Is That Sushi Safe to Eat?
 According to recent studies, 1.4 million people have elevated levels of mercury in their blood, mainly from eating certain types of fish. And this is just in New York alone. The study showed that New York Asians, women and those of high income had the highest level of mercury. It seems that sushi is to blame. Officials have found that mercury levels in high-grade tuna, swordfish and yellowtail among other varieties, are much higher than other species of fish such as salmon or cod. The fact is that all fish contain trace amounts of mercury, but these so called mercury fish contain alarmingly high levels due to their larger size. Larger fish are usually older, which means they have more time to accumulate toxins such as mercury; they are also usually higher on the food chain, consuming other fish, which adds to their high mercury count. Mercury is an element, which occurs naturally; it can be found in the air, water and food. Humans accumulate mercury through food. Fish take up mercury from the water and as they feed. This form of mercury called methylmercury is more toxic; it binds to their tissues as it is absorbed through their gills and through their digestive tracks. Generally, mercury poses little risk to adults; however, it can increase the risk of neurological damage in fetuses and infants whose mothers have passed on mercury accumulated in their bloodstream via breast-feeding or during pregnancy. Mercury can have a harmful effect on adults if they accumulate a significant amount in their bloodstream; too much mercury can result in damage to the kidneys and the brains. Mercury fish shouldn't scare consumers off fish completely, however. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to produce enormous health benefits. In fact, fish have been shown to be an important factor in the diet of many long-lived peoples of the world. It is important to note that studies show that sushi grade bluefin tuna have a significantly higher level of mercury than canned tuna. The fact is that these types of fish, larger, predatory fish such as bluefin tuna and swordfish and shark should be eaten in limited quantities. Pregnant or nursing women should stay away from consuming these mercury fish, but it need not be banned entirely. There are many fish that we should eat regularly; these are incredibly healthy and practically mercury free. They include anchovies, crab, crawfish, flounder, haddock, perch, salmon, sole, shrimp, trout, scallops and mackerel among many others. The fact is, only certain types of more expensive sushi are potentially dangerous; when consumed in moderation, there is little risk to your health. Alaska is home to an abundant variety of seafood, and offers some of the purest marine, freshwater, and upland habitats on the planet. From the clear crystal waters comes seafood that is delicious and healthy. Alaskan seafood is low in fat but big on flavor and Omega-3 oils. You can study thousands of pages of nutritional research. Or, simply observe the amazing health and longevity of people in countries where seafood is the most important part of their diet. Either way, Alaska seafood is as healthy as it is delicious. Are you are looking for a meal that is low in saturated fat, filled with nutrients and packed with good heart healthy Omega-3s oils? Then you should start with Alaska Seafood. http://www.alaskaseafood.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allie_Moxley |
Antioxidants And Free Radicals
| By R Fredriksen We often hear how various foods and even drinks are great antioxidants. But what is an antioxidant and how are they connected with free radicals? The whole concept started with Dr. Denham Harmon, M.D., Ph.D., who first proposed a theory that aging was due to the indiscriminate chemical re-activity of free radicals possibly leading to random biological damage. Dr. Harmon's theory stated that antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which prevent free radicals from oxidizing (removing electrons from) sensitive biological molecules, will slow the aging process. Dr. Harmon launched his theory by showing, for the first time, that feeding a variety of antioxidants to mammals extended their life spans. By what mechanisms do free radicals cause damage and disease? Theories suggest that our body's free radicals contribute to many different diseases. So what is a free radical? A free radical is any atom or molecule, which has an "unpaired electron" in the outer ring. An "unpaired electron" will also always mean that there is an odd number since "pairing" of electrons goes by twos. Protons have a positive electrical charge. Electrons have a negative electrical charge. The electrons move around the central mass made up of protons and neutrons. Neutrons have no electrical charge. The word is related to "neutral." Being neutral, the molecule seeks to attract an electron or positive charge. Free radicals will seek out electrons from another molecule that is more willing to give one up. The unsaturated lipid molecules of cell membranes are particularly susceptible to this damaging free radicals process and readily contribute to the uncontrolled chain reaction. Oxidative damage, another name for the chemical reaction that free radicals cause, can lead to a breakdown or even hardening of lipids, which makeup all cell walls. If the cell wall is hardened (lipid peroxidation) then it becomes impossible for the cell to properly get its nutrients, get signals from other cells to perform an action (such as firing of a neuron) and many other cellular activities can be affected. In addition to the cell walls, other biological molecules are also susceptible to damage, including RNA, DNA and protein enzymes. The primary site of free radical damage is the DNA found in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are small membrane-enclosed regions of a cell, which produce the chemicals a cell uses for energy. Mitochondria are the "energy factory" of the cell. Every cell contains an enormous set of molecules called DNA, which provide chemical instructions for a cell to function. This DNA is found in the nucleus of the cell, which serves as the "command center" of the cell, as well as in the mitochondria. The cell automatically fixes much of the damage done to nuclear DNA. However, the DNA in the mitochondria cannot be readily fixed. When this happens, extensive DNA damage accumulates over time and shuts down mitochondria, causing the cells to die and the organism to age. The free radical generation process can disrupt all levels of cell function. This is why free radical damage is thought to be such a basic mechanism of tissue injury. It damages us at the cellular level. The more toxic metals in your body, the higher the free radical activity. So, to stop the oxidization process of the free radicals requires the intake of antioxidants. Foods highest in antioxidants include red beans, red kidney beans, pinto beans, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, applies and artichoke hearts. These are just to name a few. So to sum it all up, if you want to slow the aging process, try eating more berries and beans or take your antioxidant supplements. R. Fredriksen is the Vice President of Nutrition Dome, a leading provider of Jarrow Formulas, Pioneer Nutritional Forumulas and other quality supplements. For more information, please visit www.nutritiondome.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R_Fredriksen |
Smoothie Recipes for Healthy Eating
| By Nancy W For healthy eating you can make a meal on the run with these easy Smoothie Recipes. A blender can make a fast meal from a few ingredients that you keep on hand in your refrigerator. A few easy recipes include soy and or whey protein powders mixed into juice, milk, soy milk, or rice milk. A few smoothie recipe ideas below can get you started to be creative to add or substitute your own favorite ingredients for your own personal favorite recipes. Orange Julius Smoothie: Put in a blender 1 or 2 Tablespoons Frozen Orange Concentrate (straight from frozen can - not diluted), 8 oz Non-Fat milk or soy milk, 2 Tablespoons Herbalife formula #1 vanilla soy protein powder, 4 to 6 ice cubes. Blend in blender and pour in glass to enjoy. Peach Smoothie: Put in a blender ½ fresh peach, 8 oz Non-Fat milk or soy milk, 2 Tablespoons Herbalife formula #1 vanilla soy protein powder, 4 to 6 ice cubes, 1 scant teaspoon brandy extract. Blend in blender and pour in your favorite or a handy glass to enjoy. (You may also want to add Herbalife personal protein that includes whey protein powder.) Low Calorie Pudding: 6 - 8 ounces of diet pudding, add 2 Tablespoons of Herbalife formula #1 vanilla soy protein powder. Stir and eat. You can keep on hand small pre-made diet pudding cups available at many grocery stores. Or make up a batch of pudding and then portion out 6 - 8 ounce servings for your easy smoothie meals. If you use the small pudding cup to mix in for an "on the run meal", simply eat one bite of pudding to have room to add in the smoothie protein powder. Add soy protein powder, stir, and eat. If you have a job or business that has you in your car a lot, you can stop at a grocery store and pick up a bottle of juice to put the protein mix into and simply shake and drink. From the above recipes ideas, you can create your own similar recipes with your own favorite fruits, juices, yogurts, and puddings for variety of healthy smoothies. Your daily eating plan for including proper nutrition can be made easier with soy protein shakes by Herbalife that you can buy at Soy Protein Shakes And you can find a variety of Smoothie Recipes at http://www.weightlossproduct.com/smoothie-recipes.php for a simple solution to replace one or two meals a day. Once you know you love the Herbalife products, you can save 25% or more with the Herbalife Discount Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_W |
How A Low Cholesterol Diet Can Help You
| By Cindy Heller If you have found out from your doctor or from doing home cholesterol test that you have a high total cholesterol level, one of the first things you need to do is to change your diet to a low cholesterol diet to help you lower your cholesterol. This is because a high cholesterol level is very dangerous for you and might cause you serious heart diseases or even a heart attack. A low cholesterol diet does not have to be hard to stick to, as you can still enjoy some of the foods you always like. However, you really need to stay away from foods that contain saturated or trans fats, as they are among the major leading causes to having a high cholesterol level. To have a low cholesterol diet means that you should replace the saturated fat in your diet with unsaturated fat besides eating less high-cholesterol food and choosing foods that are high in complex carbohydrates. You should also make sure that you get more physical activity and try reducing your weight if you are overweight. Determining What is Low Cholesterol Food and What Isn't Before starting on a low cholesterol level, you should first know what low cholesterol food is and what isn't. This will help you create a diet which is low in cholesterol to help you lower your total cholesterol levels. There are many different types of food that can be classified as low cholesterol foods, so that you do not need to give all the food you love to have a low cholesterol diet. Cholesterol is most usually found in foods of animal origin, such as meat, poultry, and eggs, including milk and cheese. In animals, cholesterol is part of the cell membrane structure of all cells. That is why removing the skin from a chicken will remove most of the fat, but will not remove all the cholesterol. However, in dairy foods the amount of cholesterol involved depends on the amount of fat as milk is secreted from animal cells and not made up of cells like meat. Although it has no cholesterol-containing cell membranes, but because cholesterol is fat soluble, it can b found in fats in milk and milk-based foods. That is why if a dairy product contains more fat, it will also contain more cholesterol, so always choose low fat dairy products when sticking to a low cholesterol diet. Converting To A Low Cholesterol Recipe If you found out that you have high cholesterol, you must start converting some of foods you love to a low cholesterol version. You must also learn to live without some of the foods that have been causing you to get a high cholesterol level in the first place. Learning how to make your foods using a low cholesterol recipe is one way to lower your cholesterol levels Converting your food to a low cholesterol recipe is not a very difficult thing to do. All you need is a little bit of willpower and you can start enjoying cholesterol free or lower cholesterol version of your favorite foods. The taste will not differ much as long as you know how to add flavor into your cooking without using saturated fats and other harmful foods that contribute to more cholesterol problems. The easiest way to get started on low cholesterol recipe is to start with one day's menu. You can include a safe amount of food fats into your diet at first so that you can ease the transition period from your normal food to the low cholesterol diet, and make this change easier on you. A good way to start a low cholesterol diet with a low cholesterol recipe is trying a serving of oatmeal, honey, and an apple for breakfast. Mixing oats, fat free milk, and a little honey and chopped apple will make a great delicious cholesterol free breakfast. For lunch, you can follow up with a salmon and tomato sandwich with a side salad. For tasty salad dressing, you can try using lemon juice and black pepper as a low cholesterol option. For dinner, you can have stir-fried chicken breast, veggies, and some rice will make you enjoy your low cholesterol diet. You can also try using brown rice instead of white rice for a lower cholesterol diet. Make changes one step at a time, and in no time you will start enjoying a healthier life with lower cholesterol level. These changes will prevent you from having heart diseases caused by your diet. You will soon find that you enjoy the low cholesterol food as much as or more than your previous high cholesterol food. Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Cholesterol Lowering Food to learn more about low cholesterol diet and low cholesterol recipe. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Heller |
Benefits to Vegetarianism
| By Rita Lambros-Segur If you have ever been interested in becoming a vegetarian, you might also want to know about all of the benefits. You might be surprised at how beneficial a vegetarian diet can be. A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, poultry or fish. A vegetarian's diet consists of a lot of grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Most vegetarians eat dairy products, eggs, and hidden animal products, while others are stricter and do not eat any animal products. The American Dietetic Association has placed vegetarians into three separate categories: vegan, lacto vegetarians, and lacto-ovo vegetarians. A vegan is a very strict vegetarian that does not eat any animal products including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and even honey. Vegans use soy products as an alternative for not eating any dairy. Vegans also do not wear any animal products such as leather or wool. A lacto vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but they will eat dairy products. A lacto-ovo vegetarian will not eat any meat, poultry, or fish. However, they will eat eggs and dairy products. Most vegetarians find themselves a part of this category. The American Dietetic Association says that vegetarians are at a significantly lower risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even high blood pressure. A correct vegetarian diet is low in fat but high in fiber. Like any other diet it could be potentially harmful if it is not planned out right, such as eating fried food and snacks that are high in fat. Five main groups that a vegetarian needs to pay attention to in order to meet their energy needs are protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and iron. A lot of people become vegetarians for numerous reasons, such as spiritual beliefs, animal rights, health, environment and food preference. Another major reason that people become vegetarians is because of the sex hormones injected into the animals. Farmers usually make their cattle bigger by giving them testosterone surrogates, the same thing that is illegal for athletes to consume. They also give the animals estrogen to shut down the reproductive system and that way it encourages more meat building. These hormones can trigger early puberty in girls and puts women at higher risk for breast cancer. Also, poultry and pig farmers use arsenic as a growth stimulant; even though it is illegal the government just wants the farmers to stop five days before slaughtering the animal. This way the animal only contains the legal limit of arsenic. Though several studies show that most farmers do not follow this and 16% of the animals are above the legal arsenic level. If you are interested in becoming a vegetarian it is important to remember that it is a personal decision that only you can make. You should have a planned diet prepared going into it, or it could be harmful for your health. However, when used properly, a vegetarian diet can reduce a lot of health risks and there are a variety of other benefits as well. Check out the latest in vegetarianism at: http://www.veganandvegetarian.com Vegan And Vegetarian. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Lambros-Segur |
Best Fat Burning Foods
| By Jared Wash These superior fat burning foods are recommended by Tom Venuto and have some of the best nutrition value while keeping you fuller to cut down on the calories you normally consume. Make sure that you get a variety of foods into your diet as these should only be a foundation of healthy eating foods. So here are the leading ten healthiest fat burning foods you can eat for weight loss. 1) Oatmeal If you had to eat one and only one type of complex carbohydrate to burn fat than oatmeal should become your #1 choice for losing weight. Oatmeal is practically the only complex carbohydrate source bodybuilders and fitness professionals eat when they are burning fat for their competition. Even though it is a starchy carbohydrate, oatmeal has an excellent balance of carbs, proteins, and fats in it as a half of cup has 3 grams of fats, 27 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of protein. With the combinations of macro nutrients, oatmeal is a healthy choice for its low glycemic rate for slow digestion. 2) Yams (or sweet potatoes) The second best choice for eating healthy with starchy carbohydrates is yams and sweet potatoes. They are all-natural, low in calories, and with a high nutrient value, it has them being an excellent selection for a fat burning food. With a low glycemic index having it keeping you fuller longer and digestion slower explains why fitness professionals recommend it for losing weight. 3) 100% Whole Wheat and Whole Grain Products As it is recommended in all the food pyramids, breads and grains should be a huge part in eating healthy but the rule is they must be 100% whole grain and whole wheat. If you consume white bread then kiss your fat burning goals goodbye as white bread is one of the worst things you can put in your body. When your goal is weight loss and burning fat keep the focus on breads and grains to a minimum while also only consuming only 100% whole grain and whole wheat. 4) Green Vegetables Fibrous carbs are the #1 choice for burning fat with carbohydrates. Just think of green vegetables as having very little calories with a huge amount of nutritionist value. If you want to lose weight than focus on eating green vegetables with lean protein and your body will turn into a fat burning machine. 5) Fresh Fruit Whole and fresh fruits are filled with vitamins that will keep you healthy, energized and burning fat all day long. Most fruits are low in calories, carbs, and high in fiber that makes them a fantastic choice for developing a lean and toned body. 6) Skin Milk and Nonfat Dairy Products Dairy products are great for weight loss when they are nonfat or skin as others can be every dense in fat and calories. Dairy products have a combination of proteins and carbohydrates that makes them an excellent choice for implementing them into your weight loss eating program. Stick with lean and nonfat products to keep the calories low and the nutrition value high making them a healthier choice for burning fat and eating healthy. 7) Chicken and Turkey Breast Chicken and turkey I believe are the number one selection for protein in ones diet. By removing the skin and eating the white meat keeps it consisting of mostly protein for filling you up and eating less at the same time. Whatever way you cook them stay away from frying as that can turn an extremely healthy food into a dieter's nightmare. 8) Eggs Whites 4 to 6 grams of protein, zero carbs, and zero fats makes egg whites a dieter's life that much easier. Eggs whites are super-high quality protein but when eating the yoke becomes a habit, say hello to higher cholesterol levels and about 50 more calories that will just go to fat. Keep egg whites a healthy option for you by only eating the white part and putting the yokes in the trash. 9) Fish Eating a variety of proteins is one of the things complained about the most as many bodybuilders and fitness professionals stick to only eggs, tune, and chicken. By implementing different kinds of fish you are giving yourself a variety of sources of protein to burn fat and lean out your body. Also add in seafood like shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, etc. as these all are great sources of protein that are low in fat. 10) Lean Red Meats Finding good sources of lean red meats can become a struggle but they have many benefits like being high in protein, B-12. iron and creatine. By keeping our portion sizes small and choosing the leaner red meats it can also be a great food source for burning fat and weight loss. These 10 fat burning foods are not the only foods good for healthy nutrition and weight loss but should help you start a foundation on what foods are good for eating healthy. Have a great day and God bless! Jared Wash is an author with certifications by ACSM, NESTA, and ISSA in personal trainer, nutritionist, and online fitness coaching for weight loss. His mission with top weight loss site is to guide people away from false lies and myths in the fitness industry while focusing on true health and weight loss cardio workout methods. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jared_Wash |
Healthy Fruit Juice
| By Dr. Alan Jenks Fresh fruit juice is absolutely delicious. Most people, including myself, like fruit juice because it is sweet tasting and highly flavourful. Fruit juices, and fruits in general, are often referred to as the cleansers of the body. Fruits are referred to as cleansers because their natural acidity helps the body clean itself of unwanted bacteria. In many cultures you will actually see many people drinking water with some lemon juice added to it. Over the years, these cultures have instinctively realized the benefits of even the slightest amount of fruit juice. If you are looking for some great healthy fruit juice ideas and recopies, then look no further then the vitamix blender. Using your vitamix blender can be a great addition to your kitchen allowing you a great tool to make healthy fruit juice. The first thing that is important in creating healthy fruit juice is making sure that you use the whole fruit to juice with. Being able to consume the whole fruit fibre, juice and all is really important in trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I usually like to add a variety of colour of fruits to my blender when making healthy fruit juice because this way I am making sure I am getting a variety of anti-oxidants and nutrients to my diet. When making healthy fruit juices, I always encourage people to use dark leafy green vegetables like Swiss chard or kale to the juice as well. If you want a more fruiter juice then just add more fruit in proportion to the amount of vegetables that you use. A typical juice that I make in the morning with my vitamix blender as a few leaves of Swiss chard or kale, and apple and a banana and usually a couple of handfuls of fresh berries or frozen berries. I will also add a vegan protein power with some hemp seed, ground flax and any other dissolvable nutrient that you would like to add such as vitamin C etc. You have a choice as to how thick you would like your juice as if you remember from above making sure we consume the fibre part is really important. If you like a thick juice don't use as much water or add more water if you like it more thinly. Healthy fruit juice is a real vital component to a healthy diet. In North America we are challenged everyday to get enough nutrients, and concentrated fruits and vegetables in a natural whole food juice is a great way to keep the body balance and healthy. There really is no right or wrong way to make a healthy fruit juice. All you need to be is open to the possibility of experimenting. Every individual has there own preference or favourite vegetable and fruit so start with that first. I love combining banana's and dark berries. They give such a great unique taste and I always feel full afterwards. The great thing with the vitamix blender is that it is easy to clean and the juicing is fast so it is a wonderful way to experiment to find your favourite combinations of fruit and vegetables and a quick natural breakfast. When it comes to choosing a healthy diet for your body, many people don't realize the important role that beverages play. For example, fruit flavoured drinks and soft drinks are not a substitute for real fruit. Many of these drinks only contain 10% real fruit juice. The very best drinks are made from whole fruit and you can make great fruity healthy drinks at home. The more whole fruits and vegetables that you eat the healthier you will become. Having a healthy fruit juice everyday is a great easy way to make sure that happens. Dr. Alan Jenks owns and operates a variety of healthy website helping people make sense of natural health at http://www.bestjuicerreviews.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Alan_Jenks |