Did you know that eight ounces of carrot juice can contain as much as 800% of your daily recommended dosage of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential and necessary for tissue growth, especially within the bones. Vitamin A is also very important in maintaining good vision. The old myth that eating carrots will help you see better is true, as vitamin A deficiencies can lead to vision problems such as night blindness. Spinach is also a very rich source of Vitamin A. A little spinach juiced with a few carrots will deliver a vitamin A mega beverage. Vitamin A is also very crucial for expectant mothers and the unborn fetus. Although vitamin A is very important for your body, it is also important to maintain moderate levels of vitamin A intake, as too much can lead to liver toxicity, and other health problems.

Carrot juice is also an excellent source of vitamin C. An eight ounce glass of pure carrot juice can provide your body with up to 35% of your daily recommended dosage of vitamin C. Vitamin C has a wide variety of uses throughout our entire body, such as collagen production of the mucous membranes, skin, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is also a very crucial antioxidant. A few carrots juiced with blackcurrant berries, oranges, lemons, or kiwi, can easily provide you with your whole daily vitamin C dosage, without the need to take synthetic vitamins supplements.

Carrot juice is an excellent drinkable source of potassium. Potassium is very important in helping to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance and fluid level in the cells of your body. It's also necessary in muscle movement, such as contraction, as well as neurotransmission. Potassium deficiencies are very bad for your body, with such effects as Hypokalemia, acne, muscle spasms, dry skin, and elevated cholesterol levels. Carrots juiced with celery or turnips can provide your body with a large intake level of potassium. An eight ounce glass of pure carrot juice will usually provide up to 10% of the daily recommended intake level of potassium. It should be known that individuals who suffer from kidney disease, should avoid taking in large amounts of potassium, as it can be very harmful on the organs.

Pure carrot juice is a very low calorie juice drink. Eight fluid ounces of the beverage yields usually no more then 80 calories. Carrot juice is an excellent nutritional supplement for dieters, providing you with a rich supply of essential vitamins and minerals, without being accompanied by all of the calories that a health shake might give you. For athletes and weightlifters, the calorie level of carrot juice can be upped by blending it with fruit yogurt, milk, ice cream, or a protein powder supplement. I have even heard of people blending the juice with rolled oats, cereal, or boiled rice to dramatically increase the calorie and nutritional levels.

Pure carrot juice in an eight ounce serving can provide up to 6% percent of your daily recommended intake level of calcium. It is very important to receive a healthy level of calcium in your daily diet. Bones and teeth are dependent on calcium for growth and formation, especially the skeletal structure and development of children. Calcium absorption should also be accompanied by vitamin D, which helps aid your body's intake of the mineral. Like potassium, calcium is important for neurotransmission, and muscle movement and contraction. Carrots juiced with broccoli can provide an excellent vegetable calcium drink. For a calcium shake, you may also choose to juice your carrots and then blend it with yogurt for a carrot juice smoothie, which makes for a healthy breakfast shake, or evening dessert.

http://www.carrotjuice.com/enjoying-all-of-the-health-benefits-of-carrot-juice.html

Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is among the most nutritious and wonderful exotic fruits. It is a favorite to many, particularly people of Asian origin. It features a mouth watering light sweet taste, an intense shape and color, not forgetting its outstanding flowers. In addition to being tasty and refreshing, this beautiful fruit boasts of a lot of water and other vital minerals with varied nutritional ingredients. Due to its vital nutrients, the Pitaya fruit is suitable for all diets as it supplements fiber which is best for laxative and the liver. Similarly, people who have high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have attested to the fruit’s goodness. Recent findings show that if an obese person eats a Pitahaya fruit on a regular basis, it naturally reduces the weight considerably, creating a well balanced body without compromising on the individual’s health.
Dragon fruit is a beautiful fruit grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Israel. The plant is actually a type of cactus, and the fruit comes in 3 colors: 2 have pink skin, but with different colored flesh (one white, the other red), while another type is yellow with white flesh. Dragon fruit is low in calories and offers numerous nutrients, including Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, plus fiber and antioxidants.
Dragon fruit tastes wonderful! - sweet and crunchy, with a flavor that's like a cross between kiwi and pear.
Step #1 - To choose a ripe dragon fruit: look for bright, even-colored skin. If the fruit has a lot of blotches, it may be over-ripe (a few is normal). Another sign of over-ripe dragon fruit is a very dry, brittle brown stem, or brown on the tips of the "leaves". Hold the dragon fruit in your palm and try pressing the skin with your thumb or fingers - it should give a little (like a ripe kiwi), but shouldn't be too soft or mushy. If it's very firm, it will need to ripen for a few days.
Placing the dragon fruit over a cutting board or other clean surface, cut the fruit straight down the middle with a sharp knife. It will cut quite easily.
Cut through to the other side, so that you can separate the fruit into 2 sections. Inside the flesh may be white or red - both will have tiny black edible seeds, just like kiwi fruit.
There are various ways to prepare dragon fruit for eating - this is just one way. Run a tablespoon around the circumference of the first section to separate the flesh from the skin.
Now lift the flesh out of the skin and place it on the cutting board. Reserve the skin for serving (as in step 8), if desired. Note that the skin is NOT edible. Do the same for the other half.
Turn the mound of flesh over, checking for any residual pink skin. Slice this off, as the skin isn't healthy to ingest.
Now you can slice up the flesh. Cubes work well for eating the fruit fresh.
If desired, return the cubes of fruit to the skin to serve, or transfer to a serving dish and enjoy! Note that leftovers can be refrigerated, like any other fruit, in a covered container. Personally, I love combining cubes of dragon fruit into a fresh fruit salad. See my dragon fruit recipes below. ENJOY!

 http://thaifood.about.com/od/introtothaicooking/ss/dragonfruit.htm

Disease-Fighting Parsley

Disease-Fighting Parsley Health Benefits for the Heart and Body

March 13, 2012 By Administrator Leave a Comment

The parsley health benefits are both impressive and undeniable. Parsley has been proven to slow tumor growth, strengthen the heart and relieve a wide variety of health problems. The benefits of parsley are so great that this ancient herb is still used in medicine today.

The Use of Parsley Health Benefits in Modern Medicine

Parsley health benefits have been used in Greek and Roman medicine long before parsley became a popular spice. Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, used parsley to treat people who were exposed to poison, suffered from kidney problems or were simply feeling unwell. Parsley is such an effective treatment that the herb is still used for many of the same purposes today. Fortunately, modern scientists have found several additional parsley health benefits that ancient healers were unaware of.
Many of the benefits of parsley are due to the herb’s vitamin and mineral content. Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, E and K, as well as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese and potassium. Parsley also contains antioxidants, works as a diuretic, increases energy and possesses antiseptic properties. Parsley benefits the body so greatly that it is not surprising that this herb has made the transition from ancient to modern medicine.

Tumor-Fighting Parsley Health Benefits

In addition to its many vitamins and minerals, the benefits of parsley are also due to its myristicin and apigenin content. Myristicin is a compound that has been found to prevent tumor formation, act as an antioxidant and neutralize certain carcinogens, specifically benzopyrene. Research has found that myristicin is effective in preventing the spread of cancer in the lungs and other areas of the body, which is one of the most important parsley health benefits.
Apigenin is another cancer-fighting compound partially responsible for the benefits of parsley. A recent study conducted at the University of Missouri found that apigenin slowed the growth of breast cancer cells in rats. Rats that were exposed to apigenin also developed fewer tumors than those who were not exposed to the substance. Researchers concluded that parsley might be effective in helping women fight and prevent breast cancer.

Pain Relief and Other Benefits of Parsley

Parsley does not just fight tumors, it also relieves pain, inflammation and infection. Parsley can be used to treat toothaches, arthritis pain, bruises, insect bites and chapped skin. This herb can even be used to kill parasites, including lice, while reducing discomfort.
When consumed as a tea, parsley helps to restore the body’s natural acid/alkaline balance and reduce inflammation. Certain types of pain, like arthritis pain, are caused by acid building up around the joints. This causes the joints to become swollen, painful and stiff. Parsley benefits the joints by breaking up acid and reducing inflammation, which alleviates joint pain. People who make parsley a part of their daily diet are less likely to experience rheumatic disease, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
People who are suffering from painful bruising, piles and broken veins can also benefit from using parsley. When applied to the skin, parsley benefits the body by shrinking small blood vessels. This helps the skin heal, stops bleeding and reduces pain. Applying parsley to the skin is also believed to stimulate hair growth, increase collagen production, diminish the appearance of wrinkles and firm the skin.

The Benefits of Parsley on the Heart, Blood and Immune System

When eaten or consumed as a tea, parsley benefits the heart, improves the quality of the blood and strengthens the immune system. Parsley strengthens the heart by supplying the body with folate, or vitamin B9. Folate neutralizes an amino acid known as homocysteine, which can damage the blood vessels in large amounts. Regularly consuming parsley will protect against cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis.
In addition to protecting the heart, parsley benefits the body by regulating blood sugar, lowering blood pressure and stimulating the production of red blood cells. This herb also supports immune system function and provides the body with several powerful antioxidants. Since parsley increases immunity, it is often used to combat the common cold, bronchitis and the flu. Parsley is also effective at drying mucous, which reduces congestion and helps to control allergies.

How Parsley Helps the Body Fight Infection and Disease

Parsley can also be used to treat people who suffer from certain digestive disorders, kidney problems and frequent urinary infections. Parsley treats digestive disorders by increasing circulation in the digestive tract. People who regularly eat parsley or drink parsley tea are less likely to suffer from upset stomach, flatulence and other digestive problems. Parsley benefits the body by preventing kidney stones and helps to tone the urinary tract, which reduces the risk of infection.
Drinking parsley tea will not only prevent kidney stones, it will also treat gallstones. People who suffer from gallstones can eliminate their stones by drinking approximately one pint of parsley tea each day. Additionally, parsley benefits the body by improving adrenal gland function, nerve function and supporting the entire nervous system.

How Parsley Benefits Women Before, After and During Pregnancy

For women, parsley can be especially beneficial. Not only can parsley possibly prevent breast cancer, but it can also relieve menstrual pain. When consumed internally, parsley relieves pain, reduces bloating and causes uterine contractions. This tones the uterus, stimulates menstruation and can even induce labor in pregnant women. Some doctors believe that parsley is also beneficial in toning the male prostate. This makes the prostate stronger and less prone to infection.
Parsley is an herb that benefits the body so many different ways. This herb can be used externally to fight infection, improve the appearance of the skin and naturally relieve pain. Internally, parsley benefits almost every bodily system. Not only does this herb protect the heart and boost immunity, but it might even be an effective natural anticancer treatment.
http://www.benefitsoftheworld.com/disease-fighting-parsley-health-benefits-for-the-heart-and-body/

7 Health Foods That Aren’t

The truth about supposedly “better-for-you” options

Fake. Phony. Scam artist. No matter what you call it, being at the wrong end of a health hoax is never fun. You might expect sneaky marketing claims from fast-food chains, but these seven foods are more along the lines of a sucker punch.
The latest case: Nutella. Sure, their commercials make the spread sound like a wholesome mix of hazelnuts, skim milk, and a touch of cocoa, but it turns out Nutella’s about as healthy as a Milky Way. One woman was so appalled when she realized that two tablespoons of her go-to breakfast spread packed in 200 calories, 21 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of fat, that she took the company to court…and won. (In fact, if you bought a jar of Nutella between January 2008 and Feb 3, 2012, you’re entitled to a refund.) 
But Nutella isn’t the only nutrition sham at the grocery store. No matter how you slice it, a number of “healthy” foods fall seriously short on their promises. How many of these fast-talkers are fooling you?
“All-Natural” breakfast cereals Kashi, Kellogg’s “natural” brand, is currently under fire from consumers over the fact that the ingredients used in their cereals aren’t completely natural as their marketing implies. In fact, scientists from the Cornucopia Institute recently detected GMO material in 100 percent of the soy in Kashi GoLean.
Sports drinks While Gatorade may be beneficial if you’re putting in an extremely hard workout—like marathon hard—most of us are just getting an unwelcome dose of sugar, salt, and loads of sketchy artificial food coloring. Plus, a new study in the journal General Dentistry suggests that sports and energy drinks are responsible for serious tooth enamel damage and decay.
damage and decay.
4 Foods To Avoid At All Costs  
Energy bars The reason you feel a boost from your bar is most likely due to the copious amounts of sweetener added to it. Many companies disguise just how much sugar is hidden inside by using various types of sugar—like high-fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, and cane juice—to try and fool you. Case in point: PowerBar ProteinPlus Chocolate Brownie bar, which offers up 30 grams of sugar from at least three different sugar sources.
“No artificial preservatives” meats Oscar Mayer recently announced that it will no longer be using artificial preservatives in their “Selects” line of hot dogs and deli slices. While we applaud the weiner company for taking out nasty chemicals like potassium chloride and sodium nitrate, that doesn’t mean that these foods are now healthy. Processed meat is still processed meat, and a daily serving of bacon or salami can up your risk of death 20%, according to research from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Bottled green tea We’ve touted the benefits of green tea for years, but those sweetened, bottled beverages aren't what we’ve been talking about. Some mass-produced bottles have only a miniscule amount of the powerful catechins, and they're loaded with sugar. SoBe Energize Green Tea, for example, offers up more than 50 grams of sugar in one 20-ounce bottle.
Egg substitute We’re not saying that egg substitute is necessarily bad for you, but they’re not necessarily better for your cholesterol than the real thing—something most of us assume. A new study from the University of Connecticut found that people who ate whole eggs actually increased their HDL (the healthy cholesterol) more than those who ate egg substitutes.

My opinion: Stick to eating foods without labels, organic, simple and fresh, these are better for you and give you the energy and nutrition your body needs.

Read more: http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/are-you-eating-these-health-food-frauds?cm_mmc=facebook-_-prevention-_-news-blog-_-7HealthFoodsThatArent#ixzz1tuMSMfPp

Setting the record straight about Protein

Beans of all kinds, lentils, asparagus, broccoli, seaweeds; variety is important and quantity. You should always eat more veggies, fruits and grains than anything else. High Protein is not healthier by the way. Too much protein depletes the body of calcium, (re: osteoporosis) thanks to the meat and dairy industry through self promotion has Americans confused about real health versus P.R. for slaughter houses.
Common vegetables have much more protein than you need, and contrary to popular myth, they're complete proteins as well.  The reason you've heard otherwise is that the people spouting protein myths haven't bothered to look up the actual numbers.  So let's look at what the science actually says — as well as what doctors and nutritionists who are actually familiar with protein say.

We need only 2.5 to 10% of our calories from protein, according to official sources.^1,2,3  And all vegetables have more than that.⁴ Not some vegetables, all of them. Vegetables average around 22% protein, beans 28%, and grains 13%.⁴  Have a look at the chart at right.
Professional estimates suggest we need as little 2.5% of our calories from protein.¹ The World Health Organization recommends about 5% to 10%, depending on various factors.² The U.S. government's recommendation is about 9%, depending on calorie intake.³  And the official recommendations are padded with generous safety margins, to account for differences in bioavailability, and to cover even people who need more protein than average.
In any event, whether you think our needs are closer to 2.5% or 10%, you can see from the chart that it's nearly impossible to fail to get enough protein, provided that you make sure to eat food.  Every single whole plant food has more than 2.5% protein, and every group averages more than 10% except for fruit.  Protein is one of the easiest nutrients to get.
The figures for food are from the bible of nutrition data, the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. (I averaged the numbers for several foods in each category.⁴ To find the percentage of protein for a sample, multiply the protein grams by 4 and divide by the number of calories.)
So plant foods easily supply our protein needs.  In fact, when just about every single food has more than you need, how exactly could you not get enough?  The truth is that if you're eating food, you're eating protein.  And you're eating more than enough.
It's meaningless to talk about a "source of protein", since all foods have plentiful protein.  In other words, every whole food is a "source of protein". You don't have to eat certain, special foods to get protein. You just have to eat any food. That's it.
Any well-read health professional will tell you the same thing.  Take Marion Nestle, Ph.D, chair of the Department of Nutrition at New York University:

"We never talk about protein anymore, because it's absolutely not an issue, even among children.  If anything, we talk about the dangers of high-protein diets. Getting enough is simply a matter of getting enough calories."^4.3

Anyone who says otherwise simply hasn't bothered to look up the actual numbers.  The reason you've heard that plants are protein-deficient is because everyone is simply repeating that misinformation without looking at what the science actually says.  The science itself is clear and consistent, for anyone who cares to look. 
It's true that meat has more protein than vegetables, but the amount in vegetables is already much more than you need.  The extra protein in meat isn't better, it's actually useless.  If you're shopping for a car and one goes 200 miles an hour and the other goes 400, it doesn't matter, since the maximum speed limit in the U.S. is 80 mph.  Two hundred mph is more than enough for a car, and 22% protein from vegetables is more than enough when your protein needs are only 2.5 to 10%.

Oh, but you've heard that plant protein is "incomplete", right?  Well, that's not true either Read more:
http://michaelbluejay.com/veg/protein.html

Health Benefits of Beans

Health Benefits of Beans
Beans have proven to provide many health benefits that include lowering cholesterol and preventing spikes in blood sugar. This makes beans even more appealing for diabetics, those suffering from hypoglycemia and a resistance to insulin. Furthermore, the soluble fiber in beans helps reduce your risk of coronary disease and heart attacks.
In addition to satisfying your appetite, the fiber in beans also aids in digestion, a key factor in fat burning. If you’re worried about aromatic side effects of beans, use dry beans and rinse thoroughly.
Beans, black beans in particular, have antioxidant properties that have can reduce your risk of many types of cancer. Strangely enough, beans have been the most successful reducing risk of colon cancer. Another health benefit of beans is their ability to help you fight illnesses, again through the many antioxidants consumed in a serving of beans.

Maximizing Health Benefits of Beans
Grab an old or new favorite and give these healthy bean recipes a try!

• Combine black, pinto and kidney beans with crushed tomatoes, chili powder, garlic and onion for a tasty 3-bean chili!
• Enjoy black beans and brown rice for a nutritious and meat-free meal.
• Warm black beans, corn and scallions. Place inside small corn tortilla shells and top with fat free sour cream and tomatoes for black bean tacos. Or lay on a bed of lettuce for a lower calorie alternative.
• Combine garbanzo beans, garlic, ½ roasted red pepper, tahini and olive oil for a fat burning hummus. Use carrots, celery and bell peppers to dip.

Beans are finally recovering from an undeserved bad reputation, and it is in your best interest to take full advantage of the health benefits that beans are offering!

Benefits of Wheatgrass

WHEATGRASS JUICE...

Increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. It cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris. Wheatgrass also stimulates metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood. It also aids in reducing blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways throughout the body.

Stimulates the thyroid gland, correcting obesity, indigestion, and a host of other complaints.

Restores alkalinity to the blood. The juice's abundance of alkaline minerals helps reduce over-acidity in the blood. It can be used to relieve many internal pains, and has been used successfully to treat peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract.
Is a powerful detoxifier, and liver and blood protector. The enzymes and amino acids found in wheatgrass can protect us from carcinogens like no other food or medicine. It strengthens our cells, detoxifies the liver and bloodstream, and chemically neutralizes environmental pollutants.
Fights tumors and neutralizes toxins. Recent studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to fight tumors without the usual toxicity of drugs that also inhibit cell-destroying agents. The many active compounds found in grass juice cleanse the blood and neutralize and digest toxins in our cells.
Contains beneficial enzymes. Whether you have a cut finger you want to heal or you desire to lose five pounds...enzymes must do the actual work. The life and abilities of the enzymes found naturally in our bodies can be extended if we help them from the outside by adding exogenous enzymes, like the ones found in wheatgrass juice. Don't cook it. We can only get the benefits of the many enzymes found in grass by eating it uncooked. Cooking destroys 100 percent of the enzymes in food.
Has remarkable similarity to our own blood. The second important nutritional aspect of chlorophyll is its remarkable similarity to hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen in the blood. Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, president of the Hagiwara Institute of Health in Japan, is a leading advocate for the use of grass as food and medicine. He reasons that since chlorophyll is soluble in fat particles, and fat particles are absorbed directly into the blood via the lymphatic system, that chlorophyll can also be absorbed in this way. In other words, when the "blood" of plants is absorbed in humans it is transformed into human blood, which transports nutrients to every cell of the body.

Can double your red blood cell count just by soaking in it. Renowned nutritionist Dr. Bernard Jensen found that no other blood builders are superior to green juices and wheatgrass. In his book Health Magic Through Chlorophyll from Living Plant Life he mentions several cases where he was able to double the red blood cell count in a matter of days merely by having patients soak in a chlorophyll-water bath. Blood building results occur even more rapidly when patients drink green juices and wheatgrass regularly.
 Read more: http://www.hippocratesinst.org/benefits-of-wheatgrass