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Lycopene is a red pigment that is found in tomatoes and other red fruits. Lycopene has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant.

This natural, healthy substance is an unsaturated carotenoid pigment, similar to Beta-Carotene and has shown it to be one of the most potent antioxidants produced today.

The Lycopene in tomatoes can be used to protect the cardiovascular system more efficiently in the form of juice, sauce, paste and ketchup. As well, Lycopene has shown promise with reduced risk of macular degenerative disease, serum lipid oxidation and cancers of the lung, bladder, cervix and skin.

Lycopene, which is a fat soluble substance, is mostly stored in blood and tissues such as the testis, adrenal glands, liver, prostate, breast, colon, and lungs.

If you are on a low fat diet you may not absorb Lycopene as well as some others. Lycopene also reduces the oxidation rate of lipids, suggesting a decreased risk of Cardiovascular Disease.

Some of the benefits of Lycopene are listed for easy reference below:

A potent antioxidant helps to neutralizes free radicals which can damage cells in the body.

Reduced risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

Reduced damage to skin by regenerating new skin cells.

Reduced risk of macular degenerative disease.

Tagged with: antioxidant • cardiovascular health • coronary heart disease • lipids • lycopene

There are many things one can do to bolster heart health naturally. Below are some tips to do just that.

1. Avoid as much processed food as possible such as; cooked oils, white flour, red meat, white sugar, and any foods, which have been over processed or have chemical additives.

2. Eat lots of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits.

3. Occasional juice fasting helps to purify the blood vessels. Fasting on grapes is considered one of the most effective ways to purify the blood. (ask your doctor first)

4. Vitamins and antioxidants help with heart health: A, C, E, and Lecithin, B complex (especially B3, B2).

5. Reflexology massage has been shown to bring circulation to organs, which cannot be affected by other means. By massaging the reflex point on the bottom of the foot we are able to bring blood flow to the various interior organs, so as to revitalize them.

6. All forms of movement and activity are helpful. Yes, exercise is always on the list for heart health. (ask your doctor first)

7. Deep breathing facilitates the return of the blood through the veins to the heart and reduces stress. When we breathe deeply and slowly, we help the blood to return to the heart an also move the lymph through the system.

These are just a few of the suggestions to naturally promote heart health. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more ways to keep your heart healthy.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart health • irregular heart beat • pulmonary arteries • pulmonary hypertension

This question may have more than one answer.

There are researchers who have studied this and feel that they can boil it right down to all kinds of enzymes and mechanisms that come into play, stimulating appetite or depressing appetite.

Different foods offer different nutritional scenarios that affect hunger. For example: when one goes and exercises and then sits down afterwards, they need to replenish their water intake. This is something the body needs even though there is no nutritional value to water, per say.

Next, one may become hungry after exercising. A combination of fruits, primarily because they are made up of water, and sugar carbohydrates may satisfy the need for energy after exerting energy. Because the digestive process is pretty rapid when it comes to breaking down sugars into glucose one can consume a lot of fresh fruits and it doesn’t necessarily satisfy hunger.

Hunger pains may still be present because the digestion is completed so rapidly with things such as fruits. However, proteins take longer to digest.

It all comes down to the balance between how many calories your body needs to replace and the calories burned and what kinds of foods you are consuming. It is complex and is another whole area to think about whether it is emotional or whether it is your body actually telling you need nutrition or if it is your body adjusting to less calories.

Researchers studying this issue may have their own theories and their own recommendations. If you have questions about your nutritional requirements, ask your doctor.

Tagged with: digestive process • enzymes • fruits • hunger • proteins

There seems to be debate on whether or not some alcohol is good or bad and whether or not it holds any nutritional value. The debate continues.

Including alcohol such as red wine in ones diet has been said to have some nutritional value due to the antioxidant effect that one may get along with the other chemicals that come along with the wine.

It seems that there is something in the red wine as opposed to the white that makes it more beneficial.

However, alcohol is the second highest source of calories, behind fatty foods. The higher the level of alcohol in the beverage, the higher the calories in the beverage. Alcohol doesn’t contain as many calories as fatty foods but it is not in calories as protein and carbohydrates.

There are many other beverages that provide many more nutrients than even red wine. The whole truth of the matter seems to be that alcohol, even red wine, has no nutritional value.

Along with little or no nutritional value, alcohol has many dangers associated with it.
The risk of the dangers of alcoholism is very real and the calories contained in alcohol far outweigh the nutritional value.

Any nutritional benefit that you can get from alcohol, can also be found elsewhere in our food.

Tagged with: Alcohol • antioxidant • nutritional value • red wine