 8 million New Yorkers cant be wrong.

~~~~

If this recipe floats your boat, paddle on over to:
  • Chilled Summer Squash Soup
  • Sweet Potato Soup with Swiss Chard
  • Vegetarian Miso Soup
~~~

Green Pea Soup
Serves 4–6
adapted from Green Pea Soup from Chow.com


1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil
1 medium leek, root trimmed, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
2 1/2 cups homemade vegetable broth or 1 cup low-sodium store-bought vegetable broth mixed with 1 1/2 cups water*
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
3 cups shelled fresh peas (from about 2 1/2 pounds of peas in their pods) or 16 ounces frozen peas, thawed**
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves***
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more as needed
Crème fraîche, optional

1) Heat olive oil or butter in heavy bottomed sauce pan. Saute leek in oil with pinch of salt. Add broth and bring to boil.

2) Add green peas, remaining salt, and black pepper. Return to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

3) Remove from heat, stir in mint (or parsley), and allow flavors to meld for 10 minutes or so.

4) Transfer soup to a blender and puree in batches until smooth. Add lemon juice to tasted.

5) Serve hot or cold with a dollop of crème fraîche or a sprinkle of finely chopped mint or parsley.

Broccoli Potato Variation
Makes 6 servings
* 4 cups vegetable broth
** 12 ounces broccoli, chopped + 8 ounces, red bliss potatoes, washed and chopped into 1/8" dice

At step 2, add broccoli and potatoes, remaining salt, black pepper. Return to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft.

Cauliflower Variation
** 16 ounces frozen cauliflower, thawed
***1/4 cup parsley

At step 2, add cauliflower, remaining salt, and black pepper. Return to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price per Serving
Green Pea (four servings): 131.8 calories, 1.9g fat, 5.5g fiber, 6.6g protein, $.78
Broccoli Potato (six servings): 85 calories, 1g fat, 4g fiber, 3.6g protein, $.59
Cauliflower (four servings): 71 calories, 1.9g fat, 3.8g fiber, 3.6g protein, $.73

Calculations
1/2 tablespoon butter: 70 calories, 7.5g fat, 0g fiber, 0.5g protein, $0.08
1 medium leek: 54 calories, 0g fat, 2g fiber, 1g protein, $0.25
2 teaspoons kosher salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
2 1/2 cups homemade vegetable broth: 50 calories, 0.25g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.48
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
16 ounces frozen peas: 350 calories, 0g fat, 20g fiber, 25g protein, $2.19
[12 ounces broccoli: 164 calories, 0g fat, 20g fiber, 16g protein, $1.32]
[8 ounces red potato: 140 calories, 0g fat, 4g fiber, 4g protein, $1.00]
[16 ounces cauliflower: 108 calories, 0g fat, 9g fiber, 9g protein, $1.99]
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves: 0 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice: 3 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.00

Note: One teaspoon of crème fraîche per serving adds 7.7 calories and .7g fat.

Green Pea Soup
TOTALS: 527 calories, 7.75g fat, 22g fiber, 26.5g protein, $3.12
PER SERVING (TOTALS/4): 131.8 calories, 1.9g fat, 5.5g fiber, 6.6g protein, $.78

Broccoli Potato Soup
TOTALS: 511 calories, 8g fat, 26g fiber, 21.5g protein, $3.53
PER SERVING (TOTALS/6): 85 calories, 1g fat, 4g fiber, 3.6g protein, $.59

Cauliflower Soup
TOTALS: 285 calories, 7.75g fat, 15g fiber, 14.5g protein, $2.92
PER SERVING (TOTALS/4): 71 calories, 1.9g fat, 3.8g fiber, 3.6g protein, $.73
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Top Ten Links of the Week 8 27 10 9 2 10

Thursday, December 26, 2013

1) Salon: What to Know about the Great Egg Recall
Francis Lam provides a calming read on the egg recall and how to stay safe in its wake.

2) Food Politics: Further Thoughts on Egg Recall
The egg recall is just the latest indictment on the factory farm system. Marion Nestle points out some of the high points and puts a face on the crisis.

3) The Ethicurean: Neophobia 101: When picky eaters confound Ethicureanish intentions
Parents, do you have a picky eater at your table despite all your best efforts? Check out this charming tale from The Ethicurean. But play it cool.

4) HuffPo: Record Breaking Vegetables
Ohio: represent!

5) Casual Kitchen: The Economics of Wasteful Foods
Another terrific post from Dan at Casual Kitchen on food and economics, as he deftly points out that we get WAY more for our money when we skip the "time-saving" foods and stick to the real thing.

6) Food Politics: Do We Need Meat Substitutes?
Speaking of convenience foods, this collection of articles about the development of fake meat is fascinating and kind of queasy-making. I’ll stick with lentils and tofu.

7) Mother Jones’s Blue Marble Blog: What Sustainable Seafood?
Blue Marble highlights an op-ed in the Sept. 2 issue of Nature (paywall) criticizing the standards of the Marine Stewardship Council. The MSC determines which fisheries are bestowed with the “sustainable” label used to endorse fish sold in big supermarket chains like Wal-Mart and Whole Foods.

8) Jezebel: The Mind-Boggling History of Fad Diets
When I was a teen with a horrible body image, I would daydream about getting a tapeworm, but I never followed through.

9) Slashfood: New Food Stamp Pilot Enlists Discount Produce
The Dept. of Agriculture is granting Massachusetts $20M for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which will temporarily provide a 30% discount on fresh produce to a test group of food stamp recipients.

10) Unplugged: 10 Oven Tips that Cut Costs and Keep You Cool
Handy reminders and new ideas for keeping it cool during the last days of high temps while still using the oven. Um...there are two items about cleaning it. Via The Kitchn.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Object By: Crocheted Veggies
Japanese artist jungjung has whipped up the most delicious vegetables you’ve ever seen. Via CRAFT Magazine.

Civil Eats: Hydroponic Roof Garden Supplies Manhattan Restaurant
A Manhattan restaurateur grows all the produce for his bistro’s menu on the roof of the building. This story combines two of my favorite things: fresh veggies and urban roof gardens. Seriously, let’s put some more green up there, people!

Gothamist: Did Bacon Make CT Wendy’s Cook Threaten Co-Worker?
It’s nice to know some people take food safety seriously.

AND ALSO


Comic artist Natalie Dee has our number.

Thank you so much for visiting Cheap Healthy Good! (We appreciate it muchly). If you’d like to further support CHG, subscribe to our RSS feed! Or become a Facebook friend! Or check out our Twitter! Or buy something inexpensive, yet fulfilling via that Amazon store (on the left)! Bookmarking sites and links are nice, too. Viva la France!
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The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up

Workers Comp Insider hosts the latest Cavalcade of Risk.  Naturally, the theme is the Olympics and the various links and insights on the business aspects of risk are enough to make the DMCB award host blogger Lynch Ryan a gold medal.

Enjoy!
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Over a Quarter of Americans Have Pre Diabetes


When you hear that 20 million people in the US have diabetes, it may sound like a lot. What it represents is about 9%* of the adult population.

A really staggering figure is the number of Americans with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), a pre-diabetes condition that increases the risk for diabetes down the road, and that by itself has been associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes such as heart attack and stroke.

How many people have IFG? In 2002, about 26% of the adult population, or 54 million Americans. Since IFG usually doesnt cause symptoms, the only way to detect it is through a blood test.


These figures are the result of analysis done by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their work appears in the June issue of Diabetes Care.

Some of their other findings:
  • Diabetes was more common in people over 65. The prevalence in this group rose to 22%. Almost 40% of them had IFG.

  • Diabetes was twice as common in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic whites.

  • IFG and undiagnosed diabetes were about 70% more common in men than women.

* 6.5% diagnosed plus 2.8% undiagnosed

________

For the Diabetes Care, June 2006 article (abstract only):
Prevalence of Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Adults in the U.S. Population

For a summary:
One-third Of Adults With Diabetes Still Dont Know They Have It
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10 Benefits of tomatoes extraordinary


10 Benefits of tomatoes extraordinary - Every day, you may always enjoy the food with ketchup. But try to eat fresh raw tomatoes, for the sake of getting his extraordinary properties, as quoted from the Third Age the following.

Antioxidants

The content of antioxidants in tomatoes is beta-carotene. In addition, tomatoes are also fortified with vitamin A and C. Everything works together to fight the free radicals that enter the body.

Controlling diabetes
Tomatoes contain many mineral called chromium, its function is to help people with diabetes to control sugar levels in the blood.

Effects of smoking
If you are a former smoker, do not be lazy to eat tomatoes. Because tomatoes contain chlorogenic acid and coumaric which an agent posed by opponents carcinogens from cigarettes.

Cancer fighter
A study says that eating tomatoes can reduce the risk of stomach and colon cancer. Because in the tomatoes contain lycopene, a natural antioxidant that inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Healthy eyes
Because tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, eat vegetables that one is also able to nourish the eyes. Especially if you are having vision problems at night.

Healthy heart
Potassium and B vitamins are powerful nutrients that lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You can get both of these nutrients by eating fresh tomatoes.

Brighten skin
Beautiful effect of eating tomatoes is to brighten the skin. The trick, peeled tomatoes and use the skin as a face mask. Leave on for ten minutes before finally rinse. Do regularly to get clean and shining face.

Prevent kidney stones
Eating tomatoes without seeds are reportedly able to reduce the risk of kidney stones. So do not be lazy eating vegetables round this one.

Shiny hair
In addition to skin care, hair can get remarkable properties of tomatoes. You simply eat tomatoes regularly as vitamin A in it will make your hair strong and shiny.

Strengthen bones
Lastly, tomatoes are also rich in vitamin K and calcium that maintain bone strength. So in addition to taking supplements, multiply the consumption of tomato so that the bones stronger.

That many remarkable properties of tomatoes. Enjoy this vegetable in the fresh form in order to get its various properties!
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The False God of Easy Answers and Catchy Nostrums

Have you been stymied by health cares complexity? Are you unable to find that one intervention that predictably leads to a desired outcome? Are your best laid plans being upended by countervailing poverty and undereducation? Do you want to make a big splash that portrays your health care chops?

The Disease Management Care Blog says "No problem!" because the fix is simple:

Find a catchy health care motto.

Among the more famous are Richard Nixons "War on Cancer" and the geneticists "Personalized Medicine." The latest candidate is the term "AIDS Free Generation" embraced by Secretary of State Hillary Clintons at the International AIDS 2012 Conference. Ms. Clinton really stepped up with a compelling vision thing, got some major jumbotron time and launched a new nostrum into the global miasma of big government solutioning. Its enough to give the DMCB goosebumps. If this keeps up, humanity can look forward to a future where we all die of nothing.

Dont get the DMCB wrong. $150 million will save many lives, but the idea that HIV transmission will be completely halted in 2015 seems fantastical, naive and a little dishonest. Contrast that with William Bennetts reframing the "War On Drugs" with a more honest stretch goal of a "50%" reduction in U.S. drug abuse.  It didnt end well, but give the guy credit for telling it like it is.

The DMCBs conclusions:

1. Beware politicians with little reality-tested experience taking advantage of our desire for easy answers wrapped in short catchphrases. While our aspirations should exceed our reach, the DMCB cautions that we need to be on the lookout for health policy hope being undercut by hype.

2. Ms. Clintons political skills are considerable.  The DMCB finds it unlikely this political impresario will simply fade away.

3. This false god of health care perfection summed up with easy answers may be one of the reasons why all those local QI programs aim for "100% HEDIS compliance" and "zero" hospital readmissions. Who can blame them when our political class is leading the way?

The DMCB felt so strongly about this, it proposes its own motto: "Be motto free with the DMCB."
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Home Remedies for Insomnia

Home Remedies for Treating Insomnia

Insomnia or sleeplessness is generally defined as difficulty in maintaining proper quality an quantity of sleep.


Causes of insomnia 

Reasons behind sleeplessness can be emotional factors like depression, anxiety and stress etc.. or it can also result from irregular life style like working in swing shifts.
there are certain physical factors also that may leave you with sleepless nights like harmonal changes.


Apple for insomnia


Among various health benefits of Apple is the fact that it  is a  good home remedy for treatment of Insomnia. If you find it difficult to fall asleep or your sleep gets interrupted at midnight leaving you awake till morning then eating apple preserve can help you get your sleep back. 

Eat 1 preserved apple (seb ka murabba) before going to bed at night with 1 cup of milk. Do this daily for 15 days, and you will see he difference.
Please Note:  the apple preserve should be made with ripe and sweet apple.

Honey a traditional remedy for Insomnia
Honey has been used as a home remedy for treating sleeping disorders since ages.  If you are having difficulty falling asleep try to take 2 tsp of honey a bedtime. Honey reduces stress hormone and promotes production of melatonin, a hormone that is used for addressing sleeping disorders like Insomnia.

Go to bed only when you are feeling sleepy.
If its more than 15 mins of trying and still unable to sleep, just get up and read any article or book. Dont pick up your favorite book as it may engross you.
when you start feeling sleepy then only go to bed.

Dont consume any stimulant before going to bed.

Coffee, chocolates and colas contain caffeine which is very good stimulant and is capable enough to keep you awake thus elevating sleeplessness.

Spend some time with yourself before going to bed .

Always give yourself quiete time to think about what all happened during the day, plan out tomorrows activities.


Go for evening walk or hop for sometime.

An evening walk or moderate exercise is very refreshing. Apart from this hopping or evening walk increases your body temeperature and when after sometime when this temperature falls it may induce sleep.

Use Mechanical Aids for treating Insomnia .

You can use earplugs to refrain the disturbing sounds of traffic or tv etc from distracting your sleep.
Use eyeshades to block the view of unwanted lights.
Use electric blanket to keep yourself warm if you suffer from cold very often.

Rest your mind.

Stop thinking about everything, your day to day activities or any of your problems while sleeping. Keep your mind completely relaxed and calm.
Play soft and soothing music, mind that the music is not too distracting or peppy.

Create good sleeping environment.

Dont bring your office or hobbies in your bed. keep your bedroom clean and fresh.

these simple yet effective home remedies will surely help you get rid of insomnia and sleepless  nights
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Daily Egg Consumption Increases Risk For Diabetes

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

A new study in Diabetes Care found that eating eggs may raise the risk for developing type 2 diabetes:1
"These data suggest that high levels of egg consumption (daily) are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in men and women."
The data came from two large cohorts, the Physicians Health Study I (1982–2007) that included 20,703 men, and the Womens Health Study (1992–2007) that included 36,295 women.

Men experienced an increased risk for diabetes of:
  • 18% for 2-4 eggs/week
  • 46% for 5-6 eggs/week
  • 58% for 7 or more eggs/week
Women experienced an increased risk for diabetes of:
  • 19% for 2-4 eggs/week
  • 18% for 5-6 eggs/week
  • 77% for 7 or more eggs/week
An earlier study from May of this year that used the same Physicians Health Study I cohort found that men who ate more eggs had a higher risk of dying during a 20-year follow-up than men who ate fewer eggs. For men who also had diabetes, the increased risk rose from 25% to 200%.
________

1Egg Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men and Women, Diabetes Care, published online ahead of print November 18, 2008.
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Eating Starfruit for Acne

Starfruit is grown in Southeast Asia, but its popularity as a "super" has helped to spread to other areas. Farmers began rising star in South Florida and Hawaii because of the growing U.S. demand to be explored. Skin health, including the alleviation of acne, is one of the benefits of eating fruits stars.

Zinc

Zinc is the main reason for the carambola can help cure acne. Zinc tablets and other preparations are often used to combat the causes of acne, starfruit, food is a tasty way to get more zinc in your diet.

After HolisticAcneTreatments.com acne is caused mainly by two factors - hormonal imbalance and the accumulation of toxins in the blood and lymphatic system. Zinc regulates the sebaceous glands of the skin but can also help regulate the hormonal balance.

Zinc, vitamin A also helps heal wounds, ulcers, acne and helps to absorb. Also, the Zinc is an immune system booster to bacteria known to cause acne in the first fight.
     
To prevent oily skin

People with oily skin prone to acne, eating fruits and stars can contribute to oily skin. Carambola is acidic and contains a large amount of water. This combination, for the good life and good health of skin, oily skin, helps in two ways. The water helps wash impurities from the system and the juice cleanses the skin, removing oil and dirt. Meanwhile, contains powerful antioxidants, acidity, free radicals to prevent skin. Star fruit rich in fat and sugar in the blood that helps niacin can cause acne.
     
Inhibitors of zinc

Carambola primary healing of acne is, at its zinc content for those with acne to avoid eating foods that are inhibitors of zinc. They contain the complete absorption of zinc in the body and the benefits can occur. Those who suffer from acne should limit foods high in phytic acid, such as grain, high-level portions of two per day. The same applies to foods that are rich in soy protein.
     
Considerations

Importantly, the carambola is probably a cure for acne. The addition of other supplements such as zinc mono-methionine can reduce the risk of acne.

Do not eat the fruit of the star, if you have kidney disease, can have dangerous consequences.
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New link between heart disease and red meat



Study offers new understanding of cardiovascular health benefits of vegan, vegetarian diets


A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis – or the hardening or clogging of the arteries – according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine.

The study shows that bacteria living in the human digestive tract metabolize the compound carnitine, turning it into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite the researchers previously linked in a 2011 study to the promotion of atherosclerosis in humans. Further, the research finds that a diet high in carnitine promotes the growth of the bacteria that metabolize carnitine, compounding the problem by producing even more of the artery-clogging TMAO.

The research team was led by Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair of Translational Research for the Lerner Research Institute and section head of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic, and Robert Koeth, a medical student at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.

The study tested the carnitine and TMAO levels of omnivores, vegans and vegetarians, and examined the clinical data of 2,595 patients undergoing elective cardiac evaluations. They also examined the cardiac effects of a carnitine-enhanced diet in normal mice compared to mice with suppressed levels of gut microbes, and discovered that TMAO alters cholesterol metabolism at multiple levels, explaining how it enhances atherosclerosis.

The researchers found that increased carnitine levels in patients predicted increased risks for cardiovascular disease and major cardiac events like heart attack, stroke and death, but only in subjects with concurrently high TMAO levels. Additionally, they found specific gut microbe types in subjects associated with both plasma TMAO levels and dietary patterns, and that baseline TMAO levels were significantly lower among vegans and vegetarians than omnivores. Remarkably, vegans and vegetarians, even after consuming a large amount of carnitine, did not produce significant levels of the microbe product TMAO, whereas omnivores consuming the same amount of carnitine did.

"The bacteria living in our digestive tracts are dictated by our long-term dietary patterns," Hazen said. "A diet high in carnitine actually shifts our gut microbe composition to those that like carnitine, making meat eaters even more susceptible to forming TMAO and its artery-clogging effects. Meanwhile, vegans and vegetarians have a significantly reduced capacity to synthesize TMAO from carnitine, which may explain the cardiovascular health benefits of these diets."

Prior research has shown that a diet with frequent red meat consumption is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but that the cholesterol and saturated fat content in red meat does not appear to be enough to explain the increased cardiovascular risks. This discrepancy has been attributed to genetic differences, a high salt diet that is often associated with red meat consumption, and even possibly the cooking process, among other explanations. But Hazen says this new research suggests a new connection between red meat and cardiovascular disease.

"This process is different in everyone, depending on the gut microbe metabolism of the individual," he says. "Carnitine metabolism suggests a new way to help explain why a diet rich in red meat promotes atherosclerosis."

While carnitine is naturally occurring in red meats, including beef, venison, lamb, mutton, duck, and pork, its also a dietary supplement available in pill form and a common ingredient in energy drinks. With this new research in mind, Hazen cautions that more research needs to be done to examine the safety of chronic carnitine supplementation.

"Carnitine is not an essential nutrient; our body naturally produces all we need," he says. "We need to examine the safety of chronically consuming carnitine supplements as weve shown that, under some conditions, it can foster the growth of bacteria that produce TMAO and potentially clog arteries."

This study is the latest in a line of research by Hazen and his colleagues exploring how gut microbes can contribute to atherosclerosis, uncovering new and unexpected pathways involved in heart disease. In a 2011 Nature study, they first discovered that people are not predisposed to cardiovascular disease solely because of their genetic make-up, but also based on how the micro-organisms in their digestive tracts metabolize lecithin, a compound with a structure similar to carnitine.

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Its True Medical Cannabis Provides Dramatic Relief for Sufferers of Chronic Ailments



Treatment can improve appetite, ease chronic pain, and more


Though controversial, medical cannabis has been gaining ground as a valid therapy, offering relief to suffers of diseases such as cancer, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, ALS and more. The substance is known to soothe severe pain, increase the appetite, and ease insomnia where other common medications fail.

In 2009, Zach Klein, a graduate of Tel Aviv Universitys Department of Film and Television Studies, directed the documentary Prescribed Grass. Through the process, he developed an interest in the scientific research behind medical marijuana, and now, as a specialist in policy-making surrounding medical cannabis and an MA student at TAUs Porter School of Environmental Studies, he is conducting his own research into the benefits of medical cannabis.

Using marijuana from a farm called Tikkun Olam — a reference to the Jewish concept of healing the world — Klein and his fellow researchers tested the impact of the treatment on 19 residents of the Hadarim nursing home in Israel. The results, Klein says, have been outstanding. Not only did participants experience dramatic physical results, including healthy weight gain and the reduction of pain and tremors, but Hadarim staff saw an immediate improvement in the participants moods and communication skills. The use of chronic medications was also significantly reduced, he reports.

Kleins research team includes Dr. Dror Avisar of TAUs Hydrochemistry Laboratory at the Department of Geography and Human Environment; Prof. Naama Friedmann and Rakefet Keider of TAUs Jaime and Joan Constantiner School of Education; Dr. Yehuda Baruch of TAUs Sackler Faculty of Medicine and director of the Abarbanel Mental Health Center; and Dr. Moshe Geitzen and Inbal Sikorin of Hadarim.

Cutting down on chronic medications

Israel is a world leader in medical cannabis research, Klein says. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, was first discovered there by Profs. Raphael Mechoulam and Yechiel Gaoni. Prof. Mechoulam is also credited for having defined the endocannabinoid system, which mimics the effects of cannabis and plays a role in appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory.

In the Hadarim nursing home, 19 patients between the ages of 69 and 101 were treated with medical cannabis in the form of powder, oil, vapor, or smoke three times daily over the course of a year for conditions such as pain, lack of appetite, and muscle spasms and tremors. Researchers and nursing home staff monitored participants for signs of improvement, as well as improvement in overall life quality, such as mood and ease in completing daily living activities.

During the study, 17 patients achieved a healthy weight, gaining or losing pounds as needed. Muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors and pain reduced significantly. Almost all patients reported an increase in sleeping hours and a decrease in nightmares and PTSD-related flashbacks.

There was a notable decline in the amount of prescribed medications taken by patients, such as antipsychotics, Parkinsons treatment, mood stabilizers, and pain relievers, Klein found, noting that these drugs have severe side effects. By the end of the study, 72 percent of participants were able to reduce their drug intake by an average of 1.7 medications a day.

Connecting cannabis and swallowing

This year, Klein is beginning a new study at Israels Reuth Medical Center with Drs. Jean-Jacques Vatine and Aviah Gvion, in which he hopes to establish a connection between medical cannabis and improved swallowing. One of the biggest concerns with chronically ill patients is food intake, says Klein. Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, can lead to a decline in nutrition and even death. He believes that cannabis, which has been found to stimulate regions of the brain associated with swallowing reflexes, will have a positive impact.

Overall, Klein believes that the healing powers of cannabis are close to miraculous, and has long supported an overhaul in governmental policy surrounding the drug. Since his film was released in 2009, the number of permits for medical cannabis in Israel has increased from 400 to 11,000. His research is about improving the quality of life, he concludes, especially for those who have no other hope.

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Is Your Mouth Fit for Kissing Reasons Youre Not Kissable

Cold Sores
Also called fever blisters, you don’t get cold sores from fevers or colds but they can be triggered by them. The virus that causes cold sores is usually passed via a kiss, shared utensils, or other close contact. OTC creams and ointments may help discomfort and speed healing. Frequent sores may require a prescription. Cold sores are a top mouth problem. Other problems include canker sores, TMJ, bad breath, and mouth cancer.


Thrush
Caused by candida yeast, thrush is most common in older adults or babies. But a weakened immune system, antibiotics, diabetes or certain medications such as  inhaled corticosteroids can give candida a chance to grow wild. Wiping away the patches will cause soreness. See a doctor for a firm diagnosis.


Black Hairy Tongue
This painless condition occurs when the little bumps on your tongue grow long and trap bacteria that live in your mouth -- making your tongue look black and hairy. Causes can include antibiotic use, poor oral hygiene, smoking, drinking a lot of tea or coffee, and not producing enough saliva. Brushing your tongue and using a tongue scraper is usually all you need to treat it, though sometimes medication is necessary.

Canker Sores
No one knows what causes these small, painful blisters inside your mouth. Triggers include hypersensitivity, infection, hormones, stress, and not getting enough of some vitamins. Also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores can show up on your tongue, cheek, even gums. They usually last a week or two. Persistent, severe canker sores can be treated with numbing creams or prescription treatments.

Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia is a reaction to an irritant, like rough teeth, badly fitting dentures, smoking, and smokeless tobacco. It can show up as white patches or plaques in the mouth, usually is painless, and can’t be scraped off. Leukoplakia can also be a precancerous condition. Persistent patches or other changes in your mouth need a dentist’s evaluation.


Lichen Planus
A rare rash that shows up as lacy, white patches or red shiny bumps on the inside of the cheeks or tongue could be lichen planus. No one knows what causes it. Generally, mild lichen planus doesn’t need any treatment. If it causes pain or ulcers, it can be treated with oral and topical medication. Oral lichen planus can be chronic and may increase the risk for oral cancer. Lichen planus can also affect skin, scalp, nails, and genitals.


Geographic Tongue
When parts of your tongue are missing some of their small bumps, you end up with raised and lowered spots, giving your tongue a map-like appearance. The spots can change location, pattern, and size within minutes to hours. Geographic tongue is harmless and can come and go. It usually doesn’t need any treatment. If there’s pain, over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications can help.

Mouth Cancer
A mouth sore that doesn’t go away. Unexplained numbness in the face, mouth, or neck. Problems chewing, speaking or swallowing. These are a few symptoms of mouth cancer. Causes can include smoking cigarettes and using smokeless tobacco, drinking heavily, overexposure to the sun, and a family history of cancer. Don’t let fear keep you from the doctor -- oral cancer that is caught early is treatable and curable.

TMJ
A problem with the jaw called temporomandibular joint syndrome can cause  severe pain in the jaw, face, ear, or neck. Clenching, tooth grinding, or injury can all cause TMJ, but the results are often the same: pain, headaches, dizziness, even trouble swallowing. Treatment may involve rest, a mouth guard, medication, or surgery.




Chipped Teeth
Munching on ice or hard candies, grinding or clenching teeth, even exposing teeth to heat and cold can lead to chips, cracks, and breaks in your teeth. Tiny chips or cracks may not be a bother. But anything more could lead to pain or permanent tooth damage. Your dentist can offer dental bonding, tooth contouring, porcelain veneers, and crowns to fix badly damaged teeth.


Amalgam Tattoo
Ever notice a small blue-gray “stain” in a soft part of your mouth after dental work? Called amalgam tattoos, they occur when a tiny piece of amalgam filling gets embedded in your cheek or gum. The silver in the amalgam leaches into your mouth’s soft tissue, resulting in what looks a bit like a tiny tattoo. Amalgam tattoos pose no harm. But if the blue-gray spot grows or changes color, that’s not an amalgam tattoo. Ask your dentist to check it out.



Periodontal Disease
With periodontal disease like gingivitis, bacteria in plaque can cause receding gum lines. Pockets form that become infected and can cause bone loss. Proper oral hygiene can help prevent periodontal disease. Smoking, poor diet, and stress can make it worse. See your dentist to treat receding gums.

Gum Disease
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums could be gingivitis, which can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. Also called gum disease, gingivitis – a form of periodontal disease -- can happen when an illness, medication, plaque, or other problem leaves gums vulnerable to bacterial infection. Prevention is the best strategy. That means daily flossing and brushing, as well as regular dental visits. Severe gingivitis may require antibiotics.


Aspirin Burn
Ever let an aspirin nestle in your cheek, near an aching tooth? While you may hope this relieves  pain faster, instead the acid in the aspirin burns a white, rough lesion into your gums or cheek. Preventing aspirin burn is simple -- swallow those pain relievers! Treatment for aspirin burn is just as basic: Time. Simple burns should heal in about two weeks.

Cavities, Abcesses, Discoloration
Flossing and brushing daily and regular dental checkups help prevent problems like cavities, abscesses, and tooth discoloration. Don’t mess around with a severe toothache. Dental infections can spread to the face, skull, and even to the bloodstream. See your dentist as soon as possible if your toothache lasts longer than 1 or 2 days or if you have a fever, earache, or pain when you open your mouth wide.
Bad Breath
Unbrushed teeth have food particles around them that promote bacteria and cause bad breath. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth may be from continuous breathing through your mouth, dry mouth, a sign of gum disease, or even diabetes. Fight bad breath by brushing your teeth and tongue, drinking water, and avoiding food triggers. See your dentist if bad breath persists.



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Blueberries Prevent Fat Cell Formation and Assist Weight Loss Goals

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Multiple nutritional studies have demonstrated that blueberries exert a powerful cardio-protective effect due to the high concentration of polyphenols found in the berry. Researchers from the Texas Woman`s University examined the role this amazing fruit plays in the initial development of fat cells that could have a significant impact on weight reduction efforts and obesity. The result of a study presented to the American Society for Nutrition found that blueberries inhibit the creation of new fat cells by altering lipid metabolism. A daily dose of fresh blueberries may hold the key to natural weight reduction.

Researchers at TWU set out to evaluate whether blueberries play a role in the development and differentiation of new baby fat cells or adipocytes that are the primary vehicle for fat storage in the body. In the past, studies have shown powerful natural polyphenols found in plants to inhibit the formation of fat cells and induce lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fats from cellular storage.

Blueberry Extract is Shown to Inhibit Baby Fat Cell Formation
The study used different concentrations of a wild blueberry extract performed on tissue cultures to determine the effect on fat cell initiation. The blueberry polyphenols showed a dose-dependent suppression of fat cell differentiation. Fat cells exposed to the highest polyphenol concentration showed a 73% decrease in lipid breakdown. Cells exposed to the lowest blueberry concentration exhibited a 27% decrease in lipids.

The lead study author, Shiwani Moghe, MS determined that blueberry polyphenols can inhibit a critical path leading to obesity at the molecular level and may play a significant role in blocking the development of new fat cells. The berry may also play a part in releasing fat from adipocytes that will help millions with the desire to lose weight. She noted “This is a burgeoning area of research. Determining the best dose for humans will be important. The promise is there for blueberries to help reduce adipose tissue from forming in the body.”

Blueberries Prevent Deadly Arterial Plaque and Atherosclerosis
Polyphenols from blueberries have been shown to be effective in the fight against arterial hardening or atherosclerosis. Researchers writing in the Journal of Nutrition found that regular blueberry consumption can help prevent harmful plaques and lesions from increasing in size in coronary arteries. A diet containing blueberries for 20 weeks was shown to reduce arterial plaque lesions from 39 to 58 percent, dramatically lowering risk for a deadly heart attack.

Blueberries have been a natural part of the human diet for countless generations and provide a tasty source of plant polyphenols that prevent coronary artery disease and can assist with weight loss efforts. Include four to eight ounces of fresh blueberries to your diet each day or take an organically produced concentrated extract supplement to naturally improve health and prevent fat cell development.
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Veggie Might Vegan Mayo and Worcestershire for Cookout Independence

Sweet readers: Today kicks off No-Cook Month on Cheap Healthy Good! Join us as we never turn on our stoves, ever.

Girls and boys, it’s been as hot as blue blazes around these parts (New York City, if you’re just joining us). Luckily for me, I have a sensitive little cookie monster who requires air conditioning for summer survival. No, not me—I can take the heat.

However, my Charming Boyfriend does not; and his apartment is consistently two- to three-degrees hotter than outside. Thank Maude for NO COOK MONTH!

To kick it off, I’m dipping back into a past theme: make your own condiments. It’s not a stove-free meal, but with Canada Day upon us (happy, happy, up there!), and the 4th of July just days away, I figured everyone’s cooking out anyway. Vegans and vegetarians will need something animal-free to slather on and spice up their veggie burgs, tofu dogs, and grilled portobellos.

Vegan Mayo
While Kris promises to keep this site mayo-free, I make no such vow, and besides vegan mayo is really just tofu sauce. Even Kris can get behind that right? Right? Hey, Miss K, where are you going? (Um ... I have a thing. - Kris)

Anyhoo…this creamy, light sandwich spread does no harm to the baby chicks, cuts down on picnic botulism (or is it salmonella? I’m always confusing my food-borne illnesses…), and is perfect on sandwiches and salads—anywhere mayo or that other processed sandwich glop dares to tread.

All you need are a few simple ingredients, a food processor/blender (or a strong whisking arm), and you’ll be too cool for the real deal in no time.

Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce is one of those nonvegetarian foodstuffs that can sneak past even the most diligent animal-bits teetotaler. The original, stuff of apothecary legend, is made with anchovies or other fishy paste. That’ll kill the buzz, from the bloody marys to the chex mix, at any veghead’s party.

Turns out, a veggie version is tres easy, and requires just a little patience, along with a couple not-so-secret ingredients: molasses and tamarind concentrate. Tamarind is a sour fruit found in Africa and Southeast Asia, is commonly used in Indian, Thai, and Latin American cooking, and can be found at Indian or Latin markets.

Molasses is the anti-high fructose corn syrup.

There is something about the molasses and tamarind that give the Worcestershire sauce its depth and zing. I thought the fish paste would be the biggest flavor factor, but the batch I made—just by letting the spices meld overnight—tastes shockingly close to the original.

The veggie wor’st was tangy and spicy on homemade veggie burgers along with the first harvest of lettuce from CB’s fire-escape herb garden. The vegan mayo added a smooth and delicious complement.

Whip up a set of homemade, vegan condiments for your holiday cookout to mark your complete independence from processed foods. Or just because it’s fun make stuff from scratch.

Happy 3rd anniversary and happy Independence Day, everyone!

~~~

If this article tips your canoe, swim on over to
  • Make Your Own Ketchup
  • Make Your Own Mustard
  • Western North Carolina BBQ Sauce
~~~

Vegan Mayo
Makes 1 cup or 16 1-tablespoon servings.
Adapted from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman.

6 oz silken tofu
1/4 cup safflower oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt

1) Place tofu, vinegar, mustard, and salt in a bowl or the bowl of your food processor/blender.

2) Zap/whisk until smooth.

3) Drizzle in oil, blending as you go. Continue whizzing/whisking until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes in the food processor).

4) Serve as desired. Refrigerate up to two weeks.

5) Accept praise and amazement at your hard work graciously.

~~~

Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Makes 1 cup or 16 1-tablespoon servings.
Adapted from Cooking with Rockstars.com.

1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate
1/4 teaspoon grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1) Combine all ingredients into a small nonreactive mixing bowl. Stir well.

2) Transfer to a container with a lid—a glass jar or take-out container is perfect.

3) Allow flavors to meld overnight or at least 8 hours. (I let it sit out on the counter, but you can refrigerate if you feel safer that way.)

4) Shake and strain out the red pepper flakes.

5) Serve with veggie burgers, bloody marys, and confidence.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price per Serving
Vegan Mayo: 42.5 calories, 4g fat, 3g fiber, .8g protein, $0.05
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce: 8 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.03

Calculations

Vegan Mayo
6 oz silken tofu: 187.5 calories, 9.6g fat, 48g fiber, 12g protein, $0.42
1/4 safflower oil: 480 calories, 56g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.32
2 tbsp white vinegar: 6 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.02
2 tsp Dijon mustard: 6 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.02
1/4 tsp salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
Totals: 679.5 calories, 65.6g fat, 48g fiber, 12g protein, $.80
Per Serving (totals/16): 42.5 calories, 4g fat, 3g fiber, .8g protein, $05

Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar: 24 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
2 tbsp soy sauce: 22 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
1 tbsp brown sugar: 50 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.03
1/2 tbsp molasses: 29 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.07
1 tbsp tamarind concentrate: 8 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.13
1/4 tsp grated ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp Dijon mustard: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp garlic powder: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp onion powder: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp cinnamon: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
Totals: 133 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.53
Per Serving (totals/16): 8 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.03
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Tosha A Sindhi Sweet

Cant imagine Diwali without a sweet, if you are searching for an easy and a delicious sweet which goes for simple ingredients with less efforts this Sindhi sweet Tosha will come in secure. Yes this delightful Tosha goes for all purpose flour or maida, curd and baking soda, with a simle sugar syrup. This is a very easy,quick and very addictive sweet which can be stored for many days in an air tightened box. Tosha tastes almost like our South Indian badusha, but the shape is different from the former one.

Actually when i was searching for a quick sweet, i got this Tosha from here, thanks Nivedita for sharing this incredible sweet which gets ready in a jiffy. As i told earlier, with less efforts you can make these cuties if you dont want to spend more time in your kitchen during festival. You dont know how to make badusha and want to make a sweet which tastes similar to it, just makes this toshas and enjoy it.This beauties are going Diwali Delicacies Event, hosted by me and Sangee Vijay of spicy treats and to Gayathris Diwali Special.



1cup All purpose flour or maida
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/2cup Oil
1/2tsp Salt
1/2cup Curd

For sugar syrup:
2cups Sugar
2+1/2cups Water

Take the flour,salt and baking soda, now the oil and curd gradually alternatively and knead the dough as smooth dough.

Knead well until the dough turns smooth (dont add water while kneading)

Make small kababs like rolls from the dough (u can get almost 30pieces)

Heat oil, fry the rolls in medium simmer flame until they turns golden in colour (dont cook in high flame else the interior of the toshas will stay uncook)

Meanwhile make the sugar syrup with sugar and water until they turns thick.

Drop the toshas into the sugar syrup ,stir them well in the syrup.

Remove it,let it cool completely.

Store in airtightened box.
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Skipping breakfast may increase coronary heart disease risk


Heres more evidence why breakfast may be the most important meal of the day: Men who reported that they regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease in a study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

Researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes for 16 years (1992-2008) on 26,902 male health professionals ages 45-82. They found:

Men who reported they skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease than those who reported they didnt.
The men who reported not eating breakfast were younger than those who did, and were more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol.

Men who reported eating late at night (eating after going to bed) had a 55 percent higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didnt. But researchers were less convinced this was a major public health concern because few men in the study reported this behavior.

During the study, 1,572 of the men had first-time cardiac events.

"Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time," said Leah E. Cahill, Ph.D., study lead author and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass.

"Our study group has spent decades studying the health effects of diet quality and composition, and now this new data also suggests overall dietary habits can be important to lower risk of coronary heart disease," said Eric Rimm, Sc.D., senior author and Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.

Men who reported eating breakfast ate on average one more time per day than those who skipped breakfast, implying that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional make-up meals later in the day. Although there was some overlap between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate late at night, 76 percent of late-night eaters also ate breakfast, researchers said.

The study collected comprehensive questionnaire data from the participants and accounted for many important factors such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, BMI, and social factors like whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams, or smoked currently or in the past.

While the current study group was composed of men who were of 97 percent white European descent, the results should also apply to women and other ethnic groups, but this should be tested in additional studies, researchers said.

"Dont skip breakfast," Cahill said. "Eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. For example, adding nuts and chopped fruit to a bowl of whole grain cereal or steel-cut oatmeal in the morning is a great way to start the day."

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