In our Western society, a common nutritional belief is that meat and animal products must be consumed in order to maintain a well-balanced, muscle-building healthy diet.
Those who turn away from this traditional way of eating and choose a vegetarian diet are often considered “granola-head hippies”…or even just plain odd.
But more and more people these days are discovering the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Additionally, more physicians and scientists are prescribing and endorsing plant-based meals in order to promote health, prevent and treat certain diseases, and even to reduce weight.
Although vegetarianism may seem like a modern fad, in reality, its health benefits have been known for centuries in many cultures world-wide. India and many Asian countries make up the largest percentage of the world’s vegetarians, both for health and spiritual reasons. One group of people, the Hunza — who live near the Himalayan Mountains — have an exclusively vegetarian diet. Members of their community reportedly often live to be over 100 years old.
The American Dietetic Association states that the benefits of a vegetarian diet include: 1) lowered cholesterol; 2) lower levels of saturated fat; 3) higher levels of important minerals and antioxidant vitamins; 4) lower body fat; 5) lower rates of heart disease; 6) lower blood pressure; 7) lower rates of type-2 diabetes; and 8) lower instances of some cancers.
Obesity, one of the major health concerns in this country, can be addressed with a vegetarian diet, one that eliminates excess protein and animal fat consumption, and increases fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Those who consume a vegetarian diet maintain a lower body mass index (BMI), which significantly aids in the treatment and management of other chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes.
One common question asked by anyone considering a vegetarian diet is: “Will I get enough protein?” That is certainly a valid concern, as protein is necessary for the building, maintenance and function of all body cells. However, according the American Dietetic Association, a varied and well-balanced vegetarian diet provides all the protein the body needs from eating such things as whole grains, beans, nuts and soy products.
In fact, meat-based diets typically provide excess protein, which may actually be harmful. A leading gerontological journal reports that too much protein can cause a person to lose about 30% of their kidney function by the time they become elderly. It can also cause systemic acidity, which the body attempts to counter by pulling calcium out of the bones. This can, unfortunately, lead to osteoporosis.
Becoming a vegetarian does not mean you are limited to eating celery sticks, apples and nuts. There are many types of vegetarians that eat meatless diets in a variety of combinations. Some of the more common types include:
Lacto vegetarians, who do not eat meat or eggs, but do eat dairy products such as milk and cheese.
Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat meat, but will eat dairy products and eggs.
Ovo vegetarians do not eat meat or dairy products, but will eat eggs.
Vegans do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or any animal products at all.
There are many medical and health organizations that promote, endorse, and support people on a path toward changing their dietary lifestyle to one that includes more plant-based foods.
Additionally, many restaurants and grocery stores provide meals and products to vegetarians, making it simpler to choose this healthy lifestyle.
Research and information exists out there on the internet, as well as through medical providers and vegetarian organizations.
The bottom line: it’s OK to be vegetarian, and the benefits may very well enhance or even save your life!
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About the Author:
Ally Cook is writer for “Girl Does Diet”, a health, diet, fitness and “Lookin’ Goooood” website at www.GirlDoesDiet.com. Ally is attempting to lose weight while keeping her journal for motivation. Stop by and join in the fun ~ you may learn something you didn’t know before!
~posted on April 17th, 2007
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Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you can find, in certain amounts, in all oils that you can purchase in most the health food and regular grocery stores. These fatty acids are called essential because you cannot create them in your body and your cells use them every day.
If you do not eat enough of these oils… guess what… you’re going to get sick. What kind of sick? The list is quite extensive and it depends on your deficiency.
* Acne
* ADD/ADHD
* Alzheimer’s disease
* Arthritis
* Asthma
* Cancer
* Diabetes
* Eczema
* Eye diseases
* Growth retardation
* Hair loss
* Heart disease
* High blood pressure
* Immune dysfunction
* Kidney deterioration
* Kidney deterioration
* Memory loss
* Psoriasis
* Schizophrenia
It’s a good idea not to be short on these fatty acids, because this list is still not complete.
80% of the American people will come down with serious illness because of nutritional deficiencies
It is not enough to eat essential fatty acid randomly. They need to be eaten in balance. You will need to balance the Omega-3 with the Omega-6. Most people are eating around 15 tablespoons of Omega-6 to 1 tablespoon of Omega-3. If you are one of these persons then expect to be harboring or creating one of the diseases listed above
What are Essential Fatty Acids?
There are four important types of Essential Fatty Acids:
* Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) or Omega-3 Oil
* Linoleic Acid (LA) or Omega-6 Oil
* Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
* Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are found in everyday oils that you use for cooking, baking, and eating.
* Flax seed oil — contains four times more omega-3 than omega-6
* Perilla seed oil — contains three-four more omega-3 than omega-6
* Hemp oil — contain the ideal ratio of 4:1, four times more omega-6 to omega-3.
* Pumpkin oil — contains 3 times more omega-6 than omega-3
* Walnut oil contain ten times more omega-6 than omega-3
* Safflower — has no omega-3 and 75% of its oil is omega-6
* Sunflower — has no omega-3 and 65% of its oil is omega-6
* Wheat germ oil — slight amount of omega-3 but mostly omega-6
* Olive oil — no omega-3 and 8% of its oil is omega-6
* Corn oil — contains mostly omega- 6
You can see that most oils have very little omega-3. This is why you hear a lot about flax seeds and flax seed oil because they are high in omega-3.
In recent years, a new source of omega-3 was found in the seeds of the Perilla frutescens plant. Perilla oil was found not to cause digestive upset when used in large quantities. This oil is similar to flax seed oil in content except that 19% of it oil is saturated compared to 7% for flax seed oil.
It’s cheaper to buy perilla it in liquid form, since one tablespoon contains 7700 mg of omega-3 and one capsule contains 550 mg.
It is best to alternate between oils, using one bottle at a time of flax, perilla, and hemp oil. In this way you will get the benefits that the different oils have to give.
When buying your oils, try to buy them in dark bottles. This prevents oxidation from occurring and assures that you get active and fresh oils that contain strong levels of omega oils.
Other sources of omega-3 oil are,
* Flax seeds
* Chia seeds
* Pumpkin seeds
* Walnuts
* Dark greens
* Soy products
Limit your use of soy products. These products use up your body’s minerals and have been associated various body diseases. They cause fibrin to settles in your tissues and organs. Fibrin tends to clog up your organs and causes arteries to close off when you’re short on systemic enzymes.
Fish are also high in omega-3 oil. Include these in your diet by eating them at least once a week. The fish to eat are,
* Salmon
* Sardines
* Halibut
* Trout
* Albacore tuna
* Mackerel
Add the essential fatty acids to your eating habits everyday and gain the benefit of a better life.
This article was posted at iReprint.info on 2003-12-21. Webmasters and publishers are free to reprint this article as long as the resource box and all the links remain intact.
About the Author
Other Articles by Rudy Silva Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He writes a newsletter call “Natural Remedies Thatwork.” For more information the on the essential fatty acids, visit his web site at http://www.fatty-acid-remedies.for–you.info.
~posted on April 11th, 2007
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When It Rains, It Pours….Chemicals
by Page Remick
Major companies dry salt in massive kilns where temperatures approach 1200 degrees F. This alters the chemical structure of salt as sodium chloride is lost into the air and transformed into a gas. Salt IS sodium chloride! All that is left is sodium hydroxide: a known irritant.
When table salt is refined, 82 out of the 84 mineral elements are extracted. Why, if these elements are so good for you, do the salt refineries do this? Normally, only 7% of the refined salt ends up on your table. The majority of the salt has great commercial value and is sold for industrial use.
Since the high heat has removed all of salt’s essential minerals, let’s see what man adds before he sells it to you:
* Potassium Iodide – to avoid iodine deficiency
* Glucose – a type of sugar to stabilize the iodine
* Magnesium Carbonate – an anti caking element
* Aluminum Silicate – to keep the salt porous and powdery…. note the word ‘aluminum’ and remember its association with Alzheimer’s Disease as aluminum is highly toxic to our nervous system and is not meant to be in our bodies.
A Science Test Even A Child Can Do
Want to know what is happening in your body to the chemical slurry that major manufacturers call salt?
Try this simple and quick test: Take a glass that you can see through and add a large spoon of your ‘manufactured’ salt. Add water, stir and let sit on the countertop overnight.
Next morning, what do you see? See the ‘salt’ at the bottom of the glass? That is the nutrition-less and chemical laden mixture that you spent money on at the grocery store. If it can collect in the bottom of a glass of water, where is it collecting in your body? If it is not dissolving in the glass, it’s not dissolving in your body.
Note: REAL salt dissolves.
Pass The Salt…The REAL Salt!
Before you only think of salt as being ‘bad’ and being responsible for high blood pressure, take a look at it’s benefits:
* Real salt, as strange as it may seem, is essential for the regulation of blood pressure
* Real salt plays a crucial role in stabilizing irregular heartbeat
* Real salt helps extract acidity and toxins from the cells in our bodies: especially our brain cells
* Real salt can dissolve calcium deposits which create health issues in our bodies
* Real salt controls the volume of water in our bodies, regulating the delicate balance between body fluids and cells, while maintaining electrolyte balance as well
* Real salt is a strong antihistamine helping to prevent muscle cramping and can help clear congestion in the sinuses
* Real salt is essential in balancing sugar levels in the blood
* Real salt is a natural hypnotic and helps to regulate sleep
Real Salt Is Unrefined
What is real salt?
1. Sea salt that is dried on the shore and put into bottles and jars with minimal handling
2. Salt mined from the earth and put into bottles and jars with minimal handling
3. Salt that has not been heated, treated and does not have added chemicals
The properties of mined salt and sea salt are: 84 different mineral elements. These same minerals are found in our body. Remember the refined salt at the beginning of this article? 82 of the 84 minerals were removed.
Loss of these minerals creates a dietary deficiency, which can lead to serious disorders of the nervous system, brain damage, muscle damage or other serious illnesses. The minerals in real salt can help prevent cancer, exhaustion, memory loss, rapid aging, obesity, water retention, ulcers, poor teeth and bones, decreased sex drive, and other serious conditions.
Now do you still want to eat the ‘refined’ chemicals that they call table salt?
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