When it comes to buying fruit, most people gravitate toward oranges, apples, bananas, and grapes. They often skip over the more unusual fruits. One of the fruits that are over looked is the kiwifruit. The kiwifruit is native to China. Many regions of Europe, South America, and North America have shortened the name from kiwifruit to simply kiwi. This little fruit has a brown peel which contains many hairs. Inside the peel, the fleshy part of the fruit is green, and the pulp in the center is white. The black seeds are located around the pulp and are edible. The taste of the kiwifruit is sweet and is described to be a mixture of strawberry, banana, and pineapple. The kiwifruit health benefits range from protecting against age related macular degeneration to having anti-oxidant properties that fight off aging.

Fights Diseases & Lowers Cholesterol
Kiwifruits are high in fiber, making them good for digestion. Fruits that are high in fiber help to improve diseases like diabetes. A natural occurring sugar alcohol, called inositol, is present in the kiwi. This compound might have a positive effect in the regulation of diabetes. This compound might also help with nerve conduction velocity, which is found in diabetic neuropathy.

Fiber helps to control sugar levels, and binds to toxic substances located in the colon. This helps to eliminate the toxic compounds from the colon which makes the organ function better. Diets high in fiber have also been proven to lower cholesterol levels, improve the health of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, and lower the risk of a heart attack. One of the aspects for a healthy heart is an adequate sodium to potassium ratio. This ratio is excellent in the kiwifruit. This aspect lessens the chance that a person will have hypertension.

Good For Your Eyes
The kiwifruit contains high amounts of vitamins A, C, and E which are the most typical anti-oxidant vitamins. The Archives of Ophthalmology have published a series of studies that has proven that eating three servings or more of fruit can lessen the risk of developing macular degeneration, which is an age related eye disease. The study was performed on 110,000 men and women that took place over several decades. The study showed that the people who ate fruits containing a high amount of vitamins A, C, and E had a better protection rate against macular degeneration than those who ate fewer of these fruits.

Fights Aging
Along with protecting against macular degeneration, the vitamins A, C, and E are very powerful in helping to fight off signs of aging. The high amounts of these vitamins in the kiwifruit have been proven to fight off damage done by free radicals. Free radicals can destroy the cells in the body and cause early aging signs as well as various diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Contains Minerals
Another great benefit of the kiwifruit is the fact that it is loaded with a variety of minerals, or electrolytes, that are necessary for the replenishment of these electrolytes during exercise. This electrolyte replenishment is especially important for people who live in a hot environment. The Chinese came up with a kiwi-based sports drink that was designed particularly to help boost electrolytes in athletes that trained in hot environments. They added a 5% increase of carbohydrates to this juice to help regulate and maintain glucose levels while the athletes were training.

Aids in Weight Loss
A weight loss fruit, the kiwifruit is an excellent fruit to eat when losing weight. One kiwi contains just 45 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein, 11 grams of carbohydrates, and 2.5 grams of fiber. This is one of the fruits that are lowest in calories. The fiber in the kiwi will help you feel fuller longer, and there’s no harm at all in eating more that one at a time. Kiwifruits are also high in potassium, in fact, they have the same amount as bananas. Potassium is great for sore muscle relief.

Other health benefits that kiwifruits can provide are the following:

• Prevents coughing and wheezing, particularly in children
• Prevents asthma
• Protects again DNA mutations
• Helps with impotence
• Boosts the immune system
• Helps with depression

As you can see, kiwifruit health benefits range all over. Next time you’re at the store, don’t just walk by these odd looking fruits. Put a few of them in your cart and try them out.

This article was submitted by Linda who runs NaturalHealthEzine.com a natural health blog dedicated to helping people live the best life possible.

Cabbage is a strong and sturdy vegetable that is abundant in almost all cultures and countries. Unfortunately, many American families don’t buy cabbage. The only form of this vegetable they eat is coleslaw. Coleslaw is loaded with high fat ingredients such as mayonnaise. The only other dish that cabbage normally appears in American household meals is corn beef and cabbage, which is usually eaten on Saint Patrick’s Day. Cabbage is one of those vegetables that just goes unnoticed. If people only understood the high nutritional value of this food staple, maybe they’d buy it more often. What are the health benefits of cabbage? In a word, plenty.

Cabbage is loaded with nutrients, and is very low in calories. Just one cup of cabbage contains 15 calories! No wonder cabbage has been named to be one of the best foods to eat when on a diet. Along with being low in calories, cabbage contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B. Each of these nutrients is valuable to the human body. Vitamin A is important for healthy skin and eyesight. Vitamin B helps to boost energy metabolism and maintains the integrity of nerve endings throughout the body. Vitamin C is important in the burning of fat and is an anti-oxidant. Lastly, Vitamin E helps to maintain the integrity of the skin due to it being a fat soluble anti-oxidant.

There are many deficiencies that cabbage can help remedy. A Vitamin C deficiency can lead to issues such as Scurvy. Scurvy causes anemia, gingivitis, and weakness. Scurvy impairs the immune system, and the body is more vulnerable to infections and diseases. Cabbage provides a lot of Vitamin C. In fact, it has more Vitamin C than an orange. With so much of this nutrient, cabbage is great for repairing the body from wear and tear. It’s helpful in treating depression, ulcers, certain cancers, and strengthening the immune system.

Another deficiency that cabbage can help with is a deficiency of roughage. Roughage, otherwise known as dietary fiber, is the part of the plant that is not able to be digested. It holds on to water and improves the function of the intestines. A lack of roughage in foods can lead to constipation. Constipation is the main cause of ailments such as headaches, stomach ulcers, indigestion, intestinal cancer, and many other problems. Cabbage is loaded with roughage. It’s a great food to eat if you’re dealing with constipation.

A deficiency in sulfur can lead to a weakened immune system. The body is less efficient at fighting off infections when it lacks sulfur Cabbage is abundant in sulfur and can be very beneficial in the healing of wounds. Sulfur is another nutrient that is important in the healing of stomach ulcers.

Along with remedying certain kinds of deficiencies, eating cabbage is also great way to detox. Cabbage helps to purify the blood and remove free radicals and uric acid from the body. Both free radicals and uric acid have a hand in causing arthritis, gout, rheumatism, and certain skin problems, such as eczema.

Cabbage is also rich in iodine, a vital nutrient that aids in proper brain function. Iodine is one of the nutrients people lack, and is hard to find in foods. Along with helping the brain to function properly, cabbage also helps the nervous system to function normally.

The health benefits of cabbage are many, not only helping with certain ailments, but also helping to slow down the aging process. Cabbage is definitely one super food that should be added to your grocery list.

This article was submitted by Linda who runs NaturalHealthEzine.com a natural health blog dedicated to helping people live the best life possible.

When summer is upon us one thing is certain, we need water. I don’t know about you, but water alone just doesn’t quench that thirst. When I’m feeling dehydrated, groggy and tired I need something more! Expensive enhanced waters seem to do the trick but the cost adds up and so do the calories due to the higher amounts of sugar! Watermelon offers a replenishing feeling, but not always the most convenient.

This summer a packet of hydrating vitamin infused powder fizzed into my summer glass of water and quenched the unquenchable thirst. I’m talking about Ola Loa “Sport” a economically priced box of convenient packets you can take on the go, stash in your gym bag or purse and add to your bottled water or glass at home. You can get creative and mix with different juices at hand. Though they come in lemon lime, mango tangerine and mixed berries flavors. Yum.

I was also stunned that such a economically priced product that does not skimp on packing the punch in the vitamins and minerals department. Including up to 100 mg of that all important magnesium and over 70 electrolytes and minerals! Looks like this company traded out crowd pleasing sugar for something that still tastes good and is actually truly good for you (only 2 grams)!

click on the chart to view the PDF

I found Dr. Kunin’s articles on their company site very well researched and proves to me this is a company that genuinely cares about making a healthy product, not a healthy profit.

Want to try some out on me? Enter my comment contest:

PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE

I’ve mentioned here before that our modern agricultural practices produce food that are lacking in minerals.

well one of those minerals is magnesium. Did you know magnesium is essential to over 700 bodily functions? That means it is pretty essential we get enough of it! Most Americans are deficient do to our high calcium intake which if taken at the improper ratio to magnesium- cancels out the magnesium we might manage to get.

Magnesium is crucial for some very important functions such as:

• the body’s ability to remove toxins and heavy metals
• produce sufficient amounts of DHEA “the master hormone”- the key hormone to anti-aging
• bone and protein production
• insulin secretion
• protection from tooth decay

Research shows that the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the paleolithic or caveman diet — the ancient diet that had evolved with our bodies — was 1:1, compared with a 5:1 to 15:1 ratio in present-day diets. With an average of ten times more calcium than magnesium in our current diet, there is no doubt about magnesium deficiency.(1)

Common conditions caused by magnesium deficiencies are: migraines, attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism (2), fibromyalgia, anxiety (3), asthma, allergies, heart disease, strokes, neurological dysfunction, cancer.

here is just a sample of improvements sufficient amounts of magnesium can bring you:

• better sleep
• cardiac health
• maintain memory function
• calm the nervous system
• improve autism
• improve pms and cramps
• control anxiety

How to take magnesium supplements?

The tricky part about magnesium is taken internally, it often causes diarrhea, which means it wouldn’t be properly absorbed. Thankfully there is a great company working for our health that provides a very pure magnesium product in a comfortable spray, gel or bath flakes that allows you to receive the essential magnesium we all need via our skin.

Since magnesium is essential to over 700 bodily functions, it is pretty essential we get enough of it! Most Americans are deficient in this crucial mineral.

References

1. Dr. Carolyn Dean M.D, N.D., The Miracle of Magnesium; Ballantine Books, New York; 2003.
2. Doctor Bernard Rimland, Ph.D. San Deigo : Autism Research Review International, 1987, Vol 1(4).
3. Hypertension. www.pubmed.gov. [Online] August 34(2) 1999. [Cited: October 30, 2007
www.pubmed.gov. 247-52

photo by Barack Obama

This just in! I receive campaigns from CREDO action and the one I received today made me happy and sad! Go Michelle for going organic and teaching our children organic is best! That delighted me. However, the fact that The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a problem with an organic garden at the whitehouse, well that’s darn sad!

Here is the scoop from CREDO

The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a bone to pick with Michelle Obama.

MACA represents chemical companies that produce pesticides, and they are angry that – wait for it – Michelle Obama isn’t using chemicals in her organic garden at the White House.

We are not making this up.

In an email they forwarded to their supporters, a MACA spokesman wrote, “While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder.” MACA went on to publish a letter it had sent to the First Lady asking her to consider using chemicals — or what they call “crop protection products” — in her garden.

Michelle Obama and has done America a great service by publicizing the importance of nutritious food for kids (she’s growing the garden in partnership with a local elementary school class) as well as locally grown produce as an important, environmentally sustainable food source.

MACA’s letter is part of a larger propaganda effort to convince people that chemicals are a necessary part of produce growth – when we know that’s not true.

And of course you the people can also sign a petition!

Sign this petition today to tell the board members of MACA (virtually all of them big chemical executives) that we don’t appreciate their telling Michelle Obama (or any of us) to use pesticides in our gardens. We support Michelle Obama’s organic garden, and we’ll thank them to keep their propaganda out of it.

Millet is not just for the birds! Human consumption of this powerful grain goes back as far as 4500 BCE in China. Millet was considered one of the five sacred crops by the ancient Chinese. It then became a staple throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. It’s mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the treasured plants. Millet is also a staple for The Hunzas, who live in a remote area of the Himalayan foothills and are known for their excellent health and longevity.

It’s a shame that in America, millet is mostly grown just for cattle and bird feed. It is now making a comeback for humans and the type best for human consumption is called “Pearl Millet.”

Millet has a fluffy, nutty taste, and is filling and nutritious. It is a great warming grain for the winter.

It’s health benefits are many :

• Rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B17, B6 and folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
• Contains no gluten
• Alkaline food (non-acidic)
• Low in fat
• Has heart protective properties and helps to develop and repair body tissues.
• High in protein
• Rich in phytochemicals (wards off disease and cancer)

How to prepare:

(Cooking time: 30-35 minutes)

• Measure out 1 cup (which grows to 3 when cooking)
• Quickly rinse
• First roast with some olive oil for about 2 minutes until you smell a nutty smell
• Add 3.5 cups water to 1 cup millet
• The grain has a fluffier texture when less water is used and is very moist and dense when cooked with extra water.

Can be used for breads, stuffing, muffins- just about anything!

I hope this helps motivate you to introduce this hearty addition to your dietary life!

Photo by BurningQuestion

As spring has sprung I’m feeling a serious need to some spring cleaning, not just in my home, but my body! Dr. Sachi (A Doctor of Oriental Medicine- whom you may remember from our last interview: Fit, Fabulous, Over 50…and Sharing Secrets!!) runs many fasting retreats and shares some tips with us below:

In Dr. Sachi’s Words:

I’m often doing a detox- no one can avoid it now, especially children. ADD and autism are mostly due to deficiency and toxicity of our environment.

Children need to start eating detoxifying foods such as bitter greens that support liver function at a young age, otherwise it’s very hard getting a small child to eat such things!

The liver is the largest organ responsible for detoxification. Things that support liver function for example are:

• dandelion
• milk thistle
• broccoli rabe
• basically most things with bitter tastes

In Chinese Medicine, meals should have all 5 elements. Bitter is one of them!

Parasite Cleansing

After the importance of cleansing the liver we need to consider parasites in our intestines. We have a higher incidence of parasites due to travel and imported produce. It used to be we only dealt with our own parasites, but now we are getting world parasites.

things that combat parasites in daily use are spices such as:

• turmeric
• garlic
• ginger

These are great detoxifiers and help to kill parasites.

Fasting

Another important key to detox is fasting. I fast one month out of the year.

Either I do:

• Three 10 day fasts
• Two 2 week or Four 1 week fasts at each season- whatever my body tells me.

During my fast I just drink liquids with lots of raw vegetable drinks. No supplements or vitamins are taken at this time.

Please read more about Sachi’s Fasting Retreats and check out her interview Fit, Fabulous, Over 50…and Sharing Secrets!!

Dr. Simm is an Acupuncture Physician and my first health guru! You can learn a lot from her Q+A article on On Weight Maintenance and Aging.

Her two favorite smoothie recipes packed with healing superpower are:

1. 7 Magical herb veggie blend:
   Any veggie based juice (Carrot, Celery, Red Peppers, Beet, etc. -your take!) with the following magical herbs:
   1. parsley
   2. cilantro
   3. garlic
   4. ginger
   5. basil
   6. rosemary
   7. mint

   (understand that I don’t always have all 7, but at least 5!)

2. Secret Pineapple Smoothie:
   I say secret because most people don’t know about the “white rose” which you can only see by pulling out the green tops one at a time. It sits above the inner core of the pineapple, which should also not go to waste! The “white rose” has special nutrients and phyto-chemicals that prevent cancer. if you plant the white rose with the green leaves still attached to the top of the pineapple, you can grow another pineapple plant!

   Recipe Instructions:
   Cut off the brown and mold bits, if there are any, off the white rose before tossing it in the blender along with the core (cut up in pieces) and add a little ginger and goji berries and sometimes a pinch of cinnamon, as cinnamon has some wonderful medicinal properties! Cinnamon is antibacterial and helps those with diabetes because it helps balance blood sugar!

You can get a FREE trial of the VitaMix blender through this website Click here to learn more

I often get traffic from the phrase “What Goes Good with Quinoa.” Never mind that this is grammatically incorrect; I write a lot about quinoa and it is a large part of my diet. I wanted to give the searching people even more about ‘what goes good with quinoa.’

I have many recipes for quinoa that are totally delicious!

Here are All my posts about Quinoa:

• Endive Madness (aka Quinoa Recipe)
• Nutritional Info on Quinoa and How to Prepare it
• What a healthy diet looks like!

By: Heather Ashare, MPH

Heather Ashare has been a dedicated practitioner and instructor of Ashtanga yoga for several years. As the yoga expert at DietsInReview.com, she shares simple and effective ways to make yoga a part of your life for greater fitness and wellness. DietsInReview.com also provides healthy recipes, weight loss tools, nutrition and health guidance in the Diet Blog and reviews of more than 475 diet plans.

Whether or not you roll out your mat to practice yoga, we all can learn a lot about our relationship to food by applying some of the principles of this ancient Indian practice to the foods we eat and how we eat them.

One of the great misnomers about yoga is that you must be a vegetarian to practice yoga. Nothing could be farther from the truth. What is more important is how do we use food? Do we use it solely to nourish us? For enjoyment? An escape?

Hatha yoga teaches us to tune our ears and eyes inward and listen to what our mind (the ego), our heart and our body is telling us. Rather than mindlessly reaching for that fifth piece of pizza or reacting immediately to a fight with our spouse by racing to the fast-food drive-thru, yoga tries to teach us to cultivate patience and observe our thoughts first, rather than quickly reacting to them.

Yoga’s ability to help heal the body and the mind is garnering the attention of medical and mental health professionals. A few years ago, a notable study showed that women who practiced yoga had greater body satisfaction, less body objectification and fewer symptoms of eating disorders than women who regularly practiced cardiovascular forms of exercise like jogging or aerobics.

Yoga is probably not the panacea to all eating disorders but its underlying message which teaches us to become more sensitive to our thoughts, feelings, and cravings opens up more pace for us to simply observe them, notice their fleeting nature and allow them to pass.

“This heightened sensitivity and responsiveness to bodily sensations is associated with less preoccupation of physical appearance, more positive views of the body, and more healthy regulation of food intake,” says the lead author of the study, Jennifer Daubenmier.

This is not to say that all of us need to assume the stance of a detached monk when a warm plate of rich chocolate brownies is placed in front of us. Who can or should resist that? But yoga tries to help us to slow down and enjoy our food, whether we’re indulging in one brownie, one bite or merely the smell of them.

The yoga of eating works its way from the inside out. Rather than focusing on the behavior of what we eat or how eat, yoga tries to get us to connect with what is going on emotionally that enables us to make food choices. In this manner, we become more aware of the actual feelings of hunger, the internal chatter in our minds that may drive us to make unhealthy food choices, and a clearer recognition of how our food choices affect us physically and emotionally. Do I really “need” that Krispy Kreme donut, or am I rather in need of something else that feeds me in a far deeper manner than fried and sweetened dough?

By applying some of these principles of patience, observation and introspection, you too can begin to alter your relationship with food for the better.