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I’m not much of a cook but I do know that celery is one of the staple foods that any kitchen should not do without. There is no part of celery which goes to waste – the leaves, stalks, the roots and the edible part of the stem can all be incorporated in your favorite salad, soup, stew and stir-fried vegetable recipes.

Raw celery is an excellent source of vitamins A, B1, B2 and K. It also contains potassium, folate, dietary fibers, calcium and iron. If you think that citrus fruits are the only source of vitamin C, think again – munching on a stalk of raw celery will provide you with almost 15% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C that your body needs.

Those who have problems with their uric acid level can include celery in their daily diets because it provides benefits for the kidney by helping eliminate the body’s waste. Celery is also known to produce cholesterol-lowering benefits, it is a good diuretic and it helps prevent cell damage. All in all, celery is one ingredient that any cook worth his salt cannot do without.

Tagged with: celery • celery nutrition • celery root • Health Articles • Health Food

If you remember your mom or your grandmother insisting that you eat your peas when you were a kid – this is not for lack of good reason. Fresh, green peas are a wonderful gift of nature which provides a wide array of health benefits. If you dislike the taste of peas, you will surely be missing out on a lot of nutrients that the body needs.

A cup of boiled green peas contains more than 50% of the recommended daily value of vitamin K that the body needs. It is also an excellent source of vitamins A, B and C, as well as being rich in dietary fibers, folate, protein, zinc, iron and potassium.

This member of the legume family is great for those who are on a diet. Green peas are a good alternative protein source which is low in fat and calories. The vitamin K content of peas help build strong bones and when you combine this with folic acid, it helps prevent osteoporosis.

Green peas also provide benefits for the heart by preventing the incidence of blood clotting while promoting cardiovascular health. In addition, these fresh-flavored peas help reduce the risks of certain cancers, promote optimal health, prevent cell damage and help boost your immune function.

If you are torn between buying frozen or canned peas, choose the frozen variant because the flavor is retained and they contain less sodium as compared to canned peas.

Tagged with: frozen green peas • green peas • green split peas • Health Articles • Health Food

Also called butter beans, lima beans are flat, shaped like a kidney, with a distinctive buttery and starchy flavor.  This member of the lentil family comes in a variety of colors including brown, black, purple, red and white – although the cream and green variants are the most common.

A cup of cooked lima beans contains more than 50% of the recommended daily value of dietary fibers that the body needs. These beans are also rich in molybdenum, trytophan, manganese, folate, protein, potassium, iron, magnesium and vitamin B1.

Combine lima beans with other whole grains and you have a low-fat, low-sodium and low-calorie alternative protein source. The dietary fiber content of lima beans makes it beneficial for the heart by ridding the body of cholesterol. The trace mineral molybdenum is also an excellent detoxifier.

Additionally, lima beans helps lower the risks of heart attack, stabilizes blood sugar and contains iron for that extra energy boost. Lima beans can be incorporated in soups, they make excellent burritos and they can also be cooked, seasoned and served as a healthy side dish.

Tagged with: baby lima beans • butter beans • Health Articles • Health Food • lima beans

Heart disease and atherosclerosis are a great health concern but if one adds Green Tea they can lessen the worry.

Green tea is one of the most under-recognized ways to better ones health. Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants, just like fruits and vegetables. There have been many studies that have concluded that green tea’s anti-oxidants have a powerful influence in preventing heart disease and atherosclerosis.

The University of Shizuoka in Japan conducted a study on green tea and its ability to prevent atherosclerosis. Mice were fed green tea extract in their drinking water, while other mice were fed water without green tea added. All of the mice were given foods high in saturated fats.

After about eight weeks, the mice that were fed green tea showed significantly less propensity to have atherosclerosis. While a high level of LDL was still present, it was not being converted to plaque. The study concluded that green tea has the ability, likely because of its high anti-oxidant level, to prevent the peroxidation of the LDLs. So, even when the diet was high in bad cholesterol, the green tea seemed to prevent this cholesterol in the blood from turning into atherosclerosis.

This doesn’t mean that it’s ok to eat a diet high in fat and cholesterol and rely on green tea to take care of the problem.

The best plan for preventing heart disease and atherosclerosis is to follow a low cholesterol diet, maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise.

Tagged with: atherosclerosis • cardiovascular disease • green tea • heart attack • heart failure • heart healthy

Exciting research undertaken to assess the benefits of fish oil in helping to prevent cardiovascular disease indicates that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil is promising.

The research has shown that it may certainly reduce the risks of it. In particular, clinical studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids help to lower triglycerides. As well they lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of arrhythmias which increase the risk of cardiac arrest, reduce plaque, help to prevent blood clots and improves endothelial function which supports the growth of new blood cells.

It is exciting that fish oil has been found to lower triglycerides as high levels of triglycerides have been found to increase the risk of heart attack.

Although omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from sources other than fish oil, two of the most beneficial forms are only available from fish. Omega-3 can be included in the diet by eating fatty fish (such as salmon) three times a week. However you can take omega-3 supplements. Make that the companies use oil that is top quality and have all toxic metals and chemicals removed.

As always be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any new regimen.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • fish oil • get your heart in shape • heart healthy • regular heart beat

Weight loss camps for adults trying to get in shape can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Weight loss camps for adults are especially good if you are one of those people who spend most of the day on the couch. However, if you are an athlete who needs to drop a few pounds joining a program like this can be great for you too.

If you do decide to join one of the weight loss camps for adults you should expect to be doing things such as stretches, push-ups, sit-ups, strength workouts using weighted bars, dumbbells, cardio and adhering to a strict diet.

You will most likely be assessed at first for your fitness abilities. You will probably also have to run or walk a distance to see how long it takes you. Don’t worry if you don’t think you can do these things easily. Many people who join weight loss camps for adults are in your same situation, and you are defiantly not going to be ridiculed for your fitness level. Keep in mind, you are there to get in shape, have fun and make new friends.

Most weight loss camps for adults last about 4 weeks. It will be an intense program, but most people will see rapid results.

However, before going away to or joining weight loss camps for adults, make sure to speak to your doctor first.

Tagged with: Weight Loss • weight loss camp • weight loss camps • weight loss camps for adults • weight loss diet programs

I’ve always enjoyed a juicy piece of steak with blanched veggies on the side – and nothing blends perfectly well with a meaty dinner than the succulence and tenderness of asparagus spears.

Oddly enough, asparagus is considered to be part of the lily family – making leeks, onions and garlic its close ‘cousins’. This mildly flavored veggie is rich in vitamins A, B, C and K. It is also an excellent source of dietary fibers, protein, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and calcium.

The list of the health benefits provided by asparagus does not end there. The folate content of asparagus helps improve your cardiovascular system. When you combine this with the fact that asparagus is also a great source of dietary fibers – you have the makings of one really heart-friendly veggie.

In addition, asparagus is a natural diuretic, it helps with the detoxification process of the body, it helps clean the gastrointestinal tract, helps prevent birth defects, it has antioxidant properties and it helps rid the body of any excess water.

Use asparagus with your favorite soup, vegetable or main dish recipe and experience its truly astonishing health benefits.

Tagged with: asparagus • blanch asparagus • fresh asparagus • Health Articles • Health Food

 

Imagine how uncomfortable and tiring it would be if you have to carry a long walking cane all the time.  It is not only discomforting but it also increases the chance of losing your cane as you may leave it on the floor or on the side table.

The Folding Travel Cane by Mountain Properties is the answer to this problem.  This home medical equipment easily folds into a compact  plastic carry case which you can place inside your bag anytime you don’t need it. The height adjusts from 33 to 37 inches so you can fold or straighten it out depending on your comfort.

The folding cane is also stable and durable as it is made of lightweight but strong aluminum and comes with a solid Maple handle. It has a rubber tip to make your grip more stable. You can also choose from three colors: mauve floral, paisley and bronze.

Tagged with: Folding Travel Cane For A More Comfortable Walking Aid • Home Medical Equipment • maple handle • plastic carry case • srong aluminum

When you think of nutrition, eating healthy and dieting, most likely you are more concerned about the food you eat than the beverages you drink. You may think having a diet soda couldn’t do any harm and will help you lose weight. However, if you indulge too much it could add up to trouble in the long run.

Regular sodas are high in calories because they contain sugar, bit diet sodas are manufactured with artificial sweeteners – one of the most popular being aspartame. Aspartame as a health risk has been debated for many years – some claim the sweetener may contribute to increasing toxicity levels and risk of various illnesses, while others say it isn’t so.

When you shop for diet soda for weight loss it is always a good idea to check for this ingredient on the labels so you know exactly what you are ingesting and how much.

Just because a diet soda is free of calories, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have other bad ingredients. For example, not all diet sodas are caffeine free, check the labels! Did you know, for example, that there is more caffeine in one can of Diet Coke than in regular Coca-Cola? Caffeine is highly addictive and could lead you on a cycle that is difficult to break.

A good percentage of our bodies are water, so it would make sense to constantly replenish your body with it. Imagine if you had glass water for every soda you drink, think of all the calories you would save.

Have water instead of soda or diet soda….It’s the best diet drink there is.

Tagged with: diet soda • diet weight loss • diets • effective weight loss • water help to loss weight

I have always thought that brussel sprouts resemble miniature cabbages. True enough, these nutritious veggies offer the same – if not more – than the nutrient content of cabbages.

One cup of boiled brussel sprouts contains vitamins A, B2, C, K and E. It is also rich in dietary fibers and contains folate, potassium, magnesium, protein, phosphorus and calcium.

The one thing which sets brussel sprouts apart from the rest of the members of the cabbage family is its phytonutrients content. Phytonutrients help prevent the risks of certain cancers.

Brussel sprouts are also exceptionally rich in protein – you can easily combine brussel sprouts with whole grains for a low-fat, low-calorie alternative source of protein.  This vegetable also helps detoxify the cells, assists in improving the immune system, promotes glowing skin, supports a healthier colon and promotes cardiovascular benefits.

To enjoy, brussel sprouts can be simply baked or broiled after seasoning them with salt and pepper, or they can be combined with other veggies for a healthy and nutritious side dish.

Tagged with: brussel sprouts • brussel sprouts calories • brussel sprouts nutrition • Health Articles • Health Food