Banana, mango and pineapple power smoothie

Medium G.I. power drink

The marriage of mango, banana, pineapple and lime is one which really is made in heaven. Not only does it conjure up images of tropical beaches, it also provides a hefty portion of beta-carotene, folic acid, fibre, vitamins B, C and E and essential minerals. The skimmed milk also adds protein and calcium.  

For peak health and vitality, this smoothie will give you that extra zest for life.

Method

1. Crush the ice cubes in the blender and then add the rest of the ingredients.

2. Blend until smooth.

3. If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more cold milk.

Ingredients

• Flesh of 1 ripe mango, chopped
• ½ fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 small banana or ½ large banana, chopped
• Juice of ½-1 lime (according to taste)
• 150ml skimmed milk
• 8 ice cubes

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2 x 200ml glasses
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: A low to medium G.I. power drink, full of essential vitamins and minerals, which will keep you alert and full of energy for hours

Calories (kcal): 177.8
Protein (g): 3.8
Carbs (g): 39.5
Fat (g): 0.6
Fiber (g): 5.2

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/banana-mango-and-pineapple-power-smoothie/

Hydration: The Key to Unlocking Health and Human Performance

Is being hydrated important? You better believe it. Our bodies are made up of 65% water and we can only live a couple days without it. Every cell in our body contains water and when those cells become dehydrated it causes an entire host of problems for our human body.

Body Fatigue

Studies have shown that fatigue, headaches, and lack of concentration can all by symptoms of not being hydrated. Next time you are feeling sluggish or run down try drinking some water and re analyze how your feel. Dehyrdation symptons commonly show themselves during mid afternoon hours, this is the most common time for those feelings of being "run down" to occur.

Internal Body Temperature Regulation

When it is hot outside our body regulates it's temperature by sweating. In order to sweat you need to by hydrated. If you are not hydrated properly your body loses the ability to regulate temperature effectively. When your body loses the ability to regulate temperature, many horrible health consequences follow.

Beating Hunger Cravings and Weight Loss

A major aspect of dieting is the ability to control hunger. When your body is in need of water it many times will feel "hungry". Our bodies do not know how to distinguish between "needs" and many times a lack of hydration can lead to your body sending hunger signals. The same thing happens when our bodies are mineral or vitamin deficient. Hunger cravings can lead to over eating when it could have been solved by a glass of water. Next time you experience hunger cravings drink water and see how you feel.

Sports and Human Performance

Athletes are constantly looking for the edge when it comes to performance. A fantastic performance enhancer is a water cooler away. Staying hydrated allows your muscles to perform at their optimal level, allowing the athlete to perform at their true potential. Muscles that are hydrated at the cellular level have a better capacity to fire efficiently, maximizing an athletes ability to perform. Fancy supplements are great but staying hydrated is a way to maximize performance.

So What does all of this mean?

Drinking water should be the first thing we do to help our health. Is is the most abundant substance in our human biological makeup and without it we suffer. Many will spend dollar after dollar on fancy supplements when an extra daily glass of water will mean a lot.



http://ezinearticles.com/?Hydration:-The-Key-to-Unlocking-Health-and-Human-Performance&id=8022326

Beetroot, apple, carrot and watercress iron boost

Iron boost juice drink

This juice gives you a real boost of iron, folic acid, essential minerals and anti-oxidants. What is more, the vitamin C in the vegetables and the apple juice help your body to absorb the iron. The watercress adds a lovely spicy, peppery taste and balances really well with the sweetness of the carrot and beetroot.

You might find the purple color of the juice a little unusual, but latest research suggests that purple foods such as beetroot can protect you against heart disease, strokes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Give it a go, you'll be pleasantly surprised ...

Method

1. Chop the carrot and the beetroot into small cubes and put in a blender with the liquid and the ice cubes.

2. Blend for a minute. Add the watercress and blend again until the mixture is really smooth.

3. Add a pinch of salt and some black pepper. Strain the juice through a tea strainer or colander.

Ingredients

• 1 small cooked beetroot (about 50g)
• 1 large carrot
• Handful of watercress (remove any thick stalks)
• 150ml apple juice
• 100ml water
• 4-5 ice cubes

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2 x 150ml glasses
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: Delicious, fresh tasting juice to give you a real boost if you are feeling low or under the weather, brimming with vitamins, iron and disease-fighting nutrients

Calories (kcal): 52.4
Protein (g): 1
Carbs (g): 11.3
Fat (g): 0.4
Fiber (g): 1.4

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/beetroot-apple-carrot-and-watercress-iron-boost/

Have We Discovered The Obesity Hormone? And Will Blocking It Keep Us Slim?

We're always looking for ways to cheat the system, when it comes to obesity and weightloss.

For those of us who aren't so sold on the traditional - and let's be honest, much safer and more straightforward - technique of using diet and exercise as a method of weight management, we're often looking around for an easy way out.

Global obesity is a real issue, but is this the answer? [Associated Press]

Well, if easy ways out are your cup of tea, this new research could be all your prayers answered.

By blocking a particular enzyme, which in turn blocks a particular hormone we can trick the human body into metabolising everything that it digests, with much more efficiency.

So basically, you will literally be able to have your cake and eat it.

You too could be Gwyneth Paltrow eating a burger [Goop]

The Break Down

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter or hormone. It's the one that helps you to feel elated.

There is something called "peripheral serotonin" though, which can also be present in the body.

Scientists at McMaster University have discovered that the presence of this peripheral serotonin may be directly related to the efficiency with which your body metabolises the food you put in it.

The serotonin regulates how our bodies burn calories.

Watching a control group of mice, as scientists often do, they observed that lighter mice had less of this brand of serotonin than the heavier mice.

Showing that this serotonin may hinder the body's ability to properly process food intake.

Taking the lighter group of mice aside, the ones which had developed an enzyme mutation inhibiting serotonin production, they then fed them a diet of high fat, to immitate the consumption of the average American.

They found that these mice still managed to remain light.

The Next Step

Is this the key to weight management? REALLY? [REX]

Gregory Steinberg, one of the scientists involved in the study, has said: “What we discovered is that if we remove this enzyme either genetically or if we inhibit its activity using a chemical, a drug, the mice have low levels of serotonin and they didn't develop diabetes, obesity, or fatty liver disease,” Steinberg said.

The implication is that this process may be replicable among human beings.

And we'll be able to eat all the fatty fry up breakfasts we please!

What's The Problem?

If we think about this seriously for a minute, it becomes incredibly difficult to imagine any sensible doctor or nutritionist sanctioning the use of chemical inhibitors in order to allow people to stay slim while still eating unhealthy foods.

While this research may be used in part or even in full, in order to help treat and prevent cases of heart disease and obesity, we highly doubt it will be a "miracle drug" available to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Also, as this is such new research, we have no grasp of the longer term implications for the human body.

Sorry to say it folks, but a healthy nutritional intake and regular exercise is still our doctrine of preference.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/have-we-discovered-the-obesity-hormone--and-will-blocking-it-keep-us-slim-121812408.html

5 Best Detox Drinks

Long-term use of any drugs or addictive substance will eventually harm the human body. Withdrawing these serious practices and the removal of toxic substances is therefore highly recommended.

Detoxification is the best process for the removal of toxic wastes being decomposed in the body. Here are five effective detox drinks, which will help people to remove the excess toxin deployed in the body and help to attain the weight loss goals in ease.

White Tea

Even though white tea is derived from Camellia sinensis, the same as green and black tea, it is highly enriched with effective antioxidants.

White tea is a natural detox agent and acts as an effective weight loss ingredient. Apparently, it expels the poisonous toxins accrued in the system. Regular intake of white tea will not only safeguard the liver, but enable the body to enhance the production of detoxification properties.

Sliced cucumber with lemon

Blending the combination of lemon with sliced cucumber seems like an unusual recipe, but the potential benefits of the two are undeniable. Consumption of this unfamiliar drink helps to boost metabolic activity, acts as a detox agent, weight loss aid and provides essential energy required.

Nutritionists and health professional highly recommend sliced cucumber with lemon juice twice a day.

H2O

It is a universal fact; the human body consists of 55% to 78% water. To be precise 2/3's of human body constitutes water. According to the size and body proportion the percentage of water varies. The best water to consume is distilled water, being the only pure form of water available on our planet. Regular intake of distilled water will cleanse the body, detoxifying and hydrating and flushing out toxins gradually.

Keep in mind, water is as a chemical compound as well paramagnetic, so balanced and a correct proportion of it will provide the sufficient nourishment to the body.

Cranberries with water

Unsweetened cranberry juice with a cup of distilled water paves way for heck a bundle of health issues. They are enriched with phytochemicals and oxalate, and acts as a strong detox drink as well a cleanse and removes the excess toxin waste in the body. Cranberries also help individuals to minimize the risk of cardiovascular problems, cancer, urinary tract infections etc.

Since fruits are rich in vitamins, when consumed either as juice or in the natural form, they help the human body to heal at a faster rate.

Sliced pear with apple smoothie

Combination of sliced pear, apple juice along with a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil will effectively cleanse the body.

Apart from the process of detoxification, it vitally acts as a strong weight loss supplement drink. Two glasses or three on a daily basis will gradually kill toxins and cleanse the body.

Preliminary research suggest that ursolic acid in apple will reduce the adverse risk of fatty liver disease, obesity, colon cancer, prostate as well lung cancer. It enhances the antioxidant activity in the body as well detoxifies the entire system.

However, detoxification is a remedy to overcome the poisonous toxins embedded in the body. But the natural remedy is to follow and indulge with a healthy diet routine and stay fit.



http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Best-Detox-Drinks&id=8172393

Cleansing With the Seasons

cleansing the body of toxins is becoming more and more popular as people become more educated on natural health, nutrition, and detox benefits. Many are starting to implement cleansing as a lifestyle, implementing several cleanses a year because of the many health benefits they receive. Traditional Chinese Medicine has taught for a long time that the body is an amazing creation designed to work with nature. It was designed so that it cleanses specific organ systems most effectively at certain times of the year when our body most needs those organ systems to be clean and when the foods that support those organ systems are growing naturally in nature. According to "The Law of the Five Elements" by Dianne M. Connelly, Ph D. each organ in our body has a time and a season where it receives the most energy from the body.

Fall is the time that the colon and lungs receive their major energy allotments. This means that those organ systems may respond better to a cleanse protocol at this time of year than at any other time. Our bodies are gearing up for colder weather. Our bodies want to put on extra weight during this time to get us through the colder months of the year. It's not just Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many of the foods that grow this time of year are heavy and help us put on weight. The body needs a clean colon at this time of year because these heavier foods can stagnate in the colon and cause toxicity if the colon is not functioning properly.

Our lungs and immune systems can also be very much affected by the colon. It is especially important for our lungs and immune systems to be functioning at their peak to protect against the many bacteria and virus that we may be more susceptible to as a result of the cold. Up to 70% of our immune system is located in the intestinal tract and if our immune system is focusing its resources on dealing with toxins in the colon, it will not be able to support the rest of the body as effectively. Cleansing the colon helps to relieve stress from the immune system and lungs so that they can be better equipped to keep you healthy in the cold.

Winter is the time to support and cleanse the kidneys. Winter foods in nature tend to be very heavy with more meats and fats. This puts extra stress on the kidneys. The kidneys are receiving their energy allotment at this time so this is the time to give them support and cleanse. The inability of the kidneys to properly filter the extra winter proteins and toxins may result in them being deposited into body tissues. This can increase the chance of developing gout.

Spring is the time to cleanse the liver and gall bladder. Light and easy to digest vegetables, sprouts, and leafy greens are perfect for cleansing the liver and are starting to grow in the spring. The liver is also receiving its high energy allotment. One of the liver's primary functions is to filter toxins and cleansing and supporting the liver helps to get the body clean and ready for a new year of life. Spring should be the time when people set their New Years weight loss resolutions. Unlike winter, spring is a great time to do a weight loss cleanse because the liver is ready to expel toxins that have been held in place by fat cells so that they do not harm the rest of the body. Once these toxins are processed out of the body it has no need for the fat cells that held them.

Summer produces abundant and diverse fruits, berries, and vegetables that are high in vitamins and minerals. The body needs the high levels of nutrition to rebuild and repair itself. It needs to get itself ready for the following seasons so it needs the stomach and small intestine to be able to effectively digest and assimilate those nutrients. The systems that receive their energy in early summer are the heart and small intestine and the ones that receive their energy in late summer are the spleen, lymph, and stomach.

Cleansing with the seasons is a great way to work with and support your body in a way that flows with nature and in the timing that produces the greatest cleanse results


http://ezinearticles.com/?Cleansing-With-the-Seasons&id=8044203

The Unfairness Of Sugar Addiction: Why Sugar Affects Some More Than Others (And Exercise Helps!)

Have you ever noticed that some people react more strongly to sugar than others? They eat it more often, crave it, and want more even after they've eaten some. (Are you one of them?) The reasons are genetic. I love that; it takes "blame" off the person and de-personalizes the reaction by making it chemical. We can't be blamed for something we can't control, right?

So what is this genetic, chemical thing in people who are susceptible to sugar addiction? It's in two parts - carbohydrate sensitivity and sugar sensitivity.

Carb sensitivity simply means exaggerated insulin secretion to sugar and other carbs. With extra insulin, glucose can drop and cause cravings. The cravings are typically for foods that raise glucose quickly - like sugar.

Low glucose can also trigger hunger, so the carb-sensitive person will probably crave sugar, eat it, and eat quite a bit of it.

Who is likely to be carb sensitive? People with a family history of one or more of these: alcoholism, diabetes (including mature-onset), hypoglycemia, hypertension, or obesity. Another factor is an apple-shaped body (central adiposity). The apple shape is characteristic of men, but women with that body type tend to be carb-sensitive.

The other aspect - sugar sensitivity - is about brain chemistry. People who are sugar-sensitive seem to have low baseline levels of beta-endorphin (endorphins), dopamine, and serotonin. To simplify (over-simplify!), having those chemicals lower than normal makes these people feel crummy.

Who is likely to be sugar-sensitive? People with a family history of alcoholism, other addictions, depression or other mood disorders, or a personal history of PTSD.

Let's return to sugar. When anyone eats sugar, there's a brain release of endorphins. That triggers dopamine because the two go together. But when a sugar-sensitive person eats sugar, the endorphin release is greater than normal - and so is the dopamine.

Their serotonin will be exaggerated, too - because of carb sensitivity and high insulin. The more insulin we secrete, the more tryptophan (amino acid used to make serotonin) travels to the brain, and the more serotonin we produce. It's linear. Carb-sensitives - who release extra insulin when they eat sugar - make a lot more serotonin after eating it.

What does all of this have to do with addiction?

Dopamine and endorphins are involved in the reward part of sugar addiction. People who are sugar-sensitive feel rotten without sugar, but way better than normal when they eat it. That's reinforcing and encourages repeat behavior.

Then there's serotonin. Serotonin is involved in seeking behavior - how much trouble we're willing to go through to get the addictive substance we want. Again, the exaggerated response comes in here. Extra insulin means extra serotonin and stronger seeking.

To recap, it sorta works like this for a carb-sensitive, sugar-sensitive person: She/he feels crummy without sugar. The giant-sized reward caused by extra-high dopamine and endorphins makes Ben & Jerry's seem appealing in the middle of the night. Reinforcement provokes that desire on many nights. And extra serotonin makes her/him drive to the store in a bathrobe at 2:00 am to get it.

The hormonal and neurochemical viewpoint is great because it takes judgment off the person, who can't fight those genetics any more than we can fight our eye color. It leads to compassion, rather than judgment, for someone's compulsions. Judgment never helps anyone, although compassion can.

What besides compassion can help you? Fighting cravings, both short-term (with liquid B-complex) and long-term with healthful nutrition changes, is key. But if you're not comfortable tackling the addiction alone, you can still do something. Don't underestimate the benefit of organized, structured workouts.

Workouts increase brain levels of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Select an activity you like, do it moderately, and add several bursts of intensity along the way. As you progress, increase the number of bursts, the intensity, or both.

Participate consistently in fitness classes or exercise on your own at least 5 days a week, especially if you're in recovery from alcohol or other substances.

Even if you don't want to work out some days, remember: a workout will make you feel better that day AND in the long run - and help you overcome sugar addiction.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Unfairness-Of-Sugar-Addiction:-Why-Sugar-Affects-Some-More-Than-Others-(And-Exercise-Helps!)&id=8698899