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The Health Benefits of Using Wheatgrass

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Wheatgrass“Wheatgrass juice is the nectar of rejuvenation, the plasma of youth, the blood of all life. The elements that are missing in your body’s cells-especially enzymes, vitamins, hormones, and nucleic acids can be obtained through this daily green sunlight transfusion.” -Rev. Viktoras Kulvinskas, MS, author Survival into the 21st Century.

As of late, hundreds are swearing by this wheatgrass concoction, calling it the healing power of nature’s grasses. It is a trending natural product that has become dominant in juice bars, natural food stores, and those at home “do-it-your-selfers.”  So why is this miracle mixture that is so soothing to the mind, soul and body all the rage?

Wheat grass is a blend of barley, oats, and rye, grown in fields across the USA. Unlike the typical way of growing grass, wheat grass is grown indoors within trays for 10 days before consumption via tablet or juice.  Wheatgrass can even be categorized as a complete food, being that it is a source of beta carotene and the B vitamins, plus C, E, H, and K. Additionally, it contains 90 different minerals and 19 amino acids — that’s more iron than spinach, and more protein than any meat, fish, eggs, beans or dairy products!

The main ingredient making wheatgrass so beneficial to the body is chlorophyll, which makes up 70% of wheatgrass when in juice form. Since chlorophyll is often referred to as “the blood of plant life” there MUST be a dynamic set of benefits to the human body, and many claims have absolutely proven so. Scientists have confirmed that wheat grass neutralizes toxins in the body, slows down the aging process, helps purify the liver, improves blood sugar problems, prevents cancer and, of course, aids in digestion by cleansing the body. Wheatgrass has also had other remarkable, yet somewhat odd perks, such as curing toothaches when held in the mouth for 5 minutes, curing sore throats by simply gargling, or removing heavy metals, such as mercury, from the body.

So who isn’t sold about this magical product yet? I know I am! For those of you looking to incorporate wheatgrass into your daily regime, here are a list of ways to go about doing so.  First there is the pill form which you have to take 7 times daily. The wheatgrass pills can be bought at any local GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Additionally, you can buy wheatgrass in powder form to make your own juice at home, which is the preferred method. This could be found at many natural food stores, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or online, with some health companies specializing in making the wheatgrass blend. Starter kits are even sold for people who want to grow it themselves.

Test out wheatgrass in hopes that this product is all that it is blended up to be!

Perfect breakfast recipes to lose weight or gain muscle

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I like the traditional breakfast: omelets, pancakes, and French toast.  If your not into fruits or oatmeal, but love breakfast, you can have 3 absolutely delicious, healthy breakfasts that are high in protein, and have good, slow-digesting carbs by just making a few adjustments to the recipe:

1.) FRENCH TOAST — Instead of quick-digesting white bread, opt for 2 slices of whole wheat toast.  Batter in 1 egg mixed with cinnamon.  Serve with sugar-free or low-sugar syrup.

2.) OMELET – You could use 2 eggs, but if you’re striving for a low-fat diet, you can use egg whites.  Add vegetables (I would go with peppers and onions) and low-fat ham, or potatoes, with 2% milk cheese (cheddar, provolone, mozzarella, or whatever you prefer).

3.) PANCAKES – With this protein pancake recipe, you can make pancakes with oatmeal, cottage cheese, and eggs.  It’s loaded with protein and still delicious: just add cinnamon and vanilla extract.  Serve with sugar-free or low-sugar syrup.

Health Effects of Caffeine

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Affects of caffeine differs widely from person to person and depends on various factors. For healthy adults, a moderate amount (300 milligrams, or about three cups of coffee, per day) of caffeine may have positive effects, such as increased alertness or ability to concentrate, and is not likely to cause health problems.

Caffeine is best known for its stimulant effect. Once consumed, caffeine is readily absorbed by the body and enters the bloodstream stimulating the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It affects the brain and results in elevated mood, decreased fatigue, and increased attentiveness, along with increased the heart rate, blood flow, respiratory rate, and metabolic rate for several hours.

Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and a small amount could cause insomnia, headaches, irritability and nervousness. However, with frequent use one will develop tolerance to many of the effects of caffeine (even addiction). At doses of 600 milligrams (about six cups of coffee) or more daily, caffeine becomes a health risk and can cause nervousness, sweating, tenseness, upset stomach, anxiety, and insomnia.

Extensive research has been conducted on how caffeine affects health. A list of various health issues linked to caffeine is summarized below. However, keep in mind that moderate use of caffeine is not likely to cause these health problems.

* Cardiovascular (heart) – caffeine raises blood pressure, causes heart rhythm irregularities, increases serum cholesterol and homocysteine levels (which increase risk of heart attacks)

* Bone density (osteoporosis) – caffeine appears to increase the excretion of calcium, a mineral needed for healthy bones. This causes decreased bone strength (especially in older women, although men get it too).

* Calcium intake: adult men and women should be taking between 1,000 and 1,200 milligrams of calcium, depending on age and gender).

* Pregnancy – Excessive caffeine intake has been associated with miscarriages and low birth weight babies. Evidence also suggests that, at levels over 500 milligrams per day, caffeine may delay conception.

* Children – soft drinks and chocolate are the major sources of caffeine for children. Since children have developing nervous systems, it is important to moderate their caffeine consumption.

* Cancer – research has shown that caffeine in coffee does not cause breast or intestinal cancer. However, not enough research has been done to determine if caffeine in coffee is involved in urinary bladder or pancreatic cancer.

Carbohydrates Are Not the Enemy

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Carbohydrates are the best fuel for all types of activities and help to provide essential nutrients, give you energy during exercise, and replace stored energy in the muscles (glycogen). The description of carbohydrates as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is based on glycemic index (a measure of the quality of the carbohydrate in terms of how much it raises blood sugar). Foods having a high GI are generally thought to be ‘bad’ because they raise blood sugar more than ‘good’ carbs do. Proponents of the glycemic index claim that this leads to excessive insulin secretion, which can cause weight gain and health problems. For example, foods such as whole-grain breads are said to offer “good” carbs, because they have a lower GI than white bread. Nevertheless, all carbohydrates do, in fact, break down in the gastrointestinal tract to glucose, but unfortunately, some break down more quickly and this is where the problem begins.

The body converts carbs to sugar molecules, which are either burned or stored. The faster the conversion takes place, the quicker the blood sugar goes up, thus the higher the glycemic index (GI). White bread, for example, will break down quicker than an apple. The theory is that when blood sugar goes up quickly, metabolism is affected. The body responds with a surge of insulin, which is said to cause the sugar to be stored in muscle and fat.

All carbohydrates in the Food Guide Pyramid (http://www.mypyramid.gov/), grains, fruits, vegetables, and some dairy, eventually are converted to glucose. However, any amount of calories beyond the need of the growth mechanism turns into fat. In other words, whether it is protein, carbohydrate, or fat, taking in calories above the “need” will result in fat gain if they are not used by the muscles during high intensity exercise.

Following a diet that eliminates carbohydrate or fat, as a lot of fad diets do, is not metabolically correct. The brain relies primarily on glucose for energy, and if you follow a high-protein diet with minimal to zero carbohydrates, you will note the difference in your cognitive abilities. Therefore, in order to feed the brain and body, you need to understand that there is a purpose and place for protein, carbohydrate, and fat.

Best Fast Food Choice: Taco Bell’s Fresco Tacos

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When having a Taco Bell craving you can still keep it healthy by ordering two fresco grilled steak soft tacos.  The “fresco” style has extra salsa and tomatoes and lower amounts of the calorie-dense toppings that are usually on the tacos.  By going “fresco” you’ll save 110 calories and 12 grams of fat with each taco.  2 fresco grilled steak tacos have 340 calories, 22 grams of protein, 42 grams of carbs, and 10 grams of fat.

Why Salmon Is So Good For You

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Salmon is commonly known as one of the best foods to eat for your health, but not many people know why.  Here is a list of reasons why you should include more salmon in your diet:

1.) Salmon is loaded with protein and muscle-building amino acids.

2.) Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which help your body make anti-inflammatory coumpounds that soothe body aches and pains, as well as support fat-loss.  Omega-3′s also help skin recover from skin damage from UV rays.

3.) Salmon is high in Vitamin D, which supports strong bones and can help ward off colan caner.

4.) Salmon is high in Selenium, which can help lower your risk of prostate cancer.

Green Tea Health Benefits: Why Green Tea Is So Good For You

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Green tea is great for its numerous health benefits: it’s been linked to burning fat, raising metabolism, lowering cholesterol, as well as improving the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, preventing cancer, and preventing neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  Researchers have also claimed that drinking 5 cups of green tea a day helps the body burn an extra 70-80 calories per day.  Green tea has about a quarter of the caffeine content of coffee

Green tea has so many health benefits because green tea contains the anti-oxidantEGCG.  EGCG not only inhibits the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.  Green tea even contains more antioxidants than many fruits and vegetables.  Additionally, green tea can help prevent heart disease because it contains polyphenols, which lower cholesterol levels.  This is one of the reasons why the rate of heart disease in Japanese men is quite low despite 75% being smokers.

Health Benefits of Various Spices

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Here are five seasonings you can add to a variety of foods in order to reap their many health benefits:

1.) Cinnamon – Cinnamon makes cells more responsive to insulin and lowers your risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

2.) Garlic Powder – Garlic powder has an anti-infective, antioxidant, and cholesterol-lowering effect.  It also has a powerful antibiotic, antifungal, and blood pressure lowering ingredient, allicin.

3.) Oregano – Oregano is high in antioxidants.

4.) Onion Poweder – Onions have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.  They also have anti-inflammatory and anti-caner effects and can also relieve congestion.

5.) Cayenne Peppers – Cayenne Peppers can improve your digestive system, heart, and circulatory system.  It also increases the body’s heat production and can speed up your metabolism.

Healthy Meatballs Recipe

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Instead of using fatty ground beef, opt for buffalo meat instead.  It’s lean, growth-hormone-free, and just as tasty.

Mix the following ingredients in a bowl and mold into meatballs:  1 lb ground buffalo, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ, 1/3 cup of diced onions, 2 of tsp garlic, 1/4 tsp of black pepper, and 1 tbsp of grated parmesan.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees (turning them over once 7 minutes).

With some whole-wheat pasta and tomato saue you have a high protein, low-GI carb dinner that will fill you up right.

8 Foods You Should Eat Every Day

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Best Life Magazine wrote an article on the the best foods that you should eat everyday.  Here are the foods and what they can do for you:

1.) Spinach – sexual enhancement, muscle growth, heart healthy, bone builder, and enhances eye sight.

2.) Yogurt – cancer fighter, bone builder, boosts immunity.

3.) Tomotoes – cancer fighter, heart healthy, boosts immunity.

4.) Carrots – cancer fighter,  boosts immunity, enhances eye sight.

5.) Blueberries – brain stimulant, fights cancer, heart healthy, boosts immunity.

6.) Black Beans – muscle growth, brain stimulant, heart healthy.

7.) Walnuts – muscle growth, heart healthy, fights cancer, brain stimulant, boosts immunity.

8.) Oats – musle growth, hearth healthy, brain stimulant.