Healthier takeaways

Takeaways are often cheap, convenient and satisfying but, unfortunately, they're not always very healthy. 

Some takeaway meals can push you over your recommended daily maximum amount of salt and fat, which can lead to a variety of health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Some takeaways and restaurants now list calories on their menus, which lets you opt for something with fewer calories.

Below are some tips on foods to avoid and healthier options when ordering your favourite takeaway.

Fish and chips

There are lots of ways of making your trip to the chippy a healthier one. Have a portion of baked beans or mushy peas with your fish and chips. Watch out for other foods that are high in fat, such as pies and sausages.

The thicker the chips the better because they absorb less fat. Try to have a smaller portion or share your chips. Ask for your fish and chips without salt – if you want some salt then add a small amount yourself.

Don't eat all the batter around your fish because it soaks up a lot of fat. If available, have fish coated in breadcrumbs as it soaks up less fat.

Fish and chips that are cooked in oil at the right temperature taste better and absorb less fat. So watch out for soggy batter and chips because this is often a sign that the oil wasn't hot enough.

• Try to avoid: thin-cut chips, pies such as cheese and onion or steak and kidney, jumbo sausages.
• Healthier options: fish coated in breadcrumbs, mushy peas, thicker-cut chips without salt.

Italian

If you're having pizza, choose lower-fat toppings, such as vegetables, ham, fish and prawns. You could ask for some extra veg on your pizza to bump up your daily fruit and veg portions. But if you don't want to increase the saturated fat content and number of calories in your meal, don't ask for extra cheese.

With pasta dishes, if you want a lower-fat option then go for a sauce that's based on tomatoes or vegetables rather than cream.

If you're having a starter or a dessert then you could go for a smaller main meal such as a starter-size pasta with a side salad – Italian restaurants often serve two sizes of pasta dishes.

Rather than garlic bread, which often contains a lot of butter (and is therefore high in fat), you could try bruschetta, which is a tasty ciabatta bread toasted and topped with fresh tomatoes and herbs.

• Try to avoid: large deep-pan pizzas, pizzas with the crust stuffed with cheese, triple cheese with pepperoni pizzas, creamy pasta sauces, garlic bread.
• Healthier options: small or medium pizza with a thin base and vegetable or lean meat topping, tomato-based pasta sauces, bruschetta.

Chinese

Anything that’s battered or marked as "crispy" on the menu means it’s deep fried. Watch out for starters such as prawn crackers and spring rolls because these are generally deep fried. Anything in batter will be high in fat. Sweet and sour pork is usually battered.

Steamed dishes are the best option, but stir-fries are fine because they're usually lower in fat and include vegetables.

• Try to avoid: sweet and sour battered pork balls with special or egg fried rice, prawn toast, spring rolls.
• Healthier options: crab and corn soup, steamed dumplings, steamed vegetables and plain boiled rice, steamed fish, chicken chop suey, Szechuan prawns.

Thai

Try to stick to stir-fried dishes or steamed dishes containing chicken, fish or vegetables instead of curries.

Thai curries, such as the popular green and red curries, contain coconut milk, which is high in saturated fat. If you choose a curry, try not to eat all the sauce. Have some steamed rice with your meal instead of egg fried rice.

• Try to avoid: fried rice, fishcakes, spring rolls, prawn crackers, satay skewers with peanut sauce and sweet and sour dishes.
• Healthier options: clear soups such as tom yum, salads, stir-fried meat, fish or vegetable dishes, steamed seafood dishes, such as fish or mussels.

Indian

Try to avoid anything that’s creamy or deep fried. To reduce the amount of fat in your meal, choose dishes with tomato-based sauces, such as tandoori and madras, plain rice or chapatti. Also choose plenty of vegetables, including lentil side dishes (known as dhal).

• Try to avoid: any creamy curries such as korma, passanda or masala with pilau rice, naan, bhajis, pakoras and poppadoms.
• Healthier options: tandoori or madras with chicken, prawns or vegetables, plain rice and chapatti.

Kebab and burgers

Doner kebabs can be high in fat. For a healthier option, go for a shish kebab, which is a skewer with whole cuts of meat or fish and usually grilled.

If you’re having a burger, avoid breaded or battered chicken or fish patties, extra cheese, bacon strips and high-fat sauces such as mayonnaise. Instead, go for a regular, single-patty hamburger without mayo or cheese and have with extra salad.

• Try to avoid: large doner kebab with mayonnaise and no salad, burgers with cheese and mayonnaise, thin-cut chips, chicken or fish patties deep fried in batter.
• Healthier options: shish kebab with pitta bread and salad, grilled burgers made from lean fish or meat (beef or whole chicken breast) and without cheese and mayonnaise.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/men1839/Pages/Dodgytakeaways.aspx

Green Vegetables Packed Full of Benefits for Nutrition

Whilst I encourage people to have a rainbow of colors on their plate, greens should dominate. Why?

The color green is actually associated with life, vitality and renewal. Greens are essential for ensuring certain cells in your skin as well as your gut function properly. Green leafy vegetables are among the most nutrient dense foods available.

An example of a green leafy vegetables list is:

Spinach
Swiss chard
Kale
Mustard leaves
Collard
Buk choy
Radicchio
Rocket
Lettuce
Watercress
Wheatgrass
Even your non-leafy green vegetables are packed full of nutrients and vitamins.

An example of a non-leafy green vegetables list is:

Asparagus
Broccoli
Celery
Beans
Okra
Peas
Brussels sprouts
Artichokes
Cucumber
At the end of the day regardless of whether you opt for green leafy vegetables or non-leafy green vegetables, they are both still great for you. One of my absolute favorite green vegetables is - spinach.

In the words of Popeye, "I'm strong to the finish when I eats me spinach." This is so true. I have spinach in salads, with my eggs for breakfast, in juices and smoothies. There are many more ways you can get the goodness of greens into you. You just need to find what suits you, and especially those of you who have children!

My young nieces weren't a huge fan of having greens when they were little. So I involved them by getting them to help me make my Green Power Smoothie. Adding some sweet fruits to the mix is great for kids as that's what they love - something sweet! So not only did they have fun, they had some greens to get the essential nutrition.

Greens are high in Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Zinc, vitamins A, C, E, K, Folate, Chlorophyll, enzymes and many other phyto-chemicals or plant nutrients.

Greens really bring so much to the table to help support your inner ecosystem. Green vegetables benefits are vast. They have been shown to:

Boost immune function
Provide steady energy
Promote healthy intestinal flora
Improve liver, kidney and gallbladder function
Help reduce inflammation
Keep disease away
Help clear congestion
Purify the blood
Improve circulation
According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers found that increasing intakes of green leafy vegetables were associated with a 41% decrease risk of skin cancer. The study also showed that people who previously had skin cancer had a 55% decrease in skin cancer by increasing their intakes of green leafy vegetables.

Disease flourishes in an acidic body. The ability to alkalize our body is one of the most powerful and important ways of interrupting carcinogenic incubations. Green leafy vegetables have that ability as they alkalize the body. That alone should have you piling the greens on your plate.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Green-Vegetables-Packed-Full-of-Benefits-for-Nutrition&id=8773856

Healthy Eating Doable Challenge #12: De-Stress Your Diet

Stress. We all experience it, and for many of us, it can lead to poor eating choices. But research suggests that by tweaking your diet, you can actually fight stress. "What you feel, how you perceive things, and how focused you are is a reflection of brain chemistry—and you have some control over that chemistry based on what you eat," explains Drew Ramsey, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York and the coauthor with Tyler Graham of The Happiness Diet: A Nutritional Prescription for a Sharp Brain, Balanced Mood, and Lean, Energized Body. Changing your diet isn't a magic bullet for every emotional problem, but what you eat can help quell short-term anxiety and even fight long-term stress while minimizing its effects on your body and your brain. For this Healthy Eating Doable Challenge, we asked Dr. Ramsey to share his advice on food choices that can help fight stress—and for other hints on how to "de-stress your diet."

4 Tips for Eating to Beat Stress

• Avoid Processed Foods

Full of excess sugar and sodium, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and other additives, processed foods "tell lies to your brain, and that is very, very stressful to you as an organism," Dr. Ramsey says. Trans fats, for example, can actually increase your risk for depression.

• Don't skip or skimp on meals

"There's nothing more stressful to the body than erratic, unplanned eating," Dr. Ramsey warns.

• Feed your body food that works

The seven foods listed below are rich in mood-boosting compounds, including the nutrients that Dr. Ramsey refers to as the "essential elements of happiness": vitamin B12, iodine, magnesium, cholesterol, vitamin D, calcium, fiber, folate, vitamin A, omega-3s, vitamin E, and iron. As he writes in The Happiness Diet, these nutrients work together to "fight low mood, low energy, [and] cloudy thinking."

• Eat a super stress-fighter food every day

For this month's Doable Challenge, help keep stress levels in check by eating one of the seven super stress-fighting foods listed below every day (to make it easy, we've suggested recipes from Epicurious, The Happiness Diet, and Dr. Ramsey's latest book, Fifty Shades of Kale, cowritten withJennifer Iserloh). If you miss a day or indulge in some highly processed foods, don't beat yourself up; just start fresh tomorrow. After all, this particular challenge is about reducing stress, not creating it!

Stress-Busting Food #1: Mussels

This bivalve tops Dr. Ramsey's list of stress-reducing foods for a number of reasons. Mussels have a good amount of omega-3 fats, as well as vitamin B12, some vitamin D, folate, iron, and iodine, for a whopping 6 out of 12 "essential elements of happiness." Dr. Ramsey says that just being low in B12—not even technically deficient in the vitamin—can lead to irritability, depression, fuzzy-headedness, and changes in sleep. While fortified cereals, cheese, and yogurt offer some B12, just 1 ounce of mussels has more than 100 percent of the daily value for B12! Plus, mussels by their very nature tend to promote a way of eating that's social, mindful, moderate, and relaxing: "You are not going to pick up the phone when you have mussel hands," Dr. Ramsey jokes. "Generally, when you eat mussels you are going to sit with someone, and you are going to enjoy this big pot of mussels, and you are going to eat slowly."
Recipes to try:
• Spicy Steamed Mussels with Garlic Bread
• Cioppino
• Linguine with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Mussels

Stress-Busting Food #2: Kale

"One thing that stresses the brain and the body is just simply too many calories," Dr. Ramsey explains. So what makes kale one of his favorite superfoods? "Kale wins out because of nutrient density.… With just a few calories you get an amazing number of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients." By making low-cal kale the centerpiece of a meal, not only do you avoid stressing your body out by overeating, you also cut down on the mental stress that comes with feeling guilty about it. Just 1 cup of kale has almost seven times your daily vitamin K requirement, a key nutrient not just for fighting inflammation but also for the production of anxiety-regulating neurotransmitters. Kale is an excellent source of absorbable calcium; too-low levels of calcium can contribute to anxiety and irritability, as well as worsen PMS symptoms for women. The dark, leafy green is also a great source of mood-boosting folate and a host of phytonutrients.
Recipes to try:
• Google's Braised Chicken and Kale
• Scallion Fish with Sesame Kale
• Kale Pesto with Toasted Walnuts

Stress-Busting Food #3: Dark Chocolate

The health benefits of chocolate are well known: For one, it can boost longevity. But Dr. Ramsey points out another benefit: "Dark chocolate is one of the few foods that have ever been shown to acutely improve mood." Yes, there's some empirical evidence to back up all of our anecdotal evidence that eating chocolate makes you feel better: In a limited trial, subjects who were given dark chocolate squares showed improvement in mood and focus. Cacao beans contain naturally stimulating compounds that promote the release of dopamine. And since it's a natural stimulant, dark chocolate in moderation can help boost energy when you're tired or run-down. As a bonus, "switching from other sweets to dark chocolate means you are getting less sugar, more phytonutrients, and more nutrient density." So you heard it here: Doctor's orders are to have some dark chocolate when you need a pick-me-up.
Recipes to try:
• Almond-Cherry Chocolate Bark
• Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies
• Cocoa Delight

Stress-Busting Food #4: Better Meat

First things first: Cut out processed meats (e.g., hot dogs, pepperoni, deli meat) in favor of seafood, fish, and vegetarian sources of protein; and when you eat pork, lamb, beef, and poultry, choose cuts from animals that are raised in sustainable, humane environments. Meat is a great source of many mood-boosting nutrients, notably protein, iron, and vitamin B12. Iron, for example, helps deliver oxygen throughout the body, and helps your brain produce serotonin, dopamine, and other mood-regulating neurotransmitters. There are vegetarian sources of iron (check out lentils, chickpeas, and spinach), but the most readily absorbable type—heme iron—is found in meat, as well as in poultry and fish. "Meat is misunderstood," says Dr. Ramsey. "It is very nutrient-dense, and pasture-raised, grass-fed, and wild animals yield a better mix of fats, fewer calories, and more antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene, plus a good dose of tryptophan, which is the main building block of serotonin."
Recipes to try:
• Perfect Pork Chops
• Grass-Fed Meatballs Marinara
• Beef and Kale Tacos

Stress-Busting Food #5: Farm-Fresh Eggs

Eggs are "one of the few foods that have both folate and vitamin B12, which are two molecules closely linked to having low mood and anxiety," explains Dr. Ramsey. He also notes that eggs are the top dietary source of choline, "one of the few nutrients that are actually linked to lower levels of anxiety." Eggs also provide vitamin D, a nutrient whose deficiency has been linked to mood problems. And try to opt for eggs from free-range chickens. Why? "When you get a real pasture-raised egg where the animal has lived outside while it was making that egg, you get more nutrients," Dr. Ramsey emphasizes. "You get more omega-3 fats, [and] that dark orange yolk means there's more carotenoids in there." Talk about a good egg.
Recipes to try:
• Egg Sandwich with Green Bean Slaw
• Eggs in Purgatory with Artichoke Hearts, Potatoes, and Capers
• Bibimbap at Home

Stress-Busting Food #6: Purple Potatoes

Whether it's French fries, mashed potatoes, or chips, spuds are a popular source of comfort in times of stress. There are various theories as to why carb-rich foods are so comforting, but Dr. Ramsey notes that eating carbs increases tryptophan (the same chemical responsible for that happy, relaxed, post-turkey buzz at Thanksgiving) as well as serotonin synthesis in the brain. So if potatoes are your carbs of choice, choose spuds that are smaller (with a greater ratio of skin to flesh) and more colorful. By choosing small, unpeeled purple potatoes over an Idaho, you get more nutrients, such as folate, phytonutrients, and fiber, without as much starch. "It's about little swaps," Dr. Ramsey says.
Recipes to try:
• Grilled Potato Smash
• Oven-Roasted Fries
• Haricot Vert, Edamame, and Purple-Potato Salad

Stress-Busting Food #7: Anchovies

Wild salmon gets a lot of press when it comes to its mood-elevating omega-3s, but Dr. Ramsey reminds us that there are other fish in the sea. He's particularly partial to anchovies as a great source of both healthy fat and iodine. Iodine is found in large doses in sea creatures and plants (making seaweed a great vegan source), and is essential for healthy thyroid function; an underactive thyroid can cause a myriad of health problems, including low energy and depression. As it turns out, anchovies are also a super-sustainable and affordable choice when it comes to seafood. Dr. Ramsey likes to make a kale Caesar with anchovy dressing and eggs for the ultimate stress-busting meal; follow his lead and use anchovies to amp up the umami in some of your favorite dishes.
Recipes to try:
• Happy Fish Salad Sandwiches
• Tuscan Kale Caesar Slaw
• Pasta with Spicy Anchovy Sauce and Dill Bread Crumbs

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/news/happy-foods-destress-diet-doable-challenges?mbid=synd_cnholiday_food

What your face says about your health

Read your body’s signals

When it comes to assessing the state of your health, it may be that the answers are written all over your face. According to Chinese medicine, your face provides a wealth of information about the health of your inner organs, while orthodox medicine also relies on facial signals to help diagnose certain conditions. To start reading your body’s signals, check out these seven signs to take note of.

Health signal 1: Forehead acne

According to Chinese medicine, the forehead is closely linked to the digestive system, while the area between the eyebrows is linked to the liver. Over-indulgence of rich foods and alcohol may cause temporary spots in this area, while frequent breakouts could indicate poor nutritional habits. To help get rid of these spots, try to maintain a healthy diet and stay hydrated. You may also wish to get tested for suspected food intolerances, which can affect both the liver and digestive system.

Health signal 2: Congested cheeks

While spots on the cheeks may have simple causes such as cosmetics or unclean pillowcases, this area is also thought to be linked to the lungs. Spots in this region can therefore be indicative of respiratory distress, with smokers, asthmatics and allergy sufferers being prone to breakouts or broken capillaries on the cheeks.

Health signal 3: Spots on the chin and jaw line

Spots on the chin and jaw line are generally thought to be due to hormonal fluctuations and may appear on women at particular stages of their menstrual cycle. Persistent spots in this area, however, may be a symptom of a hormone imbalance or endocrine disorder such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, so it may be worthwhile getting your hormone levels checked if you are experiencing other symptoms such as missed periods or weight gain.

Health signal 4: Dark circles and under-eye bags

Dark circles and under-eye bags are mostly hereditary, however if you find they make a sudden appearance or get significantly worse, this may point to certain health problems. The under-eye area is thought to be linked to the kidneys, so changes here may suggest dehydration or a build-up of toxins. To counteract this, drink more water and cut down on alcohol, caffeine and salt. Alternatively, circles could be caused by anaemia, due to vitamin B12 or iron deficiencies.

Health signal 5: Unusual tongue

According to Chinese medicine your tongue is a map to your health, and orthodox medical professionals also use the tongue to identify various conditions. Anaemia (caused by a lack of iron, folate or vitamin B12) is one such condition - with symptoms of the illness including a burning, sore or red tongue. Alternatively, a blue discolouration of the tongue (cyanosis) could indicate a lack of oxygen in the blood stream, while white lesions on the tongue could be a sign of oral thrush.

Health signal 6: Excessive facial or body hair

For females suffering from excessive body or facial hair (hirsutism), this can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem. However, it can also be a symptom of an underlying endocrine disorder, which may need to be checked out. One of the most common female endocrine disorders is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - a condition which frequently results in excessive body hair as well as acne, weight gain and irregular periods.

Health signal 7: Moles

Ending on a high note, moles may often get bad press, however, providing you look after them properly (by applying sunscreen, staying out the sun and checking them regularly), moles may actually be a good sign for your health. A research team from King's College London found that those with over 100 moles have tougher bones and are less likely to develop osteoporosis, while research has also suggested that those with moles are likely to have healthier eyes and heart.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/what-your-face-says-about-your-health/

Is portion control the secret to a healthy diet?

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They say it’s best to have everything in moderation—can cutting down your portion sizes finally help you banish fad diets for good?

Whether it’s low carb schemes like Atkin’s and Paleo, or crazes like the master cleanse, eating according to blood type or blending everything into ‘baby food’, we’re continually inundated with the latest, greatest fad diet.

But despite the growth of these so-called solutions, one overarching truth remains: we’re fatter than ever before. A recent study revealed that more Brits are either obese or overweight than at any other time in the past three decades.

Clearly, trendy diets designed for quick results haven’t made us any healthier in the long term. Maybe it’s time to get back to basics.

Health vs. vanity

In order to approach weight loss logically, it helps to remember the main reason you’re trying to lose weight: your health! You may be dying to squeeze back into your favourite jeans, but your biggest concern should be how obesity puts you at a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, liver disease and many more life-threatening conditions. Fad diets are a quick fix for superficial insecurities, but it’s time to get serious.

The science of portion control

Why does portion awareness matter? At a basic level, when you overeat, you consume more calories than your body needs. Those excess calories lead to weight gain. That’s the cold, hard truth.

As Cornell University food psychologist Brian Wansink explains, our careless eating habits cause us to regularly eat 100-200 calories more than we need at each meal. If you pay attention to your body, it will naturally tell you when enough’s enough. But too often we ignore our what our bodies are telling us and eat “mindlessly”.

Our subconscious decision to overeat is driven by our brain’s limbic system—the part that supports emotion, motivation and behaviour. Too often, our limbic impulses win against our brain’s ability to make conscious, analytical decisions. Why? Because we don’t think, we just eat. Being more intentional with your meals and considering long-term consequences of overeating is the first step towards achieving a healthier weight.

Snacks aren’t the enemy

Although snacking mindlessly is an obvious no-no, you don’t have to write snacking off completely. If you’re hungry between meals, don’t be afraid to grab an apple or snack on a handful of almonds. You may have been raised in a strict no-snacking household, but experts now say that a light snack may actually stop you from overeating at mealtime. 

OK, so what are the proper portion sizes?

In order to visualise what a healthy portion size looks like, Guard Your Health recommends comparing food items to certain parts of your hand. For example:

• Meat: 3 ounces (about the size of your palm) = one portion
• Butter for your toast: 1 teaspoon (about the size of your fingertip) = one portion
• Ice cream: 1 cup (about the size of a clinched fist) = one portion

Additionally, this comprehensive portion guide covers wide range of foods and the number of portions for each food group you should eat each day. For example:

• - Cereal: 9 tablespoons (about the size of a tennis ball) = three portions
• - Bread: 2 slices = two portions
• - Hard cheese: 30g (size of a small matchbox) = one portion

Reading up on what constitutes a portion, and how many portions of different foods you should eat a day, will give you the information you need to keep your portion sizes in check.

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/diet-exercise/portion-control-secret-healthy-diet/

The hidden sugars in your daily diet

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You may think that you’re eating a healthy diet while unknowingly overdosing on sugar on a daily basis, thanks to the high sugar content hidden in some of the most unlikely foods.

Learn more about the most common culprits and you could improve your diet in a few easy steps…

Sugar shockers 

There are plenty of foods that are not quite the healthy option that they seem. The next time you’re picking up a jar of pasta sauce, have a look to see how much sugar you’ll be having along with your spaghetti – you might be surprised!

While these jars may be packed full of vegetables, many brands add a huge amount of sugar to combat the acidity of the tomatoes. Check your favourite condiments, too. Tomato ketchup is similarly stuffed with sugar – often as much as 22g of sugar per 100g (more than 30% of your guideline daily amount).

Fruit flavoured yogurt is another potentially healthy food that is often stuffed with far too much sugar. Many brands add huge amounts of sugars and sweeteners to create fruity flavours. Instead of falling for this sugary trap, buy plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruits to taste.

What’s more, tinned or pre-packaged fruit can have a much higher sugar content than the normal variety. Even fruit that is stored in 100 per cent fruit juice may have had sugar added to prolong shelf life, partly negating some of the excellent and beneficial natural sugars fruit contains.

Cereal and granola bars have a similar problem in that they can be a great source of oats and grains but the benefits are often outweighed by the large amounts of sugar used.

The fat free trap

Often, when a food is labelled as fat free, you need to have a very close look at the ingredients. To up the flavour of foods that have had the fat content reduced, many manufacturers simply dial up the sugar instead. This means the treat may be no better for you than the full fat alternative, which might have much less sugar.

Low fat biscuits and cakes are particularly bad for this particular problem, so watch out for treats that seem to be too good to be true – they probably are.

The only way to know how much sugar you’re getting in packaged foods is to read the label on the back. Don’t let sneaky, hidden sugars compromise your wellbeing, especially now that offenders the next time you go shopping.

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/diet-exercise/hidden-sugars-daily-diet/

Benefits of a Vegan Diet and Why the Human Body Was Designed to Be Vegan

The human body was not designed to consume meat and definitely not dairy, but rather for a plant friendly vegan diet. We have over 30 dissimilarities with carnivores, which are similarities we share with herbivores in regards to our design. For example, our digestive tract is a long plant friendly one. A true carnivore has a short digestive tract and meat is in and out in 3-7 hours. This does not give parasites a chance to hatch. In humans it takes three days to digest meat, giving it ample time for parasites to hatch. That is a big part of why an estimated 90% of people have parasites!

Furthermore, we have nails instead of claws, different stomach acidity, saliva, and our teeth structure is similar to an herbivores and definitely not a carnivores. It's in our instincts to not eat meat too. For example, if you saw a dead cow on the grass you wouldn't start salivating or want to eat it like that. A true carnivore would feast away. The only way you would want it is if you cooked it, in plants oils, and seasoned it with herbs etc. This is also since you have grown up eating meat so have grown accustomed to it. However, the human body was not designed for meat, but rather a vegan diet.

Meat is high in saturated fats and not as clean as plants. As well, if your meat is not organic, grass-fed, and free range, you also have to deal with growth hormones, antibiotics, and steroids. All of which grow you and make you more resistant to antibiotics. Plus any anxiety, and stress the animal went through in its life created chemical reactions in the body such as increased levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which you guessed it, ends up in you. No wonder so many people are angry and when we think of vegans we think of mellow, chilled out people. Plus meat is so hard to digest. Digestion takes up most of your energy for the day. So if you are digesting mangoes versus steak, which do you think is harder on the body and gives you more energy to do what you need to do?

And dairy is very scary. It's the worst of all foods. We take milk, usually from a mistreated cow who is given hormones, steroids, and antibiotics, and cook it. Any nutrients in the milk is now gone, in fact the milk is acidic. We then fortify the milk with vitamins and calcium, but it is just not the real thing. When it ends up in your body it is so acidic that your body has to use its calcium and magnesium reserve just to neutralize the acidity. So that's right, dairy actually depletes your body of calcium. You have just been dispelled of one of the grandest myths of our time. Also dairy is also high in rancid fats and makes you gain weight very easily. Think of what that milk was designed for, a baby cow. That baby cow grows hundreds of pounds in its first year just off that milk.

So you must be thinking, where do I get my protein, calcium, and b12 from on a vegan diet? You can find plenty of protein in leafy greens, nuts, beans, sea algae, and sprouts. You only need 5 to 10 percent protein in you diet to build all the muscle you want and need. According to the world health organization you only need 5% protein and there has never been a case of protein deficiency in all of medical literature. Years of research and personal experience have led me to believe this whole protein hype is a marketing strategy by the meat industry. I eat 5% of my calories in the form of protein and have no problem building muscle. Actually, since my protein is raw and thus not denatured and more powerful, I have a much easier time building and keeping muscle on a vegan diet.

Calcium can be found in abundance in its raw and powerful form in leafy green vegetables. 1 lb of leafy greens such as kale or spinach will give you 100% of your RDA requirements for the day. B12 is actually a vitamin that is found in organic soil. So if you just leave some of that vitamin rich organic soil on your veggies you will get your b12. However, if you can't stand to do that, you can always supplement. But the vegan diet really is perfect and ideal. A balanced vegan diet has all your nutrient requirements and is clean and ideal for the plant friendly human body.

So at the end of the day, why would you even want to eat a healthy vegan diet? Well, I'll give you some killer, legitimate, and powerful reasons. A vegan diet, especially high is raw foods, will give you energy. This is because a high or full raw vegan diet is rich in nutrients, easy to digest, and light. Who wants to be tired all day? Energy is fun and makes everything else so much more exciting. This is because you are getting nutrients and not spending so much of your energy digesting heavy foods that are often loaded with toxins.

As well, you will lose weight. A vegan diet is high in fiber,which keeps you full, and nutrients so you don't eat and eat and eat. Plus plants are treated differently in the human body because we were designed for a plant friendly vegan diet. They go in and out, and are used for energy and nutrients. When we eat animal products or the newest GMO chemical and toxins, the body doesn't know what to do with them so they often get stored in the form of fat, especially around the midsection! How often do you see someone on a vegan diet who is overweight?

Other reasons to go on a vegan diet are you will slow aging. YES! The way you age is mostly under your control, and genetics plays a small part, but not all of it. Most of how you age is due to your diet, the way you take care of yourself through exercise, sleep, hydration, and how you manage stress. You are in control and you can be a hot grandmother at 70 like Annette Larkins and plenty of other hot senior citizens on a high or full raw vegan diet. A vegan diet, especial high in raw fruits and veggies has lots of nutrients and anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants fight free radical damage and help slow aging. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on getting old and am thankful for the raw vegan diet for making that possible.



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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.



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