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Nowadays we have access to everything. In fact, we can eat almost anything at any time, but does this mean we are eating better? Let´s look at some facts. In the United States:

- Nearly 38% of adults are obese (1)
- 9,3% of the population has diabetes (2)
- About 29% of adults have high blood pressure (3)
- The No. 1 cause of death for both men and women is heart disease (4)
- 1 in every 20 deaths is caused by stroke (5)

This data reflects not only the way people eat, of course, but also other factors such as lifestyle. However, food plays a very important role. Besides being part of our daily life, we need to eat in order to survive.

If we want to eat healthier options, going to the supermarket can be quite a challenging experience. Why? Because everything that is not good for us seems to be more appealing either by the way it looks or how the package looks (this is marketing at its best). As the saying goes, "don´t judge a book by its cover." So what can you do?

1. Choose Local
 

If you are looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, then buy local products. By doing this you will be also helping the farmers in your area as well as the environment! Besides this, instead of going to the freezer section to find meat or fish, try to go more often to the fish market or to the butcher shop.

2. Choose Organic
 

Do you really want to pay for food that was grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides or for GMO food? Or would you rather pay for quality? This is what happens when you choose organic: it is an investment in your health and well-being. Organic produce might not be so appealing because of its size and shape, but after you taste it you will not want anything else!

3. Choose Seasonal
 

Nature is so wise. It gives us what our body needs according to the season. For example, have you ever noticed that there is always more fruit available during summer time? Fruit hydrates us and has also a cooling effect on our body, perfect for that time of the year!

4. Choose Whole
 

Whole grains are slow-absorption carbohydrates and nutritionally more complete (6). Most people, however, eat refined carbohydrates. But did you know that white flour acidifies the body, taking away minerals (7)? Furthermore, food with a high glycemic value (e.g., refined flour products and also sugar), can act as opium does in our brains, which is why for some people it can be addictive, according to research conducted by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons, specialist in nutrition and addiction (8).

5. Choose without Sugar
 

When I use the term "sugar" I mean sucrose that enters very quickly in the bloodstream, disturbing the sugar levels in the blood. In the long term, refined sugar increases fatigue and steals from the body minerals and B complex vitamins (7). But, of course, everybody loves eating a sweet thing! Fruit can be one of the best options available, but if you are looking for a sugar substitute you have, for example, honey and coconut sugar.

6. Choose Unprocessed
 

I know packaged food offers convenience, but next time you buy it please read the label. Do you understand the ingredients or are they too hard to spell? Rule of thumb: if you can´t spell them, then put the package back on the supermarket shelf. Besides this, keep in mind that the less ingredients a product has, the better.

7. Choose Diversity
 

Eating a bit of everything is probably the best option if you want to have a balanced diet. However, it is important to take into account certain factors such as the season we are in, as I have written above, and our personal characteristics like age, sex, lifestyle and what our organism reacts to certain foods, so listen to your body!

Next time you go to the supermarket think about the options available. You have the power to decide the best for you, so choose wisely.

(1) Flegal K.M., Kruszon-Moran D., Carroll M.D., et al. Trends in obesity among adults in the United States, 2005 to 2014. JAMA, 315(21): 284-2291, 2016 (accessed October 2016).
(2) American Diabetes Association. Statistics about Diabetes. In American Diabetes Association, 2016 (accessed October 2016).
(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High Blood Pressure Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).
(4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).
(5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).
(6) Varatojo, Francisco. Foods also Cure. Lisboa: A Esfera dos Livros, 2015.
(7) Pope, Alexandra. The Wild Genie: The healing power of menstruation. Bedfordshire: Authors OnLine, 2001, ed. 2014.
(8) Northrup, Christiane. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating physical and emotional health and healing. Rio de Mouro: Círculo de Leitores, 1994, ed. 2009, transl.

In recent years, there have been rumours as to its ability to prevent greying hair, reduce arthritis symptoms and boost immunity - so it seems there is no ailment this natural ingredient cannot cure.

It is stable oil, making it great for use in cosmetics as it last for years without turning rancid. It has excellent moisturising properties due to its high fat content, which is absorbed into the skin very slowly, creating long-lasting shine and moisture.

For reasons widely unknown, the substance has been used for many centuries to induce labour in pregnant mothers. These days, however, it is not recommended that the substance be ingested due to its unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. For this reason, it is often used in folk medicine as a natural laxative to treat chronic constipation.

In some cases, it has actually been known to cause foetal complications in pregnant women, so it's best avoided as an induction technique. If you're not pregnant, however, the ingredient can be used as an effective stomach cleanser when mixed with milk. Rumour has it than when combined with orange juice, castor oil can also be a great hangover cure.

However, it does have a variety of other uses, all of which are incredibly beneficial to the body, skin and hair. It is regularly used in massage blends to treat the whole body due to its slow absorption. It also draws in dirt, so it is ideal for cleaning or cleansing products.

Its sticky consistency means that is provides hair, nails and skin with a beautiful shine. It is ideal when combined with sweet almond extract, apricot kernels or jojoba. These combinations can help revive tired skin or hair and even reduce eye bags. It can also be used in rejuvenating face masks with ingredients such as camelina, avocado or moringa.

It can also dramatically reduce pigmentation marks or spots on the skin's surface and improve the overall quality of the skin. You'll need to mix 90ml of it with 8g melted beeswax, 1ml Vitamin E and 25 drops of lemon essence. These ingredients can be found in most health food stores or through an online specialist in natural cosmetic ingredients.

To create your own Castor Cleanser for use at the end of a long day, you'll need to combine 60ml of organic castor oil with 29ml of apricot kernel, 10ml of jojiba, 1ml of Vitamin E and a small amount (0.5ml) or any other essence of your choosing. This last step is optional, but can provide the cream with a nice scent - for example, lavender or chamomile.

Alternatively, if you intend to use your product for massage purposes, you can create a moisturising Swedish Massage Blend by combining 30ml of castor oil with 29ml of jojoba; 20ml of olive oil; 10g of coconut butter; 0.5ml vitamin E and 10ml of thistle.

Castor oil is incredibly thick, sticky and resistant, so it should only be used in very small quantities. If in doubt, find a natural ingredient supplier online and ask them which concentration you should use it in for your chosen homemade product.

If you're keen to reap the benefits of this natural ingredient, there are plenty of online recipes that will also offer instruction and guidance.

Ancient Egyptians consumed many lemons, as they believed that lemon juice protected them from a variety of diseases and poisons. The latest scientific findings have confirmed this belief. Indeed, lemons have numerous health benefits, the most illustrious of which are strong antibacterial and immune-boosting properties. However, this little yellow fruit can do much more than just protect your body from infections. Here are 7 hidden health benefits of a lemon that I bet you have not heard about.

1. Cures Acne

As most citrus fruits, lemons are rich in vitamin C which is known for its amazing antibacterial properties. Thus, it can kill a number of bacteria, including those that cause acne. The citric acid contained in lemons can help get rid of acne scars. The easiest way to get rid of acne is to apply fresh lemon juice on the affected skin area and leave it overnight.

2. Removes Anxiety and Fatigue

Lemon balm is proven to have an excellent calming effect. Numerous researches show that it can remove anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, nervousness and a number of other unpleasant emotional states. When used as a room freshener, it can boost employees' efficiency.

3. Heals Canker Sore

Strong antiviral and antibacterial properties of a lemon juice hasten canker sore healing process. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of a freshly squeezed juice of one lemon and a glass of warm water and you will soon forget about cankers.

4. Cures Calluses and Corns

Lemon is an effective remedy for corns and calluses. To get rid of callused skin, apply lemon poultices on the affected area. Just put a slice of lemon on a callus or corn, fasten it with a bandage and leave overnight. Repeat the procedure until you get the desired result.

5. Removes Eczema Symptoms

Lemons help get rid of several skin diseases, like eczema. To make a healing poultice, mix one cup of 

warm mater, eight drops of essential lemon oil and one tablespoon of honey. Soak a bandage in this mixture and apply it on the affected area for fifteen minutes, 2-3 times a day. Such poultice will ease the infection and itching.

6. Eliminates Halitosis

Unpleasant breath odour caused by insufficient salvation, consumption of certain foods (garlic, onion or other spices), cigarettes or alcohol can be easily removed with the help of a lemon juice. To freshen your breath, just rinse the mouth with a mixture of freshly quizzed lemon juice and warm water or chew a small lemon slice.

7. Improves Digestion

Lemon acid improves stomach muscles activity and stimulates the production of stomach acid. Thus, if you want to improve your digestion, make it a rule to drink lemon water after each meal.

Despite all these healthy options, it is almost too easy to rely on sugar and caffeine to boost us when we are feeling down or lethargic. Instead, here are some healthier energy booster ways which will sustain better energy levels over the long term as well as in the short term. Furthermore, these will improve overall health rather than providing a quick fix which can be instead detrimental to health.

The first recommended natural energy booster is getting more sleep. This can seem a very difficult thing to do when we are excessively busy, but this does not stop it from being one of the healthiest habits that you can get into that will not only give you greater mental and physical energy, but will also help heal your tired body.

The body repairs and restores itself at night, and sleep is also necessary for our minds to process what we have been doing throughout the day. Therefore, a good, long sleep every night will leave us brighter, less stressed, and with our body performing at its best.

Of course, this can be difficult to achieve if we have very busy, demanding lives. For this reason, it is necessary to put in place several small practices which can boost the quality and length of your sleep. 

This can include setting a strict curfew every night, using essential oils such as lavender on your pillow, or having a warm, relaxing shower every night before bed.

These steps you take to relax, wind down and be in bed by the right time every night will help you sleep better, even if initially these will take some getting used to. It is said that, it takes twenty-one days to form a habit, so commit to a better sleep routine for this length of time and see how your energy levels and life quality can change.

Our next recommendation is using herbal and mineral drinks as a regular energy booster on a daily basis. There are several excellent herbal remedies on the market nowadays in drink form, all of which contain unique ingredient lists of herbs and minerals that have been used for centuries to improve health.

Some of these ingredients - such as iron and magnesium - actively will boost your energy levels, and with other herbs will work to boost your overall health. As mentioned above, better overall health can make you feel a million dollars and generally have much higher energy levels.

If you want to do something good for your health and have more energy, try a herbal supplement drink, preferably with added minerals such as iron or magnesium, which humans can tend to become deficient in. Replace one of your daily coffees or colas with this and your body will reap the health benefits.

Lastly, cut down on unhealthy energy boosters which will give you energy in the short term but will cause you to crash afterwards and put you in an unhealthy cycle of ups and downs. These include endless teas, coffees and sugary and high carb snacks to keep you going.

It is often impossible to give these up completely, and many enjoy one or two of these as a treat every day. However, ensure that you do not rely on them, instead replacing most of them with healthy options such as a herbal energy booster and fresh fruit, and put in place a healthier sleep routine to make you feel brighter and in better health overall.

Our bodies comprise of many different components, of all of the chemicals and elements that our body is comprised of though, one stands out above the rest H2O. We are of course talking about water, our bodies are approximately 60% water, this alone should stress the importance of staying hydrated, if we are 60% water it would stand to reason water is very important to the healthy function of our body.

Even though it is staring us in the face, many people around the world do not get enough water. Now we are not talking about the individuals that do not have access to clean water (they want to drink water it is just not available). We are talking about the people around the world for whom water is readily available, and yet they choose to drink unhealthy alternatives such as soft drinks.

Even drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde do not yield that many health benefits for the average person as water does. Sports drinks are packed full of electrolytes and performance enhancing nutrients that is true. They are also packed with preservatives and chemicals that our bodies don't need, so unless you are an athlete (or have an illness) there is absolutely no reason to drink them. Everything that they provide is readily available from more natural sources and in quantities that make more sense for the average person. Leaving out all of the negative aspects.

We have put together a list of the various benefits of drinking water. Hopefully some of these will strike home and help you to realize you need more H2O in your life.

Fluid Balance - As stated we as humans are 60% water and we need to consume between 9-16 glasses of water a day to maintain a healthy fluid balance. This helps our body transport nutrients better as well as keeping us feeling better.

Calorie Control - Forget the latest diet fad, drinking a glass of water before every meal will help you feel full. This means you will likely consume less calories.

Muscle Fuel - When we exert physical force using our muscles they use the water that they normally store. Drinking enough water will help prevent cramping during a workout, and it will also limit the amount of muscle fatigue you feel later on.

Kidney Function - Our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood every single day. They filter out all the toxins that we take in. However, in order to remove those toxins from out body the kidneys need to be able to make use of water to transport the toxins to the bladder where we expel them.

Fatigue Relief - Set the coffee down, our bodies don't "need" caffeine, it is a drug that tricks our body into feeling more awake and energetic. You don't need it though, drinking enough water every day will give you the same feeling of alertness and energy.

Boosting the Immune System - This ties back into the first point we made. Our bodies are mostly water, so it would stand to reason the white blood cells that make up our bodies defense against illness need water to function at their best. Drinking enough water can be crucial to maintaining your health.

These are but a few of the reasons we should all make sure that we drink enough water every single day. Don't wait go grab a glass!

As people age, their nutritional needs change. Some may not be able to consume the same foods, or foods in the same quantities, as they could when they were younger and perhaps healthier. Too much sodium, sugar or fats can wreak havoc on the human body when people age.

Fiber for Heart Health

A diet high in fiber, including fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, can help reduce cholesterol and keep the digestive system regular. The only caution with fruits and vegetables is that if the stomach is sensitive to certain fruit acids, such as those found in tomatoes or citrus fruits, this may cause some discomfort, but overall vegetables and fruits should be consumed as much and as often as possible. Fruits and vegetables contain high plant fiber which helps cleanse the bowels and helps maintain a healthy blood glucose level, keeping early onset diabetes at bay.

High-Quality Protein

When most people think of protein, they may immediately think of a thick, juicy steak. For those so inclined, they may still enjoy steak as they age, but they may also want to consider lighter, white meat alternatives, such as pork, chicken and turkey, which are lean protein that promotes muscle strength and keeps muscle fibers from deteriorating. Grilled preparation is tasty and fast, and is a healthy alternative to fried meats. For those who would like to try a meat-free alternative, soy protein and nuts are another great way to add healthy protein and fiber into the diet.

Avoid Dairy

Younger people need the calcium in dairy to support growing bones and muscle health. Because dairy products are high in fat, aging bodies may not metabolize this fat as easily as it did when someone was younger. Those at high risk for heart disease, or people who suffer from high blood pressure, may want to avoid dairy-rich foods to keep their arteries clearer and to promote healthy blood flow. Too much fat in the diet may also make it difficult for the liver to function properly, so it may be best to avoid dairy as much as possible.

Lower Sodium Intake

People who suffer from high blood pressure should lower their sodium intake, whether this mean

Hydrate

As always, hydration is important, no matter what your age. Drink more water throughout the day to help flush toxins from the body and to help the body cool down on a hot day. Water is healthy for skin, kidneys, and the body overall, so water is always a good option as a beverage.

In our busy lives, convenience shouldn't be underrated, especially when it comes to food. The fact that microwave ovens greatly reduce the amount of time from freezer or fridge to table is huge, which is part of what makes them so popular. Why is it then, that more and more people are giving up the speed and convenience of microwave cooking and joining the 'slow food' movement?

Here are a few things they may know that motivate them to give up convenience in favor of the old, slow way of preparing foods:

Microwave ovens cook food by exposing it to microwave radiation - a form of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy. When food absorbs this energy, it causes the water molecules within it to rotate, a movement which causes friction between the molecules. This produces a rapid rise in temperature, thus cooking the food.

In this process however, the food is not just cooked. In fact, research demonstrates that the molecules of the food itself are changed, with the result that some nutrients become inert while others actually become carcinogenic. This is especially the case if you make the mistake of cooking the food in plastic or covered by plastic wrap, because the carcinogenic toxins in the plastic can leach into the food during cooking.

Then, there's the fact that although various governments have established guidelines for 'safe' exposure to microwaves, this does NOT mean that exposure to microwaves is actually not harmful. For example, the independent organization Powerwatch reports that,

"Even when the microwave oven is working correctly, the microwave levels within the kitchen are likely to be significantly higher than those from any nearby cellular phone base-stations. Remember also that microwaves will travel through walls if the microwave oven is against an inside wall."
If you stand a foot away from a microwave oven while it's on, you can be exposed to more than 400
milliGauss of microwave radiation. Only 4 milliGauss has been linked to
leukemia. But that's not all.
A study reported by Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University found evidence that microwave radiation negatively affects the heart at levels that are far below the reported 'safe' levels defined by governmental regulations in the U.S. and Canada:

"This is the first study that documents immediate and dramatic changes in both heart rate and heart rate variability caused by an approved device that generates microwaves at levels well below (0.3 percent) federal guidelines in both Canada and the United States."

In fact, microwaves are actually used in the field of gene altering technology to weaken cell membranes. As Dr. Joseph Mercola points out, "scientists use microwaves to actually break cells apart. Impaired cells then become easy prey for viruses, fungi and other microorganisms. Another term for these athermic effects is the "microwave effect," so if you don't want the molecules in your food to become changed, if you don't want living food to become dead, if you don't want your heart to be negatively affected, you might like to join the Russians. They conducted significant research on microwaves starting immediately after World War II. Their findings caused them to ban microwave ovens as far back as 1976.

Maybe that slow food movement is on to something after all!

Portions of this article were excerpted from the Natural Female Hormone Care series of lessons. For more information, and to secure your own copy of a 200+ self questionnaire to assess your own female hormonal state, go to http://www.NaturalFemaleHormoneCare.com.

By Pamela Levin

Can it possibly be true that human fetal tissue is now in some foods, personal care products and vaccines? Surely it would have to say so on any label or informed consent form, right?

Ah, no.

Amazingly, both the number and type of products are increasing which contain human fetal tissue or contain ingredients made from them. Naturally, most don't include 'human fetal tissue' in their ingredient list, and you'd certainly not expect to find them in some of the places where they're actually used.

For example, some processed food companies use flavor enhancers made from them; some vaccines, particularly those against viruses, are grown using fetal cell tissue; some medications and some personal care products are also involved.

To raise your awareness further, you can check some online resources, including endalldisease.com, ewg.org, healthfreedomalliance.org, mercola.com and nvic.org. Meanwhile, here is a description of the type of products that may contain it:

1. Some soft drinks, various bottled beverages including coffee, bottled water, flavored bottled water, some juices, bottled teas, energy beverages.

2. Coffee creamers, particular brands of instant soups, bouillon cubes, catsups, sauces, seasoning, instant noodles.

3. Ten different brands of chewing gum, bubble gum.

4. At least twelve brands of candies and cough drops.

5. Beauty products, especially anti-wrinkle creams, restorative creams.

6. Vaccines from at least four different companies; fetal cells are present in a measles/mumps/rubella; measles/mumps/rubella/chickenpox; chickenpox; polio; hepatitis-A; hepatitis A & B combination; shingles; rabies.

7. Medications, including those for cystic fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are a number of concerns people hold about consuming fetal tissue. One is the possibility of setting up auto-immune responses. These are reactions in the vaccinated person's own immune system when it gets confused in carrying out its job: to determine what is 'me' (my own tissue) and what is 'not me' and therefore should be attacked and eliminated.

Other objections to consuming human fetal tissue include moral and/or ethical grounds. Still others simply think it's a bad idea.

If your response fits into any of those categories, your best bet is to follow up with your own research.

Last, if you don't want to consume fetal tissue, don't rely on this list only, as it is by no means complete. Also, manufacturers change ingredients frequently. If you want to avoid consuming human fetal tissue, your best bet is to research any product you purchase that you think might qualify for this list..

Meanwhile, at least if you avoid purchasing processed food altogether, you will avoid consuming it in food.

Nutrition and dietary choices are always the most important and natural way we can obtain the most essential immune system vitamins our bodies need to remain strong and healthy. We must examine what we eat, such as whether we get enough whole fruits and veggies, proteins, legumes and grains which are good for immunity, before we can consider how any immune system supplements or immune boosters can benefit the unique functioning and genetic makeup of our individual bodies and metabolisms.

The second most important thing we must examine to determine if we can make changes that can enhance our immune health is our everyday activities and lifestyle choices. It is important to consider that exercise, emotional well-being, stress levels, and everyday habits all play a part in the functioning of our immune functioning. What you do everyday can either cause harm to your body, or naturally act as immune boosters to improve your overall health and well-being.

Getting exercise, even a thirty minute walk daily, finding quite time for yourself, having fun or just relaxing if you are going through a time of stress, and quitting bad habits like excessive sugar or caffeine intake, or smoking are some of the most important things you can do for your body.

If you are worried about getting sick or have an illness or disease and are looking for a remedy, there are lots of immune system supplements that are supported by research and considered beneficial for strengthening the immunity.

The most important and well known immune system vitamin is vitamin C found especially high in citrus fruits is an anti-oxidant the body needs; as a supplement, it is absorbed especially well by the body when combined with bioflavonoids.

The B vitamins also help support immunity. Vitamins B6 and B12, specifically, are the most important vitamins for the immune system. There is research that the B vitamins all work together, so you should consider the benefits of taking a B vitamin complex when this using this as a part of an immune system vitamins regiment.

Vitamin A is also an important immune system vitamin. An anti-oxidant, it protects against free radicals, and also helps keep the mucous membranes healthy.

Vitamin E is good for immunity and is an effective anti-oxidant. Vitamin E acts as a type of immune armour, as it makes its way to the surface of cells in the body where it works fight off harmful substances that have entered the body.

Zinc, an important mineral, is good for overall functioning of the immune system. It is especially useful for fighting off a cold and helps to maintain the healthy functioning of all cell membranes.

Other herbal vitamins and immune system supplements that are extremely beneficial in supporting immunity include echinacea which is good at the start of a cold, elderberry extract which also helps fight off colds, and probiotics which keep the intestine supplied with good bacteria, which are vital for the body. Also everyday foods such as garlic which is antibacterial and anti-viral, ginger which is an antioxidant and known to kill the cold virus, and lemon which has lots of vitamin C are known for their immune building properties.

Nutrition, daily activity, lifestyles habits, and immune system vitamins are all the main factors to consider when trying to achieve optimal immune health. Always consider the simple changes that you can make to your daily lifestyle first and then look for immune boosters and immune supplements that can be beneficial as an addition to a healthy lifestyle.

A lot of innovation is being done in the field of nutrition so as to create such food items which limit the intake of carbohydrates. This is done mainly to limit the amount of calories that we consume daily so that the body utilizes whatever is available in the form of stored fats. Thus, it is able to burn the excess fats inside the body and in turn, the individual who is consuming such foods is able to lose weight quickly. It is to be noted that such diet provides all the necessary nutrients to the body.

Low carb cookies have caught the attention of everyone around us. This is because low carb cookies have numerous advantages over food items having both high and low carbohydrate content. They have limited carbohydrate content which increases their preference over the food items having high carbohydrate content. While manufacturing the low carb cookies, the conventional ingredients like wheat, oil, sugar and butter are avoided.

Instead of the above specified items which have high fat and carbohydrate content, products like soy flour, almonds etc are used. In fact, soy products have a low fat and carbohydrate content. Besides this, they have highest protein content as compared to any other food item. Thus, they have become popular for other food items with low carbohydrate content. Such food items include muffins, breads and doughnuts which are readily available in the market.

Another advantage of such cookies is that these are high in fiber content. Fibers are needed by the body to absorb other nutrients such as vitamins and proteins. Thus, such cookies aid in their absorption and in turn, help the body to become healthy. Moreover, you can grab few cookies for any meal of the day. For example, if you are running late for office, you can munch some on your way. You can even eat these in lunch or dinner. Besides being healthier option, these are light weight too.

We all know that what we eat affects the overall health of our body. This is the reason many health groups and healthy lifestyle practitioners clamor for people to choose organic. However, in the endless sea of labels and ingredients claiming to be organic, it can be confusing for an average Joe. With that in mind, this article can help one to make better and smarter choices with regards to the food they consume and make a better commitment to stay healthier.

Understanding Organics

Do you know that the way a produce came to be has an overall impact to your body's health? Not only that, but it also affects the environment. You may see plenty of produce labelled "organic" while others may have "100% organic" on it. The term "organic" is simply a way for manufacturers to tell consumers how produce are grown and processed. Organic produce are grown from natural surroundings, using natural fertilizer and water resources to grow it. Some produce that are termed as "100% organic" means that all materials used came from organic resources and processing of the food is done naturally. Organic meats, for example, means that the livestock are given natural food, are free range and not subjected to any man-made hormone growth products or vaccines.

Why Go Organic

Many studies show that going organic has several advantages compared with consuming conventional products. For one, organic food is healthier because it has no chemicals or preservatives added to it. Many farmers use pesticides or insecticides to safeguard their crops from insects. Although this produces ideal yields, residues from the chemicals used can affect the health of the consumer especially those with food sensitivities. Studies show that low exposure to pesticides can increase the person's risk to cancer and even more so for pregnant women and young kids. Chemicals from fertilizers are also harmful to the environment causing ecological imbalances such as increased soil erosion and other environmental problems.

The need to feed the world's ever increasing population has also paved the way for Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs. These plants or livestock have their DNA tweaked to ensure better resistance to bacterial strains thus increasing the chance of higher yields. Although this helps in sustaining the world's population, GMOs also open up the possibility of other health risks that might be less responsive to existing treatment. Eating organic food that is GMO-free means less exposure to future health problems.

Food Labels

Food labels are a great source for those who want to purchase organically made produce. Industry production standards differ from one country to another and as such it is important to read and understand the fine print. 100% organic means that all ingredients used come from 100% organic materials. Some may also see an approved seal from the country's food bureau like the USDA seal showing that all standards are met and the food item has passed inspection.

Today, the rise in childhood obesity has several causes. The main cause of obesity is certainly children eating too much and/or not performing regular exercise or being generally inactive. The extra calories that are not able to burn up through exercises or physical activities will translate into fat, and when this fat becomes excessive and more, one will become obese. This difference results in weight gain and will vary from children to children that was due to few factors such as genes, health issues, physical inactivity as well as psychological issues also contribute to weight gain and may be what the causes of obesity are. Even though the main cause of obesity is underlying disorders, nevertheless, it is also closely related to people lifestyles as well.

Poor eating habits and food choices

Today, the way we prepare food and the no of time per day is totally different as compare with our ancestors did in the old time. During the old time, everything need to be cooked from scratch, but now with the help from modern equipments, the time and effort to prepare food became simple and faster. This is one of the reasons why now fast food restaurants dominate our diets.

By study how the children eat today; you will know what the main cause of childhood obesity is. Small changes in their daily diets can have large help enabling you to prevent childhood obesity. The best healthy choices of food include vegetables and fruits instead of sugary snacks. The most popular choices include carrot and bananas, celery sticks, apples and even salads that include a large variety of vegetables. By helping children understand and choosing the correct and better foods during the childhood time, definitely will ensure that they make the correct choices as they move into adulthood.

Bad behavior is also one of the causes. This group of children eats food that is low in nutrition and high in fat. This group of children eats fast food meals, rich desserts and drinks with a lot of sugar. They also usually overeaten, and the food that they consume has many empty calories. In other words, the food that they eat does not provide enough nutrition for a children needs. This same group of children eats lots of sweets food which in general have empty calories.

Lack of Exercise

Lack of regular exercise is a factor that has contributed to this being one of the causes of childhood obesity. Children who spend a lot of time watching TV programs will have a greater risk of child obesity than those who go outside playing or sporting. This is typically true when the children are eating fast food while watching television or playing video games.

 

In the pass, children like to play sports more often, enjoy outside activities as forms of entertainment and walk to school. But now a day, children are completely opposite from the pass. The sports our children like to do these days include watching television, playing computer game, surfing internet, chatting, and any game they choose while exercising only their mind, head and hands only. When you combine the poor choices in food and the lack of exercising, there is a high chance that childhood obesity will end up lead to disease.

Genetics

Genetics and DNA have been found to be a contributing factor in the causes of childhood obesity. Unfortunately, some children are naturally predisposed to obesity. These children are born with genes that cause them to put on weight more quickly than other children. The children with certain genes end up storing the fat more easily than other children. There is not much that these children can do about their genes, but there are steps that they can take to conquer the obesity.

Children parents can also aid in determining your chances of dealing with childhood obesity. If children parents had a problem with overweight, chances are the children will deal with the same issues. This makes it very important that you keep an eye on your children and their action and habits. Our DNA can not be changed. We can do some small changes in other areas that can make a great deal of improve on your child obesity. Some small changes, such as walking to school, playing outdoor games rather than letting children stay at home and avoid exercise. The simple and regular exercise can help your children avoid childhood obesity.

Psychological issues and Stress

Some study say that about 10% of people that are mildly obese was cause by psychological or stress problems. Some children have a difficult time dealing with stress so they use food as a comfort when they feel, and many children are prone to eating in response to negative emotions like being bored, feeling anxious or being angry.

Each child has to contend with different factors in their lives. The causes of obesity are can also be viewed as being weakness, a lack of willpower or a lifestyle choice of overeating and not exercising enough.

Environments

The environment too plays a role in the causes of obesity. The family home is an important place to learn about proper nutrition and enough physical activity. Attitudes, Habits, and beliefs about food selection and how to spend family leisure time are critical factors to forming a healthy relationship with food. Children spend a lot of time in school, their food choices at school become important and it was influenced by the school eating environment.

Modern lifestyles have improved our quality of life but also contribute greatly to physical inactivity. Cars are used for short trips, and the number of walking trips the average American children takes each year have decreased. Today only about 10% of public school students walk to school compared to the large no of student a generation ago.

A correct diet for gout is needed to help prevent gout from seriously damaging your health. Here you'll find a list of gout diet foods to eat and foods to avoid.

WHY YOU NEED A GOOD GOUT DIET

Your agonising symptoms of gout are caused by uric acid crystals that have formed in your joint(s), which can form when you have high uric acid in your blood. This usually occurs when your kidneys either can't excrete excess uric acid from your body effectively enough, or, your body is manufacturing too much acid for your kidneys to be expected to handle.

Uric acid is produced as a result of the natural breakdown of chemical compounds in your cells called 'purines,' but, they also exist in our foods at varying concentrations or levels. Some have high / very high levels, others have moderate, and others relatively low purine levels.

The trick is to identify those foods that have high / very high purine levels and avoid those. And supplement with those foods that have relatively low levels. And to help you do this I've listed the foods you can eat with gout, and, the foods to avoid for gout...

GOUT DIET FOODS TO EAT LIST

These are some of the low-purine foods that go to make a good gout diet:-

Complex carbs (cereals, rice, pasta, vegetables, fruits, etc. - not white flour products)
Low fat dairy produce (low fat cheese, milk, yoghurt, etc. - but not soya)
High vitamin C foods (fruit, potatoes, red bell peppers, red cabbage, etc.)
Essential fatty acids (nuts, seeds, flax-seeds, tuna, etc.)
Vegetables (celery, cabbage, parsley, kale, other green-leaf vegetables, - but not cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, mushrooms)
Fruit (especially cherries, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, other blue / red berries)

LIST OF GOUT DIET FOODS TO AVOID

These are some of the foods, that are high / very high in purines, and should be avoided:-

Red meat (burgers, mincemeat, game, etc.)
Offal (liver, heart, kidneys, etc.)
Poultry (duck, goose, etc.)
Some fish (herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, etc.)
Shellfish (mussels, shrimp, scallops, etc.)
Gravy (broth, consomme, etc.)
Yeast (baker's and brewer's)
Dried legumes (peas, beans, lentils, etc.)

OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR GOUT

A good gout diet is an essential starting point in helping to get rid of the symptoms of your current gout attack, and, to prevent frequently recurring gout attacks, which can lead to permanent joint damage, kidney problems and hypertension, etc. Plus, once having had gout you're chances of more attacks are markedly increased.

But there are several other important issues to consider to give you the best possible chance of preventing recurring gout. These are things like your lifestyle, your weight, stress, medications being taken, family history, underlying medical conditions, and so on. You need to investigate these and sort them out.

1. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and is only retained in the body for a maximum of 4 hours before it is either oxidised or excreted in the urine, so Vitamin C overdose is uncommon. Because of this short life in the body it is best to take Vitamin C in small, divided doses throughout the day (at 4 hourly intervals).

2. The RDA (recommended daily allowance) for Vitamin C is 45-60mg per day. This is the smallest amount needed to prevent a life threatening disease; in the case of Vitamin C this is Scurvy. This amount, however, is certainly not the optimal amount needed for good health, this is 300mg-500mg daily depending on diet and lifestyle.

3. Things that can increase the need for Vitamin C supplementation are poor diet, eating processed or stored foods, pollution, toxic substances especially nicotine (each cigarette smoked depletes the body of 25mg of Vitamin C), DDT, stress, antibiotics, sulfa drugs, cortisone, aspirin, The Contraceptive Pill. Under any of the above circumstances a more suitable dose would be 1000mg-2000mg daily.

4. If an acute infection or inflammatory condition is being experienced such as a cold, flu or hay fever, increase the dosage to 1000mg every hour for six doses then 1000mg every 4 hours until symptoms improve.

5. Vitamin C overdose is extremely rare. Vitamin C is very safe to take as if too much Vitamin C is taken any excess will be excreted in the urine or as acid diarrhoea. Bear in mind this will only happen with very large, frequent doses. If this does occur reduce the dosage to a level where diarrhoea is not experienced

Extra Tip

Do not take high doses of Vitamin C if pregnant as this can condition the baby to a rich supply and could lead to an early development of Vitamin C deficiency. The maximum dosage should not be more than 250mg - 300mg per day plus eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

In summary the correct dosage of Vitamin C supplementation is as follows: -

300mg-500mg per day- Good diet/lifestyle

1000mg - 2000mg per day - Poor diet/lifestyle

1000mg every 4 hours - Acute infection/inflammation

250mg - 300mg per day - Pregnancy

Thank you for taking the time to read this information about the correct dosages for Vitamin C.
Here's to your good health.........naturally!

Nadine Masseron ND