|
Search Term: " Sweeened "
Culinary Uses of Stevia: Sweeten Your Dishes Without Compromising Flavor   
Date:
May 30, 2024 12:46 PM
Culinary Uses of Stevia: Sweeten Your Dishes Without Compromising FlavorStevia has garnered attention as a natural, calorie-free sweetener that can seamlessly replace sugar in various recipes. Derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, this sweetener is known for its ability to provide a satisfying sweetness without the health drawbacks associated with traditional sugar. In this article, we'll explore creative recipes and practical tips for incorporating stevia into everyday cooking and baking, allowing you to enjoy your favorite dishes without compromising on taste.
Benefits of Using SteviaBefore diving into recipes, it's important to understand why stevia is a fantastic alternative to sugar. Here are some of the key benefits:
Baking with SteviaStevia can effectively replace sugar in many baking recipes, but it's essential to remember that it is much sweeter than sugar. Typically, a teaspoon of stevia extract can replace a cup of sugar, but always refer to specific conversion charts provided by stevia product manufacturers.
Stevia-Sweetened Chocolate Chip CookiesIngredients:
Instructions:
Cooking with SteviaBeyond baking, stevia can introduce a hint of sweetness to savory dishes as well. Here are some innovative ways to include stevia in your everyday cooking.
Stevia BBQ SauceIngredients:
Instructions:
Drinks and SmoothiesStevia is also great for sweetening beverages. Whether it’s a refreshing iced tea or a nutritious smoothie, stevia can add the perfect touch of sweetness.
Stevia LemonadeIngredients:
Instructions:
Tips for Cooking with Stevia
Stevia opens up a world of culinary possibilities, letting you enjoy the sweetness of your favorite recipes without the drawbacks of sugar. From delectable desserts like chocolate chip cookies to savory innovations like homemade BBQ sauce, the versatility of stevia can enhance all your culinary creations. Remember, the key is to experiment and adapt recipes to suit your taste, making stevia a valuable and enjoyable part of your cooking repertoire.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6606) 7 Health Benefits of Matcha You Should Know About Before Brewing a Cup 
Date:
November 24, 2017 03:59 PM
Can you match the health benefits of Matcha? This one of a kind drink is like green tea on steroids. Whatever green tea can do Matcha can do better. Farmers use a different process to create this trendy drink. Matcha comes in powdered form which makes it super concentrated. Matcha has three times the amount of caffeine as a regular cup of tea. With all that caffeine, you can wake up with it or burn the midnight oil. It also may help with weight loss and reduce your risk of developing cancer. However, one must use caution when consuming this potent drink. Too much of a good thing always causes trouble. An overdose of Matcha can lead to pro-oxidative stress. So drink up to reap Matcha's wonderful benefits, just not too much. Key Takeaways:
"Here's the deal: If you're regularly drink soda, juice and sugary beverages, making the switch to unsweetened matcha will absolutely help!" Read more: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a46901/health-benefits-of-matcha/
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=5414) Researchers find that an egg a day can increase growth in young children
Date:
June 21, 2017 07:14 AM
Eggs have the potential to contribute to reduced growth stunting around the world.Poor nutrition is a major cause of stunting, along with childhood infections and illnesses.eggs were great food for young children with small stomachs.Eggs contain a combination of nutrients, which we think is important.Children in the treatment group had higher dietary intakes of eggs and reduced intake of sugar-sweetened foods compared to control.They theorized that getting very young children to eat eggs might have an impact. Read more: Researchers find that an egg a day can increase growth in young children
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4860) Love it, Like it, Hate it: Kombucha!
Date:
May 17, 2017 06:44 PM
Kombucha is a beverage created by fermenting yeasts and bacteria with sweetened tea. The resulting drink is probiotic rich, enhances sleep, and is rich in antioxidant and anti microbial properties. Kombucha however, can be high in sugar. Sugar is required in the fermentation process but those fermented longer, contain less sugar. It may also nit be good to drink in pregnancy because it can contain trace amounts of alcohol. There are several versions commercially sold that can vary in health properties and sugar content. Read more: Love it, Like it, Hate it: Kombucha!
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4636) Diet Responsible For 45 Percent of All Deaths From Heart Disease and Diabetes
Date:
March 26, 2017 01:44 PM
Heart disease and diabetes are two deadly conditions that you do not want to experience, yet the likelihood that you will are great, especially if you are not maintaining the best lifestyle. One of the worst things that you can do to impede on your health is consuming the wrong foods. In particular one diet is responsible for nearly half of all deaths from these two conditions. Do you want to know more about the diet and its contributions to these conditions? Key Takeaways:
"Data published in the March 7 issue of JAMA indicated that the highest number of cardiometabolic deaths were associated with too much sodium and processed meat, and not enough nuts and seeds, seafood omega-3 fats, vegetable, and fruit, compared with optimal consumption levels." Read more: http://www.healthnutnews.com/diet-responsible-45-percent-deaths-heart-disease-diabetes/
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4297) Prunes: Health benefits, myths and facts
Date:
March 13, 2017 09:14 AM
Most likely, the main benefit most people associate with prunes is its laxative effects. Prunes are, in fact, a very healthy fruit with numerous advantages to your health (aside from helping you go to the bathroom). They can be a wonderfully nutritious snack that can be enjoyed any time of the year. This article explores the numerous myths that exist about prunes and relays several facts about this delicious fruit along with its many health benefits. Key Takeaways:
"Prunes are high in fiber, which helps prevent hemorrhoids brought on by constipation – a common problem in older adults." Read more: https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzeenews.india.com%2Fhealth%2Fprunes-health-benefits-myths-and-facts-1983055&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjVkYjY3ZDViNDdiNGM3ZTc6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEeRme6izfehfNv6WVZG1ZupXDMYw
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4132) Prunes: Health benefits, myths and facts
Date:
March 13, 2017 08:59 AM
Most likely, the main benefit most people associate with prunes is its laxative effects. Prunes are, in fact, a very healthy fruit with numerous advantages to your health (aside from helping you go to the bathroom). They can be a wonderfully nutritious snack that can be enjoyed any time of the year. This article explores the numerous myths that exist about prunes and relays several facts about this delicious fruit along with its many health benefits. Key Takeaways:
"Prunes are high in fiber, which helps prevent hemorrhoids brought on by constipation – a common problem in older adults." Read more: https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzeenews.india.com%2Fhealth%2Fprunes-health-benefits-myths-and-facts-1983055&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjVkYjY3ZDViNDdiNGM3ZTc6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEeRme6izfehfNv6WVZG1ZupXDMYw
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4131) Poor diet tied to nearly half of U.S. deaths from heart disease, stroke, diabetes
Date:
March 09, 2017 05:59 AM
Ensuring that diets include the right amount of certain foods may help the U.S. cut deaths from heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes by almost half, suggests a new study. About 45 percent of deaths from those causes in 2012 could be blamed on people eating too much or too little of 10 types of foods, researchers found. Key Takeaways:
"The good news is that we now understand more about which foods would help prevent Americans from dying prematurely from cardiometabolic diseases." Reference:
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4088) Is Fermented Tea Making People Feel Enlightened Because of ... Alcohol?
Date:
December 14, 2016 04:59 PM
One of the biggest campaigns of the 21st century has been to show people that not all bacteria are bad. There is a delicate balance of bacteria that must be maintained in our bodies in order to function properly. Many medical conditions, especially in the gut, start because we do not have the right balance of microbes. With this push for healthy microbes has come a resurgence of a drink that was popular over 200 years ago. It is called kombucha, which is a sugar-sweetened tea that ferments with yeast and microbes. Many claim it to be a wonder-drink. Key Takeaways:
"That idea has brought the centuries-old drink roaring into upper-middle class consciousness at $5 per bottle in New York bodegas." Reference: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/12/the-promises-of-kombucha/509786/?utm_source=feed
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3644) Putting Sugary Soda Out of Reach
Date:
November 24, 2016 12:59 PM
Are you trying to lose weight? Have you noticed that it seems like so many different people tell you so many different things, including what you should and shouldn't be doing with your body -- and what you should or shouldn't be putting in your mouth? No matter where you stand on some of those tips, "Putting Sugary Soda Out of Reach" helps out the people that are trying their best to go ahead and keep soda out of their lives (and their bodies). Key Takeaways:
"The institution is believed to be one of the largest employers to remove sugary drinks from the workplace." Reference: //www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/well/eat/putting-sugary-soda-out-of-reach.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3501) Suffering from anxiety? These foods can calm it
Date:
October 30, 2016 11:59 AM
If you are one of the millions of people that suffer from anxiety, a start to the solution can be as simple as changing your diet. The best foods to eat for anxiety include those brimming with folate, protein, & magnesium. These help regulate blood pressure and cortisol levels, leaving you with an overall calm feeling. Tryptophan in turkey can also contribute to the calming effect. The worst foods you can eat if you suffer from anxiety are large doses of alcohol, caffeine, & sugar. By following this basic information, you can be on your way to a calmer you. Key Takeaways:
"According to beyondblue, around 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime and more than 2 million Australian adults are grappling with anxiety"
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3353) The Holiday Sugar Trap; All There is to Know
Date:
October 04, 2015 10:02 PM
The festive season can be a tempting affair to any healthy eater. Hopping from one party and family gathering to another might easily see you indulging in unhealthy dishes and drinks. It is quite difficult to hold back on the wide varieties of delicious treats unless your will is exceptional. Counting the calories in the food you eat when in the middle of a conversation with a long lost friend or family members isn't easy. What you regard as 'just a once off affair' might ruin the rest of the year for you. There is a lot of hidden sugar in holiday treats such as; syrup, cakes, flavored pop corn, cookies, soda, juices, lemonades and ice cream.
Reasons to Avoid Sugar During the Festive Season
Sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay. Plaque, a harmful bacteria responsible for tooth decay, uses sugar as a form of energy. This way, the plaque multiplies and becomes thick hence making it difficult for it to be washed away by saliva. Sugar is also used as a form of glue for the bacteria to firmly stick to the teeth.
Added sugar for instance fructose corn syrup contains a lot of empty calories with zero nutrients.These calories do not contain any protein, minerals, vitamins nor any essential fats. It is purely energy which is converted into fats in the body hence weight gain.
Did you know that indulging in all that sweetness at the Christmas table might be the beginning of your sugar addiction? Sugar shuttles tryptophan in the brain which further converts to serotonin hence having a physiological addictive effect.
When the refined sugar intake is high, the body might be forced to produce more leptin and insulin. This is due to the high carbohydrate and processed food diet. When these two rise, blood pressure might go up leading to leptin and insulin resistance. Insulin is responsible for the storage of magnesium meant for the relaxation of muscles in the body. When the insulin is interfered with, the lack of magnesium in the cells may lead to the inability of your your hearts' vessels to fully relax hence narrowing them. This overworks your heart hence increased blood pressure.
Refined sugar has been proven to cause diabetes, obesity as well as other conditions that put your heart at risk. New studies have linked sugar with unhealthy cholesterol and increased triglyceride levels. When you consume a lot of refined sugar, the excess is stored in the liver as tryglecirides (a form of fat that sticks to your arteries). This fat travels through the blood stream and may clog it up. That extra can of soda might leave you struggling with life altering health conditions. It is important to consider healthy alternatives to refined sugars. A perfect example in this case would be unsweetened or stevia calorie free sweetners. Sweet leaf and Truvia are made of stevia which is a natural herbs that are commonly found in South and Central America. Stevia is 40 times sweeter than sugar yet contains no empty calories which makes it a suitable alternative. These sweeteners are easily available in local stores and can be used in almost anything; tea, coffee, cereal, yogurt and even fruit. References //www.webmd.com/food-recipes/best-sugar-substitutes
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3226) What are the health benefits of organic Cacao?
Date:
April 24, 2014 02:58 AM
Do you know what Cacao and some of its health benefits are? What is a cacao Cacao is a kind of a tropical tree, which is part of the evergreen family that produces chocolate from its seeds in its raw state; that is before both sugar, and fats or some other forms of sweeteners are added to it. First, some of the benefits for finding the Cacao tree are that the cacao tree is grown under the shade of much bigger and different trees thus having a very profound effect on the Cacao seeds, which instead tends to be more potent and higher in antioxidants. The Cacao tree comes in different species that is Forastero, Trinitario and Caffeine. Cacao is used to describe both the seeds and the tree as well as the pods which holds the actual Cacao seeds/ beans which are also known as nibs. Well, the terms Cocoa and Cacao were often interchangeably used mistakenly to mean a similar thing. However, both the terms are used to differentiate different parts of the process and ingredients where Cocoa refers to the processed and sweetened Cacao. When the Cacao seeds without the shells are crushed and liquified into what is known as chocolate liquor, a dark chocolate is therefore created. Dark chocolate, which is synonymous with pure chocolate, exhibits a more powerful and a stronger effect of this health enhancing ingredients. The organic Cacao nibs’ offers a real chocolate treat as they are crunchy, flavorful and packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants as well as natural mood lifters. Cacao in its raw form is regarded as the most potent and provides many benefits as it is packed with lots of nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants, essential minerals, Phenylethylamine and many more. This therefore makes Cacao either to act as multivitamin or to be regarded as super food. Benefits of cacao Although the Cacao nibs produces chocolate which when taken in very large quantities may prove to be very dense in calories thus being unhealthy. However, when taken in moderation this product can be highly nutritious while providing numerous health benefits such as intestinal regularity, heart and blood vessels as well as blood sustained sugar levels not to mention lowering of cholesterol, boosting cognitive performance, providing antidepressant benefits, elevating ones mood by boosting ones endorphin's. Cacao also contains poly phenols and more oxidants per cup which when taken offers the body a chance to fight cancer, aging, heart diseases. Additionally, some of the nutritional and health value that are offered by the Cacao arises from some of the beneficial ingredients such as Theobromine which is a mild stimulant to offer a diuretic effect hence helping to push toxins out of one's body. This helps to enhance one's mood. The Phenylethylamine on the other hand also acts to enhance a person’s mood making one to feel a sense of well being. Cacao increases the level of serotonin that one's brain produces which is a feel good hormone. Other essential minerals that are also found in Cacao include magnesium, Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium while the essential vitamins that one will receive from Cacao are vitamin A,B1,2,3 and C,E as well as the Pantothenic acid. Sources
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3102) What are the health benefits of organic Cacao?
Date:
April 24, 2014 02:58 AM
What is a cacao Cacao is a kind of a tropical tree, which is part of the evergreen family that produces chocolate from its seeds in its raw state; that is before both sugar, and fats or some other forms of sweeteners are added to it. First, some of the benefits for finding the Cacao tree are that the cacao tree is grown under the shade of much bigger and different trees thus having a very profound effect on the Cacao seeds, which instead tends to be more potent and higher in antioxidants. The Cacao tree comes in different species that is Forastero, Trinitario and Caffeine. Cacao is used to describe both the seeds and the tree as well as the pods which holds the actual Cacao seeds/ beans which are also known as nibs. Well, the terms Cocoa and Cacao were often interchangeably used mistakenly to mean a similar thing. However, both the terms are used to differentiate different parts of the process and ingredients where Cocoa refers to the processed and sweetened Cacao. When the Cacao seeds without the shells are crushed and liquified into what is known as chocolate liquor, a dark chocolate is therefore created. Dark chocolate, which is synonymous with pure chocolate, exhibits a more powerful and a stronger effect of this health enhancing ingredients. The organic Cacao nibs’ offers a real chocolate treat as they are crunchy, flavorful and packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants as well as natural mood lifters. Cacao in its raw form is regarded as the most potent and provides many benefits as it is packed with lots of nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants, essential minerals, Phenylethylamine and many more. This therefore makes Cacao either to act as multivitamin or to be regarded as super food. Benefits of cacao Although the Cacao nibs produces chocolate which when taken in very large quantities may prove to be very dense in calories thus being unhealthy. However, when taken in moderation this product can be highly nutritious while providing numerous health benefits such as intestinal regularity, heart and blood vessels as well as blood sustained sugar levels not to mention lowering of cholesterol, boosting cognitive performance, providing antidepressant benefits, elevating ones mood by boosting ones endorphin's. Cacao also contains poly phenols and more oxidants per cup which when taken offers the body a chance to fight cancer, aging, heart diseases. Additionally, some of the nutritional and health value that are offered by the Cacao arises from some of the beneficial ingredients such as Theobromine which is a mild stimulant to offer a diuretic effect hence helping to push toxins out of one's body. This helps to enhance one's mood. The Phenylethylamine on the other hand also acts to enhance a person’s mood making one to feel a sense of well being. Cacao increases the level of serotonin that one's brain produces which is a feel good hormone. Other essential minerals that are also found in Cacao include magnesium, Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium while the essential vitamins that one will receive from Cacao are vitamin A,B1,2,3 and C,E as well as the Pantothenic acid. Sources
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=3101) What Is The Effect Antibiotics Have On Babies And How Does Acidophilus Help?
Date:
October 11, 2011 12:21 PM
Normally, the human body has its own collection of microorganisms which help protect the body from harm microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and the like. The “friendly” or “good” bacteria in the body may be situated on the skin, mucous membranes, digestive tract, reproductive tract and other parts of the body which need a normal flora of good bacteria for protection and enzyme production. However, these normal floras of microorganisms may become depleted under certain condition such as extreme exposure to stress, poor diet and antibiotic therapy. When babies are infected with harmful microorganisms, antibiotics may be of great help to destroy the invading microorganisms. However, when a person is under antibiotic therapy, it is not only the bad bacteria that are killed but also the good bacteria naturally inhabiting in the human body. The normal floras of the intestines, mouth, and vaginal tract and even on the skin are destroyed as well. The intention of antibiotic therapy is good. However, it is inevitable that the good microorganisms which are normally residing in the body will be destroyed as well. Among babies, when antibiotics are given and the good bacteria of the body are destroyed, the body has an increased susceptibility to allow the overgrowth of yeast which can lead the baby to suffer from diarrhea and anal or oral thrushes. Indeed, the normal flora of microorganism may be depleted due to antibiotic therapy. Good thing is that there are available supplements formulated to increase the population of these good bacteria inside the body. These are called probiotics. One most common and useful probiotic is Lactobacillus acidophilus. This is a good strain of bacteria which helps in improving intestinal health by enhancing the growth of intestinal flora. Babies are usually given with Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement to help the baby’s body repopulate the normal flora of good microorganisms, thus helping in the prevention of yeast overgrowth and infections. Lactobacillus acidophilus can be acquired from fermented products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir. And with its great benefit to human health, Lactobacillus acidophilus is now made available in the form of supplements. You can purchase Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements in powder form for infants. The powder may be applied on the nipples of breastfeeding mothers before every nursing session. The baby will then consume the Lactobacillus acidophilus together with the breast milk. For working mothers who just leave breast milk at home or use formula milk for feeding, Lactobacillus acidophilus may be mixed with the expressed breast milk or formula milk making the probiotic available for the baby. Usually, one teaspoon of Lactobacillus acidophilus powder is mixed into an 8 ounce of milk. For babies who can already eat solid foods, they may consume unflavored and unsweetened yogurt which is rich in live and active Lactobacillus acidophilus. Doctors and many health experts highly recommend that it is practical to administer antibiotic medications one to two hours before giving the baby probiotic food or supplements. This is to avoid killing of the probiotics given and allowing the body to get the maximum benefit of the probiotic.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2494) How Does Prickly Pear Leaf Help with Blood Sugar Control?
Date:
August 02, 2011 02:02 PM
Also known as nopales in its place of origin, all plant species referred to as prickly pear belong to the genus Opuntia. This genus comprises more than 200 species, but only a few are noted for their culinary uses. In Mexico and most of Latin America, it is consumed as a vegetable in general. The juice extracted from the prickly pear leaf is utilized in different niches of many industries. In food and drug industries, it is highly valued for its alkaloids and polyphenols that exhibit bioactive properties. Many health problems recorded in the past few decades have been linked to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates present in the human diet are broken down into simple sugars. In particular, glucose refers to the sugar that enters the systemic circulation. Glucose takes on a central role at the cellular level. It fuels the physiological functions of all cells and tissues, including the brain and the heart. That being said, diets high in simple sugars have been tied to elevated blood sugar. Researchers and medical professionals have noted several factors that lead to metabolic disorders. Genetic abnormalities are something we don’t have control of. On the other hand, lifestyle factors are quite the opposite. It has been reported that sedentary lifestyle and food choices play a major part in the development of illnesses related to glucose metabolism. Experts are convinced that some foods are detrimental to health, but there are sources of nutrition that help maintain healthy glucose levels. Prickly pear leaf belongs to the group of foods that are good for blood sugar. Glycemic index measures how carbohydrates present in our diet influence blood sugar concentration. Simple sugars are always considered unhealthy forms of carbohydrates in that all of them possess a high glycemic index, which means glucose is released into the bloodstream at a very rapid rate. Foods that are easily digested to simple sugars, such as white bread and sweetened beverages, affect blood sugar in the same manner. Organic compounds that occur naturally in prickly pear leaf have a twofold effect. First, it helps lower the glycemic index of carbohydrates in our diet, and thus promotes a gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream. Second, it improves the hormone activity of insulin and fights its functional decline that results in insulin resistance, a common medical condition that precedes type 2 diabetes mellitus. Grab some prickly pear leaf and take control of your life.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2384) What is Dandelion Tea Good for?
Date:
March 08, 2011 02:38 PM
Dandelion Root
Dandelion tea must be best known as a detoxifying beverage that has been associated with improving liver and kidney functions. In the old days the plant is often considered a pesky weed, but today health organizations, such as the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, have endorsed its efficacy in relieving liver problems among others. The tea produces a pronounced bitter taste and is often sweetened, but it also packs large quantities of micronutrients. Peoples from the Old World are no stranger to dandelion tea, but the plant species are native to both Europe and North America. What we refer to as dandelion comprises a large group of flowering plants. The two most notable species are Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum erythrospermum, both of which are used to make dandelion tea. The fact that it can be found right in your yard is the reason why health magazines regard this herb as one of the readily available nutritional powerhouses. Maintains Intake of Nutrients during Weight Loss Dandelion tea has been noted to contain significant levels of vitamins and minerals, the reason why it is popular among individuals who are following a weight-loss program. Many people seem to overlook the fact that depriving themselves of important food sources, such as whole grains, compromises their daily intake of dietary nutrients. Chronic dieting is particularly dangerous in the long run even for those who used to be physically healthy. Dandelion tea offers a solution to people on a diet by meeting the RDA for vitamin A and K and providing up to 30 per cent of vitamin C and vitamin B7. It is also rich in minerals like calcium, potassium, and iron. Promotes Excretion of Toxins through Diuresis Not surprisingly, dandelions have been used to aid a long list of symptoms and diseases, and it has been reputed as a natural diuretic for centuries. Due to its worldwide distribution, it is one of the few herbs that have earned visible presence in traditional medicine of the East and the West, and its use has always had something to do with the proper functioning of the liver and the kidneys. The bioflavonoids found in dandelion remove toxins from the liver, like ethanol metabolites, and facilitate their excretion through the urine. Facilitates Absorption of Bioactive Compounds Health professionals often point to the nutritional content of dandelion tea and other products from the herb. Most species of dandelions have been documented to be completely edible, and the quantities of bioactive compounds present in them have been compared with vegetables like spinach and broccoli. Consumptions of dandelions have even been considered tantamount to intake of dietary supplements as they are rich in phytochemicals that display the activities of many known polyphenolic substances found in black and green teas and other foods rich in antioxidants. While the plant contains high quantities of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber, the tea has been tied to more effective absorption of these bioactive compounds, making it an ideal beverage to match with any food source.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2249) Taurine - Essential or Non-Essential Amino Acid - You Decide?
Date:
February 17, 2011 10:56 AM
Amino Acid Taurine Is Essential For More Than You ThinkTaurine is an organic compound with acidic properties, which is synthesized in the pancreas in adults, but an essential amino acid in infants. Many neutraceutical products for infants are fortified with taurine, inasmuch as some newborns do not have the enzymes required to synthesize taurine. Taurine deficiency in adults results from deficiencies in other organic compounds, notably methionine and cysteine, which are its immediate precursors within the body. Helps in Brain Development It has long been postulated that taurine plays an important role in the human brain, especially in infants, protecting the nerve cells from possible neonatal damages. Taurine continues to affect the nervous system as we age, acting on gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, and consequently enhances inhibitory synaptic transmissions. In addition, taurine is alleged to stimulate continuous activation of synapses characteristic of long-term potentiation, which memory and learning ability stem from. Stabilizes Glucose Levels Taurine is a powerful inhibitor of glycation, a process by which sugar molecules attach themselves to other biomolecules without the aid of enzymes, and thus subsequently impair the functions of these biomolecules. This process may take place inside or outside the body, but the substances that result from this process, which are referred to as advanced glycation end-products or AGEs, contribute to the formation of a number of major disorders in later life such as cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, age-related deafness and blindness, and cancer. Taurine keeps the cells from taking up AGEs from the blood, which is slowly excreted in the urine. Regulates Adipose Tissues It has also been observed that dietary taurine influences the metabolic pathways that give rise to the formation of adipose tissues, the fat reserves of the human body. These fat depot appear anywhere in the body, but are commonly tied to the subcutaneous fats, those that we see on the belly, chest, arms, and thighs. Moreover, body fat percentage has been an indicator of obesity, which is central to the use of taurine in regulating adipose tissues. Influences Lipid Absorption Taurine is a major component of bile, the fluid produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and secreted in the small intestines to aid in the digestion of triglycerides, cholesterol, and other lipids. Also, several studies point to the effect of taurine on the binding of proteins to lipids to form lipoproteins, compounds that have been notoriously labeled as bad cholesterol. Not surprisingly, taurine has been suggested to maintain healthy levels of blood cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diseases. Fights Oxidative Stress Sodas have become a part of our daily diet today, but little did we know that they are risk factors for oxidative stress, the continued peroxidation of cellular structures. Fructose in sodas and other sweetened beverages is the most dangerous of all sugars, inasmuch as it releases by-products called AGEs, which are highly reactive to oxidation. AGEs do not get excreted right away and are instead absorbed by cells, leading to irreversible damages to neuronal and vascular tissues in later life. Intake of taurine removes this problem. Have you had your Taurine Today?
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2239) Chronic fatigue syndrom and your life styles
Date:
September 01, 2010 07:55 PM
Fight Chronic Fatigue SyndromChronic fatigue syndrome strikes more than two million people in the United States, with eighty-five percent of these people being women between the ages of thirty and fifty. The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome often resemble many other viral infections, making it very hard to pinpoint the real problem. This condition is possibly caused by stress as well as by mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings, hypoglycemia, anemia, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, food and chemical allergies, weak adrenal function, parasitic infections, amino acid deficiencies, and Candida albicans infections. With all of this in mind, there are a couple of herbal combinations and healthful suggestions that can be followed to help prevent or deal with chronic fatigue syndrome.Cordyceps sinensis is a natural Chinese supplement that contains high amounts of L-tryptophan. It provides nutrients that are necessary for relieving fatigue and improving endurance. It also helps to increase blood supply to the heart and brain. This herb increases the production of superoxide dismutase in the body. In China, this herb has been traditionally used to treat the nervous system. Additionally, it is used to help strengthen the kidneys and liver. An herbal combination containing bee pollen, licorice, kelp, barley grass, schizandra, gotu kola, eleuthero, yellow dock, rose hips, and capsicum has been shown to help restore energy to the system. This combination is an excellent combination of herbs to feed and nourish the entire system. It provides nourishment for the adrenals, in the form of licorice, and also for the thyroid, in the form of kelp. The bee pollen in this combination helps to nourish and supply energy to the body. Barley grass nourishes and cleans the body, while schizandra, which is an adaptogen herb, increases the energy supply of cells in the brain, muscles, liver, kidneys, glands, nerves, and in the entire body. The combination of herbs will rebuild the blood, liver, and digestive system.
The following are a few suggestions that can be followed to help deal with and prevent chronic fatigue syndrome. Exercise is very helpful, with even mild exercise helping to increase stamina and oxygenate cells. Exercise also helps to improve sleep. Allergies can be involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, so it is important to look into food allergies, chemicals, and heavy metals, and eliminate them. Anytime there is inflammation in the body that is accompanied by pain, swelling, heat, and redness, allergies are likely the culprits. When the immune system is weak, candida is usually involved.
Candida and Chronic Fatigue SyndromA candida diet would help to restore natural flora to the system. Candida can prevent the body from using sugars properly, which blocks the body’s energy production and causes extreme fatigue. To restore the friendly bacteria, use acidophilus on an empty stomach and eat unsweetened yogurt. If candida is involved, it is important to eliminate sugar, alcohol, mushrooms and all fungi, molds, and yeast in any form. It is also important to eliminate fermented foods. Look into leaky gut syndrome, which typically allows germs, viruses, bacteria, worms, and parasites to flourish. When they flourish, the immune and nervous system become weak, causing diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome to weaken the body. Trying natural remedies like Fatigue to fantastic herbal supplements may help ease chronic fatigue.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2181) Agave Nectar
Date:
April 08, 2010 04:31 PM
Reading through the attack articles and blogs that have surfaced recently one could think that using agave is bad for one's health. These claims are utterly false and misleading. They are extreme views drawn from extreme examples and applied way out of context. They are propagandizing and clearly designed to frighten, not educate. All of the fears and concerns associated with the overconsumption of sugars and calories in general have been unfairly cast on agave. What is a "healthy" sweetener? One that you use moderately and sensibly. Health concerns related to fructose and caloric sweeteners are all dependant on the overconsumption of them. All foods have calories and it is the overall consumption of calories that lead to obesity and related issues, not any one food source.
Agave's caloric value is comparable to the other sweeteners in the category. Due to its greater sweetness though, less agave is used compared to the others, so agave actually can reduce caloric consumption per serving. This is due to a higher fructose content. The higher content does not mean higher consumption though, due to the smaller portion used. But, it is not the single serving that matters, it is the number of servings which lead to the overconsumption issues which may result in health concerns. As a reference point, 9-10 teaspoon servings of agave would be the approximate caloric equivalent of one 16 oz soft drink. With this perspective, is agave really being overconsumed as a choice of sweetener for home use? Every single health issue which the attackers have tried to associate with agave is really the result of a caloric overconsumption issue. There are no documented issues with normal, moderate consumption of agave or sweeteners in general as part of our everyday diet. For reasons unknown, some have attempted to isolate agave from the real world and real world conditions with the goal of inhibiting agave's use. They play on people's fears, reference false information and fail to address health issues in any meaningful way. The purpose of this article is to debunk the controversial misinformation surrounding agave. All information debunking the myths and misinformation is based on current science and facts. It is our goal to provide you with useful information so that you can make your personal nutritional choices in a well-informed, science-based manner. The Agave Controversy: Exposing the fraudulent article by Rami Nagel By Dr. Susan Kleiner, PhD, RD, FACN, CNS, FISSN And Craig Gerbore, CEO Madhava
The controversy about agave syrup was manufactured by the publication of a single article on the internet, which has been reproduced and adapted for virtually every other article produced on the internet and other media venues. That article, written by Rami Nagel and published on Naturalnews.com, was highly biased and full of inaccuracies, half-truths and misinformation about agave. Since the Naturalnews.com article has been the sole source of nearly all other popular articles in public media, we want to set the record straight with science-based, reliable information to offer a more balanced resource to those interested in learning more about agave syrup. According to the description on the Naturalnews.com website, Rami Nagel is a "citizen journalist". This means that Mr. Nagel is self-employed, and not employed as an in-house journalist by the website. He wrote and published the article without any editorial or content oversight, and the editor of the website, Mike Adams, makes it clear that the article was not checked for incorrect or inaccurate information or facts. The introduction to the article, written by Mr. Adams, states that readers had written to comment that Mr. Nagel's resources were biased with conflicts of interest due to their financial interests in competing sweeteners, such as brown rice syrup. So even the website editor himself states that the article is not fact-checked, and it is biased and unbalanced. Who is Russ Bianchi? The sole resource interviewed for the article is Russ Bianchi, identified by the author as Managing Director and CEO of Adept Solutions, Inc. Mr. Bianchi has clear conflict of interest ties to the sweetener industry. We have documentation of the fact that Mr Bianchi had plans to market a product named Replace. It was to be touted as a low calorie alternative sweetener composed of natural and artificial ingredients! Mr Bianchi was prevented from marketing this sweetener as the result of a lawsuit against him by the owner of the formula. Mr Bianchi is quoted by Nagel extensively and exclusively. Many, if not all, of his statements are blatantly false or misrepresentations of fact. He is clearly propagandizing against agave nectar. Was anyone else interviewed for this article?
Yes. Craig Gerbore, president and owner of Madhava Agave Syrup, was extensively interviewed by the author but no parts of that interview were included in the article. It is important to note that neither Mr Nagel or Mr Bianchi have not made themselves available for questions on their statements since the articles appearance. They remain out of sight and have entirely avoided the controversy their statements created. What is agave nectar? The opening line of this paragraph in the article by Mr. Nagel states: "The principal constituent of the agave is starch, such as what is found in corn or rice." This is absolutely false. There is no starch in agave. The source of carbohydrate in agave syrup is inulin, a polysaccharide made up primarily of strings of fructose units. Starch is a polysaccharide made up of strings of glucose molecules. They are significantly different, and this difference is why agave syrup is naturally sweet. The very basis of the argument presented by Mr. Nagel is false. The Process The agave plant is a succulent, similar to a cactus. The agave sweetener comes from both the Salmiana agave plant and the agave Tequilana (Blue Agave) which are both organically farmed in Mexico and certified organic by USDA approved certifiers. As the salmiana plant grows it produces a stalk called the "quiote" and when this is removed, a natural liquid called "aquamiel". The liquid is collected from the plant, while Blue agave pinons are harvested and shredded to remove the similar juice. Either can be naturally processed thermally or by enzymes into agave nectar. The juice of the plant is not naturally sweet. The string of connected fructose units that makes up the major proportion of inulin does not have a sweet taste, but when the fructose units are separated (the process is called hydrolysis) by the addition of an enzyme, similar to digestion, or thermally for most blue agave, the syrup becomes quite sweet. That is the entire processing chain for agave nectar. There are no additives, other ingredients or chemicals in Madhava agave nectar. It is absolutely pure and organic and GMO free. ? Mr. Nagel claims that agave syrup is a "refined corn fructose" similar to high fructose corn syrup. This is absolutely false. There is no relationship between agave syrup and high fructose corn syrup in any way, including the source of the product, or the manufacturing process. ? Mr. Nagel refers to a "confidential FDA letter" from Mr. Martin Stutsman, claiming that agave is fraudulently labeled. We contacted Mr. Stutsman at the United States Food and Drug Administration, and his response made it clear that there was never a "confidential FDA letter". He did publish a public letter referenced in an FDA document as "FDA letter from Martin Stutsman to Dr. Eric Wilhelmsen (Wilhelmsen Consulting), May 8, 2000", regarding evaporated cane juice, a topic wholly unrelated to agave syrup. ? He continued in his response to us that the paragraph in Mr. Nagel's article inaccurately reflected the substance of his comments in the document. This link will take you to the original document in which the letter was referenced (reference #2): //www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm181491.htm In fact, Mr. Nagel fabricated the entire story of the letter. Mr. Stutsman is a lawyer, not a doctor. The quotes were completely taken out of context from the document, and the quotes never referred to agave syrup at any time. Nagel goes on to further misrepresent Mr. Stutsman's intent in the published document by weaving in other inaccurate information that is thoroughly unrelated to the original document. Mr Bianchi's subsequent statements on labeling issues are false and without merit. Mr. Nagel is clearly caught red-handed. He has misrepresented the words of a government official, lied about the facts, and twisted the information to achieve his own agenda. This strategy is repeated throughout the article. ? Mr. Nagel continues his deceptive writing by referring to a quote by the late Dr. Varro Tyler in his book, The Honest Herbal. The first line of the paragraph is a direct quote from the book. Nothing else in that paragraph remotely resembles anything else found in Dr. Tyler's book. Mr. Nagel is trying to claim that agave syrup contains large quantities of saponins, and that they can be harmful to health. Here is the debunking of that paragraph: 1. Dr. Tyler does not include the variety of agave plant used for agave syrup. 2. The entire discussion is about the use of the sword-shaped leaves and the stem. Agave syrup is produced from the natural liquid in the plant. The saponins are isolated from the leaves of the plant. 3. There is no documented evidence to suggest agave syrup contains worrisome levels of saponins and the entire rest of the discussion about health dangers is fabricated and false. Sugars People are going to continue to consume sweet food and drink. There are only three categories of choice to sweeten food. Those are artificial sweeteners, stevia, or caloric sweeteners from natural sources, sugars. Most people will not choose artificial. Many will not choose stevia. That only leaves the category of sugars. In this group, agave is a good choice due to its organic quality, ease of use, neutral flavor, low glycemic index and the fact that less is used to equal the sweetness of the others in the category. The sweeteners in this category are composed of three primary sugars used to sweeten foods: glucose, fructose and sucrose. These sugars belong to a class of compounds known as carbohydrates. "Saccharide" is a term that denotes sugar, or substances derived from sugar. Monosaccharides are simple or single sugars; disaccharides are derived from two joined monosaccharides and when they are hydrolyzed, or separated, they yield two molecules of simple sugar. Strings of more than two sugar molecules are called polysaccharides. This category includes compounds such as starches, cellulose and inulin. Glucose and fructose are monosaccharides. Glucose and fructose are found abundantly in nature in fruits and plants. Sucrose is the disaccharide formed by the joining of glucose and fructose, also known as table sugar. When comparing their relative sweetness, glucose is the least sweet tasting, sucrose is next, and fructose is the sweetest of the three sugars, measured as 1.4 times sweeter than table sugar. Because it is so sweet, people typically use less fructose when sweetening foods compared to sucrose. ? In the article by Mr. Nagel he states , "fructose is not what is found in fruit. Commonly, fructose is compared with its opposite and truly naturally occurring sweetener, known as ‘levulose' (made by nature)..." Another fabrication. In fact, levulose is just another name for fructose. There are various nomenclatures used in the scientific naming of compounds. Fructose and levulose are exactly the same thing; the names are interchangeable. It is no different than if you called your father, "dad", and your sibling called your father, "father". He would still be the exact same person. Fructose and levulose are different names for the exact same thing: a sugar found in nature. Mr. Bianchi also is quoted to say that the body does not recognize the fructose in agave. This is another false piece of propaganda which demonstrates just how far he is reaching. If this were true, it would have no impact on us. He immediately contradicts himself with the claims of detrimental effects caused by the overconsumption of fructose. Using Sugars Sugars can be compared to each other in their ability to raise blood sugar levels by using the Glycemic Index. The scale is set from zero to 100, where low numbers do not have much impact on blood sugar levels, and high numbers raise blood sugar levels quickly. Fructose is very low on the scale. Because agave syrup is high in fructose, it has a rating of 32 or lower. Honey, which has a higher proportion of glucose to fructose, has a Glycemic Index of 58. Sucrose has a Glycemic Index of 68, and glucose, serving as the index standard, is 100. All sugars, whether fructose, glucose, sucrose or others, contribute 4 calories per gram to our total diet. 1 teaspoon of sugar = 4 grams = 16 calories In addition to calories, sugars sweeten our foods offering a desirable taste and adding enjoyment and pleasure to our dining. During cooking and baking, sugars allow for browning and the unique consistencies of syrups, candies, frostings and frozen desserts. The varieties of sugars, such as crystallized table sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, molasses, honey and agave nectar, among others, contribute different properties and flavors to foods. When you add your own sugar to foods you are in control of how much sugar you use. Most people would never add as much sugar as do the food manufacturers. Moderate amounts of sugar can certainly be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet for an active individual. Natural sugars are easily metabolized and utilized by the body, offering a very efficient source of fuel for physical and mental activity. Of course, sugars should be used in moderation in the diet. This can control calories and help create a diet that is dense in nutrients. Impact of sugar on health and disease ? The remainder of Mr. Nagel's article works to link agave syrup with the increased incidence of obesity, diabetes, metabolic disease, and the general rise of morbidity and mortality in the population. This is an overconsumption issue involving far more than the occasional use of agave. Here are the facts: • Rats that are fed a high fructose diet become obese and will develop the chronic diseases associated with obesity: insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic disease. • No one should eat a diet that reflects this type of experimental diet. • Too much sugar in the diet, whether from fructose, glucose or sucrose, can be unhealthy. Diets high in sugar promote tooth decay and periodontal disease; create an overabundance of calories and a deficit of nutrients. This scenario typically leads to weight gain and the development of chronic disease. • Active individuals can include a moderate amount of added sugar in their diet without negative health consequences. When calorie intake is balanced with physical activity, sugar serves as an efficient source of fuel for muscles, the brain and the central nervous system. • According to the World Health Organization (2003), individuals can healthfully include 10% of their daily calories from added sugars. This translates into 200 calories for a 2000 calorie diet, or 12½ teaspoons of added sugar daily. Clearly, one can safely add a couple of teaspoons of sweetener to a cup of tea or coffee, or have a little sweetened food without worrying about their risk of developing disease. • Agave syrup, which is sweeter than other sugars and low on the Glycemic Index scale, is a good choice to include as one of the added sugars in your diet because you will use less sugar (and therefore fewer calories) and minimally raise blood sugar levels. Just a teaspoon of agave: the healthy use of sweeteners in your diet We all want to live healthier and longer lives. Diet and nutrition plays a key role, impacting our health and our ability to perform physically and mentally now and into the future. Food offers us not only sustenance, but also pleasure and enjoyment. Food is present in so many parts of our lives: at celebrations, business events, family events, religious and spiritual occasions, sports outings, the focus of our family meals, intimate dinners, and sometimes just the excuse to socialize. Sweet foods make us feel good. Sugar allows for the elevation of serotonin in our brains, the "feel good" neurotransmitter that elevates mood, helps us focus, and in the evening, helps us relax and sleep. Sugar is a source of energy for our muscles, brain and central nervous system. Without sugar our bodies will not function at peak capacity. Too much sugar, however, is not good. In small amounts sugar energizes us, but in large doses, repeated throughout the day, day in and day out, sugar puts stress on the body. The extra calories can lead to weight gain and obesity, which in time can lead to chronic disease. In the short term, high sugar intakes can lead to a nutritionally deficient diet and a sense of being on an emotional roller coaster. So be selective about your use of sugars and use them in moderation in your diet. Just like all foods, a variety will enhance the nutritional content of your diet and the flavor and tastes that you can enjoy. Since sugars come in different forms and have different flavors, they can be used most effectively in specific foods and beverages. For instance, agave syrup is liquid and less viscous than honey, making it easy to mix into cold liquids like iced tea and coffee, and is great to add to cold unsweetened cereals for a little sweet taste. Agave's mild flavor allows chefs and bakers to sweeten foods lightly, without overpowering the taste of the dish. Pay attention to how much sugar is added to your diet every day. Read labels so that you know when sugar is added to manufactured foods. Keep the consumption of added sugars in your diet to no more than 10% of your total daily calorie intake so that you have plenty of room for nutrient dense foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein-rich foods, nuts, seeds and healthy oils. Remember that nutrition is a science based on facts. We are making great advances in our understanding of the science of foods and nutrition. Beware of people with hidden agendas using fear tactics to influence your choices. Don't take their opinion at face value. What are their credentials? What conflicts of interest do they have? If they do not disclose conflicts, then assume that they are manipulating the truth. Most of all enjoy food. Think about what you need to eat to promote whole health. Don't overindulge, but don't deprive yourself of the bounty of wonderful tastes, either. Use celebrations as occasions to enjoy your favorite foods and try new ones. A teaspoon or two of sugar easily fits into the diet of an active, healthy person. Agave syrup offers an organic low-glycemic choice for those looking for that option. Resources for this article: Charley H. Food Science, 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1982. Figlewicz DP et al. Effect of moderate intake of sweeteners on metabolic health in the rat. Physiology and Behavior 98:618-624, 2009 Johnson RK et al. Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 2009 Tyler VE. The Honest Herbal, Third Edition. Pharmaceutical Products Press, New York, NY, 1993.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2152) Oregon Grape Extract
Date:
August 11, 2009 01:21 PM
Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub that is related to the barberry plant. The Oregon grape is not closely related to grapes, but it gets its name from the purple clusters of berries. The color and slightly duster appearance is similar to that of grapes. Often, it is referred to as the “tall Oregon grape” in order to distinguish it from the “creeping Oregon grape” and “dwarf Oregon grape.” The Oregon grape grows approximately one to five meters tall. It has leathery leaves that resemble holly and stems and twigs that have a thick, corky appearance. The flowers, which grow in late spring, are a bright yellow color. This plant is often used in landscaping similarly to barberry. The plant is suited for low-maintenance plantings and loose hedges. This plant is resistant to summer drought, tolerates poor soils, and does not create excessive leaf litter. The berries of the Oregon grape attract birds. The purplish-black fruits found on the Oregon grape plant are quite tart and contain large seeds. Sometimes, they are used locally and mixed with Salal to make jelly. The fruit is bitter and generally not eaten unless it is sweetened first. The leaves of the Oregon grape are holly-like and resist wilting. For this reason, the foliage is often used by florists for greenery. Additionally, the inner bark of the larger stems and roots yield a yellow dye. The Oregon grape plant grows natively on the North American west coast from British Columbia to northern California. It is also the state flower of Oregon. In some areas outside of its native range, this plant has been classified as an invasive exotic species that may displace native vegetation. Oregon grape tonics were first introduced as a medicinal remedy in the late nineteenth century. The herb was marketed as a blood purifier. Oregon grape is well known for the treatment of skin diseases that are caused by toxins in the blood. This is because it stimulates the action of the liver. It is also one of the best blood cleansers. This herb is also mildly stimulates thyroid function. This herb aids in the assimilation of nutrients, promotes digestions, and is a tonic for all glands. The rhizome and root of the Oregon grape plant are used to provide alterative, antiseptic, blood purifier, cholagogue, hepatic, nephritis, nutritive, and mild purgative properties. The primary nutrients found in this herb are copper, manganese, silicon, sodium, vitamin C, and zinc. Primarily, Oregon grape is extremely beneficial in treating acne, blood conditions, blood impurities, eczema, jaundice, liver disorders, psoriasis, and staph infections. Additionally, this herb is very helpful in dealing with rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, chronic constipation, hepatitis, herpes, intestinal problems, kidney problems, leucorrhea, lymphatic problems, rheumatism, lack of strength, syphilis, uterine problems, and vaginitis. In order to obtain the best results when supplementing with this, or any herb, it is important to consult your health care provider before beginning any regimen. For more information on the many beneficial effects provided by Oregon grape, please feel free to consult a representative from your local health food store with questions.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2050) Sarsparilla
Date:
July 31, 2009 12:03 PM
Sarsaparilla can be found natively growing in the Pacific regions of Mexico, along the coast to Peru. The root is commonly used to make root beer. The sarsaparilla plant is mostly a find. It can primarily be found in Mexico, Central America and South America. The root of the plant is the most valued portion. It has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, much like ginseng or licorice root. Sarsaparilla root is very bitter. Because of this, it was a common practice for pharmacists to distill the useful chemicals from this herb and mix them with sugar water. From this, a very popular beverage called sarsaparilla was born. This was years before other chemists would invent other medicinal drinks like the original Pepsi and 7-Up. The sarsaparilla plant was most definitely used as a medicinal tonic, but it was often served as a sweetened beverage. Some formulas substituted sarsaparilla root with a combination of birch oil and sassafras, which is a treat that is found in the western United States. Some believe that the informal name of the drink, sasparilla, indicates the use of sassafras extract, while others say the name is a corruption of the original sarsaparilla. Unfortunately, the modern beverage is closer to a birch oil/sassafras mixture than the more bitter sarsaparilla extract. The roots of the sarsaparilla plant can be purchased in certain grocery or health food stores. The beverage called sarsaparilla is a little more difficult to find. Smaller bottling companies may produce a version for local consumption, but that national interest in root beer, sarsaparilla’s cousin, has made it much harder to come by. Often, sarsaparilla is used in glandular balance formulas. This is because components in sarsaparilla help with the production of testosterone and progesterone. The herb also stimulates the metabolism, aids digestion, and improves the appetite. It has been used to help with gas and edema, along with other related conditions. Additionally, studies have shown that this herb contains diuretic activity and also increased the elimination of chlorides and uric acid. Sarsaparilla is beneficial for many skin ailments. Among these are psoriasis, eczema, and leprosy. This has been found to be true in various studies. The herb also works as an anti-inflammatory by increasing circulation to rheumatic joints. It also helps to relieve arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. This herb also stimulates breathing when congestion occurs. It even helps to purify the blood. The root of the sarsaparilla plant are used to provide alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, blood purifier, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, and stimulant properties. The primary nutrients found in this herb are copper, iodine, iron, manganese, silicon, sodium, vitamins A, B-complex, and C, and zinc. Primarily, sarsaparilla is extremely beneficial in treating joint aches and pains, arthritis, blood impurities, eczema, gas, glandular problems, hormone imbalance, inflammation, psoriasis, skin diseases, and syphilis. Additionally, the herb is very helpful in dealing with age spots, appetite loss, cods, congestion, edema, sore eyes, fevers, gout, impotence, leprosy, menopausal symptoms, metabolism disorders, skin parasites, chronic rheumatism, ringworms, primary tuberculosis, and sores. In order to obtain the best results when supplementing with this, or any herb, it is important to consult your health care provider before beginning any regimen to prevent prescription drug interaction. For more information on the many beneficial effects provided by sarsaparilla, please feel free to consult a representative from your local health food store with questions. Sarsaparilla root is available in capsule and tablet forms at your local or internet health food store. It is recommended that you look for name brands like Solaray, Natures Way, and Natures Plus to ensure quality and purity of the product you purchase.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=2039) Very Berry - Antioxidants
Date:
December 01, 2008 10:23 AM
It has been suggested that eating berries may be a delicious and great way for a person to protect themselves against heart disease. Blueberries are full of antioxidants, called anthocyanins, which have been shown to keep the memory sharp as you age. Raspberries, on the other hand, contain ellagic acid, which is a compound containing anti-cancer properties. All berries are a great source of fiber for the body, a nutrient that is extremely important for a healthy digestive system. More so, berries have recently been studied for their effects on heart health. A recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who ate berries on a daily basis had higher levels of HDL cholesterol, which is healthy for the heart, lower blood pressure, and less blood platelet clumping, which is a factor that can help to protect people against dangerous blood clots. A new study, which tested seventy-two people who had one or more risk factors for heart disease, tested for the effects of eating berries on markers that deal with cardiovascular health. This trial, which lasted eight weeks, had half of the people eating berry mixtures of bilberries, lingon berries, black currants, strawberries, and raspberry and chokeberry juices two times each day. A combination of different berries was used in order to ensure that a large amount of polyphenols were taken in. As a control, the other people were given sugar water, sweetened wheat or rice cereals, or marmalade. Among those people who had the highest initial blood pressure, systolic blood pressure dropped 7.3 mm Hg in the berry group compared to only 0.2 mm Hg in the control group. Although total cholesterol levels were unchanged, those people who were a part of the berry group had a 5.2 percent increase in protective HDL cholesterol levels. Eating berries also stopped platelet function, which means that it takes longer for blood platelets to clump together and begin forming clots. Berries are good for you because they contain many beneficial substances such as polyphenols, potassium, vitamin C, folic acid, and fiber. Polyphenols are also found in cocoa, tea, red wine, onions, and other fruits and have attracted a lot of attention recently because of their potential health benefits. Some recent reports have concluded that polyphenols may potentially help to protect against both heart disease and cancer. Although the way that polyphenols work to promote health is not completely understood, it is assumed that it is tied to their antioxidant properties and their ability to enhance the body’s immunity while repairing DNA damage that occurs from smoking and exposure to other toxins. The findings of these studies are extremely significant because they may be partly responsible for explaining the role it holds in protecting the cardiovascular system. By eating fruits and vegetables a person increases the efficiency and health of their cardiovascular system significantly. Other types of studies have recently been warranted so that they may identify the compounds and mechanisms that are responsible for the effects that have been observed to this date. Berry supplements are also available at your local or internet health food store.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1943) Gymnema Sylvestre
Date:
November 12, 2008 09:51 AM
Gymnema sylvestre is found naturally in central and southern India, where it has been used in traditional Indian medicine for almost two thousand years. It is known as 'gurmar' in ancient Indian texts, a word meaning 'sugar destroyer', which gives an indication of its uses in medicine. It is used to reduce the absorption of glucose into the body, and also reduce the sweetness of foods, both of which are desirable for those wishing to lose weight and to reduce the level of sugar in their blood. It was used for this purpose in Ayurvedic medicine, subjects being given the leaves to chew. As with many other ancient Ayurvedic remedies, this use of gymnema sylvestre has passed into modern times, and has sound scientific basis. First, however a bit more about the plant itself. It is found predominantly in the Western Ghats, and also to the west of the mountains, around coastal Goa. It is a vinous plant that climbs on other bushes and trees, known in Sanskrit as Meshasringa, or ram's horn after the shape of the leaves from which the supplement is extracted. For what it's worth, the official name seems a mix of Greek and Latin (gymnos(Gr) - naked and Silva (L)- forest) for naked forest. That, however, is irrelevant to its uses, so let's have a look at the science involved and the active ingredients in the plant. The main constituents are terpenoid saponins known as gymnemic acids, so one can assume that they were first found in this plant. They are glycosides, including hodulcine and ziziphin, which act as sweetness inhibitors so that there is no sweet taste in anything that is sweetened by sucrose. There are over 20 types of gymnemic acid in the leaves, of which the strongest, Gymnemic Acid 1, can suppress the sweetness even of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. These are not irreversible effects, and last only about 10 minutes, after which normal sweetness is detectable by your tongue. During the active period, however, a solution of normal sugar will taste like ordinary unsweetened water. However, is this just a matter of taste, or does it affect the sugar itself? Studies have shown that animals fed the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre develop hypoglycemia, probably because it stimulates the pancreas to generate insulin that reduces the level of sugar in the blood. Further studies have shown the presence in the leaves of a number of types of acylated derivatives of deacylgymnemic acid. There are well over a dozen types of saponins known to be contained within the leaves. Other chemicals found include anthraquinones, flavanoids, chlorophylls, querticol, phytin, a number of glycosides and anthraquinones. The bush also contains alkaloids, although these are constituents in most plants used in ancient remedies. This is by no means all of the chemicals discovered, and many of the minor benefits of using it could be due to the minor constituents of this amazing little leaf. A study of the above constituents will reveal a few antioxidants, and it is no surprise that the extract from Gymnema sylvestre also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Gymnemic acid is believed to have a similar chemical structure to saccharose, and the plant extracts can be used not only to reduce a craving for sugar, but also to treat digestive problems and high cholesterol levels. So what scientific evidence is there other than the obvious effects reported by those that use it? A study in the UK in 2005 found that an aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre caused the secretion of calcium and insulin from mouse and human cells to be increased at a specific concentration without affecting the cellular function. This means that the supplement can be used to stimulate the secretion of insulin with people with Type 2 diabetes without otherwise affecting health. Its usefulness to diabetics is obvious, but there are other health benefits to those that are not diabetic. Anything that modulates a sweet tooth must be of use to those seeking to lose weight, particularly if they feel the need for sweet foods. In fact Gymnema tends to reduce food cravings for carbohydrates and sweets, and can be used by those seeking a natural means of curbing their appetite for sweet and sugary foods. Because excess weight can lead to diabetes, Although there have been many discussions about the biochemical mechanism of the gymnemic acids in this effect on taste, recent evidence suggests that the phytochemicals act on both your taste buds and on those parts of the intestine responsible for absorbing nutrients from digested foods. Not only that, but studies have also indicated that Gymnema sylvestre removes the bitterness of acerbic chemicals such as quinine in the same way that it removes the sweetness form cakes and candies, and if you drank tonic water it would taste just like water. On the other hand, if you ate an orange, you would taste the acidity but not the sweetness. The way to use this remarkable supplement is to follow the instructions, and within about a week you will be able to control your appetite much better, and any cravings for carbohydrates you previously had will be much reduced. After a month or so, you will notice an accelerated rate of weight loss if you had been overweight, and diabetics will find a significant reduction on blood sugar between insulin shots.
Gymnema sylvestre can take care of any sugar or carbohydrate cravings, and is of significant use to the overweight, obese or to diabetics, and the mechanism by which it works has now been all but understood, although there are still some biochemical secrets that this amazing plant has yet to reveal. This amazing herb can be found at your local or internet vitamin store.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1935) Digestive Enzymes To Improve Wellness For Kids
Date:
November 04, 2007 03:19 PM
It is very safe to say that most people experience some type of digestive difficulty, as digestive disturbances are very common, especially for those who do not practice healthy eating. The numerous advertisements for antacids and acid blockers clearly identify the degree of this problem. But, what about our children? It has been proven that kids are suffering from digestive problems more than ever before due to unhealthy eating habits and nutritionally deficient diets that are high in saturated fats and processed sugars and carbohydrates. The food that is served in school cafeterias often contains too much fried food and not enough fresh produce. Additionally, parents have to constantly fight a losing battle against advertisements for junk food. Many children follow in the footsteps of their parents, picking up the same bad eating habits, which frequently leads to poor digestion and health problems. Overeating, eating too fast, or not chewing food well hinders digestive capability leading to symptoms such as gas, heartburn, bloating, burping, bad breath, diarrhea, constipation, and general discomfort or fatigue after meals. Although these symptoms are common, they should not be considered normal as they are distress signals sent by our body telling us that the digestive process is not going smoothly and we are not receiving the full nutritional benefit of the food we eat. If digestion is not efficient or complete, inflammation may develop, which causes “leaky gut syndrome,” leading to various allergic reactions. The brain is especially susceptible to protein fragments, which come from the incomplete digestion of grain gluten and dairy casein. Researchers believe that these fragments, which are called exorphins, are the main factors in the cognitive symptoms and abnormal behaviors of those kids with ADHD and autism. A recent study on thirty-six autistic children found that a majority of these children had digestive disorders including esophageal reflux and inflammation, gastritis, duodenitis and low carbohydrate digestive enzyme levels. Some doctors believe that seventy-five percent of the children that they treat have major deficiencies of pancreatic enzymes. Enzymes are often called the spark of life or the missing link in nutrition because no plant or animal can exist without them. Digestive enzymes are protein catalysts which break down food so the body can absorb nutrients. Therefore, enzyme supplementation can be extremely helpful, especially when it is done in conjunction with dietary changes. And, yes, kids can take enzymes supplements, too. In children with digestive symptoms, enzyme supplements help to establish proper weight because better assimilation of nutrients helps growth and repair while still supporting a healthy metabolism. Digestive enzymes come in mild-potency enzyme formula which covers all of the food groups for children. Children should take a powder which is safest so there are no caps to swallow and chock on and powdered enzymes allow children to get their digestive enzymes through one scoop which can be added to your child’s favorite juice. Some formulas add potassium carbonate, this form of potassium adds a fun fizz to whatever beverage is used, but is not recommended in milk or water. Look for a powdered supplement that is sweetened with xylitol, a safe and natural sugar substitute which supports tooth and gum health. Since more children than ever suffer from the consequences of incomplete digestion, digestive enzymes are a safe and effective way to support digestion and assimilation of important nutrients into your child’s diet in an enjoyable way.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1618) Soft Drinks Contaminated by Benzene
Date:
May 27, 2006 09:24 AM
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing program has found cancer-causing benzene in soft drinks at levels averaging four times the standard for tap water. The brand names have not been released. The test data were uncovered by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which posted the test results on the group’s website, www.ewg.org Highly elevated Benzene Levels Between 1995-2001 the RDA tested 24 samples of diet soda for benzene. The result: 79% tested at levels above the federal limit for benzene in tap water, which is 5 parts per billion (ppb). The maximum benzene level detected was 55 ppb. In addition to the diet sodas, the FDA tested a number of other non-diet soft drinks. One cola was contaminated at 27 times the tap water limit, and fruit drink had a 95 ppb level. “These results confirm our suspicions there are highly elevated benzene levels in some very popular drinks,” Richard Wiles, EWG’s senior vice president said in a press release. Reaction Triggered by Preservatives According to an article in beveragedaily.com, sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid in soft drinks can react together to form benzene. Sodium benzoate is a common preservative in soft drinks, and ascorbic acid is often added as an antioxidant to extend shelf life. Negotiations between the FDA and the beverage industry in 1990 resulted in an agreement that the industry would voluntarily reformulate its soft drinks to prevent this combination. The recurrence of benzene contamination may be due to new soft drink manufacturers in the market who were not a part of, or aware of, the original negotiations. Britain Pulls Soft Drinks from Shelves In contrast to the U.S. situation, food safety campaigners in England were successful in having benzene –containing soft drinks removed from the supermarket shelves. The British Food Standards Agency pulled four soft drink brands which contained more than 1 ppb of benzene, and rushed out the results of tests on 149 drinks, including a range of fruit juice, iced tea, squash, fizzy and low-sugar drinks, according to The Times of London. The Wellness Revolution and Contaminated Soft Drinks The controversy over benzene in soft drinks is an example of how toxic exposure exists in our food and immediate environment. The constant exposure to toxics were-and especially our children—experience is a major cause of chronic illness. In this situation, the organic products available for purchase in health food stores are especially vital. And since some exposure to toxics is unavoidable we must take advantage of the herbs and nutrients that support detoxification and the liver, the main organ of detoxification, as well as immunity for example, silymarin, N-acetyl cysteine, calcium D-glucarate, folic acid, Reishi and shiitake mushrooms, and turmeric. Sources: www.ewg.org www.beveragedaily.com 02/25/06. Associated Press 04/11/06. www.fda.org. Public Pressure Forces Corporations to Curtail Most Soda Pop sales to schools The Nation’s largest beverage distributors have agreed to halt nearly all soda sales to public schools, according to a deal announced may 3rd by the William J. Clinton Foundation. The companies have agreed to sell only water, unsweetened juice and low fat milks to elementary and middle schools, according to a spokesman for former President Bill Clinton. Diet sodas would be sold only to high schools. The deal follows a wave of criticism by school districts and state legislatures amid reports of rising childhood obesity. Soda has been a particular target because of its caloric content and popularity among children.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1284) D 1000IU New Peppermint Flavor "D" Lightful taste
Date:
December 30, 2005 06:15 PM
Enjoy healthier bones and skin with Kal's new Vitamin D 1000IU Chewables.
Supplement Facts: Serving Size: 1
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1134) Mayo Clinic Diet
Date:
December 26, 2005 11:44 AM
Mayo Clinic DietIn 2 ½ months you should lose 52 pounds
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Bedtime Snack
Instructions This diet is given to heart patients needing to lose weight fast for surgery.
1. All soft drinks need to be diet and caffeine free.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1080) HOW TO USE STEVIA?
Date:
July 15, 2005 12:52 PM
HOW TO USE STEVIA? The most frequent mistake people make with powdered stevia is measuring out too much. Very tiny amounts of the powder can greatly sweeten. Liquid extracts can be measured out in drops until the right amount of sweetening is achieved. Often just one half to one teaspoon of the liquid achieves the same effect as one cup of white sugar. If a powdered form is used, mixing it with hot water is recommended in order to create a more workable concentrate. Hot liquids seem to release the sweetening power of stevia more rapidly. This concentrate should be refrigerated and measured out with an eye dropper. Baked goods sweetened with stevia do not brown as much, and using stevia in recipes with distinct flavors like lemon, cinnamon, carob, etc. achieves better results than adding it to blander food items. Baking with stevia takes some getting used to. Stevia can also be added to other sweeteners like honey to lower their caloric content. People who cook with stevia often add it to honey or molasses to potentiate sweetening power in smaller quantities. Stevia works particularly well on dairy products, fruit dishes, beverages and fresh desserts. It can be combined with other sugars such as molasses, honey, maple syrup, fructose etc. in order to minimize their use. (NOTE: Stevia does not work well with yeast breads which require caloric forms of sugar to rise.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=645) OBESITY: A 2Oth- Century Plague
Date:
June 25, 2005 07:46 PM
OBESITY: A 2Oth- Century Plague Overview Our modern, fast-paced, high stress, sedentary lifestyle with over-abundant caloric intake is a prescription for obesity. Obesity is an especially critical problem for black women who have nearly twice the rate of obesity of white
---------------------------------- women.41 Culturally, being overweight is not looked on graciously, even by physicians.42 There has been no end to the torture we have put ourselves through to be or at least look thin. From corssets to stomach stapling and liposuction to wiring our jaws shut, we’ve tried it all. So where are we today? The following are indicators of abundant obesity: Research and public education efforts are in agreement that excessive dietary fat is the primary cause of adult obesity.2, 46, 47 Despite the fact that food manufacturers have flooded the supermarkets with low-fat, artificially sweetened, “lite” products, we are fatter than ever before. Is maintaining a healthy weight really that difficult? In its simplest form gaining or losing weight is a matter of the balance between energy in and energy out. This simplistic approach led to the early starvation diets. Unquestionably, these conventional very-low-calorie diet plans do not work. For most of us the first thing we lose is our sense of humor; then maybe some weight or possibly our self-esteem. The fact is, as most of us have regrettably discovered, that drastically reducing our calorie tally only serves to slow our metabolism and make us even more efficient at the business of storing and hoarding fat. Since very-low-calorie diets didn’t work alone, exercise was added to the regime. This also failed miserably because the first thing the body does when it is in a starvation mode is to burn off muscle mass so as to conserve energy supplies. In fact, in animal studies, semi-starved animals maintained nearly the same fat to muscle ratio as their well-fed litter mates.43,44 Even worse, when food is again available the body not only gains back all the original fat but an additonal few pounds just in case this ever happens again. Is it any wonder then that yoyo dieting leads to obesity and a host of other problems?42,45 The reconstruction of muscle mass after starvation, a much slower process than regaining body fat, leaves a person feeling weak and even more lethargic than before he started his diet.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=499) Home Spa Secrets
Date:
June 12, 2005 01:55 PM
Home Spa Secrets by Carol Perkins Energy Times, July 12, 2003 The luxurious feeling that comes over you in a pampering spa atmosphere can be yours at home without having to venture out to an exclusive resort. Lock the door, put on relaxing music and fill the air with luscious scents. Rejuvenation, regeneration and health-promoting sensations await! If you decide to indulge in a home spa, cleansing, detoxifying and kicking back in an unstressed atmosphere, you can prepare yourself for your spa activities by sipping what Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, calls a "Living Beauty Elixir," a blend of eight ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice with two teaspoons of a green superfood mixture "rich in purifying chlorophyll and detoxifying antioxidants and nutrients." This drink, as Dr. Gittleman points out in The Living Beauty Detox Program (Harper), "helps the liver... open up the detoxification pathways....It's a marvelous cleanser for the lymphatic system...removing wastes from the cells via the connective tissue." The green food mixture that Dr. Gittleman recommends includes nutritious items available from your local natural food store that contain chlorophyll-rich foods such as chlorella and spirulina. Dim the Lights, Light the Candles Setting a relaxed, soothing atmosphere is a vital part of the total home spa experience. For the right kind of luxurious ambiance, Aloha Bay's Bright Bouquets candle offers three fragrances in one vase for a selection of tantalizing aromas. Improving the experience, these 100% pure natural wax blends offer about 100 hours of clean burning for an seemingly endless at-home spa getaway (1-800-994-3267, www.alohabay.com). Once you have your candles lit and your bathtub running, you can boost your bathing experience with botanicals from the sea. According to Linda Page, ND, PhD, author of Healthy Healing (Healthy Healing Publications), "Beauty treatments from the sea are one of nature's most ancient beauty therapies. In Greece, Aphrodite's beautiful skin, hair and sparkling eyes were attributed to plants from the sea. The collagen in sea plants is great for relieving wrinkles and brown spots." Dr. Page suggests making a seaweed mask by mixing 1/2 tablespoon of ground kelp flakes with a tablespoon of aloe vera gel, leaving this mixture on your face and neck for 10 minutes. "This can help heal scars from facial surgery and is also good for the thyroid. Over 15 million people may have a low thyroid." Another great mask can be made from derma e's deliciously soothing Papaya and Soy Milk Clarifying Facial Mask. Designed especially for sensitive skin, this soothing mask helps exfoliate dead skin cells and clean pores of pollution and debris while conditioning and nourishing for silky skin (1-800-521-3342, www.dermae.net). Seaweed Bath Dr. Page also recommends filling your tub with seaweed, which will turn the water a refreshing green. She says that "packaged seaweed soaks can be put right into the tub, or they can be used in a muslin bag which is placed in the water. That makes for an easier clean-up. "Fill the tub about two-thirds full with very hot water, put in the seaweed (dried or fresh), which will make the water look like a green sea garden. Keep the water filling the tub slowly to maintain a warm temperature and stay in it for about 20 to 25 minutes. It's great for detoxification, and you can enhance the experience with a few drops of lavender and chamomile." The gel from the seaweed will coat your skin. When the gel comes off, the bath is over and you have received the full regenerative effects of the plants. When you use this bath as part of your home spa, Dr. Page says that about 45 minutes should be longest you stay in the tub, and if you're using stimulating botanicals like cayenne or ginger, take these after the bath, not before. After you climb out of the bath, you can give yourself a complete manicure with Baywood's all-in-one hand and nail formula made of dead sea salts, herbs and essential oils. Appropriately named, Baywood's Complete Manicure cream exfoliates and replenishes your skin with nutrients making it feel soft and silky in minutes (1-800-481-7169, www.bywd.com). Then you can apply soothing, nourishing creams to your hands with DreamTime's Hand Cozys that soothe away aches and arthritic pain, and comfort overworked hands. Designed like large oven mitts, these fashionable gloves make a perfect at-home spa treatment when used with your favorite nourishing hand lotion. The warmth of the Hand Cozys help your skin absorb lotion more readily, making your hands soft and supple (1-877-464-6702, www.Dreamtimeinc.com). Relax to the Max You should further enhance your spa experience with soothers like Intensive Care Capsules from Annemarie Borlind. These Intensive Care Caps are a weekly replenishment treatment designed to repair damage from sun and wind, offering significant relief from dry skin. Each capsule contains a high concentration of borage seed oil and natural ceramide to deliver new moisture, vitality and elasticity, while being gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin (1-800-447-7024: request a free beauty newsletter; www.borlind.com). And you can reward your skin with Zia's Body Butter. This dream cream combines mango and shea butters to actually heal the skin while moisturizing it (1-800-334-7546, www.zianatural.com). Feet Time An indulgent highlight of your home spa experience can be treating your feet to relaxing rubs and aromatherapy. As Frazesca Watson points out in Aromatherapy Blends & Therapies (Thorsons), a drop or two of lavender and chamomile added "to a bowl of warm water and soak(ing) the feet for approximately 10 minutes... (can) help colds, varicose veins, athlete's foot, sore and painful feet, and swollen ankles." The most important element of your foot soak, like everything in your home spa treatment, is the calming and relaxing effect. Healing and soothing, these treatments can keep you on an even temperament in a hectic world. So shut the light, close the shades, light the candles and get ready to spa.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=302) Attentive Child - Enhances Mental Concentration ... 
Date:
May 31, 2005 05:14 PM
Most children are creative, energetic and spontaneous, but sometimes they don’t focus on requested activities. Sometimes kids find it difficult to apply themselves to the task at hand. Your child’s brain also may work differently than most people’s brains— just like the 5% of the population that is left-handed. Most people think an ultra-active child means an active brain, but active children may actually need a boost in brain metabolism. Source Naturals ATTENTIVE CHILD is a Bio-Aligned Formula™ designed to address the multiple systems that affect children’s ability to focus: neurotransmitters and brain metabolism, nerve cell communication, antioxidant defense, and essential fatty acid metabolism.
Comprehensive Brain Support Parents are looking for a safe and natural product to support their children’s ability to focus. Source Naturals studied the research and created an experiential formula, based on the latest breakthroughs in cerebral and nervous system biochemistry. Each ingredient in ATTENTIVE CHILD plays a role in brain and nervous system structure or functioning, or is involved in important biochemical pathways. DMAE, a substance normally found in the brain, boosts brain metabolism and has been shown to enhance concentration. L-Aspartate is an amino acid neurotransmitter that stimulates brain activity. Research has shown that some ultra-active children may have special dietary needs for magnesium, zinc and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Magnesium is necessary for the transmission of nerve signals, and, along with zinc, for the processing of essential fatty acids into other vital biochemicals. DHA is an essential fatty acid that is very important for cerebral development and effective communication between nerve cells in the brain. Lecithin contains four phospholipids—fatty acid building-block molecules in nerve cell membranes. Phosphatidylserine, in particular, is vital in nerve cell communication and the electrical activity of the brain. Grape seed extract is a plant-derived antioxidant that protects the integrity of fatty acids in nerve cell membranes. ATTENTIVE DHA™ in Tiny Kid Caps™ The ATTENTIVE CHILD formula can be supplemented with additional DHA. ATTENTIVE DHA Kid Caps are available in easy-to-swallow, small oval softgels, each containing 100 mg of DHA. For children who can’t swallow caps, simply pierce the gel and mix the oil with food. Sweeteners with Low Impact on Blood Sugar The delicious sweetand- tart taste in ATTENTIVE CHILD wafers comes from natural flavors, specially manufactured without sugar for Source Naturals. Unless specified, most flavors in other products contain maltodextrin, a sugar with a high glycemic index. The ATTENTIVE CHILD wafer itself is sweetened with crystalline fructose (natural fruit sugar) and xylitol (a naturally occurring sweetening agent found in many fruits and vegetables). These select natural sweeteners have a very low glycemic index—so ATTENTIVE CHILD will taste great to your child, but have little effect on blood sugar levels. We recommend carefully reviewing the labels of other products. They may contain honey, glucose, sucrose, maltodextrin, and maltose—all of which have moderate-tohigh glycemic indexes. In addition, maple sugar, molasses, malt syrup, rice syrup, and beet sugar contain varying amounts of high-glycemic-index sugars, which can set off blood sugar fluctuations that may affect concentration. Beware of children’s nutritional bars designed to enhance focus and concentration. Most have over 20 grams of sugar per bar. In contrast, each serving of ATTENTIVE CHILD contains only two grams of crystalline fructose, which has little effect on blood sugar. Glycemic Index of Various Sweeteners
The glycemic index is a ranking of foods based on their immediate effect on blood glucose levels. It measures how much your blood glucose increases over a period of two or three hours after intake. The higher the glycemic index (GI), the greater the fluctuations in blood sugar. Sweetener Glycemic Index† *sweeteners used in ATTENTIVE CHILD ™ †based on rate of 100 for glucose ††for information, see website www.wcommerce.com Lifestyle Strategies for Your Child You can help your child concentrate on schoolwork, chores and other challenges. Start with ATTENTIVE CHILD and ATTENTIVE DHA, and then incorporate a healthy lifestyle and nutrition routine. Physical Health Have your child’s overall health checked by a welltrained holistic health care professional, such as a naturopathic physician. It is particularly important to examine the functioning of your child’s thyroid gland (the master regulator of the body’s metabolism, which influences mood and energy level), and blood sugar metabolism (the brain depends on a steady supply of glucose to function properly, particularly when you are trying to concentrate). Nutritional Health: Feeding the Brain Help your child maintain a steady supply of energy and brain fuel by providing a balanced diet. Small, frequent meals are preferable since they dispense a steady level of glucose to the brain. Include foods high in the amino acid tyrosine, a precursor to neurotransmitters that support an alert state. It is found in protein foods, such as meat, poultry, beans, tofu, lentils and seafood. Also include complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, which are metabolized slowly and yield a steady supply of glucose. The simple sugars found in candy, cookies, sodas and other processed foods can lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, followed by an abrupt decline, and should be discouraged. It is important to include essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in the brain and essential for its development and normal functioning. Supplement with ATTENTIVE DHA, and encourage your child to eat cold-water fish, such as salmon. Avoid the hydrogenated fats found in processed foods and margarine, as well as chemicals and food additives. A nutrition program consisting of fresh, unprocessed natural foods is the healthiest choice for everyone. Lifestyle Health Some experts believe extended time watching TV and playing video games does not support optimal health or school performance. EEG studies have shown that these activities decrease brain activity rather than activating the brain. Encourage your child to spend time in outdoor physical recreation and in creative, challenging activities. Supplement with ATTENTIVE CHILD and ATTENTIVE DHA ATTENTIVE CHILD is available in bottles of 30 & 60 chewable wafers. ATTENTIVE DHA Kid Caps (algal-source Neuromins®) are available in 30- & 60-softgel bottles. References Amen, D. Windows into the....Mind. Fairfield, CA: MindWorks Press, 1997. Foster-Powell, K. & Miller, J.B. 1995, International tables of glycemic index. Am J Clin Nutr. 62:871S-93S. Natah, S.S. et al. 1997. Metabolic response to lactitol and xylitol in healthy men. Am J Clin Nutr. Apr; 65(4):947-50. Schmidt, Michael. Smart Fats. Berkeley: Frog, Ltd., 1997. Sears, William. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1998.
(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=120) | ||||||||||||
Do you know what Cacao and some of its health benefits are?
Prickly pear leaf is obtained from a group of cacti known for their positive effect on blood sugar. It is an important source of food and medication for Native Americans since prehistory. It contains unique compounds that display potent antioxidant activity. Studies have shown that its phytochemical content displays potential in the management of 
Comments by Craig Gerbore, CEO of Madhava: 
Who is the author, Rami Nagel? 
